8 Ways iPadOS 26 Makes Your iPad More Like a Mac
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Absolutely. But it's hard to detach the screen from the MacBook to use as a tablet, and the pen just won't connect to it for some reason. But yes.
EightBitLover
macrumors newbie
I find, though, that the "traffic lights" sometimes sit over interactive elements of the app I'm using, and it can be tricky to select the app control and not the traffic lights.
warriors2017
macrumors regular
I want to be able to boot from an external SSD so I won't have to buy a new iPad when I run out of storage
Well I disagree, it's a tablet as well, it has apps the Mac does not, it is lighter and more practical in tight space.
Worthed? Depends on the usage
Running a touch version of macOS sounds good initially, but it really would not work.
You can’t take decades of apps designed for keyboard and mouse, and small UI elements and just put them on a touch screen.
It makes way more sense to take an OS designed for touch and iterate on that.
I assume when people say they want macOS on iPad what they want is the features and power, not the exact same OS.
It’s a pity Apple didn’t start this a decade ago, but we can’t change that.
I hope iPadOS 27 adds more Mac like features again, and then iPadOS 28 etc and then over time we will get to a much more capable OS.
I hope Apple continue along this path, but if iPadOS 27 has no similar improvements then it’s another case of Apple making a big change and then ignoring the platform for a few years.
I guess we will find out at the next WWDC if this is a long term change of plan for the iPad.
You can’t take decades of apps designed for keyboard and mouse, and small UI elements and just put them on a touch screen.
It makes way more sense to take an OS designed for touch and iterate on that.
I assume when people say they want macOS on iPad what they want is the features and power, not the exact same OS.
It’s a pity Apple didn’t start this a decade ago, but we can’t change that.
I hope iPadOS 27 adds more Mac like features again, and then iPadOS 28 etc and then over time we will get to a much more capable OS.
I hope Apple continue along this path, but if iPadOS 27 has no similar improvements then it’s another case of Apple making a big change and then ignoring the platform for a few years.
I guess we will find out at the next WWDC if this is a long term change of plan for the iPad.
turbineseaplane
Contributor
Mac Apps run on 13" screens right now (and have run wonderfully on 12" and 11" screens in the past).
The same size as iPads other than the Mini.
The new "stoplight" on iPadOS windows is also physically smaller than the one on macOS!!
It’s not the screen size, it’s the UI element sizes that are not designed for a finger, or would be very awkward
piccolamela
macrumors member
I love that the long requested features and improvements are finally arriving with iPadOS 26, coupled with the changes the EU made Apple do - an iPad finally can be my everyday device. Might well get a cellular iPad Mini because of it in a few weeks.
only 2 more things on my wish list
only 2 more things on my wish list
- being able to install App from anywhere, just as on MacOS if I want to
- non Safari full desktop class browser with addon support (ublock etc.)
turbineseaplane
Contributor
"The new "stoplight" on iPadOS windows is also physically smaller than the one on macOS!!"
This has already become a non issue and would be even less of one moving forward as more and more legacy software compatibility gets dropped over time.
JapanApple
Suspended
This is exciting finally we’re gonna get what many have been wanting. Can’t wait to see the final rendition of this endeavor.
Don’t they get bigger when tapped?
Having used Remote Desktop to have Mac (and windows) apps “run on an iPad”, it’s pretty tricky to use with a finger.
Yes you can do it, but it’s not great.
Can you drag the files from Files onto the Music app? I assume not
The smallest Mac screen was the 11.6” MacBook Air with a usable screen of about 58 square inches. The 12” MacBook Air had a usable screen of about 65 square inches. On paper, the 11” iPad Air has a 56 square inch screen. However, the 11.6” MacBook Air had a 16:9 aspect ratio and the 12” MacBook had a 16:10 aspect ratio. The iPad Air’s is basically 3:2 (59:41 to be exact). For a Mac app designed around a 16:10 screen, the usable area on an iPad is only 51 square inches. That’s a big deal.
The smallest Mac screen was a lot smaller than 11.6
9” - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh_128K
The screen size doesn’t really matter, it’s more about being able to easily use controls with a finger.
If Mac UIs worked fine for touch, companies would have done that and not made iOS specific UIs?
turbineseaplane
Contributor
I think the broader point is that Apple could have been, and still could in the future, working towards this over time.
As we are seeing w/ iPadOS changes -- it can be done if they want to do it.
It's not like Macs are all 27" screens and iPads are all 11" screens ... screen size isn't the issue, as you've noted, it's just about adapting software for the desired output.
This is supposed to be a key strength of software.
I agree. I do think it’s easier to add and make iPad OS apps better then it is to try and simplify a Mac app though.
It does look like modern iPad and Mac are much more similar if not the same now, so might be a non issue soon.
Be nice for a single app just to work with full features on both platforms.
When I think about MacOS not working on an iPad I suppose I think back to really old software from the 90/00s because i’m old 😀
Realistically most is fairly modern and using modern frameworks.
DrJR
macrumors 6502a
I completely understand why Apple doesn't put OSX on ipad. It would be a terrible experience. Each form has its own functions and while they overlap they each shine in their own way and ought remain separate.
If there were a way to reduce number of devices, like a folding phone doubling as small ipad, I'm in. I do not see the ipad replacing my laptop, nor my desktop, phone or my watch.
If there were a way to reduce number of devices, like a folding phone doubling as small ipad, I'm in. I do not see the ipad replacing my laptop, nor my desktop, phone or my watch.
I don’t see an iPad replacing my MBA, but… I hope it gets close.
I could see a future where I have a MacMini instead of a MBA and just use an iPad when I travel.
At the moment I take the iPad and MBA for those “just in case” moments I need the MBA. Honestly the iPad would be fine most of the time.
I could see a future where I have a MacMini instead of a MBA and just use an iPad when I travel.
At the moment I take the iPad and MBA for those “just in case” moments I need the MBA. Honestly the iPad would be fine most of the time.
Mac Fly (film)
macrumors 68040
An oversight not giving it a Finder on the left of the dock. And heck, a download folder on the right side and a Trash can for the heck of it. And get rid of the rounded look on macOS, that's an iPadOS thing for fingers.
Mac Fly (film)
macrumors 68040
The feature set will match eventually, but the UX design specifics should not. macOS should in fact avoid looking like iPadOS by going for sharper looking less rounded software, like prior to Tahoe, and the old System Settings design should make a return.