Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, recently clarified the company’s position regarding the functionality of iPads and Macs. In a recent talk with Federico Viticci on MacStories, he explained the thinking that went into Apple’s pivot. We discussed why the company doesn’t plan to have macOS on its iPads. He provided a devilishly clever metaphor to explain the predicament. He likened it to a spork —a utensil that doesn’t do either job well. This sentence is a perfect summary of Apple’s philosophy of making the two devices separate.
Federighi in particular stressed that Apple did not want to produce what he called a “mashup” of the Mac and iPad. He explained that each device’s capabilities and distinct design, described as orchestration versus composition, lead to different purposes and user experiences. By holding onto these differences, Apple hopes to improve the user experience instead of muddling it with convergence for convergence’s sake.
The Spork Analogy
When we caught up with Federighi during the interview, he told us that a spork is one of those things that just doesn’t succeed at being both. He said, for example, “We’re not trying to create sporks. As this great analogy shows, Apple has always been fiercely protective of every product’s focus and mission. The company thinks it would have to make too many compromises in functionality and user satisfaction to deliver an acceptable hybrid device.
This philosophy is what makes the iPads so promising as Apple pilots iPadOS 26. This latest iteration comes equipped with powerful new tools built especially for the iPad. We put tremendous effort into making the iPad experience a special one. This lets you experience touch-oriented features without the hassle of introducing them into macOS.
Complementary Products
Clockwise from upper left: Tom Boger, Apple’s Vice President of iPad, who was very active during the discussion. He stressed that the iPad and Mac are designed to coexist together as partners, not as competitors. Just because both devices provide the same experience, he added, doesn’t mean they can’t both meet different needs and workflows. This separation allows users to adopt the device that best suits their needs. Now, they’re not under pressure to give on functionality.
In addition to the comments covered above, Boger explained that Apple wanted the iPad to be distinct, with its own focus and strengths, compared to the Mac. This move is a testament to Apple’s faith that the two devices can happily live together in their ecosystem. Users of both platforms are able to take advantage of the strengths of both platforms without experiencing direct competition between them.
Inspired Experiences
Federighi noted that while macOS will not be running on the iPad, Apple remains committed to creating experiences inspired by the Mac. A few features from macOS might define future releases and features on the iPad. This will maintain consumers’ iPad – phone experience while at the same time adding utility to the iPad.
Apple’s approach isn’t just about the company’s commitment to innovation, but acknowledging the distinctive brands that reside within its product lines. User experience is central to Apple’s approach, allowing them to develop more tailored solutions. Yet they draw sharp lines between their devices, catering to different user needs and priorities.
