Apple Explains Why Stage Manager is Limited to M1 iPads in New Statement

[I7guy]

I expect EVERY corporation I buy things from to be honest to me, because it's my duty as a consumer. All corporations, including Apple, have a legal obligation to make money for their shareholders, NOT their customers. Therefore, we have to continually monitor and criticize corporations when they lie to us. Apple is just like every other corporation, they're just fortunate enough to have a religious following that will buy anything they sell without question.

I agree companies should be held accountable. When they lie. Notice the use keep the word “when”. In this case you are promulgating opinion as facts. And I don’t get if this bothers you, “the religious following tgst will buy anything they see without question.” Don’t worry about what others buy, buy what you want.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

I "love" how everyone is pulling their hair out over a feature that none of us have tested out or know if we actually have a need or desire for.

Like, sure, something close to true desktop-esque multitasking. On iPad. Finally. Great..

But we're still not getting Final Cut, no Logic, and no 3 party devs are announcing their M1 iPad exclusive pro apps, or even new M1 only features for current pro apps(the few that are actually iPad compatible).

Incredible how much attention we give something that we don't even know if we actually need or want.

I'd save my tears for the day Apple brings all the biggest 3rd party devs with ports of all the biggest apps.. but only iPads with M5 chips are compatible. At least then we'd actually understand what Apple is holding back.

From my own experience with what Apple has done in previous years for iPadOS, I know I'm not getting excited for any new feature.

Sure, it's a step in the right direction. But I can't help but feel the impact of it will still be so limited.

 

[landi.erik]

I "love" how everyone is pulling their hair out over a feature that none of us have tested out or know if we actually have a need or desire for.

Like, sure, something close to true desktop-esque multitasking. On iPad. Finally. Great..

But we're still not getting Final Cut, no Logic, and no 3 party devs are announcing their M1 iPad exclusive pro apps, or even new M1 only features for current pro apps(the few that are actually iPad compatible).

Incredible how much attention we give something that we don't even know if we actually need or want.

I'd save my tears for the day Apple brings all the biggest 3rd party devs with ports of all the biggest apps.. but only iPads with M5 chips are compatible. At least then we'd actually understand what Apple is holding back.

From my own experience with what Apple has done in previous years for iPadOS, I know I'm not getting excited for any new feature.

Sure, it's a step in the right direction. But I can't help but feel the impact of it will still be so limited.

I just think their iPad OS development has stagnated, the mere fact that we don’t have widget or font changes on Lock Screen as in iOS tells me they’re grasping at straws to differentiate product lines. Not to mention all the multitasking tweaks and development in the Homebrew/Jailbreak community.

 

[johnhackworth]

End of support? The 2020 iPad Pro's will get updates for the next four years probably.

What? Security patches? After all, they’ve already missed out on the most significant recent iPadOS feature despite them being on sale less than two years ago

 

[AlexMac89]

I just think there iPad OS development has stagnated, the mere fact that we don’t have widget or font changes on Lock Screen as in iOS tells me they’re grasping at straws to differentiate product lines.

"Grasping at straws to differentiate product lines"? Because iPad always seems to be missing a few features from the latest iOS release? Hasn't this been the case now for several iPadOS releases? The iPad development cycle seems to be about a year behind. If I had to guess, the combination of much smaller development team than iOS in combination with that team having to develop platform specific features that aren't being ported from iOS (like the various multitasking features) slows the process. I was never more annoyed than the year delay for the App Library. My iPad was in need of that system wide app decluttering more than my iPhone.

I wish more resources were poured into iPadOS. Just like many of you who are very hardcore Mac users have lots of things you'd like to see addressed. Unfortunately, both groups know they take a backseat to iOS, as that is where the largest consumer base for apple is. It's less intentional and more a reflection of the massive difference in relative popularity of their three core product/operating system lines.

 

[landi.erik]

"Grasping at straws to differentiate product lines"? Because iPad always seems to be missing a few features from the latest iOS release? Hasn't this been the case now for several iPadOS releases? The iPad development cycle seems to be about a year behind. If I had to guess, the combination of much smaller development team than iOS in combination with that team having to develop platform specific features that aren't being ported from iOS (like the various multitasking features) slows the process. I was never more annoyed than the year delay for the App Library. My iPad was in need of that system wide app decluttering more than my iPhone.

I wish more resources were poured into iPadOS. Just like many of you who are very hardcore Mac users have lots of things you'd like to see addressed. Unfortunately, both groups know they take a backseat to iOS, as that is where the largest consumer base for apple is. It's less intentional and more a reflection of the massive difference in relative popularity of their three core product/operating system lines.

I would subscribe to this way of thinking if the code based were massively different and based off different kernels or core level functions (hell remember Steve touting iPhone runs full OSX).Desktop apps and architectures still ringing in my ears.

But I do agree that iOS does take center stage over everything else including MacOS.

Not to mention Linux running on just about anything and most features get ported to anything running the kernel (mind you you need graphics acceleration and the like).

 

[I7guy]

Again I’m an Apple fan boy, I love their product and think they do the best job at longevity for products. Hell I still recommend their products over the vast majority because they normally do right by their customers.

But that does not mean we can not be critical or question their decisions. Look as an engineer and a marketing professional there is a fine line between support and purchase incentives for new products.

This was a misstep and the fact that people want to take Apple’s explanation face value stagnates development and does not make them accountable.

I can see class action lawsuits arising out of this…that ultimately wont go anywhere.

 

[I7guy]

I would subscribe to this way of thinking if the code based were massively different and based off different kernels or core level functions (hell remember Steve touting iPhone runs full OSX).Desktop apps and architectures still ringing in my ears.

But I do agree that iOS does take center stage over everything else including MacOS.

Not to mention Linux running on just about anything and most features get ported to anything running the kernel (mind you you need graphics acceleration and the like).

Correct, Linux is available everywhere. For an o/s tgst runs on on every o/s have to wonder why the adoption is in tenths of a percentage point.

 

[landi.erik]

I’ll just leave everybody to think about this, would you rather have a coder who can maximize every Bit/BYTE and clock cycle running efficiently on majority of hardware platforms or the Coder who takes direction from a marketing/business manager?

Apple employees the smartest minds from the best Universities, I know I went to school with them at UCSD.

They’re engineers are being constrained by business decisions and I would just love to see what kinds software features they could make without the shackles on.

 

[4jasontv]

Correct, Linux is available everywhere. For an o/s tgst runs on on every o/s have to wonder why the adoption is in tenths of a percentage point.

Something like 96% of servers run Linux. It is everywhere. The very features which give Linux dominance in the server market are why it struggles on desktops.

 

[I7guy]

I’ll just leave everybody to think about this, would you rather have a coder who can maximize every Bit/BYTE and clock cycle running efficiently on majority of hardware platforms or the Coder who takes direction from a marketing/business manager?

Apple employees the smartest minds from the best Universities, I know I went to school with them at UCSD.

They’re engineers are being constrained by business decisions and I would just love to see what kinds software features they could make without the shackles on.

Coders who take direction from the business are the ones who make the money, because that’s where the money is.

 

[I7guy]

Something like 96% of servers run Linux. It is everywhere. The very features which give Linux dominance in the server market are why it struggles on desktops.

I didn’t realize Microsoft only had 4% of the server market.

 

[4jasontv]

I didn’t realize Microsoft only had 4% of the server market.

They have less than that.

 

[I7guy]

They have less than that.

Wow, they make a fortune from that 4%.

 

[4jasontv]

Wow, they make a fortune from that 4%.

Microsoft? I mean sure, there are a lot of servers. MS also does other stuff too, so that helps.

 

[tha_man]

The resolution and color depth AND refresh rate all make a huge difference though. OH, AND the amount of RAM used by the OS and used by the applications. I doubt there’s very many iPad apps that use less than 6 MB of RAM.

Of course there's a big difference, but still I find it quite amusing to have such limitations in 2022, considering what was possible back then. Or if we compare apples to apples - in 2012 with retina Macbook, which had comparable graphics quality (except refresh rate) and OS.

 

[jlc1978]

To nitpick: in the statement you quoted, they didn’t say it didn’t or wouldn’t meet „their“ standards.

Fair enough; though I'd expect Apple's stndards to match or exceeed what they define as their users' standards.

They said it wouldn’t meet the standards their users expect - hence making an assumption about their users.

Of course. All companies do.

There’s clearly some users in this thread that don’t share that assumption - and might be happy with something that run less impressively on their older devices.

Which is fine but as any company does, they chose to ignore that segment of the market.

There is a technical reason if your CPU doesn’t support that amount of RAM.
CPU, controllers and mainboards always had limitations in the amount of memory they could address or access over their memory bus.

However, a number of posters are claiming Apple lied when they did no such thing.

This isn't a simplified lineup.

It is compared to what the OP was suggesting.

Apple has like 14 processors to choose from right now.

Right, though they are spread across multiple product lines.

Each of which comes with limited but multiple options for other specs and features. That's what Steve was trying to get rid of. We need to return to the 4x4. Power or efficiency and portable or stationary.

They basically are there with a consumer / power and portable / stationary matrix. They could ditch the MB/Air diferece and basically have 2 chassis - consumer (Air) and Power (MBP). Stationary splits between AIO and Headless.

It's a bit more complicated than Steve's 4x4 but the market has also evolved.

Not to mention Linux running on just about anything and most features get ported to anything running the kernel (mind you you need graphics acceleration and the like).

As you pointed out, Linux, like iPadOS 16, has most features ported and some may need extra power like graphics acceleration. Same story different OS.

Something like 96% of servers run Linux. It is everywhere. The very features which give Linux dominance in the server market are why it struggles on desktops.

Per Fortune, in 2021, Windows has nearly 70% compared to Linux's 20% currently, with Linux forecasted to have by 2029 the highest market share.

 

[aevan]

Maybe someone posted this already, but Rene has a good explanation:

He even addresses the "how come the Dev Kit had A12Z" issue. Makes perfect sense to me and it comes down to the fact that you want a touch-first device to feel instant, and to make it instant and have multi-window multitasking, you need the M1.

Of course, some people will always claim it's forced upgrades, even though it makes little sense financially in this case.

This won't change anyone's mind (I can already see the "Rene is a known Apple shill" comments) - but if you are genuinely curious why this feature is M1-only, he explains it well.

 

[nebojsak]

Just go to post #691

 

[Mr. Dee]

Why doesn't Apple just hire Rene? Seriously, he's pretty much a part of their PR machine? Who knows, he likely turned it down, but I think he would be a excellent successor to Tim Cook.

 

[Joe Dohn]

For the skeptics, here is a screenshot of my iPad 7th gen with jailbreak running 5 windowed apps simultaneously with no difficulty. All are active windows And useable (albeit small). I could’ve kept adding apps as well.

Shame on Apple.

Ouch! I had not seen this a while ago.

So, what's the next "logical" explanation for this?

 

[Joe Dohn]

Why doesn't Apple just hire Rene? Seriously, he's pretty much a part of their PR machine? Who knows, he likely turned it down, but I think he would be a excellent successor to Tim Cook.

He seems like a parrot to me. Whenever Apple wants to say something, he's one of the tools to spread what they want, with no personal opinion on anything.

 

[4jasontv]

Fair enough; though I'd expect Apple's stndards to match or exceeed what they define as their users' standards.



Of course. All companies do.



Which is fine but as any company does, they chose to ignore that segment of the market.



However, a number of posters are claiming Apple lied when they did no such thing.



It is compared to what the OP was suggesting.



Right, though they are spread across multiple product lines.



They basically are there with a consumer / power and portable / stationary matrix. They could ditch the MB/Air diferece and basically have 2 chassis - consumer (Air) and Power (MBP). Stationary splits between AIO and Headless.

It's a bit more complicated than Steve's 4x4 but the market has also evolved.



As you pointed out, Linux, like iPadOS 16, has most features ported and some may need extra power like graphics acceleration. Same story different OS.



Per Fortune, in 2021, Windows has nearly 70% compared to Linux's 20% currently, with Linux forecasted to have by 2029 the highest market share.

Redundant products don’t make the situation better. The iPad Pro is basically a Mac and it’s existence adds to the problem that apple has to many.

I don’t see where Fortune makes 70% claim in your link. Nor do I see how they define what one server is.

 

[M3gatron]

Sure, and next we can insist Microsoft PROVE Windows 10 can’t run on a Pentium II with 512 GB RAM. It’s still x86, it should just work, right?

Really bad example.
Its a fact that Windows 11 can run on older CPUs so there's no need for Microsoft to prove anything, the real reason Windows 11 isn't compatible with older computers is because of the security requirements.

 

[aevan]

Why doesn't Apple just hire Rene? Seriously, he's pretty much a part of their PR machine? Who knows, he likely turned it down, but I think he would be a excellent successor to Tim Cook.

He seems like a parrot to me. Whenever Apple wants to say something, he's one of the tools to spread what they want, with no personal opinion on anything.

As I said, I knew this would be the comments.

Did you actually listen to his explanation, or you already know he's just doing Apple's PR?

And if you listened, what exactly doesn't pass your expert scrutiny?

And why do you doubt this is his personal opinion? Because it's very similar to my personal opinion - and I certanly have no contact with anyone from Apple.