“I guess Apple will move to Intel, and they’re relying on a fast, seamless emulator to do it. But it’s really about Hollywood: Apple’s looking to transform the movie industry the same way the iPod and iTunes changed the music business,” Leander Kahney writes for The Cult of Mac Blog for Wired News. “As initially reported, there a couple of big problems with Apple moving to Intel. The biggest is shifting all the Mac software to a new platform. Apple apparently mulled moving to Intel a few years ago, when Motorola’s chip development fell woefully behind, but Steve Jobs nixed it because of the massive disruption it would cause developers.”
Kahney writes, “What’s new this time is a fast, transparent, universal emulator from Transitive, a Silicon Valley startup. Transitive’s QuickTransit allows any software to run on any hardware with no performance hit, or so the company claims… But why would Apple do this? Because Apple wants Intel’s new Pentium D chips. Released just few days ago, the dual-core chips include a hardware copy protection scheme that prevents ‘unauthorized copying and distribution of copyrighted materials from the motherboard,’ according to PC World. Apple — or rather, Hollywood — wants the Pentium D to secure an online movie store (iFlicks if you will), that will allow consumers to buy or rent new movies on demand, over the Internet. According to News.com, the Intel transition will occur first in the summer with the Mac mini, which I’ll bet will become a mini-Tivo-cum-home-server.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: If Jobs’ WWDC keynote doesn’t hurry the hell up, we might completely lose our minds! Oh, and if Jobs is planning to subject Mac users to a switch to Intel just so Apple can sell and rent movies online, he’d better have a nice thick protective vest on underneath that mock turtleneck.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
MacDailyNews to present live Steve Jobs’ WWDC Keynote coverage – June 06, 2005
RUMOR: Apple planning Mac OS X ‘Tiger’ release for x86 PCs? – February 25, 2005 (Transitive Technologies)
Startup claims ‘near-universal emulator’ allows any software to run all platforms with almost no performance hit – September 13, 2004 (Transitive Technologies)
iPod success opens door to Mac OS X on Intel – March 04, 2004
Why would Apple switch? PowerPC is smaller, more efficient, cheaper than comparable Intel chips – June 05, 2005
Intel Inside Apple Macs? – June 04, 2005
Intel in Macs?! How’s Apple CEO Steve Jobs going to spin that switch? – June 04, 2005
Apple to switch to Intel chips starting in 2006 – CNET [updated] – June 03, 2005
Apple and Microsoft battle for control of future living rooms – June 01, 2005
Anticipation, rumors build ahead of Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ June 6 WWDC keynote – May 27, 2005
Intel CEO Otellini: If you want security now, buy a Macintosh instead of a Wintel PC – May 25, 2005
Analyst: Apple-Intel rumor ‘hogwash’ (today marks 11th month that Jobs’ promised 3GHz G5 is late) – May 23, 2005
Apple bundles videos with select music albums via iTunes Music Store – May 10, 2005
Apple releases iTunes 4.8; now supports QuickTime video along with contact, calendar transfers – May 09, 2005
With Mac mini Apple CEO Jobs attacks the Achilles heel of Windows dominance: the living room – January 14, 2005
Apple Computer will own the living room, not Microsoft – January 10, 2005
Can Apple crack the living-room conundrum before Microsoft? – December 30, 2004
NY Times: Can Steve Jobs put Apple in the center of your living room? – March 23, 2004
The only thing that I am really sure about with the Apple to Intel story is that tonight Steve Jobs is sleeping alot better the Bill Gates is.
Is it possible that Apple can support two architectures?
I know I know – you’re already screaming “no you fool!”
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”rolleyes” style=”border:0;” />
But just ‘hear’ me out…
Is it at all possible that the “Apple Tablet” device seen recently, and also the Mac Mini (or similar) could be designed around an Intel based architecture (with necessary copy-protection imbedded) for an Apple Media server type product for the “lounge room”????
What I am getting at, is that this device could be based on a revised version of OS X, it would be PURPOSE built for media, and could even include a recompiled version of iLife (maybe even iWork).
In this way there is NO NEED for software developers to re-do software, as the PowerMac and iMac line remain on the Power PC platform (I am still wondering what they will do about Altivec – Intel don’t have anything that comes close!).
As this “Apple media server” is OS X based, it could EASILY network with OS X Tiger.
So I know your asking why do it at all??
IBM don’t have the copyright protection system, and as it has been mentioned it is possible this Intel deal is being driven by the “iFilms” possibilities.
To me this does a number of things:
1)Allows Apple to get into the movie equivalent of iTunes Music Store.
2)Sticks a rocket up IBM (i.e. we are committed to the PowerPC architecture, which we still think is superior for computing, however we now have an insurance policy if you guys falter, or start pulling out yourselves)
3)Lets Apple introduce more Windows users to OS X (albeit a Media Server version), and can then “up-sell” them to a PowerPC Apple Mac with OS X tiger (which of course will be able to SEAMLESSLY connect to their Apple Media Server due to Bonjour and the whole Apple experience.
4)If they supply API’s etc to the “media server” version of OS X, 3rd party developers can start to develop OS X on x86 which are multimedia related (i.e. games – Intel gets its chips back in the lounge room!)
5)The whole thing would make the boys at Redmond s$@t bricks!!!
I really think that if you look at what Steve has been doing recently – this is a possible scenario. It lets Steve realise the media centre concept, without making his “real computers” (based on PowerPC) into small boxes to be hidden in a cupboard (you don’t need great industrial design to make a black box in a cupboard). It kicks Microsoft in the shins. It satisfies Hollywood enough about copy-protection to allow Apple to launch “iMovie Film Store”. It works for Intel – they aren’t locked out of the living room by IBM. It puts IBM on notice, keep dragging your heels, and we have a way out. AND most importantly, it opens up new markets (with a new architecture) WITHOUT pissing off the existing Mac fanatics!!!!
Of course its just my 2 cents!
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
Luke
I will beleive it when ThinkSecret reports it – until then it is just a rumour.
Errr… it isn’t about DRM, according to Intel:
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=23708
Guys,
Do you trust Steve jobs’ decision?
Apple Plans to Switch From I.B.M. to Intel for Chips
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/06/technology/06apple.html?th=&emc=th&pagewanted=print&position;=
All this hubbubb= Powerbook G5.
Best. Advertising. Ever.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”shock” style=”border:0;” />
What I find interesting is the tone of the entire discussion…as in, Apple is in potentially really deep sh*t in the mid to long term if they don´t find a solution to their (never before recognized ) Processor problem. A problem that has never been acknowledged by Apple or IBM other than a delay.
Would you have bought your new G5 if you knew that Apple was going to switch to a different, maybe better, processor????
I can see Apple’s next advertising campaign – entitled ‘Mohammed and the Mountain’ …
Steve Jobs… white background… “We’re switching”
Does anyone remember that CNET is abunch o jerks desperately milking anything that gives them headlines?? Look at how yet another one of their articles has got us all warped.
I again say that I will run around our business naked 5 times if Apple makes the switch to Intel.
Anyone with a brain knows it don’t make sense.
Why would Apple switch to Intel when Micro$in, Sony, & Nintendo have switched to a derivitive of the G5 processor. If Intel had something cool up their sleeve, then would’nt their cronies be first in line before Apple?
This WHOLE thing is an elaborate plot by MS, Dell and Intel to try and pull the rug from under Apple. This evil axis want to buy time while XP remains inferior to OSX. All the talk about how better the Intel chips are and how poor the IBM chips are will be extremely damaging for Apple if Jobs does not announce the move to Intel today.
On which basis I sincerely hope that the rumour is true.
(muted) Go Apple!
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”long face” style=”border:0;” />
:ahhhh:
Pipe dreams…
I don’t think any of this speculation means much…
let the chief speak today.
One thing’s for sure…it’ll be a heavy trading day for the AAPL stock if the report rings true.
Better play your cards right.
<:lol:>|<:lol:>
CT†
Pipe dreams…
I don’t think any of this speculation means much…
let the chief speak today.
One thing’s for sure…it’ll be a heavy trading day for the AAPL stock if the report rings true.
Better play your cards right.
<:lol:>|<:lol:>
CTï
Newmanstein: ” I again say that I will run around our business naked 5 times if Apple makes the switch to Intel. “
I sure hope you are a good-looking woman with a nice set of ta-tas! If not, run around Microsoft….
I’m not dumb, I know that we will find out all at the same time. My point is, I have to be in to work at 8 AM. EST, which means 6 hours awake time till the announcement. If I were on the West Coast, only 3 awake hours. My hours pass by much faster when I’m asleep.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”rolleyes” style=”border:0;” />
the news is picked up by the New York Times this morning (Monday) as well as USA Today and New York Daily News, and the New York Post.
If Apple move to intel chips does that mean I could go out and by a Dell whatever Laptop at £300 and install OS X on it?
If so – Apple better be VERY careful if they are gonna go intel – because theyre hardware business with vanish over night!
Bye bye Apple hardware division!
could it be …
… that Intel will make the chip for the Apple Media Center?
Like, kind of a mac mini for renting buying Video & Audio, living room only, with that Intel DRM chip, a stripped down version of OS X, and only Apple will distribute programs, and no other apps run on it / are supposed to run on it?
therefore, a true additional CPU for your household – file swapping with your primary computer is not possible (aside from maybe feeding it your existing MP3 collection, file “export” will be impossible) so no-one else has to write / change / recompile applications (obviously some geeks will find a way sooner or later, Apple will voice it´s anger publicly, but at least it´s won´t have to pay programmers nor p*** off it´s core customers / programmers)
my €.04
Matt
Newmanstein, will you be running around your building immediately after the keynote or will you be scheduling a day this week?
The glory days are over.
It was fun while it lasted.
First of all, since it is such an unbelievably stupid thing to require all software to be re-written to work on a different CPU – you have to figure there is something to address that.
Second, and related, is that NextStep (the real foundation of OS X and SJ’s previous computer company) could run on a varity of platforms and the apps were made as a “Fat Binary” which included everything needed to run on whatever CPU the computer was using (at least this is how my simple understanding has it). Fast forward a decade or so and maybe this is where we are. Sounds fine to me, after all, what does it matter who makes the CPU as long as it runs OS X and all one’s existing software, which it will have to or else Apple will no longer have any business at all?
As far as all the vitriol directed at Intel, take a look inside any Mac and I bet you will see at least a few chips with a big ole Intel printed on them – maybe not a CPU but plenty of other stuff.
What’s wrong with a set of products (like the mini) having an Intel Pentium D aimed towards the home entertainment market, and staying PPC for the personal computing/workstation/server markets?
The likes of mini is the high-volume, low-margin product which will have a proven supplier in Intel. The PPC market (which currently has a better road map) can stay with the PPC.
I also think that WiMax and XScale will make its way into other Apple products, too.
Newmanstein: ” I again say that I will run around our business naked 5 times if Apple makes the switch to Intel. “
It doesn’t count if you do it at 3 a.m.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
It is the OS as many people say,
and
MS makes it money from their software not hardware
Then
Apple should just do likewise and drop their beautiful hardware and fight with what everyone claims it is ” the OS”
I don’t like it but makes sense.