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  • Apple Kills Sideloading iOS Apps On macOS

    Apple Kills Sideloading iOS Apps On macOS

    Apple has made modifications to prevent users from sideloading iOS apps on the new M1 Macs.

    Apple introduced new Macs running its custom M1 chip in November. The M1 is based on the same chips the company has been using for years in the iPhone and iPad. As a result, one big benefit of Apple’s processor switch is the ability to run iOS apps on the Mac.

    While Mac users were excited to suddenly have access to the vast catalog of iOS apps, developers do have the option to prevent their apps from showing up in the Mac App Store. Many have done this as a temporary measure, as they have not modified their apps to look and function well on bigger screens. Others need changes to function well in a non-touch environment.

    Enterprising users found ways of getting around developer blocks by using tools, such as iMazing, to connect their iPhone or iPads to their Macs and bring an app’s IPA file over to the Mac, essentially installing it. Needless to say, developers that had chosen not to have their apps show up on the Mac App Store were not happy, and Apple has now taken steps to rectify the situation, according to 9to5Mac.

    Starting Friday, Apple made a server-side change to the App Stores that will now prevent Macs from running sideloaded apps. Mac users are sure to be disappointed although, hopefully, developers will put in the effort to make sure their apps look good on macOS and allow them to be installed legitimately.

  • CES 2021: Intel Announces New Processor Families, Takes On Arm

    CES 2021: Intel Announces New Processor Families, Takes On Arm

    Amid its escalating issues, Intel has announced new processor families, including one obviously aimed at Arm designs.

    Intel has been experiencing a slew of problems, from supply issues to security flaws to possibly outsourcing their production to TSMC or Samsung. The company has also faced increased pressure from a resurgent AMD, as well as Arm Holdings, whose designs are used by Apple in iPhones, iPads and now Macs. In spite of that, Intel is working hard to regain its position as the most innovative chipmaker in the industry.

    At CES 2021, Intel announced four new processor families. The vPro platform is the 11th Gen Intel chip aimed at businesses, offering the best performance. The Evo vPro platform is aimed at business laptop users, offering optimizations to improve battery life, responsiveness and instant wake features.

    Intel also teased its 12th generation chip, the Rocket Lake and Alder Lake lines. The Rocket Lake is a series of desktop processors, and will be aimed at gamers, PC enthusiasts and those who require the fastest performance.

    The most interesting addition, however, is the Alder Lake line. Intel describes it as “the next-generation processor that represents a significant breakthrough in x86 architecture and Intel’s most power-scalable system-on-chip. Due in second half of 2021, Alder Lake will combine high-performance cores and high-efficiency cores into a single product. Alder Lake will also be Intel’s first processor built on a new, enhanced version of 10nm SuperFin and will serve as the foundation for leadership desktop and mobile processors that deliver smarter, faster and more efficient real-world computing.”

    If that sounds familiar, it should. The combination of high-performance and high-efficiency cores is the same design principle Apple has touted with its Arm-based custom silicon it uses across its various devices. Apple’s new Arm-based M1 Macs have been met with rave reviews, smashing competitors, in both performance and battery life. It’s little wonder that Intel wants to offer a chip that more directly competes.

    If Intel can pull off its plans, the company could well regain some of the standing it once had.

  • Intel In Talks With TSMC and Samsung to Outsource Chip Production

    Intel In Talks With TSMC and Samsung to Outsource Chip Production

    Intel is in talks with TSMC and Samsung to produce some of the company’s chips.

    Intel has fallen on hard times of late. Once the undisputed leader of the semiconductor industry, the company has struggled to keep up with demand, has been plagued with security issues, lost one of its most high-profile customers, seen an exodus of its top chip engineers and experienced difficulties moving to 7nm processors.

    Intel’s troubles have led the company to consider outsourcing production of its chips to outside companies, something that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. In October, CEO Bob Swan said the company was looking at outsourcing and would make a decision in the next couple of months.

    According to Bloomberg Intel is now in talks with both TSMC and Samsung to outsource its production to them. The talks with Samsung, whose abilities still lag behind TSMC, are described as preliminary.

    It’s unclear how much business TSMC could take on. TSMC is the company Apple outsources production of its custom silicon, now used in iPhones, iPads and Macs. As a result, reports indicate that Apple has already booked some 80% of TSMC’s 5nm production, raising questions about how much of Intel’s business TSMC could absorb.

    While Intel is still holding out hope it will be able to turn things around and keep production in-house, it’s an amazing fall for one of the titans of the semiconductor business.

  • UK Watchdog Investigating Nvidia’s Purchase of Arm Holdings

    UK Watchdog Investigating Nvidia’s Purchase of Arm Holdings

    Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is launching an investigation into Nvidia’s acquisition of Arm Holdings.

    Arm Holdings is the UK’s most successful tech firm, and is at the center of the semiconductor industry. The company’s chip designs are used in iPhones, iPads, Macs, Android phones, servers and more. The company is, along with AMD, responsible for Intel’s fall as the world’s dominant chipmaker.

    Nvidia and Arm made headlines in September when it was announced Nvidia would acquire Arm for $40 billion. The announcement was greeted with skepticism and denunciation from many corners of Britain, as well as the the industry, with Arm’s co-founder calling the deal an “absolute disaster.” In addition to the 3,000 UK jobs at stake, many are worried about the possibility of Arm’s neutrality being corrupted.

    Arm doesn’t manufacturer any of its own chips, unlike Intel and AMD. Instead, it licenses its designs to companies throughout the tech industry, who then manufacture chips based on those designs. As such, Arm is the chipmaking equivalent of Switzerland, working with everyone and excluding no one. Many industry experts are concerned that may change under Nvidia, a company that has a vested interest in preventing competitors from using Arm’s designs to gain any advantage over it.

    In addition, with the ongoing nationalization of technology — as evidenced by the US cutting off China-based Huawei from its chip suppliers — there is concern within the UK of their premier tech company being under the control of a US-based company.

    These concerns have now culminated in the CMA launching an investigation, according to The Guardian. As part of their investigation, the CMA is calling “for interested parties to submit views on the contentious deal before the launch of a formal investigation later this year.”

    It remains to be seen how the CMA will rule. However, given the stakes for the British tech industry, as well as the tech industry at large, it seems likely the CMA may seek to block the deal.

  • Intel’s Troubles Mount As Hedge Fund Urges Action

    Intel’s Troubles Mount As Hedge Fund Urges Action

    Third Point LLC, an activist hedge fund, is urging Intel to make changes to address its falling status in the chipmaking industry.

    Once the undisputed leader in chipmaking, Intel’s processors were used in everything from mobile devices to PCs to servers. Unfortunately for the company, it failed to keep up with changes in the industry, especially with the rise of mobile processing.

    Designed by Arm Holdings, ARM chips are known for their outstanding performance to power consumption ratio. ARM-based chips power iPhones, iPads, Android devices and, most recently, computers. In the case of Apple’s Mac platform, the ARM-based M1 offers superior performance to comparable Intel chips while using a fraction of the energy. The result are machines that run cooler and have much longer battery life.

    Intel, in contrast, has struggled to offer that winning combination of performance and efficiency. The company struggled to move to 7nm processors, has had issues keeping up with demand and been plagued with “unfixable” security issues. The company has also lost some of its best engineers, including Jim Keller and Murthy Renduchintala.

    To make matters worse, AMD has been chipping away at some of Intel’s stronghold markets, especially with its Ryzen line of chips. The Ryzen 3000 took aim at the desktop, the 4000 series made headway in the mobile market and the 5000 is challenging Intel in the gaming market. Meanwhile, the Threadripper Pro is challenging Intel’s server dominance.

    Intel’s issues have reached the point where the company is even considering outsourcing its chip production.

    Third Point CEO Daniel Loeb wrote to Intel’s chairman, Omar Ishrak, urging the company to take action to address its issues, according to Reuters.

    “Without immediate change at Intel, we fear that America’s access to leading-edge semiconductor supply will erode, forcing the U.S. to rely more heavily on a geopolitically unstable East Asia to power everything from PCs to data centers to critical infrastructure and more,” Loeb wrote.

    One of the suggested remedies was “separating its chip design from its semiconductor fabrication plant manufacturing operations, according to the sources. This could include a joint venture in manufacturing, according to the sources.”

    It’s unclear if Intel will respond, although Third Point’s nearly $1 billion stake in Intel could make it hard to ignore. Either way, one thing is clear: Intel must figure out a way to turn its business around before it’s too late.

  • Firefox 84 Offers Full Support For M1 Macs

    Firefox 84 Offers Full Support For M1 Macs

    Mozilla has released the latest update to Firefox, bringing full compatibility with Apple’s M1 Macs, as well as significant performance improvements.

    The M1 chip is Apple’s custom silicon, based on the same ARM designs Apple uses in its iPhone and iPad. While M1-based Macs can run software designed for Intel chips, and run it well, the best performance is obtained by recompiling an app so it runs natively on the M1.

    Microsoft just made headlines with its announcement that Microsoft 365 has been updated to run on the M1 natively, and now Firefox has made the jump as well. The company outlined the benefits in its release notes:

    Native support for macOS devices built with Apple Silicon CPUs brings dramatic performance improvements over the non-native build that was shipped in Firefox 83: Firefox launches over 2.5 times faster and web apps are now twice as responsive (per the SpeedoMeter 2.0 test). If you are on a new Apple device, follow these steps to upgrade to the latest Firefox.

    As one of the most privacy-focused browsers on the market, it’s good to see Firefox updated for Apple’s new chip.

  • Microsoft 365 Ready For the M1 Macs

    Microsoft 365 Ready For the M1 Macs

    Microsoft has updated Microsoft 365, bringing compatibility with Apples M1-equipped Macs.

    The M1 is Apple’s custom silicon, based on the same ARM chips it has been using for years in the iPhone and iPad. Apple announced the transition at WWDC 2020, and unveiled the first models in November. Early testing indicates the M1 Macs are easily outpacing their Intel counterparts.

    One of the most important applications on the Mac is Microsoft’s productivity suite. Fortunately for M1 Mac users, 365 is now ready for the new machines.

    “We are excited to announce that starting today we are releasing new versions of many of our Microsoft 365 for Mac apps that run natively on Macs with M1,” writes Bill Doll, Senior Product Marketing Manager for Microsoft 365. “This means that now our core flagship Office apps—Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote—will run faster and take full advantage of the performance improvements on new Macs, making you even more productive on the latest MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini. The new Office apps are Universal, so they will continue to run great on Macs with Intel processors. The apps are not only speedy, but they also look fantastic as they have been redesigned to match the new look of macOS Big Sur. Here is a peek at Outlook on the new 13-inch MacBook Pro.”

    This is good news for Mac users and Microsoft, and is hopefully just the first of the major apps making the jump to the M1.

  • iOS 14.2 Features JIT Compilation, Aiding Emulation Apps

    iOS 14.2 Features JIT Compilation, Aiding Emulation Apps

    iOS 14.2 features Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation, which should significantly speed up emulation app performance.

    JIT compilation involves compiling code while the application is running, as opposed to building the application ahead of time, as in Ahead-Of-Time (AOT) compilation. This gives developers more flexibility, as JIT compilation has some of the advantages of an interpreted language, such as Perl, Ruby, PHP and others. At the same time, JIT offers performance on par, or nearly on par, with AOT compilation, making it a much better option for apps that emulate other operating systems.

    Riley Testut, the creator of Apple App Store alternative AltStore, found the change in iOS 14.2 that enables JIT compilation. Testut’s work focuses on allowing iOS users to sideload apps without jailbreaking their devices. The AltStore does this by using a method Apple created to allow developers to load their own apps on to devices.

    Testut was quick to point out that JIT compilation will allow iOS users to run emulators without jailbreaking.

    Apple has yet to formally announce JIT compilation in iOS 14.2, so it remains to be seen what their plans are. It’s entirely possible this is simply a developer tool that Testut has figured out how to exploit. Or Apple may have some long-term plans for the future.

  • Microsoft Excel Beta Now Supports Apple Silicon

    Microsoft Excel Beta Now Supports Apple Silicon

    Microsoft has released the latest beta of Excel, including support for Apple’s custom silicon chips.

    At WWDC Apple announced it was moving away from Intel’s chips in favor of its own for its Mac platform. Next week’s “One More Thing” event is widely believed to be when Apple will release the first of the new machines.

    Apple’s custom silicon is based on ARM chips—the same designs used in the iPad and iPhone. Apple is including a compatibility layer, Rosetta 2, that will allow Intel-based apps to run on the new chips. However, applications must be recompiled for the new architecture to be considered native and provide maximum performance.

    As one of the most important Mac software developers, Microsoft is already working to ensure Office is compatible with the new machines. In particular, according to release notes, the SQL Server ODBC data connection is now compatible with Apple’s new chips.

    The built-in SQL Server ODBC data connection provider will now support the new Apple Silicon devices as well as the TLS v1.2 communication protocol. This feature provides support for SQL Server ODBC data connections to work properly on new devices that have Apple Silicon processors, as well as support for SQL Servers that require secure connections via the TLS v1.2 protocol.

    This is good news for users wanting to upgrade and hit the ground running as soon as the new machines are available.

  • Apple Reports Record Quarter on Strong Mac, iPad and Services

    Apple Reports Record Quarter on Strong Mac, iPad and Services

    Apple reported its quarterly results, turning in a record quarter on strong Mac, iPad and Services.

    Apple reported $64.7 billion in revenue, a record for the fiscal fourth quarter, coming in at $0.73 earnings per diluted share. This amounted to a net profit of $12.7 billion.

    The one disappointing part of the report was iPhone revenue, coming in at $26.4 billion. This was down from $33.4 billion in the year-ago quarter, a nearly 21% decline. It’s likely, however, that many customers were holding off for the iPhone 12, with its 5G compatibility. If so, the next quarter could well come in as a super-cycle upgrade quarter.

    On the other end of the spectrum, Mac, iPad and Services were up. The Mac accounted for $9 billion, a 28% increase over the year-ago quarter. Similarly, the iPad represented $6.8 billion, a 46% increase from the year-ago quarter.

    Services were the star of the show, coming in at $14.55 billion, a 16.3% increase over the year-ago quarter. For perspective, that puts Services as second only to the iPhone as part of Apple’s business. As the smartphone market has become saturated, Apple has been emphasizing the importance of Services for its long-term business. This quarter’s results highlight that it’s strategy is paying off.

    “Apple capped off a fiscal year defined by innovation in the face of adversity with a September quarter record, led by all-time records for Mac and Services,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Despite the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, Apple is in the midst of our most prolific product introduction period ever, and the early response to all our new products, led by our first 5G-enabled iPhone lineup, has been tremendously positive. From remote learning to the home office, Apple products have been a window to the world for users as the pandemic continues, and our teams have met the needs of this moment with creativity, passion, and the kinds of big ideas that only Apple can deliver.”

    “Our outstanding September quarter performance concludes a remarkable fiscal year, where we established new all-time records for revenue, earnings per share, and free cash flow, in spite of an extremely volatile and challenging macro environment,” said Luca Maestri, Apple’s CFO. “Our sales results and the unmatched loyalty of our customers drove our active installed base of devices to an all-time high in all of our major product categories. We also returned nearly $22 billion to shareholders during the quarter, as we maintain our target of reaching a net cash neutral position over time.”

  • YouTube.com Restores iOS Picture-in-Picture Compatibility

    YouTube.com Restores iOS Picture-in-Picture Compatibility

    YouTube.com has restored iOS picture-in-picture (PiP) functionality after disabling it in September.

    iOS provides the ability to watch video in a mini-window while working in other apps. While this feature has been available on iPads for some time, iOS 14 finally brought the feature to iPhones.

    As MacRumors reports, Google appears to have restricted the feature to Premium YouTube subscribers in September. While Google appears to have reversed the decision, it only applies to watching YouTube via Safari on iOS 14. The YouTube app does not support PiP, nor has it ever supported it.

    MacRumors makes the point that there is no way to know if this reversal is permanent, as Google has not made any announcements either way. In the short term, at least, iOS users will be able to enjoy some video-watching multitasking.

  • Apple Turns in Record-Breaking June Quarter

    Apple Turns in Record-Breaking June Quarter

    Apple released its earnings report for the June quarter, and it was good news coming out of Cupertino.

    Apple smashed its previous June quarter results, thanks to strong growth in both Products and Services.

    “Apple’s record June quarter was driven by double-digit growth in both Products and Services and growth in each of our geographic segments,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “In uncertain times, this performance is a testament to the important role our products play in our customers’ lives and to Apple’s relentless innovation. This is a challenging moment for our communities, and, from Apple’s new $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative to a new commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030, we’re living the principle that what we make and do should create opportunity and leave the world better than we found it.”

    “Our June quarter performance was strong evidence of Apple’s ability to innovate and execute during challenging times,” said Luca Maestri, Apple’s CFO. “The record business results drove our active installed base of devices to an all-time high in all of our geographic segments and all major product categories. We grew EPS by 18 percent and generated operating cash flow of $16.3 billion during the quarter, a June quarter record for both metrics.”

    In addition to its strong results, Apple announced a four-for-one stock split. The goal is to make Apple’s stocks more accessible to a wider array of investors.

    Under normal circumstances this would be an excellent quarter. Under the cloud of the global pandemic, the results are nothing short of spectacular.

  • SoftBank May Sell or IPO Arm Holdings

    SoftBank May Sell or IPO Arm Holdings

    SoftBank is considering selling off Arm Holdings, or taking the chip designer public.

    Arm designs the chips used in a wide array of phones and tablets, including Apple’s iPhone and iPad. Apple recently announced it would transition the Mac from Intel to its own custom silicon, based on ARM chips.

    While Arm Holdings was originally a joint venture between Apple, Acorn and VLSI Technology, the company eventually went public before being acquired by SoftBank in 2016 for $32 billion. SoftBank has had its own share of troubles lately, exemplified by the WeWork debacle. As a result, according to CNET, the company is looking at a sale or IPO of Arm.

    At this point, nothing is certain, and SoftBank may not even proceed with any plans. Should it move forward with a sale, however, Apple would certainly have the resources and the motivation to buy the company, as its entire hardware lineup is about to be tied with Arm’s future.

  • TSMC Flying High on Datacenter and Semiconductor Demand

    TSMC Flying High on Datacenter and Semiconductor Demand

    TSMC has reported its earnings and things are looking good for the semiconductor manufacturer.

    TSMC is currently benefiting from multiple industry trends. The global pandemic has increased demand for datacenters as companies are turning to the cloud to continue running.

    Similarly, US officials have placed greater emphasis on in-country semiconductor manufacturing, as the pandemic showed the dangers of relying solely on overseas manufacturing. Capitalizing on that, TSMC announced its plans to build a semiconductor factory in Arizona

    While not immediately benefiting TSMC, another factor that should help it in the long run is Apple’s decision to move Macs from Intel chips to custom silicon. TSMC already makes the custom silicon in Apple’s iPhones and iPads. It stands to reason TSMC will likely handle the chip manufacturing for Apple’s Macs as well.

    As a result of these various factors, according to Bloomberg, TSMC “reported sales of NT$120.88 billion ($4.1 billion) for June on Friday. That likely means TSMC’s revenue grew about 29% to NT$310.7 billion last quarter, based on previously reported figures, beating the NT$308.8 billion analysts expect on average.”

    It’s likely TSMC will continue to rise, both in the short and long-term. These various factors will also help offset lost business from Huawei, as the US has greatly restricted TSMC’s second-largest customer.

  • Apple Will Continue to Use Thunderbolt With New Macs

    Apple Will Continue to Use Thunderbolt With New Macs

    Apple plans to continue using Thunderbolt, despite moving away from Intel to their own custom processors.

    At WWDC 2020, Apple unveiled its plans to replace Intel with its own ARM-based silicon that it has been using in the iPhone and iPad for years. The iPad Pro, in particular, is a good example of the promise a Mac based on those chips would offer. Even though it is faster than the majority of PC laptops on the market, the iPad delivers that performance without a single fan and still provides a full day of battery life.

    One big question has been whether Apple would continue supporting Thunderbolt on the new machines, which are slated to begin rolling out by the end of the year. The interface was originally developed by Intel, with the help of Apple. In fact, Intel just announced new details about the upcoming Thunderbolt 4.

    It appears there is no cause for concern among Mac users heavily invested in Thunderbolt peripherals. In a statement to TechCrunch, Apple doubled down on its commitment to the interface:

    “Over a decade ago, Apple partnered with Intel to design and develop Thunderbolt, and today our customers enjoy the speed and flexibility it brings to every Mac. We remain committed to the future of Thunderbolt and will support it in Macs with Apple silicon.”

    This is good news for Mac users, as well as Intel. Ongoing support by Apple will help drive adoption, while Mac users will be able to continue using the devices they already own.

  • WWDC 2020 Part 2: iPadOS Blurs the Computing Line Even More

    WWDC 2020 Part 2: iPadOS Blurs the Computing Line Even More

    Apple unveiled a number of welcome improvements to iPadOS, further blurring the line between tablet and computer.

    Widgets, Search and Interface

    Like iOS 14, iPadOS 14 gains improved widgets to help users get more from their Home Screen.

    In addition, Search has been completely revamped to make it much more powerful on the iPad. The new Universal Search can much more effectively act as an app launcher.

    Universal Search
    Universal Search

    Siri also gains the more streamlined interface that it receives on the iPhone. Similarly, FaceTime calls no longer take up the entire screen, blocking access to other apps. Instead, the incoming call appears in a small notification box at the top of the screen. This feature is also being implemented on iOS for the iPhone.

    iOS and iPadOS Incoming Calls
    iOS and iPadOS Incoming Calls

    Handwriting

    Apple is significantly improving the handwriting recognition on the iPad, closing the gap between handwriting and text input. The new handwriting engine, Scribble, can automatically clean up shapes drawn on the screen.

    Scribble
    Scribble

    What’s more, Scribble makes it possible to use the Apple Pencil for input in any text field. When writing with the Pencil, text can be selected using the same tap gestures for manipulating traditional text.

    Scribble Handwriting
    Scribble Handwriting

    More significantly, iPadOS will be able to recognize email addresses and phone numbers in handwriting and interact with them accordingly.

    Default Apps

    One of the biggest complaints about the iPad is the inability to change default apps for web browsing and email. It appears that iPadOS finally rectifies this. This will be a big improvement, especially in the enterprise, where many users prefer Outlook.

    Stay tuned for Part 3: The Mac

  • Apple May Be Bringing Magic Keyboard to Other iPads

    Apple May Be Bringing Magic Keyboard to Other iPads

    A leaker has claimed that Apple is bringing the Magic Keyboard to other iPad models, rather than just the iPad Pro.

    When Apple recently refreshed the iPad Pro, the Magic Keyboard and trackpad stole the show. Marking a return to the more reliable scissor mechanism, as opposed to the much-reviled butterfly mechanism, the Magic Keyboard is a significant step toward Apple’s goal to make the iPad a laptop replacement.

    Now leaker L0vetodream is claiming other models will get a version of the Magic Keyboard.

    in my dream Magic keyboard not only for the iPad Pro

    — (@L0vetodream) June 11, 2020

    While cryptic, the leaker is developing a reputation for solid leaks. Only time will tell if this leak is accurate.

  • Renowned Chip Engineer Jim Keller Departs Intel

    Renowned Chip Engineer Jim Keller Departs Intel

    Jim Keller, something of a legend in the microprocessor industry, has suddenly resigned from Intel after just two years.

    Jim Keller has a long history in the industry, having working for Digital Equipment Corp., AMD, Apple, Tesla and Intel. Wherever Keller has gone, he has often led the development of game-changing microprocessors for the company employing him.

    During his first stint at AMD, in the late ‘90s, he worked on the K7 Athlon chips and led the development of the K8, AMD’s first 64-bit line of chips. He eventually found his way to P.A. Semi, the company focused on mobile processors, going to Apple shortly before it bought the firm.

    During his time at Apple, Keller helped develop the A-series line of processors used in iPhones and iPads, and rumored to be coming to Macs.

    In 2012, Keller returned to AMD, where he lead the development of the Zen families of chips, that helped the company gain ground on Intel for the first time in years.

    After a brief stint at Tesla, where he designed the company’s autopilot chip, Keller took a job at Intel where he was believed to be working on helping the chip giant become competitive once again. Intel has had well-publicized struggles recently, with a Fortune profile piece saying the company was “betting its chips on microprocessor mastermind Jim Keller.”

    Needless to say, his history of staying with a company until he helps it achieve a ground-breaking success makes his sudden departure from Intel all the more unusual. In the company’s announcement, Intel said Keller was leaving “due to personal reasons,” and wished “him and his family all the best for the future.”

    AnandTech’s Dr. Ian Cutters did receive confirmation that Keller will remain a consultant for six months to help with the transition.

    Whatever caused Keller to leave Intel, here’s to hoping all is well with him and his family, and that he continues to have as much influence on the industry as he has in the past.

  • Signal Now Allows Chat History Transfer on iOS

    Signal Now Allows Chat History Transfer on iOS

    Secure messaging app Signal has added the ability to transfer one’s chat history on iOS devices.

    Signal is a popular messaging app that is widely considered to be the most secure messaging platform available. It is used by Edward Snowden, and even Senate staff are encouraged to use it.

    One glaring issues on iOS has been the inability to transfer your chat history to a new device. Instead, moving to a new device meant leaving behind all your Signal threads (this writer can personally attest to how frustrating it was). Now, however, it seems Signal has finally brought this feature to iOS.

    “Signal iOS now includes a new feature that makes it possible to switch to a brand-new iPhone or iPad while securely transferring Signal information from your existing iOS device,” writes Nora Trapp on Signal’s blog. “As with every new Signal feature, the process is end-to-end encrypted and designed to protect your privacy. Transfers also occur over a local connection (similar to AirDrop), so even large migrations can be completed quickly.”

    The only caveat is the transfer process requires access to the old phone, so it won’t work if it has been sold, lost or stolen. As long as you still have the old phone, however, simply install Signal on the new phone and go through the registration process. After entering your number, the app will ask if you want to transfer your messages from your old device. If you opt to migrate, your old phone will provide a migration prompt, while the new phone will generate a QR code. Scan the QR code on the new phone with the old one and the transfer will begin.

    This is excellent news for Signal fans and eliminates one of the few pain points associated with having the most secure communication possible.

    Image Credit: Signal

  • Apple to Announce ARM-Based Macs at WWDC

    Apple to Announce ARM-Based Macs at WWDC

    Apple is preparing to announce its decision to move to ARM chips for its Macs at the upcoming WWDC.

    Apple has long been rumored to be moving to ARM chips like the ones it uses in the iPhone and iPad. The company has been relying on Intel to power its line of computers since 2006, when it switched from the PowerPC architecture.

    ARM chips are based on designs by Arm Holdings. Unlike Intel or AMD, Arm does not manufacture its own chips, but licenses the designs to other companies. Companies can even customize elements of the chipsets to better suit their needs.

    Arm was originally founded as a joint venture between Apple and Acorn and, not surprisingly, Apple has the Architecture License, the broadest license available. This gives Apple the ability to modify Arm designs however they see fit to best work with their products.

    Analysts have been expecting Apple to move Macs to ARM chips for multiple reasons. First, Intel has been struggling to keep up with demand for its processors and is starting to fall behind rival AMD in performance. Given the premium it charges for its Macs, any inability to deliver the fastest machines possible is far worse for Apple than many of its rivals. In contrast, current iPad Pros are faster than the vast majority of PC laptops on the market and, even more impressive, they deliver that performance without any fans thanks to the power-efficient nature of ARM chips.

    The second factor motivating the change is Apple’s penchant for controlling the “whole widget.” In other words, Apple is at its best when it controls both the software and the hardware that runs it. This approach is one of the reasons the iPhone and iPads consistently outperform Android competitors by a wide margin.

    A move to ARM for the Mac lineup would likely result in machines that are faster than current models, get better battery life and run cooler, while still running the more powerful macOS.

    According to Bloomberg, internal testing at Apple has “shown sizable improvements over Intel-powered versions, specifically in graphics performance and apps using artificial intelligence, the people said. Apple’s processors are also more power-efficient than Intel’s, which may mean thinner and lighter Mac laptops in the future.”

    Needless to say, however, a complete architecture change is no small feat. It’s previously been reported that Apple was going to release ARM-powered Macs in 2021. According to Bloomberg, the company plans to make the announcement at the upcoming WWDC to give developers plenty of time to prepare their applications to run on the new chipset.

    This is very similar to how Apple handled the move to Intel in 2005 and 2006. Given that Apple has orchestrated two other major architecture changes in the Mac’s history, it’s a safe bet Apple will do everything necessary to make this transition as smooth as possible.

  • TSMC Will Build $12 Billion Semiconductor Factory in US

    TSMC Will Build $12 Billion Semiconductor Factory in US

    Following reports the Trump administration was in talks with chip makers to build US factories, TSMC has announced plans to do just that.

    TSMC is the primary provider of chips for Apple’s iPhones and iPads, as well as a variety of other smartphone makers. The news is a big win for the Trump administration, as well as the tech industry in general.

    As the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted manufacturing and supply chains, the tech industry has been grappling with the fallout of not being able to keep up with demand. The situation has shone a light on the downsides of relying solely on overseas factories for mission-critical components.

    The Trump administration opened discussions with both Intel and TSMC, in an effort to persuade both companies to open factories in the US. Sources said the administration was also talking with Samsung to see what could be done to help the company expand its existing semiconductor facilities in the US.

    TSMC plans on beginning construction in 2021 in Arizona, with production scheduled to begin in 2024.