### Apple to Standardize OS Naming Convention in Major Overhaul

In a striking move, Apple is set to radically update its software across all platforms this year, including a major change in how it names its operating systems. According to a recent report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple will shift to a year-based naming scheme, which means the anticipated iOS 19 will instead be called iOS 26.

This strategic change will be unveiled at the upcoming World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 9 in Cupertino, California. The overhaul is expected to be one of the most significant in over a decade, with the new naming convention aimed at bringing a consistent branding strategy across all of Apple's OS platforms.

Under the updated system, all operating systems will adopt year-based names. As such, the OS versions will align to iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26. This approach mirrors naming strategies used in the automotive industry, where models are often named for the coming year.

The logic behind this change is to unify the version numbers across different platforms, which have historically been out of sync. For instance, tvOS and iPadOS versions have often shared the same numbers as iOS, despite differing in the number of updates. This unification is meant to simplify the ecosystem for users.

Interestingly, this isn't the first time Apple has employed a year-based naming system. Past software products like iLife and iWork followed this convention, with releases named iLife 08 and iWork 08, as noted by Gurman. However, this new system marks a departure from long-held traditions, especially for macOS, which historically took names from big cats and California locales.

Despite these changes, it's unlikely that the iPhone will adopt a year-based naming system. The introduction of an "iPhone 26" in place of the expected iPhone 17 does not seem feasible, as it would render the existing iPhone 16 models outdated. As such, this part of Apple's product line will likely retain its current naming strategy.

The upcoming WWDC is generating considerable anticipation, with many wondering how Apple's new naming scheme will impact not just the software, but potentially the marketing and perception of its hardware as well. For those prone to mixing up version numbers, the new naming convention promises some relief by adding clarity and coherence across Apple's ecosystem.