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iPad Pro Why does the iPad Not have its own OS ?

T

TheRealAlex

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Sep 2, 2015
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We have

MacOS
Apple TV OS
Apple Watch OS
iOS was designed for phones

Why do we keep sharing a phone OS when especially iPad Pros are such unique and capable devices much more than a phone. We have Keyboard Support, Split Window, Apple Pencil and many more features that warrant an OS for iPads. And from recent credible rumors Apple is killing off all Non-Pro iPads except the mini.
 
My guess is that that having a shared source tree makes programming and code management for Apple easier and more efficient. Both the iPhone and iPad share many components and features like touchscreen input.

Equally as important is a shared operating system makes life easier for third-party developers.

And lastly, it's easier for the end users as well. I buy one universal app, download it in iTunes and that's that.

I'm sure there are pros and cons of forking the source tree and letting an iPad OS take off on its own direction. I'm also sure that Apple has discussed this internally and the general consensus is to stay with a unified operating system for both iPhone and iPad. At this point in time, it appears Apple can decided that harnessing iPad Pro's unique features can be satisfactorily done using device-specific APIs rather than cranking out a whole new operating system.

In the same manner, Apple has added iOS code to support new functionality as it debuts on the latest devices: better cameras, image stabilization, motion coprocessors, Touch ID/Apple Pay, retina displays, assisted GPS, 3D Touch, etc.

Apple is not averse to forking the code when there is sufficient cause to do so as they did for Apple TV OS and watchOS.

At some point they might feel that iPad should have its own codebase but that day isn't here, no one but Apple knows if that day will come to pass in our lifetimes. You can always hope, but don't hold your breath.
 
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macTW said:
Agreed with the previous poster, but would add that iOS isn't necessarily a phone OS but a touch screen mobile OS, which the iPad line fits.
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This is key. iOS is Apple's mobile strategy and Apple believes that we interact with mobile devices in a different way than we do with desktop machines - this why Apple decided not to use MacOS (like MS did with Windows Tablet), but their mobile OS.
 
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bensisko said:
This is key. iOS is Apple's mobile strategy and Apple believes that we interact with mobile devices in a different way than we do with desktop machines - this why Apple decided not to use MacOS (like MS did with Windows Tablet), but their mobile OS.
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As well as why Apple doesn't believe in the touch screen laptop or desktop. They believe we use things a certain way and would prefer to in that way, and design OS' accordingly.
 
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TheRealAlex said:
iOS was designed for phones
Click to expand...
No, iPhone OS was designed for phones. iOS is designed for both.

Think about it, though. iOS would not work on a TV. TVs are controlled with remotes, not touch, so you need another input method. You also don't need the same features from your phone/tablet on a TV.

Same with the watch. A shrunken down phone OS would not work on a 1" screen, and almost all iOS features are not needed on a watch.

iOS works fine on a 4" screen all the way up to a 12.9" screen. Besides, why would you want a separate OS that requires all new apps to be written for the iPad?
 
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Actually I think it will be better if Apple TV & Watch runs iOS too, in fact, it does, it just the naming thats different.

I purchased one app, it runs on 3 different platforms?! That's not possible unless it's the same OS with different names.

Adding special features to each device that uses the same OS is a different story.
 
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iDento said:
I purchased one app, it runs on 3 different platforms?! That's not possible unless it's the same OS with different names.
Click to expand...

Of course it is possible. And of course there will be similarities between the platforms but that doesn't make them the same by a long shot.
 
I read a rumor that Apple may be giving iPad Pro models more unique software characteristics.
 
The most relevant question posed in along time.. but one that's been asked since the beginning of iPad.

I believe it's almost time for iPad iOS. If Apple wants to keep claiming their tablets are as good as they say, on par with laptops then it's about time. I think the amount of work needed to create an OS that's better than the current one, more efficient on power, processes and everything in general is vast. That said the richest, most recognized company in the world can do anything it wants if it wants so their excuses for not making one are abetrary at best.
 
iOS was developed for iPad. When Apple realised that a phone was what the market initially preferred they developed the iPhone along with the iPad and released it first. That's how it was described in the official Steve Jobs biography I think.
 
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Badrottie said:
So Pages for MacOS is different than iOS Pages?
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Yes, there are definitely differences between the iOS Apps and the Mac OS Apps. If you go to the Apple support pages for iWorks and compare the features you will definitely see differences. For example, conditional formatting is available in the Mac OS version of Numbers, but not available in the iOS version.
 
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ericwn said:
iOS was developed for iPad. When Apple realised that a phone was what the market initially preferred they developed the iPhone along with the iPad and released it first. That's how it was described in the official Steve Jobs biography I think.
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No, iOS was developed for the iPhone. The capacitive touch surface they developed was originally for Mac, with the idea to make a tablet with it. And then, as you said, they realised the potential with the phone.
 
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ericwn said:
What does your question have to do with the topic?

Btw: Aren't you supposed to be at Starbucks thinking about how cool your iPad looks in public? ;)
Click to expand...

I don't know. I guess if Pages for iOS and Pages for macOS are same thing then macOS would work well on iPad Pro but I think I might understand why Apple choose not to.
 
I still think the lack of a pointing device, or at the very least, much more baked-in iOS support for external keyboards is the one thing which will stop some users even considering the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement. It's so close... if they could just remove the over-reliance on having to reach out and touch the screen for things.
 
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iDento said:
Actually I think it will be better if Apple TV & Watch runs iOS too, in fact, it does, it just the naming thats different.

I purchased one app, it runs on 3 different platforms?! That's not possible unless it's the same OS with different names.

Adding special features to each device that uses the same OS is a different story.
Click to expand...

To a point, all of Apple's OSes are the same at the core. All have Darwin at the core, all have a set of core frameworks like CoreFoundation, CoreAnimation, CoreText, etc. Hell, MapKit is a shared component.

The difference is the higher level frameworks. AppKit vs UIKit between macOS and iOS (among other things). And like you say, tvOS is basically iOS with a different home screen, tweaks to input and a couple specialized frameworks added. watchOS replaces UIKit with WatchKit for the more limited interface. But watch UI is simple enough that having to rewrite it isn't nearly the hurdle as rewriting for Mac from iOS or vice versa.

Honestly, while I understand the annoyances of iOS on the iPad, I think it's a bit of a mistake to throw out the baby with the bath water by asking for a split. The iPhone should be able to accrue the changes that make sense (I.e. More file system access) when making iOS work better on iPad. And things like wasted space are a UI design problem, not an inherent OS issue, and a nice solution could be done that either helps or doesn't affect the iPhone. I can kinda understand some of the choices (max width for emails so they don't make the lines of text too wide for example), but others are a bit confusing.
 
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They won't do it ever. There are a couple of tangible reasons they will never open an iPad. Every torrent download from IOS would cause the death of a kitten and take a minute off of Tim Cook's life.

Other than the piracy issues the other reason is Apple is not ready for you to be able to ditch the Mac. One day they will have sold off all of their 4 year old components but that day isn't here yet. They are updating the Macs as little as possible to shift towards this brave, new, reality.

I am not even trying to troll. You will never see a file system because for that you need a Mac and for most people this is why you still must buy two devices.

Apple has no compelling interest to change things right now. They could be right be for the moment it is hard to say if people will be willing to embrace Apple's version of the cloud where you no longer own content of your own.

If people accept that notion than Cook is right and an iPad is good enough. I hope the lawsuit against Apple eventually goes somewhere on the monopoly issue or it will become worse than anything MS ever did.
 
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TheRealAlex said:
Why do we keep sharing a phone OS when especially iPad Pros are such unique and capable devices much more than a phone. We have Keyboard Support, Split Window, Apple Pencil and many more features that warrant an OS for iPads. And from recent credible rumors Apple is killing off all Non-Pro iPads except the mini.
Click to expand...

Because they're identical to next year's (or the year after) iphone in terms of performance, and the hardware is similar save for screen size. Which iOS can be adapted to without needing a whole new OS.

Watch OS and TV OS are just basically iOS with a different UI. The UI for ipad and iphone is pretty much the same anyway.

The reason you don't have a file system on the iPad or iPhone is because

1. you don't need one
2. its to save you from yourself
3. everything is going cloud based

even microsoft is encouraging you to go for cloud services for storage. People are using more devices now, and want their files everywhere.

I have several PCs, 2 Macs, 2 iPads and an iPhone.

I want my stuff to be accessible on all of them. I'm not alone.
 
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I think the most valid reason to give the ipad its own operating system would be for differentiation. It would allow the ipad app marketplace to separate from the general ios marketplace. This may help with general pricing structures by allowing developers to offer "pro" level apps and ask higher prices without having to worry that their apps may show up next to a competing app that costs $2.99. Having a revamped marketplace with better pricing for developers will help to enable the ipad even further.

Of course, apple needs to do some work on their own too like the fast app switching mess they have for running side by side apps on the pros. r
 
GrindedDown said:
I think the most valid reason to give the ipad its own operating system would be for differentiation. It would allow the ipad app marketplace to separate from the general ios marketplace. This may help with general pricing structures by allowing developers to offer "pro" level apps and ask higher prices without having to worry that their apps may show up next to a competing app that costs $2.99. Having a revamped marketplace with better pricing for developers will help to enable the ipad even further.

Of course, apple needs to do some work on their own too like the fast app switching mess they have for running side by side apps on the pros. r
Click to expand...

Being able to run the same software on iPad and iPhone is a feature, not a problem.
 
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