OS X 10.11.4 hidden framework hints Apple could rebrand it as 'macOS'
Following the naming conventions of iOS, watchOS and tvOS, Apple's Mac operating system could soon return to the name "macOS," if code spotted in the latest release of El Capitan is to be believed.
Digging through the frameworks of OS X 10.11.4, a reference to "macOS" was discovered by developer Guilherme Rambo. The mention was found in a private framework called "FlightUtilities" -- a feature that he says enables tracking flights, but is not currently in use by El Capitan.
Rambo even went as far to create a sample application using the new, untapped framework. He theorizes that both it and the new "macOS" branding could debut as part of the next-generation Mac operating system, widely expected to be introduced at Apple's annual Worldwide Developer Conference in June.
Courtesy of Guilherme Rambo.
The framework can be found in OS X 10.11.4 at "/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/FlightUtilities.framework" and was later independently verified by MacMagazine, which speculated that the next release could be "macOS 11" instead of OS X 10.12.
Of course, a rebranding as "macOS" would be something of a back-to-the-future move for Apple -- its operating system was known for years as Mac OS, even retaining the name as Mac OS X throughout its releases up until recently. Starting in 2012, Apple dropped the name Mac from its operating system branding, simplifying it to OS X.
Such a move wouldn't be unprecedented: In 2010, Apple dropped the word "phone" from iOS because its mobile operating system ran on other non-iPhone devices --?the iPad and iPod touch.
Perhaps even more significantly, in 2007 Apple rebranded itself as "Apple, Inc." and removed the word "Computer" from its name. At the time, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs said traditional computing had become just one part of the company's business, as it was joined by newer product lines like the iPhone and iPod.
Whether it's known as "macOS" or OS X 10.12, Apple's next-generation operating system is rumored to bring Siri, the company's voice-driven personal assistant, to the Mac. Apple is also expected to make big changes to the Photos app for Mac, restoring some absent functionality that was found in its predecessor, iPhoto.
Digging through the frameworks of OS X 10.11.4, a reference to "macOS" was discovered by developer Guilherme Rambo. The mention was found in a private framework called "FlightUtilities" -- a feature that he says enables tracking flights, but is not currently in use by El Capitan.
Rambo even went as far to create a sample application using the new, untapped framework. He theorizes that both it and the new "macOS" branding could debut as part of the next-generation Mac operating system, widely expected to be introduced at Apple's annual Worldwide Developer Conference in June.
Courtesy of Guilherme Rambo.
The framework can be found in OS X 10.11.4 at "/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/FlightUtilities.framework" and was later independently verified by MacMagazine, which speculated that the next release could be "macOS 11" instead of OS X 10.12.
Of course, a rebranding as "macOS" would be something of a back-to-the-future move for Apple -- its operating system was known for years as Mac OS, even retaining the name as Mac OS X throughout its releases up until recently. Starting in 2012, Apple dropped the name Mac from its operating system branding, simplifying it to OS X.
Such a move wouldn't be unprecedented: In 2010, Apple dropped the word "phone" from iOS because its mobile operating system ran on other non-iPhone devices --?the iPad and iPod touch.
Perhaps even more significantly, in 2007 Apple rebranded itself as "Apple, Inc." and removed the word "Computer" from its name. At the time, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs said traditional computing had become just one part of the company's business, as it was joined by newer product lines like the iPhone and iPod.
Whether it's known as "macOS" or OS X 10.12, Apple's next-generation operating system is rumored to bring Siri, the company's voice-driven personal assistant, to the Mac. Apple is also expected to make big changes to the Photos app for Mac, restoring some absent functionality that was found in its predecessor, iPhoto.
Comments
What we have now is starting to echo the confusion that met consumers before Steve Jobs returned in 1997:
Macbook, Macbook Air, Macbook Pro
iMac 21.5" Retina 4k, iMac 27" Retina 5k, Mac Pro, Mac Mini
iPad mini 2, iPad mini 4, iPad Air 2, iPad Pro 9.7", iPad Pro 12.9"
iPhone SE, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus
iPod Touch, iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle
Apple TV, The New Apple TV
Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch Edition
I think the main problem is the iPad and iPhone naming schemes which is confusing for new customers. But the fact that there seems to be no naming convention between product categories makes navigating the various options less than simple - ironic for a company traditionally thought of as consumer friendly.
And it was Mac System 8, then Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9, and Mac OS X for a while. They stopped the Mac part with Mountain Lion, 10.8 in 2012.
People forget, OS X is 16+ years old. Time to drop the X.
Why don't you claim that it will be called Nextstep since that .nib extension of that file means "Nextstep interface bytestream".
OS X APIs (Application Programming Interface) are full of "NS" abbreviations, prefixes etc. yet OS X is called what it is, not Nextstep. That Mac abbreviation in the name of that file just signifies the Intel platform, not a commercial brand and never what OS X will be called. That is beyond divination !... Naming conventions in software engineering have nothing to do with commercial branding...
With the iPhone, the SE is pretty much a 6S in a 5S body so in what way is the 6 better? If you want a bigger screen get the 6S or 6S Plus.
iPads are the most confusing of all. Both the mini 4 and Air 2 start at $399 for 16GB but the mini 4 offers a 128GB storage option; Air 2 does not. Why is that? What makes the Air 2 better than the mini 4? And if you ask someone which iPad Pro is the "best" how do they answer that question? The 12.9" model has 4GB RAM and faster USB 3 support but it's 9.7" sibling has a better display and camera.
Apple needs to make choices more simple. IMO Apple needs to get to a good, better, best lineup and then update those products every year or two or 18 months. Stop with the numbering scheme and stop keeping older models in the lineup just to hit a price point. If Apple can sell the iPhone SE for $399 than surely they could have axed the iPad mini 2 and reduced the price of the mini 4 to $299. Having two different iPad sizes selling for the same price is really odd.
Bottom line is Apple's lineup is not simple and straightforward like it could be. No, they won't be able to go back to Steve's 2x2 grid but things could be much simpler than they are now. But that would require a change in mindset from focusing on price points and margins to having a simple, clean lineup.
That sounds too confusing. I believe Apple is slowly improving iOS until it's comparable to OS X. Don't worry it'll happen.
The iMac has always been just that throughout the years, it wasn't the iMac 1 then 2, then 3 etc.
So lets have just the iPhone. When you go to buy it, the sales rep can ask what screen size/rez and storage. Same for iPad. Same for iMac.
Macbook should then be the same. Make it just a Macbook. then pick the size and processor, ram and storage.
Apple used to be very good at this, and there is no reason for it not to be still simple, no matter how many products.
Bet we see the "iPad Performa" before long !!!
Oh, and how cool is that guy in the story, his name is Rambo !!
If Mac OS X is just changing it's name to something like Mac OS, I understand it from a marketing point of view. I would of course prefer the name change was due to something bigger like an OS re-built perhaps not from the ground up but perhaps foundation up. This is highly unlikely and most likely not necessary.
We must not forget Apple is a company like most that depends of marketing it products and services, naming or products is not taken lightly and must play nice with the larger frame of the brand. Mac OS X 10.11.4 is precise but not something the average person (who is the majority of Apple's customer's) will understand or really care about. A rebranding of the Mac OS may be long overdue.
And what’s wrong with “Apple TV”?
sog35 said: We’ve been over this before.
“Hi, I’d like an iPhone.”
“You want the cheap one or the best one?”
Boom. Employee explains the differences. People, on average, are blithering idiots these days, and that’s accelerating, but they’re still capable of comprehending this sort of thing.
Sounds like you’re underestimating their intelligence.
It really stands for Operating System Ex, not Operating System 10. It's the reason they have OS X 10.x.x instead of OS 10.10.x.x.
MacOS Is dead.