According to several reports, Apple is working on a new feature that would allow users to run iPad apps on their Mac computers.
Users of Apple’s Mac range, including MacBooks and iMacs, would be able to operate iPad apps from the iOS App Store with a keyboard and mouse (or trackpad) rather than with their fingers. Whether this would necessitate apps to be redesigned to work well on both systems isn’t yet clear.
If true, this change would signal a huge departure from the policy of clearly separating MacOS and iOS, further blurring the line between desktop, laptop, and tablet computer.
Focus on stability
It was reportedly confirmed by Apple’s Craig Federighi that this year’s major software updates would focus on performance and stability over flashy new features or design changes. Meaning iOS 12 might not be a particularly exciting update – but it should mean fewer crashes and security leaks.
Apple – and the tech industry on the whole – has encountered a number of security scares over the past few months, and clearly Apple feels it is time to stabilize the user experience before adding too many new bells and whistles.
However, it looks as though the big exception this year may be the introduction of iPad apps for Mac – but there’s been no indication thus far that Apple could also bring select iPhone apps to the Mac.
There are all kinds of complications that could arise from such a feature, and there’s also the chance it would dampen sales of the iPad if it no longer had app exclusivity over the Mac. However, there’s no denying the appeal of apps reaching a wider audience, and it could be a boon for iOS developers who don’t have the resources to build separate apps for Mac.
We expect Apple to remain quiet on this rumor until WWDC until June, at which point we’ll learn a lot more about its software plans for the rest of 2018.