Apple's Merged iPad, Mac Apps Leave Developers Uneasy, Users Paying Twice (bloomberg.com) 38
Last year, Apple software chief Craig Federighi said developers would be able to easily bring their iPad apps to Mac computers, essentially letting coders write an app once and deploy it across millions more devices. So far, the reality has fallen short for some developers and is even leaving consumers paying twice for apps. From a report: Major app developers and service providers like Netflix are also demurring on taking part, at least at this early stage. Apple rolled out Catalyst, the technology to transition iPad apps into Mac versions, on Monday. It's the initial step toward a bigger goal: By 2021, developers should be able to build an app once and have it work on iPhones, iPads and Mac computers through a single, unified App Store. But the first iteration, which appears to still be quite raw and in a number of ways frustrating to developers, risks upsetting users who may have to pay again when they download the Mac version of an iPad app they've already bought.
"As a user, I don't want to pay again just to have the same app," said longtime Apple developer Steven Troughton-Smith. "As a developer, I don't want my users to have to make that decision." James Thompson has had to work harder than he expected to get his popular PCalc calculator iPad app running well on Mac computers. Getting paid a second time for that extra work makes sense for developers, but consumers may not immediately understand that after Apple made the porting process sound as easy as checking a box, he said. Kevin Reutter, who has brought his Planny app to Mac computers, called the situation "sad."
"As a user, I don't want to pay again just to have the same app," said longtime Apple developer Steven Troughton-Smith. "As a developer, I don't want my users to have to make that decision." James Thompson has had to work harder than he expected to get his popular PCalc calculator iPad app running well on Mac computers. Getting paid a second time for that extra work makes sense for developers, but consumers may not immediately understand that after Apple made the porting process sound as easy as checking a box, he said. Kevin Reutter, who has brought his Planny app to Mac computers, called the situation "sad."
Goddamnit Apple! (Score:5, Funny)
Tell me when Macs have a touch screen. (Score:2)
This was the folly of the Windows 8 design by Microsoft. The idea of making OS and Software that works well for a tablet and a PC/Laptop. For most apps, you either have the flexibility of a multi-touch display, where gestures can control the app, which are mostly natural and easy to learn. Or we have precise and efficient movement of a keyboard and mouse.
Now over a decade of multi-touch displays a technology that Apple made popular with their iPhone models. They still havn't put it on the Macs this me
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"Now over a decade of multi-touch displays a technology that Apple made popular with their iPhone models. They still havn't put it on the Macs this means even if you can get the apps to work cross platform, they will only be really useful on one and not the other."
My guess? They're going to get rid of the Mac and just sell iPads with keyboards. The iPad Pro is kind of like a Surface, so their PadBookPro will be an iPad mounted in a detachable base like the Surface Laptop is.
I'm guessing the multi-platform a
Re:Tell me when Macs have a touch screen. (Score:4, Interesting)
I don't think they will get rid of macs simply because Apple ties Xcode to macs and makes them at least profitable enough to keep running.
Touch screen on macs? Apple saw what happened to Windows 8 and skipped that.
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Windows 8 wasn't great (OK, it was bad. With a flicker here or there of useful.) but I miss having a touch screen. My last employer I had a Surface Pro 4, new place is the standard office laptop. Windows 10 has largely addressed the deficiencies that 8 had, from a touch screen perspective. I agree with GP, Apple is going to release some sort of MacBookProTablet that is essentially the Surface Pro. (And I'm sure the ApplePhiles will fawn over how game changing it is. /snark )
At this point it's obvious, a Mac with a touch screen will only ever happen when MacOS can run apps 100% designed for touch screen (mac doubling as big iPad).
That probably will be a game changer, and it's what Microsoft dreamed Metro would be.
Re:Tell me when Macs have a touch screen. (Score:4, Interesting)
I used Macs primarily in the 2000's as they were really good laptops, packed full of new features that most other vendors didn't have, especially in one package. Things like Wi-Fi, and support of a Gig of RAM all on a thin form factor on my G4 PowerBook, Then a lighter case, extremely high quality screen, Video Camera, back lit keyboard, and duel core on the MacBook Pro. Yes you can probably get custom to give you these features, back during the time, but it was difficult to get them in a portable attractive frame (as I was doing consulting at the time, and having a Fancy Laptop actually did impress)
However after Apple started selling laptops with non-replaceable batteries, and not putting in touch displays, other manufactures were upping on the feature war so I decided to go with a good old (Well it was a new model) Think Pad after that.
Re:Tell me when Macs have a touch screen. (Score:4, Funny)
Oh man, duel core processors are the worst. Instead of running the OS and applications, each core keeps fighting the other one.
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It doesn't matter how many times Apple reps say that Apple _DOES_NOT_INTEND_TO_MERGE_MACS_AND_IOS there's always going to be that guy that, from his commanding position deep, Deep DEEP, in his armchair, who will claim the contrary...
https://appleinsider.com/artic... [appleinsider.com]
As for touchscreens on Macs, DO NOT WANT! I've tried using touchscreens. They suck and their only effect on Microsoft has been to completely ruin the interface of Windows desktop and their apps with gigantic "finger friendly" controls.
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Well yeah of course it doesn't matter how much they say they don't intend to merge macs and ios. They can keep saying it until the day Tim Apple walks out onto the stage and announces that yep, theyr'e now merged. Big applause from the audience!
I'm not saying it's likely to happen, just that you can't go by official statemens only. Not that I particularly care either way, I'm not using anything Apple, just curious to see what's the reaction to Apple's UWP is here.
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So, you never used a laptop with a touchscreen?
The only "bad thing" is you have to clean them sometimes ... otherwise they are superb!
Re: Tell me when Macs have a touch screen. (Score:2)
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As for paying twice, I expect either apple will change its policy due to push back. or every other industry will follow if people really don't care.
The other manufacturers followed Apple with chicklet keyboards, screens with glare, and thin construction which requires compromises, so why not charging twice?
Write once, run nowhere (Score:2)
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Write once, debug everywhere
At least, that's the phrase we've been using since Java became a thing in the first place.
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I never encountered a platform specific bug, though.
It just works (Score:3)
Apple: It just works, until we decide it doesn't.
That'll be (another) $5.95, will you be using ApplePay for that?
“As a user (Score:2)
So what? (Score:4, Insightful)
They should be used to it by now.
PCalc? But he crippled it years ago (Score:2)
It wasn't, and with that move he took away the reason for using PCalc. Honestly he is in no position to complain about Mac and iOS merges - he killed features of his product in order to do that a while ago.
Mac OS X and iOS Integration (Score:1)
Apple has been trying to integrate iOS into Mac OS X for quite a few versions now. The writing is on the wall that they will want to have a more iOS-centric experience in Max OS X, eventually leading to touch-screens in the iMacs. It's really too bad, OS X is a great operating system that is being eaten by the large App-centric ecosystem that is iCloud. I hope they keep Mac OS X close to it's roots.
Walled Garden Expansion (Score:1)
Because 40% is nowhere near a monopoly? (Score:3)
Maybe because 40% of the market is nowhere near a monopoly?
This is when you say "but they are the only ones selling APPLE BRAND phones" and we all laugh at you.
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In other words, Apple is taking steps to slowly force MacOS users into the confines of their software store monopoly. It's 2019, why has there still not been an antitrust suit against Apple?
Can you point out for us on the doll where Apple hurt you?
I think you don't understand what a trust is.
Re:Walled Garden Expansion (Score:4, Funny)
[Points at the doll's wallet]
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[Points at the doll's wallet]
Well played sir, well played indeed!
Can't developers give discounts? (Score:2)
Can developers not optionally give one-time discounts to specific parties (identified by Apple ID) so that they don't have to pay full price to get the app again? And if not, what year is it?
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No, they can't, because Apple does not reveal who buys your app. Apple retains the Apple ID information, so scummy developers can't go and use the fact you bought their app to spam you with crap (verified email address!).
So as far as the developer is concerned, they can do nothing about it.
Though really, I'm not sure if
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Just because the source code was the same doesn't mean I can compile once and have it work on everything flawlessly. Still need to test each version separately and that's not free. Especially since touch screens and mouse/keyboards are completely different user interactions and one will poorly emulate the other.
This is about developer choice. I know choice is not popular in Apple-land, but I think it should be a thing.
right...? (Score:1)
The article says some dev is upset because macOS is slightly different then iOS. The dev actually said he had to make minor tweaks to the UI because a macOS screen and a mouse if different then an iPad screen, but all the underlying code worked right out of the box. This is exactly what was promised. This is exactly how it when when the iPad came out... an existing iOS app would run, but it would look like an iOS app under a magnifying glass until the dev wrote an iPad UI for it.
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Well, Mr. Thompson... (Score:2)
I’ll happily pay you a second time for PCalc.
Most of the meh apps I have I would be much less willing, but for the exceptional ones that now give me access to the same interface on my mac not a problem (at a reasonable price).
(But if you could at least add in the time-value-of-money calculator function I would feel like it is less of a donation...)
Just twice as much? (Score:1)
So touch apps for a non-touch screen computer ! :) (Score:2)
Apple is officially rudderless.
Even though Johny Ives has left, Apple still won't give up on the janky MacBook Pro keyboard.
Now, they are trying to squeeze more money out of the Mac but putting it in the walled garden of the App store. Talk about taking a page from Microsoft, except Microsoft was smart enough to have computes with touchscreens and buy Minecraft.
Apple needs to get someone at the helm and break out of the fog. Geez.
I would take head of MacBook Pro design in a heartbeat and take their produc