iPad Pro with M4 and The Small But Vocal Users Who Want to Run MacOS On It

I've ran MacOS on my iPad for a couple of years already through the Jump app. It worked great. In fact, it worked so well that I also got it for the PC at work and I have been using it to remotely work off my laptop whenever I need to. Of course, I used an external keyboard and mouse to get the full experience. Touch works but it was not ideal. So, why are iPad Pro users asking Apple to let them run MacOS or have more Mac like experiences on the iPad when touch and an on screen keyboard just does not provide the same experience as MacBook or the iMac with keyboard and mouse.

I think these users have a point. I got a new MacBook Air last Christmas but if my iPad had more of a desktop experience (windows, true multitasking), I really think I would have a brand new M4 iPad Pro instead of the Air. But there is still a reason why many people buy a laptop than an iPad or Android tablet. The productivity just is not the same. There is a certain methodology and muscle memory that comes with using Windows or Mac laptops for most of my life. For most of the life of many users around the world. I suppose the closest experience to working on an iPad as a laptop full-time are students who use Chrome. It works but something just feels off for the rest of us.

That is not to say that macOS on the iPad is impossible. I imagine that Apple can flip on the switch rather quickly if it decides to make it so. Remember OS X in Intel that had been running in Apple's secret labs for years before Apple made the switch from G4 and G5 to Intel? Course changes at Apple are common occurrences and people forget that. Like a battleship making a turn, it's a long arduous process.  

Moreover, there are a few issues that I think Apple found out about running a full blown desktop on a small enclosed tablet. With the newer, faster, and insanely efficient Apple silicons, I think we are closer than ever to see desktop experiences on the iPad. Imagine if iPadOS allowed users to use Mac apps back in 2018 when the first iPad Pro came on.

• The apps run slow. And you still cannot multitask well and processes stop when you switch from one app to another. On the Mac, you can edit and process a video and then switch over to the mail app to answer a few emails. On the iPad, the moment you switch apps, the processes on the previous apps go into standby mode.
• The battery life is sucked dry quickly. I think that is still a concern even with the M series chips today. Apple has kept the iPad battery life around 10 hours. It's amazing how Apple has managed that while iPads are faster and faster. 10 Hours of MacOS on the iPad? That could be a big challenge. So far, these power users who want MacOS experience on the iPad has not mentioned how the battery life might suffer as a result. In fact, on a podcast I listened to, one of the hosts simply suggests that if Apple wanted run MacOS on the iPad and still keep the battery life at 10 hours, it could do it. I suggest that host get a MacBook instead. 
• Users would have more reasons to complain. Why has Apple not updated MacOS to the touch interface if they were for years that the MacOS would run on a touch interface? And this would be a complaint after Apple says that the iPad Pro would be turned into a MacBook only with the Magic Keyboard. People will complain and I imagine the people who designated themselves as "Apple Watchers" will be among the first. Some will be reasonable and suggest that Apple did tell them that they would need a keyboard and a mouse.
• Just as some reviewers complain that the MacBook still comes with 8 GB of RAM, they will complain about the same issue with the iPad Pro running MacOS coming with only 8 GB of RAM.

There are times when I do want to be able to perform some tasks that I find cumbersome on the iPad. And Stage Manager takes a bit of getting used to. It still has a long way to go and coming from someone who has decades of muscle memories of working with the traditional desktop of windows, I do not know if Stage Manger will ever "get there" for me. I've been trying it on the MacBook and I find Stage Manager confusing a at times and wonder what purpose it serves. I think I will spend more time on it in the coming weeks and see if I can gain the muscle memory to use it more efficiently. It is doubtful though. I can only use it on my MacBook where instinctively gravitate towards 

So, will the iPad Pro ever run MacOS? At this point, I rather that Apple wait to improve the iPadOS and make it closer to the MacOS or eventually release a MacTablet. There is rumors of an all screen MacBook that can be folded. Perhaps that is the best Apple answer to users who want a tablet that runs MacOS.

Over all, I think the Apple pundits who claim to love the iPad Pro but are frustrated with Apple's effort, or perceived lack of effort to make the iPad more like the Mac, should really chill and appreciate what they already have. Sure, the iPad Pro cannot do everything the Mac can. For what the iPad can do, it does it so well. Even these pundits say so. But if they want to do traditional desktop computing tasks, well, they can turn to their MacBooks. 

iPhone: Skipping the Most Consequential iPhone Upgrade And Stick With My iPhone 13 mini

 The title of this post says it all. I'm skipping the iPhone 16 capable of handling Apple Intelligence and sticking with my iPhone 13 mini. With the timeline of Apple's development, I can afford to wait until iPhone 17 while hanging on to one of the iPhone form factor Apple has realized in recent years. 

First, when Apple unveils the final version of its OS platforms (MacOS Sequoia, iOS 18, and iPadOS 18) along with the new iPhone 17, some Apple Intelligence features will not be available on day one. Some will not be available until 2025. Will it be January? February? Or closer to the April/May with the next WWDC just around the corner?

I have my MacBook Air to experience Apple Intelligence and I might even get a new iPad that can run Apple Intelligence so I'll be able to keep myself up-to-date on Apple's latest and greatest Apple Intelligence features. Just will not be able to do it on the iPhone.

Of course, it is not just about Apple Intelligence. I really like the size and weight of my iPhone 13 mini. I would be happy to upgrade the mini on an annual basis if Apple had continue to release the smallest iPhone in the lineup. Aside from not having the latest and greatest camera compared to the iPhone Pro, the iPhone mini has. a lot going for it. 

The iPhone mini with its size, weight, power, and battery life all combined for a user experience that is unmatched. My opinion of course. Easily useable with one hand. Can handle any app that the iPhone 16 Pro Max can run. And because it is easier to handle and carry around with me, whether I am on the go or out for a jog, I do not have to worry about dropping it so I do not keep it in a case. And it is much easier to use with one hand.  

I am still holding out hope that the iPhone mini will make some sort of comeback in the future. One that can run Apple Intelligence. Until that day, my mini will be my main daily driver.

Apple Intelligence and Apple Watch - Perfect For Each Other But Not Yet

Apple intelligence will not be coming to the Apple Watch just as it will not be coming to the Apple Vision Pro. That is not only the word on the street but a stark omission from Apple's keynote video for the WWDC. It is a disappointment because Apple Intelligence and the Apple Watch are perfect for each other. And given that Apple has yet to announce the new Apple Watch for this year, I have to wonder if it is the case of Apple Intelligence not being a feature on Apple Watches this year or Apple not saying anything until the new Apple Watch is released in a few months.

The issue then becomes when Apple Intelligence will be available for the watch. And equally important is the question of whether the new 2024 watch will be powerful enough to support some form of Apple Intelligence.

One of the key requirements for Apple Intelligence seems to be the processor. It is likely that the new Apple Watches will have upgraded processors as the current one is not that big of an improvement over the one it replaced. For me, it runs Siri well enough. In some use cases, I feel it is better on my watch than on my iPhone or iPad. But to do what is asked of it in order for Apple Intelligence 

With the new Apple Watch, Apple will upgrade the SiP (System in Package) from the Series 9 to S10 with even more powerful neural engines. While the watch chips will never truly match the processing power of the iPhone, perhaps Apple only needs to give the watch a fast enough neural engine.

Another issue is the RAM. While Apple has never specifically said how much ram the watches have, there are suggestions that they top out at 2 GB. That definitely is not enough to run Apple Intelligence natively. And that could well be the bottle neck.

For the Apple Watch to run the majority of Apple Intelligence on device, it would need a lot more RAM. That is not going to happen this year or even next year. Apple will have to wait until technology catches up or figure out a way to run Apple Intelligence with even less resources available.

Where does that leave the new Apple Watches? 

Personally, I would settle for a much improves Siri. Not just one that can understand me better but capable of obtaining a wider range of results. Apple had mentioned that they too were frustrated in the limitations the current Siri has, specifically requiring users to frame questions in specific ways in order for it to understand what they are asking for. I do not expect this part to improve much. However, this is an area that Apple needs to improve for the Apple Watch. I'm hopeful that a better and faster neural engine will allow Apple the upgrade Siri to better understand the user regardless of whether the results the user is asking for will end up being processed the watch or offloaded to the cloud.

One area that Apple will focus on is going to the improvements under the hood. These are going to be ones that users may or may not see directly. Better and accurate sleep and health tracking and activity monitoring is a given. I am currently running the new WatchOS beta. One of the features I noticed for the first time, though maybe it was already on the previous WatchOS, was that after I manually paused my run and started walking, it actually pinged me to tell me that it noticed I might have resumed my running and if I want to continue recording my run. I was rather impressed by that. 

We will likely see improvements of those nature. Apple is limited by the technology and size of the Apple Watch. And the amount of technology Apple managed to cram into such a small place is already impressive. To get a full Apple Intelligence in there is impossible but if there is a strip down version of it, I will take it.

Remember that the iPhone OS was a stripped down version of the MacOS. And the WatchOS is the strip down version of iOS. I'll take the first baby steps of Apple Intelligence on the next Apple Watch any day and watch it improve in the coming years.

When are the Macs Getting M4 Chips? Prediction: MacBook Pro With M4 At the WWDC

What are the new M4 chips? Presumably, Macs could get the M4 chip tomorrow if Apple decides to pull the trigger on them. 

First, let's address the question of why we are even talking about M4 based Macs when the M3 MacBooks were just realized about 7 months ago? Earlier this month, Apple released an all new slate of iPads - iPad Air and iPad Pro. The Air were upgraded to the M2 chip, the same chip that my MacBook Air has now. To the surprise of everyone even though rumors had suggested this weeks ago, the iPad Pro got the M4 chips. Traditionally, the iPad Pro felt like an after thought to the Mac but I am sure that is not really how Apple looks at it. 

This would be the first time that the iPad Pro with the M4 chip outperformed the Mac in terms of sheer horsepower - both in the single core and multi-core performance. However, a small segment of the iPad Pro users lament the fact that the performance of the M4 is wasted as the iPadOS 17 does not really take advantage of all the power of the M4 chip. Personally, I have this to say to these users - who cares? 

The question for these users should be when are the Macs getting the M4 love? I think we could be in for a June surprise at the WWDC when Apple talks about the future of its platforms on June 10th. If this does not happen in June, the next window of opportunity for Apple is this fall, probably October. 

Here is why I think it could happen in a little more than two weeks. Apple really cannot afford to let the Macs sort of languish with the M3 chip. And the M3 chips are powerful. Compared to the M4 though, I think power users really are looking forward to the M4 Pro and M4 Max. Apple will likely refresh the whole MacBook line up but don't be surprised if Apple only upgrades the MacBook Pro. After all, the WWDC is really about the pro users - programmers if you will. 

Apple could then complete the MacBook upgrade with the MacBook Air and possible a new MacBook, which would be another surprise and another post, later this fall in October. 

Another reason why I believe Apple will move on the M4 upgrade now rather than later is competition. With Intel waking up to Apple's threat and Qualcomm releasing its own ARM chips that rival Apple's own chips, Apple cannot afford to fall behind. Even a tie would be a blow to the chip design prowess that Apple has gained in the industry. Furthermore, it is all about artificial intelligence these days. The consumer understanding of AI is mediocre at best which is why these tech companies are all about AI this and AI that. Having the fastest chip only gives Apple bragging rights but its legendary integration between  hardware and software will give it an edge that Wintel or WinQual cannot never match.

iPad and WWDC Prediction: Apple Will Upgrade Siri And Users Will Not Be Able to Choose Between ChatGPT or Gemini

At this year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple is set to unveil major upgrades to its virtual assistant Siri. These enhancements will integrate the company's own advanced AI models across all of Apple's operating systems - iOS/iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS However, Apple remains committed to its walled garden philosophy and curate AI experience for its users. 

Right now, there is no indication how Apple plans implement its AI chat version. There is no indication that Apple is planning any chat feature like Gemini or ChatGPT at all.

First, a short history about Siri - it was introduced in 2011 along with the iPhone 4S. It has gained popular and use over the years with different iterations. While it has improved over the last twelve years, for many users, the usefulness and responsiveness of Sir has felt it a "once step forward and two step back" experience.

The hope among Apple fans and investors is that Siri in 2024 will be vastly improved. It may well be but it'll be. However, Apple will not open the floodgates to allowing users to freely choose between competing AI providers. Instead, all queries and AI processing will be streamlined and vetted through Siri. This gatekeeper approach ensures Apple maintains its firm grip on curation, privacy, and the overall user experience.

Under the hood, Siri may leverage multi-source AI models and knowledge bases. This approach has been taken by Apple in the past and may allow Siri to function better and more useful and return Apple to its "it just works" approach.

There are a couple of things to consider when it comes to Apple regarding AI. Given its history, any improvement to Siri beyond what Apple will unveil at the WWDC will take time. Apple likes to let things simmer over time. And other consideration is that we simply have no idea what direction Apple mean to take its AI initiatives. Whatever AI models ChatGPT, Microsoft, Google, or anyone takes, Apple's approach will likely be different. 

At the end of the day, it will be the kinds of results that are delivered that matter. Other models might offer better access to information without a lot of rules and limitations. Apple might take AI in another direction - access is limited but offer better results.

So don't expect Apple to give users a choice of Siri, ChatGPT, or Gemini like they do with search engines on Safari.

MacBook Air M2 - I Love It And Any Laptop You Get Will Always Be Right For the Time

The 2016 MacBook sitting off to the side still has some value as I gleefully starting using my MacBook Air M2 that I got for a decent price that includes 16GB of RAM and 512 GB of space. And with a fully working keyboard, and, wow, faster chip, I feel I'm more able to do the projects that I want to do and feel like I have the right tool to do them with. 

When I started on this short journey to find a replacement for my aging MacBook, I fully did not expect to get the MacBook Air. Apple did release this laptop back in the summer of 2022. Typically, when I get a new laptop, I pretty much wait just after the latest release. So this was quite unusual for me.

For the old me, the latest would be the MacBook Pro with M3. And I spec'd the heck out of the MacBook Pro. I went from just the base $1999 with the M3 Pro all the way up to the M3 Max with 48Gb of RAM. And I was close to pulling the trigger on the base model many times. I would be getting a better and bigger screen. Not to mention the M3 Pro chip as well as 18GB of RAM.

Perhaps it's my age but I also opt for portability. And the M2 chip is no slouch. Plus some of the work that I'll be doing can be handled by the cloud. So, I decided on the M2. I think I saved an additional $250 off the retail price. 

I am sure the if I would have gotten the MacBook Pro base model, I would be pretty happy with it but I'm also glad that I saved about $800 when you add in the additional taxes. And I have rounded up that $800 to $1000 and invested so when I need to upgrade in a few years, it may well be enough to pay for another laptop in a few years. I do not plan on holding on this MBA for 7-8 years. The 12" MacBook was a special situation because its form factor was so unique and portable.

For now, the M2 is handling things quite nicely - everything is faster. Compiling, rendering, the Internet, and, yes, gaming as well. It's a full package. As my needs grow in the next year or two, I am confident the M2 chip will meet my needs. 

I want to get into the cloud aspect of computing as I explore how I can do a lot of work and letting the processing take place elsewhere because it is a very unique situation for someone new looking to explore this process.

One last thought before I end here - I also considered the $749 Black Friday deal for the MacBook Air M1. It was great on the first day it came out and it has aged well given the price drops. I heard on a podcast where the hosts were discussing it. They suggest that Apple is likely to keep the MacBook Air with M1 around while dropping the M2 and replacing it with the M3 in the MacBook Air while possibly dropping the price. It would be a great deal for users if they could end up getting the MacBook Air at $700 or lower. 

So Why Are People Using Their Laptops Longer Than Ever?

I have been contemplating getting a new laptop for a long time. A new MacBook in fact. It'll be an upgrade from my 2016 MacBook with its perfect 12" screen. It's going on seven years now. And true be told, I can still hold onto it a bit longer if it was not for the fact that the keyboard requires that I type certain way or that the arrow keys no longer work after a bound of water spill. As I am writing this article, I sport have to position my fingers across the keyboard and tap harder on some keys to make the letters come out. At times, I've resorted to dictation out of frustration.

Then I came across a forum where someone posed the question of why he is seeing people use "ancient' laptops from as far back as 2012. I can easily answer that. 

Laptops have become our companion in ways that even the more earnest and hard working assistants can never be. They are simply our go to device to be productive. Our laptops has given us more power and increase in productivity than any other generations in the past. I believe more so than smartphones. Smartphones help us stay connected but laptops allow us to work and generate results that so far is not matched. 

For some people, I can see an intimacy that developed over time with their laptops. Recall your first laptop and the joy you had using it. You might still be using it. I am happy for you. If your laptop is older, it might not run the latest OS or applications anymore. Mine doesn't. And yet, if you give up your laptop, you feel like you're losing an old friend. Plus, some people even accessorize and personalize their laptops with covers and, of course, stickers. One analogy I can think of is like a lone cowboy and his horse trekking across the plains. The horse being the laptop, not the cowboy.

More importantly, these old laptops still work. I am sure if I break out my 2012 laptop, it will run Word and Excel documents just fine. Most Excel sheets are just data in cells so I am sure my laptop could handle them just well enough. It might have some trouble if the files are too big with a lot of formulas but I am not sure there are a lot of those out there. The browser might be a little slower opening up some websites so you don't want to keep too many tabs open but it'll work just fine. And for just writing, Word Pad on Windows or Pages on the Mac are adequate. I've seen some artists generate awesome drawings using older copies of Paint or Inkscape on Windows (perhaps not as efficient as using something like Illustrator).

I am certain the battery life on those laptops are not even close to what they once were. Getting a couple of hours of writing done from a 2012 laptop at the local cafe is not bad at all. This is especially true if the user is fortunate enough to find an outlet. With the juice flowing, he can be there all day.

On MacBook, I am continuously getting five hours of batter life of mix use. Surfing the web, writing, emails, and watching a bit of video. I think that is decent compared to even new laptops from 2012. But for more challenging tasks like rendering 3D models, I imagine it could take more processing and GPU power than the current CPU and integrated graphics in my MacBook can handle.

Personally, I have my eyes on the just released MacBook Pro with M3 chips - which one I end up getting largely depends on how much power I realize I need. And I like to save this little gem for another article. And one of those "needs" would make me want to keep my perfect laptop longer if that is I end up doing with it. Oh, the suspense. The article will come out soon. I promise.

My MacBook should continue to serve me well for many years to come even with a new MacBook on the horizon. Not giving up this friend so easily, if ever.