Apple Confirms Plan To Ditch Intel for ARM CPUs
June 23, 2020The rumors were true, Apple will transition from Intel based CPUs to ARM based ones. During it’s WWDC 2020 event, Cupertino revealed that its next-generation Macs will be available to purchase by the end of this year. In addition to this, the company hopes to complete the transition to the new architecture, termed Apple Silicon, within the next two years.
Apparently, the move is considered ‘the next leap forward’ in terms of performance and capabilities. This confirms our speculation about Apple attempting to unify the Mac and iOS platform. Cupertino also says that this common architecture for Macs and iOs devices, should make it easier for developers to write and optimize apps for the entire ecosystem.
That said, Apple will continue to provide support for Intel based Macs for the foreseeable future. Strangely enough, it also revealed that the company has a few more Intel based computers in development, which should see them sold alongside their ARM based counterparts.
Apple also revealed its next MacOS installment called Big Sur, which has been designed to take full advantage of Apple Silicon. And for the first time ever, developers can make their iOS and iPadOS apps available on the Mac without any modifications. This is incredible news, which will not only enrich the app store further, but lure more PC based developers to its side.
Developers can easily convert their existing apps to run on Apple Silicon by making use of the development platform. It will be provided through the Universal App Quick Start Program. Here, developers are given access to documentation, forums support, beta versions of macOS Big Sur and Xcode 12, Developer Transition Kit and Mac Mini powered by an A12Z Bionic chip.
The Developer Transition Kit and the Mac Mini will need to be returned to Apple once the program has ended. Developers can apply to the program at developer.apple.com, and the total cost of the program is $500. Since Xcode 12 better integrated than before, the company thinks that developers will be able to familiarize themselves with the environment fairly easily.
