Case in point: I’ve watched as iWork features were eliminated as they combined the macOS and iOS versions and am reminded of the office I worked in that tried to use AutoCAD and MicroStation interchangeably. Rather than using the particular features of one or the other as a benefit to a particular project, they tried to condense everything down to the lowest common denominator – features available in only one package were not used. At the time, MicroStation used 64 numbered layers, so we were not allowed to name layers (or use more) in AutoCAD. The power users for each platform were constantly frustrated.

iOS has come a long way and offers many advantages. However, my workflow involves an ergonomic keyboard, 3D mouse, and Logitech G13 gameboard for input; multiple screens; and there are still times I walk away from my Mac Pro workstation to let it crunch through a render or computation – despite its 3.24Ghz 12-core processors and dual GPUs.

Perhaps the ARM chips can support this level of work, but I’m concerned that needs of power desktop users on one side vs. mobile users on the other would draw these chips in different directions. There are already issues with Apple’s form factors (Macbook/iMac) dictating lesser performance to achieve smaller, slimmer packages.

Case in point: I’ve watched as iWork features were eliminated as they combined the macOS and iOS versions and am reminded of the office I worked in that tried to use AutoCAD and MicroStation interchangeably. Rather than using the particular features of one or the other as a benefit to a particular project, they tried to condense everything down to the lowest common denominator – features available in only one package were not used. At the time, MicroStation used 64 numbered layers, so we were not allowed to name layers (or use more) in AutoCAD. The power users for each platform were constantly frustrated.

iOS has come a long way and offers many advantages. However, my workflow involves an ergonomic keyboard, 3D mouse, and Logitech G13 gameboard for input; multiple screens; and there are still times I walk away from my Mac Pro workstation to let it crunch through a render or computation – despite its 3.24Ghz 12-core processors and dual GPUs.

Perhaps the ARM chips can support this level of work, but I’m concerned that needs of power desktop users on one side vs. mobile users on the other would draw these chips in different directions. There are already issues with Apple’s form factors (Macbook/iMac) dictating lesser performance to achieve smaller, slimmer packages.

Case in point: I’ve watched as iWork features were eliminated as they combined the macOS and iOS versions and am reminded of the office I worked in that tried to use AutoCAD and MicroStation interchangeably. Rather than using the particular features of one or the other as a benefit to a particular project, they tried to condense everything down to the lowest common denominator – features available in only one package were not used. At the time, MicroStation used 64 numbered layers, so we were not allowed to name layers (or use more) in AutoCAD. The power users for each platform were constantly frustrated.

iOS has come a long way and offers many advantages. However, my workflow involves an ergonomic keyboard, 3D mouse, and Logitech G13 gameboard for input; multiple screens; and there are still times I walk away from my Mac Pro workstation to let it crunch through a render or computation – despite its 3.24Ghz 12-core processors and dual GPUs.

Perhaps the ARM chips can support this level of work, but I’m concerned that needs of power desktop users on one side vs. mobile users on the other would draw these chips in different directions. There are already issues with Apple’s form factors (Macbook/iMac) dictating lesser performance to achieve smaller, slimmer packages.

I have not be tracking Mac developer counts. Are the numbers really declining, where do you see evidence of that? My view from the MCAD industry is that macOS is growing, not declining.

I have not be tracking Mac developer counts. Are the numbers really declining, where do you see evidence of that? My view from the MCAD industry is that macOS is growing, not declining.

Awhile back on Architosh when Apple announced their true commitment to a new Mac Pro, I mentioned the new machine as being useful also for emerging power-hungry applications like AI and machine learning. This was prescient on an accidental level; I think Apple wants to do a lot with data, machine learning and AI and they want lots of security and control in that domain. To control their security destiny going custom CPUs seems to offer advantages.

Beyond the importance of AI and machine learning, and in particular its importance to Apple’s third-party developer community, the modular Mac Pro folks like you and me are dreaming about must be performant within the rival Intel community. It must, ideally, out-perform Xeons and i9’s. And an architecture transition must go at least equal or better than Rosetta. Have you read Tech Crunch’s article here below?

Apple’s 2019 Mac Pro will be shaped by workflows?
https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/05/apples-2019-imac-pro-will-be-shaped-by-workflows/

Awhile back on Architosh when Apple announced their true commitment to a new Mac Pro, I mentioned the new machine as being useful also for emerging power-hungry applications like AI and machine learning. This was prescient on an accidental level; I think Apple wants to do a lot with data, machine learning and AI and they want lots of security and control in that domain. To control their security destiny going custom CPUs seems to offer advantages.

Beyond the importance of AI and machine learning, and in particular its importance to Apple’s third-party developer community, the modular Mac Pro folks like you and me are dreaming about must be performant within the rival Intel community. It must, ideally, out-perform Xeons and i9’s. And an architecture transition must go at least equal or better than Rosetta. Have you read Tech Crunch’s article here below?

Apple’s 2019 Mac Pro will be shaped by workflows?
https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/05/apples-2019-imac-pro-will-be-shaped-by-workflows/

There has been various discussions of merging macOS and iOS for some time now. I can’t say I’m a fan of that kind of thinking. What I want out of a mobile phone or tablet is much different from what I want out of a desktop machine – much of the reason I’m disappointed by Apple’s lack of attention to the Mac Pro line. I’m still using a 12-core 2010 Mac Pro “Hackintosh” with dual NVidia cards and an external secondary PSU to support VRay. Moving to ARM chips would obviously be a move in this direction. Will it leave the power users whose workflow does not “fit” on tablets and laptops with no options with Apple?

There has been various discussions of merging macOS and iOS for some time now. I can’t say I’m a fan of that kind of thinking. What I want out of a mobile phone or tablet is much different from what I want out of a desktop machine – much of the reason I’m disappointed by Apple’s lack of attention to the Mac Pro line. I’m still using a 12-core 2010 Mac Pro “Hackintosh” with dual NVidia cards and an external secondary PSU to support VRay. Moving to ARM chips would obviously be a move in this direction. Will it leave the power users whose workflow does not “fit” on tablets and laptops with no options with Apple?