Ian WilliamsonSep 1, 2023

. @viticci gets it.

“Your phone is your computer already, but what if it could be your computer computer?”

https://mastodon.online/@tuckerjj/110952550985915441

#DeX #iPhone

Ian Williamson (@[email protected])

@[email protected] @[email protected] Exactly. Nearly all the elements are already in place in iOS 17 with the improvements to stage manager and external webcam support.

Mastodon
Show threadIan WilliamsonSep 14, 2023

The macrumorati get it.

https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/13/all-iphone-15-models-support-displayport/

All iPhone 15 Models Support DisplayPort for Up to 4K HDR Video Output to External Display

The new iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max all support DisplayPort for up to 4K HDR video mirroring and video output to...

MacRumors
Show threadIan WilliamsonSep 14, 2023
Hopefully next year is the year that “clamshell mode” is announced for iPad OS at WWDC ‘24 (because removing reliance on the “main” display is the last piece of this puzzle), the iPhone 16 Pro gets Thunderbolt, and either then, or at WWDC ‘25 Stage Manager comes to iPhone.
Show threadIan WilliamsonNov 28, 2023
The commenters on this thread get it https://mastodon.social/@gruber/111483874529300444
Show threadIan WilliamsonJan 9, 2024

. @alexcox gets it

https://mastodon.social/@alexcox/111728632362342717

Show threadIan WilliamsonApr 18, 2025
Finally testing out an iPad with an external display, keyboard, trackpad and camera, and it works *really* well. I could totally use this as a “daily driver”. I see the complaints about Stage Manager, and for sure there’s room for improvement, but none of them actually bother me in the slightest.
Show threadIan WilliamsonApr 18, 2025
M series chip aside, there is zero reason why this couldn’t also work on an iPhone. Sure, it wouldn’t be for everyone, but for a lot of people a docked iPhone running Stage Manager would be the only computer they would need.
https://mastodon.online/@tuckerjj/114359516513413368
Ian W (@[email protected])

Attached: 4 images Finally testing out an iPad with an external display, keyboard, trackpad and camera, and it works *really* well. I could totally use this as a “daily driver”. I see the complaints about Stage Manager, and for sure there’s room for improvement, but none of them actually bother me in the slightest.

Mastodon
Show threadIan WilliamsonApr 26, 2025
🫨
https://majinbuofficial.com/ipados-19-and-ios-19-new-features/
iPadOS 19 and iOS 19: Apple Brings Mac-Style Features to iPad and iPhone

Author Majin Bu ✍️ Creator 🔍 Researcher ✈️ Traveler 📸 Photographer 🍽️ Food 🤸‍♂️🏋️‍♂️🚵‍♀️🏃‍♂️🥋Athlete

MajinBu Official
Show threadIan WilliamsonApr 30, 2025

. @jsnell gets it

“So many people around the world use their iPhone as their primary computer already”

Show threadIan WilliamsonMay 2, 2025

“If you don’t cannibalize yourself, someone else will” - Steve Jobs

https://www.androidauthority.com/android-desktop-mode-leak-3550321/

Google is finally building its own DeX: First look at Android's Desktop Mode

Here's an early look at Android's Desktop Mode, Google's version of Samsung DeX! This brings a PC-like interface to Pixel and stock Android.

Android Authority
Show threadIan WilliamsonJun 9, 2025

Bring this to iPhone you cowards!

Just kidding. I got more and more excited as it became clear that iPadOS was going last and thus a major WIMP UI redesign was coming.

But I do now expect it on iPhone at #WWDC26!

Show threadIan WilliamsonJun 12, 2025
Foolhardedly decided to use an iPad Air running the iPadOS 26 beta today as my only computer and, at least for me, Apple have solved multitasking on iPad. Beta bugs and crashes aside (it was a little scary on a Teams call where I had to present 😅) I could work this way every day.
Show threadIan Williamson
If Apple add #dex mode to the rumoured folding iPhone, then they can introduce it with the rule of three trope, i.e. “Today Apple is releasing three new devices, an iPhone, an iPad, and a revolutionary desktop computer” etc, etc.
Jul 25, 2025 at 8:22amWeb
Show threadIan WilliamsonJul 25, 2025
(This would no longer be in front of a live audience, but if it were, as with the iPhone introduction, the first two items would get huge cheers and the last, a polite smattering of applause, even though it later turns out to be the most important thing.)
Show threadIan WilliamsonAug 5, 2025

And iPhones.

https://mastodon.social/@stroughtonsmith/114977818692465003

Show threadIan WilliamsonNov 9
If the rumoured low-cost MacBook is running an A series chip then it should absolutely be possible for an iPhone Pro, docked to an external monitor + keyboard and trackpad, to provide the same windowed multitasking UI we have today on iPadOS. #iphonedex #dex
Show threadIan WilliamsonNov 9
(Of course it might not be a MacBook; it might be an iBook running a variant of iPadOS)
Show threadIan WilliamsonNov 9
Who needs an M series chip? 🤷‍♂️
https://mastodon.online/@tuckerjj/114359551408363833
Ian Williamson (@[email protected])

M series chip aside, there is zero reason why this couldn’t also work on an iPhone. Sure, it wouldn’t be for everyone, but for a lot of people a docked iPhone running Stage Manager would be the only computer they would need. https://mastodon.online/@tuckerjj/114359516513413368

Mastodon
Show threadIan WilliamsonDec 7
Vittici is right. The iPhone is a mobile workstation. Such a large subset of my work can now be done on an iPhone I just don’t use my laptop when away from a desk. Give it the iPad style multitasking UI when docked and it could be a desktop workstation too.
Show threadIan WilliamsonDec 8
A thought experiment; if my iPhone is all I need to work when on the move, why not just carry a Mac Mini around with me and plug that into the screens at the various desks I sit at? It’s smaller, lighter and cheaper, than a MacBook right? It could totally work - there are no insurmountable obstacles - but here’s why I wouldn’t:
(1/7)
Show threadIan WilliamsonDec 8
- No, single cable docking with Thunderbolt/USB-C power.
All our hot desks at work are set up for this. I’d have to regularly climb under the desk and rummage around the cable management to (hopefully) find a power socket to plug into. Eugh.
(2/7)
Show threadIan WilliamsonDec 8
- No battery.
Let’s say we do get single cable, powered docking on the Mac Mini. A dodgy cable, bad connection, bug in the dock monitor/dock hardware/firmware, a brief power outage or unfortunate nudge and my computer restarts?! Eugh.
(3/7)
Show threadIan WilliamsonDec 8
- No screen for troubleshooting.
The Mac mini seems to get stuck on boot or for whatever reason the screen I’m docking to won’t connect? It’s a bit hard to troubleshoot that without a screen. Eugh.
(4/7)
Show threadIan WilliamsonDec 8
- Weight.
Ok, a Mini is half the weight of an Air, and far less bulky, but it’s still extra weight that I’d rather not carry one around because ultimately, and this may upset some people…
(5/7)
Show threadIan WilliamsonDec 8

- I now prefer iPadOS to MacOS.
Why is a whole other thread, but it is so.

So why not carry an iPad around instead? That solves all of the problems above, right?
(6/7)

Show threadIan WilliamsonDec 8
Well yeah, that’s what I do now, but nevertheless the additional weight, bulk, cost and mental overhead of carrying a second device is still mildly infuriating when, you know what could also solve all these problems? You got it; an iPhone that supports iPad style multitasking when docked!
(7/7)
Show threadIan WilliamsonJan 1
https://mastodon.social/@macrumors/115821592866275933
- iPad style multitasking on iPhone when docked
- a new Studio Display with HDR and ProMotion (to dock the iPhone into)
- iPhone mirroring in Vision Pro (both handheld and multitasking views)
Show threadIan WilliamsonJan 1
Also,
- MagSafe on the iPhone 17e
- The rumoured HomePod with a screen
- Time Capsule for iOS/iPadOS
- Many, many immersive recordings of plays, musicals and gigs (enabled by the Blackmagic Immersive Camera)
- Live immersive sports broadcasts
- Cheaper Vision Pro (Vision?)
- Glasses running a version of VisionOS
- 11” (or smaller) MacBook with an M series chip
- Sky blue that actually looks freaking blue, or even better, bring back rose gold
Show threadIan WilliamsonJan 2
Surely this year is the year for iPad style multitasking on docked iPhones. Nearly all the pieces are there:
- The iPhone is clearly powerful enough now (since a MacBook with an A series chip is coming soon)
- Thunderbolt is already on the Pro phones
- External webcams are supported (on iPad)
- The UI is capable enough now (on iPad)
- There’ll need to be some sort of split screen multitasking added to iOS anyway (for the folding phone).
Show threadIan WilliamsonJan 2
Let’s go. I’m so done carrying large screen devices around in a backpack, Mac or iPad. Totally unnecessary for my use cases.
Show threadIan WilliamsonMar 4
I hope that somewhere at Apple someone is dual booting a Neo into iPad OS and taking notes on all the rough edges. Even if an iPadOS laptop is never released, taking the different hardware of iPad + Magic Keyboard vs MacBook out of the equation would, I think, really help clarify what isn’t working and why, so this experiment could help improve the docked iPad experience, and further down the line the docked iPhone experience.
Show threadIan WilliamsonMar 4

I’d prefer iPad OS, but yes, the hardware is no longer the issue. This is purely a UI design and software engineering challenge now.

https://aus.social/@decryption/116172988490704948

decryption (@[email protected])

because the macbook neo has an A18 Pro SoC & 8GB of RAM in it, apple should let me plug an iPhone Pro with the A19 Pro SoC and 12GB of RAM into a USB-C/Thunderbolt monitor and use it as a Mac - charge me a $200 Mac enablement fee if you have to

Aus.Social
Show threadIan WilliamsonMar 4
I’d prefer iPadOS because I don’t want to run two completely separate computers on one device, which is what MacOS would effectively be doing here. I want one computer, one file system, one set of apps, that can run in two different UI contexts, small screen touch tablet & desktop computer, like the iPad already does with large screen touch tablet & desktop computer.