Concept Video Shows a 13-Inch 'iPad Pro' Running a Full Version of OS X

A concept video of a 13-inch "iPad Pro" running a full version of OS X has been posted by Italian consulting company SET Solution (via Funky Space Monkey). The iPad in the video is depicted as having a large form factor with very thin bezels, and is shown displaying OS X Mountain Lion with touch controls. The video also shows off the ability to easily connect an Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse to the iPad, enabling a full desktop-like environment.

The possibility of Apple combining OS X and iOS into one unified platform has been a popular topic of discussion recently, as both have begun to share a common sense of design principles. However, an interview with Apple executives Phil Schiller and Craig Federighi in Macworld last month revealed that the company sees the combination iOS and OS X as a "non-goal", with the former saying that the effort would be a "waste of energy" and the latter saying that Apple is focused on building the best products for unique purposes.

Despite this public dismissal, J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz predicted earlier this month that Apple is indeed working on a platform that combines OS X and iOS, which is termed as "iAnywhere." Specifically, the analyst states that the combo operating system would work in tandem with an iOS device docked to a secondary display, running as a full-blown computer. Various other companies have experimented with dual operating systems and other hybrid solutions in the past, but mostly to no acclaim from the general public.

Overall, it is unlikely that Apple will debut a tablet running a full version of OS X as seen in the video or a combo operating system anytime soon. However, recent reports do point to Apple releasing a 12.9-inch iPad running a next-generation version of iOS sometime in the future, with a launch projected for late this year or early next year.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro

Buyer's Guide: 12.9" iPad Pro (Don't Buy)

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

saintforlife

61 months ago

"They're confused; they chased after netbooks. They tried to make tablets into PCs and PCs into tablets."
- Tim Cook, 22nd October 2013 (on Apple's PC competitors' lack of direction).

Rating: 22 Votes

SilverL

61 months ago

Touch targets for mobile are very very different for click targets for desktop OSes.

#Fail.

Rating: 18 Votes

larrylaffer

61 months ago

Here we go.

Shouldn't Apple have already realized desktop based OS's are horrible on mobile devices?

I'm sure they have. I'm also sure this envisioned device is (thankfully) never happening.

Rating: 14 Votes

AstronomyiPhone

61 months ago

Again, I find myself asking...why, MacRumors, why?

Rating: 11 Votes

pgiguere1

61 months ago

Boring concept.
All they did was prove they can insert some 3D model in a video.

Yet they did nothing to address what actually needs to be conceptualized: the software.

OS X as it is cannot properly be used with a touchscreen. We all know Apple would never release such thing. Try minimizing a window and you risk closing it every single time.

So what do you do to address this? Make OS X clickable targets bigger when no mouse is connected? Have a second iOS-like interface for touch displays, basically a hybrid OS like MS is doing? Have some kind of magnification feature, a bit like when you select text in iOS?

Those are the questions that need to be answered, and those possible answers should be conceptualized. Not just upscale some iPad Air 3D model.

Rating: 11 Votes

tylerjamison

61 months ago

I'll take one of those Apple wireless keyboards with the ten-key.

Rating: 10 Votes

drew627

61 months ago

Hehe, not gonna happen. These so-called "analysts" have no clue of anything...

Getting a little sick of these "rumors"...

Rating: 6 Votes

HiRez

61 months ago

Wow, you mean I can run my finger down the Dock and the icons will magnify? Awesome, that clearly means OS X is ready for use on a tablet! :rolleyes:

Rating: 6 Votes

Blue Fox

61 months ago

Ummmmmm. So what would be the difference between a 13" iPad "pro" running OSX versus just using MacBook Air? All programs made for OSX are not made to be used with a touch screen, no matter how clever Apple got with the OS. The programs themselves still require a keyboard and mouse.

So........pointless?

Rating: 5 Votes

the8thark

61 months ago

However, recent (https://www.macrumors.com/2013/12/23/apple-reportedly-launching-larger-ipad-in-october-2014-larger-iphone-in-may-2014/) reports (https://www.macrumors.com/2014/01/17/q3-2014-ipad-pro-launch/) do point to Apple releasing a 12.9-inch iPad running a next-generation version of iOS sometime in the future, with a launch projected (https://www.macrumors.com/2014/02/15/ipad-air-2014-12-9-ipad-ipad-mini-2015/) for late this year or early next year.

This is 100% wrong. Neither of those reports point to evidence that a larger iPad will come in the near future. It is possible, but there has been no evidence to suggest so. Those 2 articles are just people saying they with for a larger iPad. There has been no parts leaks, no mentions in beta versions of OS X or iOS etc etc. This is wrong. Very wrong.

I repeat (repetition for the sake of empasis), there has been NO credible (as in part leaks or strings in beta OSes or the like) to suggest a larger iPad will come in the future. At the moment it's 100% wishful thinking and rumour. Nothing as pointed definitively to this. Only pointers to people wishing for this have been linked.

Feel free to prove me wrong with links to larger iPad part leaks or OS string leaks or similar. I'd like to see them. But as it stands there has been none. This I am saying so people are not fooled by the original article.

This is NOT from Apple. There is nothing from Apple actually confirming they have any plans this way and several comments for them that they likely don't.

This person notices this too. And I realise others have said this too, but it's repetition for the sake of emphasis. And to get the staff here to listen and fix the article.

Rating: 4 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]