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RUMOR: Apple to debut Mac OS X 10.6 (which drops PowerPC support) at WWDC ‘08

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 · 9:40 am · 70 Comments

“TUAW has received some information that suggests Apple may be working to seed developers with an early build of Mac OS X 10.6 at this year’s WWDC. 10.6 will not include any new significant features from 10.5; instead, Apple is focusing solely on ‘stability and security,’” Cory Bohon reports for TUAW.

“We have also learned that OS X 10.6 may go gold master by December 2008 in an effort to start shipping it in January ’09 at Macworld Expo,” Bohon reports. “Mac OS X 10.6 will be a milestone release for Apple, as it will leave the PowerPC behind: a fully 64-bit clean, Intel-only Mac OS X.”

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Comment Feed

70 Comments

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Gabriel

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 9:46 am · Reply

I’m not so sure about the whole dropping-PowerPC thing – seems a bit early for that, as a significant percentage of existing Macs currently in use (possibly even the majority?) are PowerPC. I was thinking that OS X 10.7 would make more sense for leaving PowerPC behind. I guess we’ll see how accurate this rumor is next week.
ragarcia

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 9:47 am · Reply

C’mon, at least five or six new features are going to be needed if they are going to do a major upgrade on the number.

Otherwise, they might as well just call it 10.5.6 or 10.5.7…whatever they are up to when they release it.
wayne thompson

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 9:52 am · Reply

Without new feature most people will not pay for the jump.
Maginary

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 9:53 am · Reply

I’m not buying this rumor, at least not the part about making a 10.5 version a 10.6 release for Intel only. No way, not a chance. Besides, M$ has turned up the heat with the announcement (even if, and odds are good, it’s vaporware) of Windows 7.

There must be mention of 10.6 at this conference. As I’ve stated here before, it’s out of character that 10.5 has been in the wild this long without some word on the next big thing…something’s brewing, and it ain’t just a recompile.
Yours Smugly

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 9:53 am · Reply

Already in early 2009? No way. Or maybe Apple would give it as a free update then.
MaLvado

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 9:54 am · Reply

Retire any PowerPC system.

It will be 4 years by the time 2009 comes around that Intel is the roadmap.

or ignore 10.5.6 since you can’t install it anyways.
Touch

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 10:01 am · Reply

It will be the same Leopard system but with a new multi-touch interface for the itablet.
ipodG8TR

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 10:02 am · Reply

“I’m quite pleased with the pace of new operating systems every 12 to 18 months for the foreseeable future,” Jobs 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.”
– Steve Jobs commenting on the release of Mac OS X Leopard in October 2007

Could this be Apple’s response to Microsoft’s recent demos of Windows 7 which is expected as early as late 2009? Interestingly enough, Windows 7 sports a suedo dock and includes multi-touch even though that term is copyrighted by Apple.

So despite the backlash Apple will get from users who run legacy systems, the company has an obligation to maintain its lead over MS. Even if 10.6 doesn’t make it’s debut next week, it is safe to assume that it is well underway in Apple’s labs.
M@c

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 10:05 am · Reply

Seems too soon to drop PPC support. G5′s are still viable, quick chips. Hell, my G4 Powerbook still runs Leopard well.

Too soon. I’m thinking by 2010, the PPC will be dropped. That’s more realistic because MANY Mac users are still PPC people.
ipodG8TR

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 10:06 am · Reply

Intel Macs now outnumber PowerPC Macs in use by a wide margin, so I won’t shed a tear when Apple drops support. Most power users upgrade every 3-4 years anyway. If you are running a legacy OS, there is nothing wrong with using Leopard as your OS. Most legacy users don’t spend the money on software or hardware upgrades anyway.
CandTsmac

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 10:06 am · Reply

It’s too early to dump PowerPC. The late 2005 dual core’s still have great life in them, especially when using RAID storage.

This would be accelerating the pace of innovation too far. Eventualy people will resent it. Too much too fast, making all purchases great and small feel like a total letdown in hindsight.

Well you know what I mean.
Jay-Z

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 10:12 am · Reply

I don’t see this happening at all. If anything, recently OS X releases are now 18-24 months apart, which I think is a good timeframe. Also, no way they would ever release a major system update without new features. Makes no sense whatsoever.

I would, however, like to see them bring multi-touch to the Mac, ideally through a mouse with a touch surface.
Turbine

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 10:13 am · Reply

At least this is something to talk about for the rest of the week OTHER than the 3G iPhone.

Frankly, I find possible laptop changes or a tablet or new displays to be more exciting than an upgraded phone.
bioness

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 10:14 am · Reply

Sounds like a great idea…

Just watch the flock from Vista return to XP, and you can already see that making the 10.6 move on stability and security as one that will win customers
obtusegoose

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 10:14 am · Reply

I guess I won’t be upgrading to 10.6. I’ve got a dual-processor G5, and I have no plans on getting a new Mac. Leopard runs quite well on it, thank you.
Blue Dream

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 10:16 am · Reply

Increase in stability and security?? Then do it in 10.5.4. Milestone without features? I don’t think so. There are some really bored analysts out there today. iPhone Japan announcement should have boosted AAPL, but it is not interesting enough. People today lack wisdom, hands down.
Maddog

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 10:17 am · Reply

Wait…I’m expected to pay for no new features, just better security and stability, and dropped support of my PowerPC machines…? What company are we talking about again???
Goople

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 10:18 am · Reply

there’s no way they would drop PowerPC support. that’s bogus
HolyMackerel

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 10:19 am · Reply

This must be frustrating MS no end since they need new ideas to innovate. And they don’t want to risk adding features that Apple doesn’t endorse yet MS will have to keep supporting in their legacy code for years to come.

Of course Apple have new features, but we wont get a whiff of them until January 09.
Rob

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 10:21 am · Reply

They will not drop PPC, but they will keep developing it secretly just in case, just like they did with Intel.
You never know what processors will be in use 5 years from now.