6 ms·

Updated iPad Pro with Stylus and Kickstand, connect a keyboard / keyboard cover and mouse/trackpad, able to run full OS X, but also touch optimized iOS Apps.

mlitwiniuk 11y ago
That would be too awesome. This is in fact the main reason why Surface Pro looks so tempting. iPad is gread device, but not beeing able to code on it is it's main problem (although I still love my device)
threeseed 11y ago
This is definitely the missing piece in Apple's development story. Microsoft has already moved to a one app, run anywhere model which is very compelling from a development perspective. Apple as yet hasn't provided their take on it. I expect at some point soon they will deprecate AppKit, move everything into UIKit and use the iPad Pro as the vehicle to drive it i.e. it will only support iOS and Universal apps.
- vbezhenar 11y ago
  This is unlikely. Apple's stance on this matter is to make a clear division between professional computer (OS X) and entertainment consumer devices (iPhone, iPad) and corresponding interfaces (touch vs pointer). I don't see this changing. They even afraid to make iFinder or iCloud Drive for iOS.
  - WorldWideWayne 11y ago
    Very unlikely just because Apple said so? I don't trust what they say because in the past they have talked down about certain tech only to turn around and implement it later. The biggest example of this is when they switched to Intel CPUs.
berntb 11y ago
3rd party covers have built in keyboards. A new generation of Macs with touch screens and a good iPad emulator could allow the gigantic iOS application base to run on OS X? But it probably won't work well enough for Apple. I'd prefer better Linux integration with iOS and OS X. I need 'apt' more than I need OS X's App Store. :-( (And yes, I'm hell banned. Too easily trolled when I have allergy problems. :-) )
MCRed 11y ago
Apple isn't going to turn into Microsoft. And there's a reason why this is the wrong product. iOS is already OS X enough. Running a desktop operating system on a tablet doesn't make sense. If you want a laptop that's as small and lightweight as the iPad you can get a Macbook Air.
- veidr 11y ago
  You're sort of right, but laptops with dumb screens that are incapable of understanding touch events also don't make sense in 2015. Even if it only gets used one in a while, every laptop (and desktop) should be able to let you scroll and tap buttons and UI elements with your finger in a pinch.
  - seanmcdirmid 11y ago
    Software here is more expensive than hardware. Apple wouldn't do it unless they can provide a good experience for it, and they really don't know how to do that yet. It isn't just a few gestures, but the whole guerrilla arm thing, which is why you don't see touch being used often on PC laptops that don't have flat tablet configurations.
    - veidr 11y ago
      I totally used to agree with that, but it only took one hour with a touchscreen windows PC to make my MacBooks all feel broken. I still mainly use my MacBook Pro, because overall, Windows just doesn't cut it for what I need to do. And I personally don't really need touch that often -- but every single time I do (on the phone, holding a baby, jerking off with right hand, whatever), it is maddening that it doesn't work. Even if limited to just basic scrolling and tapping, basic touch screen support is still way better than nothing. I think you are right about why Apple doesn't do it yet, but I think Apple is utterly wrong not to do it for that reason. It's a classic case of making the perfect the enemy of the good. Truly awesome touch (and stylus!) support would be great; no touch support at all just feels incorrect.
      - 11y ago

mlitwiniuk 11y ago

That would be too awesome. This is in fact the main reason why Surface Pro looks so tempting. iPad is gread device, but not beeing able to code on it is it's main problem (although I still love my device)

threeseed 11y ago

This is definitely the missing piece in Apple's development story. Microsoft has already moved to a one app, run anywhere model which is very compelling from a development perspective. Apple as yet hasn't provided their take on it. I expect at some point soon they will deprecate AppKit, move everything into UIKit and use the iPad Pro as the vehicle to drive it i.e. it will only support iOS and Universal apps.

vbezhenar 11y ago
This is unlikely. Apple's stance on this matter is to make a clear division between professional computer (OS X) and entertainment consumer devices (iPhone, iPad) and corresponding interfaces (touch vs pointer). I don't see this changing. They even afraid to make iFinder or iCloud Drive for iOS.
- WorldWideWayne 11y ago
  Very unlikely just because Apple said so? I don't trust what they say because in the past they have talked down about certain tech only to turn around and implement it later. The biggest example of this is when they switched to Intel CPUs.

berntb 11y ago

3rd party covers have built in keyboards. A new generation of Macs with touch screens and a good iPad emulator could allow the gigantic iOS application base to run on OS X? But it probably won't work well enough for Apple. I'd prefer better Linux integration with iOS and OS X. I need 'apt' more than I need OS X's App Store. :-( (And yes, I'm hell banned. Too easily trolled when I have allergy problems. :-) )

MCRed 11y ago

Apple isn't going to turn into Microsoft. And there's a reason why this is the wrong product. iOS is already OS X enough. Running a desktop operating system on a tablet doesn't make sense. If you want a laptop that's as small and lightweight as the iPad you can get a Macbook Air.

veidr 11y ago
You're sort of right, but laptops with dumb screens that are incapable of understanding touch events also don't make sense in 2015. Even if it only gets used one in a while, every laptop (and desktop) should be able to let you scroll and tap buttons and UI elements with your finger in a pinch.
- seanmcdirmid 11y ago
  Software here is more expensive than hardware. Apple wouldn't do it unless they can provide a good experience for it, and they really don't know how to do that yet. It isn't just a few gestures, but the whole guerrilla arm thing, which is why you don't see touch being used often on PC laptops that don't have flat tablet configurations.
  - veidr 11y ago
    I totally used to agree with that, but it only took one hour with a touchscreen windows PC to make my MacBooks all feel broken. I still mainly use my MacBook Pro, because overall, Windows just doesn't cut it for what I need to do. And I personally don't really need touch that often -- but every single time I do (on the phone, holding a baby, jerking off with right hand, whatever), it is maddening that it doesn't work. Even if limited to just basic scrolling and tapping, basic touch screen support is still way better than nothing. I think you are right about why Apple doesn't do it yet, but I think Apple is utterly wrong not to do it for that reason. It's a classic case of making the perfect the enemy of the good. Truly awesome touch (and stylus!) support would be great; no touch support at all just feels incorrect.
    - 11y ago