Hackintoshers bring back Atom support
Let the games begin! When Apple left support for Intel Atom processors out of Mac OS X 10.6.2, we all knew it would be a matter days before savvy netbook users would re-instate the functionality and now that’s exactly what’s happened — rock on.
Russian-language Tea Blog (via Yahoo Yech, Google translation) reports that hackintoshers have released a dirty bithacked version of the OS X kernel that returns Atom processor support to Snow Leopard. However, before you rush out to buy that Dell mini you’ve been want, want, wanting, you should know that replacing the kernel requires command line voodoo — digital brain surgery.
With the recent news that PsyStar might not last out the year and that Palm dropped out of an engaging game of iTunes sync a Pre, it’s good to see that not everyone’s bowing and scraping down to Apple legal.
Then again, it’s entirely possible that OS X 10.6.2′s lack of Atom was purely accidental. It was all just a misunderstanding and that’s all.
Do you think Intel Atom processor will return in OS X 10.6.3?
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November 20th, 2009
Watch out folks!
If you install Apple Leopard on your netbook, you need to make sure it can handle the graphics of the operating system. Windows is barely pushes the limits when compared to Leopard.
I wrote a review of the ASUS 1005HA that provides some processor performance numbers.
http://www.epinions.com/review/ASUS_Eee_PC_1005HA_VU1X_BK_10_1_Inch_Black_Netbook_8_5_Hour_Battery_Life/content_485480107652
November 20th, 2009
It is still unclear what Apple’s intentions are; the company has not said. If the Atom and other processors, which are not in Apple hardware, are bricked with the next upgrade, then we will know.
I believe that the improved security in the 64 bit kernel will enable Apple to attack the hackintoshes in ways which will be very difficult for the hackers to counter. ASLR, DEP, Sand boxing and encryption will combine to make it difficult for the hackers to know where to start. The installer will simply refuse to cooperate with an upgrade unless everything is proper. You will need to prove to Apple that you have permission to install an upgrade.
We Mac users will not be moved to the 64 bit kernel, by default, until enough applications have been upgraded. This will occur, later this year, with the 10.6.3 or .4 upgrade.
The Snow Leopard changed its procedures this time: it loaded the installer in a virtual space before it started asking who you are.
I am assuming that Apple has had well over four years to plan its response to the hacker problem. It should have been obvious that the migration to Intel processors would make hacking and cloning easier and practical than with the PowerPC chip.