Apple (AAPL, Financial) is reportedly planning a significant overhaul of its operating system naming conventions. The company will shift from traditional version numbers to a year-based identification system, set to be unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). This change aims to streamline the software ecosystem by aligning all operating systems like iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS under a unified "year + number" format. For instance, the next-generation system to be released in 2025 will be named iOS 26, instead of iOS 19, mirroring the automotive industry's "model year" approach.
The new naming strategy addresses the current confusion arising from different version numbers across Apple’s product lines. By adopting a year-based system, users can easily identify the generational relationship between devices, and developers can enhance cross-platform compatibility more efficiently. Industry experts note this approach contrasts with Samsung and Microsoft, who also use year-based naming but align with the actual release year. Apple's "future year" naming is innovative and aligns more with the automotive sector's marketing logic.
Alongside the naming revamp, Apple plans to introduce several feature upgrades, including enhanced multi-device integration and AI capabilities. These changes are expected to reshape user perception and mark a strategic shift in Apple's software ecosystem.
