Apple seen merging iOS, Mac OS X with custom A6 chip in 2012

OneMoreThing... · Aug 3, 2011

Apple seen merging iOS, Mac OS X with custom A6 chip in 2012

Apple is looking to merge its iOS and Mac OS X operating systems into one unified platform for applications and cloud services as soon as next year starting with the MacBook Air, one Wall Street analyst believes.

Chris H. · Aug 3, 2011

2012 seems too soon to me. Maybe the latter half? Or 2013? Maybe 2014?

MYmacROX · Aug 3, 2011

I have my doubts this will happen anytime soon. I think the OS evolutionary process that merges OS X and iOS is not as near as many speculate. IMO Apple will test the waters with the way things are now in Lion and see how that goes.

Maybe 5 yrs from now??

EvenStranger · Aug 3, 2011

I'm sketchy about this as well... Apple made the jump from the Motorola processors to the IBM PowerPC chips in 97, and then from IBM processors to Intel in 2006. They made a pretty big deal about using the same processors that every other PC maker used. I would be very surprised if Apple pushed their computer line back to a proprietary chipset. Yes I know the iPhone and iPads are using proprietary chips, but I just don't see it for computers, at least not in the near future.

dtravis7 · Aug 3, 2011

If OSX becomes IOS, I am going to have to jump ship. I am not keen on ARM cpu's in my desktop machine either. I know why they are doing this but I better not say.

TattooedMac · Aug 3, 2011

dtravis7 said:
. . . . I know why they are doing this but I better not say.

You can't be doing that to us ;P Especially in a Rumours Thread

Its like taking a kid into a sweets shoppe and telling him you can't have one . . .
Come on Dennis

Cheers

Nethfel · Aug 3, 2011

I have to agree with dtravis7 here, although I don't know why Apple may be doing this. I don't like the idea of ARM processors in devices other then embedded use (ie: iPhone, iPad, iPod, CNC controllers, etc. to me is great as the processors meet the needs well) - but for desktop and laptop use, I just don't like the idea of having ARM chips.

dtravis7 · Aug 3, 2011

If I said what Is on my mind, it would cause a war especially with some users. So I will hold back. Most people will like it in fact, but I am not one of them.

Will just post this url. People want Google Chrome OS on their Macs?

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/ap...275-check-out-new-icloud-web-apps-action.html

Dysfunction · Aug 3, 2011

dtravis7 said:
If OSX becomes IOS, I am going to have to jump ship. I am not keen on ARM cpu's in my desktop machine either. I know why they are doing this but I better not say.

I agree, I'll have to go to Windows.. as much as that pains me. I don't use my machine to simply 'surf' and check email etc. Nor is it a kiosk for online media. Oh, and I'm NOT going to go out and buy a Pro just to actually work.

dtravis7 · Aug 3, 2011

Dysfunction, +Rep for you. It says I have given you too much, so here you go!

TattooedMac · Aug 3, 2011

dtravis7 said:
If I said what Is on my mind, it would cause a war especially with some users. So I will hold back. Most people will like it in fact, but I am not one of them.

Will just post this url. People want Google Chrome OS on their Macs?

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/ap...275-check-out-new-icloud-web-apps-action.html

Enough said mate. Ill check out the URL

Cheers

Dysfunction · Aug 3, 2011

dtravis7 said:
If I said what Is on my mind, it would cause a war especially with some users. So I will hold back. Most people will like it in fact, but I am not one of them.

Will just post this url. People want Google Chrome OS on their Macs?

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/ap...275-check-out-new-icloud-web-apps-action.html

So I've taken a look at this video, I'm unimpressed. Other than the iWork implementation, it's identical to the current mobileme offering. I'm really unsure how we get the 'Apple has stepped up from the mobileme ...' (paraphrased). It's pretty much identical from the screen capture. Seriously. That being said, there is value in a unified email/calendar/contacts, I'm not sure I see any value outside that at this point. I'm going to seriously doubt I'll want to run photoshop/indesign/illustrator etc from the cloud.

Oh and I'm generally pro-cloud

dan_f14 · Aug 4, 2011

I suppose you could say it is better because the MobileMe applications are now free under iCloud. Hopefully the syncing will be improved as I have had a few instances of iCal not syncing 100% under MobileMe.

cwa107 · Aug 4, 2011

Before anyone gets too bent out of shape, keep in mind where it's coming from.... an industry analyst. These prognosticators have no more valid of an opinion than you and I. They're not journalists, nor do they have access to any insider information (at least not from Apple).

x86 is scaling down and ARM is scaling up. I'm certain that at some point in the future, ARM will start making its way into an Apple-branded laptop form factor, but it won't be anytime soon.... certainly not in 2012.

Lifeisabeach · Aug 4, 2011

cwa107 said:
Before anyone gets too bent out of shape, keep in mind where it's coming from.... an industry analyst. These prognosticators have no more valid of an opinion than you and I. They're not journalists, nor do they have access to any insider information (at least not from Apple).

Agreed. This guy is speculating and using circular logic that has nothing to do with any insider information. If you read the article, he sounds like a gypsy fortune teller. Apple just released Lion and expunged all non-Intel code out of it. They aren't going to come back in a year and say "OK. We're putting ARM code in it now." There is WAAAAAY too much value in having Intel systems available as a carrot for people considering the switch.

dtravis7 · Aug 4, 2011

I have heard there is some ARM code in OSX. Time will tell but like CWA said it won't be this soon. It's going to take a while for the ARM CPU to be ready also.

schweb · Aug 4, 2011

Also don't assume a merger of OSX and iOS necessarily means it will look or behave exactly as iOS does today. They are already getting closer together, it wouldn't take that much of a leap to throw them into one official codebase with different behaviors/capabilities based on form factors.

Much like most rumors and people's reactions, let's not overreact to something that is complete conjecture and based on very little fact.