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Apple Inc. is planning to use its own chips in Mac computers beginning as early as 2020, replacing processors from Intel Corp., according to people familiar with the plans.
The initiative, code named Kalamata, is still in the early developmental stages, but comes as part of a larger strategy to make all of Apple's devices -- including Macs, iPhones, and iPads -- work more similarly and seamlessly together, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. The project, which executives have approved, will likely result in a multi-step transition.
The shift would be a blow to Intel, whose partnership helped revive Apple's Mac success and linked the chipmaker to one of the leading brands in electronics. Apple provides Intel with about 5 percent of its annual revenue, according to Bloomberg supply chain analysis.
Intel shares dropped as much as 9.2 percent, the biggest intraday drop in more than two years, on the news. They were down 6.4 percent at $48.75 at 3:30 p.m. in New York.
No interest in Apple hardware but it would be interesting to see how they implement a hybrid Desktop/Tablet OS DE. I'm sure Ubuntu and Gnome will follow.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by RamiK on Tuesday April 03 2018, @02:54PM
Apple been dropping licensors left-and-right for two years now regardless of how many of their products are using those techs. I can't think of any good technical, business or political reasons for them to stick to ARM all things considered. They're already maintaining their own tool-chain and design their own cores. They already knee deep into heavy silicon patent litigation. And ARM's acquisition by Softbank over the current political climate isn't too favorable either.
It's not that I think they would do poorly choosing ARM. In fact, being optimistic about Mill's belt machines, I can see merit in wanting to avoid any investments in porting efforts for the next couple of years. But assuming there's a porting effort in the works, I'd be terribly disappointing waking up after 3 years only to read how a new mac is coming out using ARM and a monolithic kernel and not much else. I mean, what's the point?
compiling...