iOS 17, macOS 14 may have ‘fewer major changes’ this 12 months

When Craig Federighi takes the stage at WWDC, his bag of tips may be a bit mild. According to a brand new report, the 2023 updates to iOS and macOS may have to shed some options as a consequence of a scarcity of assets.

In his newest Power On publication, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman studies that Apple has shifted its improvement focus to xrOS for the upcoming AR headset, and that this alteration of priorities will “cost it some new features in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, the next major iPhone and iPad software updates.” The “same goes for macOS 14,” he provides.

That’s not essentially dangerous information. A 12 months with fewer new options may give Apple extra time to concentrate on cussed design and upkeep points which have endured in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. There was a time when Apple would launch smaller updates that might concentrate on efficiency points (Snow Leopard, Mountain Lion, and so on.) however in recent times Apple has targeted on delivering main new options with every replace. Several new options have been unveiled as a part of iOS 16 and macOS 13, together with a brand new customizable Lock Screen, the Stage Manager multitasking interface, and iCloud Shared Photo Library, together with main updates to Safari, Messages, and Mail.

Apple may additionally choose so as to add options all through the event cycle quite than clumping them collectively in a single blockbuster announcement. The yearly bundle format will be each a blessing and a curse.

Gurman studies that xrOS may make its debut this spring forward of WWDC, although xrOS remains to be prone to play a serious function at WWDC as Apple explores the way it connects to the remainder of the ecosystem. For instance, Gurman says Apple is engaged on “an updated version of the Apple Store app for the iPhone, adding augmented-reality capabilities that activate when a user enters one of its retail locations.” Presumably, this might have an interface that mirrors xrOS to tightly combine the brand new headset with Apple’s hottest cell merchandise.