I’ve spent a lot of time using Apple’s newest version of its desktop operating system, macOS Catalina, since it was announced at Apple’s developer conference a few weeks ago. There are a lot of cool features coming to your Mac this fall, some of which are long overdue like the end of iTunes in favor of dedicated Music, TV, and Podcast apps. Others are more subtle like changes to the Reminders, Notes, and Mail apps.
Then there’s Sidecar, the most Apple-thing they’ve made for the Mac in a long time. Why? It just works. I don’t know how, but it does.
If you aren’t familiar with Sidecar, it’s a feature that allows you to use your iPad as an extended screen either via USB-C, or over WiFi, and also lets you use your Apple Pencil as an input device, which can be great for apps like Adobe Illustrator, or other photo and graphics apps.
The list of features that involve Apple taking something remarkably complicated, and making it simple for users to the point that it “just works,” is long and includes things like using your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac, TouchID, and Handoff. I don’t know what else to say except that with Sidecar, it’s clear that Apple is just showing off.
On almost every level, this feature is kind of ridiculous in terms of how simple it is to use, if you think about it. That’s not to say it doesn’t serve any practical purpose. It does, and we’ll get to that. But I’m not entirely sure Apple designed Sidecar because it would be practical. I think they did it just because they can.
MacDailyNews Take: Not to mention that it helps to sell iPads to Mac users – and maybe even a not insignificant number of Macs to iPad users!
So the iPad is actually a Wacom type Sketch Pad and NOT a Mac replacement. Whew!
The iPad has been a no brainer drawing tablet since the introduction of iPad Pro – the only difference is they “slashed the price” this year by extending functionality to other iPads
Blame it all on Tim Cook
“Just Works”? Maybe 10 to 15 years ago, but now? Apple has one goal in mind: To own every byte of your data, which they will store in their cloud for an ongoing fee. Coming to a Mac soon: No More Local Files. Nothing will be stored on your computer, since it won’t have the hardware necessary to do so. We’re going back to the ’70’s with dumb computer terminals, except for now, instead of being connected to a main frame, it’ll be connected to “the cloud”. Just Work? I could give you a list of things that don’t “just work”, and haven’t for YEARS!
Paranoia runs deep, doesn’t it?
These devices are far from dumb terminals.
Dude.. did you sell your Mac for Crack?..cause I still have mine.. mid 2012 15″ Still works beautifully and has easily paid for itself and put me on path for a New one in the next 1 2 months. Like Whitney said.. Crack is whack, and so is your opinion here based on what?… you gave up, got high, and now you regret it.
This is Apple’s solution to a true touchscreen Mac. Ugh.
It’s not a toaster-fridge, it’s a fridge toaster. Get it straight!
Apple does a lot of things, because they can. Portrait Mode is one of them. Now SideCar is another. Can’t wait to try it.
I’m running macOS Catalina on a 2018 15” MacBook Pro and it feels lethargic in comparison to the speed of my 2018 iPad Pro 12.9 running iOS 13 Public Beta. Currently the iPad is winning the zippy crown.