If the current MacBook Pro is any indication, then I would be surprised if people are still buying Macs at all in 2020.
Apple Plans to Use Its Own Chips in Macs from 2020, Replacing Intel
101–110 of 1001 posts
Re: Apple Plans to Use Its Own Chips in Macs from 2020, Replacing Intel
#102I sensed this transition from the point that Apple released the new small MacBook.
Re: Apple Plans to Use Its Own Chips in Macs from 2020, Replacing Intel
#103> "A decision to go with ARM technology in computers might lend it credibility where it has failed to gain a foothold so far." > "Apple is working on a new software platform, internally dubbed Marzipan, for release as early as this year that would allow users to run iPhone and iPad apps on Macs" Two things here: 1) I'm OK with breaking the Intel near-monopoly on x86. I'm not OK with moving to a walled garden where Ap…
>So what's the benefit? Just vertical integration, I guess? Escaping Intel's backdoors and high prices?
Yes, and perhaps better power/performance ratio. Possible iOS binary compatibility as well.
It should be an easier transition than from PPC -> Intel, since at that time, most big apps used CodeWarrior and had to transition to XCode along with the architecture move.
Re: Apple Plans to Use Its Own Chips in Macs from 2020, Replacing Intel
#104Earlier quoted context omitted.
> What are the odds that Apple will just internalize x86 production... Zero, since it's wildly improbable that Intel would grant them a license to use the x86 architecture.
You don't need a license to use x86. Moreover, the x64 was created by AMD, not Intel.
> You don't need a license to use x86.
Factually wrong. Ask Microsoft. ;)
Re: Apple Plans to Use Its Own Chips in Macs from 2020, Replacing Intel
#105> "A decision to go with ARM technology in computers might lend it credibility where it has failed to gain a foothold so far." > "Apple is working on a new software platform, internally dubbed Marzipan, for release as early as this year that would allow users to run iPhone and iPad apps on Macs" Two things here: 1) I'm OK with breaking the Intel near-monopoly on x86. I'm not OK with moving to a walled garden where Ap…
iOS Apps on MacOS is a good reason for Apple to incorporate touch screens. Today, they say the trackpad is superior because you aren't raising your hands up to the screen. Touch optimized iOS apps would be a compelling reason to include this feature and motivation for many people to upgrade their MacBooks. Also, the Microsoft Surface Book Pro has a detachable screen that is a stand alone tablet. What if Apple is desi…
Maybe a trackpad with a screen behind it. Apple already has an A series chip running the touchbar. Why not an iPhone under the trackpad?
Re: Apple Plans to Use Its Own Chips in Macs from 2020, Replacing Intel
#106One of the authors of this piece is Mark Gurman. Lately, Gurman has gotten legit scoops on news, but has then interpreted the small gem of a scoop into a story which is entirely wrong.
In other words, take this with a huge grain of salt.
Re: Apple Plans to Use Its Own Chips in Macs from 2020, Replacing Intel
#107Probably too early to tell, but I'd imagine this will mark the death of the Hackintosh? It's a shame, because I had a lot of fun hunting down all of the information and files I needed to convert one of my old PC's over.
Eventually, probably. But they'll still support existing Macs with new software for a while after the transition.
Re: Apple Plans to Use Its Own Chips in Macs from 2020, Replacing Intel
#108Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is the IP/licensing situation particularly onerous here to prevent making their own x86_64 chip?
Yeah. There are only three extant architectural license holders (Intel, AMD and VIA) and they're basically in a circular firing squad of patents. To make their own chips, they'd need to either license from an existing holder (which wouldn't let them tinker unless it was a partnership or they acquired the license) or they'd need to make something so incredibly great the other three would trip over themselves to use it…
If they wanted to go x86 they would just buy VIA? I think it will be aarch64
Re: Apple Plans to Use Its Own Chips in Macs from 2020, Replacing Intel
#109Apple has been preparing itself for independence from underlying CPU arachitecture for a while. In WWDC 2015[1], they announced bitcode. All App submissions to AppStore are compiled to to bitcode. This allows Apple to re-optimize/re-compile your app binary in the future for newer hardware without the need to submit new version of your app to the store. This allows Apple to switch to intel chip on iPhone, or switch to…
> This allows Apple to switch to intel chip on iPhone, or switch to an ARM chip on MacOS.
I think you're assuming way too much. Says Chris Lattner regarding Bitcode, "It's useful for very specific, low-level kinds of enhancements, but it isn't a panacea that makes everything magically portable." [1]
[1]: http://atp.fm/205-chris-lattner-interview-transcript/#bitcod...
Re: Apple Plans to Use Its Own Chips in Macs from 2020, Replacing Intel
#110Based on this article, it doesn't sound like Bloomberg has enough information to distinguish between Apple being committed to a transition, or Apple developing chips to improve their negotiating position with Intel. It's also very unlikely to happen on such a fast timetable; given the IP situation, it's unlikely Apple could make an x86_64 chip, and any move away from x86_64 is going to require significant work by thi…
If apple uses its own chips, I would assume that they would be aarch64 and not x86_64. Also, Microsoft has some magics for executing x86_64 binaries on aarch64 with good performance, so Apple may have a similar technology. We could end up with another situation similar to the Power->x86 transition that happened back in 2006. Or it could be nothing. This is a pretty thin article.
> Microsoft has some magics for executing x86_64 binaries on aarch64 with good performance,
No, they have tech for executing i686 binaries on aarch64, not x86_64. Big difference.
Meanwhile, High Sierra is the last macOS release to support 32-bit binaries.