Wayne GraysonFeb 2, 2023
Steve Troughton-Smith
I’m with @viticci — I’ll be honest, I’ve been hiding from iPadOS 16 and Stage Manager, and pretending it doesn’t exist. It’s hard to imagine a single feature being enough to evaporate years of enthusiasm for a platform, so maybe it’s just the final papercut in a long line of disappointments and ‘maybe it’ll be better next year’s. I’m real tired of the iPad, the computer form-factor I prefer, being hobbled because Apple chose to build two competing form-factor-specific computing platforms
Feb 2, 2023 at 4:09pmIvory for iOS
Show threadBenRiceMFeb 2, 2023

@stroughtonsmith @viticci I’m just tired of waiting a decade for Xcode and Sketch so I can do “real work”

I know Sketch isn’t Apple’s responsibility, but they should be doing everything in their power to get pro design tools running on iPad.

Xcode absolutely is, and I think it’s a massive missed opportunity.

Show threadBenRiceMFeb 2, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @viticci I bought an M2 MacBook Air towards the end of last year, and I don’t think I’ve undocked my iPad from its desk stand since
Show threadJoe Rosensteel 🏳️‍🌈Feb 2, 2023
@BenRiceM
Show threadSahand NayebazizFeb 2, 2023
@BenRiceM @stroughtonsmith @viticci hey, this might not be what you’re looking for, but have you checked out DetailsPro? It’s my app, it’s a pro design tool that runs great on iPad and lets you design with SwiftUI. So it’s made for designers, but the interface is all SwiftUI. I’m working on a big update right now that will add repeating elements. If you end up liking it, I’ll send you a promo code just let me know!
Show threadBenRiceMFeb 2, 2023

@sahand I think I have used it in the past, and it’s incredibly impressive!

It don’t think it quite solves the problem I want my iPad to though, which is more like reviewing the code that I’ve written on my Mac, busywork tasks like writing localised strings, tweaking colours etc

Show threadSahand NayebazizFeb 2, 2023

@BenRiceM oh I toooootally hear you on that. If I’m understanding you correctly, it’s like all of the things that would help us make meaningful progress on our Xcode projects from our iPad.

I would love that myself. It’s interesting then that even if either of Figma or Sketch make a big splash on iPad, that wouldn’t address this.

And thank you for the kind words about DetailsPro!

Show threadBenRiceMFeb 2, 2023

@sahand There’s the more complicated work, that benefits from a big display with room to see multiple files (and being more focused in the morning)

The iPad could be great for all the other work that needs doing, but is better suited to sitting on the couch with the TV on.

Show threadSahand NayebazizFeb 2, 2023
@BenRiceM 100% agree with you. Couch with the TV is a wonderful place to have creative thoughts too
Show threadKeirFeb 2, 2023
@BenRiceM @stroughtonsmith @viticci yup, until they prove their own platform can be used for “pro” applications, and show there’s a worthwhile market for it, other developers simply can’t risk the time and therefore money it would cost to develop applications of a similar level
Show threadChristopher MimsFeb 2, 2023

@stroughtonsmith @viticci I know this is straight-up heresy but one reason I moved my desktop computing to Chrome OS is that it's low-key the best OS that works for both tablet and desktop form factors (for my purposes)

I realize I'm niche 'cause I'm a writer so my whole toolchain is pretty simple!

Show threadFederico Viticci Feb 2, 2023
@mimsical I'm fascinated by this! Assume you're mostly using Google services? (Docs, Calendar, etc.)
Show threadChristopher MimsFeb 2, 2023

@viticci yeah almost exclusively

I also use Notion; Zoom's pwa is great, these days pretty much everything is built for the web anyway -- even if it's an app, that's often just a wrapper around web protocols

Show threadBud GibsonFeb 2, 2023
@mimsical @viticci I think many people don’t get the extent to which this is true. Often enough, what you think of as an app is just a specialized web browser (sometimes very specialized) e.g., obsidian, VS Code, all electron apps. It’s one reason I point out to marketing students that it’s still worth it to learn basic html. It at least let’s you understand the outline of what’s going on.
Show threadMark GardnerFeb 2, 2023
@mimsical @stroughtonsmith @viticci A #Chromebook can be a nifty #Linux laptop, too https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/9145439?hl=en
Set up Linux on your Chromebook - Chromebook Help

Linux is a feature that lets you develop software using your Chromebook. You can install Linux command line tools, code editors, and IDEs (integrated development environments) on your Chromebook. Thes

Show threadMatt Hogan Feb 2, 2023

@stroughtonsmith @viticci I’d long been bullish on the iPad as my primary computing machine, but somewhere between now and 2020 I just had to admit my needs for an iPad just don’t align with Apple’s wants.

Between the lackluster OS updates and the strict App Store rules not allowing devs to make the iPad into something great, the product line has effectively become the equivalent of those portable DVD players of years past.

It’s especially sad because the iPad form factor could be *so* good.

Show threadBert JW Regeer 🏳️‍🌈Feb 2, 2023

@stroughtonsmith @viticci it’s such a disappointment knowing that my iPad has an M2 processor in it, but gets used for nothing that really even needs that power.

I only got it because I know it’ll last years for it’s primary duty, reading while lying on bed/looking up reference materials. It only replaced an old iPad because the old iPad was struggling on certain websites.

Show threadcoffeekomradeFeb 2, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @viticci hey you know whats great about stage manager? You can turn it off and never use it.
Show threadSteve Troughton-SmithFeb 2, 2023
@coffeekomrade @viticci that’s the best part
Show threadRob NeeFeb 2, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @viticci Hear! Hear! I'm tired of the clumsy multitasking on iPadOS. I'd prefer to turn it all off.
Show threadJosh WoldFeb 2, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @viticci I gave up on the iPad as a computer after a year of trying. Sold my Magic Keyboard. Now I use my iPad 12.9” Pro and Mini every day, but ONLY as sketching tablets for my work as a designer. Freeform is an absolute game changer in this regard. In every other category an iPhone or Mac is better. I don’t expect this to change anymore.
Show threadRhys MorganFeb 2, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @viticci It's sad how little they've pushed Catalyst as well. It could have been an excellent tool for bringing iPad apps to the Mac, and making the iPad apps substantially better in the process. But too few apps have used it.
Show threadDan MillsFeb 2, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @viticci @[email protected] Now you know what its like to be a Detroit Lions fan.
Show threadBuckFeb 2, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @viticci I was really by this point in time there would be an ipad that could be an ipad in hand, and a Mac when docked (or otherwise just switchable back and forth). I’d love to have one awesome tablet that can do it ALL
Show threadChris AtzingerFeb 2, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @viticci I recently sold my iPad Pro. It’s no coincidence that six months ago I bought a new MacBook Pro. I found that I was not using the iPad hardly at all and didn’t miss it.
Show threadKirk McElhearnFeb 2, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @viticci I love Stage Manager on the Mac; it is unusable on iPad.
Show threadSandhuFeb 2, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @viticci My year old iPad Pro 12.9” is collecting dust, I have no enthusiasm for it at all. Really wish had bought a new MacBook.
Show threadWayne GraysonFeb 2, 2023
@stroughtonsmith
@viticci @ChrisLawley I know it's not an option for a lot of people who are otherwise rooted in the Apple ecosystem, but this is exactly why I pulled the trigger on a Surface Pro 9 and have loved it so far. It took a while, but the Surface platform has truly matured. And while I love the iPad and miss the amazing apps that have been developed for it, I got tired of waiting for every iterarion to the hardware and software to finally be the one to make it fully usable.
Show threadbavsterFeb 2, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @viticci Apple need good Product vision. Has been fairly lacklustre in the iPadOS department for years to the point macOS is preferable.
Show threadPaulFeb 2, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @viticci I’ve wanted to use Zbrush on the iPad for years, but Zbrush will NEVER be on the App Store. I’d even be happy with Blender, but there’s no roadmap for porting Blender to iPad. Nomad is an impressive app, but there’s no pipeline to get models in and out of Nomad into desktop apps. At this point, I’m more hopeful for a touchscreen MBP so I can use Zbrush and Blender with an Apple Pencil w/o needing to haul a tablet around than seeing real pro apps on the iPad.
Show threadRishi ÓFeb 2, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @viticci I understand, but iPad is still my only computer. I use Stage Manager everyday. It’s frustrating and a bit sad, but I still love it and have hope. It’s still definitely better than a Mac could ever be for me as a full blown computer.
Show threadBraddoWizFeb 3, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @viticci I’m always suspicious about headline apple features that I can’t use and hear almost nothing about just weeks after release. This is one of those examples.
Show threaddonkeyFeb 3, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @viticci Counterpoint: iPadOS 16 and external display support (Stage Manager disabled) has been an absolute game changer for a bunch of people I look after at work. They can now use their iPad as a thin client on the external display and have the iPad for other tasks like Zoom/Teams video calling. We’ll replace most of our thin client fleet (approx. 200) with iPad Pros.