Apple Executives Consider Thirty Years of Macintosh, Say iOS and OS X Convergence 'A Non-Goal'

[srminton]

As far as touch goes on IOS I can't believe how many touch based gestures are missing from IOS. For example Safari try going forward or back a page on IOS. Can't do the nice one finger sweep to the right or left like OSX. No easy top sites either.

Not sure what you mean. You can swipe back and forward in Safari on both iOS and OSX. It works exactly the same on my Macbook touchpad as it does using the on-screen swipe on iOS. (except that you actually use two fingers on OSX). On iOS, you just swipe with one finger from the left or right of the screen. Top sites is easy to get to on both OSX and iOS. On OSX, you have a button in the menu bar. On iOS, you just hit the address bar.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Jobs talked about 7-inch tablets when he said that Apple wouldn't make one. Yes he did generalise and said that Apple believes 10-inch is the minimum to get great tablet apps. But he only used the word "never" for a 7-inch tablet. And to this date, Apple hasn't.

About bigger iPhones, Jobs said in 2010 "nobody is going to buy them", about DroidX. He never said "we will never make one". He certainly implied that they are not thinking about making a bigger iPhone in the near future since he thought bigger phones wouldn't sell.

He was wrong. DroidX sold great.

Now, let's come to the elephant in the room. Jobs died. And it's obvious that Apple is not walking on his footsteps 100%. So even if Apple does/did something Jobs was against, I wouldn't call that backtracking. It's a different CEO, different VP's. Obviously different people have different opinions and different business strategies.

But I will give you one thing. Cook said they are going to double down on secrecy, but I am almost sure they didn't. (This part is what I didn't object, I should have been more clear about this).

If that makes you think that everything I said was not true, so be it.

 

[dannys1]

I never really understood the people who claimed that OS X was getting 'iOSified' anyway. The Launchpad is incredibly useful; not only is it the quickest way to access all your applications, but it just displays the application within folders.

To anybody who uses loads of third-party music plugins, or even Adobe software as a good example, you'll see they're buried in folders in the Applications folder.

Thank goodness they confirmed it though, it's always a fear that they'll take unified experiences to an extreme.

It was useless before they added the search feature, but now its even quicker than Spotlight as it searches apps only - with a trackpad gesture and typing the first 3 letters of the app I want I can have it open. Much faster than going into the applications folder, or even using spotlight where I have to mouse to the top corner and ignore non-app results.

 

[shmeffrey]

Please give iOS better file management!

 

[iBug2]

If that makes you think that everything I said was not true, so be it.

Not everything. But I'm assuming some people will go "they said never, now they are doing it" if Apple indeed releases a bigger phone. Cook was always vague whenever he's asked about bigger phones. He talks about trade offs or other marketing crap.

 

[thekeyring]

There is a difference between something being a common in the market vs. something being a good idea. I for one am not willing to pay extra/give up anything to get display-touch functionality in a laptop. In my opinion, touch enabling displays is one of the dumbest ideas that Microsoft and Wintel hardware vendors have come up with and is purely a knee-jerk reaction to the success of tablets.

Exactly. It makes no sense. Screens designed to give you content (TV screens as one example) do not magically become screens designed for input (like phone touch screens) by simply adding a touch-sensitive layer. There's more to it than that.

With a huge desktop display, it's easier to operate a mouse and have it to the 'touching' for you, than to hold your arm out, especially as that's what all the software is designed for.

 

[sseaton1971]

Content Creators use Mac

Content Consumers use iPad, iPod

Communication uses iPhone

And the Pope is Catholic.

 

[MacsRgr8]

It will be named OS Y 11.0

OS Y >> Y OS >> y OS >> yOS >> iOS

 

[xmichaelp]

No it isn't. We knew this already and Apple has said it many times already. If you weren't listening then you probably aren't listening now. At the most recent event they specifically mocked their competitors for "trying to turn tablets into laptops and laptops into tablets". They also committed to making several California themed OS X releases, and Steve Jobs has mocked touch screen laptops and "gorilla arms". Stop talking and start listening.

Yep, they said about both the OS X naming scheme and the new Mac Pro that they had a new design "for the next ten years."

I agree with your post, I've been saying that people shouldn't worry about a convergence because Apple has stated against it multiple times. Hopefully this time it'll get through to people.

 

[alexgowers]

I agree in theory as long as they aren't talking about keeping obsolete features that would be improved.

For me the big bug bear is Graphic Design, icons and animations on OSX. While they probably look good to long time users they irritate me to the core.

OSX should have iOS icons or vice versa. FaceTime icon is totally different and not intuitive, settings icon again old style, iMessage, iPhoto the list runs and runs!

Yes you can flip the icon for user created ios7 style ones or flurry but it should be apple updating these icons now. I'm sure mavericks was an attempt to be on most machines by being free but they didn't update the icon.

The animations are just crap, spoiled by iOS i'm used to clean slick and simple animations but osx is just juddery and naff.

I love osx but they need to go in on the next update and replace a tonne or old graphics that look very tired.

 

[proline]

Yep, they said about both the OS X naming scheme and the new Mac Pro that they had a new design "for the next ten years."

I agree with your post, I've been saying that people shouldn't worry about a convergence because Apple has stated against it multiple times. Hopefully this time it'll get through to people.

Indeed. I find the whole 'convergence' conspiracy thing to be really ridiculous. About the only foundation for it is that Apple, like all companies, sometimes cancels product lines and occasionally a few lines of code from iOS make it into OS X (even though the reverse is far more true). Other than that, it makes very little sense. Apple makes a lot of money off the Mac (the Mac revenue is about the same as the iPad which nobody thinks will be cancelled) and they have seen other convergence schemes such as Windows fail miserably.

As a programmer, I see far more concepts from Apple reach the Mac first, then iOS later than the other way around. Examples of things that came first to the Mac: auto-layout, multi-tasking APIs and Core Data. There are currently some things on OS X that will most likely be making their way to iOS in time, such as protected memory. iOS can't even be used to make iOS apps.

 

[rowspaxe]

What you really want is a Mac/iPad all-in-one device that converts from iOS to OS X and back as you switch from one task to the next?

That is essentially what windows 8 is--it is a hybrid with largely discrete desktop and metro/mobile modalities. It works fine, but metro apps are currently very constrained. MS tried to force metro into the pc space by deleting the start bar and menu--forcing desktop users into the metro space. Now they seem to be backtracking to a more conservative implementation...after two years of product churn and user hate

 

[Traverse]

There won't be an convergence in the Windows sense, where one OS serves multiple purposes. It'll be through software, much like what we're seeing with the iWork suite on OSX and iPad. Functionally the same, though designed with different interfaces in mind.

Honestly, I'm starting to think this is the best way to do things. One OS for touch, one OS for mouse and keyboards.

What about when Macs incorporate a touch screen?

 

[charlituna]

And yet tech sites will keep reporting rumors that Apple is making a convertible device.

And a ring, watch, glasses, real TV, table, etc

----------

Content Creators use Mac

Content Consumers use iPad, iPod

Communication uses iPhone

More like

Content Creators use Mac, iPad, iPod, iPhone

Content Consumers use Mac, iPad, iPod, iPhone

Communication use Mac, iPad, iPod, iPhone

 

[vomhorizon]

And a ring, watch, glasses, real TV, table, etc

----------



More like

Content Creators use Mac, iPad, iPod, iPhone

Content Consumers use Mac, iPad, iPod, iPhone

Communication use Mac, iPad, iPod, iPhone

This.

 

[Rad99004]

Not sure what you mean. You can swipe back and forward in Safari on both iOS and OSX. It works exactly the same on my Macbook touchpad as it does using the on-screen swipe on iOS. (except that you actually use two fingers on OSX). On iOS, you just swipe with one finger from the left or right of the screen. Top sites is easy to get to on both OSX and iOS. On OSX, you have a button in the menu bar. On iOS, you just hit the address bar.

You are right, thanks. Unfortunately the two things have been implemented totally different and has led to my confusion. Top sites on IOS is called Favorites and is pulled up in different ways. The swipe on OSX is 2 fingers and the mouse pointer can be any where on the screen in OSX on IOS it is one finger and you have to pull from the right or left edge.

Consistency on how they implement things would help.

The swipe on IOS needs some work, it is not as nice as OSX, feels clunky

Thanks again for the help !

 

[srminton]

The best tool for the job

What about when Macs incorporate a touch screen?

The way that we use computers is now all about the Cloud - everything will revolve around our data, not our devices. We will increasingly access our data using multiple devices, depending on the job we want or need to perform. We will require the best laptop for productivity work, not a compromise device with a touchscreen software interface or compromised hardware design. Whether it's a Mac or a Windows PC, we'll always choose the best tool for the job at hand. That's why we still buy carving knives and bottle openers and screwdrivers and can openers, instead of just Swiss army knives. Convergence for the sake of convergence eventually runs up against your desire to always find the best tool for the job at hand.

Now, there is a market for Swiss army knives - e.g. people who go camping or hunting, and are limited in how much they can carry; and people who just love Swiss army knives. The same will probably be true of hybrid PCs - there will be a market, for people who need to travel light with one device, or people who just love the concept. But I'm not sure that Apple will pursue that market, especially when it can make more money selling both PCs and tablets to mainstream consumers who are not particularly looking for that convergence, any more than Nikon or Leica are going to start putting cellphones and games in their cameras. If you want the best camera, i.e. you're a photographer, you're going to get the best camera. If you want the best laptop, you're going to get the best laptop.

 

[alphaod]

This is good to hear. I was actually afraid somewhere along in the future of the Macintosh, we would have a convergence of iOS and Mac OS.

For what this is saying there won't be such a converge or at least one product will not replace the other (the iPad will not replace the Mac for example).

I look forward to what Apple will bring along in the years to come.

 

[IGregory]

Phew.

That was scary for a little while there.... thought we were in for a Windows 8 move with all that talk of a 12 inch iPad and everyone wanting a more advanced OS on it.

Funny how difficult it is for some people to think out of the box. Windows 8 you get to choose tablet or desktop mode. Don't like one or the other stay with what makes you comfortable. Some have a terrible time grasping the concept.

 

[rowspaxe]

Funny how difficult it is for some people to think out of the box. Windows 8 you get to choose tablet or desktop mode. Don't like one or the other stay with what makes you comfortable. Some have a terrible time grasping the concept.

Agree. I dont see why a Win8 style hybridization of ios and osx would be confusing, either. "Oh no! thats an "app"--it can only run on my ipad--not matter howmuch utility there would be in accessing on my laptop

 

[jscooper22]

Good. Now put back Save As..

 

[thekeyring]

Can? Yes. Does it make sense to do photo editing on an iPhone? No.

No, but it would make sense to edit on a MacBook Air. My original point was, if you can't choose between a MacBook Air and an iPad, get a MacBook Air, don't encourage Apple to make a Macbook/iPad hybrid that isn't very good at either job.

 

[MikeM1988]

These sound like encouraging words.

But from my own narrow point of view, I would like someone at Apple to explain them further in light of the savaging they performed on the iWork suite...Pages in particular.

What other rationale, other than "convergence," can explain releasing a new version of an app (which hadn't been substantially updated in several years) that TAKES AWAY dozens and dozens of features and capabilities that users had become accustomed to, and renders it worthless for anything other than grocery lists and lost dog flyers?

I've been using Macs since 1988 and have defended Apple to the death on countless occasions. But in the last few years, starting with the steaming pile of **** that was Lion and the accompanying Save As fiasco, I've become increasingly cynical.

The new iWork has put me right over the edge. That, coupled with them apparently screwing up Apple Mail royally in Mavericks, has steeled my resolve to remain on Snow Leopard at work and Mountain Lion at home for as long as I possibly can.

 

[BaldiMac]

What other rationale, other than "convergence," can explain releasing a new version of an app (which hadn't been substantially updated in several years) that TAKES AWAY dozens and dozens of features and capabilities that users had become accustomed to, and renders it worthless for anything other than grocery lists and lost dog flyers?

Cross-platform compatibility.

 

[MikeM1988]

Cross-platform compatibility.

A turd by any other name would still smell as bad.