Leopard running on an Atom Processor
Using PC_efi technology (a means to run OS X on a PC without kernel modification), an anonymous source for netkas.org has managed to run and benchmark Leopard on an Atom chip, which is rumored (and denied) to be headed for Mac.
The Atom Processor would certainly make a good candidate for a mini-tablet. It’s small enough to fit any form factor, and low power enough to run for long periods in small devices. According to netkas, you can even run one of these on solar power. Here are the results of an Xbench test, courtesy of netkas:
More details are available at netkas.org.
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Intel: Apple tablet comment simply untrue
Intel Corp. today is scurrying to clean up a mess made by Germany’s ZDNet on Wednesday when it reported that an Intel exec had confirmed the ongoing development of a iPhone-like tablet at Apple, a report which the chipmaker now claims is patently false.
Specifically, ZDNet reported that Intel Germany chief Hannes Schwaderer at a small gathering in Munich “confirmed” the existence of a larger iPhone at Apple that would employ one of Intel’s ultra-mobile Atom processors.
The report gained widespread traction given earlier predictions by AppleInsider and other media outlets that such a device does in fact exist, and has long been under development at Apple’s Cupertino-based headquarters. The problem, however, was that Schwaderer appears to have never made the comments suggested by the ZDNet report.
“No Intel exec has said anything about any future Apple product, Atom processor or otherwise,” an Intel spokesperson told AppleInsider. “I think that’s important to note as everyone speculates on future products from Apple.”
Since ZDNet’s original report hit the net, a couple of other publications on hand for Schwaderer’s presentation have offered their interpretation of the events, which also appear to suggest that ZDNet’s report was misleading.
An editor for Golem.de claims that he does not recall any mention of an iPhone tablet during the executives speech, while PCGamesHardware.de attests that a reference to an iPhone device was made, but only as an example of a product that could benefit from Atom.
Unfortunately, only 40 or so reporters were on hand for Schwaderer’s presentation, AppleInsider has been told, and thus further first-hand accounts are likely to be limited.
Nevertheless, and regardless of misinterpretations this week, AppleInsider maintains that Apple is working on a iPhone-like mini tablet reminiscent of the Newton MessagePad that should surface in due time.
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Atom-powered Mini-tablet Confirmed By Intel Germany CEO?
Was it a slip of the tongue? ZDNet.de reports that Intel Germany CEO Hannes Schwaderer, speaking at an Intel 40th anniversary event at Munich’s BMW World, confirmed that there is an iPhone that will be using Intel’s new Atom processor. The new device is “slightly larger” than the current iPhone, raising speculation that this new member of the iPhone family may be the long-rumored Apple mini-tablet with a 720 x 480 display.
Schwaderer also mentioned that an upgraded version of the current iPhone with the same form factor would be a 3G model. With iPhones out of stock in the US and UK, and Steve Jobs scheduled to give the keynote at WWDC 08, new iPhones and the mini-tablet might be right around the corner.
What do YOU think about Herr Schwaderer’s comments and the rumored mini-tablet? Take our poll! A big thank-you hug to Erica Sadun for the poll answers!
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