Mac OS X 10.6 Called 'Snow Leopard', All Cocoa?

MacRumors · Jun 4, 2008, 01:46 PM

Arstechnica reports on more details about the next major version of Mac OS X (10.6). According to the news site, the next version of Mac OS X will indeed be an Intel-only release and that it is code named "Snow Leopard".

Ars can also confirm the expected release target of January 2009 as well as a focus on speed and stability:

Quote:

Snow Leopard is currently on track to come out during next January's Macworld, and it will not contain major OS changes. Instead, the release is heavily focused on performance and nailing down speed and stability.

The author points to future mobile devices as the driving force behind this focus on performance and stability. There is also a suggestion that Apple may move Mac OS X 10.6 to "Cocoa-only", but the full meaning of this remains vague:

Quote:

There may be some disagreement here as to what exactly "Cocoa-only" means, so take that into account when thinking about this. For example, Apple may only axe Carbon UI stuff.

Article Link

motulist · Jun 4, 2008, 01:48 PM

Speed and stability are really what's needed. I applaud Apple for focusing on the bread and butter of the OS instead of trying to tack on more flashy features to sell the sizzle.

bbrosemer · Jun 4, 2008, 01:50 PM

The name snow leopard makes sense if the only upgrades are to speed and stability for the OS

Cromulent · Jun 4, 2008, 01:50 PM

Getting rid of Carbon would break a hell of a lot of software including most of Apples software. I'm not sure how much I would trust that rumour even if it is only the UI stuff that is removed. Especially seeing as Core Foundation is technically a Carbon API but is part of the Cocoa frameworks as well.

Sky Blue · Jun 4, 2008, 01:51 PM

Just seems ... weird. They've sold the updates on the new features since 10.2. I can hope for Exchange support, I guess.

iDAG · Jun 4, 2008, 01:51 PM

Okay, if this is going to be an update like 10.1 was to 10.0, does that mean everyone with Leopard will get this for free or will we have to pay another $129 just like with every other major update?

Berzerker · 01:54 PM

It's NOT GOING TO BE Snow Leopard.

Cougar and Lynx are the only two names unused by Apple that they have trademarked. Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard, Lynx, and Cougar. Lynx for 10.6, Cougar for 10.7 or vice versa, then on to OS 11.

For the love of god, stop playing guessing games. It's all common sense.

G4DP · Jun 4, 2008, 01:52 PM

So those of us with new Chips will actually be able to see the benefit.

I wonder if they'll bother with SSE4. support let alone anything else.

bug67 · Jun 4, 2008, 01:52 PM

I guess it really is time to start thinking about retiring the ol' G5

Nutter · Jun 4, 2008, 01:52 PM

Core Foundation is not a Carbon API. Core Foundation underlies both Carbon and Cocoa.

These days, most parts of Carbon that aren't deprecated are UI-related.

ilogic · Jun 4, 2008, 01:52 PM

snow leopards come out in january

speakerwizard · Jun 4, 2008, 01:53 PM

bye bye ms office, bye bye photoshop, not a likely rumor

Tsurisuto · Jun 4, 2008, 01:53 PM

Is it me, or does anyone else think that 10.6 sounds like being an 'interim update' before Apple release OS 11? (Maybe summer 2010).

network23 · Jun 4, 2008, 01:53 PM

A 12-18 month release schedule makes this possible. If it were 2+ years since Leopard, Apple would be pounded by the media and users alike for not providing new features.

I am sure there will be new features, but nothing major so as to insert instability. Most likely enhancements and extensions to existing features.

Azurael · Jun 4, 2008, 01:53 PM

Pretty sure Apple promised they wouldn't be dropping support for PPC in 10.6.

Then again, they also promised they'd never use integrated GPUs... Or drop features from the iPod.

morespce54 · Jun 4, 2008, 01:53 PM

Dargn... forget my posts in the previous tread...
no ppc, stability and security... sheeesh, that's really exciting... not...

tfredvik · Jun 4, 2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbrosemer

The name snow leopard makes sense if the only upgrades are to speed and stability for the OS

But does it make sense to do a speed and stability upgrade only? That sounds like a 10.5.X, not a 10.6! Has a new version of Mac OS (or Windows or a Linux distribution for that matter) ever been released with nothing new to offer? I think both the strange two words cat name and the lack of new features are both very unlikely...

seashellz · Jun 4, 2008, 01:54 PM

"...speed and stability..." Now theres a novel idea...

What ever became of the "imminent release" of 10.4.12?

mogzieee · Jun 4, 2008, 01:54 PM

Get in!!

In time for WWDC? Hope so...

And I thought it was gunna be called Lynx??

decimortis · Jun 4, 2008, 01:54 PM

I kinda like the ring of 10.6 Battle Cat

Half Glass · Jun 4, 2008, 01:54 PM

Geez...that better be the code name only. But it needs to have more features that matter to the average joe than under the hood security and speed features.

Sometimes I wonder why I got so excited about Leopard when I could be running Tiger just fine. A new 10.6 would need something worth buying in it for those who don't make a living on their Macs and need more speed.

--HG

Tom B. · 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berzerker

For the last time!!! It's NOT GOING TO BE Snow Leopard.

Wow, calm down, did you even read what the article said?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

it is code named "Snow Leopard"

It makes sense for it to be Intel only. I hope it will be, so that they can remove all of the PPC code. As for the 'no new features' thing, I don't mind, as long as Leopard has Resolution Independence by then.

Cromulent · Jun 4, 2008, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berzerker

For the love of god, stop playing guessing games. It's all common sense.

It is all a guess until it has been announced.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berzerker

Lynx for 10.6, Cougar for 10.7 or vice versa, then on to OS 11.

Hmm then you go on to make the biggest guess going by saying Apple will release OS XI after 10.7. Pot meet kettle.

abijnk · Jun 4, 2008, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbrosemer

The name snow leopard makes sense if the only upgrades are to speed and stability for the OS

You are right, that would make a lot of sense.

However, that means I can run Snow Leopard on my Macbook Air *cringes*
come one Apple, perhaps a little better naming schemes!

I wonder if the idea that this update could be so specifically pointed helps support the rumors of a new mobile device at all, Arn??

ilflyya · 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berzerker

For the last ********* time!!! It's NOT GOING TO BE Snow Leopard.

Cougar and Lynx are the only two names unused by Apple that they have trademarked. Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard, Lynx, and Cougar. Lynx for 10.6, Cougar for 10.7 or vice versa, then on to OS 11.

For the love of god, stop playing guessing games. It's all common sense.

It will be really funny now if you're wrong. Curb the language

I really like the fact that Mac wants to constantly evolve their OS and products. I've already wasted 8 years of my life with MS and their stagnant OS's, only to upgrade to versions that aren't any more stable. If I'm going to spend my money anyhow, might as well be for something better, not worse, or require huge hardware requirements!

Jun 4, 2008, 01:50 PM	#3
bbrosemer macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2006	The name snow leopard makes sense if the only upgrades are to speed and stability for the OS __________________ Can't we all just get along and where Windows and Mac can coexist, ... O wait we already have, thanks Apple
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:50 PM	#4
Cromulent macrumors 603 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Land of Hope and Glory	Getting rid of Carbon would break a hell of a lot of software including most of Apples software. I'm not sure how much I would trust that rumour even if it is only the UI stuff that is removed. Especially seeing as Core Foundation is technically a Carbon API but is part of the Cocoa frameworks as well. __________________ Neural Advance - Mac OS X, UNIX and Windows Development Last.fm Profile \| Extreme Metal Reviews MP 4x 2.66Ghz Xeons / 6GB RAM / 640GB + 500GB + 750GB + 1TB HDDs / ATI Radeon 4870 / iPad 3
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:51 PM	#6
iDAG macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Athens, Ohio	Okay, if this is going to be an update like 10.1 was to 10.0, does that mean everyone with Leopard will get this for free or will we have to pay another $129 just like with every other major update? __________________ twitter.com/idude
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:51 PM	#7
Berzerker macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2007	It's NOT GOING TO BE Snow Leopard. Cougar and Lynx are the only two names unused by Apple that they have trademarked. Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard, Lynx, and Cougar. Lynx for 10.6, Cougar for 10.7 or vice versa, then on to OS 11. For the love of god, stop playing guessing games. It's all common sense. Last edited by yellow; Jun 4, 2008 at 01:54 PM. Reason: Removed cursing.
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:52 PM	#8
G4DP macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2007	So those of us with new Chips will actually be able to see the benefit. I wonder if they'll bother with SSE4. support let alone anything else. __________________ I wonder if sheep like being milked dry?
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:48 PM	#2
motulist macrumors 68040 Join Date: Dec 2003	Speed and stability are really what's needed. I applaud Apple for focusing on the bread and butter of the OS instead of trying to tack on more flashy features to sell the sizzle.
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:51 PM	#5
Sky Blue macrumors 603 Join Date: Jan 2005	Just seems ... weird. They've sold the updates on the new features since 10.2. I can hope for Exchange support, I guess.
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:52 PM	#9
bug67 macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Eagle River, AK U.S.A.	buy, buy G5 I guess it really is time to start thinking about retiring the ol' G5
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:52 PM	#10
Nutter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London, England	Core Foundation is not a Carbon API. Core Foundation underlies both Carbon and Cocoa. These days, most parts of Carbon that aren't deprecated are UI-related.
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:52 PM	#11
ilogic macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Jersey	snow leopards come out in january
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:53 PM	#12
speakerwizard macrumors 68000 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London	bye bye ms office, bye bye photoshop, not a likely rumor __________________ mac pro octo-core, 10GB, 5.25TB, 8800GT, 30"acd iphone 3G, Macbook pro C2D
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:53 PM	#13
Tsurisuto macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2007	Is it me, or does anyone else think that 10.6 sounds like being an 'interim update' before Apple release OS 11? (Maybe summer 2010).
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:53 PM	#14
network23 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wisconson	A 12-18 month release schedule makes this possible. If it were 2+ years since Leopard, Apple would be pounded by the media and users alike for not providing new features. I am sure there will be new features, but nothing major so as to insert instability. Most likely enhancements and extensions to existing features. __________________ 8500 - Yikes! - "Windtunnel" - mini(Early 2009) Wallstreet - iBook(DualUSB) - MBP CoreDuo - MBP Core2Duo 2.66GHz 15"
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:53 PM	#15
Azurael macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2005	Pretty sure Apple promised they wouldn't be dropping support for PPC in 10.6. Then again, they also promised they'd never use integrated GPUs... Or drop features from the iPod.
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:53 PM	#16
morespce54 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Around the World	Dargn... forget my posts in the previous tread... no ppc, stability and security... sheeesh, that's really exciting... not... __________________ ..:.::.:.:.::..:.: Oh, I get it. It's very clever :.:.::.:.:.::.:..:.::..:.::.:..:.::.:.::.:.::.. DO NOT OPERATE YOUR COMPUTER UNDER THE INFLUENCE!
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:54 PM	#18
seashellz macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2004	"...speed and stability..." Now theres a novel idea... What ever became of the "imminent release" of 10.4.12?
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:54 PM	#19
mogzieee macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Southampton, UK	Get in!! In time for WWDC? Hope so... And I thought it was gunna be called Lynx?? __________________ I have some Apple Products but I won't bore you with the details. I make videos and websites. website, blog, twitter.
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:54 PM	#20
decimortis macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Here	I kinda like the ring of 10.6 Battle Cat __________________ MacBook Air: 1.6GHz/4GB RAM/128GB/Mac OS X 10.8.2 iPhone 4S: Black 64GB iPad 4: Black 16GB WiFi
	0

Jun 4, 2008, 01:54 PM	#21
Half Glass macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2006	Geez...that better be the code name only. But it needs to have more features that matter to the average joe than under the hood security and speed features. Sometimes I wonder why I got so excited about Leopard when I could be running Tiger just fine. A new 10.6 would need something worth buying in it for those who don't make a living on their Macs and need more speed. --HG
	0

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