GSMArena.com GSMArena.com

Tip us

1.7m
126k
RSS

EV

Merch

Log in

Login

I forgot my password
Sign up
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Featured
  • Phone Finder
  • Deals
  • MerchNew
  • Coverage
  • Contact
ADVERTISEMENTS

Apple's Macs are moving to ARM-based custom processors

  • Post your comment
  • Comments (67)

Vlad 22 June 2020

Apple macOS Announcement

15 years ago, Apple transitioned from using PowerPC processors for its computers to Intel, and now we are at the point of the start of another such transition. The company plans on using its own custom-designed chips based on ARM, instead of Intel's silicon.

The long-rumored move was made official today at Apple's online WWDC. The first Macs with Apple processors will ship before the end of the year. In the meantime, the company has been busy recreating its apps to run natively on the new platform.

Apple's Macs are moving to ARM-based custom processors

It will needs third party developers to do the same thing, though, which is why it's launching a Quick Start Program for this purpose. It provides access to documentation, forums support, as well as beta versions of macOS Big Sur and Xcode 12, as well as the limited use of a Developer Transition Kit (DTK) which consists of a Mac mini running Apple's A12Z Bionic SoC, paired with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. This program is available now, and costs $500.

Apple says most developers should be "able to easily create a single app that taps into the native power and performance of the new Macs with Apple silicon, while still supporting Intel-based Macs". As for porting from Intel/x86 to ARM, the company expects that most developers will be able to get their apps working in a few days. Of course, when you factor in loads of optimizations, the timeline clearly gets longer. Still, there should be plenty of time until the first ARM Mac hits the shelves.

Apple knows that not all third-party apps will be rewritten for ARM from the get-go, so it's providing a back-up solution in the form of Rosetta 2, which will let you run existing Mac apps that haven't been updated, including those with plug-ins.

Because Macs are switching to ARM, developers will be able to make their iPhone and iPad apps available for Macs without any modifications, and users will get them through the Mac App Store.

Apple's Macs are moving to ARM-based custom processors

Apple's SoCs for Macs will give them "industry-leading performance per watt and higher performance GPUs", while the Neural Engine will help developers use machine learning even more. This move will also create a common architecture across all Apple products, making it theoretically easier for developers to write and optimize software for the entire ecosystem.

macOS Big Sur, also announced today, already has a range of technologies built-in to help this transition, and it will be the OS version to power the first ARM-based Macs. Apple expects the transition from Intel to its custom designs based on ARM to take around two years. In the meantime, the company will launch some more Intel-based Macs too, and says it will support Intel-based Macs for a long time to come.

Source

Related articles
  • iOS 14 gets official with home screen widgets, Picture-in-Picture, App Clips iOS 14 gets official with home screen widgets, Picture-in-Picture, App Clips
  • Apple iPadOS 14 brings redesigned apps and Scribble for Pencil Apple iPadOS 14 brings redesigned apps and Scribble for Pencil
  • watchOS 7 gets sleep tracking, automatic hand washing detection watchOS 7 gets sleep tracking, automatic hand washing detection
  • Watch the Apple WWDC 2020 livestream live here Watch the Apple WWDC 2020 livestream live here

Reader comments

A
  • Alpha18
  • Kxc
  • 11 Oct 2020

Maybe with this translation software called Rosetta 2. CS:GO is originally made in x86-64, and Rosetta 2 will translate it into ARM64 so then it can be run.

  • Reply
A
  • Adul Al Salami Kebab
  • nrX
  • 01 Aug 2020

So umm how will CS:GO run on a ARM based MAC?

  • Reply
s
  • stobs
  • YMu
  • 06 Jul 2020

so basically what you're saying is without TSMC (gutenberg press), Apple wouldn't be able to manufacture more than a handful of macs since they have to do it themselves! albeit at a much smaller scale. perhaps in Woz's room again. effe...

  • Reply
  • Read all comments
  • Post your comment
Total reader comments: 67

ADVERTISEMENTS

Phone finder

  • Samsung
  • Apple
  • Huawei
  • Nokia
  • Sony
  • LG
  • HTC
  • Motorola
  • Lenovo
  • Xiaomi
  • Google
  • Honor
  • Oppo
  • Realme
  • OnePlus
  • vivo
  • Meizu
  • BlackBerry
  • Asus
  • Alcatel
  • ZTE
  • Microsoft
  • Vodafone
  • Energizer
  • Cat
  • Sharp
  • Micromax
  • Infinix
  • TCL
  • Ulefone
  • Tecno
  • Doogee
  • Blackview
  • Cubot
  • BLU
  • Panasonic

All brands Rumor mill

ADVERTISEMENTS

Top 10 by daily interest

  Device Daily hits  
1.Samsung Galaxy A5435,660
2.Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra29,019
3.Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro27,712
4.Xiaomi Redmi Note 1225,645
5.Xiaomi Poco F521,731
6.Apple iPhone X21,011
7.Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max20,152
8.Apple iPhone 1119,716
9.Samsung Galaxy A3419,520
10.Tecno Spark 10 Pro19,327

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Apple's SharePlay for CarPlay opens music streaming to all passengers Apple's SharePlay for CarPlay opens music streaming to all passengers VW America CEO promises no markups on ID. BuzzSmart #3 goes on sale in China - starts at $29,700
ADVERTISEMENTS

Home News Reviews Compare Coverage Glossary FAQ RSS feed Youtube Facebook Twitter Instagram

© 2000-2023 GSMArena.com Mobile version Android app Tools Contact us Merch store Privacy Terms of use Change Ad Consent Do not sell my data