Could Apple pull off one app for all Internet-based tasks?

Apple currently ships a ton of full-fledged programs with Mac OS X. Safari, Mail, iChat, Address Book, and iCal are all great examples. As the operating system paradigm shifts, though, I think Apple could be the one to pull these apps all together into one really useful application that many people would rarely ever leave.

First, let’s talk about why this won’t work well on OS X as is. It mostly has to do with the Dock, and Dock badges for notification. Currently, you can tell you have new Mail because the Mail icon gets a badge. You can tell there’s a new chat message because iChat shows a badge. If all these apps were rolled into one, how would you know which functionality was asking for your attention? As OS X moves in the direction OS X touch has already taken, where the line between operating system and application is much more blurred, a notifications bar, housing small icons much like the menu bar, would be a great place for these notifications to show up.

The reason I even considered this idea is because Apple has a keen focus on keeping apps integrated. Promotional materials frequently reference the “seamless integration” of applications. But even then there are flaws, because they are separate applications, after all. Having all the functionalities as one application means they really do all work together as one. This type of application is one place where I could see Safari’s tabbed title bar working. The large tabs would be for the different functionalities, and within, there would be smaller tabs a la Safari 3 for different mail messages, websites, chats, etc. Safari would be the main focus, with iChat in a sidebar. Mail would be largely the same as it is currently, but mailing links and videos, etc would all be right there. A new section would be an RSS reader, replacing the oddly duplicate RSS readers that both Mail and Safari currently sport. All the different “programs” would be built smartly so as to be always on, but never seen if they aren’t needed (and also not wasting resources.)

At first glance, this seems like a rather unnecessary step, but it really does make sense. As computer users, we spend most of our time on the internet. To have email, instant messaging, RSS feeds, etc. all in the scope of one application means that there won’t be the clutter and confusion of switching between a whole bunch of separate applications; it will all be available in the same window. Done right, it could be a great productivity enhancer, and I think Apple would be the company to do it right.

Would this work for you? Why or why not? Sound off in the comments below!