“Apple’s push for performance and security improvements over new features will also apply to this year’s Mac software, but one key feature remains on the roadmap for 2018: The ability for Macs to run iPad apps,” Ina Fried writes for Axios.
“As first reported by Axios, Apple’s move to delay some features was announced to employees at a meeting earlier this month by software chief Craig Federighi,” Fried writes. “The company is looking to address criticisms that it has put new products and features ahead of ensuring quality.”
“The signature new feature for the Mac — the ability to run iPad apps — is a significant undertaking that adds a high degree of complexity to this year’s OS release,” Fried writes. “Bloomberg reported last year that Apple had an internal project to allow apps to run across iOS and Mac devices.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: It’s reassuring to hear that this tentpole feature remains on track!
Think code convergence (more so than today) with UI modifications per device. A unified underlying codebase for Intel, Apple A-series, and, in Apple’s labs, likely other chips, too (just in case). This would allow for a single App Store for Mac, iPhone, and iPad users that features a mix of apps: Some that are touch-only, some that are Mac-only, and some that are universal (can run on both traditional notebooks and desktops as well as on multi-touch computers like iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and – pretty please, Apple – Apple TV). Don’t be surprised to see Apple A-series-powered Macs, either. — MacDailyNews Take, January 9, 2014
SEE ALSO:
Apple is working to unite iOS and macOS; will they standardize their chip platform next? – December 21, 2017
Why Apple would want to unify iOS and Mac apps in 2018 – December 20, 2017
Apple to provide tool for developers build cross-platform apps that run on iOS and macOS in 2018 – December 20, 2017
The once and future OS for Apple – December 8, 2017
On the future of Apple’s Macintosh – February 6, 2017
Tim Bajarin: I see Apple moving many users to an iOS-based mobile device over the next 3-4 years – November 7, 2016
What comes after OS X? – January 9, 2014
The app I’m looking forward to running on my Mac? The tv Remote app. When my MacBook Pro is already open on my lap running an app on it, rather than searching for my iPhone or tv remote is simply more convenient.
I can’t wait to have Homekit and News on a Mac. TV Remote will be cool too.
On a related subject, I wish I could stream Internet radio stations through Music app on iOS devices, like I can on a Mac.
If true, the significance of this code convergence cannot be understated. Apple plays the long game.
Question: Could iOS be run in a VM partition on the Mac? Or even simultaneously using a product like Parallels?
The short answer is NO.
The VM built into Intel CPUs since 2006 is specific to running operating systems written for x86 CPUs.
But, Apple could write (or buy) a decent ARM RISC emulator OR toss in iOS hardware that’s triggered and accessed via macOS. The former would, presumably be less expensive and provide reasonable speed.
The big question is whether we really care. iOS is so incredibly hobbled, compared to macOS in general, that I personally don’t see a compelling need. Better might be to add specific iOS gear features to Macs, hardware and software, that further enable Mac’s. I’m sure we can all think of such desirable odds and ends, without having to port over the entire iOS platform.
😎
My iPad has been on the shelf for what? …..a month, I think.
I need it occasionally, but for mobile, my Macbook already has whatever apps I need, and my iPhone 8 covers the iOS apps that I need.
This article called it a long time ago:
https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/ipad-iphone-apps-should-run-as-desk-touch-apps-in-os-x
As did this podcast:
Have you ever tried to run an iPhone (only) app that works on an iPad? It works but looks terrible. I hope this doesn’t end up like that…ugh
If they didn’t announce this Chromebooks would look even better to the K-12 market. The majority of new Chromebooks are able to run Android Apps now and for K-12 can be managed to create a ‘sub-store’ of Apps approved by that School/District.
You can already run iOS apps on a Mac with Xcode, so the basic functionality already exists. They just need a friendly interface and to make it work with all apps, not just those in development.