It is not just the "7" banner that's hanging in the halls of the Moscone Center (West) in San Francisco. There is also the "X" with a big wave as a background and that is for the new OS X that will be unveiled by Apple during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2013, starting on Monday June 10.
The OS X is the tenth iteration of Apple's Mac operating system since its first version in 2001. The "Cabernet," as it is referred to by insiders, will be the OS X 10.9.
The OS X 10.9 will most likely be in beta version when Apple unveils it at the WWDC 2013. There are speculations that it will be released in July while others think it will be released later. Apple has not released any preview of this operating system and no one also has any idea what will its name be (the banner doesn't give any hint whether it will stick to the big cat naming convention it has been following over the years).
The new Mac operating system is expected to feature a better filing system. ComputerWorld reported that Apple may use the technology it acquired when it purchased Maya-Systems. This will pave the way for a 3D-like user interface and a more searchable iCloud.
There are also speculations that the new OS X will take some DNA from its smaller iOS sibling just like what Appled did with the OS X Lion. A report on 9to5Mac suggested that the new OS X will allow users to jump between tasks or apps on a switching bar by double clicking the Home button.
The new OS X is also expected to have multi-monitor support and have a makeover for the Finder that may include tabbed windows. There have also been reports about an update to the Xcode that will be revealed to developers during the annual WWDC in San Francisco.
As for the name of the OS X 10.9, will it be Lynx? Unfortunately, there's very little that can be made out from the X banner.
Meanwhile, there's a high probability that Apple will also launch the iRadio together with the new versions of the iOS and the OS X. The streaming radio service will be similar to Pandora, but will have its own unique features, so the listening experience will be more personalized for the user. It will make use of licensing rights obtained from major labels such as Warner, Universal and Sony Music.
There have also been rumors that Apple Maps and Siri will make their way to the desktop. There are worries though that the Siri jump might have been delayed by the changes in the leadership at Apple's software engineering division.
The Apple Maps roll out for the iOS might make technology experts cringe but this tool can enhance the functionality of the desktop. Digital Trends foresee the Apple Maps providing directions on the OS X 10.9 then automatically sending it to an iOS device.
Stay tuned.
