History Platform / MacOS

!![=macOS=] 11 and the Mac based on Apple Silicon processors

[[https://9to5mac.com/2020/06/22/arm-mac-apple/ In June 2020]], Apple announced yet another CPU-architecture transition, this time from Intel processors onto internally designed ARM-based chips, which they have now branded as "Apple Silicon". These are similar to the processors that they had already been creating for the iPhone and iPad, but significantly more powerful in order to handle desktop workloads. To mark the transition, they also announced that the next version of [=macOS=], nicknamed "Big Sur", would finally bump the version number up to 11.0, nearly 20 years after the introduction of Mac OS X.

Just like they did during the prior architecture switches, Apple released macOS 11.0 with a set of tools designed to ease the transition for both developers and users. These include a new version of the Rosetta emulator that can run 64-bit Intel Mac apps on the new ARM Macs, and a new Universal binary format that will allow developers to create apps that run natively on both Intel and ARM Macs.

Upon the announcement of the transition, Apple stated the the full switch to the new architecture would take 2 years[[note]]They said the same thing during the Intel transition, though that one only took 1 year[[/note]]. Five months later, they launched the first ARM-based Macs, a [=MacBook Air=], a 13-inch [=MacBook Pro=], and a Mac Mini, using the new M1, the first Apple-designed chip created for Macs. The following year, they transitioned more Macs to the new chips, including an [=iMac=], and a full line up of Apple-silicon based [=MacBooks=]. With that, only a handful of Intel-based machines remain in Apple's line-up, with Apple Silicon replacements for those models expected to release in 2022. Even once this transition completes, it's likely that Apple will continue software support for Intel Macs for some years to come, though the exact extent of this remains to be seen[[note]]For comparison, the first [=PowerPC=]-only version of Mac OS, 8.5, released in 1998, 4 years after the last 68k Macs were sold, and the first Intel-only version, 10.6 "Snow Leopard", released in 2009, 3 years after the last [=PowerPC=] Macs were sold. Currently Apple seems committed to providing software support for its hardware for 6 years, so assuming this holds true and the last Intel Macs sell in 2022, then Intel support on [=macOS=] could last until 2028.[[/note]].

Work on [=NeXTStep=]'s renovation continued briskly, and in 1999, the first version of what would become the new Mac OS was released as ''Mac OS X Server 1.0'', better known to fans by the codename ''Rhapsody''. Rhapsody was something of a shock to veteran Mac users, combining bits of the Mac OS 8.0 interface with the far different [=NeXTStep=] 4.0 GUI. There was also no way to port classic Mac applications to Rhapsody at the time, forcing Apple to develop a subset of the old Mac [=APIs=] called "Carbon" that would allow properly made programs to work on both Mac OS 8/9 and Mac OS X. Carbon was announced in early 1998, and shipped along with the first releases of the Mac OS X development tools in 1999. Along with carbon was Classic, an emulator for running Mac OS 9 inside Mac OS X (which, by the way, [[ItIsPronouncedTroPay is pronounced "oh ess ten" and not "oh ess ecks"]]; the X is a Roman numeral).

Upon the announcement of the transition, Apple stated the the full switch to the new architecture would take 2 years[[note]]They said the same thing during the Intel transition, though that one only took 1 year[[/note]]. Five months later, they launched the first ARM-based Macs, a [=MacBook Air=], a 13-inch [=MacBook Pro=], and a Mac Mini, using the new M1, the first Apple-designed chip created for Macs. The following year, they transitioned more Macs to the new chips, including an [=iMac=], and a full line up of Apple-silicon based [=MacBooks=]. With that, only a handful of Intel-based machines remain in Apple's line-up, with Apple Silicon replacements for those models expected to release in 2022. Even once this transition completes, it's likely that Apple will continue software support for Intel Macs for some years to come, though the exact extent of this remains to be seen[[note]]For comparison, the first [=PowerPC=]-only version of Mac OS, 8.5, released in 1998, 4 years after the last 68k Macs were sold, and the first Intel-only version, 10.6 "Snow Leopard", released in 2009, 3 years after the last [=PowerPC=] Macs were sold.[[/note]].

Upon the announcement of the transition, Apple stated the the full switch to the new architecture would take 2 years[[note]]They said the same thing during the Intel transition, though that one only took 1 year[[/note]]. Five months later, they launched the first ARM-based Macs, a [=MacBook Air=], a 13-inch [=MacBook Pro=], and a Mac Mini, using the new M1, the first Apple-designed chip created for Macs. The following year, they transitioned more Macs to the new chips, including an [=iMac=], and a full line up of Apple-silicon based [=MacBooks=]. With that, only a handful of Intel-based machines remain in Apple's line-up, with Apple Silicon replacements for those models expected to release in 2022. Even once this transition completes, it's expected that Apple will continue software support for Intel Macs for some years to come, though the exact extent of this remains to be seen[[note]]For comparison, the first [=PowerPC=]-only version of Mac OS, 8.5, released in 1998, 4 years after the last 68k Macs were sold, and the first Intel-only version, 10.6 "Snow Leopard", released in 2009, 3 years after the last [=PowerPC=] Macs were sold.[[/note]].

Upon the announcement of the transition, Apple stated the the full switch to the new architecture would take 2 years[[note]]They said the same thing during the Intel transition, though that one only took 1 year[[/note]]. Five months later, they launched the first ARM-based Macs, a [=MacBook Air=], a 13-inch [=MacBook Pro=], and a Mac Mini, using the new M1, the first Apple-designed chip created for Macs. The following year, they transitioned more of their line to the new chips, including an [=iMac=], and a full line up of Apple-silicon based [=MacBooks=]. With that, only a handful of Intel-based machines remain in Apple's line-up, with Apple Silicon replacements for those models expected to release in 2022. Even once this transition completes, it's expected that Apple will continue software support for Intel Macs for some years to come, though the exact extent of this remains to be seen[[note]]For comparison, the first [=PowerPC=]-only version of Mac OS, 8.5, released in 1998, 4 years after the last 68k Macs were sold, and the first Intel-only version, 10.6 "Snow Leopard", released in 2009, 3 years after the last [=PowerPC=] Macs were sold.[[/note]].

Upon the announcement of the transition, Apple stated the the full switch to the new architecture would take 2 years. Five months later, they launched the first ARM-based Macs, a [=MacBook Air=], a 13-inch [=MacBook Pro=], and a Mac Mini, using the new M1, the first Apple-designed chip created for Macs. The following year, they transitioned more of their line to the new chips, including an [=iMac=], and a full line up of Apple-silicon based [=MacBooks=]. With that, only a handful of Intel-based machines remain in Apple's line-up, with Apple Silicon replacements for those models expected to release in 2022. Even once this transition completes, it's expected that Apple will continue software support for Intel Macs for some years to come, though the exact extent of this remains to be seen[[note]]For comparison, the first [=PowerPC=]-only version of Mac OS, 8.5, released in 1998, 4 years after the last 68k Macs were sold, and the first Intel-only version, 10.6 "Snow Leopard", released in 2009, 3 years after the last [=PowerPC=] Macs were sold.[[/note]].

Upon the announcement of the transition, Apple stated the the full switch to the new architecture would take 2 years. Five months later, they launched the first ARM-based Macs, a [=MacBook Air=], a 13-inch [=MacBook Pro=], and a Mac Mini, using the new M1, the first Apple-designed chip created for Macs. The following year, they transitioned more of their line to the new chips, releasing a 24" M1-based iMac in April, and a full line up of Apple-silicon based [=MacBooks=] in October, supplementing the existing 13" [=MacBook=] Air and Pro models with 14" and 16" Pros, which used the upgraded M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. With that, only three Intel-based machines remain in Apple's line-up, a Mac Mini, the 27" iMac, and the Mac Pro, with Apple Silicon replacements for those models expected to release in 2022. Even once this transition completes, its expected that Apple will continue software support for Intel Macs for some years to come, though the exact extent of this remains to be seen[[note]]For comparison, the first [=PowerPC=]-only version of Mac OS, v8.5, released in 1998, 4 years after the last 68k Macs were discontinued, and the first Intel-only version, 10.6 "Snow Leopard", released in 2009, 3 years after the last [=PowerPC=] Macs were sold.[[/note]].

Upon the announcement of the transition, Apple stated the the full switch to the new architecture would take 2 years. Five months later, they launched the first ARM-based Macs, a [=MacBook Air=], a 13-inch [=MacBook Pro=], and a Mac Mini, using the new M1, the first Apple-designed chip created for Macs. The following year, they transitioned more of their line to the new chips, releasing a 24" M1-based iMac in April, and a full line up of Apple-silicon based [=MacBooks=] in October, supplementing the existing 13" [=MacBook=] Air and Pro models with 14" and 16" Pros, which used the upgraded M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. With that, only three Intel-based machines remain in Apple's line-up, a Mac Mini, the 27" iMac, and the Mac Pro.

Upon the announcement of the transition, Apple stated the the full switch to the new architecture would take 2 years. Five months later, they launched the first ARM-based Macs, a [=MacBook Air=], a 13-inch [=MacBook Pro=], and a Mac Mini, using the new M1, the first Apple-designed chip created for Macs. The following year, they transitioned more of their line to the new chips, releasing a 24" M1-based iMac in April, and a full line up of Apple-silicon based [=MacBooks=] in October, supplementing the existing 13" [=MacBook=] Air and Pro models with 14" and 16" Pros, which used the upgraded M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. With that, only two Intel-based machines remain in Apple's line-up, the 27" iMac, and the Mac Pro.

Upon the announcement of the transition, Apple stated the the full transition to the new architecture would take 2 years. Five months later, they launched first ARM-based Macs, a [=MacBook Air=], a 13-inch [=MacBook Pro=], and a Mac Mini, using the new M1, the first Apple-designed chip created for Macs. The following year, they transitioned more of their line to the new chips, releasing a 24" M1-based iMac in April, and a full line up of Apple-silicon based [=MacBooks=] in October, supplementing the existing 13" [=MacBook=] Air and Pro models with 14" and 16" Pros, which used the upgraded M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. With that, only two Intel-based machines remain in Apple's line-up, the 27" iMac, and the Mac Pro.

Upon the announcement of the transition, Apple stated the the full transition to the new architecture would take 2 years. Five months later, they launched first ARM-based Macs [[note]]A [=MacBook Air=], a 13-inch [=MacBook Pro=], and a Mac Mini[[/note]] in November 2020, using the new M1, the first Apple-designed chip specifically created for Macs. The following year, they transitioned more of their line to the new chips, releasing a 24" M1-based iMac in April, and a full line up of Apple-silicon based [=MacBooks=] in October, supplementing the existing 13" [=MacBook=] Air and Pro models with 14" and 16" Pros, which used the upgraded M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. With that, only two Intel-based machines remained in Apple's line-up, the 27" iMac, and the Mac Pro.

Apple launched the first ARM-based Macs [[note]]A [=MacBook Air=], a 13-inch [=MacBook Pro=], and a Mac Mini[[/note]] in November 2020, using the new M1, the first Apple-designed chip specifically created for Macs.

Next up: Sierra. This release changed the name of the OS itself: instead of "OS X", it went with the simpler "macOS". This release brings the Mac closer to iOS, and not it's not just the name: it introduced iOS' virtual assistant Siri to the Mac, it let users pay for things online with Apple Pay, and your Apple Watch can now seamlessly unlock your Mac.

[[https://9to5mac.com/2020/06/22/arm-mac-apple/ On June 2020]], Apple announced that the Mac would be switching off of Intel processors onto internally designed ARM-based processors, which they have now branded as "Apple Silicon". These are similar to the processors that they had already been creating for the iPhone and iPad, but significantly more powerful in order to handle desktop workloads. To mark the transition, they also announced that the next version of [=macOS=], nicknamed "Big Sur", would finally bump the version number up to 11.0, nearly 20 years after the introduction of Mac OS X.

[[https://9to5mac.com/2020/06/22/arm-mac-apple/ On June 2020]], Apple announced that the Mac would be switching off of Intel processors onto ARM-based processors designed in-house, which they have now branded as "Apple Silicon". These are similar to the processors that they had already been using in the iPhone and iPad, but significantly more powerful in order to handle desktop workloads. To mark the transition, they also announced that the next version of [=macOS=], nicknamed "Big Sur", would finally bump the version number up to 11.0, nearly 20 years after the introduction of Mac OS X.

!! Big Sur 11.0 and the Mac based on Apple Silicon processors

Apple launched the first ARM-based Macs [[note]]A [=MacBook Air=] and a 13-inch [=MacBook Pro=][[/note]]in November 2020, using the new M1, the first Apple-designed chip specifically created for Macs.

Just like they did during the [=PowerPC=]-Intel switch, Apple released macOS 11.0 with a set of tools designed to ease the transition for both developers and users. These include a new version of the Rosetta emulator that can run 64-bit Intel Mac apps on the new ARM Macs, and a new Universal binary format that will allow developers to create apps that run natively on both Intel and ARM Macs.

Apple launched the first ARM-based Macs [[note]]A [=MacBook Air=] and a 13-inch [=MacBook Pro=][[/note]]in November 2020, using the new M1 chip specifically designed for Macs.

Just like they did during the [=PowerPC=]-Intel switch, Apple included a set of tools with macOS 11.0 to ease the transition for both developers and users. These include a new version of the Rosetta emulator that can run 64-bit Intel Mac apps on the new ARM Macs, and a new Universal binary format that will allow developers to create apps that run natively on both Intel and ARM Macs.

macOS 11.0 includes a new version of the Rosetta emulator that can run 64-bit Intel Mac apps on the new ARM Macs, like they did in 2005 when they switched from [=PowerPC=] to Intel. They also introduced a new Universal binary format that will allow developers to create apps that run natively on both Intel and ARM Macs, also just like they did during the [=PowerPC=]-Intel transition.

macOS 11.0 includes an emulator that can run 64-bit Intel Mac apps on the new ARM Macs, like they did in 2005 when they switched from Motorola to [=IBM=] [=PowerPC=].

Starting in 1986, the Mac got its first signs of becoming a usable PC. The Mac Plus added new, larger [=ROMs=] and a SCSI bus for hard drives and scanners. The Mac II was a workstation-class machine with full 32-bit addressing and massive expansion capabilities. All this required a new Mac OS, and the new code added things like color support and the Hierarchical File System (still in use in one form or another to this day). Later, [=MultiFinder=] made it possible to run more than one application at once, but most Mac users (especially on the Plus and its follow-on, the SE) didn't have the memory to use it well.

Apple launched the first ARM-based Macs in November 2020, using the new M1 chip specifically designed for Macs.

[[https://9to5mac.com/2020/06/22/arm-mac-apple/ On June 2020]], Apple announced that the Mac would be switching off of Intel processors onto ARM-based processors designed in-house, which they have now branded as "Apple Silicon". These are similar to the processors that they had already been using in the iPhone and iPad. To mark the transition, they also announced that the next version of [=macOS=], nicknamed "Big Sur", would finally bump the version number up to 11.0, nearly 20 years after the introduction of Mac OS X.

[[https://9to5mac.com/2020/06/22/arm-mac-apple/ On June 2020]], Apple announced that the Mac would be switching off of Intel processors onto ARM-based processors designed in-house, which they have now branded as "Apple Silicon". These are similar to the processors that they had already been using in the iPhone and iPad.

[[https://9to5mac.com/2020/06/22/arm-mac-apple/ On June 2020]], Apple announced that the Mac would be switching off of Intel processors onto ARM-based processors designed in-house. These are similar to the processors that they had already been using in the iPhone and iPad.

!! Big Sur 11.0 and the Mac based on A-series processors

[[https://9to5mac.com/2020/06/22/arm-mac-apple/ On June 2020]], Apple announced that the Mac would be switching off of Intel processors onto the ARM-based A series of processors that they designed in-house. These are the same processors that they had already been using in the iPhone and iPad.

[https://9to5mac.com/2020/06/22/arm-mac-apple/#jp-carousel-652849 On June 2020], Apple announced that the Mac would be switching off of Intel processors onto the ARM-based A series of processors that they designed in-house. These are the same processors that they had already been using in the iPhone and iPad.

macOS 11.0 includes an emulator that can run 64-bit Intel Mac apps on the new ARM Macs, like they did in 2005 when they switched from Motorola to IBM PowerPC.

Apple's comeback started in earnest in 1998, with the introduction of the Bondi Blue iMac sporting the brand-new Mac OS 8.5. The iMac brought other changes, including moving to the ''[=OpenFirmware=]'' BIOS that made supporting [=OSes=] other than the original Mac OS much easier. This setup, referred to by Apple developers as "New World" after the tech note that first described it ("The Macintosh ROM Enters a New World"), put the majority of the classic Mac OS ROM in a file on the hard drive and officially made it possible to boot non-Apple [=OSes=] without workarounds.