New Version of Panther (Tachyon) for New Hardware? [Update]

ThinkSecret notes that Apple is currently working on a minor Panther version to be released with new hardware after the consumer release of Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) reaches Gold Master.

As ThinkSecret reports -- this is typical behavior -- as each new Mac from Apple which is released comes bundled with a slightly updated version of the operating system. These minor updates/tweaks simply provide support for whatever new hardware or configurations are provided in the new machines.

They speculate, however, that this new version may herald a new release in the near future. The new iMacs and upcoming PowerBooks are (presumably) excluded as they should ship prior to Panther's consumer release. Our Buyer's Guide lists iBooks as the next consumer model due for an update, as it is is approaching the end of its release cycle.

The Xserve is also approaching time for a revision, with many expectations for a G5 release. However, while not specified by ThinkSecret, the implication seems to be that Tachyon is a version of Panther Client, not Server.

Updated: Tachyon is the name of Apple's new Developer's tools, casting doubt that a new Panther update would share the same name.

An anonymous report clarifies some of Apple's Codename categories:

Sub-particles = Developer Tools

Colors (Green/Pink/etc) = Jaguar updates

Lord of the Rings characters (Smeagol/Deagol/etc) = G5-enabling system updates.