“I was confused during Apple’s introduction of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which has a display so large, it can nearly fit two iPad Air 2s side by side. The Pro’s focus on drawing seems highly specialized. And despite some other productivity features, the iPad Pro doesn’t seem to have a natural audience,” Glenn Fleishman writes for Macworld. “Yes, it has amazing specs, but can a bigger, pencil- and keyboard-compatible iPad really be the answer to Apple’s stalled tablet sales?”
“But don’t get too caught up on what the iPad Pro is now, because it’s also a pilot fish: Apple is testing the waters for future tablet directions, all while paving the way for an ARM-based laptop running OS X,” Fleishman writes. “We can be sure that OS X is running on prototype ARM-based hardware somewhere at One or Two Infinite Loop. While Intel ticks away at producing faster and more efficient processors, Apple focuses on controlling its own destiny. It’s been this way since the return of Steve Jobs, and slowly reducing the need for Intel processors would be a reasonable path.”
“Please note that in last week’s keynote, Phil Schiller discussed iPad performance in a way Apple has previously avoided. The new tablet has a 64-bit chip that offers ‘desktop-class performance,'” Fleishman writes. “Why praise the Pro in this context if it isn’t a test to see whether the market is waiting for something that combines attributes of a laptop and a tabl et without the drawbacks of either? …Apple doesn’t have to converge entirely. It can have two distinct, parallel, and separately useful general computer operating systems with their own strengths, meeting just in the middle without ever touching.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple could converge without converging:
As we asked last October about a theoretical “MacPad” – Anyone in the market for a 12.9-inch device that’s an OS X-powered MacBook when docked with its keyboard base and an iOS-powered iPad when undocked?
Apple’s A10-powered MacPad runs OS X when the Smart Connector is docked to a base which could contain a physical keyboard, additional port(s) (USB-C), storage, a trackpad, etc. and runs iOS when undocked as an iPad.
SEE ALSO:
I don’t want an iPad Pro, I want an OS X tablet – September 3, 2015
MacPad: Apple’s 12.9-inch MacBook/iPad may offer OS X and iOS operating systems, rumors claim – October 7, 2014
Apple’s ‘iPad Pro’ a larger model, or a laptop/tablet ‘MacPad’ hybrid? – April 16, 2014
MacPad? Apple patent application reveals hybrid MacBook+iPad details – April 4, 2013
Apple’s big secret: The iOS MacBook? – March 22, 2013
MacDailyNews Take: Apple could converge without converging.
WTF?
You’re not too bright, but that was extremely obvious for your previous posts. This one just adds extra confirmation.
And you’re an arrogant ass with nothing to bring to a technological or scientific discussion — this latest post just adds to the huge pile of posts supporting that conclusion.
What you say about Fwhatever is not true. His posts on technology and science can be worthwhile…when he leaves the politics out of it (which he seldom a manages to do).
Fred is much worse, having not even the slightest redeeming quality. The fact that I am willing to place Fwhatever over Fred despite Fwhatever’s rants and personal attacks says something about how low I rate Fred.
You’re a stockerish person with valid commentary on every MDN poster. Your previous post proves this.
Did you mean stalkerish?
I am not a big fan of the Apple Surface. I would of preferred a better MBA with a Quad-Core.
Anyone who calls the iPad Pro and “Apple Surface” does not understand the iPad Pro – or the Surface, for that matter.
Two for two today, Fwhatever! Keep it up!
I’ll take my full fledged MBP the way it’s been thank you. Battery life is fine, speed fantastic and all pistons are firing smoothly. They would need some pretty compelling arguments for an ARM Mac Book.
No doubt Apple could emulate OSX on an ARM processor and put both OS’s on the iPad Pro., and, Apple could customize ARM to make emulation perform better.
An ARM base OSX without emulation would exclude Windows compatible applications.
Exciting times. Fun to speculate.
Down at The Loop, they’re working on a unified OS to rule them all. It won’t look that way at first, with friendly neighbor fences in place. Gradually, the wall will come down.
I would be entirely happy to buy an ARM powered notebook. Most of the Mac applications that I rely on are either already available for iPad, or have decent equivalents for iPad. I certainly have no requirement for an actual Intel processor as I have never had any need or desire to run Windows on my Macs.
As far as I’m concerned, the best notebook for me would be the one with the best CPU for portable use and if that turns out to be ARM, then so be it.
It’s not so much a meter of if as when. I think it’s inevitably going to happen. Apple doesn’t need to suddenly switch from Intel to ARM, it can let the two co-exist and see how their respective markets work before making a decision based on real sales.
“Please note that in last week’s keynote, Phil Schiller discussed iPad performance in a way Apple has previously avoided. The new tablet has a 64-bit chip that offers ‘desktop-class performance”
Wrong. They discussed “desktop-class” (architecture, not) performance (but does that minor distinction make a significant enough difference?) when they introduced the 64-bit A7 chip in the iPhone 5S about a year ago.
“Phil Schiller discussed iPad performance in a way Apple has previously avoided. ”
iPad, not iPhone, is the operative word.
So, in fact, you’re wrong.
Fair enough. I expected to have someone correct me that it was about two years ago now, but alas, still no editing of posts.
Still, the “64-bit chip that offers ‘desktop-class performance” has been discussed, and some time ago. But I totally see your point. I still see it as them denying that Apple has had such performance available until now (regardless of device), but you may have more correctly interpreted the intent.
“Desktop Class Performance” does NOT mean the same kind of performance that Apple laptop users expect from their laptops. Hell, there are way too many people that think a Celeron processor is “Desktop Class Performance” processor when in reality it barely limps along for basic tasks.
If you really want to claim “Desktop Class Performance” you need to have a processor that is at least equivalent to an Intel i5 and preferably an i7. It does not have to be a top of the line i7 or Xeon, but it needs to be one that can do real work in real time — and I’m not saying it’s OK to do a single frame, 3D, ray trace rendering over the course of a 180 hour period!
True, it an Apple ARM-based processor might not equal an i5 or i7, at least in the short term. But it could very well be good enough for the MacBook line, combining reasonable processor performance and strong graphics performance with great power efficiency. Most of the computers that are sold today are low-end Wintel PCs, so it does not take a lot to beat them.
I suspect that the A9 beats the Atom and it may even approach the i3. And with the way that Apple is evolving its processors, the A10 and beyond may match or beat higher end Intel processors.
iOS is the future. It will eventually gain the ability to access removable storage via USB-C
With 4GB in iPad Pro, Microsoft presenting productivity solutions and Apple bragging about 3 streams of 4K editing. It seems pretty clear what iPad Pro could grow into by 2018
As Steve said PCs will be like trucks and this includes Macs
“It will eventually gain the ability to access removable storage via USB-C ”
Not whilst the GB storage on board is the sole differentiator on pricing.
I don’t agree with MDN’s take that Apple will make a 2-in-1 device akin to Surface, where it has both a desktop and mobile OS. What I can see is Apple adopting a feature like Continuum on Windows 10 but for iOS. So when you’re not using a keyboard, you’re in multi-touch mode. When you have a keyboard attached, you’re in “keyboard” mode. But underneath, it’s still iOS.
I don’t see convergence of operating systems, as high end workstation type applications need to cohabit with Windows files and high end “mice” to move files between devices with a robust multi-platform file structure.
What I can see is a MacBook Pro with an ARM processor running an LCD flat screen covering the entire area of the palm rests and the trackpad, so that iOS apps can be run and accessed on the MBP.
I thought about that but from my understanding ARM-based processors just don’t have the performance needed to satisfy PRO users / uses.
I want the MacPad. That sounds great.
They certainly said desktop-class enough at the keynote! I would rather they stay with intel for various reasons! I don’t want to go through another transition!
At this stage who really cares whether Apple intends to merge iPads and MacBooks. You can’t buy one until (first) Apple announces availability, and then (second) you buy one. Of course #2 is dependent on #1, which hasn’t happened yet, ergo, all discussions of this is coffee catch talk, and nothing more.
… Sure, if there’s any actual demand for an iOS notebook. Is there?
(No kids. Apple is not going to run Macs on ARM-based CPUs. Not gonna happen. Not even possible. Not going to explain why yet again. Tired old rumor. Let it die).