Tech

Apple Operating System Name Changes Expected at WWDC 2016

Brian McNeill
First Posted: Jun 10, 2016 06:10 AM EDT

Apple is expected to announce a lot of things at WWDC 2016 this coming Monday, June 13 and among them include the latest advancements along its software line, including its known operating systems.

That would include Apple’s update line of mobile operating systems which include the watchOS and tvOS along with key announcements tied up to the iOS and OS X.

Of the mix, the iOS and OS X updates are the ones kept under wraps though hints at possible changes to the Mac OS seems to be imminent. Apple will reportedly adapt a name change for its Mac OS, replacing the OS X with either “MacOS or “macOS”.

The change in OS name doesn’t seem that dramatic though it does align itself with the watch OS and tvOS as far as naming schemes are concerned. The mobile operating system has long been known as iOS so the inclusion of the Mac-based OS technically completes the pack.

Such was revealed (or accidentally divulged) in a support document tied up to the previous WWDC announcement a couple of days ago. The new OS name was eventually spotted in the document which detailed the revenue split for subscription based apps.

The slip-up has already been corrected, updating the “macOS” back to the “OS X” which all but confirms that the key name change will be imminent by the time WWDC 2016 kicks off.

The first time that Apple made the slip-up was when the “macOS” was seen on the Apple website. Though it didn’t seem like a big fuss since it merely involved the erroneous showing of the lower cased “macOS”, it may now be a big one considering the key changes that Apple has done on its line of device operating systems.

The iteration could then again be nothing out of the ordinary but weighing it with the majority operating systems that Apple carries, it is obvious that “Mac OS X” will eventually be shelved and taken over by the new “macOS” name.

All that should be straightened out this Monday at WWDC 2016 which starts at 1 p.m. ET. The event can be caught via live stream here.

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