Friday, May 30, 2025 Apple to rebrand its operating systems

Major overhaul: Signage for the iPhone 16 in New York. Apple is making the change to bring consistency to its branding and move away from an approach that can be confusing to customers and developers. — Bloomberg

SAN FRANCISCO: Apple Inc is planning the most sweeping change yet to its operating system names, part of a software overhaul that extends to all its devices.

The next Apple operating systems will be identified by year, rather than with a version number, according to sources.

That means the current iOS 18 will give way to “iOS 26”, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plan is still private.

Other updates will be known as iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26 and visionOS 26.

Apple is making the change to bring consistency to its branding and move away from an approach that can be confusing to customers and developers.

Today’s operating systems – including iOS 18, watchOS 12, macOS 15 and visionOS 2 – use different numbers because their initial versions didn’t debut at the same time.

A spokesperson for Cupertino, California-based Apple declined to comment.

The company will announce the shift at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9.

The branding will accompany fresh user interfaces across the operating systems – an attempt to ensure a more cohesive experience when people move between devices.

The new look, dubbed Solarium internally, will include tvOS, watchOS and parts of visionOS, Bloomberg News reported this week.

The latest naming strategy is reminiscent of approaches taken by both Samsung Electronics Co and Microsoft Corp.

In 2020, Samsung renamed its flagship Galaxy S phone line after its launch year, moving to the Galaxy S20.

That device’s predecessor, which debuted in 2019, was the Galaxy S10, representing the 10th generation.

In 1995, Microsoft shifted to naming major operating systems after the year they launched, rolling out Windows 95 and then Windows 98 and Windows 2000.

The big difference is Apple will use the upcoming year rather than the current one.

Though its next operating systems will launch around September 2025, they’ll be named for 2026 – not unlike how car companies market their vehicles.

If Apple keeps the strategy, the following set of releases will carry the 27 moniker.

Apple previously attempted something similar with its software bundles for office work and creativity applications.

In August 2007, it rolled out iWork ‘08 and iLife ‘08.

That was eventually followed by iLife ‘11, which went on sale in October 2010.

As part of the changes, Apple plans to give the iPad a more Mac-like experience, potentially making it more useful for office work.

And the company is opening up its artificial intelligence (AI) models to third-party developers, letting them tap into the underlying technology used by the Apple Intelligence platform.

Other new features coming this year include a live-translation mode for AirPods and the Siri voice assistant, as well as an eye-scrolling option on the Vision Pro headset.

In the AI realm, Apple is planning health features and an AI-enabled battery management mode.

There also will be a new bi-directional Arabic and English keyboard, a digital calligraphy pen for Apple Pencil users and a new app for gaming on Apple devices. — Bloombe

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ASEAN-China-GCC Summit in Malaysia sets an example for global cross-regional cooperation

 Chinese Premier Li Qiang gives his opening remarks during the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center in Malaysia on 27 May, 2025. Photo: AFP

The successful convening of the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit in Malaysia has been widely recognized as a "landmark" event of major significance. The Joint Statement of the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit adopted at the summit marks the transition of cooperation among the parties from concept to reality. This summit not only showcased the surging momentum of Global South solidarity but also expanded the horizon of cross-regional cooperation and inter-civilizational integration. The three parties view their differences as opportunities for cooperation and promote development through unity, which not only responds to the common aspirations of Global South countries but also provides a new model of cooperation for the world.

The fruitful outcomes of the first trilateral summit are clearly reflected in the Joint Statement of the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit. In the economic area, the three sides agreed to leverage their complementarities to strengthen collaboration in the fields such as trade, investment and finance, promote economic integration, and enhance industrial and supply chain resilience. In promoting the de-escalation of regional tensions, the three parties jointly called on all sides involved in Middle East conflicts to refrain from targeting civilians and to uphold international humanitarian law, thereby laying a cornerstone for regional peace and stability. The three sides will also deepen cooperation in cultural exchanges, energy security and sustainability, as well as digital transformation and innovation. In addition, to further facilitate the movement of people between China and other countries, China has decided to expand its visa-free policy, now covering all GCC member states. With the implementation of the aforementioned outcomes, trilateral cooperation will surely advance to a higher level, broader areas, and deeper dimensions.

Beyond bringing certainty to the region and the world, the trilateral cooperation holds a deeper and more unique significance. 

It transcends the once-popular notion of a so-called "clash of civilizations" by transforming differences in cultural traditions and stages of development into powerful drivers of complementary collaboration. This, in turn, unveils a new chapter of mutual learning among human civilizations.

If viewed through the lens of bloc confrontation, the trilateral cooperation would be seen as friction among different religions and as a geopolitical tug-of-war forcing countries to take sides. However, from the perspective of a "shared future," what emerges is something entirely different: the GCC with its vast energy reserves and multi-trillion-dollar sovereign wealth funds; ASEAN's manufacturing strength and its emerging consumer market of nearly 700 million people; and China's formidable industrial capacity, technological innovation, and infrastructure-building expertise. Together, these elements signal enormous development potential and ample room for win-win cooperation. As one Qatari economic expert observed, "Everyone will benefit from this historic summit."

China, ASEAN, and GCC countries together account for roughly a quarter of the world's population and global economic output. The groundbreaking cooperation among the three parties sends a clear message to the world: Unity and joint development are not distant dreams but a tangible path already unfolding. This cooperation is not a "victory" for any one side, but an epitome of peace and development, cooperation and mutual benefit. In the face of the increasingly severe realities of global deficits in peace, development, and trust, the trilateral summit has injected new vitality into the maintenance and practice of multilateralism. 

In the future, countries in the Global South, such as those in Africa, Latin America, and beyond, can certainly envision a richer imagination in building a comprehensive cross-regional cooperation network and achieving open and inclusive development.

In this "big triangle," China is both a participant and a supporter, injecting new momentum into tripartite cooperation through its own high-quality development. Whether from China's economic data or the global capital rush to invest in China, it is evident that the Chinese economy, having weathered storms, has become deeper, richer, and more inclusive. This stability, certainty, and inclusiveness provide a solid foundation for the international community, including ASEAN and GCC countries, to trust and invest in China. 

The recent announcement of the completion of the negotiations on the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area has fostered more positive expectations regarding China's completion of free trade agreement negotiations with the GCC. It is believed that with the enhancement of trilateral trade levels, China, ASEAN, and GCC countries will all further benefit from open cooperation.

Just as President Xi Jinping said, "For us to break through the mist and embrace a bright future, the biggest strength comes from cooperation and the most effective way is through solidarity." This "1+1+1" cooperation model among China, ASEAN, and the GCC is a concentrated embodiment of this spirit. It not only benefits each individual party but also contributes to a greater overall increment for Asia and the world as a whole. 

It is believed that the three parties will unite to generate tremendous strength, bringing a more prosperous and stable development outlook for the region and the world, injecting continuous positive energy into the cause of world peace and development, and providing lasting momentum for the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. -Global Times

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Don’t bite the scammers’ bait

 

PETALING JAYA: Staying alert and cautious about potentially deceptive online links is not just a matter of good practice; it is an essential defence against cunning scammers who aim to drain the bank accounts of unsuspecting victims.

Recently, scammers have exploited various forms of monetary and welfare aid offered online by the government, particularly targeting the lower-­income group by masking hyperlinks to deceive applicants.

Certified fraud examiner and anti-money laundering specialist Raymon Ram (pic) advises that being cautious of suspicious online links can help reduce the risk of online scams.

He said that in addition to emails, malicious links are now appearing across various channels, including short message services (SMS), WhatsApp or Telegram applications, social media posts and pop-up windows.

These links frequently disguise themselves as coming from reputable sources, including government agencies, banks and various service providers.

“Scammers have become skilled at making their links appear legitimate, but there are several red flags online users could look out for,” he said.

He said scammers often create websites that mimic real organisations by adding small typos or extra words to genuine website addresses to hoodwink their potential victims.

Raymon said users should check the core or root domain that comes before the top domain, like “dot com”, “dot gov”, or “dot my”, to make sure it matches the real one they want to use.

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“Users should be aware that the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure protocol (HTTPS) does not assure safety, and neither does the padlock icon, as scammers can easily obtain these certificates.

“HTTPS alone does not prove a site’s legitimacy, as it simply means the data sent is encrypted,” said the founder and managing principal of Graymatter Forensic Advisory, a company that specialises in financial forensics.

He said scammers also insert messages that appear urgent or may emotionally trigger users to react and proceed without caution.

“Examples of such messages include phrases like ‘your account will be suspended’ or ‘claim your prize now’.

“Other indicators of potential scams are poor grammar, misspellings and generic greetings.

“Also, in contrast, legitimate organisations typically address individuals by their names and maintain a professional and formal tone.

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“Users are also advised to preview or scrutinise links to ascertain their destinations before clicking on them.

“If users are unsure, it’s best to avoid such links and verify their authenticity with the institution they are trying to reach,” Raymon said.

Asked whether a single click on a scam link can result in the loss of someone’s bank account, he clarified that it typically requires multiple actions for users to lose their funds.

Raymon said there are three main pathways that lead to online theft, namely through phishing websites – where a user clicks a link and lands on a fake bank login page before providing their username, password and one-time code.

Scammers eventually use the details to access the real account and transfer money, he added.

He said another tactic is to embed malicious mobile applications such as APK files.

“A user clicks on a link that tells them to install an unofficial Android app.

“The app takes over the device and reads SMS messages, intercepts OTPs, or puts up fake banking screens to get login information.

“These programmes allow scammers to watch the user’s activities and capture sensitive information.

“Hence, it is not the first click itself that empties a bank account but a chain of actions that occurred earlier,” he said.

He said scammers also hide dangerous links to trick people, which is a common method used in phishing and other scams.

“Scammers may hide links in several different ways.

“One example would be putting up a button or text that says ‘Visit Bank Negara’, but a hidden link that takes people to a different website,” Raymon said.

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