With nice because of Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Macalope is glad to report that we have now one thing to speak about this week which is neither AI nor tariffs!
And also you thought it wasn’t potential. To be honest, the Macalope additionally thought it wasn’t potential, however he’s glad to be confirmed improper.
In response to Gurman, Apple is engaged on an “iPadOS 19 overhaul that may make the pill’s software program extra like macOS,” specializing in “productiveness, multitasking and app window administration.”
Some–the Macalope swears this isn’t a strawperson–assume Apple ought to simply enable customers to run macOS on the iPad. You may say, “Nicely in case you are so positive, Mr. Macalope, identify names! Who’re these non-strawpersons, in the event that they exist in any respect?!”
Nicely…
A lot of them, together with myself, simply needed Apple to place macOS on the iPad.
Mark Gurman, April 13, 2025
Now, there are lots of ways in which may very well be executed. It’s unlikely Gurman believes Apple ought to simply slap macOS on the Mac and name it a day. Though…perhaps. In that case, that may be a mistake.
Right here’s an instance: maintain the tip of your finger as much as the visitors mild buttons on any window on macOS and picture attempting to faucet a selected one with any diploma of accuracy. Good. Luck. Half the time the Macalope can’t even get the fitting one utilizing the cursor. Till people develop pointier digits, simply making the present macOS touch-enabled and slapping it on the iPad is a non-starter.
And when people do develop pointier digits, the Macalope want to go away the planet as a result of that appears like an actual horror present.
IDG
After all, you should utilize a mouse on the iPad, you simply shouldn’t have to make use of a mouse on the iPad. Apple may and will chill out its perspective towards virtualization on the iPad, not less than permitting it to run macOS in a VM. Barring that, it may additionally select to permit macOS to run a la Basic mode in early variations of OS X.
However the Macalope is one who hopes iPadOS retains its id as its personal factor, not turning into an interface layer, one thing individuals simply drive by in an effort to get someplace else, like Delaware. As a result of the place have we seen that earlier than? Oh, proper. Home windows 8.
Home windows 8’s overlay interface (née “Metro”) was a daring swing at making Home windows touch-enabled, however beneath it was the identical ol’ Home windows that you just knew and… ehhh, not “beloved,” that’s not proper… extra like, “have been contractually required to make use of by your organization’s IT division.” Microsoft has made additional strides to make Home windows complete once more after the Island of Dr. Moreau-esque effort that was Home windows 8, however it’s nonetheless a little bit of a tough trip, with some interfaces higher designed for contact and others for mouse and keyboard.
There hasn’t been quite a lot of discuss Apple making a Mac with a contact display screen shortly, most likely as a result of Apple doesn’t appear excited about making such a tool and all of us simply bought uninterested in speaking about it. Turning the iPad right into a Mac, nevertheless, remains to be the fever dream of lots of people, however the Macalope needs to see somebody do it proper: take an working system designed from the bottom up for contact and provides it totally skilled capabilities.
Regardless of the huffy, repeated, and oddly nasally-toned complaints of some, you are able to do work on an iPad and have been in a position to for years and years. Critically, cease attempting to inform these of us who do precise work on an iPad that you could’t do work on an iPad. We’re actually doing it on a regular basis. What you imply is you possibly can’t do your work on an iPad.
Sure, you possibly can’t do every thing on an iPad. Regardless that many particular person apps are able to skilled manufacturing, the working system itself usually will get in the way in which. It’s not improper to marvel how lengthy we should always have to attend for Apple to get it proper. It tried Cut up View, Slide Over, and Stage Supervisor, and none of these made multitasking on the iPad elegant and even terribly helpful. Whereas Apple has made actions that may very well be perceived as making macOS extra touch-friendly or not less than touch-curious, it’s not a touch-first interface.
Perhaps the Macalope is a dreamer. Perhaps he’s only a glutton for punishment. However he needs to see Apple maintain attempting to crack this nut.
If nothing else, it provides us one thing else to speak about.
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Apple iPad Professional 13-inch (M4, 2024)
Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M3, 2025)
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3, 2025)
