This year really feels like the time to do something exciting with the iPad, so soon after launching an absurdly powerful iPad Pro. Either macOS in a VM or a major revamp of iPadOS.
There's an exciting story to tell about the iPad Pro being a hybrid tablet, a next gen Mac, the best of both worlds. Or they could do nothing, and let it remain a boring niche product with a really nice screen. We'll see.
I mean the iPad with M2 was also absurdly powerful. And I remember people speculating that they'd finally make iPadOS usable when they released the iPad Pro with M1, the first iPad with a laptop chip instead of a phone chip.
That doesn't mean it won't happen this time, I certainly hope it does.
Multitasking for pro users doesn’t generate more recurring subscription revenue, which is the only thing Apple cares about now, because it’s the only way for the company to grow their overall revenue.
Everyone who is going to have an iPhone or iPad already has one.
More services that cause automatic recurring revenue.
Last I checked, Apple has:
Apple Pay
Apple Card
AppleCare+
AppleCare Help Desk Support
AppleCare OS Support
AppleCare for Enterprise
Apple Messages for Business (not sure if this one is paid or free)
Fitness+
Apple TV+
MLS Season Pass
iCloud+
Apple News+
Apple Music
Apple Arcade
iPhone Upgrade Program
Apple Developer Program
Apple Developer Enterprise Program
Apple One
...and there are probably a few more I’m missing.
I’m surprised they haven’t figured out a way to charge a monthly fee for iMessage and FaceTime yet (beyond of course the usual nagging you for iCloud storage upgrades to store backups all of the attachments you’ve been iMessaged).
I'm leaning towards the latter (+ a bunch of AI bullshit). Thankfully we're at least getting alternative app stores for iPadOS in the EU, so there's at least some exciting things happening with iPadOS no matter what Apple decides to do.