“The present age offers increasing threats to data and individual privacy,” Anthony Frausto-Robledo reports for Architosh. “If Apple moves away from Intel on its Macs, future Macs can offer a much more secure enclave for users.”
“‘It was only a matter of time before Apple made the move to put their own processors on their desktops,’ says Paul Norris, senior systems engineer for EMEA at cybersecurity firm Tripwire,” Frausto-Robledo reports. “Norris argues not only has Apple been successfully designing central processing units (CPUs) for their iOS devices for years, but by doing so they offer ‘a secure enclave between operating system and hardware.'”
“This move is likely about hardening security on Apple platforms and across their ecosystems,” Frausto-Robledo reports. “Norris makes the point in a private communication to Architosh that Apple has tremendous depth, expertise, and years of experience developing CPUs. ‘As Apple is not new to developing microprocessors, consumers should welcome this news.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: This is, of course, welcome news. Apple will control another primary technology and they will be able to make moves on their own terms, not be shackled to Intel’s roadmap.
SEE ALSO:
Will the 2019 Mac Pro be powered by an Apple ARM-based chip? – April 6, 2018
Apple’s ‘Kalamata’ project will move Macs from Intel to Apple A-series processors – April 2, 2018
Apple plans on dumping Intel for its own chips in Macs as early as 2020 – April 2, 2018
Apple is working to unite iOS and macOS; will they standardize their chip platform next? – December 21, 2017
Why Apple would want to unify iOS and Mac apps in 2018 – December 20, 2017
Apple to provide tool for developers build cross-platform apps that run on iOS and macOS in 2018 – December 20, 2017
The once and future OS for Apple – December 8, 2017
Apple ships more microprocessors than Intel – October 2, 2017
Apple embarrasses Intel – June 14, 2017
Apple developing new chip for Macintosh in test of Intel independence – February 1, 2017
Apple’s A10 Fusion chip ‘blows away the competition,’ could easily power MacBook Air – Linley Group – October 21, 2016
Ming-Chi Kuo: Apple to unveil new 13-inch MacBook, 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros at ‘hello again’ special event – October 22, 2016
What to expect from Apple’s ‘hello again’ special Mac event – October 21, 2016
What Apple’s new MacBook Pro might have learned from iPhones and iPads – October 21, 2016
It’s official: Apple sends invitations for ‘hello again’ event on October 27th – October 19, 2016
Get ready, Apple’s new Macs are finally set to arrive! – October 19, 2016
All-new MacBook Pro, refreshed MacBook Air and iMac, and more coming at Apple’s October 27th special event – October 19, 2016
Apple plans to launch new Macs at special event on October 27th – October 18, 2016
macOS Sierra code suggests Apple could dump Intel processors in Macs for Apple A-series chips – September 30, 2016
Apple’s A10 Fusion chip miracle – September 20, 2016
The iPhone’s new A10 Fusion chip should worry Intel – September 16, 2016
Apple’s remarkable new A10, S2, W1 chips alter the semiconductor landscape – September 15, 2016
Well, when Macs are more secure then the CIA and FBI will bitch about the lack of a back door and how terrorist and other criminals are helped by Apple.
“This is, of course, welcome news. Apple will control another primary technology and they will be able to make moves on their own terms, not be shackled to Intel’s roadmap.”
It’s not like Intel waits five years to release a new line of CPUs.
“It’s not like Intel waits five years to release a new line of CPUs.”
You are right with that statement but that statement does not address the issue. Intel makes a generic processor, and at their own speed and design. They DO give some early release specs and info to device makers, which gives “some” heads up times, but the individual device makers have to build around Intel’s nomenclature, like herding different breed of cattle all into one arena.
Having the ability to develop one’s own CPUs frees Apple up to take their own path at their own speed and develop OS interaction at a much earlier date. That, plus Intel still does not get the future in mobility vision that Apple has had.
Go compare any mobile Intel CPU to my i7-4960HQ and let me know how much better they are 5 years later. We’ll wait.
Security, privacy and the protection of data is going to be the driving force going forward. AI is the new electricity of this century and will power everything. But AI’s needs to operate on data that has been authorized and authenticated by end users and companies. We have now seen Facebook fall flat on its face over the Cambridge Analytica mess. We have seen threats to democratic political processes via data breaches. Whether on the edge or in the cloud, hardened security cannot be understated.
To be honest, with all the stupid decisions Apple has been making lately with their Mac lineup, I’m not really jumping up and down for joy if they control more technology in their Macs….the questions in the back of my mind is how else will they screw up the consumers in the future?
All I want is for Apple to go back to the way they used to operate. Mac mini 2012 was one of the best macs ever created. It was a extremely great deal that allowed me to change out parts as needed.
All Apple seems to want to do now days is solder everything on the board so you have to buy a new computer when it’s gets a little old, and then they have the nerve to shout about how environmentally friendly they are…
Ummmm, if I can’t update my computer to extend the life of it…then that’s not really environmentally friendly is it….
I wrote about this on my blog last week and how technology has progressed to allow for more end-point choice in terms of a device. <>
Another advantage of having its own processor that I did not think of the time is the ability to support iOS apps natively. There is no question that there are way more iOS apps than Mac apps so this could create a ton more apps without forcing developers to maintain multiple code stacks.
My guess is that they are prepping for a new OS foundation that will be usable across devices and in the car, watch, goggles and more. The date of Mac Pro coincides with the timeframe of the goggles and with a big push into AR/VR. This is likely the backdrop for processor decisions.
If Apple updates the new A series Macs like they have been updating the Intel Macs, Intel has nothing to fear!
So does turning the computer off, but that doesn’t mean its a good idea.
It’s been a million years since the Mac Pro was updated, and this is because it comes from A SINGLE VENDOR ECOSYSTEM!
Yet, some of you guys think its an even better idea to reward them for being even more proprietary over you. Well… you deserve what you want….
Why would outsourcing chip manufacturing from a US supplier (Intel) to Taiwanese and Korean makers be better? Samsung and Taiwan Semi have superior track records? Intel has cutting edge foundries too.
The incessant narrative that Intel is somehow holding Apple back is complete BS. Apple’s hardware uses chips that are 2,3, and 4 Intel chip generations behind. Apple has had just as many firmware patches as AMD or Intel — and Intel runs a complex instruction set. Dumbing down the chipset from CISC to RISC may on paper look like a security enhacement but it also drives a functionality constraints, many of which are not efficiently overcome with software as the armchair experts pretend.
Let’s not forget that Apple has spent years making its newest Macs get locked into nonupgradeable Apple-specific GPUs. How’s that working out for ya?