OS X 10.10 Rumors point to iOS 7-Style Overhaul

OS X Mavericks hasn’t even been around for a full year yet, but rumors are already heating up about what the next version OS X will bring. OS X 10.10 (as it’s currently being referred to) will obviously bring a handful of improvements over its predecessor, but 9to5Mac is reporting that it’ll also see a “significant” design overhaul.

According to sources, OS X 10.10 design changes will be the biggest new feature of the new operating system, but the redesign won’t be that huge of a difference over 10.9 as iOS 7 was over iOS 6. However, OS X 10.10 is said to come with a flatter and simpler look all around. Does this mean that all of these mockups we’ve been seeing online recently are close to what we might see? Probably not — mostly because mockups are never accurate of what Apple will actually release.

As for new features that we might see, it’s said that Apple is working on OS X support for Siri, as well as iOS AirDrop compatibility (finally!), but it’s not said whether or not these features will be done in time for the release of OS X 10.10.

So when will OS X 10.10 be announced and released? If history is any indication, Apple usually announces all of its new software at its annual WWDC conference, which will be starting on June 2 this year. On that day, it’s very possible that we’ll be shown from Apple what the company has been working on as far as iOS and OS X, but don’t expect an actual release that week.

Apple usually doesn’t release its software the day they announce it. With iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks, both weren’t released until months after their announcements, with iOS 7 launching roughly four months after its announcement and OS X Mavericks releasing more than five months after its initial reveal.

This means that we most likely won’t see new versions of OS X and iOS until late this year at the earliest. Apple has recently gotten into the habit of updating its software every year, so we certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 to pop up in 2014 at some point, considering that iOS 7 and OS X 10.9 Mavericks were just released at the tail end of last year.

WWDC will run from June 2 through June 6 at Moscone West in San Francisco, and it’s limited to just 1,000 developers. Apple is holding a lottery where it will select developers at random out of those who register to enter, then these selected developers can pay for a ticket to attend. Unfortunately, the lottery closed today, so if you didn’t register, you’re out of luck until next year.

For those who cannot attend WWDC, the keynote and various sessions will be streamed live and available for viewing on Apple’s website afterward, so you won’t miss out on anything important if you can’t be there.

Aside from software possibly being announced at WWDC this year, it’s also rumored that Apple will announce updated MacBook Airs, which will most likely come equipped with faster hardware and could possibly pack in Retina displays for higher-resolution viewing, making it the first time that Apple’s thinner laptops will come with the display technology.

Concept renderings courtesy of Danny Giebe.