The Editor shares his opinions on Apple developments

#1. Should I panic over the possibility Apple will switch processors in the Mac over the next few years?

In a word, No. For more details, see this article at Appleinsider.com

Apple has changed its processors several times before. It switched processors in 2005 from the Power PC architecture developed by Motorola and IBM to the Intel x86 architecture.

Apple bought the rights to use software (the Rosetta layer) that translated PowerPC commands into Intel code right in OS X 10.4 through 10.6. This enabled me to run Office 2004 and Appleworks 6.2.9 on my then-new Intel MacBook in 2006.

I am sure Apple plans to introduce some software or hardware to translate OS X commands written for Intel processors into the new CPU’s native code.

I also expect Apple to introduce the new Mac models in stages. You’ll see the low-powered Macs; the MacBook, MacBook Air, and Mac Mini come out first. The higher powered Macs will come out later, culminating in the iMac Pro and Mac Pro.

Your current hardware will not expire. I’ve still got a MacBook from 2006 running a 32-bit Core Duo CPU and a really old eMac running a G4. Both work fine, attesting to the durability of Apple’s hardware.

Do not discard your current Mac hardware in anticipation of a processor change. I don’t know what software will run well under the new CPUs. I would expect office software will work well, as did Office 2004 under the Rosetta translation layer. Software requiring more hardware power and speed, such as high-end video and audio editing software and of course, GAMES!, will take a while.

As I said, don’t throw out your current Macs. Save up for the new stuff.

#2: Running iPad and iPhone apps on macOS

Yes, I have read the rumors of a software translation layer called “Marzipan” enabling the use of iPad and iPhone apps on Macs coming with a future version of macOS.

This would go beyond the Ios emulator built into the Xcode development environment.

John Gruber at his site Daring Fireball describes in depth how this idea came about and why it may not work as hoped.

In brief, the App Store for iPad and iPhone apps does great compared to the Mac App Store.

You can only get apps for your iPad or iPhone through the App Store. You could jailbreak your iPad or iPhone to use outside the App Store apps; but most people don’t want the hassle.

By contrast, the Mac App Store takes a 30% cut of the sale and demands the app conform to Apple’s rules for Mac App Store software. Therefore, a lot of developers, such as Cocoatech of Pathfinder fame, don’t bother with the Mac App Store. Neither does Microsoft for Office for Mac.

Amazon provides the Kindle reader software through the Mac App Store for free; but you get the e-books from Amazon directly. Not through Apple.

If Apple can’t get Mac developers and Mac users to use the Mac App Store, it would like to get Mac users to get their apps from the iOS App Store.

The word that you’re looking for to describe this is Ballmeresque. Named after Steve Ballmer, who brought the world Windows 8.

#3-When do I need to panic?

When your mouse, keyboard, or monitor fails; and you don’t have another one to swap in. Until then, you’re cool. Keep using the Apple hardware and software you own.

Tom Briant

Editor, MacValley Blog