Its not all up to Apple. Ios might be enhanced, but its up to developers to decide whether or not to port desktop level applications to ios. Who will be the first to buy or subscribe to a full application in ios at full application prices? So you'll continue to see "lite" versions of applications in ios which will not satisfy many users. If you go to you tube you can find many videos of artists using surface with photoshop via touch--its not that big of deal, really
You've packed a lot into five sentences - and there's quite a bit to think about there!
First, you're right on the money that it's not all up to Apple, but I was really thinking about where the IOS
platform is destined to go, given the more capable CPUs that Apple is creating. I don't think there will be a merger of IOS and OS X although it's not beyond the realm of possibility that we'd see a Macbook with some kind of touch capability as a secondary interaction method somewhere along the line. Nevertheless, I think Apple is committed to a two-path strategy: improving and refining the desktop/laptop experience by evolving the iMac/Mac Pro/Macbook lines as technology permits, and on the other fork making IOS devices the best phone/tablet they can be. But if IOS isn't going to become more desktop-like, then what? That's what I'm curious about: how does the software and hardware IOS platform evolve, if not toward more desktop-centricity?
You raise a second issue, though, and I share your concern: can developers be sufficiently rewarded to create full-featured applications that can go head-to-head with their desktop counterparts? I think the outlook is frankly mixed here, for this reason: is there a market for a full-up version of (say) Photoshop on a tablet? Not "it would be nice" but "is there a critical mass of users ready to part with $500 for the privilege?" I suspect the answer is no, which means Windows portables (Surface Pro, certainly, and likely the Surface Book as well) will have a long and profitable run regardless of what Apple does with IOS.
Next question: Is there a market for a program that covers 80% of Photoshop use cases, runs on the iPad Pro, and sells for, say, $50? Certainly there's no interest from the professional who already lives in Photoshop, has invested in Creative Suite and has years of muscle memory built up. But for the serious amateur, the curious with disposable income and the professional willing to take a flyer on a new platform? Maybe.
I'm thinking that the next big move in IOS software won't come from Microsoft or Adobe porting cut-down apps from their portfolio to IOS. That's just the big guys trying to protect their turf. It'll come, in my opinion, from a surprising quarter: an Evernote, or a Fifty-Three, or an Omni Group, or from perhaps any of the other companies that have come of age in the IOS era. Or maybe from a completely unknown company - who knows?
But that does raise the question: without the "big apps," is the iPad Pro really "pro?" It's as 'pro' as you want it to be, I suppose, and one 'professional' may look at it and decide it's a toy, while the next 'professional' uses it to make amazing, wonderful content that thrills the client. Same thing can be said for the Surface: one 'professional' loves it and another loathes it.
But it's Apple's job to prove that the IPP is everything they say it is, which explains the videos of the 'demo day' at Disney. If they can make their case, then they'll sell a critical mass of the IPP and word of mouth will make it successful.
But I'll take a look at the Surface videos - it sounds interesting!
