There’s only so much Apple can do with a product. Yes, even Apple has limits. Mac OS X is getting long in the tooth. Just look to the Leopard features list for evidence. While everything is nicely improved in Leopard, there’s no big innovation, no game-changing features.
Mac OS X 10.6 will be the last iteration of OS X if Apple has a good plan. Its crowning feature will likely be resolution independence, but, other than that, there won’t be many new features, just improvements. Apple will be turning their focus to the next generation OS. Just as they made the leap from OS 9 to OS X, there will be another big leap, and it will come sooner rather than later. Now, while I compare it to the OS 9 – OS X leap, it won’t be as huge underneath the hood, but the end user will see a drastic shift.
By now, it’s likely you know I am talking about Multi-Touch. The next generation Mac OS will be multi-touch; there is very little question about it. Under the hood, it will be using many of OS X’s underpinnings, so that developers who spent time making apps for OS X aren’t once again left scrambling to recreate from scratch. On the surface, though, it will be a whole different ballgame. Nothing like OS X as we know it now, and nothing like the iPhone either. It will share characteristics of both, and have characteristsics of its own.
What do you think the next-gen Mac OS will be like?
What do you think it will be called?
Sound off in the comments!
Personally, I feel it will break from the “Mac OS Number” conventions we’ve seen, as the use of the X in Mac OS X seems to denote that it is the pinnacle of the Mac OS naming system. As for the interface, I want to see what you have to say. As of now, I have little idea of what would be practical.
You know that's still a few years away, right? I agree that there will be a change, OS X can't last forever, but if you compare 10.4 and 10.5, I think 10.5 is the biggest visible change since 10.3. 10.4 looks like 10.3 plus spotlight, but 10.2 noticeably lacks some of the features of 10.3. 10.5 is visually impressive, and there are plenty of upgrades under the hood as well.
To me, the integration of the iTunes-style cover flow as a finder interface including 512×512 thumbnails, Quick Look, and multi-touch gestures available on the MacBook Air (and MBP, I believe) indicates that Apple is still investing heavily in OS X.
I predict that OS X will last at least 3 to 4 more years: another 18 months or so for Leopard, if not two years, and then two years for 10.6 Tabby cat or whatever. 10.6 will be Intel-only, but I doubt Apple even has a solid feature list for 10.6 yet. I agree with you on most points, but this isn't nearly as imminent as you suggest. Don't forget how long Tiger lasted, I think Leopard may be the same way.
Sure, 10.5 LOOKS different, but not much else has majorl changed or new features been introed from Tiger.
Steve Jobs has made clear that OS X and the Mac OS in general in on a faster development plan since Leopard.
Its really really hard to speculate that far into the future. There are just so many possibilities. I think that multi touch is the only definite. In terms of UI, I don't think that much can be changed at this point. Upgrades are definite, but the current UI looks pretty darn good but everything can only be upgraded so much until it becomes a bit too extreme.
There is really too much to consider when making a prediction like that this soon. Changes are sure, but I cannot even begin to wrap my head around the possibilities.
Forgot to add this: I think that 10.6 may be less then a year away. I think that we will definitely see a 10.7 as well before the OS X is sent to the grave.
I also think OS X will last awhile. The only thing that'll spark OS XI would be new hardware, and there hasn't been many changes in hardware lately, only improvements (ie, faster).
On that note, if Multi-Touch LCDs get bigger and cheaper, Apple will definately release the new OS. But i think that'll be a fews years away.
I reckon there's loads of room for improvement over and under the OS X hood…
- Flexible metadata support
- Contact/event management – AB becomes the hub for syncing our social networks enabling data portability
- User controllable UI – resolution and system font sizes
- Tabs everywhere
Oh, there's loads more…
http://www.daha.co.uk/daha/Apple_Mac_OS_X_Wish_List
i can definitely foresee a future OS from apple that is a melding of iPhone and OSX: multi-touch-driven, hand-derived feedback, using the full power of the graphic processor on hand to bounce, pinch, glow, move, slide around the OS. click, grab, slide, then pull up an on-screen keyboard when needing to type. it could be hot.
personally i think they already have it running and they are focus group testing it now. it's called the dashboard. i thought for several years now that the dashboard is a secret testing ground for the new OS, and that with very little work apple could put the finder and apps in the dashboard and combine it with the iphone OS for a perfect melding of form in the UI and underlying power.