Apple Plans to Combine iOS With OS X By 2012?

Apple plans to merge iOS with OS X into a single platform starting with an A6 MacBook Air in 2012, according to analyst Peter Misek for Jefferies & Co.

Misek says that merging the two would lead to better "synergies", reports Barrons.

"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 Pisek. "We believe this will be difficult to implement if iOS and OS X are kept separate."


Misek continues to say that Apple will likely move its devices over to the new OS slowly, starting with the MacBook Air.

"We believe Apple is looking to merge iOS (iPhones/iPads) with OS X (Macs) into a single platform for apps and cloud services starting in 2012-13." Specifically, Misek sees the Macbook Air gaining Apple's next processor, the "A6," as he calls it, in the second half of 2012, or some time in 2013, following the debut of the chip in the "iPad 3" in the first quarter of 2012, and in the "iPhone 5" next summer. (Misek considers the forthcoming iPhone to be the "iPhone 4S.")

Eventually the Mac Pro devices and desktops will also switch to the new platform, reports Misek; however, they will remain on Intel processors a little while longer to maximize 64-bit application compatibility. It's thought that all devices will have made the switch by 2016.

Read More