This Week's Sponsor:

Kolide

Ensure that if a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps.  It’s Device Trust for Okta.


iOS 4 On The iPad Won’t Be What You Think

I’m reading many comments these days of people frustrated because Apple hasn’t announced further plans for iOS 4 on the iPad. We know it’s going to ship this fall, but we don’t know anything more than that. So people seem to think that Apple doesn’t care about the iPad, now that the iPhone 4 is available and they’re having some hard times convincing customers that it works just fine and all the issues will be fixed with a software update.

I’ll tell you what, you’re wrong.

Here’s the thing: iOS 4 on the iPad is not what you think. It won’t be a simple porting of the iPhone version. Sure it will look similar and will share the same base structure, but remember - we’re talking about two different platforms. A phone and a tablet, and seriously - you can’t think iOS 4 will just be bigger and scaled for the iPad.

Let’s talk about multitasking: on the iPhone, you double-click the home button and a drawer slides up. It works great on the iPhone screen, but what about the iPad? Are you sure the same experience would work fine on a tablet? Now think about it: MobileMe is getting redesigned, and it’s starting to look very, very similar to the iPad’s counterparts of its apps. Mail and Calendar already got redesigned.

There’s something else about the new MobileMe that intrigues me: the way you switch between applications. You click on the app’s icon, a translucent window pops in and allows you to switch between apps. If you ask me, double-clicking the home button on the iPad and tapping around on the same translucent window would be great. I mean, there’s plenty of space on that screen, so why implementing a simple bigger version of the iPhone drawer?

We could go on listing differences between iPhone and iPad for hours. But truth is, we just don’t know what to expect. I just know Apple will surprise us once again, and I can’t wait.

It’s going to be one hell of an update.

Unlock More with Club MacStories

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.

In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.

The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.

Choose the Club plan that’s right for you:

  • Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with app collections, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, a Club-only podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
  • Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus exclusive content like Federico’s Automation Academy and John’s Macintosh Desktop Experience, a powerful web app for searching and exploring over 6 years of content and creating custom RSS feeds of Club content, an active Discord community, and a rotating collection of discounts, and more;
  • Club Premier: Everything in from our other plans and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.