Celebrating 25 Years of Mac OS X
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In the latest episode of MacBreak Weekly, the crew celebrated the 25th anniversary of Mac OS X, the operating system that laid the foundation for Apple's modern computing era. Join Leo Laporte, Andy Ihnatko, Alex Lindsay, and Jason Snell as they discuss the significance of this groundbreaking OS and how it has evolved over the past quarter-century.
The conversation began with Jason Snell reminiscing about the January 2000 Macworld Expo, where Steve Jobs unveiled the Aqua interface and gave the world its first glimpse of what would become Mac OS X. Jason, who wrote about the event for Macworld magazine at the time, shared his firsthand experience of the excitement and anticipation surrounding the reveal.
The hosts delved into the state of the Mac operating system before OS X, with Leo recalling his critical stance on Apple's operating system. He pointed out the terrible memory management and frequent crashes that plagued Classic Mac OS, based on outdated technology from the early 80s, leading many long-time Mac users to consider switching to Windows. The introduction of OS X, with its modern Unix-based foundation and protected memory, marked a turning point for Apple and the Mac platform.
Andy Ihnatko highlighted the importance of OS X's introduction, not just for the Mac, but for Apple's entire ecosystem. The operating system's core architecture, known as Darwin, would go on to serve as the basis for iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS. This common foundation allowed Apple to create a seamless and interconnected user experience across all of its devices.
The discussion also touched on Apple's challenges in transitioning users from the classic Mac OS to OS X. As Jason pointed out, the new operating system's unfamiliar interface and underlying technology risked alienating long-time Mac users. To address this, Apple worked to strike a balance between introducing new features and maintaining a level of familiarity, a process that involved several years of refinement and optimization.
Looking back on the past 25 years, the MacBreak Weekly crew marveled at the enduring impact of Mac OS X. What began as a bold new direction for the Mac has become an integral part of Apple's DNA, powering a wide range of devices and services that have redefined the way we live, work, and play.
To hear more about the 25th anniversary of Mac OS X, as well as other topics like Apple's $95 million Siri settlement, the future of gaming on the Vision Pro headset, and the possibility of non-invasive glucose monitoring on the Apple Watch, be sure to tune in to the full episode of MacBreak Weekly.
