The Talk Show With John Gruber 437: ‘A Naughty Citizen’, With Quinn Nelson
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Dec 24, 2025 
Quinn Nelson, a well-known YouTuber and founder of Snazzy Labs, joins to dive into the latest developments in the iPad and Apple’s shifting leadership. They discuss iPadOS 26, its persistent design challenges, and Quinn’s strategy for mixing Mac and iPad workflows. The conversation explores Apple’s executive changes, speculating on Tim Cook's potential successors and the ensuing impact on the company’s future. With insights on app limitations and the internal politics at Apple, Quinn provides a critical yet entertaining perspective on the state of Apple technology.
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Switching To An iPad-First Workflow
- Quinn Nelson shifted to an iPad-first workflow after reviewing the M4 iPad Pro and kept using it because the hardware was compelling.
- He still relied on a Mac for about 10% of tasks that the iPad couldn't handle.
Rework Files And Virtualize Mac Apps
- To approach Mac-class workflows on iPad, Apple would need a Finder-like Files app redesign and virtualization of Mac apps on iPad.
- Consider virtualization instead of merging macOS and iPadOS to preserve platform identities.
Pro Apps Are Often Mac Code Recompiled For iPad
- Many pro apps on iPad are effectively macOS binaries ported or recompiled, exposing inconsistencies in supported formats and system capabilities.
- App frameworks and historical choices explain why some pro software can't fully function on iPad despite capable hardware.