Mac: Switch from Intel to its own processors “Apple Silicon”
from David Haydl 
on June 22, 2020, 21:41 am | Write a comment
In recent weeks, we have often heard that Apple might use its own processors for computers in the future. In fact, Apple announced this change for the Mac today.
If you buy an iMac, a Mac mini, a Mac Pro or a MacBook today, it will be powered by an Intel processor. iPhones and iPads, on the other hand, have completely different processors that are constructed differently and use less battery while providing similar performance. These are so-called ARM chips.
Within the WWDC 2020 Apple has now announced that in the future more and more Macs will be manufactured with in-house ARM processors until the entire line-up consists only of such computers. This brings with it the advantages mentioned above, but it also creates a very big disadvantage - compatibility with software and apps is no longer guaranteed.
To avoid this problem, the new version of Apple's developer tool Xcode allows developers to generate an ARM-capable version of their own app. Apple has been testing how well these versions work throughout the macOS section of the Keynote videos shown. The Mac used there was one with an ARM chip on which customized apps were running. They also showed how pro apps, i.e. the Office suite from Microsoft, Final Cut and Photoshop, performed on the new device. Visually, there is no noticeable difference in performance compared to conventional Apple computers.
A version of Photoshop is already running on the new ARM Macs. (Image: Apple)
But what if developers have not yet adapted an app that is important for the user? That's what Rosetta 2 is for. If you load a non-customized app, Rosetta 2 translates it into an ARM app when you install it. This should still run despite the theoretical incompatibility. Apple also relies on one virtualization of Linux, so that in the worst case one can fall back on versions of apps for this operating system.
Apple has not revealed whether Bootcamp already works with Windows. At least the "Parallels" tool has already been optimized for ARM. Parallels allows you to install an operating system like in a container.
And what about current Intel Macs?
Screenshot: TechnikNews
Despite the change, Apple is not planning to throw out the Macs with Intel processors so quickly. For the time being, Apple will continue to produce computers with these processors over the next two years. proinduce. In addition, macOS should support these chips for many more years to come.
Timeline
That all sounds fine, but when can we expect the first ARM Mac? Apple says the first new Mac should be released towards the end of the current year. The complete switch to ARM is expected to take place within the next two years.