x86 posts

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Apple, iPhone

Rumor: iPhone may get x86 processor, and pigs might fly

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Mar 12th, 2008

The Inquirer isn't just counting their chickens before they hatch -- they're counting all the feathers, the chicken feet, and even the eggs of those chickens, too. When we first heard that the slide you see above (reportedly from a CeBit presentation from Intel) apparently meant that Apple was going to put an Intel x86 "Moorestown" processor in the iPhone, we did a double take, and then a triple take (how is the iPhone not the one labeled "Premium Smartphone?"), and then we said, "they're kidding, right?"

But no, apparently they weren't: Apple Insider has jumped on the x86Phone bandwagon as well (granted, they originally jumped in December of last year). It took Apple about ten years to decide to switch its computer line to Intel chips, but if you're willing to believe the reasoning on this one (and personally, I'm not), it's only going to take a tenth of that to decide that the iPhone needs an x86 chip, too.

[Via Techmeme]

Tags: apple, cebit, chickens, intel, iphone, moorestown, rumor, transition, x86

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion

Mac OS X on Beige Boxes; An Excellent Essay

by Damien Barrett (RSS feed) on Mar 16th, 2006

An excellent essay written by Codepoet at MacGeekery.com popped up on my news radar today: Should Apple Sell Mac OS X For Beige Boxes. And I'm shocked that at the time of this writing, its read count is only 56. This essay is too well-written and makes too many cogent points to have only been read 56 times. The author makes a compelling argument for why Apple shouldn't sell Mac OS X for computers other than Macs. Go read it.

What, are you still here? Go read this essay!

Tags: beige boxes, clones, mac os x, MacOsX, x86

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Security

eWeek: Macs with Intel chips are still safe

by Dan Pourhadi (RSS feed) on Jan 31st, 2006

A few days ago, eWeek posted a story (emphasis on "story") claiming rather speculatively that Apple's move to Intel chips "could open the door to more attacks against computers running the company's OS X operating system."

But someone at eWeek must've fallen asleep at the helm, as it seems a little common sense has found its way onto their pages: eWeek security columnist Larry Seitzer penned a piece titled "Move to Intel a Security Non-Issue for Apple," debunking the myths of the previously mentioned article. Seitzer writes rather bluntly, "Claims like these raise basic questions about what creates a vulnerability in an operating system and how attackers exploit them. The short answer is that rarely, if ever, are the existence of vulnerabilities related to the specifics of one processor architecture versus another."

Everyone I've spoken to about this issue tells me confidently that, yes, a low-level x86 "virus" could be written to affect both Windows- and Mac-based machines. But the likelihood of such an occurrence is improbable at best. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Check out Seitzer's column for a lot of over-the-head facts and convincing reasons why the Mac will still be safe, even after the unholy switch to 'Evil Processors'.

[via MacDailyNews]

Tags: intel, security, x86

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, OS

Jumping on the bandwagon: OS X on x86! OMG!

by C.K. Sample, III (RSS feed) on Aug 12th, 2005

So, everyone is posting about OS X running on x86. Wired picked it up today. Our sibling blogs Engadget and DownloadSquad both beat Wired to the punch on it. It's even getting a lot of attention on digg. So, why hasn't TUAW posted about it yet?

Well, I think we TUAWers are all suffering from the boy who cried wolf syndrome. Ever since the Mactel switch was revealed, there have been numerous rumors popping up saying, OMG! Developer OS X leaked and running on Windoze box!!! Get the torrent here!!!, but many people have been surprised by goatse at the end of a long download (and no one ever wants to see that). This most recent rash of reports may very well be true, but the thrill is gone for us. We all have OS X running on nicely styled metal Apple machines. Why get excited about running it on a clunkily designed plastic Dell?

I don't know about everyone else on team TUAW, but the next time you see a post from me about running OS X on a PC, it'll be when I actually have done the hack myself and have it running with tons of pics and performance notes.

Tags: mactel, OS+X, OSX, x86

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