6 ms·

I agree with the premise, but I think a larger, more capable iPad would actually be a more influential 'halo car', given today's Apple clientele. An iPad with

I agree with the premise, but I think a larger, more capable iPad would actually be a more influential 'halo car', given today's Apple clientele. An iPad with a 15" screen could display twice as much information and would allow for more on-screen controls. Apple could port the full versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for iOS, but also the Pro Apps like Final Cut, Color, Aperture, and Logic. An iOS version of iBook Author could be a killer app. I've also long dreamed of a WYSIWYG authoring suite for making iOS apps on iOS (along the lines of Automator or Hypercard) – not for submission in the App Store, but to run on your own iOS devices and to share with friends and family. Nice to have: add two Thunderbolt ports to the iPad Pro. Not only for connecting fast SSDs, but also so that you could link another iPad Pro. This would add a second screen, and for processor intensive tasks, the two CPUs could work together (think xGrid or GCD).

jcsiracusa 14y ago
I am also, perhaps unsurprisingly, a longtime supporter of the idea of higher-end iOS devices.
tobylane 14y ago
If they made a swivel hinge and a touch screen on a macbook pro you'd get there, possibly easier.
rsl7 14y ago
You know... I want a large format iOS device... but as a pro user the very last thing I want is a sandboxed jailhouse. Apple is abandoning pro users across the board. iOS apps are essentially toys because of the limitations of iOS and the app store itself. The promise and the potential is there for something truly incredible, and that's why it's so hard to watch.
- Samuel_Michon 14y ago
  For (some) developers, I can understand they need full access to the OS, file system, and services. However, many professionals in other lines of work don't need such an open, vulnerable environment. For them it's more important to have a safe, stable system that's easy to use and doesn't require a lot of configuration. That's why I believe the future is in iOS, not OS X. Also, for web development, I find that the iPad works very well (for me). I have all I need with Diet Coda, OmniGraffle, OmniOutliner, DesignPad, Idea Bucket, Writing Kit, and Photoshop Touch. I just wish for a larger screen.
  - MatthewPhillips 14y ago
    Task switching in iOS is pretty horrible, as with most mobile OSes. If you're switching behind that many apps you must have a high tolerance for pain. Also I disagree with you that iOS is good for professionals. The way it attempts to hide the idea of files makes it very inconvenient to work with (coupled with the lack of a compelling alternative). I can't think of any professions where files aren't important.
    - Samuel_Michon 14y ago
      "Task switching in iOS is pretty horrible" Four finger swipe works like a charm. [1] "The way [iOS] attempts to hide the idea of files makes it very inconvenient to work with" It doesn't hide documents, iOS has a different way of presenting and organizing them than you're used to. Instead of putting them all on one pile for you to sort out, iOS takes an app centric approach. You never have to search for that spreadsheet you made last week, you know it's in the file drawer in the Numbers app (and with iCloud, the spreadsheets you made on your Mac will also be there). Of course the standard way iOS handles files doesn't work for everyone. If you have thousands of files you need to sift through, you might prefer using Dropbox or SFTP with an app like GoodReader, or use a web app like Google Docs. [1] http://gigaom.com/2012/04/02/how-to-use-ipad-multitasking-gestures-and-why-you-should/ http://gigaom.com/2012/04/02/how-to-use-ipad-multitasking-ge...
      - MatthewPhillips 14y ago
        The app-centric approach breaks down when you have to share that data out to colleagues who collaborate on it or gasp use it on a non-Apple device. These things can be fixed but as it stands you really have to go out of your way and adapt your own workflow because of the limitations of the platform.
    - tracker1 14y ago
      I found that task switching in webOS was REALLY nice.. and am glad that Android has since adopted a similar switcher. Now the lack of a physical menu button on most android devices is a different issue.
- stcredzero 14y ago
  > as a pro user the very last thing I want is a sandboxed jailhouse. Apple is abandoning pro users across the board. I think their take is that non-programmer pro users are where it's at for future touch-enabled apps.
  - rsl7 14y ago
    I agree and that's what is so terrible. Paper isn't pro or non-pro. You can go but expensive brushes and paint, or buy cheap stuff, or whatever you want. There are no limitations in the physical world. But in the digital world, you have severe, totalitarian definitions of pro and amateur. You are not free to paint on your typed document. Ever. Unless the developers foresaw and expressly allowed for that event.
protomyth 14y ago
It does seem there is a bit of willingness in Apple to build a higher-end iPad (given the 128GB model). I would expect something along the lines of a larger model designed for artists and situations where a big surface is required. A 15" screen gets you 9 x 12 in screen which would be good and still portable. I would bet it has the same connections as every other iPad. I do wonder if when an AppleTV SDK appears, does that mean we will get an iOS version of the iMac? At that point the Mac becomes a prosumer / pro OS.
- vl 14y ago
  >designed for artists For that they need good stylus support, and they ignored it for years.
walshemj 14y ago
bad analogy to use a car analogy a high end iPad would just be a tuned scooter as opposed to a full on 4wd super car say the Audi R8 with the factory approved performance pack. It wouldn't even be say a Shelby Cobra Mustang

jcsiracusa 14y ago

I am also, perhaps unsurprisingly, a longtime supporter of the idea of higher-end iOS devices.

tobylane 14y ago

If they made a swivel hinge and a touch screen on a macbook pro you'd get there, possibly easier.

rsl7 14y ago

You know... I want a large format iOS device... but as a pro user the very last thing I want is a sandboxed jailhouse. Apple is abandoning pro users across the board. iOS apps are essentially toys because of the limitations of iOS and the app store itself. The promise and the potential is there for something truly incredible, and that's why it's so hard to watch.

Samuel_Michon 14y ago
For (some) developers, I can understand they need full access to the OS, file system, and services. However, many professionals in other lines of work don't need such an open, vulnerable environment. For them it's more important to have a safe, stable system that's easy to use and doesn't require a lot of configuration. That's why I believe the future is in iOS, not OS X. Also, for web development, I find that the iPad works very well (for me). I have all I need with Diet Coda, OmniGraffle, OmniOutliner, DesignPad, Idea Bucket, Writing Kit, and Photoshop Touch. I just wish for a larger screen.
- MatthewPhillips 14y ago
  Task switching in iOS is pretty horrible, as with most mobile OSes. If you're switching behind that many apps you must have a high tolerance for pain. Also I disagree with you that iOS is good for professionals. The way it attempts to hide the idea of files makes it very inconvenient to work with (coupled with the lack of a compelling alternative). I can't think of any professions where files aren't important.
  - Samuel_Michon 14y ago
    "Task switching in iOS is pretty horrible" Four finger swipe works like a charm. [1] "The way [iOS] attempts to hide the idea of files makes it very inconvenient to work with" It doesn't hide documents, iOS has a different way of presenting and organizing them than you're used to. Instead of putting them all on one pile for you to sort out, iOS takes an app centric approach. You never have to search for that spreadsheet you made last week, you know it's in the file drawer in the Numbers app (and with iCloud, the spreadsheets you made on your Mac will also be there). Of course the standard way iOS handles files doesn't work for everyone. If you have thousands of files you need to sift through, you might prefer using Dropbox or SFTP with an app like GoodReader, or use a web app like Google Docs. [1] http://gigaom.com/2012/04/02/how-to-use-ipad-multitasking-gestures-and-why-you-should/ http://gigaom.com/2012/04/02/how-to-use-ipad-multitasking-ge...
    - MatthewPhillips 14y ago
      The app-centric approach breaks down when you have to share that data out to colleagues who collaborate on it or gasp use it on a non-Apple device. These things can be fixed but as it stands you really have to go out of your way and adapt your own workflow because of the limitations of the platform.
  - tracker1 14y ago
    I found that task switching in webOS was REALLY nice.. and am glad that Android has since adopted a similar switcher. Now the lack of a physical menu button on most android devices is a different issue.
stcredzero 14y ago
> as a pro user the very last thing I want is a sandboxed jailhouse. Apple is abandoning pro users across the board. I think their take is that non-programmer pro users are where it's at for future touch-enabled apps.
- rsl7 14y ago
  I agree and that's what is so terrible. Paper isn't pro or non-pro. You can go but expensive brushes and paint, or buy cheap stuff, or whatever you want. There are no limitations in the physical world. But in the digital world, you have severe, totalitarian definitions of pro and amateur. You are not free to paint on your typed document. Ever. Unless the developers foresaw and expressly allowed for that event.

protomyth 14y ago

It does seem there is a bit of willingness in Apple to build a higher-end iPad (given the 128GB model). I would expect something along the lines of a larger model designed for artists and situations where a big surface is required. A 15" screen gets you 9 x 12 in screen which would be good and still portable. I would bet it has the same connections as every other iPad. I do wonder if when an AppleTV SDK appears, does that mean we will get an iOS version of the iMac? At that point the Mac becomes a prosumer / pro OS.

vl 14y ago
>designed for artists For that they need good stylus support, and they ignored it for years.

walshemj 14y ago

bad analogy to use a car analogy a high end iPad would just be a tuned scooter as opposed to a full on 4wd super car say the Audi R8 with the factory approved performance pack. It wouldn't even be say a Shelby Cobra Mustang