With nice due to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Macalope is pleased 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 attainable. To be honest, the Macalope additionally thought it wasn’t attainable, however he’s glad to be confirmed improper.
Based on 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–suppose Apple ought to simply enable customers to run macOS on the iPad. You may say, “Nicely if you’re so certain, Mr. Macalope, title names! Who’re these non-strawpersons, in the event that they exist in any respect?!”
Nicely…
Lots of them, together with myself, simply needed Apple to place macOS on the iPad.
Now, there are lots of ways in which could possibly be performed. It’s unlikely Gurman believes Apple ought to simply slap macOS on the Mac and name it a day. Though…possibly. In that case, that will 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 particular 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 wish to go away the planet as a result of that appears like an actual horror present.
IDG
In fact, you need to use a mouse on the iPad, you simply shouldn’t have to make use of a mouse on the iPad. Apple might and will chill out its angle towards virtualization on the iPad, at the very least permitting it to run macOS in a VM. Barring that, it might additionally select to permit macOS to run a la Traditional mode in early variations of OS X.
However the Macalope is one who hopes iPadOS retains its identification as its personal factor, not turning into an interface layer, one thing folks simply drive by means of as a way 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 “liked,” that’s not proper… extra like, “had 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, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a little bit of a tough journey, with some interfaces higher designed for contact and others for mouse and keyboard.
There hasn’t been a number of speak about Apple making a Mac with a contact display shortly, most likely as a result of Apple doesn’t appear focused on making such a tool and all of us simply received bored with speaking about it. Turning the iPad right into a Mac, nevertheless, remains to be the fever dream of lots of people, however the Macalope desires to see somebody do it proper: take an working system designed from the bottom up for contact and provides it absolutely 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 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 all the things on an iPad. Though many particular person apps are able to skilled manufacturing, the working system itself typically will get in the best way. It’s not improper to marvel how lengthy we must 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 could possibly be perceived as making macOS extra touch-friendly or at the very least 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 desires to see Apple maintain attempting to crack this nut.
If nothing else, it offers us one thing else to speak about.
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Apple iPad Professional 13-inch (M4, 2024)
Value When Reviewed:
$1,299 (Wi-Fi solely)
Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M3, 2025)
Value When Reviewed:
$799
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3, 2025)
Value When Reviewed:
$599
Apple iPad mini (A17 Professional)
Value When Reviewed:
$499 (128GB; Wi-Fi solely) | $599 (256GB; Wi-Fi solely) | $799 (512GB; Wi-Fi solely)
Learn our full
Apple iPad mini (A17 Professional) evaluation
