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Recently I wrote about how IBM was creating a PowerPC chip that will allow virtual OS partition on the computer. I didn't know it, but apparently Intel is doing something very similar. Their new chip is to be released around the middle of this year instead of in 2006 as preeviously announced. Read this InfoWorld article
Robert X. Cringely, on PBS, has been around the high tech industry for as long as I can remember, has a commentary on last week, saying it "This Week Changed the World of High Tech Forever, Though Most of Us Still Don't Know It." He breaks it down to three major points.
1) Microsoft's announcement of the new XBox. He is saying that it is built to compete with Intel computers, not just Sony and Nintendo.
2) Is Google Web Accelerator. The idea here is that Google provides a service where they try to predict where you are going next. Then download a compressed version of that web page while you are reading the current one. This could compete with Microsoft's own operating system. The big problem being that they could provide additional computing power on their server so our current computers would last longer. That would cost Microsoft and hardware companies a lot of cash. Also, it could eliminate the need for ISPs such as AOL that provide their own content.
3) Apple's new movie/music business. He quotes a Slashdot poster that is supposedly an Apple employee. (S)he said that Apple would be doing a video equivalent of its AirPort Express WiFi repeater that has audio output to link iTunes to your stereo system. He points out that the use of this repeater means that the computer itself doesn't have to be so fast. Thus the Mac mini becomes the center point of a multi-media system.
Interesting isn't it. He gives a lot more detail, including comments on the new Yahoo music service. ... see the full story...
According to an article Friday on CNet, Apple is planning on switching their lower-end computers to Intel in mid 2006 and doing the high-end machines a year later.
IMHO - This would be a real big deal.
It would also be a major challenge for software developers to make the change, although it shouldn't be as big as the change from 68K machines to the PowerPC in 1994. After all, most of the current applications already have Intel versions. In my mind, the bigger problem would be that they would be taking Microsoft head on in the operating system space. That could be a tough sale to many people and corporations. Of course, CNET may have it all wrong. Sometime today we should know. Read more...
Another suggestion about Apple's talks with Intel:
According to columnist John Yunker, the latest talks between Apple and Intel are about putting WiMax in future products not about moving Mac OS X to Intel.
IMHO - This would make a lot of sense as we all assume that Apple is looking at invading the living room with some kind of audio/video device. Read his full column at: www.corante.com
As predicted by some the previous Friday, at its Worldwide Developer Conference last Monday, Apple announced plans to deliver models of its Macintosh computers using Intel microprocessors by this time next year, and to transition all of its Macs to using Intel microprocessors by the end of 2007. Apple previewed a version of its critically acclaimed operating system, Mac OS X Tiger, running on an Intel-based Mac to the over 3,800 developers attending CEO Steve Jobs' keynote address. Apple also announced the availability of a Developer Transition Kit, consisting of an Intel-based Mac development system along with preview versions of Apple's software, which will allow developers to prepare versions of their applications which will run on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs.
..."We think this is a really smart move on Apple's part and plan to create future versions of our Creative Suite for Macintosh that support both PowerPC and Intel processors," said Bruce Chizen, CEO of Adobe. ... see the full story...
03 Apple + Intel: Opinions Abound... Since the news of Intel chips in Macintosh computers the news channels have gone wild... here are just a few of the better columns:
Apple's Switch to Intel: The Ultimate Power Move? - Steve Jobs' decision to build Macs with Intel chips may finally give the company a shot at challenging Microsoft's Windows. By David Kirkpatrick
http://www.fortune.com/fortune/print/0,15935,1070380,00.html
* Apple's real enemy is Dell, plain and simple - Motley Fool (requires email registration)
* Going for Broke: Apple's Decision to Use Intel Processors Is Nothing Less Than an Attempt to Dethrone Microsoft. Really. -- By Robert X. Cringely
* Should people hold off buying a Mac that uses the IBM PowerPC processor, which Apple will soon abandon, and wait for the new Intel Macs? Walter S. Mossberg also asks: Will people be able to run the Mac operating system on these non-Apple machines? Will Microsoft Windows run on the new Intel-based Macs?
* NO! Sez Schiller... "We will not allow running Mac OS X on anything other than an Apple Mac," (Phil is vice prez of Apple)
* Pentium Next Apple Core - eWeek's John G. Spooner sez: Apple may choose Intel's Pentium M to become the first Intel chip inside a new generation of portables and small desktop computers.
* We'll keep you posted as more interesting stuff rolls in...
In an opinion piece, ABC News gives a pretty good break down of the relationship between Apple and Intel over the years. This includes a story that I have heard before about why the Woz picked the 6502 for the first Apple computer. (It was partly the other Steve's fault.) ... see the full story...
Apple's Intel Choice Reflects Mobile-Computing Trend -- Sci-Tech-Today writer Jason Lopez sez: "For Apple to remain seriously competitive, it must address the battery issue for its laptops and for mobile wireless devices the firm is currently dreaming up." See: www.sci-tech-today.com
Transitive's technology will be part of software called Rosetta, which will work for current Macintosh OS X programs that run on PowerPC systems but not for older programs that run on OS 8 and OS 9 software, according to Apple.
That's the benefit Transitive could deliver to big computer makers that face a common dilemma: They often need to switch to better hardware, but that hardware might not be compatible with the older software their customers own.
For example, Hewlett-Packard has inherited several operating systems from Tandem and Digital Equipment, but it has had a hard time adapting that software to run on its new chosen computer architecture, Intel's Itanium chips.
The core takes the intermediate format and figures out how fast it can run the older software in its new form. Read the full story at the San Jose Mercury News
As with any new shift in technology there are those who are quick to prostitute them... Advenio will offer a Transition Service for developers to help ease the transition to the new Intel architecture (IA) for Macs. www.advenio.com
The Developer Transition Kit brings together all the components you need to create Universal Binaries that run on Macintosh computers using Intel microprocessors. The Kit contains the information, sample code, software, and hardware you'll need to develop a Universal Binary. developer.apple.com
It had to happen. The Register brought up the name of Adam Osborne and his CP/M "portable" machine, The Osborne. The Osborne was one of the earliest computers and used a non-Intel chip. It was a sewing macine box, but was sold with a spreadsheet, a word processor and other software that were sold separately for as much as the computer witht the software.
In 1981 IBM introduced the PC and not to long after that, Osborne announced that they would be moving from the CP/M based machine to an Intel, MS-DOS based one. Immediately sales of the Osborne became non- existant and Oborne was not able to survive long enough to make the change.
The author here acknowledges that these are different times and that Apple has tons of more money in the bank to survive the change. But, speculates that sales of the current machines will dry up.
He does quote John Dvorack as saying that Apple's move long term will be a good thing. (Imagine, Dvorack saying something nice about Apple.) Read the full story at: www.theregister.co.uk
Last week, the news stories were every where about how Michael Dell said he was willing to sell Intel PCs with the Mac OS. That is unbelievable after how much he has bad mouthed Apple in the past. Read one of the stories at: news.com.com
ADHOC Adds Intel sessions and training classes www.user-groups.net/news/
I haven't been to this web site in months. But with all that was happening with the announced move to Intel, I wanted to see what they had to offer. In the past, I had found them at times to be a little strange. But this past week, the talked about:
* the update to Tiger to 10.4.2
* Apple trademarking "Numbers" for the purpose of a spreadsheet application to be added to iWorks.
* Free WebOjects
* The next Airport technology
* New Mac advertisements in the pipeline.
Some of those are not new, but it was interesting to seem them all in one place. See for yourself at: www.macosrumors.com
Well, I took all this time to decide whether I thought Apple's announcement of a switch was "a good thing." My worry was that people would start to perceive an Apple Intel machine as just another clone. And thus would expect similar pricing to the "white box" PCs.
But the more I think about it, the more I think it is that good thing. It will be easier than ever to persuade IT departments to by an Apple if they can also run Windows. What will be interesting is how much money Microsoft is will to spend to counter this threat to their dominance of the market place. As Netscape, Real and even Sony can tell you, it is hard to make money if Microsoft is willing to lose billions to keep their market share. Got Comments?
There's an early public beta release of DragThing for Intel-based Macs and TLA is looking for beta testers and developers. It is available to download now from www.dragthing.com. This pre-release version is only of interest to developers and other users who have access to the Developer Transition Kit hardware. www.tla-systems.co.uk
At the Fall Intel Developer Forum, in San Francisco the Intel CEO is suppose to announce the "next generation architecture to arrive in the last half of 2006. This likely means the end of the Pentium type of chips while Intel moves to something new.
Could the new Apple Intel machines also have this new architecture?
Could be, at least for the professional machines. Which won't be released until '07. ... see the full story...
According to Wired, some PC hackers have taken the beta version of Mac OS X for Intel machines and have already made it run on Intel machines that are not Dell. Currently Apple has seeded some developers with OS X on a Dell machine and it is only suppose to run on those specific machines and no others. But apparently they didn't have to put much effort into moving it to other machines. Somehow I doubt that it will be so easy to remove the "protection" when the final release happens. ... see the full story...
According to this article, and several others, Apple has signed a contract with Freescale to purchase PowerPC chips until 2008. In my mind, this is not a change in plans from the move to Intel, but rather an insurance of chips for the PowerPC machines to be made over the next two years and chips for repair work for a while after that. Read the full story at: www.eet.com
Creative was issued a patent on software that it says is used in the interface in Apple's iPod. I think that it is something that other companies can find ways to protect their intellectual property while Apple keeps losing theirs. Perhaps Apple should hire a new team of lawyers. Read the full story at: www.techweb.com
Last Tuesday, Apple showed its switch to Intel processors by debuing an online resource for programmers. The new Developer Transition Resource Center, targeted to help developers make the switch. Read more...
Well, it has started to happen. Self appointed gurus are saying that you should wait for the new Intel machines to get a new computer. While that advice may be good for a few people, it really doesn't make much sense for most. The Quad G5 is a professional machine. The professional level Intel machines probably won't be out in any numbers before 2007. (Apple has said they will switch the consumer level machines first.) The speed increase can undoubted show a positive ROI for most professionals in that time frame. (See: G5 Quad) Read the contrary article that sez: Don't Buy A Quad G5
According to an article in the UK's Enquirer, Apple is gearing up to start an OS war with Microsoft on Intel based machines.
They quote Architosh.com as having insider information that Steve Jobs is about to make a declaration of war. (That last may be a little exaggerated.)
It is also quoted as saying that they have found an Apple patent that not only allows Mac OS X to be install only on Apple hardware, but it would allow users to load one of three operating systems as their primary OS. That could work. But it could also back fire. MS has a lot larger war chest than Apple. Even if Apple does have a better OS. ... see the full story...
This column was once called "RumorManager". So lets look at a rumor. According to this article at least one high tech officer thinks that an Apple DVR device would be a natural step for Apple, especially after its success with the iPod that plays video. The rumored DVR is described as a version of the Mac Mini that uses the Intel processor and would have unique DVR capabilities.
Jupiter Research's Michael Gartenberg said that the Mac Mini, with the Front Row interface, and added DVR functionality with iPod compatibility could be a living room star.
I personally haven't seen any such rumors except in this story, although there has been speculation since the intro of the mini that it would be terrific as such a device. I just don't see how it could compete with cable boxes when even TiVo is struggling. Although they to see an advantage of working with the iPod. Only time will tell. ... see the full story...
As part of a slide show on possible new tech gear, Business Week mentions the Intel Viiv. It looks to me like a Mac mini that has an Intel processor. It is aimed at being a media center for the living room. (Sound familiar?). These machines are suppose to be available in 2006. See the complete slide show
Have a great week...
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