It’s not a matter of biggest number, it’s a matter of consistency.

They have five operating systems, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS.

So currently we have macOS 15, iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11 & visionOS 2. That’s absolute confusion. Do I have the latest version? Dropping support for an older version, how many years ago was that?

I don't disagree with you on principle, but I still think the implementation is fucking bonkers.

A version number should convey useful information, and the year it was released is useful information. Especially when major updates come every year.

Major updates should come when they're needed, not on a set schedule. CVEs don't wait. Yes, I know patches and security updates are a thing. I still think it's ridiculous. And I absolutely blame Apple for setting the "new thing every year" trend in motion.

I suppose it makes sense for Apple, seeing as a significant chunk of their userbase are complete fucking morons.

I was just discussing this with a friend, I have no clue these days what iOS or macOS version is the latest. I guess this does help but it feels like a Windows 8 to 10 jump in steroids

Apple is crashing down slowly, but surely

This is such a step back to 2005 and those glassy Winamp skins. It looks absolutely terrible. I wonder how Apple users put up with that

what would you have them do? anything else would be just as arbitrary.

jfc relax. it's a number.

i mean yes, but this is a more dynamic transperency that reacts more to backgrounds, merging/separating with other elements, etc.

How would you prefer they handle it?

Just to look at macOS version history,

The first public release was "Mac OS X 10.0", this continued until "Mac OS X 10.7 Lion". The "big cat" became part of the marketing name because the OS & version were a mouthful and throwing numbers around wasn't helpful.

We drop the "Mac" next year, then switch to mountains, but it's not long before we reach, "OS X 10.10" aka "OS ten ten ten".

Well it wasn't long before we simplified further and just said "macOS", but then took a while before we dropped the "10". Now we just get "macOS 15 Sequoia".

For nearly 18 years the Mac operating system had an unnecessary "10" that conveyed zero information.

Though naming it by the following year instead of the release year is clearly a marketing move.

Just to look at macOS version history,

Yeah, I remember when Mac OS X came out. It was a pretty significant improvement from Mac OS 9 (I grew up on System 7/Mac OS 8, dicked around a bit with 9). Unfortunately, they beat that horse until it lost all meaning, and then dragged the corpse until there was nothing left. It was ridiculous 10 years in (looking at you, Microsoft), and was borderline meme status when they finally dropped the OSX branding altogether.

How would you prefer they handle it?

They were doing fine once they dropped "10". Major version updates have a major version number. It was fixed. Done. Why fix what isn't broken? Just because the version numbers of your various operating systems don't match, doesn't mean it's "broken". They're different operating systems. Versioning has lost all meaning at this point. Shit, even Windows 11 still uses NT kernel 10. And before NT Kernel 10? It was 6.3.

What the fuck even is proper versioning anymore.

I'm just ranting into the void now.

I stand by what I said. Versioning exists for a reason. This shit is what happens when marketing and sales retards are given complete and total authority over people doing real work.

iOS 18 > 26 doesn't make sense, but from 26 onwards it's not a problem.

Can't wait for the release of CUPS 26...

okay ¯_(ツ)_/¯

dude seriously you need to chill.

CUPS doesn't have a yearly release schedule. iOS does.

See but I would argue that five different version numbers across five different operating systems is broken. (Ok two of them do match up.)

Specifically the watchOS version is the important one that stands out. watchOS version 1 works with which version of macOS? Which version of iOS or iPadOS?

Also when it comes time to end support for devices, how do you keep track? If Apple provides 5 years of updates, do you know if your phone is still supported?

If my phone is running iOS 14, is that supported? Is that new? Is that old?

The key thing to keep in mind is that the entirety of this ecosystem is based on yearly releases.

Just for "fun" let's look at Windows. The current version is 11. It was released in 2021. So I guess as long as I have Windows 11, I am up to date. But... That's not true. Windows 11 does have a version number that's not directly end user facing. That version is 24H2.

Now the "24" is the year, that's useful. Now what's stupid is the "H2". Because sitting here in June 2025 I would expect "25H1" to be released anytime now. But Microsoft only used the H1 once, about five years ago. Now "Window 11 version 24H2" is better SEO vs "Window 11 version 24", so maybe that's why they kept it.

I beg to differ. It’s not a „putting up with“. I don’t hate modern flat designs but if I was putting up with anything it’s that.

Loved the translucent look back then, still love it now. Am very looking forward to the design update. Especially since the new design is not just some standard windows aero like transparency but actually has glass like refractions.

I’m very glad we’re getting something with a little more depth again, without going full 180 to the clutter of peak skeumorphic iOS <7.

I’m a little bit concerned about readability of text on the translucent backgrounds but on the other hand, it feels unlikely that Apple didn’t think of that…

Edit: typo

kinda looks like those backgrounds Microsoft uses on their mobile apps pictures on the App Store and Google Play