The discovery was made with a new database entry for the “launchd” framework, which is what powers booting of Mac OS X references. This new entry supposedly has an error message “11A47″, the numbering scheme for Mac OS X. Snow Leopard’s release was referenced with 10A432, Leopard was 9A571. 11A47 would have to mean an upgrade.

Based on this string of numbers, MacRumors has assumed Apple has been building the new system for months now.

“It’s still very early days, though, and probably even a long way off from a release to the developer community. We saw a two-year span between 10.4 and 10.5, but only a one year gap between the release of 10.5 and 10.6, because 10.6 represented mainly performance upgrades and refinements. Chances are, 10.7 is at least another year and a half off.”

Of course, details as to the features of the 10.7 are not yet very clear at this point. But it’s is sure that major changes are in the works.

Is there anything you would like for the 10.7? Something you aren’t happy with the 10.6?

Chime in the comments.