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Your phone is an entire computer

medhir.com

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Re: Your phone is an entire computer

#21

Post by AstroBen »

MBCook wrote: post #13
2OEH8eoCRo0 wrote: post #4

> I'm bothered, as I have been since the original iPad introduction 16 years ago, by the unnecessary restrictions placed by corporate powers to run third-party software and operating systems on devices we own. It's not unnecessary, they do it because they make money as gatekeeper.

There are other reasons. A big factor in the success of the iPad and maybe just some degree the iPhone, but especially the iPad, is that it’s “unbreakable”. All out restrictions mean it’s computer people don’t worry will suddenly stop working because they clicked to the wrong link. It won’t get a weird virus from their email. That is a serious upside for a lot of consumers.

You can still have that. Make unbreakable the default, and add an "admin mode" toggle.

Re: Your phone is an entire computer

#22

Post by bottlepalm »

krab wrote: post #14
bottlepalm wrote: post #2

Anyone have a theory why Apple hasn't done this yet? They release an 'iBook' which is basically a wired or even wireless lapdock for your iPhone running OSX in a partition. Seems like that would decimate the entire Windows, laptop, even desktop market in short order. Everyone with an iPhone, no longer needs their laptop/desktop. Just buy a cheap iBook and there's a good chance it'll already be better than most consum…

Why would it decimate the Windows market? From my experience, there's a strong correlation between iPhone and Mac usage. Looking at the stats, the Win:Mac ratio is 4:1 but Android:iPhone only 2:1 so it might hurt Windows. But if iPhone users are more likely to use Mac or don't use computers much already, then expanding iPhone capabilities would cannibalize Apple business.

Because then most people with an iPhone wouldn't need to buy a separate laptop/desktop. I'm sure Android as well would follow in short order (not the half hearted attempts they've made so far). Sales would plummet. Windows decimated.

Re: Your phone is an entire computer

#23

Post by crooked-v »

MBCook wrote: post #13
2OEH8eoCRo0 wrote: post #4

> I'm bothered, as I have been since the original iPad introduction 16 years ago, by the unnecessary restrictions placed by corporate powers to run third-party software and operating systems on devices we own. It's not unnecessary, they do it because they make money as gatekeeper.

There are other reasons. A big factor in the success of the iPad and maybe just some degree the iPhone, but especially the iPad, is that it’s “unbreakable”. All out restrictions mean it’s computer people don’t worry will suddenly stop working because they clicked to the wrong link. It won’t get a weird virus from their email. That is a serious upside for a lot of consumers.

I feel like that same reason is why you see a lot of seriously tech-savvy people try to use iPads as laptop substitutes over and over even though they're obviously still not suitable for it for technical tasks. There's a lot of latent appeal in "okay, what if I just didn't have to worry about any of that ambient technical crap?".

Re: Your phone is an entire computer

#25

Post by api »

bottlepalm wrote: post #2

Anyone have a theory why Apple hasn't done this yet? They release an 'iBook' which is basically a wired or even wireless lapdock for your iPhone running OSX in a partition. Seems like that would decimate the entire Windows, laptop, even desktop market in short order. Everyone with an iPhone, no longer needs their laptop/desktop. Just buy a cheap iBook and there's a good chance it'll already be better than most consum…

Other than UI and other surface differences, the fundamental distinction between a Mac and an iDevice is... what it is.

A Mac is a real computer. I can run any code I want on it. I have root.

An iDevice is like a game console. I can only run App Store apps (without jumping through a lot of hoops). I do not have root (without again jumping through many hoops or ugly hacks).

If Apple wanted to unify the platform they have two choices. The first is to abandon the "real computer" market entirely. The second is to make iDevices real computers by unlocking them.

I suspect they'd rather keep two platforms.

Under the hood they both share a lot of code, so it's not two totally distinct platforms. It's more like two sets of defaults and two "skins."

Re: Your phone is an entire computer

#26

Post by mrkeen »

bottlepalm wrote: post #2

Anyone have a theory why Apple hasn't done this yet? They release an 'iBook' which is basically a wired or even wireless lapdock for your iPhone running OSX in a partition. Seems like that would decimate the entire Windows, laptop, even desktop market in short order. Everyone with an iPhone, no longer needs their laptop/desktop. Just buy a cheap iBook and there's a good chance it'll already be better than most consum…

Because people like TFA pay them not to. It doesn't matter how much you hope Apple changes course - you vote with your wallet.

Re: Your phone is an entire computer

#27

Post by bottlepalm »

api wrote: post #25
bottlepalm wrote: post #2

Anyone have a theory why Apple hasn't done this yet? They release an 'iBook' which is basically a wired or even wireless lapdock for your iPhone running OSX in a partition. Seems like that would decimate the entire Windows, laptop, even desktop market in short order. Everyone with an iPhone, no longer needs their laptop/desktop. Just buy a cheap iBook and there's a good chance it'll already be better than most consum…

Other than UI and other surface differences, the fundamental distinction between a Mac and an iDevice is... what it is. A Mac is a real computer. I can run any code I want on it. I have root. An iDevice is like a game console. I can only run App Store apps (without jumping through a lot of hoops). I do not have root (without again jumping through many hoops or ugly hacks). If Apple wanted to unify the platform they h…

MacBook Neo has in a way unified the platforms. The only difference is essentially what OS is booted up with the chip.

Re: Your phone is an entire computer

#29

Post by crooked-v »

MBCook wrote: post #8
hotpotatoes wrote: post #6

The problem is Mac. They've always locked things down citing safety or user experience, but it is profit and walled garden. Samsung Dex has been doing this for years. In before someone explains it's not "exactly" the same. Dex has shown this phone/computer ability in practice long before.

I’ve been hoping Apple would allow this for years, although it doesn’t seem like something they would do. The fact that iPadOS now has windowing seems like it would only make it work better. iPads can already do everything necessary, so why not the iPhone? Unfortunately I suspect that if this was ever going to happen, which I would’ve bet against, it’s now let’s likely. I suspect current Apple would rather sell me a…

If the rumored folding phone with a close-to-iPad-mini UI handles USB monitor connections the same as the iPad, that would give the basic version right there, albeit at a huge base price.

Re: Your phone is an entire computer

#30

Post by macintux »

api wrote: post #25
bottlepalm wrote: post #2

Anyone have a theory why Apple hasn't done this yet? They release an 'iBook' which is basically a wired or even wireless lapdock for your iPhone running OSX in a partition. Seems like that would decimate the entire Windows, laptop, even desktop market in short order. Everyone with an iPhone, no longer needs their laptop/desktop. Just buy a cheap iBook and there's a good chance it'll already be better than most consum…

Other than UI and other surface differences, the fundamental distinction between a Mac and an iDevice is... what it is. A Mac is a real computer. I can run any code I want on it. I have root. An iDevice is like a game console. I can only run App Store apps (without jumping through a lot of hoops). I do not have root (without again jumping through many hoops or ugly hacks). If Apple wanted to unify the platform they h…

I think the friction of using a keyboard/pointing device with a touchscreen, or fingers with a desktop interface, is too high to unify them. I know it's been done, I'm unconvinced it's been done well.
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