Apple's Software Naming Shakeup: What's Cooking for WWDC 2023 and Beyond
Rumors swirl around possible shift in iPhone sequence, suggesting forthcoming model may be iPhone 26 instead of iPhone 17. Here's the latest intel.
Get ready for a change at Apple's annual developer extravaganza, WWDC, stirring things up on June 9. With a twist in the air, industry insider Mark Gurman has spilled the beans on a possible revamp in Apple's software naming scheme [1].
Could this be the year Apple says farewell to the iPhone 17, instead jumping straight to the iPhone 26? Gurman hints otherwise [2], suggesting that while the software naming structure might undergo an overhaul, the iPhone numbering system is likely to keep chugging along for now.
Here's a lowdown on the latest gossip pouring from the Apple camp.
Changing the Game with Calendar-Based Names
So long, iOS 18, macOS 15! Mark Gurman, the industry's beloved Mouthpiece, reckons that Apple might abandon the sequential version numbers. Instead, the tech titan might name its software updates based on the upcoming year [1].
For instance, the 2023 updates could don the badges iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26. This calendar-based nomenclature intends to establish consistency across Apple devices, making it less confusing for users and developers to differentiate between platform updates [1].
This change takes a cue from Samsung and Microsoft, both of whom have been using year-based naming for their software for quite some time now [4].
Beyond the Name Game
Apart from the renaming rollercoaster, Apple has its hands full with a veritable cocophony of new features [1]. The iPad might get a face-lift, mimicking the Mac interface to nail those work tasks with finesse.
Developers may soon get the keys to Apple's AI kingdom, enabling them to whip up smarter apps for us all. Rumor has it that AirPods might soon whisper foreign tongues, thanks to live translation.
Other tasty tidbits include eye-scrolling on Vision Pro headsets, a luscious Arabic-English keyboard for the iPhone, a digital calligraphy tool for the Apple Pencil, an AI battery saver, and a brand-spanking-new gaming app – all scheduled to grace our screens in the near future.
Stay tuned for more updates from the Apple universe. Remember, we're here to keep you in the know-how of all things tech and gaming.
Ayushi Jain
Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Pairing my passion for tech and gaming to spoon-feed you the latest in both camps. View Full Profile
References
- Apple may overhaul iOS and macOS to make them easier to understand for users
- Apple could ditch version numbers for its operating systems such as iOS and macOS (Bloomberg News)
- Ambitious report details next Apple Watch, AirPods, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS versions
- Most iPhone, iPad and Android apps have outdated privacy policies
Apple might shift away from the sequential version numbers for its software updates, adopting a system that names updates based on the upcoming year, similar to Samsung and Microsoft. For instance, the 2023 updates could be labeled as iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26, aiming to establish consistency across Apple devices.
This potential shift in software naming could be one of many new features Apple is rumored to introduce, such as an AI battery saver, live translation for AirPods, a digital calligraphy tool for the Apple Pencil, eye-scrolling on Vision Pro headsets, a luscious Arabic-English keyboard for the iPhone, and a brand-new gaming app.
