Just got word back from Apple HQ, and it's official: Mountain Lion is the first release of OS X to not use the "Mac" designation.
Ultimately that doesn't mean a whole lot -- iOS is still what's powering Apple's portable devices (and the Apple TV), and OS X is still Apple's one and only desktop OS. In other words, it's not like dropping the "Mac" from OS X is any indication of some bifurcation on the desktop (or an impending licensing deal to 3rd parties) that would necessitate a name change. I think it's just a snappier name -- that's just my impression, anyway.
But to be clear, the days of the "Mac OS" are officially over. Discuss!
Discussion about
It's official: as of Mountain Lion, the "Mac" in the OS X name is no more.
I'm going to call it "Cougar", because you can make all sorts of puns out of that. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cougar
Good. Otherwise I'd have reason to keep waiting for Mac OS XI. And then Mac OS XII.
I think the only significance is Apple finally realizing that always calling it "Mac OS X" is a bit of a mouthful. Everybody already just says "OS X" (oh, es, ten) and a few people even weirdly say "O-S-X" (oh, es, ex), but I don't know anybody who bothers to say "Mac OS X" in normal conversation. It think it's just making it official.
Well...good point, that does sound stupid. But not worse than "oh es ex ten point eight." Both are dumb.
But in practice I think the "X" and "10" get merged into "oh es ten point eight." Technically incorrect reading? Yes. Better than alternatives? Yes. I think the real official naming convention change needs to be this: when referring to a particular version of OS X, it should be written OS 10.8.
But in practice I think the "X" and "10" get merged into "oh es ten point eight." Technically incorrect reading? Yes. Better than alternatives? Yes. I think the real official naming convention change needs to be this: when referring to a particular version of OS X, it should be written OS 10.8.
As a New Mac user ( 1st Mac) I don't see how it could really confuse people. @beau has it right, they must just be formalizing and making it a little simple. I would like to at least see some screen shots and examples of the difference between Lion and Mountain Lion before I make a judgement.
So I have to assume that the day will arrive before long where:
1. Macbooks have a touch screen that delivers an iOS/Ipad like experience when interacting with it.
2. Macbooks eventually have a detachable screen that is similar to an iPad. (or iPad's have an attachable keyboard that is similar to a macbook).
Might you see these incremental alignments towards that eventual goal? e.g. Lion is more iOS like to prepare for the seemless transition between Mac and iOS experiences as I dock/undock...
1. Macbooks have a touch screen that delivers an iOS/Ipad like experience when interacting with it.
2. Macbooks eventually have a detachable screen that is similar to an iPad. (or iPad's have an attachable keyboard that is similar to a macbook).
Might you see these incremental alignments towards that eventual goal? e.g. Lion is more iOS like to prepare for the seemless transition between Mac and iOS experiences as I dock/undock...
The Alignment Continues
Apple was pretty clear quite some time ago that it believes that the world will not revolve around the desktop or laptop computer any more and is just another device. So, this is just another step to continue to bring alignment across its devices. For example, I have read that iCal will be renamed to Calendar just like on an iOS device.
Apple was pretty clear quite some time ago that it believes that the world will not revolve around the desktop or laptop computer any more and is just another device. So, this is just another step to continue to bring alignment across its devices. For example, I have read that iCal will be renamed to Calendar just like on an iOS device.
There are rumors of Apple making a TV. Maybe this is a way to put OS X on that device without any confusion between it and the desktop product.
It will take a while to get familiar without "Mac", I will miss it!
Similarly, it seems that Apple's been gradually removing the "i" branding from their products ever since the introduction of the MacBook and Mac Pro line. In Mountain Lion, iChat becomes Messages, and iCal becomes Calendar. Also relatively recently, the "iPod" app was removed from the iPhone, being replaced with separate apps for music, video, and so forth. the tv never had an "i" after being officially named, which also raises questions about the naming of a possible upcoming Apple-branded television. Lots of recent services from Apple have done without the "i", except, quite noticeably, iCloud. It's an interesting phenomenon that makes one wonder what Apple's goal in this rebranding is. Are they trying to eventually move all products out of the "i" monicker? Or are they dividing naming conventions between hardware and software, or professional vs. consumer products?
If you go by Apple's original intension of using the "i" prefix to mean "internet" or "internet enabled" then iCloud makes sense ("internet cloud"). Still, I have felt that the "iBlank" has been passée for several years now. Even saying iPhone, and especially iPad, feels weird.
Yeah, I'm gonna second levifig -- it seems pretty clear that since they're not even really talking about the actual version numbers anymore and everything is just a big cat name now, they'll be able to keep iterating on that for the foreseeable future. It may be 10.10 or 10.11 or 10.20, but to us it'll just be Ocelot and Bobcat and (hopefully) Liger.
