The tech company has announced that it’s ditching Intel processors
By Erika Morris
At the Worldwide Developer Conference on June 22, Apple announced one of the company’s biggest moves in years: dropping its reliance on Intel Corp processors and replacing them with Apple-designed silicon chips.
Apple chips are already used in iPhones and iPads and will now be used in laptops and desktop computers. The transition is set to take about two years, though Intel-powered Macs will be around for a while longer and Apple will continue to support them.
The Apple silicon computer chips are faster than those provided by Intel while using less power, and Apple is working with developers such as Adobe to secure enough useful software from the get-go. The move will also allow software developers for Apple’s third-party apps to have access to laptops and desktops for the first time. Most apps will work on the new platform with few or no changes required from the developer.
Alongside the new chips, Apple announced other changes, including privacy protections. The tech giant says users can share only their approximate location with developers, who will need consent to share any data with other apps or websites. There will also be a new privacy and security label shown to users when they download new apps. Other features were announced, such as digital keys for cars in the BMW 5 series, with more cars to be added later.
Apple has recently come under criticism from developers due to the company’s tight app review process and its policy of taking a hefty cut from app profits. Now, users will be able to set non-Apple apps as their default for such things as browsers and e-mailing.
Rumours of Apple’s plans to ditch Intel have been going around for the last two years. The latter had already begun to move away from making chips for tech companies like Apple in favour of vehicle hardware, Artificial Intelligence, and processors for entertainment and gaming.
Photo: Unsplash/daan-stevens.
