[DrGruv]

Starting today, a new version of Xcode is available that will make "fat" binaries, applications that contain code for both PowerPC and x86 processors. This means all future applications developed using Xcode should be compatible with both current PowerPC Macs and future x86 Macs. Developers still using Metrowerks CodeWarrior will need to move to Xcode.

Rosetta is only used for translating old PowerPC applications to run on the x86 chipset. Future fat binaries will be 100% PowerPC compatible and 100% x86 compatible without needing the Rosetta translation engine.

Apple is not dropping support for PowerPC-based systems. Apple still intends to continue releasing updated systems with PowerPC chips until the transition is complete. Also as mentioned above, "fat" binaries will be available of all new software for the foreseeable future. Therefore, your current hardware will not become obsolete simply because of this move.

Porting some applications to work in the "fat" binary format may take a few minutes; others may take a few weeks. Remember that Apple said the exact same thing about "Carbonizing" apps; so, expect some stragglers to take at least a year or more to complete this move.
Some "big" developers including Adobe and Microsoft have committed to releasing "fat" binaries, but no time frame was announced.


translation please...

[DrGruv]

I guess I would like an audio clarification... the AU spec was just starting to stabilize, with manufactures - finally getting it right within the last few days... seriously... So will my 150+ AU plugs have to be re-written? It was hellish going from VST to AU in Logic....

[faramirtook]

Originally Posted by DrGruv Starting today, a new version of Xcode is available that will make "fat" binaries, applications that contain code for both PowerPC and x86 processors. This means all future applications developed using Xcode should be compatible with both current PowerPC Macs and future x86 Macs. Developers still using Metrowerks CodeWarrior will need to move to Xcode. Rosetta is only used for translating old PowerPC applications to run on the x86 chipset. Future fat binaries will be 100% PowerPC compatible and 100% x86 compatible without needing the Rosetta translation engine. Apple is not dropping support for PowerPC-based systems. Apple still intends to continue releasing updated systems with PowerPC chips until the transition is complete. Also as mentioned above, "fat" binaries will be available of all new software for the foreseeable future. Therefore, your current hardware will not become obsolete simply because of this move. Porting some applications to work in the "fat" binary format may take a few minutes; others may take a few weeks. Remember that Apple said the exact same thing about "Carbonizing" apps; so, expect some stragglers to take at least a year or more to complete this move. Some "big" developers including Adobe and Microsoft have committed to releasing "fat" binaries, but no time frame was announced. translation please...

A "fat" binary is really multiple binaries together in one file that will run on multiple architectures, in this case, PPC and x86. PowerPC is the current Apple architecture, x86 is the one they will be switching to. This Rosetta thing is an emulator that will run one arch's binary on another arch.

"Carbon" and "Cocoa" are the two app "structures" or "toolkits". Could someone more knowledgeable there clear that up more?

[Kickaha]

Translation:

Users won't know any difference. Your apps will work on both kinds of machine.

[Satchmo]

Will my new Intel Inside Mac run Windows XP as well as OSX?

[Brad]

It you have Virtual PC, yeah. Otherwise, probably not (until WINE enters the fray).

[Kickaha]

Um, why not just WINE?

Yeah, suddenly the entire "Well, I can't get Windows app X" argument goes out the window.

[nassau]

and what is WINE?

[Frank777]

Originally Posted by Brad It you have Virtual PC, yeah. Otherwise, probably not (until WINE enters the fray).

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Straight from MacCentral:

Apple also confirmed that they would not stop customers from running Windows on the Intel-based Mac, although the Mac OS will not run on another PC.

“We will not sell or support Windows, but we are not doing anything in the hardware that would preclude someone from using it,” said Moody."

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Windows and Intel available on my next Mac. It's been a rough day.

[Luca]

Originally Posted by nassau and what is WINE?

Not an emulator.





EDIT: Okay, let me say what it is since the name (WINE Is Not an Emulator) already says what it isn't.

WINE is basically a compatibility layer. It's like Classic Mode in OS X. OS 9 and OS X run on the same type of hardware, so it's not a huge chore to run OS 9 applications from within OS X. Virtual PC is an emulator, which means the processor has to emulate a different processor, and that gives a HUGE speed hit. So just as Classic Mode enables you to run OS 9 programs from within OS X (because both OSes are for the same hardware), WINE enables you to run Windows programs from within Linux. I think there's something kind of like this for PPC versions of Linux called "Mac On Linux" that let you run Mac programs from within Linux without a huge speed hit.

WINE on Macs could be huge. HUGE. Don't expect to play the latest games, but ones that aren't too demanding should work fine, as should most other applications. Virtual PC will be rendered obsolete.

[intlplby]

since Apple is essentially a hardware company this is huge for their profits...... they can still make money off their hardware to OS X people, but now they can make money of the windows people who envy the mac hardware.

you know there are a lot of modders out there who envy the apple cases

[DrGruv]

what was the performance per watt part of the keynote - what is it? what does it mean?

[Brad]

Precisely that. Performance of a CPU divided by the wattage of that CPU. It's a ratio, nothing more. It's like an efficiency rating; the higher the number, the better performance you get with a certain amount of power. How "performance" is defined is unknown. It's probably some arbitrary benchmark skewed to make the Pentium look good and the G5 look bad.

[staph]

Originally Posted by Luca WINE on Macs could be huge. HUGE. Don't expect to play the latest games, but ones that aren't too demanding should work fine, as should most other applications. Virtual PC will be rendered obsolete.

Wine already runs on Macs... the thing they were having problems with was binary compatibility, for obvious reasons. I'd expect Darwine to be working on x86 Mac OS pretty quickly.