“We expect OS merger to start in 2012-13 and complete in 2016. Our preliminary view is that Apple can use a 32-bit ARM architecture to address the vast majority of the OS X ecosystem’s needs in 2012-13 except for high-end professional devices. When 64-bit ARM is available in 2016, we believe Apple will have a single OS and hardware architecture,” He also says that this is being fueled by Apple’s cloud ambitions, viewing a unified platform as key for seamless interaction with an online identity and associated content.
“Users want to be able to pick up any iPhone, iPad, or Mac (or turn on their iTV) and have content move seamlessly between them and be optimized for the user and the device currently being used,” writes Misek. “We believe this will be difficult to implement if iOS and OS X are kept separate.”On one hand the whole thing is highly speculative and could just be wishful albeit creative thinking by an analyst. On the other hand, with Steve Jobs who can tell? One thing is certain though and that is if there is a rush to platform unification, I see the fight primarily being between Microsoft and Apple. As for Google..well, they may have squandered too many opportunities with Chrome OS and they dont really have a mature desktop OS like their counterparts. This September will be a very interesting time for technology because we will in essence be watching Apple and Microsoft spell out their technological vision for the next few years. Microsoft will be talking about Windows 8 and Windows Server 8 while Apple will be delving deep into detail about Icloud and IOS 5 integration. It’s a good time to be in Tech.]]>
That’s clearly the path that Microsoft is looking to take as well…
windows 8 will be on desktops , laptops , netbooks , tablets and probably smartphones (windows and windows phone may united in future) . so yes ,ms is going that way too.
I would be a little worried about this. Im not sure I want apple to move from the Intel infrastructure. Things are good at this moment, I don’t want some less powerful apple A6 chip. Intel has more experience and there is a smaller chance of them screwing up a processor family. Also I’m not sure about this, however I think if apple switches to A6 they will loose the ability to run Bootcamp, which would mean I would have to switch back to PC’s and leave my mac days behind.
In 2016 ?
By that time the second generation of unified O.S from Microsoft, a.k.a W9, would already be available for close to one year.
I think that Microsoft seems way ahead of Apple in this domain.
I think that if Microsoft,or its partner, does not screw up, it can be on something with W8 and the upcoming years could be very successful for it.
If apple unifies its OS people will make viruses for it. so many people own apple products without virus protection. I would LOVE to see an apple fan-boy get a virus. it would make my day