Mac OS X 10.6 to Debut at WWDC 2008?

[MacRumors]

TUAW reports that they have heard that Apple will be seeding developers with an early build of Mac OS X 10.6 at this year's WWDC. This news comes in the midst of reports that Apple is preparing for 10.5.4 -- an ongoing maintenance release of Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard).

TUAW also believes that Mac OS X will quickly ship in January 2009, only 15 months after Leopard's initial release in October 2007. TUAW also believes that Mac OS X 10.6 will ship in January 2009, about 15 months after Leopard's initial release in October 2007. This actually corresponds to Steve Job's comments to the New York Times regarding major Mac OS X releases:

"I’m quite pleased with the pace of new operating systems every 12 to 18 months for the foreseeable future,” he said. “We’ve put out major releases on the average of one a year, and it’s given us the ability to polish and polish and improve and improve.”

The blog also revives rumors that Mac OS X 10.6 will drop PowerPC support and become Intel-only.

While we can't vouch for the timeframe, MacRumors has also heard that Mac OS X 10.6 would be making a debut at WWDC. We were uncertain, however, how public a release it would be: whether it would be seeded to a limited number of developers or if it would be a more central focus in Jobs' keynote address. According to the report, however, Apple will not be introducing any new significant features in 10.6, instead focusing on "stability and security."

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[richthomas]

i dont know about releasing developer seeds but im thinking that Apple MAY, at the most, show features… way too early to release seeds.

(woohoo! my first page 1 first post!)

[benlee]

Originally Posted by richthomas

i dont know about releasing developer seeds but im thinking that Apple MAY, at the most, show features… way too early to release seeds.

(woohoo! my first page 1 first post!)

The first post and probably going to be the most reasonable. This Keynote address is going to be mostly iPhone related. But I do think there will be discussion of 10.6, I doubt they are going to release a paid version that is mostly security and stability. Thats what the free updates are for. Apple knows how to sell things and this scheme just doesn't seem like Apple.

I like TUAW, but sometimes I think they throw out crazy stories like this without any backing.

10.6 Feature that will be announced: Time Machine 2: Back to the Future.
Now you can go forward in time with your documents. Freeing up much needed time to download itunes movies and music and touch applications.

[joeshell383]

Originally Posted by benlee

The first post and probably going to be the most reasonable. This Keynote address is going to be mostly iPhone related. But I do think there will be discussion of 10.6, I doubt they are going to release a paid version that is mostly security and stability. Thats what the free updates are for. Apple knows how to sell things and this scheme just doesn't seem like Apple.

I like TUAW, but sometimes I think they throw out crazy stories like this without any backing.

10.6 Feature that will be announced: Time Machine 2: Back to the Future.
Now you can go forward in time with your documents. Freeing up much needed time to download itunes movies and music and touch applications.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_os_x_puma

[damacus]

Originally Posted by benlee

I doubt they are going to release a paid version that is mostly security and stability. Thats what the free updates are for.

On the dot. Like others have said, they REALLY need to polish Leopard to a shine. I've personally not had many problems with it, especially after 10.5.2, but in Open Directory environments, there's still a good deal left to be done before we even contemplate another version.

Also, a lot of people have only recently upgraded to Leopard. As far as institutions, most are also now getting around to rolling out Leopard. Throwing another release at them possibly 6 - 12 months from now is just going to make techs cry.

By this point the API has got to be more stable such that more can be maintained in a single major release without bumping to a new cat.

Please, Apple, 2 year cycles minimum.

[chicagdan]

Originally Posted by benlee

I doubt they are going to release a paid version that is mostly security and stability.

If they were to do such a thing, it would be a horrible statement about Leopard ... okay, sorry folks, we didn't get it right the first time. Please pay us another $120 to get the secure, stable version ... and oh by the way, you PPC owners can go to hell.

[chadder007]

Originally Posted by chicagdan

If they were to do such a thing, it would be a horrible statement about Leopard ... okay, sorry folks, we didn't get it right the first time. Please pay us another $120 to get the secure, stable version ... and oh by the way, you PPC owners can go to hell.

Agreed, that will piss me off to no end if they do that.

[pbkiller]

That site about PPC chips going to almost 5 Ghz its impressive, but in think Apple left the "Muscle Car Chips" for the new "Hybrid with most miles per gallon chips". They want Longer battery times, performance per watt, energy saver, smaller setups. They cant do that with PPC, at least not for the past couple of years.

[i.mac]

Originally Posted by chadder007

Agreed, that will piss me off to no end if they do that.

why? You always have the choice of not updating! get over it.

cannot understand folks that get upset about new updates on software and/or hardware. statements like this always remind me to ask: why not build bridges (visit Salamanca) and aqueducts (visit Segovia) the way Romans did thousands of years ago?

[ert3]

Originally Posted by richthomas

i dont know about releasing developer seeds but im thinking that Apple MAY, at the most, show features… way too early to release seeds.

(woohoo! my first page 1 first post!)

They once deleted me for that and I agree.

This seems a bit to convient to be true.

Also it seems a bit out of place that the new version of OSX lack features entirely new and is just some sort of patch.

like 10.6 Lynx.

Well we added linux libs now so guess what you can actually run more linux specific apps like compiz fusion or something

[PeteyKohut]

NO WAY. This is so far out there....nope. Sorry.

[aLoC]

If they indeed make it Intel-only and 64-bit only then that should reduce the size and speed it up quite a bit.

(It would speed it up because the kernel can be recompiled to use the extra registers of Intel's 64-bit architecture)

[Stridder44]

Originally Posted by aLoC

If they indeed make it Intel-only and 64-bit only then that should reduce the size and speed it up quite a bit.

(It would speed it up because the kernel can be recompiled to use the extra registers of Intel's 64-bit architecture)

That would be freaking amazing! 64-bit all the way!

Originally Posted by socamx

Bull, all G5s and many later G4s are still quite capable machines. My Dual 1.8 is far from 'outdated' and is still a good performer in Leopard.

Dropping all PPC support would be just plain dumb. I'm not made of money and can't afford to buy a Intel desktop Mac and my needs both professionally and recreationally require a Mac Pro. iMac isn't an option for me.

My G5 as well as others are still perfectly fine at running OS X, especially the higher end ones with high end video cards.

You ≠ everyone.

[Kwill]

Originally Posted by PeteyKohut

NO WAY. This is so far out there....nope. Sorry.

I heard that. Though I don't encourage bloatware, Apple has already nurtured a self-imposed 300-new-features standard to justify the value of upgrades. A release focussing purely on security and stability is a free update.

[diamond.g]

Originally Posted by Dmac77

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post...at-4-7ghz.html

Ah, okay. Well POWER 6 is not OOE. Wiki claims that IBM claims that not being OOE isn't a problem, but code will have to be rewritten to take advantage of in order execution. At that point Apple could look at Cell instead...

[ziggyonice]

It's time for the king!
10.6 LION, baby!

[Luis]

10.6 Liger of course

[teleromeo]

what's the hurry, I still haven't upgraded to leopard yet.

[a456]

Originally Posted by teleromeo

what's the hurry, I still haven't upgraded to leopard yet.

Snap. I skipped 10.3 because there wasn't enough to justify the upgrade. Now I'm on 10.4 and feel the same about 10.5. Quick view would be nice but not essential, so I think I'll wait.

[ckurowic]

Originally Posted by a456

Snap. I skipped 10.3 because there wasn't enough to justify the upgrade. Now I'm on 10.4 and feel the same about 10.5. Quick view would be nice but not essential, so I think I'll wait.

Theres more to 10.5 than just quicklook. I can't stand using 10.4 now that I'm on 10.5

[heisetax]

Originally Posted by teleromeo

what's the hurry, I still haven't upgraded to leopard yet.

Save your money & don't upgrade.

Bill the TaxMan

[DiamondMac]

Originally Posted by heisetax

Save your money & don't upgrade.

Bill the TaxMan

Agreed. I have Leopard and enjoy it very much but those still at Tiger are not missing that much, imo

[coolant113]

i wish they would come out with a new OS.. like 11.xx.... i mean i love apple and everything they do i just think its time to revamp the whole thing.... Isnt it way to early for a new OS?? whatever i know apple will do it right.. looking forward to it!!

[Rychy]

Maybe a few hints at what's to come, but I can't see anything more... I won't complain about a new OS though.

[JRomero]

I think it's too early for a new OS. I can see Steve making a general announcement about 10.6 and dropping a few details and hints, but as far as announcing a whole new operating system, I would say MWSF '09 at the earliest.