iPad , HIG and the StatusBar

recent versions of iOS have changed the way the statusbar on an iPad look. Now with Date/Time on the left, Network/Power on the right with a HUGE blank area in between. I am thinking about an iPad only, Landscape only application, and was wondering if Apple had a problem with apps that stuck a Label in that un-used piece of real estate. If anyone knows of a link where Apples says one way or another, I’d like to see it (I’ve searched an so far nothing that really mentions it)

On older versions of iOS (and the iPhone). The “time” is in the center.
I think this “newer” look was because of the iPhoneX notch… and they just applied it to all devices.

But if I could put a label there it would save real-estate elsewhere, and make the whole UI look cleaner