Robert X. Cringely thinks that Apple will offer virtualization in Mac OS 10.5, but in order to do that, he thinks Apple will need to drop Mach. "So Apple will at least offer the option for users to run a virtualized version of Windows Vista atop OS X. Don't be surprised, either, to see that OS X 10.5 has a new kernel, finally giving up Mach and a big piece of its NeXTstep heritage. I write this for one thing - because OS X has kernel problems and needs some help, especially with swap space. I say it also because of the departure of Avie Tevanian, Apple's chief software technology officer, and the guy who hung onto Mach for so long." The Mach kernel has recently been the target for complaints; esp. in server duties, OSX' kernel lags behind significantly compared to i.e. Linux.
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RE: Linux is an absolute no go
Member since:2005-10-02
Member since:2005-10-02
DOH!
Linux is not GPL. It's GPL with an exception.
Apart from that you're spreading FUD. GPL is perfectly legal, and in no way a "kind of legal no man's land". It has so far not failed in court anywhere. And the GPL it self is pretty clear (LGPL is much more complicated).
I know how much you hate GPL and I've read the nonsense you've written on skyos.org, but puhlease... Get a grip on yourself, and start behaving properly.
I do agree though, that Apple would never use Linux as the kernel. The Linux kernel tends to evolve in too many different directions to be interesting for Apple. But this is a technical issue and not a licensing issue.
Member since:2005-06-29
I'm not talking about whether or not the GPL can hold up in court. I'm talking about how different people intepret the GPL in different ways. THAT means it's a legal no man's land, because judge A might intepret the GPL in a different way than judge B.
I know how much you hate GPL and I've read the nonsense you've written on skyos.org, but puhlease... Get a grip on yourself, and start behaving properly.
Ah right, we get someon who read a few posts on the SkyOS boards and who thinks he knows me. Tone it down there, sonny. I've been active in that community for quite a longer time than you have, so don't act like you're some sort of expert on SkyOS.
And no, I don't hate the GPL. The license is just not suited for Apple, that's it.
Member since:2005-11-10
Apple's way of doing things-- that is, total control over every aspect, from the bits on your harddrive to the mouse you use to navigate the interface
Thom, how does Apple control what "bits" I have on my hard drive? (By "bits" I assume you mean my files and programs?)
And how does Apple control what mouse I use to navigate the Interface?
I don't understand this "total control" myth. I can use any brand of notebook harddrive in my Mac mini, any brand of RAM, any brand of monitor, speakers, microphone, mouse, keyboard, and printer. Apple does not get to make those decisions for me. They may provide me with their defaults, but they in no way prevent me from using something else.
Member since:2005-10-12
Member since:2005-08-20
It's impossible, for one, single, simple reason, and I don't care if I get flamed for saying it:
GPL.
It's good that you don't care about getting flamed because that is a nonsense statement. As has already been pointed out, Apple uses plenty of gpled code.
I'm sure they do prefer bsd stuff, but saying the gpl makes it impossible is just dumb.
"The Internet is one of the most transformative technologies of our lifetimes. But for 2 out of every 3 people on earth, a fast, affordable Internet connection is still out of reach. And this is far from being a solved problem. There are many terrestrial challenges to Internet connectivity - jungles, archipelagos, mountains. There are also major cost challenges. Right now, for example, in most of the countries in the southern hemisphere, the cost of an Internet connection is more than a month's income. Solving these problems isn't simply a question of time: it requires looking at the problem of access from new angles. So today we're unveiling our latest moonshot from Google[x]: balloon-powered Internet access." Insane.
"MineAssemble is a tiny bootable Minecraft clone written partly in x86 assembly. I made it first and foremost because a university assignment required me to implement a game in assembly for a computer systems course. Because I had never implemented anything more complex than a 'Hello World' bootloader before, I decided I wanted to learn about writing my own kernel code at the same time. Note that the goal of this project was not to write highly efficient hand-optimized assembly code, but rather to have fun and write code that balances readability and speed. This is primarily accomplished by proper commenting and consistent code structuring." Just cool.
Jon Rubinstein, former CEO of Palm: "Well, I'm not sure I would have sold the company to HP. That's for sure. Talk about a waste. Not that I had any choice because when you sell a company you don't get to decide that. Obviously, the board and shareholders decide that. If we had known they were just going to shut it down and never really give it a chance to flourish, what would have been the point of selling the company? I think the deal we had with Verizon really hurt us, but who knew that at the time? These things are all hindsight.""And so it is with Dell's Alienware X51 R2, a small form factor gaming PC in console digs. It's shaped similar to Microsoft's Xbox 360 Slim, and though it's slightly larger than either a 360 or PlayStation 3, the X51 R2 would be right at home in a living room setting nestled next to a large screen TV. Indeed, it's adept at running Steam's Big Picture mode, and if your primary objective is to play games in the living room, go ahead and consider the X51 R2 a hybrid game console." This is obviously not the only machine like this - still, these are very valid console alternatives even for those that don't like being hunched over with a cramped WASD-claw. Also, PC gamers among us: could you get away with the $699 model for gaming?
From Bloomberg: "Microsoft, the world's largest software company, provides intelligence agencies with information about bugs in its popular software before it publicly releases a fix, according to two people familiar with the process. That information can be used to protect government computers and to access the computers of terrorists or military foes." The lid has officially been blown off.
"The key takeaway we've reached (after two less than 24 hours playing with the iOS 7 Beta release) is this - every App must consider even basic updates to its UI to survive in a post-iOS 6 world." Great. Telling developers to update their entire application - user interface and behaviour alike - to target a look and behaviour that isn't final yet. Seems like potential for a lot of wasted work here."Overall the app is really basic, and designed for on the go editing. Microsoft says it's not planning to create an iPad version, noting that tablet users can utilize the Office Web Apps instead. We'd like to see some additional options for editing, including more clear options for text formatting and the ability to insert and change images, but it's a solid attempt for something you're only really going to use for editing in emergencies." A resounding meh can be heard from all over the world."Today, most people are using modern browsers that support the majority of the latest web technologies. Better yet, the usage of legacy browsers is declining significantly and newer browsers stay up to date automatically, which means the leading edge has become mainstream. Given these factors we've decided to retire Chrome Frame, and will cease support and updates for the product in January 2014." Eh.The Next Web: "First of all, many of the new icons were primarily designed by members of Apple's marketing and communications department, not the app design teams. From what we've heard, SVP of Design Jony Ive (also now Apple's head of Human Interaction) brought the print and web marketing design team in to set the look and color palette of the stock app icons. They then handed those off to the app design teams who did their own work on the 'interiors', with those palettes as a guide. We've also been hearing that there wasn't a whole lot of communication between the various teams behind say, Mail and Safari. And that there were multiple teams inside each group that were competing with various designs, leading to what some see as inconsistencies in icon design. Those may well be hammered out in days ahead." What. Reminds me of how Microsoft does (used to do?) things.
"The German Parliament, the Bundestag, has introduced a joint motion against software patents. The resolution urges the German government to take steps to limit the granting of patents on computer programs. In the resolution, the Parliament says that patents on software restrict developers from exercising their copyright privileges, including the right to distribute their programs as Free Software. They promote the creation of monopolies in the software market, and hurt innovation and job creation." After New Zealand, we now have one of the most powerful economies in the world moving to ban software patents for all the reasons smart people have been outlining for years. also: "The government should also push to ensure that software is covered by copyright alone, and that patent offices (including the European Patent Office) stop granting patents on software." Germany is not a country the EU can ignore. Very good news, this.
Member since:
2005-06-29
Apple will NEVER switch to using Linux as the kernel for OSX. It's impossible, for one, single, simple reason, and I don't care if I get flamed for saying it:
GPL.
Whether people like it or not, the GPL has restrictions that do not fit into Apple's way of doing things-- that is, total control over every aspect, from the bits on your harddrive to the mouse you use to navigate the interface. This is a good thing, in my opinion, as it creates a very seamless user experience that I personally really enjoy. But with using Linux, they would have to comply with a very strict license, and they'll have millions of pairs of OSS eyes watching their every step.
Remember how Apple did not release the x86 sources to the latest Darwin releases? Do you think that is possible when they use the Linux kernel? Hell no.
Secondly, but no less important, the GPL is kind of a legal no man's land. People intepret the GPL in different ways, which means that Apple will be much more vulnerable to legal threats. And if there's one thing shareholders and investors do not like, it's legal no man's lands.
Linux is an absolute no go. Forget it, it ain't gonna happen.