Actually the complete opposite is happening. Apple isn't modularising. They are unifying.
Apple has built a unified SDK for iOS and OSX that has been used in the Photos app. This means that going forward we could see a single development platform across all Apple devices. When you combine this with Continuity and iCloud and it's a pretty big deal.
Seamless movement between devices that of course only works with the Apple ecosystem.
You've zoomed in on one aspect of Apple while Ben Thompson is looking at the company as a whole. Apple has integrated on what they perceive to be the important parts of the value chain (which is why Apple designs chips but doesn't manufacture them).
> Apple has built a unified SDK for iOS and OSX that has been used in the Photos app.
I think the important point about modularizing was about Apple Pay, HomeKit, etc. Apple's interfaces with 3rd party components are modular. Apple is setting up the modular infrastructure for other people to take advantage, not necessarily being modular about how you develop apps for their platform.
Apple has built a unified SDK for iOS and OSX that has been used in the Photos app. This means that going forward we could see a single development platform across all Apple devices. When you combine this with Continuity and iCloud and it's a pretty big deal.
Seamless movement between devices that of course only works with the Apple ecosystem.