Will macOS Sonoma Be Released in September This Year?

[ohthehorror]

From a post I made a while ago:
An Unrealistic - but fun - Idea!
There're many comments, in various threads, wishing Apple would slow down, or even stop, adding software features, and focus on tightening-up their software.

Many often cite Snow Leopard as being the heyday for Apple's "it just works" age, and I'm sure there's a similar reference for iOS. As Apple continues to strive to add more and more bells and whistles to their software, more and more bugs and inconsistencies are bound to come up.

As far as I know, this is somewhat inevitable with such a fast development cycle. I've heard people blame Apple's focus on pleasing shareholders first, and consumers second — drive more sales of the newest hardware models through software updates that require new purchases. I'm sure it's more complicated than that, but you're here for a crazy and fun idea, not my ignorant speculation...

The idea...​

Apple announces, in typical cryptic fashion, that the Apple polishing cloths will no longer be available until further notice.

Later, when it comes time for WWCD of that year, the theme is some clever variation on 'the year of polish' or 'our lineup has never been shinier' or something actually good.

The point:​

Apple announces that the polishing cloths were no longer available to the public, as they were needed internally. They needed them so they could spend a full year focused on 'polishing' their existing offerings (not literally, of course - I'm talking software).

They announce the name of the new update to macOS as [clever name], and a video plays with a reel like: (with accompanying iOS and iPadOS versions)

New features: none!
Added functionality: none!
Pretty novelties: none!
...
Bugs fixed: 23,434,543
Consistency improved: 3,567,343 instances
Energy efficiency: up 363%
Crash decrease: 476%
User satisfaction: +254%
etc... (any metrics which can actually measure these improvements)

• They talk about taking everything they already have, but has objectively needed more time to polish and refine, and then re-offering it in an update which re-commits to the principles of quality over quantity, reliability, and "it just works".
• They talk about longer lasting hardware (due to more efficient and optimized software), in order to help with e-waste.
• They talk about staying true to the principles which made them the most valuable company in the world.
• They talk about defining their software in the same way they have done with their hardware: polished and refined to a level unmatched in the industry.

Then, at the end, they show a room full of Apple employees polishing MacBooks, iPhones, watches, and iPads. All getting shinier and shinier...

"The polishing cloths will be available again on [DATE]." <– the release date for the 'new' OS.

Shareholder relations...​

There would need to be a separate, specific, presentation directed at shareholders, so they don't think Apple has gotten lazy and will lose sales.

This would be a long-term gain to offset the downturn in hardware sales, and to get fans to fall in love with their products again. If they pulled this off, then it would, hopefully, pull more and more people into the Apple ecosystem due to it's ease of use, consistency, and reliability — all things which used to be associated with Apple far more frequently.

Not gonna happen!​

I know. I just thought it would be fun to write out and discuss.

Zzzzzzzz….. Yawn….. Zzzzzzz

 

[ohthehorror]

No chance I'm updating until at least the 2nd round of software updates to fix all the bugs.

Great that you felt the need to inform the world of your decision.

 

[dumastudetto]

No chance I'm updating until at least the 2nd round of software updates to fix all the bugs.

This should be a pinned announcement.

 

[antibolo]

Apple desperately needs to stop their absurd yearly release schedule for macOS. We don't need a new version every goddamn year. It introduces way too much breakage for very little benefit to the end user. And it's getting more and more ridiculous every year. macOS is a mature product, it doesn't need that kind of reckless major release frequency!!

 

[AppleFan735]

It would be great it they would drop the releases of all OS's on the same day.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Still grinds my gears that the only iMacs supported by Sonoma are max age of 4 years. Kind of up the creek, if you bought your iMac toward the tail end of 2018 or early 2019. Slap in the face to those customers.

I have the 2018 MBP and it's supported. Only certain models are not supported, based on their hardware specifications.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Will Sonoma be released in September? I must consult the foremost authority on the matter.

My Magic Ball said yes. I hope this is true 🫢

 

[mxrider88]

It’s comforting to know that there will be less testing done before the release.
It shouldn’t be all that hard to add a few wallpapers but I have a slight feeling that Apple software team is able to screw that up too for some reason.
It might be just me a bit too worried though, considering how brilliant macOS has been in the last 13 years. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

 

[DMG35]

Great that you felt the need to inform the world of your decision.

Also great that you were so informed by it that you took the time to comment on it. Thank you so much.

 

[DMG35]

Imagine being on Ventura, waiting for that to happen. It has to be the buggiest version of macOS yet.

And you think the day one release of a new os will be better?? 😂 😂 😂 😂

 

[Corefile]

I'm not sure.

 

[iHorseHead]

Whenever. Yearly macOS releases are not exactly overwhelming these days.

I get what you mean. I remember the times when I used to be super excited about new Mac OS X releases. I was so hyped about Leopard, Snow Leopard and Lion and other releases. I think I'm going to stay with Ventura for awhile and upgrade next year. There's nothing special about Sonoma. I don't feel like upgrading.

 

[Hastings101]

Correct. As long as features in mail, notes, passwords, facetime, messages, etc are linked to the OS, then all of the OSes should be updated simultaneously.

I don't understand why Apple doesn't separate all of the apps from the OS. Like, why can't we update safari, mail, chess, etc. via the store? It seems like it would be easier on them.

 

[sunny5]

Apple's strategy for OS is totally nonsense and I seriously hate it.

They make a whole new OS for every year and yet it will take another 1 year to fix all bugs and issues while adding new features which does NOT done by the release date. It's like being a beta tester for one year.

Do they really have to make a whole new macOS version annually that only a few simple features which doesn't really take a lot of effort to replace the previous system?

 

[TheLunaPark]

no I dont think it will be released this side of September. I have had a few bluetooth connection problems. Where my keyboard, trackpad and mouse (all apple devices) disconnect and reconnect. I also had the issue the other day where I woke the studio up and couldn't use any bluetooth devices! I had to hard wire the trackpad and keyboard just so that I could restart my Mac. The other thing as well as I have noticed is that it takes a while for the keyboard to connect when you first start up and pop your password in for the Mac to boot. I thought all of that had been sorted in Ventura's latest update? Not really good.

Had this problem for ages on my iMac running Venture. Sick of it.

 

[TheLunaPark]

Apple's strategy for OS is totally nonsense and I seriously hate it.

They make a whole new OS for every year and yet it will take another 1 year to fix all bugs and issues while adding new features which does NOT done by the release date. It's like being a beta tester for one year.

Do they really have to make a whole new macOS version annually that only a few simple features which doesn't really take a lot of effort to replace the previous system?

And in the process arbitrarily obsoleting numerous models.

 

[R3k]

There's also the issue that the annual cycle of new major releases typically results in a worse experience for end users. Rather than working on stabilizing a release before moving to the next, they rollout a new release for the sake of rolling out a new release. In the enterprise environment, users are constantly in a state of "just out of beta" for 1/3 of the year, starting to stabilize for 1/3 of the year, pretty stable for 1/3 of the year, and then back to "just out of beta", rinse and repeat. Being "just out of beta" for 1/3 of the year, followed by a full 1 and 2/3s years of starting to stabilize/pretty stable would go a long way to a happier user base in enterprise, and I surmise perhaps even in the consumer realm, if it meant their devices could be considered supported for a longer period of time.

Who, if anyone is using Macs in an enterprise role these days?
And if anyone doing critical business in an IT managed, multi user environment where the Macs are being updated on Apples release schedule, then said IT manager is doing it wrong.

 

[TriBruin]

Who, if anyone is using Macs in an enterprise role these days?
And if anyone doing critical business in an IT managed, multi user environment where the Macs are being updated on Apples release schedule, then said IT manager is doing it wrong.

Many organizations are using Macs in the Enterprise. SAP, IBM, Oracle, Google, and Ford are just some very large organizations that have tens to hundreds of thousands of Macs in their ennvironment. So, yes there are a lot of us who manage Macs in the Enterprise. Many organizations pride themselves on being OS ready on Day 0 (my org is not quite one of them yet.) They have a well defined and planned beta program that consists of rigorous testing and application validation starting with Beta 1.

For the record, even if an organization is not ready, Apple has made it nearly impossible to prevent a user from updating. The most a macOS Admin can do it delay it by a maximum of 90 Days. We are close, but there are several of our key security applications that won't commit to Sonoma support until after the release. That doesn't mean it doesn't work, just that they won't make any official commitment.

So, please continue to tell us how we are "doing it wrong".

 

[DownUnderDan]

I can't wait for the Apple Car. Every 4-5 years, your current model will be abandoned by Apple, and if you want support/service, you will need to buy a new one.

It gets better. If Apple car buyers fall for it, the whole car industry will copy Apple.

 

[ThomasJL]

I'm so tired of this ******** release schedule and even then iOS will be released with a bunch of features missing. Mac OS has been a second class citizen for a long time.

This annual release schedule is highly indicative of Tim Cook's cluelessness. He's clueless that many people value stability and a lack of bugs. He's clueless that personal computer operating systems are much more complex than smartphone operating systems, and thus require much more time between releases of new versions.

Unfortunately, Cook has many apologists (such as the abundance of them on this forum) who think an OS plagued with instability and numerous bugs is OK as long as Apple makes an extremely large amount of money.

 

[diggy33]

Many organizations are using Macs in the Enterprise. SAP, IBM, Oracle, Google, and Ford are just some very large organizations that have tens to hundreds of thousands of Macs in their environment. So, yes there are a lot of us who manage Macs in the Enterprise. Many organizations pride themselves on being OS ready on Day 0 (my org is not quite one of them yet.) They have a well defined and planned beta program that consists of rigorous testing and application validation starting with Beta 1.

For the record, even if an organization is not ready, Apple has made it nearly impossible to prevent a user from updating. The most a macOS Admin can do it delay it by a maximum of 90 Days. We are close, but there are several of our key security applications that won't commit to Sonoma support until after the release. That doesn't mean it doesn't work, just that they won't make any official commitment.

So, please continue to tell us how we are "doing it wrong".

As a Jamf admin, I second this

 

[danbuter]

Whenever. Yearly macOS releases are not exactly overwhelming these days.

I'm pretty sure they break as much stuff as they fix/improve.

 

[Chazak]

Will Sonoma be released in September? I must consult the foremost authority on the matter.

Yes? Can I help you? 🧞‍♀️🔮

 

[bousozoku]

And you think the day one release of a new os will be better?? 😂 😂 😂 😂

I remember one release being so bad that I couldn't wait for the x.x.1 release. There was another situation where the x.x.0 release had 42 security fixes that were never going to be fixed otherwise. Occasionally, there is no good choice.

 

[Shirasaki]

The release schedule allows us to get new features quicker versus waiting 3 years for a feature that probably will be outdated at release. Not sure why folks are complaining about FREE YEARLY OS UPGRADES because they don't get blown away each release? People are become too spoiled and ungrateful!

Textbook definition of frivolously defending a corporation.

There's also the issue that the annual cycle of new major releases typically results in a worse experience for end users. Rather than working on stabilizing a release before moving to the next, they rollout a new release for the sake of rolling out a new release. In the enterprise environment, users are constantly in a state of "just out of beta" for 1/3 of the year, starting to stabilize for 1/3 of the year, pretty stable for 1/3 of the year, and then back to "just out of beta", rinse and repeat. Being "just out of beta" for 1/3 of the year, followed by a full 1 and 2/3s years of starting to stabilize/pretty stable would go a long way to a happier user base in enterprise, and I surmise perhaps even in the consumer realm, if it meant their devices could be considered supported for a longer period of time.

Apple software was and is never designed with enterprise user in mind. Probably never will. Their system being stable as-is thanks to the blessing of a strong kernel And everyone's hard-work back in early days.