Apple may let the same app work on across iOS and Macs


The change, reportedly codenamed "Marzipan", could begin go into effect in 2018, though it would likely take more than a year for the plan to fully come together, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who first reported Apple's plans.

In the past, developers have been forced to create separate apps for iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

Apple is reportedly changing that up starting early next year. Developers now need to create two different apps to offer their programs on all Apple hardware. This means that developers will be able to release apps that are the same for the company's multiple devices.

Apple's move is an effort to allow developers to expand iOS apps to Mac computers.

Others, however, had a more positive view, even while acknowledging that it could be a hard transition for Mac developers in particular. It's planned as part of next fall's iOS and Mac OS updates, according to Bloomberg's sources. The source noted, however, that Apple's "plans are still fluid", so dates could change or the plan could be canceled altogether.

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The report did not specify whether the single app system would also work with other Apple devices, like the Apple Watch, Apple TV and the upcoming HomePod speaker.

Apple could potentially draw on its approach to tvOS and iOS apps for inspiration. The company merges mobile and desktop apps with its Universal Windows Platform.

The company is planning to create a new kind of universal app that will allow developers to bring the same applications to both iOS and MacOS, according to a new report. Both Microsoft and Google have attempted to build combined apps that work universally on all devices, but haven't seen much success.

"The UWP (Universal Windows Platform) provides a guaranteed core API across devices", Microsoft explains on the system's website. "It's the difference between a rich, modern Mac-app ecosystem, or a lot of potential Mac apps not existing at all or being relegated to shitty web/Electron apps". If developers must choose to devote resources to one or the other, the computer apps often get shortchanged.