Apple's secret iOS code names inspired by ski resorts
Though iOS code names are not advertised by Apple, the company still internally uses a series of secret names for each new build of its mobile operating system.
Unlike with new builds of Mac OS X, where Apple makes the software's code name part of its branding, the company sticks with a numeric approach for new iOS builds. But internally, the company has used a series of ski resorts across North America to identify each version of iOS.
The full list of iOS names was recently publicized by TiPb after developer Steve Troughton-Smith brought attention to the code names on Twitter. They begin with the first version of iOS in 2007, when version 1.0 was known as "Alpine," in reference to California's Alpine Meadows.
iOS 2.0 is internally known as "Big Bear," recalling Big Bear Lake, Calif. Another California resort, Kirkwood Mountain, also inspired the codename for iOS 3.0.
The iPad-only iOS 3.2 release came to the east coast to find a resort to inspire its "Wildcat" name, referencing a mountain in New Hampshire. And Apple went across the border, to British Columbia, Canada, for iOS 4.0 "Apex," named for the Apex Mountain Resort.
The latest major release of iOS, version 5.0, carries the codename "Telluride," taken from a ski resort in Colorado. Even Apple's next operating system release, iOS 5.1, has a codename: "Hoodoo." The secret title for iOS 5.1, currently in beta, is inspired by an Oregon ski resort.
Version 1.0 of iOS was given the code name "Alpine."
The full list of iOS code names so far is:
1.0: Alpine
1.1: Little Bear
2.0: Big Bear
2.1: Sugarbowl
2.2: Timberline
3.0: Kirkwood
3.1: Northstar
3.2: Wildcat
4.0: Apex
4.1: Baker
4.2: Jasper
4.3: Durango
5.0: Telluride
5.1: Hoodoo
Code names were originally used only internally for builds of Mac OS X 10.0 and up, with the first version known as "Cheetah." Eventually the cat-themed code names became part of the product branding, including this year's release of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.
Apple's main competition in the mobile operating system space, Google's Android platform, is also publicly promoted with its code names. New Android builds, including version 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and 3.0 Honeycomb, are named after desserts by Google.
Unlike with new builds of Mac OS X, where Apple makes the software's code name part of its branding, the company sticks with a numeric approach for new iOS builds. But internally, the company has used a series of ski resorts across North America to identify each version of iOS.
The full list of iOS names was recently publicized by TiPb after developer Steve Troughton-Smith brought attention to the code names on Twitter. They begin with the first version of iOS in 2007, when version 1.0 was known as "Alpine," in reference to California's Alpine Meadows.
iOS 2.0 is internally known as "Big Bear," recalling Big Bear Lake, Calif. Another California resort, Kirkwood Mountain, also inspired the codename for iOS 3.0.
The iPad-only iOS 3.2 release came to the east coast to find a resort to inspire its "Wildcat" name, referencing a mountain in New Hampshire. And Apple went across the border, to British Columbia, Canada, for iOS 4.0 "Apex," named for the Apex Mountain Resort.
The latest major release of iOS, version 5.0, carries the codename "Telluride," taken from a ski resort in Colorado. Even Apple's next operating system release, iOS 5.1, has a codename: "Hoodoo." The secret title for iOS 5.1, currently in beta, is inspired by an Oregon ski resort.
Version 1.0 of iOS was given the code name "Alpine."
The full list of iOS code names so far is:
1.0: Alpine
1.1: Little Bear
2.0: Big Bear
2.1: Sugarbowl
2.2: Timberline
3.0: Kirkwood
3.1: Northstar
3.2: Wildcat
4.0: Apex
4.1: Baker
4.2: Jasper
4.3: Durango
5.0: Telluride
5.1: Hoodoo
Code names were originally used only internally for builds of Mac OS X 10.0 and up, with the first version known as "Cheetah." Eventually the cat-themed code names became part of the product branding, including this year's release of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.
Apple's main competition in the mobile operating system space, Google's Android platform, is also publicly promoted with its code names. New Android builds, including version 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and 3.0 Honeycomb, are named after desserts by Google.
Comments
To think that a company such as Apple would have to resort to such a naming scheme.
*twitch* *twitch*
Suicide Six in VT isn't there .... Lol
Perhaps they're saving it for iOS 6.0!
Sadly, these are hardly secret. Anyone who's followed the jailbreak scene for any amount of time would know this. The entire list has been on theiphonewiki.com for quite some time. As a matter of fact, "alpine" is the default root password.
Yeah, I don't get why this is a story when the info has been known the entire time. Even Wikipedia has had them on their List of Apple Codenames page for 3 years: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...ldid=258167893
How about just making iOS work?
Are you saying that Apple should spend less time thinking of silly sooper sekret code names, and more time getting rid of the battery bug in the i4S?
To think that a company such as Apple would have to resort to such a naming scheme.
Alpine for some more cool ski resort names!
How about just making iOS work?
How about not trolling?
How about not trolling?
I haven't the foggiest idea what that poster meant.
I got Durango installed, and it's working great, except for occassionally losing wifi during FaceTime connections and the iPod app once being stuck in shuffle mode until I did a reboot. Otherwise, iOS is pretty stable compared to say, sugary snack OSes that need frequent reboots.
Everybody on the planet names projects with code names...everybody.
What about dessert chefs? You think they codename their desserts after famous scifi androids?
Look at the list of codenames: impeccable. They're way better than everyone else's codenames. Pure genius at work.
Windows XP - Whistler
Windows Vista - Longhorn (a bar at Whistler-Blackcomb)
Windows 7 - Blackcomb
Seems like Cupertino have been starting their photocopiers.
I haven't the foggiest idea what that poster meant.
I got Durango installed, and it's working great, except for occassionally losing wifi during FaceTime connections and the iPod app once being stuck in shuffle mode until I did a reboot. Otherwise, iOS is pretty stable compared to say, sugary snack OSes that need frequent reboots.
Did you run out of battery before posting?