Recently revealed details suggest that Apple’s next operating systems—iOS 17 and iPadOS 17—could be subject to feature cuts due to the emergence of the xrOS platform. Meanwhile, rumors suggest that macOS 14 might be even more successful due to its more robust feature set.
xrOS is a new operating system designed to power AR and VR devices, such as the recently released Apple Glass. Apple has been moving more and more of its operating system development in this direction, as new devices—which require reliable operating systems—are continuously being released. xrOS is set to become the company’s primary augmented and virtual reality platform, and as a result, will likely have a higher priority when it comes to updates and feature enhancements.
Because of this, development for many current Apple operating systems—iOS 17 and iPadOS 17—could be slowed or even put on hold. Apple hasn’t confirmed this yet, but it stands to reason that features intended for the upcoming OS updates could be cut or put on the backburner to focus more attention on the xrOS platform. This means that Apple users may have to wait a little longer before they can take advantage of the latest updates and features intended for iOS 17 and iPadOS 17.
On the other side of the coin, however, the new macOS 14 could actually experience a hike in features, according to rumors. Apple has recently put a lot of emphasis on the macOS system, and this development could be the company’s way of rewarding the customer loyalty experienced for the platform. This means that Mac users can look forward to a potentially more robust and feature-filled macOS 14 update when it is eventually released.
It’s clear that Apple’s focus is shifting to its new xrOS platform, which could mean that features intended for iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and other operating systems may be left behind. However, Mac users should still be able to take advantage of a potentially more robust and feature-filled macOS 14 update.
