“Despite rumours that a merger is in the works, Apple chief executive Tim Cook believes mobile devices and desktop computers should remain in separate worlds with their own bespoke operating systems,” Peter Wells reports for The Sydney Morning Herald. “Following a recent Apple event in Chicago, where the tech giant outlined its plans for a renewed push into the education sector, I had the opportunity to briefly talk with Cook.”
“Cook speaks slowly and deliberately, as one would expect of the CEO of the most profitable company on the planet,” Wells reports. “It is not just the sharemarket that makes him tread carefully, he must also feel the weight of countless Mac pundits who interpret his every word for clues about the future leanings of the famously secretive company.”
“When Cook off-handedly mentioned he used the iPad as his main device in a few years back, thousands of blogs declared the Mac must be facing certain death,” Wells reports. “I asked him if the iPad was still his main device. ‘I generally use a Mac at work, and I use an iPad at home,’ Cook tells me, ‘And I always use the iPad when I’m travelling. But I use everything and I love everything.'”
We don’t believe in sort of watering down one for the other. Both [The Mac and iPad] are incredible. One of the reasons that both of them are incredible is because we pushed them to do what they do well. And if you begin to merge the two… you begin to make trade offs and compromises. So maybe the company would be more efficient at the end of the day. But that’s not what it’s about. You know it’s about giving people things that they can then use to help them change the world or express their passion or express their creativity. So this merger thing that some folks are fixated on, I don’t think that’s what users want. — Tim Cook
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Same as it ever was.
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:
Why the next Mac processor transition won’t be like the last two – April 4, 2018
Apple’s ‘Kalamata’ project will move Macs from Intel to Apple A-series processors – April 2, 2018
Apple plans on dumping Intel for its own chips in Macs as early as 2020 – April 2, 2018
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
Apple ships more microprocessors than Intel – October 2, 2017
Apple embarrasses Intel – June 14, 2017
Apple developing new chip for Macintosh in test of Intel independence – February 1, 2017
Apple’s A10 Fusion chip ‘blows away the competition,’ could easily power MacBook Air – Linley Group – October 21, 2016
Ming-Chi Kuo: Apple to unveil new 13-inch MacBook, 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros at ‘hello again’ special event – October 22, 2016
What to expect from Apple’s ‘hello again’ special Mac event – October 21, 2016
What Apple’s new MacBook Pro might have learned from iPhones and iPads – October 21, 2016
It’s official: Apple sends invitations for ‘hello again’ event on October 27th – October 19, 2016
Get ready, Apple’s new Macs are finally set to arrive! – October 19, 2016
All-new MacBook Pro, refreshed MacBook Air and iMac, and more coming at Apple’s October 27th special event – October 19, 2016
Apple plans to launch new Macs at special event on October 27th – October 18, 2016
macOS Sierra code suggests Apple could dump Intel processors in Macs for Apple A-series chips – September 30, 2016
Apple’s A10 Fusion chip miracle – September 20, 2016
The iPhone’s new A10 Fusion chip should worry Intel – September 16, 2016
Apple’s remarkable new A10, S2, W1 chips alter the semiconductor landscape – September 15, 2016
It’s because they don’t know how to do it…. all iOS all the time and no innovation.
Now Cook uses everything. This is a departure from before when he said he used the iPad most % of the time.
I really wish this would die: no, the iPad is not a replacement for a laptop or desktop. The screens are too small, the operating system too limited, the power too weak, the applications too basic and underfeatured, and most importantly, the input method being multi-touch does not provide anywhere near the speed and precision of keyboard and mice input and arms and hands tire after not long using multi-touch.
You will never be near as productive on decices like the iPad compared to laptops and desktops that have the large screen sizes, power, input precision, and full featured software.
Please can we get past this. iPads and iPhones are mobile with specific uses.
I used to love it every time I got a faster computer and a bigger screen. Currently working on a 27″ iMac. But I can’t wait to get back to a 9″ screen. It’s going to be so great!!!!
/S
But STILL… the Macbook needs a touchscreen. I don’t care if you think gorilla arm syndrome is a thing… sometimes you just want to reach out and touch what you want to manipulate.
I have a big beautiful touch screen on my Razer blade pro. I very seldom use it. When I do, it’s just to see if it’s still there. Heh.
While it’s true that merging iOS and MacOS is a bad idea, it would still be nice to be able to run (some) iOS apps on the desktop, whether this is native or in some type of emulation window.
Yes, you can use mirroring/AirPlay to view the phone on the desktop, but that’s not really the same thing as interacting with the app on the desktop.
Oh, yes! Being able to run iOS apps on a real Mac should be an easy emulation, wouldn’t you think?
My bill tracker app on the phone doesn’t have a MacOS version at all; but I do like it, and being able to cloud the bill tracking on my Mac would be good. As it is, I sometimes check the phone app, use the Mac to go to the account website, pay the bill, mark it paid on the phone app..and so on.
Any takers that if Apple goes ahead and allows iOS Apps to run on Macs they’ll just be seen to be copying recent Chromebook devices?
Yes, do NOT merge OSX and iOS! iOS is a toy OS compared to OSX (MacOS) and also very restricted. Plus who wants to use a stupid touchscreen to do actual work on??? I am MUCH MUCH more productive with a physical keyboard and mouse.
And if Apple wants to improve iOS, they should allow us to dock our iPhones to an external monitor, external keyboard, and external mouse where we can use the iPhone as a small computer with real computer accessories (keyboard, mouse, monitor).
Sounds similar to what Asus and Samsung have already tried with laptop and desktop docks for certain models of their smartphones.
And if you begin to merge the two… you begin to make trade offs and compromises. So maybe the company would be more efficient at the end of the day.
Are you kidding me? All Apple has to do to be more efficient is anything else besides what they are currently doing. Tim’s dismissal of efficiency speaks volumes.
Finally, a sane voice at Apple.
Yeah, shocked me too …
And since when is Apple giving its users what they want?
Tim is a piss poor bullshit artist. At least with Steve, even though you know he was BSing, he mastered the RDF so well you actually believed it.
Tim is a lame CEO still riding those substantial coattails of Mr. Jobs.
Haha, MDN are so stupid. Just stop it. iOS uses Cocoa Touch and UIKit, an accelerometer, a giro, screen rotation, front and rear cameras that blow the Mac’s cameras away…iPhones are always with us, we put them in our pockets…there’s much much more to it and they will never converge. How could an iOS and app macOS beyond simple examples ever converge? Apple are smart enough to do but as an iOS developer, I can tell you we just wouldn’t bother. Apple have neglegected loyal Mac users from the past, but iOS developers (Mac users too) owe you nothing and we wouldn’t pull our hair out somehow making an iOS app also work on a Mac too. Just like we don’t make watchOS or tvOS apps. MDN do you get the picture? Give it up. Stop quoting yourselves. More on.
It’s quite obvious your developer expertise is not in the language arts or education field.
I can safely assume it’s a fart app or equivalent.
Correct on the the first two. Completely wrong on the last comment. Assume nothing. Just because I made a couple of typos tapping out my comments on this god awful mobile website, don’t judge me.
Show what you ever did in the comments below and I will share (with validation) my iOS suite which has won awards in its field and because of by it’s nature which is has provided (for free) to disabled children. No ads, no In-app purchases. Nada.
If you can safely assume that efforts for no gain what so ever to disabled children is tantamount to a “fart app” as you so eloquently put it. I would love for you to share with us right here what you ever did with your life, and further more what you have given to others.
I will safely assume that you don’t even get out of bed in the morning.
Bets are on loser.
Wow! You take things very personally.
And, from your digs as MDN, you obviously like to do dish out the insults without being able to take them yourself.
So it makes sense you are unable to monetize your life’s work. Have a nice life.
WOW! Was that an English lesson. Pots and kettles as MDN would say. You love and defend, MDN but bash Tim Cook? MDN didn’t say anything back to me? What can’t I take.
Why don’t you go back to bed, of fuck off back to East Germany? Coz, bro – you ain’t welcome here.
I am able to monetise my work. In fact; was able. I am semi-retired ((and still kind of young)-ish!)
I am not going to share my paid work in an attempt to give it a free plug here at MDN.
However if pushed I am quite happy too? Tell me what you want from sausage boy. I already know quite a lot about you. Just remember that I can see everything. Okay?
Oh Tim, Tim, Tim, why start listening to what Mac customers want NOW? Keep guessing instead and let Ives run rampant with his Mac Pro Homer designs causing even more high end pros to flee.
A broken analog clock is correct twice a day. Finally Cook demonstrates he’s half as smart as a broken clock.
Now make the Mac work better, with more intuitive interface, more capable built in features, a real help menu, less mandatory internet dependency, and much less 3rd party social network bloat!!!!
Those who want touchscreen Macs: Test drive a Microsoft Surface and tell us all what we’re missing. The answer is: Nothing. I prefer a screen free of fingerprints, thank you.
You know if Apple really begins to push Siri on macOS the first comparison will be with Cortana on Win10 and then Google Assistant on Chromebooks.
Slow and deliberate yup that’s Cook alright but not in a good way.
Ugh, at least give us the Music app from iOS on 10.14. Ah well, Apple will always be a “could have been” bundle of OS’s that are tied together with cobwebs.
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Sad to see DPrater too chicken to use his prattling JAWS certified signature.
Can give it but can’t take it – blind leading the blind?
I am grateful to Cook for pouring cold water on the merger of the Mac and the iPad. It is a dumb idea and I don’t know anyone who wants it.