Intel

Today in Apple history: Intel and Microsoft face lawsuit for stealing Apple code

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Apple vs. Microsoft was one of the big tech battles of the 1990s.
Apple vs. Microsoft was one of the biggest tech battles of the 1990s.
Photo: Brian Turner/Flickr CC/Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

February 14: Today in Apple history: Intel and Microsoft face lawsuit for stealing Apple code February 14, 1995: Apple Computer extends a lawsuit against developer San Francisco Canyon Company to include Microsoft and Intel. The lawsuit concerns allegedly stolen Apple code that’s used to improve Microsoft’s Video for Windows technology.

The lawsuit comes to a head with Apple threatening a multibillion-dollar lawsuit against Microsoft. Meanwhile, Microsoft CEO Bill Gates threatens to cancel Office for Mac.

Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs introduces original MacBook Pro

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The original MacBook Pro brought innovative features (and stirred up a bit of controversy).
The original MacBook Pro brought innovative features (and stirred up a bit of controversy).
Photo: Apple

January 10: Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs introduces the MacBook Pro January 10, 2006: Steve Jobs unveils the original 15-inch MacBook Pro, Apple’s thinnest, fastest and lightest laptop yet.

Building on the previous PowerBook G4 laptop, the new laptop adds dual-core Intel processors for the first time. The MacBook Pro immediately makes waves in the tech community. And did we mention its awesome MagSafe connector?

Today in Apple history: Secret project ports Mac OS to PCs

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intel
Should Apple have licensed Mac OS back in the early 1990s?
Photo: Thomas Hawk/Flickr CC

December 4: Today in Apple history: Secret Apple project nicknamed 'Star Trek' ports Mac OS to PCs under the code-name 'Macrosoft' December 4, 1992: Apple engineers demonstrate a “proof of concept” of the Mac operating system running on an Intel computer.

More than a decade before Macs will switch to Intel processors, the astonishing feat is part of an aborted plan to make Apple’s software available on other manufacturers’ hardware. Apple ultimately chickens out, fearing (probably correctly) that such a move would hurt Macintosh sales.

Thunderbolt 5 doubles or even triples speed of wired data standard

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Thunderbolt 5 doubles or even triples speed of data transfers
Transfer data at crazy fast speeds with Thunderbolt 5.
Graphic: Intel

Those working with very large files should be pleased that Intel keeps improving the Thunderbolt standard. The newly announced Thunderbolt 5 doubles the speed of its predecessor, and can even go up to three times faster for video connections.

It’s virtually certain Apple will build support the system for high-speed data transfers into future Macs.

Today in Apple history: Apple chooses Intel over PowerPC

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intel
The transition to Intel was a big achievement for Steve Jobs.
Photo: Thomas Hawk/Flickr CC

June 6: Today in Apple history: Apple switches Mac to Intel chips from PowerPC June 6, 2005: Steve Jobs reveals that Apple will switch the Mac from PowerPC processors to Intel.

Speaking at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, Jobs’ revelation reminds the tech world that he is a leader who can get things done. Given Intel’s focus on mobile computing, the move also offers a hint at what Apple’s CEO has planned for the second half of his reign.

iPhone Ultra? Take our money now! [The CultCast]

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Concept art shows what the iPhone Ultra might look like in a promo image for The CultCast, Cult of Mac's weekly Apple podcast.
If the "iPhone Ultra" looks like this, we're in. (Or at least one of us is.)
Concept art: Jonas Daehnert

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Apple’s squinty supreme leader Tim Cook sees room to push the high end of the iPhone market, and you know what that means … iPhone Ultra incoming! We know at least one feature this thing will pack — a big, fat titanium price tag.

Also on The CultCast:

  • A cool mockup shows what that rumored iPhone Ultra might look like.
  • We could get reverse wireless charging on iPhones after all.
  • Insiders explain the messy breakup between Apple and Intel (and reveal the best time to buy a Mac … sorta).

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Our sponsors: Lectric eBikes and CultCloth

  • The Lectric XP 3.0 electric bike will take you up to 45 miles — and up to 28 miles per hour! Get out there and find adventure with Lectric eBikes!
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Apple execs reveal what went wrong with Intel

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Vice President of Platform Architecture and Hardware Technologies at Apple, Tim Millet, standing in the Apple chip lab.
Tim Millet, Apple's vice president of platform architecture and hardware technologies, introduces the new MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips.
Photo: Apple

What pulled Apple away from Intel? In a new interview, Apple executives Tim Millet and Bob Borchers reveal why the company shifted to making its own Mac chips.

Plus, they shed light on what they’re doing to make the Mac a gaming platform once again, how the Apple silicon architecture can make it happen, and when the best time is to buy a new Mac.

Mac enters third year of two-year transition to Apple chips

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Mac enters third year of two-year transition to Apple chips
The Mac Pro still runs on Intel. It's overdue for Apple silicon... whatever the chip gets named.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

At the launch of Apple silicon in 2020, the Mac-maker committed itself to a two-year transition away from Intel processors. Today marks the first day of year three of that transformation but the Mac Pro still uses Intel chips. Apple missed its deadline.

There has not even been a mention from Apple of a replacement macOS workstation with an M-series processor. A few leaked details are all we have.

MacBook Pro and PC rig features designer’s own folding MagSafe stand [Setups]

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This moody shot doesn't show the folding MagSafe stand well, but you can see it in the images below.
This moody shot doesn't show the folding MagSafe stand well, but you can see it in the images below.
Photo: galileogear@Reddit.com

Once in a while a computer setup comes along that shows off its owner’s invention. Sometimes it’s something perfectly utilitarian and sometimes it’s something weird and wonderful (examples below).

In today’s featured MacBook Pro and Intel NUC PC setup, we find a nifty folding MagSafe charging stand just about to go on the market.

3D-render wunderkind Ian Zelbo jacks up performance [Setups]

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Ian Zelbo works on renders on a tricked-out PC in New York City.
Ian Zelbo works on renders on a tricked-out PC in New York City.
Photo: Ian Zelbo

We last wrote about the computer setup of 17-year-old concept creator and render artist Ian Zelbo back in May 2021. As then, the young New Yorker’s 3D renderings of Macs and other leaked tech products continue to amaze viewers online.

But he recently switched things up a bit with the gear he needs to get the job done. Along with a big step up from a 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro to a 14-inch M1 Pro version, he custom-built a PC to do a lot of the heavy lifting in his resource-intensive work.

Apple ditches the 27-inch iMac (for now)

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Apple iMac 2019
A larger iMac with Apple silicon is expected later this year.
Photo: Apple

After gracing us with its jaw-dropping Mac Studio and 27-inch Studio Display on Tuesday, Apple finally discontinued the aging 27-inch iMac. The machine is no longer available to purchase through official Apple retail channels.

It’s probably not gone for good, however. Cupertino is rumored to be working on a larger iMac model that could appear alongside other new Mac models — including a new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro — later this year.

Intel leak reveals plans for more efficient chipsets to take on Apple silicon

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M1 Max chip
Intel is targeting today's M1 chips, but it's not ready to compete yet.
Photo: Apple

Intel is planning to build more efficient mobile chipsets that will better compete with Apple silicon, according to a leaked internal roadmap.

The document outlines plans to take on the 14-inch MacBook Pro specifically with upcoming Arrow Lake processors that are scheduled to launch in late 2023 or early 2024. There just one (rather large) problem with that plan.

Apple loses another key chip designer as Microsoft swoops in

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Groups oppose Apple photo scanning
Why is Apple struggling to hold onto its chip-makers?
Photo: Benjamin Balázs

Another key chip designer has left Apple for Microsoft. Mike Filippo, who joined Cupertino in 2019 after a decade with Arm, is the second processor engineer Apple has lost in as many weeks after Jeff Wilcox left to join Intel.

Filippo will reportedly work on server chips for Microsoft’s Azure group, which is said to be pushing forward with its own silicon for cloud computing services.

Apple sends out celebratory T-shirts to mark 1 year of M1 chip

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Apple M1 t-shirts
A stellar first year for Apple silicon.
Photo: Andy Boretto

Apple engineers and other staffers who helped develop the M1 chip are receiving T-shirts to celebrate its one-year anniversary. The shirts feature a picture of an M1 chip, according to a photo posted to Twitter by a senior Apple worker.

“Every so often, something comes along that changes everything,” reads an accompanying note. “Congratulations and thank you for helping make Apple ‌M1‌ possible!”

The next Mac revolution: Companies rush to buy new M1 machines

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Adobe Photoshop does support the MacBook Pro notch.
"Engineering hours are much more expensive than laptops."
Photo: Apple

The new MacBook Pro lineup is an exceptional upgrade over its predecessors, with new M1 Pro and M1 Max chipsets that offer more mobile computing power than ever before. And big companies are scrambling to reap the benefits.

The likes of Reddit, Twitter and others are rolling out 2021 MacBook Pro units to employees so that they can take advantage of the massive performance gains. “Engineering hours are much more expensive than laptops,” one said.

Apple quietly ditches the 21.5-inch iMac with Intel chip

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21.5-inch iMac 2020
It was the company's most affordable all-in-one.
Photo: Apple

Apple has quietly discontinued its most affordable iMac model. The 21.5-inch device with Intel chip remained available to order following the introduction of the 24-inch M1 iMac in April, but it has now been removed from the Apple Store.

The lower cost all-in-one, which usually starts $1,099, is still available from third-party retailers while stocks last. And if you act fast, you can get yours at a sizable discount right now.

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Early benchmarks show crazy performance gains for Apple M1 Max

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2021 MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips
Up to 181% faster graphics than the last 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Photo: Apple

Buying a new MacBook Pro with a high-end M1 Max chip? You can expect crazy gains in both processing and graphics performance — no matter which Apple notebook you’re upgrading from, according to early benchmarks.

The M1 Max blows all the MacBook chips that came before it — not just those made by Intel, but even Apple’s own M1 — right out of the water, with up to 181% faster graphics than the previous 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Parallels 17.1 brings better Windows 11 support for Intel and M1 Macs

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Parallels Desktop with Windows 11
Grab the newest update today.
Photo: Parallels

Parallels Desktop 17.1 is now available for Mac, bringing improved Windows 11 support for those looking to run Microsoft’s latest operating system on their Mac, whether it’s powered by an Intel or Apple Silicon chip.

The update introduces Virtual Trusted Platform Modules (vTPM) for all future and past Windows 11 virtual machines — complying with Windows 11’s system requirements that call for a vTPM chip.

Ridiculous Intel ad makes Apple fans look like complete morons

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Intel vs. Apple ad
What?! This laptop that runs Windows wasn't made by Apple? No way!
Photo: Intel

Butthurt Intel just squeezed out another of its desperate taking-a-stab-at-Apple ads, and it might just be the worst one yet. It paints Apple fans as complete morons.

“Is this real life right now?” one user asks when shown a colorfully lit room filled with Windows machines.

The “real people” brought in for Intel’s “Social Experiment,” despite being apparent Mac users, all appear flabbergasted when told the Windows-powered laptops they’ve been shown aren’t made by Apple. Ugh.

Intel chief accidentally spills big upgrade for Thunderbolt 5

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MacBook Thunderbolt 3 ports
Speeds of up to 80 Gbps?
Photo: Apple

Thunderbolt 5 could double the speed of data transfers in future Mac and iPad Pro models, according to an accidental leak from one Intel executive.

The technology will use the same USB-C connector we’re now accustomed to, but with double the effective bandwidth — from 40 Gbps in Thunderbolt 4 to a staggering 80 Gbps.

Apple Silicon is driving down Intel’s computer market share

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Apple silicon will power future Mac desktops and laptops
Apple Silicon is good for Apple and its customers. Bad for Intel.
Screenshot: Apple

Intel will experience a big decline in market share in 2022 as Apple further shifts away from Intel processors to Apple Silicon, Digitimes reports. It suggests that Intel will lose close to half its Apple orders this year. This is en route to Apple ditching all its Intel orders in the near future.

Intel urges gamers to dump Mac for Windows

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Intel urges Mac gamers to switch to Windows
Intel seriously disses Mac gaming.
Photo: Intel

Intel struck a blow against Apple by pointing out how weak Mac gaming is. The chip-maker held a presentation at Computex 2021, during which it said Windows laptops offer a “better gaming experience than 100% of Mac laptops.”

This will likely damage any remaining relationship the Intel has with Apple. But this was already in tatters as macOS transitions to Apple’s M-series processors and away from Intel ones.

Pick up an Intel-powered iMac refurb from just $439.99 today only

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iMac
Bag yours before they're all gone!
Photo: Apple

Not interested in a new iMac powered by Apple’s M1 chip? Or simply shopping for an upgrade on a budget? Check out Woot’s latest sale on Intel-powered iMac refurbs, where prices start at a mere $439.99.

The sale is good for today only so don’t miss out!

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