Early Signs of OS X 10.9 Unsurprisingly Showing Up in Web Logs

In what should not be a significant surprise, Apple is already hard at work on OS X 10.9, the next major version of its Mac operating system. Signs of OS X 10.9 showing up in web logs were publicized [Google translation] earlier today by Czech site Letem světem Applem, and 9to5Mac confirmed that some of the OS X 10.9 hits showing up on its own site were coming from Apple's corporate network.

os x 10 9 macrumors
Hits on macrumors.com from systems identifying themselves as running OS X 10.9

A look at our own logs shows similar activity, although there has not been a noticeable uptick in hits over the past several months. Rather, we have been seeing a number of spikes in activity since at least mid-August, consistent with limited internal testing during the working week. Similar patterns were previously seen for OS X 10.8 in 2011 and OS X 10.7 in 2009/2010.

It is trivial to fake such identification strings, meaning that at least some of the data should be considered untrustworthy. But hits identified as coming from Apple's own networks carry a much greater likelihood of being legitimate, and so it seems fairly clear that Apple is indeed using systems running OS X 10.9 to browse the Internet.

A release date for OS X 10.9 is currently unknown, but Apple has stated that is moving toward a more rapid development cycle on OS X, with OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion's July 2012 launch coming almost exactly one year after the debut of OS X 10.7 Lion. Assuming a similar timeline for OS X 10.9, Apple may begin releasing developer previews in early 2013 ahead of a public launch in the middle of the year.

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Top Rated Comments

ECUpirate44 Avatar
165 months ago
I want something big. I'm tired of integration with my itoys.
Score: 56 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ToomeyND Avatar
165 months ago
Thundercat! Hoooooo!

Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rpaloalto Avatar
165 months ago
System requirements for 10.9

1. mac must be newer then 2010
2. to install a ios devise must be present
;)
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleMacFinder Avatar
165 months ago
Mac OS X 10.9 Sea Lion

Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nanotlj Avatar
165 months ago
OS X + I OS = OS XI.
We will see a unified OS XI, done!
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NoIdeasOriginal Avatar
165 months ago
All I'm hoping for is that this stuff is gone in 10.9!

Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)