Have you been dreaming of having a touchscreen Mac running iOS? Well, I usually don’t condone giving up on your dreams, but you may have no other choice with this one. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, recently dismissed the assumption that Apple will merge the iOS mobile software with its OS X computer software. This means that iPads and Macs are, for the foreseeable future, going to remain separate entities, despite all the new similarities between them.
“We don’t believe in having one operating system for PC and mobile,” Cook stated on Tuesday during a chat with CEO of Box Aaron Levie. “We think it subtracts from both, and you don’t get the best experience from either. We’re very much focused on two.” Box is a company that provides cloud storage for businesses and is hosting its BoxWorks conference this week in downtown San Francisco.
These comments from Cook reiterate what Apple has been saying for years: that it’s PC and mobile systems will continue to be separate. Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi told CNET that introducing Macs with touchscreens was something that Apple had no intentions of doing. “We don’t think it’s the right interface, honestly. Mac is sort of a sit-down experience.”
Apple has kept its computer operating system totally separate from its iOS mobile software though it does feature things like “Handoff” from last year’s iOS 8, which allows the two programs to interact better. The feature allows you to start a program on an iPhone and then complete it on an iPad or Mac. According to Kantar Worldpanel Analyst Caroline Milanesi, “Apple continues to see the need for a continuum of experience but not a need for both experiences to merge if that means there is a compromise to make. I think that is the right approach.”
On the flip side, Microsoft has done the exact opposite. Under CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft has adopted a “one Windows” strategy. It has ported its new Windows 10 operating system to desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and even its Xbox One gaming console.
With the iPad Pro being officially unveiled earlier this month, questions about whether Apple would merge iOS and OS X into a single system resurfaced. The new 12.9″ tablet comes with an optional keyboard and stylus, which allows designers and others to do much more with their iPad. In addition to that, having an iPad with a bigger screen could also allow people to replace their computers with a tablet, which is something that could be vital as Apple works desperately to revitalize its iPad business.
Even if there is no foreseeable future for the merger of iOS and OS X, people can still dream. While the new iPad Pro could push Apple in the right direction with merging the two operating systems, it isn’t something we should hang our hopes on. However, if Apple wants to remain competitive, it should definitely consider merging. Microsoft has already seen great success with it and people are continually trying to find more portable ways to replace their desktops.
Content originally published here
Sharing this story on Social Media? Use these hashtags! #Apple #iOS #OSX #iOSX
