Another Theory on Apple's Move To Intel 316
An anonymous reader writes "Why did Apple really switch to Intel? Larry Loeb thinks that it has everything to do with the Trusted Computing Group's TNC (Trusted Network Connect)." From the article: "The Trusted Computer Group is a multivendor association that grew out of Microsoft's pre-emptive Trusted Computing Platform effort. Microsoft realized it couldn't force this down the manufacturers' throats, so it formed the TCG to give it the veneer of respectability and 'open standards.'"
Or for the slightly less paranoid... (Score:5, Informative)
Personally, I think the Cringe is on target, as the "iFlicks" version of iTunes has been on the radar for years now.
Of course, being on /., I suppose we have to support the conspiracy theorists...
Re:Compare (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Trusted computing (Score:3, Informative)
Intel is far from alone (Score:4, Informative)
From http://www.intel.com/technology/magazine/standards /st01041.pdf [intel.com]:
In other words, there are other vendors producing TPM silicon. Intel is one of the late-comers for sample hardware, not the sole driving vendor that Larry Loeb seems to think they are.
I'd file Larry's theory under "Tinfoil/Paranoia."
Re:Trusted computing (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Trusted computing (Score:2, Informative)
The reason that 3rd party plugs aren't allowed in iTunes is because they would be used to circumvent the measures that Apple has taken to apease the labels, and I think we can all agree that if they were allowed, that's exactly what most of them would do. Apple originally was against a DRM scheme for the iPod and iTMS. If they weren't, I highly doubt it would be as easy as it is to pull songs off an iPod, or that the restrictions on DRM'd iTMS files would be so lax.
I think DRM goes against what Apple stands for, and not because Apple is a "paragon of virtue". It has nothing to do with high moral ground. Everything Apple does, everything it designs, is all based around a seamless and smooth user experience. All DRM does is hamper that experience. You'll notice that there's no serial number/authorization/challenge-response for OS X. There's no extreme verification for any of their other software. Why? Because it sucks from a users standpoint. What they loose in piracy, they more than make up for in people choosing Apple because it lacks these hassles.
That, and they want to sell iPods... but chances are you want to buy one, so it all works out.
Of course, that said, I still won't buy any music with DRM, fanboy or not.
Re:Tired of the misguided conspiracies (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Tired of the misguided conspiracies (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Seems obvious enough... (Score:3, Informative)
Actually, according to their quarterly earning's report [thinksecret.com], Apple laptops were 42% of there Mac sales, so just about even with your quoted industry average. Now, I agree laptops are a huge reason for Apple jumping ship to Intel, and they're probably hoping that percentage keeps going up.
Your analysis is flawed (Score:2, Informative)
Actually all that it revealed is that she wasn't a science/engineering student.
I have a Comp.Sci degree but along the way I took a great many "arts" courses and it is certainly not correct to say that my engineering courses were any more difficult than some of the 4th year Philosophy courses I took. Do not make the mistake of thinking that because English/Economics/whatever were easy for you in high school or even as freshman courses in university it means that the disciplines that they are introductions to are easy to master.
Re:Trusted computing (Score:3, Informative)
Apple sold more iPods during the last quarter than ever.
6.1 million iPods in three months.
I'm glad you have a PowerBook, and while you may not be trolling, it would be prudent to check your facts next time.
Laptop Percentage of Sales (Score:3, Informative)
TFA is BS (Score:4, Informative)
This doesn't mean that we shouldn't be extremely concerned about TNC and its proprietary counterparts. (As well as NAP, there's a Cisco one called "NAC", which isn't entirely vaporware.) The Bush administration has even suggested making something like it mandatory for everyone who wants to access the Internet, which would scare me a lot if I thought the technology would actually work. But none of that has anynthing to do with Apple using Intel.
Larry Loeb has Leander Kahney's idea... (Score:3, Informative)
"Apple -- or rather, Hollywood -- wants the Pentium D to secure an online movie store (iFlicks if you will), that will allow consumers to buy or rent new movies on demand, over the internet.
According to News.com, the Intel transition will occur first in the summer with the Mac mini, which I'll bet will become a mini-Tivo-cum-home-server.
Hooked to the internet, it will allow movies to be ordered and stored, and if this News.com piece is correct, loaded onto the video iPod that's in the works.
Intel's DRM scheme has been kept under wraps -- to prevent giving clues to crackers -- but the company has said it will allow content to be moved around a home network, and onto suitably-equipped portable devices.
And that's why the whole Mac platform has to shift to Intel. Consumers will want to move content from one device to another -- or one computer to another -- and Intel's DRM scheme will keep it all nicely locked down."
I don't think this was the SOLE reason for Apple's decision. but I bet it was the deciding factor. Bottom line is that the success of the iPod has influenced Apple's focus. Now a majority of people associate Apple with iPod and iTunes not OS X or PCs. They pretty much own the portable music player market and will try to extend this to video as well,.. blah blah blah... Anyways, The real question is whether they will be able to use this newfound brand awareness coupled with cheaper systems to increase their share of the PC market. Maybe, just maybe, they can generate enough revenue selling media devices and start licensing OS X to run on non-Apple hardware. Would you like your new Dell with OS X or Windows? Ha. Its not unimaginable anymore.
Re:Trusted computing (Score:3, Informative)
You keep repeating this as though you have something very specific in mind. Would you mind sharing it with the rest of us so we'll also know what you are talking about? I don't think anyone else can make sense of what you might mean when you use the phrase: port iTunes over to PocketPC. The product iTunes is an application that Apple created (well at least the PC version of it). They have the source code for it. I don't see how anyone would be in a position to port it to anything else besides Apple since no one else has the design/source code.
Do you mean someone took the design, tried to create a PocketPC version based on that visible design and Apple tried to supress that product?
Re:You serious??? (Score:3, Informative)