The new functionality will arrive in iOS 12 and macOS 10.14

Dec 20, 2017 16:15 GMT  ·  By

Apple is reportedly working on a new project called "Marzipan" that will let application developers create unique apps capable of running on iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports today that Apple plans to allow developers to expand their iOS apps to the macOS ecosystem through so-called universal binaries, which the company is already using for some time now to make it easier for application developers to port their iPhone apps to the iPad.

Developers will be able to get an early taste of project "Marzipan" in early 2018, according to the report, allowing them to design a single application capable of running on iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices, so that the universal apps can be ready for the launch of iOS 12 and macOS 10.14 operating system in summer 2018.

Apple did not yet confirm project "Marzipan"

While Apple is yet to confirm project "Marzipan," it would be great to see new developer tools that would make a developer's life a lot easier, as right now they need to design two different apps for a single project, one for iOS and one for macOS. And it would also benefit end users, as the apps won't look much different.

The competition is already using universal binaries for their operating systems across mobile devices and personal computers. For example, Microsoft offered application developers a technology called Universal Windows Platform that would allow them to easily port their PC apps to Windows Mobile.

On the other hand, Linux users have several tools that allow them to run Android apps on their GNU/Linux distributions. With that in mind, Apple is more than welcome to innovate on this front, as it would make our lives easier when installing and managing apps across the iOS and macOS ecosystems.

In summer 2018, Apple will unveil the future of its iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS operating systems for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch devices respecitively, during the WWDC (Worldwide Developer Conference) 2018, and we can't wait to see what iOS 12, tvOS 12, macOS 10.14, and watchOS 5 will have in store for both end users and developers.