This year has been great for the Mac. We’ve seen a whole new OS (Lion), a refresh that is thinner and lighter than the competition (MacBook Air), and the Mac App Store. What do all of these have in common? They are all hinting at the eventual merge of iOS and OS X into one super operating system that can run on anything from mobile phones to Mac Pros.

It seems as though iOS and OS X are growing so similar to each other that Apple might launch an entirely new Mac that is rumored to run an iOS-OS X hybrid. A new report coming out of macotakara.jp claims that Apple is preparing a new product that is, “absolutely different from current products.” Apparently, this mystery product is so different from the stuff Apple’s currently selling that it’ll be given a brand new name, as opposed to fitting under one of the already established categories of Mac.

There are no details or specs, or even a hint on what the device would look like, but it would be awesome if the hybrid is an iPad running OS X.

I’m sorry I even brought that up, but it probably wouldn’t be too difficult for Apple to do. All Jobs&Co. would have to do is remove the keyboard from the MacBook Air and place the internals behind the display. It would make for a killer laptop (tablet?). Since Lion brought all these new multi-touch gestures and full screen apps, this might be a lot closer than we all think. The Lion-running iPad may be just my nerd dream, but, in my opinion, if Apple was to make something ‘revolutionary’ and ‘magical’, this would be it.

Do you think Apple has an iPad running OS X behind all the secrecy, or do you think this mystery Mac is something else? Let us know in the comments below or by sending me a tweet.

Via: 9to5Mac