Apple is reportedly going to rename all of its operating systems.

[pm-r]

Here we go again, but maybe this will help narrow any confusion as to the particular features Apple's OS is able to provide for a user.

I wonder if it will change what the ”About This Mac" window will say after a possible update to include the changes.



- Patrick
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[Raz0rEdge]

The renaming just means that you'll know when an OS came out and if iOS, tvOS, macOS, watchOS, iPadOS all come out in one year, they'll all have the same number.

It doesn't indicate what features they specifically support or anything.

I wouldn't call this a huge branding thing.

 

[Rod]

Yes, I only heard about this yesterday, one of our users mentioned iOS 19 was to become iOS 26. News to me.

Apple iOS Year Change​

Apple is reportedly planning to change the numbering system for its operating systems, including iOS, to reflect the year of release instead of the version number. This means the next major release will be iOS 26, not iOS 19, as it will be released in 2026. The change aims to bring consistency and clarity to Apple's branding, aligning all operating systems with the same naming scheme. This new system will apply to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS, with the updates expected to be announced at WWDC 2025 on June 9.

 

[Rod]

I don't suppose it will be retrospective? I frequently have to look up the year of OS releases just to compare to the device. Would have been helpful if they'd done this 10 years ago but, good idea going forward.

 

[toMACsh]

Yes, they should have done this when they changed from Mac OS to macOS.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

I don't suppose it will be retrospective? I frequently have to look up the year of OS releases just to compare to the device. Would have been helpful if they'd done this 10 years ago but, good idea going forward.

No, version changes are generally forward looking changes, not backward.

 

[RadDave]

Hmmm - will Apple after the number change continue to use California place names for their macOS upgrades?

 

[Sawday]

With so many Apple products being made in China I trust someone there will be using the Western Calendar not the Chinese one .

 

[Slydude]

I don't suppose it will be retrospective? I frequently have to look up the year of OS releases just to compare to the device. Would have been helpful if they'd done this 10 years ago but, good idea going forward.

Did you by chance mean retractive instead of retrospective?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Did you by chance mean retractive instead of retrospective?

retroactive you mean.

Hmmm - will Apple after the number change continue to use California place names for their macOS upgrades?

Perhaps, nothing stopping them from going with macOS 25 San Jose and macOS 26 Oakland or just finally stop having to find places and just stuck with the year. That way, it's easier to talk about all the OS' without having to single out any of them.

 

[toMACsh]

Since every new OS version is the worst one ever, they could go with macOS 26 Dumpster Fire, macOS 27 Unnatural Disaster, etc.