A Multi-Touch iPhone OS Layer On Top of Mac OS X?

[JGowan]

Not too wild about fingerprints all over my screen. That being said, if it's added by Apple, I think they'd do the job right.

Also, who's to say that they haven't been building OS X all this time with multi-touch at the core level this whole time? They spent 5 years doing it to prep us for the switch to Intel.

 

[Nebrie]

I love Apple products but really hate the direction they are taking lately. OS X just like Windows Platform should be able to accommodate for tablet style OS, but Apple is being lazy here. A pen like device + Multitouch features on top of OS X would be really nice. Think of the ModBook, I'm really tempted to buy one because I really need a simple handheld solution where I can input data and notes while I walk with clients, just like a paper notepad. Why is it so hard for Apple to innovate lately?

I don't understand all these people who keep saying that sticking a touchscreen on a laptop and cutting off the keyboard is true innovation, because that's exactly what PC makers have spent the last 20 years doing without success. I don't think many people here understand exactly what innovation is.

 

[lazyrighteye]

wait os x supports multitouch at all? Where was I when this happened?!?!?

Not using a trackpad, apparently.

 

[ChrisA]

Isn't this available already?

If you look inside the iPhone SDK you will find an "iPhone Simulator" this allows a developer, or anyone else who wants to, to run iPhone OS and iPhone apps inside a little simulated iPhone.

So what's new?

 

[AAPLaday]

I think OS X is very easy to learn and use as it is. Its certainly made to be a lot more user friendly and less daunting for a new user than windows

 

[arn]

If you look inside the iPhone SDK you will find an "iPhone Simulator" this allows a developer, or anyone else who wants to, to run iPhone OS and iPhone apps inside a little simulated iPhone.

So what's new?

So you're suggesting lay people looking for an easier computer experience should sign up for a free ADC account, download the iPhone SDK, install it, and then use that?

arn

 

[bfreecity]

Remember Apple's roots

For all of those who are complaining that an iphone style OS on macs would be "dumbing down" the interface, let's all remember that PC users have used these same words to describe every mac os ever invented. What has historically bonded apple users was their understanding that computers should, in the future, work like magic, with its user not having to know how the gears in the background work.

When -- not if -- apple fuses the iphone os with OS X, it will keep the best of both worlds and continue pushing forward the theory that as long as the user can get their work done, there's nothing wrong with also making the process simple and fun. And PC lovers will continue to insist that apple users are somehow missing something in their computing, just because the os is easy to use. But one should not confuse "ease" with "simplicity" or "beauty" with "shallowness". For all of you who are panicked by the idea of taking the OS to even greater levels of ease and brevity, try not to freak out until there's real proof that productivity is actually going to be sacrificed. I think the best of both worlds is not only possible, it also happens to be apple's speciality.

 

[pika2000]

I don't think it will be just an app. iPhone OS will be an instant-on OS, dual-booting with OS X on Macs, just like how many laptops have linux as instant-on OS dual-booting with Windows.

 

[FrankieTDouglas]

I just want an answer to this question: How will my finger work as a 3 pixel brush in Photoshop?

 

[TennisandMusic]

For all of those who are complaining that an iphone style OS on macs would be "dumbing down" the interface, let's all remember that PC users have used these same words to describe every mac os ever invented. What has historically bonded apple users was their understanding that computers should, in the future, work like magic, with its user not having to know how the gears in the background work.

When -- not if -- apple fuses the iphone os with OS X, it will keep the best of both worlds and continue pushing forward the theory that as long as the user can get their work done, there's nothing wrong with also making the process simple and fun. And PC lovers will continue to insist that apple users are somehow missing something in their computing, just because the os is easy to use. But one should not confuse "ease" with "simplicity" or "beauty" with "shallowness". For all of you who are panicked by the idea of taking the OS to even greater levels of ease and brevity, try not to freak out until there's real proof that productivity is actually going to be sacrificed. I think the best of both worlds is not only possible, it also happens to be apple's speciality.

Yeah, but some people already think OSX is pretty dumbed down as an OS. I understand that is why some people like it. But then you call productivity into question, I remember seeing a review of Windows 7 where a guy said he was ditching OSX for it, and he claimed to be around 40% more productive in windows. Is Windows really harder to use? Hmm...maybe? I don't really see much difference. But OSX certainly is slower at many things. iPhone OS by contrast is quite dumbed down from OSX even. I really don't see how productivity will go hand in hand with something like that...

You know OSX has around a 4% global market share right? I would have to think there is a reason for that...

 

[NT1440]

I just want an answer to this question: How will my finger work as a 3 pixel brush in Photoshop?

Who said it will? Who said you will be able to use photoshop within this mode/app/whatever?

You understand this would be an OPTION right?

 

[Friscohoya]

Touch the future...

 

[FrankieTDouglas]

Who said it will? Who said you will be able to use photoshop within this mode/app/whatever?

You understand this would be an OPTION right?

You do understand that Apple has a habit of simplifying, right?

Why support multiple methods of system operation when "we can consolidate and just focus on making one system that works perfectly."

Trust me, the touch-only interface OS is coming. Just look at their recent track record for company focus.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Yeah, but some people already think OSX is pretty dumbed down as an OS. I understand that is why some people like it. But then you call productivity into question, I remember seeing a review of Windows 7 where a guy said he was ditching OSX for it, and he claimed to be around 40% more productive in windows. Is Windows really harder to use? Hmm...maybe? I don't really see much difference. But OSX certainly is slower at many things. iPhone OS by contrast is quite dumbed down from OSX even. I really don't see how productivity will go hand in hand with something like that...

You know OSX has around a 4% global market share right? I would have to think there is a reason for that...

The purging of Carbon and the expansion of Cocoa and it's Services will leave you wondering how come Carbon wasn't ejected years ago. By making the iPhone a Cocoa SDK only [no Carbon] has built a large pool of ObjC programmers who naturally aide in Apple's move to Cocoa only in OS X proper.

You'll see more subtleties that aide in your productivity by the time 10.7 arrives that you wished was in 10.6.

 

[koobcamuk]

This is news?

 

[deckwalker]

Yeah, but some people already think OSX is pretty dumbed down as an OS.

You know OSX has around a 4% global market share right? I would have to think there is a reason for that...

If you think that OS X is dumbed down, and if you think that the global market share has anything to do with this, then why are you wasting your time here?

 

[mac ath]

Would be great to have the iPhone OS act as a dashboard replacement... could imagine some interesting opportunities.

now that's a good idea!

 

[mrklaw]

So this 'simplicity' isn't needed because youngsters (pretty much anyone under 30) has learnt to use a 'proper' computer?

Isn't there a problem in that - the whole 'learning' part?

Yes we all know how to use a traditional computer, and future generations could also learn. But if you have to learn how to use something then isnt there an opportunity to make that simpler? And simpler doesn't mean dumber necessarily

 

[mrklaw]

You do understand that Apple has a habit of simplifying, right?

Why support multiple methods of system operation when "we can consolidate and just focus on making one system that works perfectly."

Trust me, the touch-only interface OS is coming. Just look at their recent track record for company focus.

OSX is a single input OS - mouse. But for artists you can plug in a tablet for a more appropriate interface for that task, if it is important to you. Why would that change?

 

[macadam212]

Maybe one day?

Would be nice one day to have two screens. One on your desk that will display a keyboard when required and menu items for apps like Photoshop palettes etc, with multi touch capabilities like a Wacom tablet. The other screen would be purely for displaying content.

Maybe not this big, but it's on the right lines

 

[steve-p]

I won't be touching any of my laptop or desktop screens anytime soon. It's a bit of a non-story in any case - it states the blindingly obvious in that of course it's possible that a dumbed down touch interface could be added to simplified applications. What's more of a debate is whether there's any point. Things like iTunes/Apple TV already have a touch interface with the free Remote app that you can use on iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad. The difference is that those are devices you hold in your hand. The multitouch trackpad is also in a comfortable location for extended use. The ergonomics of touching a vertical screen in at arm's length in front of you for any length of time don't make any sense.

 

[Winni]

Appallingly bad analogy. A better one would be to imagine a world in which, before you can read, you must first learn to use a book.

Actually, you already live in a world where you must first learn to use a book. Nobody is born with that ability. You have to learn a language, an alphabet and you also have to learn in which direction to read: From top left to bottom right or from bottom right to top left. You have to learn how and when and why to flip a page. What are page numbers? What's a table of contents? What's an index? What's a footnote? What's a chapter?

Books -are- highly complex inventions.

This funny video illustrates what I'm talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRBIVRwvUeE

People also have to learn how to use a toilet, an oven, how to wear clothes, tie their shoelaces and millions of other things.

So it is rather strange that everybody expects computers to be something really trivial - and preferably much easier to use than a TV (which are really complicated horrors to setup, by the way).

 

[yyy]

iPhone OS i s not a good solution for large-scaled computers as it is too limited. It's like using a car engine in an airplane - it might work but it won't get you far enough.

Besides, since Apple design both hardware and software it shouldn't take them too long to implement full multi-touch support in their computers in compare to the rest of the PC industry. It'll take years before they are able to follow Apple's lead.

I can't wait to use one of these:

 

[Krizoitz]

I wish I could say I'm amazed by the myopia and arrogance I am seeing in some of the comments here, and in some sense I am, I thought MacRumors members were smarter than the general nerd-herd, but this is the same attitude I see on other gadget blogs.

"My way is the BEST way! Gadgets should cater to ME! Anyone who doesn't find this as easy as I do is an IDIOT!!!"

That may not be exactly what some of you are saying, but its pretty indicative of the underlying meaning.

Computers, even Mac's, are complex, often confusing, devices. Just because someone is not proficient in using one, does not mean they are an idiot, it means they don't want to spend their time learning all the ins and outs that we do.

Analogy time. I know the very basics of car maintenance, but beyond that not much. I have friends who could take an engine apart and put it back together in their sleep. To them, its easy. To me? I'd probably break something permanently if I even tried.

Does that make me an idiot? I don't think so.

Yet that is the SAME ARGUMENT being made about computers. Just because YOU are comfortable and familiar with them doesn't mean everyone is, or more importantly should be.

If most peoples computing experience can be improved by simplifying certain aspects of the interaction with them, what is so horrible about that? No one is talking about banning you from using a more complex interface, or streamlining ALL computers. You can still get quite complex audio equipment if you really want it, but for a lot of people, theater in a box systems are perfect. They get the surround sound they want, in a package they can understand. They don't NEED more complexity.

Same with computers. Most people don't NEED the complexity that is currently the norm, so why should they have to put up with it? Why get in their way just because some of us enjoy that level of complexity? Especially when its not an either or proposition?!?

In conclusion, please please stop acting like people who aren't as nerdy as you are somehow stupid. They just have different priorities in life. I guarantee you that there are things that YOU aren't super experienced at either. And for crying out loud, don't you WANT people to STOP asking you questions about computers all the time? Wouldn't it be great if you could hand them an iPad and say, have fun, and go code up the next great app? I sure would love it if people stopped asking me computer questions all the time!

 

[baryon]

Yes, why not... However, I was thinking more of something like this:

OS X could have multi touch elements, integrated right into the real OS. Not everything would be multi touch, just like not everything works with the keyboard and not everything works with the mouse. I would say that some things could work with multi touch, but that the computer would also have to have a keyboard and a mouse to do things that can't be done. By these things, I mean zooming in, dragging and dropping, and stuff like that. I don't mean typing and using Photoshop.

Apple is already doing this, since on laptops you already have the multi touch trackpad. Now what if they put that multi touch onto the screen, allowing much more things to be done. Then you could choose to either use it or not. Everything would still work like now, but multi touch would help with some things, just like the trackpad does now.

If you just add a Front Row like, isolated environment that works with multi touch, then no one will really use that. You don't go like "oh I really feel like doing some multi touch input for the next few hours". It's more like "oh I wish it was easier to drag and drop all these files with the trackpad". You're not going to activate the isolated environment for that, since you'll lose what you were doing, you won't even have icons, you will no longer be working on that photo you wanted to zoom into, etc...