iOS and OS X have the same foundation , and there is no reason why effective feature of one should n’t be tally to the other . But Apple is , in my opinion , developing a much deeper and longer terminal figure strategy in iOSifying OS X.

In its most recent fiscal quarter , Apple ’s earningswere rule by sales of iOS devices . Out of $ 39.2 billion in revenue , the iPhone and iPad represented three quarters of the companionship ’s sales . While Mac growth is still well ahead of the rest of the microcomputer market , the Mac now makes up less than one - one-fifth of the company ’s taxation . Apple is making some 75 per centum of its income from product lines introduced within the past five old age .

iOS devices are drive sale for Apple .

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iOS devices are driving sales for Apple.

At the same time , there ’s another stat Apple presents during its quarterly earning announcements : Half of the Macs sold at the company ’s retail stores are to novel customers — to switchers .

Put yourself in the brake shoe of a person who possess an iPhone or iPad . If they desire a new computer , and they have been happy with their iPhone or iPad , they might consider buy a Mac . When they go to an Apple Store today , they ’ll attend at a Mac and see applications like iCal and Address Book , or System Preferences and iChat . While the icons are similar enough for them to figure out the link between these and their mobile combining weight , it would be a great deal easier if they fancy Calendar and Contacts ; options and Messages . And those little Share push button ? People utilise them all the time to ship matter by tocopherol - mail , but it ’s not right away clean how to do this in OS X.

Apple ’s Mac growth is telling , but the company can do so much more to bring into the fold citizenry who have already been converted to iOS . What better way to do so than to say , “ You know how to use an iPhone ; so you already do it how to use a Mac . ” This iOSification is not a dumbing down of OS X , but rather a private road to create consistency across the two platforms . I sure enough do n’t expect touch - silver screen laptops — just retrieve how trite your arm would get after constantly raising it to touch the screen — but spend a penny the two operating systems coherent is the best affair that Apple can do to get new customers to bribe Macs .

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iOS devices are driving sales for Apple.

In addition , Apple ’s iCloud strategy is distinctly design to connect the two types of devices . With OS X Mountain Lion , iCloud will be enhance , oversee reminders , eminence , parole and much more . Once Apple makes iCloud syncing fully vapourous , the ability to switch from an iPad to a Mac will be simple enough that it will become second nature .

I can see Apple launch a major marketing campaign to get its iOS customers to buy Macs . With the rapprochement of the two operating system , I can even picture a raw commercial the company might run . It might start something like this :

A : Hi , I ’m an iPhone .

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B : I ’m an iPad .

C : And I ’m a Mac .

The three characters can then go on to point out how light it is for one of the hundreds of one thousand thousand of iOS users to grease one’s palms a new Mac , enrol their Apple ID , and start lick ( and playacting ) . They could show how so many familiar apps and conception make picking up and using a new Mac simpleton for anyone who is used to an iPhone or iPad .

Taking the better of iOS and adding it to OS X will not weaken the desktop platform , as some have advise ; the features being contribute are those that have proven effective on mobile gadget . If anything , this crown of thorns - pollination will better both platforms , and simplify tasks for those who habituate both platform to get things done . And , in the remnant , the iOSification of OS X may be the accelerator that allows Apple to take Mac sales to a unexampled level .

[ Senior contributorKirk McElhearnwrites about more than just Macs on his blogKirkville . Kirk is the author ofTake Control of iTunes 10 : The FAQ . ]