iPhone/iPad Apps on Mac [Merged]

[Tagbert]

Anyone know a way to download an iPhone app (it's a free AVR control app) to try it on a AS Mac when it hasn't been marked for using on a Mac? Probably not, but I thought I'd ask.

The app publishers have the right to determine which device types their apps will run on and if they don’t mark it as allowed on Mac OS then Apple will let you download it. There was a brief time when Monterrey (?) first came out that you could get around that by manually copying the file from an iOS device, but that was an over site and Apple blocked that at the next update.

It might have been nice if all publishers would allow downloads or if Apple had twisted some arms to change the terms of service to make it the default but we are at the mercy of the app publishers. Sorry.

 

[dmccloud]

Ok, if this solution works on the Mac for maps apps, then it should take place as the API on the Mac. This further proves that iPhone and iPad apps can run natively on the Mac.

It really doesn't prove anything, as the existence of a Maps app on the Mac predated the switch to Apple Silicon. Apple left the decision on whether to allow iOS/iPad OS apps to run on Mac OS to the developers, which is where that decision should rest.

 

[PianoPro]

The app publishers have the right to determine which device types their apps will run on and if they don’t mark it as allowed on Mac OS then Apple will let you download it. There was a brief time when Monterrey (?) first came out that you could get around that by manually copying the file from an iOS device,

That was the kind of thing I was hoping to find, but didn't really expect to.

but that was an over site and Apple blocked that at the next update.

It might have been nice if all publishers would allow downloads or if Apple had twisted some arms to change the terms of service to make it the default but we are at the mercy of the app publishers. Sorry.

I'm not sure if the publisher (Onkyo in this case) even realizes it can't be downloaded to the Mac, since they have several other similar free apps to support their AVR's that can be downloaded. I will be contacted them to ask.

So that's something I don't know - are you saying the default case is that it is NOT downloadable? i.e. the publisher has to mark it as downloadable, so it's possible they may have simply forgot to do it for this particular app as opposed to blocking it on purpose?

 

[thenewperson]

are you saying the default case is that it is NOT downloadable?

The default is that it runs on the Mac. So if a publisher doesn’t go to their dev account and disable it themselves it will show up.

 

[PianoPro]

The default is that it runs on the Mac. So if a publisher doesn’t go to their dev account and disable it themselves it will show up.

Thanks for the info. That's unfortunate. I'll still contact Onkyo and see if it was a mistake. Doesn't make much sense they have a similar app for the same AVR that does download and run perfectly on my Mac Studio.

 

[Zest28]

That means more work for the developers with potentially not many sales. Chicken and egg problem IMHO.


Agree with your sentiment. I would largely do the same, unless I really value the apps such that I want it running on my Mac.

The problem as I see it is that the iOS App Store is so successful in enabling free apps that consumers are spoilt into thinking that apps should be free. Not many are willing to pay too much for mobile apps, and that thinking will get carried into macOS if running the same app.

It doesn't require any effort from the developer. On Windows, I can run every Android app without any input from the developer.

Apple should have allowed any iOS/iPad app to be used on the Mac just like what we can do on Windows.

The iOS app feature on Mac is quite useless as it is.

 

[eightace]

So what happened to sideloading?

 

[quarkysg]

Apple should have allowed any iOS/iPad app to be used on the Mac just like what we can do on Windows.

Apple allows but left the decision down to the developers of their apps, which IMHO, should be the way. I would be pissed as a developers if Apple unilaterally decided on my behalf.

 

[Zest28]

Apple allows but left the decision down to the developers of their apps, which IMHO, should be the way. I would be pissed as a developers if Apple unilaterally decided on my behalf.

We are not little kids and can decide for ourself if an app is worth using on Windows / Mac. We don't need Apple or the developer to decide that for us.

In Windows I can run the Android version of those iOS app without any developer input, so it works fine (even if the developers think it doesn't work fine).

But in any case, there is no point of complaining about it since this will never change. It is simply one of the advantages Windows has over Mac.

 

[Lihp8270]

We are not little kids and can decide for ourself if an app is worth using on Windows / Mac. We don't need Apple or the developer to decide that for us.

In Windows I can run the Android version of those iOS app without any developer input, so it works fine (even if the developers think it doesn't work fine).

But in any case, there is no point of complaining about it since this will never change. It is simply one of the advantages Windows has over Mac.

I’ve opted out of allowing apps to run on MacOS.

Mainly because they’re designed for a touch interface and I don’t have the time or inclination to make it decent on MacOS.

You may think “we can decide ourselves” but the conversation isn’t easy to do without sounding stupid as a developer.

User: Hey I bought your app but it’s bad on MacOS

Developer: it’s designed for iPhone

User: But you made it available for mac.

Developer: …….

 

[quarkysg]

Y

We are not little kids and can decide for ourself if an app is worth using on Windows / Mac. We don't need Apple or the developer to decide that for us.

In Windows I can run the Android version of those iOS app without any developer input, so it works fine (even if the developers think it doesn't work fine).

But in any case, there is no point of complaining about it since this will never change. It is simply one of the advantages Windows has over Mac.

Why are you insisting on others doing something you think should be done, instead of allowing others to decide what they should be doing? The sense of entitlement is strong. Why do you feel so strongly that any iOS must be allowed to run in macOS?

 

[chrfr]

In the case of the EERO app, it might be using some of the GPS location features of the iPhone, which are not present on the Mac side of things.

Wifi-only iPads don’t have GPS either, so that’s not the reason in this case.

 

[jdb8167]

So what happened to sideloading?

Apple disabled it at the request of iOS developers who don’t want to support macOS.

 

[Rafterman]

We are not little kids and can decide for ourself if an app is worth using on Windows / Mac. We don't need Apple or the developer to decide that for us.

Well, yes and no. If an app doesn't run well on Mac, and people complain (and you know they will), it could harm their ratings on the app store. So I can see a developer wanting to protect their app store rep.

 

[Tagbert]

We are not little kids and can decide for ourself if an app is worth using on Windows / Mac. We don't need Apple or the developer to decide that for us.

In Windows I can run the Android version of those iOS app without any developer input, so it works fine (even if the developers think it doesn't work fine).

But in any case, there is no point of complaining about it since this will never change. It is simply one of the advantages Windows has over Mac.

Your best bet might be to reach out to the developer of apps you want and make a case. If they are just not doing it because they don’t think there is a market or they worry about customer reaction that might help. If they really want to push a separate Mac OS purchase then maybe not.

 

[senttoschool]

I’ve opted out of allowing apps to run on MacOS.

Mainly because they’re designed for a touch interface and I don’t have the time or inclination to make it decent on MacOS.

You may think “we can decide ourselves” but the conversation isn’t easy to do without sounding stupid as a developer.

User: Hey I bought your app but it’s bad on MacOS

Developer: it’s designed for iPhone

User: But you made it available for mac.

Developer: …….

Or worse, someone pays for the app thinking it'll run on macOS, then it doesn't work at all on macOS because it's missing some required sensor only available on iPhones. And now the developer has no clue why this transaction happened and have to support the user and provide a refund.

Waste of time for both users and developers. Frustrating for both parties.

The current system is the best. Let the developers decide if they want to support macOS. When Apple Silicon gets more popular, developers will make their apps available on macOS more often.

 

[Rafterman]

Or worse, someone pays for the app thinking it'll run on macOS, then it doesn't work at all on macOS because it's missing some required sensor only available on iPhones.

Me personally, I only buy apps based on iOS/iPadOS. Mac functionality is a bonus. In fact, the only iOS app that found its way to my Macbook Pro is Blink's camera app. Blink doesn't have a desktop app or web app to monitor cameras, only iOS and Android. So the app works well for my desktop. I think I may also have Harmony's TV remote app installed too. I haven't had the desire to install anything else, as there is always a dedicated (and better) Mac app available.