Apple Refers to OS X as 'MacOS' in Environmental Webpage Update

[MacRumors]

With the launch of the Apple Watch and the fourth-generation Apple TV, Apple debuted two new operating systems -- watchOS and tvOS -- both of which share a common naming scheme with iOS, the operating system that runs on iPhones and iPads.

Apple's unified naming system has led to speculation that OS X, the operating system for the Mac, is due for a name change to MacOS, bringing it in line with watchOS, tvOS, and iOS. Apple won't unveil the name of the next-generation Mac operating system until its 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference, but a new update to the company's website suggests MacOS is on the minds of Apple employees and a candidate for the name of the next upgrade.

On a webpage that was updated this morning to share Apple's most recent environmental report, a Frequently Asked Questions section makes a mention of "MacOS." When discussing power consumption of products, MacOS is listed alongside tvOS, iOS, and watchOS.

To model customer use, we measure the power consumed by a product while it is running in a simulated scenario. Daily usage patterns are specific to each product and are a mixture of actual and modeled customer use data. Years of use, which are based on first owners, are assumed to be four years for MacOS and tvOS devices and three years for iOS and watchOS devices.

A mention of "MacOS" was also found buried Library files in OS X 10.11.4 in late March, but the file, "FUFlightViewController_macOS.nib," has been present in the Mac operating system since August of 2015, a month before the public launch of OS X El Capitan.

If Apple does make the switch from "OS X" to "MacOS," it is not clear if the company will stick with naming each iteration after California landmarks, a tradition that started with OS X Mavericks in 2013. Prior to that date, Mac updates were named after large cats, but since then, we've seen OS X Mavericks, OS X Yosemite, and OS X El Capitan. With tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, operating system upgrades follow a number-based naming scheme, with the current versions being tvOS 9.2, watchOS 2.2, and iOS 9.3.1.

Apple is expected to unveil the next version of its Mac operating system, OS X 10.12, at its 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference, which will likely be held from June 13 to June 17. Little is known about OS X 10.12 at this time, but it may be a more significant update than OS X 10.11, introducing Siri support for the Mac for the first time.

Update: Apple has now removed the reference to "MacOS" in its environmental report and replaced it with "OS X".

Article Link: Apple Refers to OS X as 'MacOS' in Environmental Webpage Update

 

[Bbqthis]

For the love of Pete. OS X or macOS. Don't rebrand it as MacOS. It follows zero capitalization standards for the brand.

 

[garylapointe]

If Apple does make the switch from "OS X" to "MacOS," it is not clear if the company will stick with naming each iteration after California landmarks, a tradition that started with OS X Mavericks in 2013. Prior to that date, Mac updates were named after large cats, but since then, we've seen OS X Mavericks, OS X Yosemite, and OS X El Capitan.

Is this a concern for anyone?

Name it after different types of fungi and I'm still using it...

Gary

 

[gpat]

I honestly couldn't care less. It's the same OS and it works the same. Come on.

 

[exodiusprime]

OSX has been around for 15 years, right? While I'm not saying this for the sake of change ("If it ain't broke, don't fix it"), do you guys think Apple will go to OSXI (OS 11) anytime soon, or will we continue 10.12, 10.13, etc.?

 

[AnsonX10]

Sorry, Apple. You got 1 name change, and you've used it. If you're changing it again, I'm calling it 'Mac OS X' again. With that exact spacing and capitalization.

 

[Bubba Satori]

I wonder how many devs it took to pull this off?

 

[\-V-/]

If they're going to go with that naming scheme they might as well change iOS to phoneOS.

I wonder how many devs it took to pull this off?

One of the most annoying quotes of all time. Nobody wanted the Mac Pro to be reinvented into an un-upgradeable trash can. They just wanted it to have the latest specs/features. His commentary on the justification for 16 GB phones is also annoying.

 

[Ferazel]

yes, please just use camelCase like the rest of your OS lines and call it macOS please.

 

[Kissaragi]

iOS will be the odd one out if they do. Will mobileOS be next?

 

[plexdk]

If they stay with the tick tock model, we are in for some changes in this years OS X i think.. Maybe that will come with the rebranding... After all, 15 years is a long time for a system

 

[cmChimera]

Please, no.

 

[Larry-K]

If they're going to go with that naming scheme they might as well change iOS to PhoneOS.

I thought that was a breakfast cereal.

 

[Sirious]

It makes sense for them to unify the names.

Since they were meant to go to 11.0 last year, and didn't, they should rebrand and remove the X - so a yes from me.

Edit: OK guys, I was wrong. Versioning doesn't have to follow maths.

 

[\-V-/]

I thought that was a breakfast cereal.

That sounds like a disgusting cereal.

 

[plexdk]

iOS will be the odd one out if they do. Will mobileOS be next?

Well, it's for iDevices, so iOS fits iPad, iPod, iPhone.

 

[orbital~debris]

Craig Federighi will show a (4K) video about Apple's crack marketing team conducting time travel (to the 80s/90s) for inspiration – instead of the map & photos used to document recent OS X naming processes.

 

[oneMadRssn]

macOS for Macs
watchOS for watches
tvOS for tv settop boxes
iOS for ... eyes?

Yes, I know its for "iDevices", but that is still quite unclear. iOS isn't for iMacs, for example. It's also not for iPod Nanos/Shuffles.

 

[AnsonX10]

Maybe they thought they would stick with version 10 forever, but have changed their minds and are gearing up for a version number change. OS X 11 doesn't look... actually it doesn't look bad, but it makes no sense.

They could always rename iOS to "mobileOS" if they want to remain as uncreative as possible for all their OSes.

 

[plexdk]

Maybe they thought they would stick with version 10 forever, but have changed their minds and are gearing up for a version number change. OS X 11 doesn't look... actually it doesn't look bad, but it makes no sense.

They could always rename iOS to "mobileOS" if they want to remain as uncreative as possible for all their OSes.

Yeah, maybe we'll see macOS 11.0

 

[Sirious]

If they're going to go with that naming scheme they might as well change iOS to phoneOS.

If they do that they'll need to rethink the rest of the iOS line.
iPad: tabletOS / padOS
iPod: musicOS / podOS

 

[kevinkyoo]

Is this a concern for anyone?

Name it after different types of fungi and I'm still using it...

Gary

They can name it "OS xX RIP ST3V3 J0BS xx" for all I care. As long as they take care of the horrendous bugs, like the one where Safari crashes your computer (A problem that has persisted for many iterations of OSX), I'll be satisfied.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Sorry, Apple. You got 1 name change, and you've used it. If you're changing it again, I'm calling it 'Mac OS X' again. With that exact spacing and capitalization.

You're a true hero of our time. Thank you for having the courage to take this stand.

 

[\-V-/]

If they do that they'll need to rethink the rest:
iPad: tabletOS / padOS
iPod: musicOS / podOS

I guess that would be weird. But now that I think about it, the i is fine because i-Pad i-Phone i-Pod ... so I guess that doesn't need to change.

 

[talmy]

It's just going back to having Mac (or mac) in the name, like it was in Mac OS X 10.7 and earlier.

Frankly if they get rid of the "X" it is an improvement because it gets rid of the redundancy. Consider OS X 10.11 the "X" and the "10" refer to the same thing. macOS 10.12 makes a lot of sense to me.