Tim Cook: People don't want iOS and MacOS merged

If you've had some kind of fantasy about MacOS features on your iPad, Tim Cook is putting that dream to rest.

Despite rumours of allowing developers to create apps that work on iOS and MacOS, the Apple chief told the Sydney Morning Herald they're two experiences that should be kept separate.

"We don't believe in sort of watering down one for the other. Both [The Mac and iPad] are incredible. One of the reasons that both of them are incredible is because we pushed them to do what they do well. And if you begin to merge the two ... you begin to make trade offs and compromises," Cook told the newspaper.

"So maybe the company would be more efficient at the end of the day. But that's not what it's about. You know it's about giving people things that they can then use to help them change the world or express their passion or express their creativity. So this merger thing that some folks are fixated on, I don't think that's what users want."

Oh well. The revelation slightly muddles rumours of Apple's "Marzipan" plans, which allows developers to create apps for both iOS and MacOS, a la Microsoft's universal apps strategy.

The move would reportedly help the Mac App Store, which hasn't been quite as successful as its iOS equivalent. It's also part of a larger plan to make its software and hardware foundations more similar, as evidenced by a plan to switch from Intel-designed chips to its own.

While he may be keen to keep the divide between iOS and MacOS, at least Cook seems to love all of his children equally.

"I generally use a Mac at work, and I use an iPad at home," Cook added. "And I always use the iPad when I'm travelling. But I use everything and I love everything."