Apple to Unify iOS and macOS Apps in 2018: REPORT

Apple is working on tools that will allow developers to easily write one app that will work on iPhones, iPads and Macs.

According to a new report from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, the next version of macOS — expected to be numbered 10.14 — will be capable of running apps originally developed for iOS devices.

“Starting as early as next year, software developers will be able to design a single application that works with a touchscreen or mouse and trackpad depending on whether it’s running on the iPhone and iPad operating system or on Mac hardware,” reads the report.

Currently, app developers need to write one app for iOS devices and then another app for macOS, the software that runs on Apple’s computers. The new feature, which Bloomberg said is called “Marzipan” internally and may be introduced as soon as next fall, allows developers to write the app once and then launch it for users across Apple’s various software platforms.

According to Gurman, the idea is that applications on the Mac will be updated more frequently and be of higher quality than their current state. The report cited the official Twitter app, which is regularly updated for iPhone and iPad, but less frequently so for Mac. Unified iOS/macOS apps could then be offered on the Mac’s version of the App Store, rejuvenating the rare Apple shop that currently seems rather sparse.

This mixing between macOS and iOS will reportedly occur with next year’s major software updates, so if Apple sticks to its historic release pattern, then iOS 12 and macOS 10.14 would be announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, before launching to the public in September.

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