Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by Dan Knight
- 2005.12.15
This Week's Macintel News
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 desktops news is covered in The Mac
News Review. iPod news is covered in The iNews Review.
Macintel Launch Reports
News, Analysis, and Opinion
Other Intel News
Macintel Launch Reports
Apple May Speed Macintel Deployment
Donna Fuscaldo of Dow Jones Newswires reports:
"Apple Computer Inc. could unveil a Macintosh computer running on
Intel Corp. (INTC) chips as early as the first quarter of 2006,
according to American Technology Research.
"Shaw Wu, an analyst at American Technology, said in a research
report issued Dec. 9 that one of Apple's computers, based on Intel's
architecture, could be available in the first quarter, ahead of
expectations."
Link:
Apple May Speed Up Intel Deployment
Apple Readies 13" Widescreen Intel iBook
The Register's Tony Smith reports:
"Another day, another Intel-based Mac launch progress rumour. The
latest points to a widescreen iBook, to surface 'early next year'.
"So suggest sources cited by Apple-watching website Think Secret.
Their take on the situation: Apple will deliver a widescreen iBook with
a 13.3in, 1280 x 720 display."
Link: Apple
Readies '13.3in Widescreen Intel iBook'
Jobs May Unveil Intel Macs Early
Bloomberg News's Connie Guglielmo and Ian King report:
"Apple Computer Inc. may introduce Macintosh personal computers with
Intel Corp. (INTC) chips in January, six months earlier than
planned.
"Seven analysts, including Citigroup Inc.'s Richard Gardner, expect
Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs to unveil the systems at Macworld
Expo next month, instead of waiting until June.
"They cited unidentified industry sources and declined to say
whether they received the information from Apple or Intel
employees."
Link:
Apple, Jobs May Unveil Intel Macs Early
News, Analysis, and Opinion
Yonah Launch Date Confirmed
CoolTechZone.com's Varun Dubey reports:
"We recently got in touch with a few Intel Corp. partners and
learned that the much anticipated processor from Intel, codenamed
Yonah, is expected to debut early next year on January 6th. [Editor's
note: That's just one week before Macworld Expo begins.]
"The launch venue is expected to be India....
"Intel's Yonah is a dual-core chip based on the 65nm fabrication
process. Yonah will also mark the first launch with Intel's new
strategy in place - performance per watt."
Link:
Intel Yonah Launch Date Confirmed - Report
Macintel Transition Special Report
MacFixIt says:
"As Apple's move to Intel processors draws near, developers large
and small are rallying their efforts in an attempt to deliver Universal
Binary (able to execute on both PowerPC and Intel processors)
applications before, or as the first x86-based Macs are brought to
market.
"We spoke with a number of small to mid-sized developers who have
already made the transition, already offering their applications in
Universal Binary form. Most indicated an easier-than-expected
re-compilation, though some problems cropped up along the way.
"Many applications a simple re-compile Applications written in Cocoa
without Carbon hooks, legacy code from the 68K to PowerPC transition
and a lack of PowerPC-specific optimization routines generally
determine very facile transition requirements."
Link: Mac OS X
Intel Transition Special Report
Apple May Expand Mac Product Range with Intel
Macworld UK's Jonny Evans says:
"Apple may well ship Intel-powered PowerBooks, iBooks, Mac minis and
Xserves before upgrading its other products, an analyst believes.
"American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu believes the power
management features built-in to Intel processors should help Apple
deliver better products, particularly notebooks. He also suggests Apple
may leverage the new architecture to manufacture a range of new
products for new markets."
Link:
Apple May Expand Product Range Post-Intel
Apple Starting to Shine for Intel
Forbes' Chris Kraeuter reports:
"Intel didn't have much to add to the great holiday-demand debate on
late Thursday, as it predicted only a seasonal sales uptick and stated
the quarter has proceeded pretty much as expected thus far. But there
is a bright spot: excitement about Apple Computer joining the company's
customer ranks is growing.
"A rejuvenated Apple, buoyed by the success of its iPod music
player, is expected to start building computer systems using Intel's
microprocessors sometime next year. Speculation is that actual machines
will be previewed in early January. Both companies will headline events
kicking off the year....
"The possible emergence of a hot new market segment next year - such
as Intel-powered Apple computers with mass-market appeal - would
provide a much-needed growth outlet. Apple sales during its fiscal year
ended in September rose 68%, and the company's shares have been red
hot, more than doubling during 2005 to $74.
"On Thursday, Andy Bryant, Intel's chief financial officer, declined
to say whether the company is shipping its chips to Apple already, but
he did predict a benefit next year. 'We do believe the Apple business,
whatever level we get, will help us grow in our market-share segment
goals,' he said, adding later that he expects to see 'noticeable
revenue in 2006 from [Apple].'"
Link:
Apple Starting to Shine for Intel
OmniGraffle Ready for Upcoming Intel-based
Macs
Architosh Staff report:
"The Omni Group, developers of the award-winning OmniGraffle and
OmniGraffle Professional drawing and technical diagramming
applications, yesterday announced the latest release of those products
to version 4.1. This latest update readies the applications for
compatibility with future Apple Macintosh computers based on Intel
processors.
"Apple has not officially announced the availability of any
Intel-based Mac computers, but the company stated last spring that by
June of 2006, Apple would be introducing its first Intel-based Macs.
However, there has been wide-spread speculation that the company is far
ahead of schedule, leaving many analysts to predict that Steve Jobs may
introduce Intel-based portable computers at Macworld Expo in early
January."
Link: First
Technical Drawing Program Readied for Upcoming Intel-based
Macs
Other Intel News
Intel, AMD Tout Chip Performance Gains
eWeek's John G. Spooner reports:
"Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and IBM are intentionally introducing
strain into their chip-making partnership.
"The two companies on Tuesday detailed some of their work in
developing new chip manufacturing techniques that will boost transistor
performance, yet help limit power consumption, in chips with circuits
knitted together at the 65-nanometer level and below."
Link: Intel, AMD Tout Chip
Performance Gains
Indium/Antimony Compound Boosts Chip
Performance
eWeek's John G. Spooner reports:
"Intel Corp. is trying out new material in an effort to boost chip
performance in the next decade.
"Researchers at the Santa Clara, Calif., chip maker have made
strides in replacing silicon - which for decades has been the backbone
of chip manufacturing - with a compound semiconductor made from a blend
of the elements Indium and Antimony."
Link: Intel Research Shows
Compound Boosts Chip Performance
Intel, AMD Working Toward the Power of
Four
eWeek's John G. Spooner reports:
"The race is on to produce four-core processors for PCs.
"Intel Corp., which is readying a bevy of dual-core chips for
release in systems in the next month, is already plotting a move to
quad cores, which some reports have said could come as soon as early
2007.
"Thus the two main PC processor manufacturers, Intel and its rival
Advanced Micro Devices Inc., appear to be working toward the same goal
of doubling the number of cores their processors can offer customers
during 2007."
Link: Intel, AMD Believe in
the Power of Four
More Mac News
PowerBook, iBook, and other portable computing news is covered in
The 'Book Review. General Apple and
Mac desktops news is covered in The Mac
News Review. iPod news is covered in The iNews Review.
