macOS Catalina could add even more Project Catalyst applications



[ad_1]

We've heard a lot about Project Catalyst and what it means for developers who want to transfer their iPad apps to Mac with MacOS Catalina. Apple uses Catalyst itself to enhance existing Mac applications such as News and Home, as well as to integrate new applications such as Mac-based podcasts.

At the moment, MacOS Catalina beta suggests that Apple reserves more for Project Catalyst.

Sylvania HomeKit Light Strip

Developer Steve Troughton-Smith taken to Twitter this week to demonstrate that Apple is working on Catalyst versions of two new applications: Messages and Shortcuts.

Regarding Messages, Smith explains that a "surprising amount of UIKit Messages application" works under macOS. This includes effects such as iMessage effects, which have long been lacking in the macOS Messages application.

It's worth noting that the Catalyst version of Messages on Mac is different from the iPadOS 13 version. It was designed to look like Mojave's current macOS Messages application. This makes it more than just a direct port for the iPad Messages application on Mac. Smith suggests that, as far as Apple has devoted so much work to upgrading the application UIKit Messages on Mac, it's something that the company has envisioned, or is still working for a later version .

Just for reference: it's not a "marzipanified" version of the iOS Simulator Messages app. This is Catalyst's "native" user interface from macOS 10.15 system frameworks. Just like shortcuts, everything is there, and works especially if you know how to talk to him.

If you compare this Catalyst version of Messages to what it is in iOS 13, you will find that the layout of the user interface is very different. In fact, it is modeled to look much more like the macOS version. I am not convinced that this work was done solely to present the message sharing sheet in UIKit applications.

It's also important to note that Messages on the Mac still does not have features like the iMessage App Store – which has become popular for items such as sticker packs, games, and more. This is probably an important motivation for Apple to bring a Project Catalyst version of the Messages application on macOS.

Smith's latest findings on Messages on the Mac follow his blog post, shortly after WWDC, showing how shortcuts might work on macOS Catalina:

It turns out that Catalyst on macOS Catalina includes all shortcut frames, including all those needed to display almost all of its user interface. I've therefore built a dummy application that does exactly that, which you can find on GitHub.

Read Smith's full blog post on Shortcuts for Mac here.

What applications currently available on the iPad would you like to see coming on macOS? Let us know in the comments.

IPad mini Zugu Muse case


Subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more information on Apple:

[ad_2]
Source link