Apple began delivering macOS Catalina to all compatible Macs yesterday, but upgraders are already noticing a major problem: That Catalyst functionality that was supposed to bring iPad apps to the Mac hasn’t delivered a single compelling app yet. Worse, it appears that paid apps will need to be purchased again on the Mac, angering some users.
I noticed the problems with Catalyst last night when I booted up the initial shipping version of macOS Catalina last night and headed into the Mac App Store to see what was new. The answer is, not much.
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Apple is highlighting the first wave of Catalyst apps right at the top of the Mac App Store’s main view, called Discover, in a section called “Apps You Love, Now on Mac.” But I recognized just one app in this collection, for the Rosetta Stone language learning service. And there are fewer than 25 apps in the collection so far.
According to a Bloomberg report this morning, the issue is that Catalyst is “frustrating to developers” because of the amount of work it requires to actually port an app from iPad to Mac. Apple has claimed earlier that this was an incredibly easy process, and could be as simple as checking a box in Xcode, Apple’s developer environment. It’s not.
Apple has declined to comment on the problems. But it says that more iPad apps are coming to Mac in the near future.
That said, some heavy hitters have already publicly denounced the technology. Netflix, for example, says that it will not bring its iPad app to the Mac. And two games, DC Universe and Asphalt 9, had previously been promised on Catalyst but are now no longer featured on Apple’s website.
shameermulji
<blockquote><em><a href="#479045">In reply to nbplopes:</a></em></blockquote><p>So are you implying that full mouse / trackpad support will make its way to iPadOS or that macOS might actually make its way to iPad Pro?</p>
shameermulji
<p>From all the reviews I've read, macOS Catalina is a major release and a big break from the past on many levels. One comment I read made a good point in mentioning that maybe Apple should have branded it macOS 11.</p>
dontbeevil
<blockquote><em><a href="#478847">In reply to shameermulji:</a></em></blockquote><p>and it's funny that when MS wants to modernize something and cut some legacy, everybody (journalists, dev and users) screams out loud … when apple do it, they just shut up</p>
shameermulji
<blockquote><em><a href="#478848">In reply to nbplopes:</a></em></blockquote><p>While you make a good point, the whole point of Catalyst is to re-energize the Mac market. Just like there are hardly any new Win32 apps on Windows, the same situation exists on the Mac with respect to AppKit apps. If Apple lets that be, there may not be much of a Mac market in the future if the vast majority of users are shifting towards devices built on mobile platforms (ie: ARM + iOS / Android / Win 10X)</p>
dontbeevil
<p>"just works"</p>
BrianEricFord
<blockquote><em><a href="#478932">In reply to Big_Swifty:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>You lost Logic to Apple and Microsoft stole Halo from us Apple fans, so — I think we’re still the more aggrieved party.</p>
Stooks
<p>Write once……</p><p><br></p><p>Where have I heard that before? iOS 13 has been a massive train wreck. I am no rush to jack up my Macbook. I hardly use it anymore because my T580 is just so much better……at everything.</p>