iPad OS and Mac OSX live switching idea?

[rowanmwilliams]

I was just having a look once more over the iPad tech specs and features and it got me thinking.

What if in some future version of the iPad when it became docked in the keyboard with a bluetooth mouse paired it switched to a fully fledged Mac OS X. Why is it not possible for it to run a touchscreen GUI when not docked, then switch over when it is?

Sure enough the processing power, storage and battery my not be quite up to the task yet but we may not be too far off. Sure enough components will get smaller and smaller, with SSD getting larger ad battery longer.

Just a thought, i would love to see something like this done if possible some day.

 

[miles01110]

Because there's no point in having a touch screen if the OS isn't tailored for the touch interface.

 

[illutionz]

You mean this kind of concept?

When the screen is locked into its upright position in the laptop's chassis, it's powered by a CULV Intel Core 2 Duo processor and runs Windows 7 Home Premium. But when the screen is pulled from its shell it morphs into a Qualcomm Snapdragon powered-multitouch slate with a 16GB SSD that boots Lenovo's customized Skylight Linux interface.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/04/lenovo-ideapad-u1-hybrid-laptop-by-day-unhinged-tablet-by-nigh/

 

[hamlinspahn]

Touch Interface.

Because there's no point in having a touch screen if the OS isn't tailored for the touch interface.

I'm not so sure OS X with minimal changes could work quite well in a touch world. But then again I think they call that iPhone OS.

 

[rowanmwilliams]

Thats where your wrong, its tailored to both. When your out having a coffee, in bed reading, on the lounge surfing the net, or wherever you are not tied to a desk it uses the simple touch interface. However, when you are at a desk, it has the ability to run some semi serious apps, such as excel, word, powerpoint, numbers, pages, keynote, iLife in its full glory. Not just a slimmed down version designed around touch.

 

[miles01110]

Sure enough the processing power, storage and battery my not be quite up to the task yet but we may not be too far off.

If it's docked, why would this even matter?

However, when you are at a desk, it has the ability to run some semi serious apps, such as excel, word, powerpoint, numbers, pages, keynote, iLife in its full glory. Not just a slimmed down version designed around touch.

...but....that's what computers are for. Why would I run one of those apps on a tiny screen when I could do the same job more efficiently on my desktop? The entire point of the iPad- allegedly- is to be a "new class" of device. What you're doing is turning it into a Macbook Air.

 

[rowanmwilliams]

You mean this kind of concept?

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/04/lenovo-ideapad-u1-hybrid-laptop-by-day-unhinged-tablet-by-nigh/

Pretty much like that, but with two changes.
1) It does not need any more than a keyboard and mouse, the device is fast and powerful enough to run itself. You can just connect it to any old keyboard and mouse and BOOM.
2) It would look much better than that design.

If it's docked, why would this even matter?

Its docked to just a keyboard, like the iPad is now. The point is where ever you go you have the best of both worlds, it does not matter where you dock it the iPad itself has all the power and storage it needs. All your files, your work in your pocket.

Ill give you an example. It might help illustrate my idea better.

Say im at home before i head out to uni/work i am working on an assessment in pages and i am also listening to some music in itunes. The iPad is docked to my keyboard and mouse so i am using the full Mac OSX mode. I use it just like a would a normal computer navigate with a pointer etc.

I then realize i need to catch the bus and train to uni/work. So i undock it. It switches on the fly to the iPhone OS touch interface.

I sit down on the train to finish off my paper, the Pages App is already open in the doc right where i left off (as it was the last active window i was using when docked) and the music is playing in the background though the iPod App.

Its fluid, no thinking. Everything is just there, working in one device. Its not reliant on what you dock it with as all the grunt comes from the device itself.

Why would I run one of those apps on a tiny screen when I could do the same job more efficiently on my desktop? The entire point of the iPad- allegedly- is to be a "new class" of device. What you're doing is turning it into a Macbook Air.

What's wrong with that? The Macbook Air is to bulky to work well in transit, and the iPad is to crippled to work well stationary. One device, everything. No need for either the Air or iPad as a stand alone.

Also if you can do all of that on a computer, thats great! Do it, the iPad, Macbook Air and this convergence of the two is obviously not for you.

 

[cjbryce]

Its docked to just a keyboard, like the iPad is now. The point is where ever you go you have the best of both worlds, it does not matter where you dock it the iPad itself has all the power and storage it needs. All your files, your work in your pocket.

Ill give you an example. It might help illustrate my idea better.

Say im at home before i head out to uni/work i am working on an assessment in pages and i am also listening to some music in itunes. The iPad is docked to my keyboard and mouse so i am using the full Mac OSX mode. I use it just like a would a normal computer navigate with a pointer etc.

I then realize i need to catch the bus and train to uni/work. So i undock it. It switches on the fly to the iPhone OS touch interface.

I sit down on the train to finish off my paper, the Pages App is already open in the doc right where i left off (as it was the last active window i was using when docked) and the music is playing in the background though the iPod App.

Its fluid, no thinking. Everything is just there, working in one device. Its not reliant on what you dock it with as all the grunt comes from the device itself.

I'm sure there'll be a load of (cleverer than me) people along in a bit to tell us why this can't work, but I think you've got a good idea there. Maybe Steve is listening Either way, you've spilled the beans now, so no patent for you

 

[miles01110]

Its docked to just a keyboard, like the iPad is now. The point is where ever you go you have the best of both worlds, it does not matter where you dock it the iPad itself has all the power and storage it needs. All your files, your work in your pocket.

Yeah, I get that. In your original post you said something about power and battery requirements, which wouldn't matter if it was docked since any dock worth manufacturing would have power. Or am I missing something?

Ill give you an example. It might help illustrate my idea better.

Another problem with having two versions of an app on one device is what happens when you use a feature on the full version but then have to make an edit in the "mobile" version? That'd be extremely irritating.

What's wrong with that? The Macbook Air is to bulky to work well in transit

Uh... not really.

Also if you can do all of that on a computer, thats great! Do it, the iPad, Macbook Air and this convergence of the two is obviously not for you.

Apparently it's not for anyone, since this will never happen

 

[fishkorp]

As long as Apple rebuilds the entire OS to run on ARM architecture...

 

[rowanmwilliams]

I'm sure there'll be a load of (cleverer than me) people along in a bit to tell us why this can't work, but I think you've got a good idea there. Maybe Steve is listening Either way, you've spilled the beans now, so no patent for you

Haha why thank you, i am glad someone sees where i am coming from. Your right though, someone much smarter than both of us will probably discover some major flaw with the idea and why it wont/cant work.

As for the patent haha im not fussed. I will be happy if it just gets done.

 

[rowanmwilliams]

Yeah, I get that. In your original post you said something about power and battery requirements, which wouldn't matter if it was docked since any dock worth manufacturing would have power. Or am I missing something?


Another problem with having two versions of an app on one device is what happens when you use a feature on the full version but then have to make an edit in the "mobile" version? That'd be extremely irritating.




Uh... not really.




Apparently it's not for anyone, since this will never happen

By power i mean the processing power it possesses. My bad i should have been clearer.

There are mobile versions of desktop apps out there already, the apparent billions of people downloading them don't mind. And if you do need to edit something thats not in the mobile app, wait till you dock it again. Easy.

I would much rather use an iPad on a bus, train, or car that use a laptop. They slide move and bounce, you have to re adjust the screen. And as thin and as light as they are, they are still a pain to use well when there is a crowd.

"Apparently it's not for anyone, since this will never happen" 450,000 is a not of nobodies with iPads in a few days.

As long as Apple rebuilds the entire OS to run on ARM architecture...

What if the iPad changed to intel. Used its version of rosetta to manage arm programmed apps, just like the power pc to intel transition. Also i never said this was to work with this model of ipad.

 

[miles01110]

There are mobile versions of desktop apps out there already, the apparent billions of people downloading them don't mind.

Ok? That doesn't have anything to do with the issue I raised.

And if you do need to edit something thats not in the mobile app, wait till you dock it again. Easy.

Using your example, what if you had to catch a train to give a presentation and then couldn't edit something in Keynote on the go? Oops.

I would much rather use an iPad on a bus, train, or car that use a laptop. They slide move and bounce, you have to re adjust the screen. And as thin and as light as they are, they are still a pain to use well when there is a crowd.

To each their own, but no device is easy to use "in a crowd."

"Apparently it's not for anyone, since this will never happen" 450,000 is a not of nobodies with iPads in a few days.

How many of those run a full version of OS X? That's what I thought.

What if the iPad changed to intel. Used its version of rosetta to manage arm programmed apps, just like the power pc to intel transition. Also i never said this was to work with this model of ipad.

Intel doesn't make a chip that even comes close to what Apple would be looking for.

 

[r0k]

I've proposed this as well.

I'd really like an iMac with a dockable screen that I can pick up and walk away and treat as an iPad.

In the meantime, I'd also like to be able to use a mouse with the iPad and have a cursor show up when I've got a bt mouse paired with it. For me, this would solve a lot of usability issues involving safari that prevent me from doing something as simple as a drag and drop. I wouldn't mind carrying an iPad, bt keyboard and bt mouse around and leaving bt off until I had some serious typing to do.

 

[Fraaaa]

I see Apple going up two roads now.

Improving Mac OS X, and make iPhone OS growing.

"Soon" or later iPhone OS could be running on some desktops and laptops.

And I see in my future of Apple having an iMac that can be set at 90 or 45 degrees or put flat and touch it anywhere.

 

[rowanmwilliams]

Ok? That doesn't have anything to do with the issue I raised.

I thought you would apply some logic, never the less ill spell it out for you.
Your argument:
"Another problem with having two versions of an app on one device is what happens when you use a feature on the full version but then have to make an edit in the "mobile" version? That'd be extremely irritating."

How my response applies: There are many apps in the app store that duplicate, or attempt to recreate a desktop class app. And many more people have downloaded them. You agree to this fact. They don't do everything the desktop class app does. Yet people still use them and love them.

Conclusion: They do not find the fact that the all the features from the full desktop app may not be there irritating.

As a side note: Even if some of them did, like yourself find it irritating, the beauty of this device is that in order to get that full functionality you just wait till you dock it. No sync to a comp, no emails. Noting just dock and continue.

Using your example, what if you had to catch a train to give a presentation and then couldn't edit something in Keynote on the go? Oops.

First of all, i wouldn't leave it to the last minute to do that presentation which is what your implying. I would also know the limitations of the app before i continued to work on it in transit. I would just work on something else in that presentation if i couldn't not do it in transit, and as i said above i would just do it when docked.

To each their own, but no device is easy to use "in a crowd."

But an iPad is much easier.

How many of those run a full version of OS X? That's what I thought.

Whats your point here? Obviously its none, if they did run a full version of OSX then would this post be here? I think not.

Intel doesn't make a chip that even comes close to what Apple would be looking for.

Im no processor expert but the Atom (from a brief look) seems to be able to double the power the A4 Chip can? Why wouldn't that work? Who is to say they couldn't collaborate on a chip design using the guys apple has acquired.