Could the much-rumoured iPad Pro run iOS and OS X?

Merging mobile and desktop operating systems isn’t that new of a concept, Microsoft’s Windows RT attempted to use Windows 8 as a mobile system and Windows 10 is designed to be one platform for everything. If rumours at to be believed, the rumoured iPad Pro might be the first step Apple takes towards a similar situation.

According to a report from Digitimes, there will be two versions of much-rumoured 12.9-inch iPad Pro. One will run iOS 8, the other will dual-boot iOS and OS X. As Ubergizmo points out, it’s a pretty wild claim because iOS runs on ARM architecture, while OS X has generally used Intel. Creating a system that can do both could be fairly tricky.

Given this info and the size of the device, Apple might be trying to compete with Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3, which has positioned itself as a competitor for the Macbook Air. Introducing OS X could be an attempt to position the iPad as more of a work-based device rather than one used for play.

Ubergizmo points out that Digitimes doesn’t have a great record when it comes to revealing information like this, and it seems a little far fetched, especially given the fact that Apple has spoken out against cross-platform OSs before. We’ll just have to wait and see what Apple reveals when they (probably) announce the new tablets.

Tom Pritchard