If you are an Apple fan, you probably know that the operating system that runs on your Mac is called macOS.
But did you know that it used to be called OS X, and before that, Mac OS X? And what exactly is the difference between these names?
In this article, I will explain the history and evolution of Apple’s operating system, from the first release in 2001 to the latest version of macOS in 2024.
I will also show you how to check which version of macOS you are running and how to update it to the newest one.
The birth of Mac OS X
Apple’s operating system has a long and rich history, dating back to the original Macintosh in 1984.
The first version of the system was simply called System, and it was followed by several updates and improvements until System 7 in 1991.
However, by the mid-1990s, Apple was facing a crisis.
The system was outdated, unstable, and incompatible with modern hardware and software.
Apple needed a new operating system that could compete with Microsoft Windows and offer a better user experience.
The solution came from an unexpected source: NeXT, the company that Steve Jobs founded after he left Apple in 1985.
NeXT developed a powerful and innovative operating system called NeXTSTEP, based on the Unix operating system.
In 1996, Apple acquired NeXT and brought Jobs back to the company.
Jobs decided to use NeXTSTEP as the basis for the new Mac operating system and hired a team of engineers to work on the project.
The result was Mac OS X, a completely redesigned and modernized system that combined the best features of NeXTSTEP and the classic Mac OS.
Mac OS X introduced a new graphical user interface called Aqua, which featured a water theme, translucent elements, and 3D effects.
It also offered a new file system called HFS+, a new memory management system, a new kernel, and a new application framework called Cocoa.
Mac OS X was also compatible with Unix applications and supported multiple users and multitasking.
The first public beta of Mac OS X was released in 2000, and it was codenamed Kodiak.
The first official version of Mac OS X, 10.0, was released in 2001, and it was codenamed Cheetah.
Since then, Apple has released a new major version of Mac OS X every year or two, each with a different codename and a different number.
The codenames were usually based on animals, such as Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion, and Mountain Lion.
The transition from Mac OS X to OS X
In 2012, Apple decided to change the name of its operating system from Mac OS X to OS X.
The reason for this change was to simplify the branding and to align the name with the other operating systems that Apple was developing, such as iOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
OS X also dropped the number from its name and instead used the name of a location in California as its codename and marketing name.
For example, OS X 10.8 was called Mountain Lion, but OS X 10.9 was called Mavericks, after a surfing spot near Half Moon Bay.
The first version of OS X was OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, released in 2012.
It was followed by OS X 10.9 Mavericks in 2013, OS X 10.10 Yosemite in 2014, OS X 10.11 El Capitan in 2015, and OS X 10.12 Sierra in 2016.
These versions of OS X introduced many new features and improvements, such as iCloud integration, Notification Center, AirDrop, iMessage, FaceTime, Siri, Continuity, and more.
The switch from OS X to macOS
In 2016, Apple changed the name of its operating system again, from OS X to macOS.
The reason for this change was to make the name more consistent with the other operating systems that Apple was developing, such as iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and the newly introduced iPadOS.
macOS also continued to use the name of a location in California as its codename and marketing name but added a number to indicate the version.
For example, macOS 10.13 was called High Sierra, macOS 10.14 was called Mojave, and macOS 10.15 was called Catalina.
The first version of macOS was macOS 10.12 Sierra, released in 2016. It was followed by macOS 10.13 High Sierra in 2017, macOS 10.14 Mojave in 2018, macOS 10.15 Catalina in 2019, macOS 10.16 Big Sur in 2020, and macOS 10.17 Monterey in 2021.
These versions of macOS introduced many new features and improvements, such as Dark Mode, Stacks, Dynamic Desktop, Sidecar, Voice Control, Catalyst, Control Center, and more.
The latest version of macOS is macOS 10.18 Sonoma, released in 2023.
It is codenamed and marketed after the famous wine region in California.
macOS Sonoma brings many new features and enhancements, such as Focus Mode, Quick Note, Universal Control, AirPlay to Mac, Live Text, Safari redesign, and more.
It also supports the new generation of Apple Silicon Macs, which offer superior performance and efficiency compared to Intel-based Macs.
How to check which version of macOS you are running
If you want to know which version of macOS you are running on your Mac, you can easily check it by following these steps:
- Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen.
- Select About This Mac from the menu.
- A window will pop up, showing you the name and the number of your macOS version, as well as other information about your Mac, such as the model, the processor, the memory, the storage, and the serial number.
How to update your macOS to the latest version
If you want to update your macOS to the latest version, you can do it by following these steps:
- Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen.
- Select System Preferences from the menu.
- Click on Software Update.
- If there is a new version of macOS available, you will see a message saying “An update is available for your Mac”. Click on Update Now to start the download and installation process.
- If there is no new version of macOS available, you will see a message saying “Your Mac is up to date”. You can also check for updates manually by clicking on Check for Updates.
Conclusion
In this article, I have explained the difference between macOS and OS X, and the history and evolution of Apple’s operating system.
I have also shown you how to check which version of macOS you are running and how to update it to the latest one.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this article and learned something new and interesting.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.