Other Desktop mode on future iPhone

[jav6454]

That's just narrow-minded. Phones are anything but phones today. They are handheld computers. There are already companies trying to make them more versatile (Samsung DeX, Ready For by Motorola, Microsoft tried Continuum, etc.).

Laptops don't have a higher standard than phones. Many phones are better than many laptops. Plus, a phone can do so much more. It's easier to replace a laptop with a phone than the other way around. A laptop has a bad camera, doesn't fit in the pocket, can't make calls, etc.

Of course, there are those who need a really high-performance computers or prefer something else. This doesn't mean that for a large majority, a phone would be all they need. They could give up both traditional computer, camera, etc.

I absolutely believe that this is the future. Just comical to read how many don't already see the potential in it. You don't have to get rid of anything and the transition for even simple users can take time (or it goes faster than you think).

It's not narrow-minded. It's correct minded. Apple has created an ecosystem for the type of uses you need. An iPhone is not meant nor has it ever been marketed to replace desktop/laptops.

Just because X is better than Y doesn't mean X should do Y. Again, each product is a tool and you are asking to use the in correct tool.

The potential you see is already being enabled thru the iPad which offers close to desktop/laptop experience.

 

[4419867]

It's not narrow-minded. It's correct minded. Apple has created an ecosystem for the type of uses you need. An iPhone is not meant nor has it ever been marketed to replace desktop/laptops.

Just because X is better than Y doesn't mean X should do Y. Again, each product is a tool and you are asking to use the in correct tool.

The potential you see is already being enabled thru the iPad which offers close to desktop/laptop experience.

I don't agree at all.

You may think that Apple has created a perfect ecosystem, but no ecosystem is needed when a single device is all you need. If something is needed, it's a better ecosystem for compatible accessories.

The iPad is far from perfect, and as little as a laptop can replace a phone, an iPad can't replace a phone either. Should people walk around with an iPad? It's not portable enough.

I know many who don't even own an iPad or a tablet at all. I think tablets are pretty useless too. I prefer to be mobile or stationary. A phone provides that opportunity with e.g. Samsung DeX and Motorola Ready For.

 

[jav6454]

I don't agree at all.

You may think that Apple has created a perfect "ecosystem", but no ecosystem is needed when a single device is all you need. If anything, better ecosystems for compatible accessories are needed.

The iPad is far from perfect, and as little as a laptop can replace a phone, an iPad can't replace a phone either. Should people walk around with an iPad? It's not portable enough.

I know many who don't even own an iPad or a tablet at all. I think tablets are pretty useless too. I prefer to be mobile or stationary. A phone provides that opportunity with e.g. Samsung DeX and Motorola Ready For.

An ecosystem is compromised of several elements, not one. An iPhone is for quick things, not meant to be your one and all computing solution.

 

[4419867]

An ecosystem is compromised of several elements, not one. An iPhone is for quick things, not meant to be your one and all computing solution.

Despite what you say, it already is for many. You can try to think outside the box.

It's true that Apple didn't create the iPhone to be your only device, yet you will go further with the iPhone than their other devices.

However, the competitors have made it more possible to only use your phone and there I think the competitors are more on the right track.

 

[jav6454]

Despite what you say, it already is for many. You can try to think outside the box.

It's true that Apple didn't create the iPhone to be your only device, yet you will go further with the iPhone than their other devices.

However, the competitors have made it more possible to only use your phone and there I think the competitors are more on the right track.

I have. I tried, and it doesn't work. You can try and you'll find that eventually it is not meant for it.

 

[4419867]

I have. I tried, and it doesn't work. You can try and you'll find that eventually it is not meant for it.

Have you tried Samsung DeX and/or Ready For by Motorla?

Possibly it's not competent enough for you yet.

Yes, I'll try it. Just going to find a phone model that suits me.

Desktop mode has been hidden in Android since Android 10 with some news in Android 12 (still hidden). I'm excitedly waiting to see when Google does something more with it.

Until then, I will try different manufacturers' trials. Mainly interested in Ready For by Motorola. Looks more refined than Samsung DeX.

 

[Bodhitree]

Microsoft in the days of Windows Phone had a feature called Continuum which was a lot like this. That was back around 2011, so this idea goes back a ways. Although Continuum relied upon plugging a phone into a custom dock with various devices attached. It was pretty cool, but devices back then were not powerful enough to make it a reality.

But today, an iPhone has enough processing power to function as a desktop computer. The vision of carrying your desktop with you whereever you go still holds today, I think there is a significant value in having a device besides cloud computers and storage.

 

[_Spinn_]

Now that they've announced Stage Manager I would love to see that on an external display when I plug an iPhone into a dock. I doubt Apple would do this though because they are afraid it would cannibalize sales of other devices (especially iPads). This is probably the same reason we'll never see Pencil support come to an iPhone.

 

[jav6454]

For those asking for Desktop Mode, there you go, another proof from Apple that the iPhone is meant as a phone. An iPad can make a bridge should you need it.

 

[kamikazeeMC]

As my computing needs have gotten less demanding over time, this idea is starting to appeal to me, but still far off. I am currently wanting to change from my desktop build to a Mac mini (hoping there will be a M2 pro/max option later).

With ever evolving tech, the ‘mobile phone’ is capable of being an only compute device for some and starting to get there for a few more. Maybe one day you could fit the power of a high end desktop into a ‘phone’ in turn, redefining the current ecosystem. For example the phone acting as the compute unit, when docked at a desk for a desktop experience. Docking into a laptop in place of the PCB and components. Then the same with a tablet. They key here being the phone containing the compute part, so the laptop and table would essentially be a shell with extra accessories, bigger screen, additional battery, keyboard, ports. And with the desktop the dock would cover extra ports and not needing the big tower.

In the future when something with the power of the M1 and beyond, can fit inside and plugging into a monitor would give you a traditional desktop. I could see my self using that. While I’m aware there were A12Z dev kits for the M1 macs, they had 16gb of ram which would be needed for macOS environment vs the current 4/6gb offering of the phones and A series iPads.

I’ve tried an iPad in place of a desktop for half a year. I did manage to get by, but iOS was too limiting and some tasks took more time to accomplish or were dropped altogether.

Stage manager makes a step forward, but still lacking a proper desktop environment.

I wouldn’t run an M1 iPad with iPadOS 16 docked full time with stage manager as it makes more sense to just get a Mac mini, and use my current iPad in sidecar mode for pencil inputs if needed.

 

[vanzantapple]

So I'm starting to get interested in Samsung DeX and Ready For by Motorola. Heard of this feature before but I feel more interested now than ever. It undeniably feels like the future.

There's a hidden desktop mode in Android since Android 10 and some minor update in Android 12, I think. At present it only seems to be offered by Samsung, Motorola and Huawei (heard something about Xiaomi as well as former LG). However, the fact that it's hidden in Android at all says something about Google's plans.

How interested are you Apple fans of this feature? I guess Apple won't jump on this if they don't have to as it may affect their other product categories (Mac, iPad). In my opinion sad as I think most people will be happy with the power of today's and future phone processors. I know people who don't even own anything other than their phone.

Of course, there will always be professionals who need more power but I'm talking about the larger mass.

Fortunately, I'm not tied to Apple's ecosystem (used Android and iOS as much). So for me it will be easy, but of course I hope that Apple wants to get into the game as well (competition is always good). However, I doubt that Apple will do it voluntarily (would like to be wrong).

Would love to hear your thoughts and reflections. I personally see no major point with the phone running both iOS and macOS but developing iOS to offer a desktop environment (more like iPadOS). Although iPadOS also requires improvements, just such a thing as it has black bars on the side when connected to a monitor...

I'm planning on buying a used Samsung Galaxy S10e for DEX and for a spare phone. I like tinkering. This looks interesting.

Adios.

 

[magicschoolbus]

You don't need to make a desktop mode on the iPhone, the iPhone can easily become a whole macOS running computer when connected to a monitor. Dual boot can easily do that and switch back and forth between iOS / macOS depending on how you intend to use the device.

Just think about it: in the future any iPhone will be powered by a future version of the M1. The iPad is already powered by the M1 and it M1 natively supports Thunderbolt and so will the iPhone. Connect the iPhone to a Thunderbolt dock that is connected to a monitor, keyboard, printer, etc. and there you have it. The iPhone has enough storage to boot into macOS and function just like a regular Mac and the chip support is probably already there, the only thing that prevents it from happening is Apple. For that to happen, the iPad has to become a tablet / macOS hybrid device first, but that hasn't started either.

To me, an iPhone becoming a full blown computer would be the next big thing since the introduction of the iPhone. One device for all my computing needs, mobile or desktop. I would happily pay the price of an iPhone and Macbook combined if such an iPhone existed. Too bad Apple doesn't seem to see the opportunity. Microsoft can't match this with Windows and their ecosystem since they are in bed with x86-64 chips that are power hungry, that would never work on mobile. Microsoft is now in bed with Google for Android on mobile phones (different OS and different ecosystem all together). Apple can have their whole ecosystem with apps and everything on 1 device only and they would be the only option on the market, they could just own this market segment without any competition.

I have the same sentiments as you. I think this will happen sooner than later as apple moves to their own chipsets. Where you can walk into an office, plug your phone into a thunderbolt cable, and bam, it’s running a full Mac OSX on an external monitor. Unplug, back to iOS on your phone. I always thought the iPad would be the better testing ground for this environment, given its already running an M1, and with the Smart Keyboard; it would be killer to just pop the iPad onto the magnetic keyboard and trackpad and boom Mac OS.. pull it off, back to iOS.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I have the same sentiments as you. I think this will happen sooner than later as apple moves to their own chipsets. Where you can walk into an office, plug your phone into a thunderbolt cable, and bam, it’s running a full Mac OSX on an external monitor. Unplug, back to iOS on your phone. I always thought the iPad would be the better testing ground for this environment, given its already running an M1, and with the Smart Keyboard; it would be killer to just pop the iPad onto the magnetic keyboard and trackpad and boom Mac OS.. pull it off, back to iOS.

For Apple’s apps, I’m sure they’d put in the work. For third parties? Not likely. They already have a hard enough time trying to have feature and UI parity between iPad and macOS apps. What’s more likely is iOS just behaves more like iPadOS for Apple’s built-in apps like Calendar, Reminders, Safari, when projected to a larger screen.

As this thread is about wishes, totally fine for a wish, tho.

 

[roland.g]

The problem with this concept, and it is in theory just a concept is really that simple.

In an iPad you can use Universal Control with a Mac to make it a second screen or to use the keyboard/mouse from the computer.

With Stage Manager, the iPad can become even more desktop like with an external display without the need for another Mac.

In the Desktop mode that you propose, you are asking an iPhone, a very compact device with a more limited battery than an iPad to become the computer and support an external display (something they have had to delay with Stage Manager and iPad OS 16 for another month or two). So you want to suck battery life and essentially shorten battery life by adding charge cycles to an iPhone, that's fine but...

The other reality is that trying to get an iPhone to do that much will create heat issues. We aren't there yet. I know there are cooling rumors potentially coming with the iPhone 14 or 15, but any sort of Desktop mode will tax the chip too much and create too much heat to make it a viable working product in that environment.

 

[pbonitati]

Forget all this BS you guys are posting and going on about, it's not gonna happen for the simple reason of one word: Money. If they allowed this ability it could hinder sales of other products. Now, the idea in itself IMO is pretty cool. I've used DEX and was quite pleased with it and for the right person and scenario it could be a game changer.