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Apple

Apple Is Working on a 16-Inch iPad, Further Blurring Line With Laptops (theinformation.com) 65

Wayne Ma, reporting for The Information: Apple is developing its largest iPad yet, a model with a 16-inch screen that it hopes to release in the fourth quarter of next year, according to a person familiar with the project. The device would further blur the line between the iPad and MacBook, bringing the tablet's screen size in line with that of Apple's largest laptop, which also features a 16-inch display. Apple's biggest iPad currently sports a 12.9-inch screen.
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Apple Is Working on a 16-Inch iPad, Further Blurring Line With Laptops

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  • by slaker ( 53818 ) on Wednesday October 26, 2022 @12:33PM (#63000039)

    The only way I'd care what an iPad does is if it ran desktop software. I can watch Netflix, but on a bigger and more expensive device, sure, but those things still don't even have a functional file manager or window management.

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by sentiblue ( 3535839 )
      It certainly does... Nowadays the iPad can run things like MS Office, Photo edit software, sound/movie production. It already has file management a long time ago, not only on iPad but on iPhone too.
      • i use an ftp app on my iphone to send & recieve between my iphone and Linux on a laptop, since no usb thumbdrives work on a iphone
        • by Viol8 ( 599362 ) on Wednesday October 26, 2022 @01:03PM (#63000141) Homepage

          To be fair, android used to present itself as a USB storage device so copying image, music etc files on and off was simple. Then google decided that was too useful and switched to some obscure USB protocol that requires non standard support. Linux (well KDE) has some half assed app that sort of works but MacOS cant speak it so it's not just apple playing these lets-be-arseholes games and screw the customer.

          • The problem with UMS is it requires exclusive access, and it's prone to file system corruption. What they needed was a way to abstract the file system, much like a network share. Problem is, the aren't many that don't also require a ton of effort for the user to set up just to do USB file transfers. They went with MTP because even though it's shit, at least Windows computers support it out of the box, which is what the vast majority would be using anyways.

          • by Scoth ( 879800 )

            MTP has proven to be super terrible but there was a good reason - with USB Storage support the storage had to be either mounted on the phone or mounted on the computer/device, it couldn't be both. This wasn't a problem in older devices where the SD Card was mostly just bulk storage for pictures, videos, music, etc but got to be a bigger problem once it was being used for apps, app data, and things the phone needed access to all the time. The phone didn't really care if your pics and media and such went away

        • > since no usb thumbdrives work on a iphone

          Since when?

          It's been a while since I paid attention, but I recall many years ago flash drives specifically designed to work with iPhones and iPads, usually with an iPlug on one end and USB-A on the other so it could be used with other devices too. And I could swear there were also adapters for standard flash drives.

          Though... there might have been some specialty software involved - I do recall them being a nuisance.

          • i had one but the end that plugs into the iphone broke off after a few months of use, ftp is easier
      • by fzammett ( 255288 ) on Wednesday October 26, 2022 @12:56PM (#63000119) Homepage

        It has file MANAGEMENT, yes, but it does NOT have a file MANAGER, because it does not expose a proper file system to user land, which is what people want. This is a purposeful design choice by Apple, and we can debate whether it's a good one or not, but it is what it is, and you'll never have a PROPER file manager as a result, you'll always have some kneecapped app.

        And when you say it can run Office, photo edit software and sound/movie production, that's true in a general sense, but again, it's not what people mean. They mean it can't run the FULL desktop versions of this stuff, and that's true. You're not running a FULL version of Office, for example, you're still running a trimmed-down "mobile" version. You're not running a FULL version of Photoshop, or Cubase, or Final Cut, you're running trimmed-down versions. And, again, we can debate whether this is good or bad, whether they have 99% of what most people need 99% of the time and therefore could effectively be considered "full", but it again is what it is by design.

        • This is what _you_ want, my dude. The youngins are fine with crippled file managers, "the cloud" and the share button as the main way to move files from an app to the other. And tbh I'm not sure I can blame them, since it comes with a better security system and covers most of their everyday usage.
          • That's what he is using to define a general purpose computer vs a mobile device. You can get a sort of MS Office on both but a Surface vs a Chromebook are very different in use cases and file management and control over the BIOS and so on is a big part of that.
          • by Rhipf ( 525263 )

            Ok, I may be an old fart by how is running your data through "the cloud" more secure than doing everything locally on the device?

            • My point is not local vs. the cloud; it's the Android security model vs. the old user-based security model in Windows and Linux.

              Android (and I think also Ios) apps are isolated by default: one cannot access documents from the other, unless you allow them to explicitly via the 'share' mechanism. This closes the loophole that a malicious app can read and write all your files. And this loophole is to blame for most viruses and ransomware attacks that are still rampant.
        • Thank you for writing an intelligent counter comment... although I do disagree on a few things:

          1. It DOES have a file manager, the only difference to MacOS/Windows/Linux is that it only allows you to "manage" files that are in specific areas designated for users purpose only. You can still create/edit/delete folders, arrange them, etc. You just can't touch parts of the filesystem that can potentially do harmful things to the OS.
          2. The applications on iPad are actually NOT trimmed-down versions. They are
      • It certainly does... Nowadays the iPad can run things like MS Office, Photo edit software, sound/movie production. It already has file management a long time ago, not only on iPad but on iPhone too.

        Like the legit full x64 versions of the software? Or the hobbled web version?

      • It certainly does... Nowadays the iPad can run things like MS Office, Photo edit software, sound/movie production. It already has file management a long time ago, not only on iPad but on iPhone too.

        You can say that all you want, but the professional-grade photo editing doesn't run on it. That's Adobe's fault, not Apple's, but if you're a professional photographer, you're better served by buying a Microsoft Surface. Apple has a had a long time to solve this and I am not impressed by their progress. Microsoft has had a nice tablet that can run anything you want: your favorite video games, development environments, professional apps, etc for 10 years.

        The iPad has long been a giant phone in terms

      • I have an iPad Pro that I use extensively and I quite like it for specific purposes, mostly viewing and modifying media, pdf documents, and ebooks.

        iPad is extremely limited compared to Win/Linux/Mac. Biggest issue is Apple's condescending approach to what is allowed to be run on the device not the least of which is no competitive web browsers. Well, they let you tweak the presentation layer but it is all Apple under the skin complete with all of Safari's bugs. Doesn't take long after purchase before you

    • The only way I'd care what an iPad does is if it ran desktop software.

      Yep, use the best tool for the job. End of story.

      If you're interested in why I'd want one I'll explain- It's kinda like having a Cintiq in a very power-efficient portable form factor. I have a job where being able to use a stylus like this is very helpful AND since I work from home I can sit in my more comfortable recliner while doing said work. Additionally when the iPad went USB-C it also brought along mouse support, networking support, access to flash/hard drives etc. A larger iPad would be more th

      • Sorry for replying to myself but there are downsides to it and I figure I should mention those. First is that its multitasking is... well it's there but it's not like using a laptop. It really is more appliance-like. That works to my benefit since I use tools that are memory hungry, but it does mean if I need to talk with someone at work while I'm doing work on my iPad it can get awkward. In my case I end up getting my phone out instead of flipping tasks on the iPad. (I have reasons why the split-scre

        • by ctilsie242 ( 4841247 ) on Wednesday October 26, 2022 @01:24PM (#63000203)

          I have one as well, and it is a good niche item. When I go on work trips, I bring it along, because it is all I need for personal stuff. It also is inherently more secure than a general purpose laptop, so if it gets lost or stolen, it will be harder for an unauthorized party to get data from it, especially with the "erase after 10 attempts" dialog is turned on, or similar is pushed via the MDM. The 10" version is also a lot easier to carry around and toss in a pocket of a backpack as opposed to a full-fledged laptop, even with a keyboard case. It also is useful for drawing and other stuff (music production).

          At home, it is a good third screen, where I can monitor stuff with it using SideCar, leave it separate and play movies on it, or whatnot.

          Definitely not something that everything needs, but for what it does, as a limited purpose accessory, as opposed to a general purpose computer, it works well.

          • Yeah. My biggest complaint against iPads, and nice Android tablets as well for that matter, is that they're a limited purpose accessory for the price of a full-function PC.

            If you have a sufficiently valuable niche for such a thing (or don't really have a use for a full-function PC), I suppose they're great.

    • A lot of what we call Desktop Software, has been available on Tables and Phone devices for a while now. Most new software often has the Mobile App developed first, with the Desktop app being a crappy port of the mobile app, or just a web page.

      If you add a mouse and keyboard, to the mobile device, there isn't much you cant do on a mobile system, then on an actual Desktop or Laptop.

      Now in terms of desktop type stuff. I would say Android is better suited than Apple, as you can actually gain access to the She

    • How long it been since you touched an iPad? I've written novels on iPads (Scrivener, Word, Pages) and done finances (Excel and Numbers). iPads have been blurring the desktop line for quite some time. The file manager has been around for years at this point. It's not perfect, but it certainly exists.

    • by ald_a ( 265781 )

      Also another big problem is the browser support. Apple mandates all browsers to use safari webwiev as their engine.

  • macOS and ipadOS, that would be cool, and ipadOS can restore MacOS if it needs restoring, so if i mess up MacOS tweaking some software i can reboot it to ipadOS and restore MacOS to factory fresh conditions
    • by Scoth ( 879800 )

      macOS can already run iOS apps on the ARM Macs, so there's not much point to dual-booting if they wanted to allow both. Would just need a little work to better enable macOS for touch, or at least an interface that looks/works more like iPadOS but allows better window and application management.

      • MacOS wont need touch if you have east setup and access to mouse & keyboard on it
        • You can't count on mouse and keyboard on a tablet though.

          But you could probably get a good 90% solution by just increasing the size of UI elements like title and scroll bars when a mouse isn't connected. And maybe some sort of pop-up on-screen touchpad when needed for precision work. (Everyone knows the finger-rolling trick for precision control with a touchpad, right?)

      • I just wish more app developers would allow iOS/iPadOS apps to run on macOS. Encapsulated stuff that I don't really care about workflows in and out, apps are nice, just because of the added security.

  • Clothing manufacturers everywhere rejoice.

    • or at least bigger pockets, i already wished pants & shirts had a deeper pocket for 7 inch long smartphones
  • So that I can get rid of my phone and just use one massive device to do everything.

    Or make smaller phones, that would be OK, too.

    • So that I can get rid of my phone and just use one massive device to do everything.

      https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.... [futurecdn.net]

      • Yeah, when you hold up that 16" screen to videorecord that concert, all the people behind you are going to LOVE you! How do I know? My ex was such an inconsiderate slop that she used a big iPad to record her daughter's cheerleading exhibition... of course, she recorded the whole thing upside down, because it's not obvious which end is up in landscape mode.
  • A tablet is all screen with no fold out keyboard, and a laptop has a hinged or permanently affixed keyboard.

    Even a TRS-80 model 100 is a laptop.

    Since the linked article is a paywall, I can only see the top half of what I assume to be the new product - does it have a keyboard or something?
    • Yeah, that line doesn't seem to be too blurry.

      "Does it have a keyboard? No? Ok...that's not a laptop. Is is just a touchscreen, with no keyboard? Yep...that's a tablet"

    • Logitech makes keyboards for all the iPads now. The line between tablet and laptop has already been blurred.
      • Is that for people that bought a tablet and realized what they really wanted was a laptop?
        • I bought a keyboard for the 10" iPad my friend was giving his seven year old daughter, because it was the only way I could think of to try to keep her from breaking the screen. It also makes it a less obvious target for thieves; it kind of looks like just a book.
    • It's a combination of the hardware and the software though. Yes you can connect a keyboard and mouse/trackpad to the iPad but it wasn't designed for that so it doesn't really work very well, likewise you can run Linux Mint on a Surface Pro but if you try to use it as a tablet rather than with the keyboard and mouse/trackpad it doesn't really work.

      A physical keyboard replaces a virtual keyboard quite well but also the OS isn't designed with an always-available keyboard in mind, for example the shortcuts are

  • The only people that could really use this would be people that need to check on their eyes.
    iOS is still to hobbled to do anything but COMSUME
    • by Rhipf ( 525263 )

      I'm pretty sure that even if you have 20/20 vision you would be able to use a 16in device. You may not need to use a device that large but if you have "perfect" vision then a larger screen shouldn't be any harder to see than a small screen.

  • by TigerPlish ( 174064 ) on Wednesday October 26, 2022 @01:06PM (#63000149)

    This is the one I was waiting for. (and will wait for)

    As big as a standard music book. Me and my nearly blind piano teacher are gonna love this.

    I have a 12.9 and while it's replaced my 3-ring binder full of music, it's also become my book bag and manga bookcase.

    But for what I do with these things, bigger is better. It's not goign to be some cut-down laptop for me, it's going to be a glorified music book. Just like my current one is.

    And I'm fine with that.

    • Interesting. Many musicians require page-turners for their sheet music. You can obviously scan all the sheet music into electronic form, I wonder if there is any input device like a pedal you could use to turn the page on a tablet without moving your hands away from the keyboard.
      • You can obviously scan all the sheet music into electronic form, I wonder if there is any input device like a pedal you could use to turn the page on a tablet without moving your hands away from the keyboard.

        tons. Some cheap, some not so cheap, some with regular batteries, some with li-ion. Mine just uses a 9v or a standard effects power supply. It's called the "Stomp" just search for "bluetooth page turner" and you'll have a range of choices.

        Also, the software I use, "ForScore," has a thing where you can use facial gestures to turn pages. haven't used that feature yet.

        the best part is, you can write all over your music without harming the original.

        Be careful with forscore, the 13.1 update in sept broke la

      • Or...

        I'm sure you've seen those novelty "blow out the candle" type apps where you blow on the mic? That might actually be a really convenient hands-free page turning mechanic. Maybe with a double-puff for "back", just in case?

        I'm sure the burst of white noise is relatively easy to pick out from most background noise... the biggest challenge would probably be ignoring applause, and even a quick smattering is likely to last a lot longer than an air puff.

        If anyone uses the idea I expect to get at least a cou

        • Hmm, further idea - don't flip the page all at once, instead use something like a "scroll unrolling down the page" animation, with a pause for a second page-flip signal halfway down, so that you can see the top half of the next page (what's coming up) while still reading the bottom row(s) of the current page. I know making that blind jump between pages was always a bit of an extra challenge. A half-page pause would also be more robust against any mistaken page-flipping signals

          ForScore alreayd has that half-page-turn thing. It was controversial when adopted. I don't use it

          I'm sure you've seen those novelty "blow out the candle" type apps where you blow on the mic? That might actually be a really convenient hands-free page turning mechanic. Maybe with a double-puff for "back", just in case?

          o.O I'd like to see that on a live-on-tv recital or something.. blow on the page (screen) to make it flip..n.n

          Can't be any stranger than someone winking at the screen or whatever facial gesture one chooses to "page right" and such.

          I just use my foot trigger. Or even my finger, if I know the piece well enough to buffer some of it in my brain

          • Even better if they're flipping paper pages that way, that takes real skill!

            But I'd bet it'd be a lot less noticeable, with a lot fewer false positives, than any facial gestures. After all, if the music isn't moving through you, including your face, are you really *playing* it, or just soullessly going through the motions like any 90s midi software could?

            One of the things that always pissed me off with most music classes was that they tried to make you play the music exactly as written, even going so far a

      • Interesting. Many musicians require page-turners for their sheet music. You can obviously scan all the sheet music into electronic form, I wonder if there is any input device like a pedal you could use to turn the page on a tablet without moving your hands away from the keyboard.

        There are plenty. Bluetooth. They work great!

  • Us old people have poor vision, we need bigger screens! People tend to get more farsighted as they grow older, so holding the tiny screen closer doesn't help. In fact, my arms have gotten too short to read menus anymore...
  • by Petersko ( 564140 ) on Wednesday October 26, 2022 @02:42PM (#63000469)

    I had a Pro a few years back - 12.9? Too lazy to look it up. Over time it ended up slowly bending until the screen and the back separated. "Physical damage" they said. Well... yeah. But not through abuse.

    I'd be concerned that a flat device that large would have to really be coddled, or suffer a similar outcome. You'd always have to two-hand it, lest you stress it.

    • Sounds like your battery got puffy. Needed replacing as soon as you saw it start.
      • No... it was not a battery issue. It was simply physical. As the unit continued to "droop", it was clear that eventually the seam would give. And it did. Apparently I'm not alone. Just googled it, and there are lots of similar stories. After the separation (and crack), and before I junked it, I pulled it apart out of curiosity. Battery was fine.

    • Ive used two of the biggest ipads for years. Neither had any issue. How do you carry it? If you toss it in a backpack and sling that pack around, toss the backpack on a chair when you get home and occasionally sit on it, you’re doing it wrong. A big-sized Ipad pro is less durable than a closed laptop. You use a case and treat it with care. I wouldnt call it fragile but they cant be dropkicked around. And bending is is probably the worst thing you can do.
  • Still just one? Or will this one cross the line to none?

  • ... I can see spending a silly amount of money on such a thing.
  • by Babel-17 ( 1087541 ) on Thursday October 27, 2022 @12:11AM (#63001899)

    I own four tablets, and get a decent amount of use out of two of them. I almost forgot about one of them, an Amazon Fire HD 8" that I bought in 2017 partly because it was on a heavy sale. Excellent optimization by Amazon, but I just use it as a backup.

    Anyway, long story short, while my Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ has a much faster processor than the one in my Tab S4, it's the S4 I use in bed to watch video, browse Reddit, and so on. It's "only" 10.5 inches, versus the 12.4 inches of the S7+, and its smaller size makes it a better choice for me. And its Snapdragon 835 is easily more than enough for the activities I use the tablet for.

    On the desktop the S7+ is amazing, and I can comfortably use it as a tablet, but I'm not looking for anything larger.

    My other tablet is a HTC Flyer from 2011, and HTC hit a home run with its design. Sadly they went with a single core processor and Gingerbread for the OS, later updated to Honeycomb, and that hurt its sales, even tough its performance and HTC customized UI were very good. Just 7 inches in size, and its screen supported using a N-trig stylus. I'd be interested if Samsung went smaller, instead of bigger, with its S (stylus supporting) line of tablets.

  • Will you settle for bezel-less screens, and get 16.5? And regarding the other one, you're getting involuntary manslaughter instead of attempted murder, but you'll be out in 5, tops

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