Joanna, you are underestimating the power of the latest Apple ARM processors and how well they dissipate heat. I have an iPad 2018 12.9" (similar to the current one, this was the generation with the huge jump in CPU power with the A12X and then A12Z chip). Geekbench 5 CPU scores are =~ 4700 with a Metal (graphics) score of =~ 11800. My Mac Pro 5,1 12 core with a Radeon VII (accelerated via OpenCore) scores =~ 5500 with Metal (graphics) score =~ 68000. Yes, the iPad is way behind on the Metal score but does keep up on CPU, which is mainly what Photolab uses. But let’s add some perspective here - Nvidia’s GTX 680 scores 8012, while the GTX 980 scores 15011.
Anything from the iPad Pro 3d generation and up or with an A12 chip or higher is an enormously powerful computing platform. DxO is stuck reoptimising Photolab for ARM processors in any case, as Apple is moving laptops over to ARM as well (MacBook M1, Mac Mini M1).
Heat: the only time my iPad Pro gets warm is when charging.
My concern with the iPad version is that the first few iterations can only disappoint. Photolab is a massive and powerful program and not easily replicated on iPad. If DxO were a larger company, they should probably make the first two or three versions of Photolab iPad OS free to bring new punters into the fold (some would buy the desktop version after trying the iPad version) and only start charging when the iPad version is close to desktop equivalent.
What DxO should not do:
- take programming resources away from Photolab to create an iPad OS Photolab
- bring a mediocre iPad OS Photolab to a quick launch
- charge a high price for the iPad OS Photolab to the faithful (us)
- post-launch let the iPad OS Photolab languish in mediocrity for a few years while the team rushes back to shore up Photolab 7 after under featured and buggy Photolab 5 and 6 releases
- discontinue the iPad OS version as the negative publicity and bad reviews have basically sunk the brand on iOS
Such a sequence of events would sabotage Photolab on both iPad and deskop. I’m very concerned that the above nightmare scenario is what is being contemplated. If so, I would implore DxO to not even touch iOS/iPad OS for now and focus on Photolab on desktop.
DxO has not deigned to even add a simple deselect toggle for the image browser (we must wait for the messianic DAM built into Photolab 5 for any usability improvements to the image browser). So my faith in DxO doing the right thing by loyal Photolab users (there’s not many software companies in whose products I’ve invested north of €500) has been tested lately.
PS. Until DxO adds a Deselect All toggle to the image browser in Photolab 4, I’m on a temporary no further upgrades/no further investment in DxO products strike. Certes, a good iPad OS version of Photolab would test my resolve.