Apple's Greg Joswiak: No Plans to Merge Mac and iPad

[MacRumors]

Apple earlier this week introduced refreshed 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models with few external changes but one notable internal change - the introduction of the same M1 chip that was also used in the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini refreshes back in November.

Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak and hardware chief John Ternus this week did an interview with The Independent to talk about the new tablets. The use of an M1 chip in an iPad naturally has led to speculation about the merging of the iPad and Mac lineups, a topic that resurfaces over and over again, but Joswiak says that's not the goal.

Rather than merging the two product lines, he claims that Apple is just trying to make the best products in their respective categories.

"There's two conflicting stories people like to tell about the iPad and Mac," says Joz, as he starts on a clarification that will lead him at one point to apologise for his passion. "On the one hand, people say that they are in conflict with each other. That somebody has to decide whether they want a Mac, or they want an iPad.

"Or people say that we're merging them into one: that there's really this grand conspiracy we have, to eliminate the two categories and make them one. And the reality is neither is true. We're quite proud of the fact that we work really, really hard to create the best products in their respective category."

Ternus added that Apple doesn't aim to limit one device in order to avoid impacting another device. "We're pushing to make the best Mac we can make; we're pushing to make the best iPad we can make," said Ternus.

Apple plans to keep making both products better and is not going to "get all caught up in" theories of "merging or anything like that."

The new iPad Pro models arguably have more power than is necessary for a tablet that does not have the option of pro software like Final Cut Pro, but Ternus and Joswiak declined to comment on software that might be coming in the future. Joswiak instead said that the extra performance gives developers more space to find new ways to expand their apps. "Our developers are pretty quick about taking advantage," he said. "It isn't like it languishes for years."

He also said that it's great for customers to know that they can buy a system "that still has headroom" and won't be "immediately obsolete." As an explanation for why Apple opted for the M1 chip over an A-series chip, Ternus said that the best Apple silicon has "always gone into the iPad Pro," and right now, the M1 is "is the best" Apple silicon Apple has available.

The two also commented on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro's new mini-LED display, which is the highest quality display that's been used in an iPad to date and rivals the Pro Display XDR. Ternus said that shrinking it was a "huge undertaking" that required more LEDs because of the size constraints.

"Shrinking it was a huge undertaking," says Ternus. "If you just look at the two products, obviously the iPad is a lot thinner than a Pro Display XDR, and the way the architecture works - you have the LED backlight behind the display."

Apple added one other new feature to the iPad Pro -- an Ultra Wide front-facing camera with a new "Center Stage" feature that's designed to allow you to stay in frame while moving about a room. Ternus said that it's "liberating" to be able to move around, and it's also useful for FaceTiming with large groups.

Joswiak and Ternus's full interview contains additional tidbits about the new iPad Pro models, and it can be read over at The Independent.

Article Link: Apple's Greg Joswiak: No Plans to Merge Mac and iPad

 

[farewelwilliams]

It's stupid to merge both products or both operating systems. No point. You might think you want it, but you're not going to use it in the long run.

Merging iPad and Mac is just plain stupid.

 

[dannyyankou]

They keep saying that, but every year they’re more and more alike

 

[oliversl]

But they use the same hardware, exactly the same

 

[alexandr]

well thank god!

 

[countryside]

Good. But would they really tell us otherwise?

 

[alex00100]

Remember when Jobs said there will never be a stylus for an iPad? Yeah, iPads will have to run mac apps to be a real computer. They’ll realize it sooner or later.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Nothing of any importance in that interview.

 

[Hammerd]

Shout out to all the disappointed

 

[JosephAW]

Usually when some business tells you their not doing something, they are.

Ex: No, we’re not thinking about putting OS X on the Intel platform, surprise.
We’re not going to make iTunes for Windows, surprise.
We’re not going to make iMessage for Android...

 

[rpmurray]

The use of an M1 chip in an iPad naturally has led to speculation about the merging of the iPad and Mac lineups, a topic that resurfaces over and over again, but Joswiak says that's not the goal.

Oh? Then why does every new version of macOS get dumbed down further and further to behave more like iOS? To the point where features are taken away from macOS to make it have feature parity with iOS, and features of iOS are added to macOS.

 

[Pakaku]

But they use the same hardware, exactly the same

No... a Mac uses different hardware input than an iPad. Hence the reason they should not be merged.

 

[techno-Zen]

This is a mistake imo - why bridge the gap with an M1 if you can't utilize both MacOS and iPadOS? They both offer different experiences but meet the needs at different times.

So annoying

 

[fenderbass146]

Merge no...make a device that can run both OS depending on the current setup....yes for the love of god please. The Magic Keyboard has shown how good this could be. Attach a magic keyboard it becomes MacOS, no keyboard or trackpad, good ole iOS. That justify that $300+ keyboard more.

 

[fenderbass146]

No... a Mac uses different hardware input than an iPad. Hence the reason they should not be merged.

guess you haven't heard of the magic keyboard which literally makes an ipad have the exact same input hardware.

 

[djcerla]

Translation: dual boot.

 

[chinito77]

No... a Mac uses different hardware input than an iPad. Hence the reason they should not be merged.

Oh, you mean like a keyboard and mouse....

 

[Moonlight]

I'm not asking to merge, but maybe dual boot?

Also, why does the iMac not have ultra wide selfie cam with Center Stage?

 

[robjulo]

It's stupid to merge both products or both operating systems. No point. You might think you want it, but you're not going to use it in the long run.

Merging iPad and Mac is just plain stupid.

Uh....they aren't that far apart.

 

[ersan191]

Some modder is going to port it over very soon I’m sure.

This stance is becoming less reasonable over time - the “we’re doing this for consumers” argument makes less and less sense as the iPad and MacBook start to reach parity with the magic keyboard and mouse input and now the M1. It’s just about being able to sell you two devices.

 

[LogicalApex]

There is no surprise here. Apple won't announce anything they are doing until they do it.

No Apple employee would reveal any plans early unless they were Tim Apple and he has no reason to reveal anything sooner than a keynote. It doesn't mean we're seeing macOS on an iPad this year, but the interview here isn't the arbiter of truth on future plans by AAPL.

 

[fenderbass146]

I'm not asking to merge, but maybe dual boot?

Also, why does the iMac not have ultra wide selfie cam with Center Stage?

Yes, Quick Switch between MacOS and iOS. The only reason I still have a Macbook Pro is there are still things I need a real os for working as a Managed Service provider...they are becoming more rare and if they could run Mac Os, then Windows via VMWare on my iPad I'd only need one device.

 

[mrv9292]

I'm not asking to merge, but maybe dual boot?

Also, why does the iMac not have ultra wide selfie cam with Center Stage?

Gotta hold some "pro" features back for the imac pro or the bigger ones at least

 

[SamRyouji]

They said they "won't merge Mac and iPad". They didn't say they "won't give the iPad some macOS app compatibility or macOS inside the iPad while still offering the Mac product lines".
Universal apps seems strange and less useful if its only for iPad / iOS apps inside Macs and not vice versa, especially when we finally got an M1 iPad Pro with ginormous RAM.

Knowing Apple, they are really masters of wordplays.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Uh....they aren't that far apart.

They sure are.

If they're not that far apart, developers can use Catalyst APIs and build their apps cross platform. Not that hard.