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Following on from my WWDC 2008 Predictions Part One - iPhone, lets look at the Mac OS - OSX.

OSX 10.6 Announced - 70%

Apple has updated OSX 10 on a regular basis since it was released. A fact they were pretty proud of - comparing 5 updates to OSX since the release of Windows XP. Give or take, it’s been about every 18 months between major updates.

Its now 8 months since the release of OSX 10.5 Leopard in October 2007.

Given they seem to like about 6 months of testing and build up for most releases - the time is kinda NOW to at least announce it. If not at the WWDC - then when? MacWorld 09 in another 6-7 months?

With the focus definitely on 3G iPhones and other possible announcements, 10.6 might be buried this week. But the timing shouldn’t be seen as “early” if they do. Perhaps 10.6 will have even more integration with the iPhone and other lifestyle / business options.

OSX 10.6 - No New Features? 0%

Would find it very hard to believe that OSX 10.6 would just be a “stability” upgrade. Sounds too much like a Service Pack 1 to me. Very Microsoft-ish.

It might not have the “300+ New Features” that 10.5 Leopard had, but it won’t be a glorified Point upgrade either.

OSX 10.6 Intel Macs Only - 65%

Apple have been switching to Intel based chips for over 2 years now. Sooner or later they will leave behind the old Power PC architecture. I’m not sure how long OS9 lasted once OSX was released - but it was 2-3 years.

If they DID support Power PC chips in 10.6, that would mean by the time it was released, and the life of the OS, they are likely to be supporting machines that are 5-6 years old at the end of it.

It seems a bit early - but long term I think its a great idea. Leopard is a great OSX to leave for older machines, but going forward I think intel only is the way to go.

Many programs are already specifying intel only machines.

10.6 Name - Snow Leopard - 90%

It’s as good as any.

Tags: Apple, OSX, Predictions, WWDC //