OS X Hacked and Running on Wintel PCs, Don't Sweat Trusted Computing, Intel's CPU Roadmap, and More

Charles Moore , 2005.08.18

This Week's Mac-on-Intel News

Low End Mac has standardized on "Macintel" as our official informal label for the forthcoming OS X on Intel Macintosh computers, although you'll probably find just as many people calling them "Mactels". Whatever we call them, Apple's decision to switch to Intel CPUs means we live in very interesting times.

PowerBook, iBook, and other portable computing news is covered in The 'Book Review. General Apple and Mac desktop news is covered in The Mac News Review. iPod news is covered in The iPod News Review.

OS X for Intel Unlocked

• OS X for Intel Cracked, Running on PC Hardware
• Pirated Version of OS X for PCs Available
• Hackers Unlock PC Version of Mac OS X
• Hacks Allow OS X on PCs
• OS X for Intel Hacked, Runs on Any PC
• Mac OS X 10.4.1 x86 on VMware 5 and Native
• Just Ignore the Hackers

News, Analysis, and Opinion

• Trusted Computing: Don't Worry
• A Clue to What Apple Is Waiting For?

Tech Developments

• Chipsets Today and Tomorrow
• Intel to Detail New Chips at Conference
• Intel's Dual-Core Yonah Roadmap
• Intel Cuts P4 Prices

OS X for Intel Unlocked

This week's big story - OS X for Intel has been hacked to run on standard Wintel PCs. For Low End Mac's take on this development, see Why OSx86 Is Good for Apple. Also, according to Slashdot, Apple has served a legal notice to MacBidouille, a French website that published information on the hack.

OS X for Intel Cracked, Running on PC Hardware

buildyourownmac.com's pualo says:

"The TPM requirement in Rosetta has been cracked, and all of the other problems worked around. Several people have now reported that they are running OS X successfully under both VMware and real PC hardware.

"Performance is reportedly good, with the machines running stably. HardMac has a couple of good reports, including videos of the system in use...."

• Link: OS X for Intel Cracked, Successfully Running on PC Hardware

Pirated Version of OS X for PCs Available

IDG News Service's Tom Krazit reports:

"Instructions on how to install Apple Computer's Mac OS X operating system on any PC with a chip from Intel or Advanced Micro Devices were posted to the Internet this week, and they could be found on several Web sites today.

"Apple announced in June that Mac OS X will run on Intel's x86 architecture chips starting in 2006. The Cupertino, California, company has been working on a version of Mac OS X for Intel's chips since 2000, even though Macs currently use PowerPC chips from IBM and Freescale Semiconductor. Apple Chief executive Officer Steve Jobs told developers that a switch was necessary to take advantage of the low-power chips Intel is expected to release in the future.

"At the time, Apple executives insisted that Mac OS X would only run on x86 chips used in Apple-developed hardware. Intel PCs distributed to Apple developers with the x86 version of Mac OS X used a security chip to prevent developers from copying Mac OS to other Intel PCs, according to several reports this week from Mac enthusiast sites."

• Link: Pirated Version of Mac OS for PCs Available

Hackers Unlock PC Version of Mac OS X

Web Pro News' David Utter reports:

"Several sources dedicated to all things Macintosh have cited reports of the Mac OS X being modified to work on any Intel-based PC.

"It's a good thing iTunes and iPod have been propelling Cupertino-based computing legend Apple to record profitability. Mac hardware sales may take a slight hit in the future when Apple completes its transition to using Intel processors in its PCs.:

• Link: Hackers Unveil OEM PC Version of Mac OS X

Hacks Allow OS X on PCs

Wired's Mark Baard reports:

"Imagine if your next Mac cost you only $300, and ran faster than any G4 or G5 you've ever used.

"That future may already be unfolding: Hackers have found a way to bypass a chip designed to prevent the Mac OS from running on non-Apple PCs, which are often cheaper than Macs."

• Link: Mac Hacks Allow OS X on PCs

OS X for Intel Hacked, Runs on Any PC

TechWeb News reports:

"Mac enthusiast sites reported Friday that Apple Computer's operating system for Intel-based computers, which is currently in the hands of developers, has both been leaked to the Internet and cracked so that it will run on non-Apple hardware.

"In early June, Apple's chief executive Steve Jobs announced that starting in 2006, the company's Macintoshes will be equipped with Intel microprocessors rather than the current PowerPC chips produced by IBM.

"Although Apple has been vague about whether other operating systems - such as Microsoft's Windows - will run on the new hardware (it has, however, said it will not sell or support other OSes), it was adamant about preventing its own Mac OS X from running on non-Apple computers.

"That may be more difficult than Apple thought."

• Link: Mac OS X for Intel Hacked, Runs on Any PC

Mac OS X 10.4.1 x86 on VMware 5 and Native

xplodenet.com's xplOde says:

"This is the most simple guide to installing Mac OS x86, it looks longer because its very simple if you can browse the Internet and check e-mail you can do this! I made this guide so that more people are able to do this without asking 100 questions during the process by following other guides. This will work on ANY x86 CPU with SSe2 or SSe3 and here is a screenshot (on VMware) and a Video (from native install) on AMD Athlon 64 3200+ oc'd to 3800+, Asus A8N Sli Deluxe, 1 GB ocz RAM. The Instructions in green are for Native installation on your computer and blue for VMware installation. So for native installation follow everything except blue and for VMware follow everything except green, just to make things clear. The reason VMware is required for native installation because it is the only way we can move the content from PearPC Installation HD Image to the actual physical Hard Disk. Warning: If you choose to install it native on your computer, there are less chances of it working since every computer is different and this OS is intended for one specific OS so I recommend installing it on VMware first. After VMware Installation you can install Darwin on Physical HD using VMware and just proceed to Step #9 5th command in white color."

• Link: Mac OS X 10.4.1 Tiger x86 on VMware 5 and Native

Just Ignore the Hackers

Gene Steinberg, the Mac Night Owl, writes:

"The news is spreading like wildfire. Hackers have found a way to make the developer's version of Mac OS X for Intel run on vanilla PC boxes. The stories claim that this proves that Apple won't be able to lock the genie in the bottle. The implication here is that Apple might as well own up to the reality of the situation and simply release Mac OS X as an operating system upgrade for all x86 computers."

• Link: Just Ignore the Hackers

News, Analysis, and Opinion

Trusted Computing: Don't Worry

Gene Steinberg, the Mac Night Owl, writes:

"Before we go any further, I want to make it perfectly clear that I am quite disinterested in those unofficial reports about alleged 'Trusted Computing' hardware on the test Macintels developers have leased from Apple. A host of paranoid speculation has arisen out of such reports, that Apple is going to impose onerous digital rights management requirements that will allow them to know what software you're running, what music you're playing and any other conspiracy theory you can devise."

• Link: Dual Boot Macs? A Downside?

A Clue to What Apple Is Waiting For?

Gene Steinberg, the Mac Night Owl, writes:

"The predictions so far as to what chips will find their way into the first Macs with Intel Inside have been based on what's known about current and future products. But that information appears poised for a huge change, and it's a change that may provide a significant clue as to one of the main reasons Apple is making the switch."

• Link: A Clue to What Apple Is Waiting For?

Tech Developments

Chipsets Today and Tomorrow

Extreme Tech takes an in-depth look at what has transpired and what is to come from such major manufacturers as AMD, Intel, Via, nVidia, ATI and others.

• Link: Chipsets Today and Tomorrow

Intel to Detail New Chips at Conference

CNET News.com's Michael Kanellos reports:

"Intel plans to provide details on a new generation of multicore processors at its semiannual developer conference in two weeks - and in the process highlight how its chip families are coming back together.

"The new chips will start to emerge in the second half of 2006 and sport, among other attributes, greater energy efficiency and better manageability, according to sources familiar with the company's plans. The chips are code-named Merom (for notebooks), Conroe (for desktops) and Woodcrest (for servers)."

• Link: Intel to Detail New Chips at Conference

Intel's Dual-Core Yonah Roadmap

Laptop Logic reports:

"Intel's dual-core Pentium M successor 'Yonah' will ship at 1.67 GHz, 1.84 GHz, and 2.17 GHz when it debuts early next year in 2006...."

• Link: Intel's Dual-Core Yonah Roadmap

Intel Cuts P4 Prices

eWeek reports:

"Intel Corp. over the weekend cut prices on its 64-bit line of desktop processors.

"The Santa Clara, Calif., chip maker reduced the cost of its five single-core Pentium 4 6xx chips from 20.15 percent to 33.72 percent."

• Link: Intel Cuts P4 Prices

More Mac News

PowerBook, iBook, and other portable computing news is covered in The 'Book Review. General Apple and Mac desktop news is covered in The Mac News Review. iPod news is covered in The iPod News Review.