Is Snow Leopard coming again?
Way back in 2009, Apple released Mac OS X version 10.6, known as “Snow Leopard”, and it’s gained a reputation as one of the best versions of Mac OS ever.
Why? Because it added no new features.
That might seem strange, but that’s what made it great. While it did have a few small new features, Apple touted it as having “no new features” and instead they focused all of their attention on bug fixes and performance improvements, making it incredibly fast and stable. People have been clamoring for them to take a year and do that again, and it looks like the time may be now.
According to Mark Gurman (via 9to5Mac):
The macOS 27 update will be especially Snow Leopard-like and include performance improvements aimed at making Macs with Apple-designed chips feel faster.
Apple has been pouring new features into OS X for years now, so taking a step back to refine it and simply make it better seems like a great idea. I try to remember to “Snow Leopard” some of my own apps from time to time. For example, I’ve been adding a ton of new features into Ripple Recall, but I’ve taken some time lately to slow down the new stuff and just focus on polish. It’s a tough balance, but it’s crucial.
If you’re a fan of shiny new things, the next update to OS X may be disappointing. However, if you’re a fan of having a computer that is smooth and fast, it should be a fantastic update for you this fall.