“In fact, it seems highly likely that Apple’s iOS and OS X are bound to merge in some fascinating and (hopefully) useful ways,” Stein writes. “How so? Well, let us brainstorm for you. We can think of at least five. Realistically, there will probably be a period of about 5 to 10 years where iOS and OS X devices will grow closer and closer together, sharing features, until one evolutionary OS/system pops out in the end. My bet’s on ‘OS 11.'”
Five iOS features that could make their way into Macs:
• As a superior quick-start OS
• For touch-screen Macs to come
• A Mac App Store
• Connecting to TVs (Maybe the next Apple TV isn’t a product but a platform to include on all Macs?)
• To go greener/more energy efficient
• Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “MrMcLargeHuge” for the heads up.]
Just for grins, I typed these in to see what would happen:
iosdailynews.com
iosdailynews.net
Touch screen Macs? Uh, no. Touchpads/mice – yes.
The whole touch screen PC thing is just clueless PC makers jumping on the newest bandwagon without fully thinking the problem through.
could be they’re skating to where the puck is gonna be ?
h-mmmmm
MDN MW= “soon” … how DO they do that ?
could be they’re skating to where the puck is gonna be ?
h-mmmmm
MDN MW= “soon” … how DO they do that ?
could be they’re skating to where the puck is gonna be ?
h-mmmmm
MDN MW= “soon” … how DO they do that ?
could be they’re skating to where the puck is gonna be ?
h-mmmmm
MDN MW= “soon” … how DO they do that ?
could be they’re skating to where the puck is gonna be ?
h-mmmmm
MDN MW= “soon” … how DO they do that ?
could be they’re skating to where the puck is gonna be ?
h-mmmmm
MDN MW= “soon” … how DO they do that ?
could be they’re skating to where the puck is gonna be ?
h-mmmmm
MDN MW= “soon” … how DO they do that ?
Yes, but 5 to 10 years is an eternity in this business, especial the way Apple works. More like 5 to 10 months.
Good one, Judge Bork.
The crazy thing is that internally, at Apple, they already have the next ten years mapped out.
I think 10.7 will be the last of the OS X line, and I don’t think they will call it’s successor OS 11. I think they will use the name associated with it alone with no versioning (ex. Snow Leopard – but it won’t be names of cats).
Yeah.. it’s been modded.. but Here is your Touch Screen Mac !
OS X 10.7 will be called Cougar.
My 0.02 cents
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=:~)
@Cubert
Maybe they’ll go with crazy names like Ubuntu does, ie. Hoary Hedgehog or Lucid Lynx. At least they’ll be fun to say, and often use obscure adjectives.
For some features, it’s just weird that the port hasn’t already happened. Where on earth is the App Store for Mac? What are they waiting for to put iBooks on Mac?
As I have said before, Apple has the perfect design for a touchscreen desktop- the old gooseneck iMac. 1 finger, you can move the screen forward and down to within an inch of the desk- perfect for touch. They just need to design a cooler base- hardly a problem.
@Nathan
App Store for Mac is not a good idea, at least as it stands now. Having Apple control who does and doesn’t get to sell software for the Mac is a slippery slope. Now, if Apple were to open an App Store for Mac with no restrictions on submissions, that would be fine and dandy.
Microsoft and the others are skating to where the puck has been.
“For touch-screen Macs to come”
Maybe a 24″ LCD touch screen could swivel between vertical for mouse use and horizontal for touch use or in-between like a drafting table.
I’d like Apple to repurpose the iPhone emulator that is in the iOS SDK as a system-level function in OSX, sort of like Widgets. There are some iApps that would be very useful on my MacBook Pro.
Let me also say that I think all this talk about the “end of the Mac” is just a bunch of FUD. The Mac is a cash cow for Apple – and a growing one at that. Tim Cook will make sure that any future developments are incremental in order to protect that revenue stream. Also, I think Apple has a few more ideas about how OSX could be made even better.
I don’t know, BUT a Multi-Touch iMac (or Desktop monitor) doesn’t make sense for me. Unless the way they designed today. They must be reinvented
A Mac store should have happened long ago.. doesn’t have to be an app on the mac or go through itunes though it probably would be through itunes.. But the idea that I can download any apple software from itunes is great and with the purchase they email you the serial number and user info if needed. Sounds good to me.
I’m awaiting for them to announce the merge of the iphone/touch to work with the new Apple TV which is bound to have some gaming in it.
@ Chas
> OS X 10.7 will be called Cougar.
I don’t think “Cougar” will be used…
Mac OS X 10.7 will be called “Lion.” After that, Mac OS X will take a evolutionary leap forward (in terms of GUI), and perhaps become more “merged” with iOS. And the big cat names will end there, as will the “X” (version 10.x) in Mac OS X. So instead of 5 to 10 years, maybe 3 to 4 years.
On the hand, the GUI introduced with Leopard and carried forward with Snow Leopard is quite good and refined. If Apple wants to stick with it a while longer, then Mac OS X 10.7 will be called “Clouded Leopard,” also appropriated because of greater emphasis on a “clouded” Internet. Then, there will be one final 10.x release called “Lion.”
I always thought Apple was saving “Lion” for the last of the “big cat” releases.