All iPads iPadOS Really Needs Its "Mac OS X" Release

[Rafterman]

Ever hear of Bill Belichick and "the Patriot way?"

Well, it's "the Apple way." Its an almost stubbornness not to do what's expected. So don't expect Apple ot ever have MacOS run on a tablet in the foreseeable future.

 

[Qaulity]

How is the lack of Terminal hindering your day to day activities on the iPad?
How would the Terminal transform the iPad from a consumption device to a creation device?

I use terminal daily to manage servers and disks. Easy enough with the apps available but no access to files so can’t send or receive any to local/remote machine(s) or disks.

…and here we go again with the usual bottom line complaint, the File System.
So let me ask you, can you explain to me what can you do on a day to day basis with MacOS Finder that you cannot do with iPadOS Files?
How is Files stopping you from performing your day to day activities on the iPad?
I am genuinely curious to know why this is an issue for so many people.

Can’t access files across apps without a tons of hoops to jump through. I have 1TB of storage available on my ipad, sucks I can’t use it to move large files around or write to external or network drives. Would be nice to rsync files across machines or attached devices. Being able to run virtual machines like on a proper computer would also be awesome, then iPadOS could be as chromosomally challenged as Apple wants it to be.

I was putting a raspberry pi robot together with my kid the other week. I was using my iPad as a pdf viewer to follow instructions. You know what would’ve been super helpful, being able to format the sdcard for the pi on the iPad and being able to mount the sdcard to edit the config files. Now this isn’t something i do every day, but it’s close, and my iPad could replace most of my workflow if it would be used as an actual computer. The GUI doesn’t bother me so much, it’s everything behind the scenes that make it practically useless outside of content consumption.

 

[Macalway]

As so many mention, these MacOS on iPad threads appear at every iPad release. Problem is, it doesn't find its way to Apple's ears, cuz we would have it by now. Apple listens if it's loud enough. With this, probably really loud,

So close yet so far.

 

[sparksd]

As so many mention, these MacOS on iPad threads appear at every iPad release. Problem is, it doesn't find its way to Apple's ears, cuz we would have it by now. Apple listens if it's loud enough. With this, probably really loud,

So close yet so far.

If they saw a clear long-term net profit and ROI, they would likely do it; otherwise, nope.

 

[waltman]

I agree. Every iPad with M-series chips should have side loading and handle more windows in stage manager. iPad Pros are already as capable as Macbook Airs with support for one external display, Apple apps, and versatility. They have the potential to be greater.

 

[hagjohn]

I’ll add one more important point: We got my father-in-law, who’s in his 80s, an iPad for Christmas. It’s been a game changer for him and it works due to the simplicity of iPadOS.

So there’s clearly a segment where running MacOS would be detrimental… and certainly the voices of this segment are not represented in this forum 😂

I do not think people are saying replace iPadOS with MacOS. We are saying add a MacOS version. You can have both, you know.

 

[hagjohn]

In what way is this not currently possible on an iPad as it is? If the hardware is really that good, then it's on the devs to figure out how to use it

The only way I see iPad OS going through its "OS X phase" is if the platform is opened up like a traditional OS, which would require Apple completely changing their stance on how much control they have over it... Just look at how much effort they put into going against the EU thing on thrid-party app stores or installing apps like a regular OS

Apple can put MacOS on an iPad, if it wanted to. Microsoft put Windows on a Surface. Obviously, there is a market for it.

 

[WilliApple]

iPadOS compared to iOS is pretty buggy in general.
I agree that there needs to be a rearchitecting of iPadOS, perhaps start with iOS again as the foundation, and carefully add features so that apps developed for iPadOS still work on "iPadOS rewrite"

Stuff like the Lock Screen editor, something pretty perfect on iOS, is very buggy on iPadOS. That's just 1 example, and using my mouse on my iPad is also VERY BUGGY...

 

[GCat]

Apple can put MacOS on an iPad, if it wanted to. Microsoft put Windows on a Surface. Obviously, there is a market for it.

If there is obviously a market for it, then why doesn’t Apple offer it?

 

[Macalway]

Some people mention MS Surface, but Tablet PC, which was the forerunner to that, and what Surface is basically, was introduced in 2001. Dozens of brands have done TPC.

Apple has repeatedly said no to all sorts of things related to this, yet here we are.

On a side note, I think Boot Camp for iPad. Or at least allow Parallels.

 

[Jamie0003]

because it’s in Apple best interest to make the Mac preferable.

This is what I never understand though…. Why? Why does Apple need to hamper iPadOS the way they do? They make both products don’t they? It’s a win win for them.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Y’all are hilarious arguing whether or not it’s technically possible, or whether it aligns with Apple’s user experience ideologies.

It’s all about money. Specifically that Apple has next to no issues selling iPads and Macs as they are right now, respectively.

iPads, despite their many arbitrary limitations, still outperform all other tablets and tablet+laptop combos.

iPad is perfect for the increasing number of consumers who just passively want to consume content and have no need to edit files or large media files, but still want a device that can to a smaller extent replace a laptop or desktop computer without going all the way.

iPad is most of what iPhones are with a sprinkle of Mac “Pro” apps and features but minus the openness of a real Mac that some users get overwhelmed by or don’t need(yes, there are several many millions of those, believe it or not).

If Apple wanted a touchscreen Mac then iPad would have launched on day 1 with macOS.

 

[bcortens]

I'm certain it's feasible, but Apple doesn't do it because of cost reasons or to differentiate the product line (or both).

And, as I keep pointing out, switching between two OS’s is just not a great user experience if you think about it for more than two seconds.

 

[Ludatyk]

This is what I never understand though…. Why? Why does Apple need to hamper iPadOS the way they do? They make both products don’t they? It’s a win win for them.

I don't view it as Apple hampering iPadOS... it's two different products. The Mac has been in the game for decades whereas the iPad is trying to establish its own footing. Mac features will trickle down to the iPad, but in a more iPad-style manner.

I think deep down the people who criticize the iPad... just want Apple to build a touch screen Mac. And since the iPad has touch support... that's their opportunity into requesting it. But Mac already exists... what's the purpose of turning the iPad into a Mac?

 

[Shirasaki]

iPad's don't need anything. If something is missing from iPad OS, using cloud computing or remote access into one of your other computers.

It is really simple.

Yeah iPadOS 1 should be the version we use today, plus iOS 7 uhh design, since Remote Desktop can solve everything. No need for uhh what does it called? Stage manager yes and slide over Split View etc etc.

 

[Ludatyk]

iPad is obviously Apple's product because Apple designs and sells it.

But the way you phrased it as if no one wants an iPad.

Folks always compare it to the Mac largely because of that ridiculous "what's a computer" campaign featuring iPad. True story, my boss often says I have 3 laptops despite I only have two: one Windows laptop and one MacBook Pro. Reason? iPad Pro with keyboard accessory looks just like a laptop. A few other people I met in the past also says I am using a laptop when I am using iPad with keyboard.

The reason why the "what's a computer" campaign exist... it aided in showcasing what the iPad can do, because critics have been programmed into thinking the iPad is just a consumption device nothing more. And that the iPad cannot be used for "real work."

So, Apple can choose to maintain status quo and inch forward iPad to be infinitely close to Mac but never become one, pick a direction and go with it: make iPad the best iPhone ever or full on MacBook Lite running a variant of macOS, or find a new direction to head into, such as making iPad the Apple Nest.

And why would it become some form of macOS... when the Mac already exist? Help me out here.

What's the purpose of making the iPad into an Apple Nest? It already has this capability within Home app.

 

[Macalway]

Cloud computing, Remote Desktop can solve everything?

Latency is it's shortcoming. People do play games that way somehow, but there's so many thing that will not work.

 

[bcortens]

What would macOS + iPad OS on the same device actually be like?

To do it in a sane manner (not just actually hard rebooting the device) you’d want macOS and iPadOS to be running simultaneously, this means you need a new OS that sits beneath both to hot swap when it detects the Magic Keyboard.

What is that hot swapping experience like?

Remove iPad from Magic Keyboard, wait for the system as it sleeps macOS and writes the contents of memory to disk to preserve the state of macOS. Next read the last used iPadOS state into memory and wake from sleep.
Next, for each and every app you were using in macOS, you have to open them up in iPadOS in the exact same place you left off in order for them to actually carry over.

Continuity right now doesn’t really help because it doesn’t sync all app state and usually only the most recent App. This also relies upon app developers to get on board with this. We can barely convince App devs to build great iPad apps today, you really think they are going to go to the trouble of supporting this one wonky edge case?

Now you’re ready to work in iPad OS, this isn’t seemless, or smooth, or very good at all.

Should you decide you want to quickly use a real keyboard to type an email, well, now you have to prepare to wait again, because the whole process now has to happen in reverse, sleep iPadOS, write the contents of iPadOS memory to disc, read the contents of macOS memory into disk, wake from sleep.

You could speed up the process of switching slightly by giving up half the usable system memory by keeping both iPadOS and macOS live in memory at all times, but then you’d have to make sure you got the 16GB iPad Pro, otherwise, you’re only giving each OS 4GB.

 

[HiVolt]

Ever since the M1 iPad Pro's, I wished that you could just dual boot them. Yes I know macOS doesn't support touch, but you could use the magic keyboard or other keyb/mouse/trackpad.

I would have bought that on day one.

Alas, I'm still using an iPad Pro from 2017, because iPadOS just doesn't do anything different on a M1/M2 iPad Pro than it does on my nearly 7 year old iPad Pro.

 

[bcortens]

Ever since the M1 iPad Pro's, I wished that you could just dual boot them. Yes I know macOS doesn't support touch, but you could use the magic keyboard or other keyb/mouse/trackpad.

I would have bought that on day one.

Alas, I'm still using an iPad Pro from 2017, because iPadOS just doesn't do anything different on a M1/M2 iPad Pro than it does on my nearly 7 year old iPad Pro.

Serious question, is it about not owning two devices? Because I can’t see another reason someone who loves macOS would want to use it on an iPad in touch mode.

If you’re a digital artist the iPad already offers a plethora of fantastic apps (including many from Adobe) so what tangible benefit does macOS provide.

Why do you want to use the iPad touchscreen on a Mac? What workflows will this unlock?

 

[transpo1]

Apple caters to the mainstream first and makes way more accumulatively by selling consumers smaller parts of its ecosystem in a handful of <$1000 purchases.

Each Apple device with its own App Store, accessories, subscription services/apps, AppleCare plan, etc., all adding up to a much grander total than what you’d want or just be able to spend on a single device that replaces them all but then costs 3-5 times as each of them cost separately.

Thus, there’s no iPad running macOS in the pipeline no matter how much you or I want it or would pay for it.

It simply doesn’t fit into Apple’s product strategy. It’s quite literally the antithesis to what Apple has been aiming for since iPhones took off.

That’s a shame if true because it contradicts the spirit and willingness of the Steve Jobs-era Apple to cannibalize their own products, as they did with the iPod and iPod Nano. They need to be willing to do so again in order to sustain their growth.

 

[iPadified]

What would macOS + iPad OS on the same device actually be like?

To do it in a sane manner (not just actually hard rebooting the device) you’d want macOS and iPadOS to be running simultaneously, this means you need a new OS that sits beneath both to hot swap when it detects the Magic Keyboard.

What is that hot swapping experience like?

Remove iPad from Magic Keyboard, wait for the system as it sleeps macOS and writes the contents of memory to disk to preserve the state of macOS. Next read the last used iPadOS state into memory and wake from sleep.
Next, for each and every app you were using in macOS, you have to open them up in iPadOS in the exact same place you left off in order for them to actually carry over.

Continuity right now doesn’t really help because it doesn’t sync all app state and usually only the most recent App. This also relies upon app developers to get on board with this. We can barely convince App devs to build great iPad apps today, you really think they are going to go to the trouble of supporting this one wonky edge case?

Now you’re ready to work in iPad OS, this isn’t seemless, or smooth, or very good at all.

Should you decide you want to quickly use a real keyboard to type an email, well, now you have to prepare to wait again, because the whole process now has to happen in reverse, sleep iPadOS, write the contents of iPadOS memory to disc, read the contents of macOS memory into disk, wake from sleep.

You could speed up the process of switching slightly by giving up half the usable system memory by keeping both iPadOS and macOS live in memory at all times, but then you’d have to make sure you got the 16GB iPad Pro, otherwise, you’re only giving each OS 4GB.

I think we could come a long way by running MacOS apps (desktop apps) in iPadOS. No need to make apps "touch" but simply let us use the full apps when the iPad is in laptop mode (keyboard and pointer connected).

 

[RSB96]

I like iPadOS, even with its limitations, but I wish they would add things to both iOS and iPadOS that are absurd, like the full clipboard that Android has, the ability to keep doing things in the background (like sending heavy photos from Telegram and it doesn't stop because you exit the app).

Things that could perfectly be done through iCloud (the clipboard) and that today could be executed perfectly well with the RAM that equip Apple devices (working in the background).

Using a Galaxy Tab S9, I have seen that its multitasking gives much greater flexibility and convenience than what exists in iPadOS, much more limited. For me the Stage Manager is difficult to use on the iPad, it is intended for use with monitor mainly.

I don't want macOS on my iPad, but I do want an iPad more capable of taking advantage of its performance. I want a more versatile OS, with more capabilities and something in between iOS and macOS. As of today you still see a "powered up" iOS, but it carries a lot of its limitations.

 

[wanha]

iPad never Had any identity to begin with, and so Far I see nothing from Apple attempting to provide one however bad it might be. iPad in its core is still a glorified iPhone that can’t make phone call and receive text messages, plus no nfc chips and having a generally worse camera. iPadOS does make iPad feel more versatile but such versatility is extremely superficial and never address any issues plagued iPadOS being just a fork of iOS.

Thing is, iPad is Apple’s Product, not mine, not yours, not any of our customers. If Apple resist and refuse to rectify any of those issues mentioned by you OP or by other people, iPad will forever be the weird stepchild that nobody cares, awkwardly staying within Apple product lineup, not knowing what it can do best.

This is spot on.

I've desperately wanted to use the iPad for productivity, but even with a keyboard and a trackpad, it's just so clumsy and restrictive to use more than one app at a time that I have always kept returning to the Mac.

Like you say, the iPad lacks an identity of its own. As it stands, it's a iOS that's being stretched to make it more "productive", but the fundamental design choices iOS (which are mostly the right ones for iPhones) prevent iPads from fully embodying what a modern productivity tablet OS should and could be.

 

[bcortens]

I think we could come a long way by running MacOS apps (desktop apps) in iPadOS. No need to make apps "touch" but simply let us use the full apps when the iPad is in laptop mode (keyboard and pointer connected).

Again, what would using the full apps involve? A second copy of the app that you switch between? Or a transforming app?

Two copies of the same app would be easier to implement but would again require you to either manually switch when docking and undocking or it would require a massive amount of developer buy in to get them to support the new apis to automatically transfer your work between the two apps.

Never mind all the ways the macOS model of processes differs from iPad OS (macOS apps can spawn their own processes)

You’re also asking Apple to support yet another API for iPad (AppKit) which they have already dreamed a legacy api.

Edit follow up: while this is the best of a bunch of bad ideas I still think it is too convoluted to be a workable solution on a mainstream product like iPad. Considering how poorly some of Apples own apps are at restoring state I just have no faith that developers would be in a hurry to adopt the APIs required to make this solution workable.