Rumors that Apple might one day abandon Intel and use its own line of processors in its computers have been around for a long time.
The fact: With the release of the A11 Bionic, we are seeing iPhones with higher processing power than some Mac models, and this only reinforces the assumption that in the near future Apple may even choose to further control the construction of their computers.
desktops and handhelds.
It is true that the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar was the first Apple computer to have, in addition to an Intel chip, an owner: the T1.
As we have already explained, the Touch Bar runs a simplified version of watchOS which is controlled by this T1 secondary chip, a variation of the S1 chip that equips older models of the Ma watch.
iMac Probut this will be taken to a new level, as the developers found Johnathan Levin, Steve Troughton-Smith and Guilherme Rambo.
That's because Apple's newest professional desktop comes equipped with a chip A10 Fusion that is, the first computer with a Ma A series processor.
And unlike the MacBook Pro T1 (which controls only one aspect of the computer, the Touch Bar), it is more involved with general features itself.
There is even speculation that the A10 Fusion will be active even with the iMac Pro turned off.
According to developer findings, the A10 Fusion deal with the process of boot and security from macOS.
According to Steven, by doing this (using a Series A chip), Apple can unify its security model between iGadgets and Macs.
Another interesting aspect of A10 Fusion is the arrival of the feature “What's up, Siri” Siri, as we know, is present in macOS, but to call her you need to click on her Dock icon or status bar (or use the button on the Touch Bar).
In iMac Pro, it seems that if you just call Siri (as on iPhones and iPads) it will be available.
Incidentally, as it has already been discovered that the A10 Fusion is active even with the iMac Pro turned off, many are already considering turning on the desktop asking for Siri (something like “And, Siri, turn on my iMac”).
Confirmed: "Hey Siri" is coming to the Mac pic.twitter/Dw9bRAzbxD
– Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) November 18th, 2017
The "Hey Siri" setup on macOS is identical to the one on iOS, but it's implemented with regular AppKit, there's no magical UIKit port or UXKit being used pic.twitter/lhuga3dA7y
– Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) November 19, 2017
We talked to Rambo a bit about the details of using A10 Fusion on iMac Pro and what that means for the future of the line, check out:
What we already know: A10 Fusion will be used in managing boot of the system.
This means that he is the "boss", not the Intel processor.
In practice, it means that Apple will have more control over the software running on Macs, since to give boot no macOS will need the endorsement of the A10 Fusion, which has all the security features already known on iPhones.
In the future this may make it impossible Hackintoshes and certain system modifications.
The “Siri” feature is just an example of a continuous task to be managed by A10 Fusion.
People make fun of the fact that they need a separate processor for that, but they forget that the main reason for processing power is energy saving.
Apple's mobile processors, even running full iOS, are extremely energy efficient running in our pockets.
Now imagine such a processor running a lean system on a machine with a powerful battery like a 15 ″ MacBook Pro.
It could be forever on, even with the Mac turned off, listening to the “Hey, Siri” command, downloading your emails, installing updates, etc.
The possibilities are many!
The presence of A10 Fusion also makes the Mac even more secure, after all everything that involves security can be managed by the coprocessor, which is virtually impenetrable by third party software.
Camera, Microphone, Touch ID Everything sensitive goes through the A10 Fusion.
as if the A10 turned the secure enclave Intel processor.
It seems that using this pair of processors is quite beneficial for Apple.
So would it really be worthwhile for the company to migrate everything to its chip family in the not too distant future? I questioned Rambo about this and, for him, no.
In the developer's opinion, this is the perfect formula and he doesn't believe Apple would be investing so much resources in this interoperability (internally called Multiverse) for a year or two to change everything to ARM.
Does it make sense in it? We'll see what else Apple is keeping up with for the iMac Pro and the future of the Mac line as a whole!
Update 11/21/2017 s 10:35 AM
Blogger Pike from Pikes Universum, found interesting references to some kind of mobile connectivity in the iMac Pro's firmware.
For now it's all speculation and rumor, but Pike's idea makes sense: for him, it's some kind of new Apple theft protection .
As we know, the iMac Pro is quite expensive (its entry price will be $ 5,000, but custom models can double or triple it in a snap).
Even though it is a desktop computer with a 27 ″ screen, it is not so difficult to walk around with such a machine under your arm.
So it wouldn't be bad if Apple introduced a "Search for My iMac Pro" (calling home to report the exact location of the GPS, without having the option to turn it off).
For Pike, either this or the iMac Pro feature a new feature that use a SIM card to make phone calls (which doesn't make much sense).
Or perhaps the information found by him is just some kind of leftover iOS code that for some reason (perhaps for the very use of the A10 Fusion chip itself) is there.
We'll see
via MacRumors
