Not sure where to put this post, as it's kind of dealing with iOS, but by far way more with Big Sur, so I'm going to guess it would go here. Anyway...
I have just discovered on my new macbook air, that I can go to the mac app store from the Apple menu, and search for/find apps that say designed for iPad, but holy cow, they actually load, and work on Big Sur as well! I know this probably is the whole universal catalyst thing going on, but my previous mac was old enough it couldn't support doing this, and I've only had this mac since the 6th of this month.
So, forgive me if these questions may seem like no new news, as to me, I significantly have upgraded, so some of this stuff is new for me.
So, first off, is it true to assume that unless you've got a mac with an m1 chip as I do, you're not going to be able to load these apps, and get them installed? For example, I downloaded the Youversion Bible app which said designed for iPad, yet, for me, it works beautifully, but for my friend who has a mac mini from 2019 with a intel i7, he can't get the thing to install. It won't let him, and yes, he's also like me, on Big Sur 11.2.3. I guess, does it depend on the app, or do you absolutely have to have an m1 for this to work.
Second, is it only apps designed for iPad, or will I also find some apps designed for iPhone that will work?
Finally, is it something where the dev has to make their app work on the mac like this universally, or is it more, if the app is available and coded for iPad, then it'll be available in the mac app store, end of discussion, no ifs ands or buts.
Thanks for all of the clarification on these matters.
Chris.
Comments
Some answers
Only new Macs with the M1 chip are capable of installing and running iOS/iPadOS apps.
Developers can opt to have their apps not available on the Mac - typically because they don't believe the features/functionality currently work as they would wish on the Mac, they already have Mac apps, or they simply don't want to have them run on the Mac.
You will find many apps listed as being available to install which are there simply because the developer hasn't bothered to opt out. The performance of these is typically hit and miss - more miss from my limited experience.
Right now, there are no iOS apps which I routinely use on my Mac, although this may be more due to my needs and use case.
Underwhelmed so far
Like the previous poster, my own use case hasn't made me explore in great depth the apps available, but I typically came away quite underwhelmed with the apps that I have tried.
Weather Gods worked well, and Overcast was okay apart from a couple of screens where it did not appear possible to navigate back out of when using VoiceOver.
For now, a ‘true’ Mac application wins hands down unless there is no accessible option.
I've also seen nothing to make me think that developers are throwing themselves at the opportunity to enhance their iOS apps for use on the Mac.
M1 apps
Hi,
Just thought I would add a bit more information from the developer point of view.
Unfortunately Weather Gods didn't automatically work on the M1 Mac and I had to make changes to the iPad version to ensure a decent experience on the Mac, widgets, notifications and GPS location are just a few examples.
I suspect many developers probably don't think its worth the extra effort - especially as there is no additional revenue from the Mac version.