>I can see such a scenario playing out, I think iOS is by a gaping chasm the proven consumer OS for Apple.
That's assuming the contest is a mutually exclusive OSX vs iOS game and not OSX vs Windows. If you assume the latter, OSX is also a proven consumer OS for Apple along with iOS.
>Hopefully they will at least give the user more control and options so they can tweak it to their needs/tastes. I am sceptical though.
I think you are right to be skeptical. I think Apple considers both OSes their 'golden child', especially with the absolutely massive gains OSX is making in the PC segment, and they are fully embracing the general consumer computing market. Everything they are doing signals a move to simplicity and familiarity with OSX being the system that is 'reigned in and streamlined' in the process.
If grey linen and genie animations bum you out, I think it's going to get worse before it gets better, and also, it's not really going to get better.
I personally don't mind OSX taking design elements from iOS, hiding powerful features in the name of simplicity (as long as they are still there), animations, linen, etc. As long as the features are still there and the OS is fast, I'm good. Unfortunately, the OS isn't fast. SL-->Lion introduced a sluggishness that is very real and very annoying, though I would probably never notice it if I hadn't upgraded from a much snappier SL.
> That's assuming the contest is a mutually exclusive OSX vs iOS game and not OSX vs Windows. If you assume the latter, OSX is also a proven consumer OS for Apple along with iOS.
While that is imminently rational, the problem in many organizations is due to internal political struggles. Apple might be experiencing this, as iOS starts to vastly eclipse OSX in terms of installed base and profits.
Microsoft has definitely lived this for decades (and even explicitly enshrined it in their values by Gates, Ballmer, etc "don't threaten Windows") and IMHO, it has led to their stagnation.
Apple before has admitted to moving devs before between OS projects, as they share a LOT of common frameworks/codebase.
We will see. I hear what you are saying, but in practice what Apple seems to have done is used the massive groundswell of iOS adoption as a mechanism for converting these users to their other platform products. Rather than competing with iOS for organizational mindshare and other resources, OSX seems to be the biggest beneficiary of the larger iOS adoption. I think it is because of iOS that OSX is going gangbusters in the PC market. While the two may never merge, Apples platform is greater than the sum of its iOS and OSX parts, and Apple is developing increasing application, UI, and stylistic synergy between the two, with OSX bearing the brunt of the makeover.
That's assuming the contest is a mutually exclusive OSX vs iOS game and not OSX vs Windows. If you assume the latter, OSX is also a proven consumer OS for Apple along with iOS.
>Hopefully they will at least give the user more control and options so they can tweak it to their needs/tastes. I am sceptical though.
I think you are right to be skeptical. I think Apple considers both OSes their 'golden child', especially with the absolutely massive gains OSX is making in the PC segment, and they are fully embracing the general consumer computing market. Everything they are doing signals a move to simplicity and familiarity with OSX being the system that is 'reigned in and streamlined' in the process.
If grey linen and genie animations bum you out, I think it's going to get worse before it gets better, and also, it's not really going to get better.
I personally don't mind OSX taking design elements from iOS, hiding powerful features in the name of simplicity (as long as they are still there), animations, linen, etc. As long as the features are still there and the OS is fast, I'm good. Unfortunately, the OS isn't fast. SL-->Lion introduced a sluggishness that is very real and very annoying, though I would probably never notice it if I hadn't upgraded from a much snappier SL.