Apple refutes "late Leopard" rumors

The release date of Mac OS X Leopard is the subject of more speculation yet again, with a source at Apple telling Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg that the OS is still planned for a Spring release. That's in response to an earlier rumor from the endemically unreliable DigiTimes which suggested that the release might be delayed until October. Earlier we heard that Leopard might make be released as early as this month, although it appears as if the Apple source wasn't directly responding to this suggestion. Either way, we're back to square one: no information apart from Apple's original announcement that it'll be out in sometime in the next few months. Exactly when is anyone's guess, and one that unfortunately can't be predicted using the usually infallible Apple rumor generator.

[Via digg]

[3rdsun @ Mar 25th 2007 3:33PM]

They probably holding back to add more features to top Vista

[kingofwale @ Mar 25th 2007 3:34PM]

the Shuffle delay, AppleTV delay, now Leopard delay

I will bet you money that IPhone will face the same situation.

[derek @ Mar 25th 2007 4:35PM]

retard, they said it WONT be delayed. idiot

[michael @ Mar 25th 2007 3:38PM]

At least Microsoft is more open about what they do. Apple just keeps it all in until later. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about any company, I'm just telling the truth.

[js @ Mar 25th 2007 4:18PM]

You, my friend, are going to be ranked low. Very low.

[haXx0r @ Mar 25th 2007 4:19PM]

They're probably trying to figure out how to add more stars in Time Machine.

[McGinley @ Mar 25th 2007 4:30PM]

Will it ever end???

[kingofwale @ Mar 25th 2007 4:33PM]

>You're on. How about a $1 wager, old friend.. or perhaps we could wager a nice steaming mug of STFU!


There's no need for that. In fact, I love my Ipod, and I'm currently looking for a Macbook Pro (or the rumoured lighter Macbook). IPhone will be a major hit.

but this delay/lack of info thing Apple's doing is very discouraging, because of Leopard, I am forced to wait off my Mackbook Pro. because of IPhone video (rumour), I'm forced to hold off getting a newer Ipod... so on.

be more transparent please. your own fanboys will thank you.

[monsoondawn @ Mar 25th 2007 4:49PM]

All this speculation about an early or late release is boring and pointless. Leopard will be released in June at WWDC. A release before WWDC would be pointless and turn WWDC into a side show. A release after WWDC would a complete disaster. WWDC would be reduced to an open bar.

June - WWDC

[Curtis @ Mar 25th 2007 5:26PM]

Freaking give me a break.... Apple said Spring 2007. We just began Spring and Apple has until June 20th or 21st to release Leopard took keep their "very loose" scheduled date.

And the rumor that started was complete bullshit!

[3rdsun @ Mar 25th 2007 7:59PM]

Apple fangirls must have their panties in a bunch giving everybody low ranks

[Aaron @ Mar 25th 2007 8:16PM]

It is definitely annoying that Apple doesn't give more information. It prohibits people from making educated decisions. If I knew I had to wait three months for Leopard, I would buy a MacBook Pro NOW and just pay $130 or whatever in 3 months to upgrade. But if the upgrade is just around the corner, I would wait.

Apple could at least meet people in the middle. You don't have to give away all the features and your secret plans for the OS, just at least tell people your ETA, so they can buy your products. These are your customers and fans, don't alienate your userbase.

In all honesty, I love Apple products, but the company practices are miserable. Extremely proprietary, bullying and badgering to customers and media who leak product information, etc. Even though I much prefer Mac products, and I wish everyone had Macs instead of Windows boxes to streamline everything in the world, I am honestly glad. Apple would be a much bigger iron first than Microsoft ever was, and I am dead serious.

[nerd @ Mar 25th 2007 9:24PM]

I thought Apple doesn't comment on rumors. Why now?

[Blue's Chews @ Mar 25th 2007 10:54PM]

It's a marketing gimmick--whether negatively or positively, as long as they talk about you, you've got it made. As for me, I can't wait to buy the iPhone wtih 3G+HsDPA, Read-and-Write Office Suite, Book&Bible Reader, and yes, I'm holding off buying a Macbook for the Leopard. And they'll both come sometime, when I'm ready with the cash or credit.

[Evan @ Mar 26th 2007 8:34AM]

Count me as one more person holding off buying a MacBook until Leopard.

[farukates @ Mar 26th 2007 9:03AM]

"It prohibits people from making educated decisions."

Not really, it just means you have to be patient more than you're generally willing to be. I agree that it can be inconvenient if you're at a stage where you want to buy a new Mac, but this rationale works perfectly without Apple compromising their secrecy around product releases: "do you really need a new machine now (i.e. current is broken), buy a new mac now. If not, look at product cycles to see how close a product is to be revamped again (buyersguide.macrumors.com). If a new OS is scheduled to come soon, practice your patience."

"Extremely proprietary, bullying and badgering to customers and media who leak product information, etc."

The proprietary remark is a stretch, because Apple at least has a lot of opened up parts to its OS and products (unlike MS, who try to proprietarize everything). The bullying and badgering remark is silly, because you're suggesting that leaking product information is a perfectly acceptible practice. It's not, and employees are contractually prohibited from doing so (you generally are at any corporation, Apple is just much more serious about it).

[Aaron @ Mar 26th 2007 10:50PM]

Apple is *extremely* proprietary. The parts of their OS that they used to have open are now CLOSED. Their iTunes is so anti-competition that two countries in the European Union have banned iTunes in their countries, and have lawsuits against Apple. Their music is laced with DRM, and what you think you are "buying" on iTunes isn't the case at all. Even their hardware is completely closed off where no users can modify and add or change hardware at a whim. The brand new iPhone will not be used to its full potential, because Steve Jobs put his foot down and said only what Apple wants on the iPhone can be put on it, not like a Treo where there are thousands of free programs by developers maximizing the use of the product.

They are also extreme bullies. You're absolutely right that it's no big deal to chase leaking of info, that's true. However, when bloggers post excitement over the iPhone and the iPhone interface and post pictures and screenshots of it on their pages, it is pathetic to have your lawyers write cease-letters to the fanbase to pull the photos down. A judge ruled against Apple doing this to bloggers, who are treated with the same freedoms as journalists. Apple did this to their own fanbase.

Apple is extremely proprietary, and unfriendly as a business corporation. They STOLE the "iPhone" name without permission from Cisco, just to keep their trendiness, for goodness' sakes.

[Joe @ Mar 26th 2007 1:12PM]

If endemically unreliable DigiTimes makes an announcement, then why post about it? Ever heard of Chicken Little? There are slow news days, but there is little point in posting rumors from "endemically unreliable" sources, yes?