Apple: Next Mac OS X unlocks chip power
This story was corrected. See below for details.
SAN FRANCISCO--Apple wants Mac OS X to do a better job dealing with the new directions that Moore's Law has taken computer chips.
At its Apple Worldwide Developer Conference here, Bertrand Serlet, senior vice president of software engineering, shed light on technology called Grand Central Dispatch that's designed to make Mac OS X 10.6, called Snow Leopard, take better advantage of multicore processors and graphics processors.
Power play at Apple's WWDC 2009.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET)Computer chips for years improved in performance through faster clock speeds, but processor engineers ran into problems with chips consuming inordinate amounts of power and producing inordinate amounts of heat. In addition, the faster clock speeds sometimes meant chips just idled faster because memory access speeds couldn't keep up.
The new direction: multicore processors that put multiple processing engines on the same chip. The problem with the approach, though, is that PC software typically had been written to run with one thread of instructions at a time. Multicore processors work best when software does many things at the same time, which is much harder to program.
Grand Central Dispatch is designed to address that problem for software developers, making it easier to program multithreaded software, use operating system services, and tune program executions.
It also improves how Mac manages those threads, Serlet said. For example, when running Apple's Mail app, today's Leopard OS uses about the number of threads when busy as when idle.
"When it's busy, it uses more threads to take advantage of multicores. When idle, all those threads go away, giving back resources to the system," Serlet said. "When you apply that to every application, you get a big win in performance and responsiveness."
Graphics chip power
The new Mac OS X also is designed to support a programming technology called GPGPU--general-purpose graphics processing unit--which lets a graphics chip run some computing jobs in addition to its ordinary job displaying graphics.
To make its GPGPU technology work, Apple uses OpenCL, a C-like programming technology that has the support of graphics chipmakers Nvidia, AMD's ATI, Intel, and others.
Graphics chips aren't good for every sort of computing task, but they are good for mathematical calculations--including they physics calculations often needed in video games that simulate flowing fabrics, bouncing balls, and other real-world actions.
Mac OS X will be available in September with an upgrade price of $29, a big notch less expensive than the $129 price of earlier upgrades.
Apple also is working to support 64-bit x86 processors, now the prevailing standard. One big advantage of 64-bit processors is support for more than 4GB of memory; Serlet also touted faster mathematical processing such as the doubled speed of fast Fourier transforms.
Apple has been gradually making its operating system fully 64-bit. "Snow Leopard is final stage where all the major system applications are written in 64-bit mode," Serlet said.
Correction 6:13 a.m. PDT Tuesday: This story misidentified the speaker. It was Bertrand Serlet, senior vice president of software engineering.
Stephen Shankland writes about a wide range of technology and products, but has a particular focus on browsers and digital photography. He joined CNET News in 1998 and since then also has covered Google, Yahoo, servers, supercomputing, Linux and open-source software, and science. E-mail Stephen, or follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/stshank. 
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10154662-83.html
The Macintosh and base Linux kernel operating systems have dominated the top spots for vulnerabilities by operating system over the past three years
Although I Find Bogusbasin's comments trollish and stupid
Vulnerlabilies and viruses are not the same
plus how of those vulnerabilities are actually exploited on the Mac or Linux ? zero
no OS is perfect but Windows is the only O.S with spyware and viruses problems
@seaspray
Although I Find Bogusbasin's comments trollish and stupid
Vulnerlabilies and viruses are not the same
plus how of those vulnerabilities are actually exploited on the Mac or Linux ? zero
no OS is perfect but Windows is the only O.S with spyware and viruses problems.
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That is because they are the OS with nearly 90% of the market. The fact is that if OSX and Linux EVER break 15% of the market for either of them..... you will see people coding viruses and taking advantage of the vulnerabilities in those operating systems.
Also, most of the 'viruses' took advanatage of Windows XP. They CANNOT infect Vista or Windows 7, because there are more protections on those operating system, along with NUMEROUS kernel checks.
Stop automatically assuming that just because an OS is the most attacked, that it is the 'worse' operating system. You have to look at the percentage of people who are concentrating on trying to take apart that OS to get their malware, spyware, etc. on it!
When that is taken into consideration, Windows security history since Windows Vista is MUCH better, and lets face facts: when Windows XP came out.... the internet was not in as much use as it is today. Therefore, Microsoft NEVER thought that they would need 'protections' from viruses, because those were things that up until 2001, we just written 'for fun'.... not to do damage to computers, not to infect computers and steal data, etc.
Strange that anyone who is so heavily against any OS besides their own would "know" so much about anything else.
My knowledge of Windows comes from years of use, it also led me to stop using it. My knowledge of Linux comes from research and from use, that combination has led me to want to keep using it. Doesn't look to me like MS won that battle.
Excuse me? When was the last time you got a Windows upgrade for $29? And it is not Apple that charges about $400 for a full version of its top of the line OS. Remember, "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt"...
You get what you pay for Lerianis. If you want your $199 crappy windows netbook, then go ahead.
When you ge the OS right the first time, the changes are not that spectacular. Getting exchange support for $29 alone is worth the price. What fantastic new features in Windows 7 are you waiting for? BSOD 2.0?
Not always true, Linux runs more smoothly with more perks than Windows for a much lower price ($0).
lol
BSOD 2.0 - let all your friends know your machine just crashed.
New graphical user interface, new task bar, new wireless networking, new UAC, XP mode, etc, etc, etc. You can count the new features of OS X on your two hands and probably just one hand because all the changes are under the hood and then Apple fanboys want to sit here and call Windows 7 Vista Service Pack 3. Wow the irony. What sounds more like a service pack? A completely redesigned interface and features or tweaks behind the screen to improve performance? Hmm...
Snow Leopard = $29 Service Pack for Leopard.
A feature I'm looking forward to in OS X in Spinning Beachball of Death 2.0
I know you hate Apple love microsft
but c'mon 7 is actually internally named 6.1 isnt it ?
just becasue it uses less ram and sucks less due to fxed bugs doesnt mean it's new
Snow leopard adds exchange support new technolgies like opne CL
and gives you back 6 Gb of space , which SP does that ?
and all this for 29$
compare that to 200$ for Windwos 7
which ever way you guys try to spin this
looks like you guys will be paying your Microsoft tax alright
plus if you havent noticed Apple sents out free updates too
they just dont name them with ridiculous names like service pack
I'm excited for Snow Leopard.
Secondly, OSX doesn't do an automatic defrag, so your point is moot and Windows XP does it on a schedule if you have it set up correctly.
Virus programs? Need I remind you of the virus that was in the 'p2p' download of iWork? Personally, I have NEVER had a virus get on my system and STAY on my system, other than those 'codec' viruses which I was an absolute IDIOT times infinity to install on my machine.
Bloatware? There isn't very much on Windows PC's anymore, the companies have gotten real and realized that we don't want that stuff on our computers.
Sharp sheetmetal cases? Okay, since almost ALL cases are sheetmetal and are sharp, unless you are buying a 'boutique' or 'gamer' case, your point is moot.
[CNET editors' note: Personal attack deleted.]
I've got 25 years of experience with both operating systems and environments. Windows is a piece of trash compared to what Mac OS has become. It's been that way ever since 1984. That's probably too far back for you to remember. Have you Lerianis, ever actually owned a Macintosh? Used one on a regular basis? No, so what gives you the right to make any judgements or have any opinions on something you know absolutely nothing about?
I totally agree with you kcotham. And Lerianis3, yes windows does slow down over time. It is an absolute piece of trash and needs a fresh install at least every year. In contrast, older mac computers ran faster after upgrading their OS with Leopard. I work on Vista everyday on a pretty good Dell system. My wife has the iMac.which is a far far far better experience. You never see that stupid flashlight lookiing for files in a folder on a Mac (they just instantly show up). Windows thinks it's still cool to show a flashlight waving back and forth while you wait for the files to show up. Maybe Microsoft needs a server farm to render this complex task.
But he is partially right, XP doesn't have to if you maintain it. I just prefer to have my computer do what I want instead of having it be so needy all the time.
They'll probably end up selling 5 times as many upgrades as a result, and make a good profit, as well as keeping their customers happy and loyal, which means even more money for them in the future.
Good move, Apple.
Yes, Microsoft DOES overcharge for their 'retail' versions of OS'..... but that's pretty much the mean for every single thing for a PC. I can buy an OEM video card for 50 dollars from Newegg and it has pretty much the same specs as a retail video card that costs 200 dollars in Best Buy.
Thread pool has been around for years on other platforms.
expose screen corners spotlight search widgets have been available on the mac o.s for years
and now that Microsft added it to Windows it's innovation
Mac OS X has been 64 bit for a while now. It's been 32 bit backward compatible for a while now too. They are simply dropping PowerPC support. I don't like this, but you have to move forward and cut the legacy stuff some time. That's Microsoft's problem. They have such a huge install base that still uses legacy tech. Those people would have a haemorrhage is Microsoft suddenly decided to cut the cord on them.
Seaspray,
Mac OS X has been 64 bit for a while now. It's been 32 bit backward compatible for a while now too. They are simply dropping PowerPC support. I don't like this, but you have to move forward and cut the legacy stuff some time. That's Microsoft's problem. They have such a huge install base that still uses legacy tech. Those people would have a haemorrhage is Microsoft suddenly decided to cut the cord on them.
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True! MS is like the Democratic party of the US. They've built up so many BS social programs over the years that they're bankrupting the whole country, but if they cut them all the hand-out rejects would hemmorhage come the first of the very next month ;)
This is a tech blog, not a political blog. Of course, looking like an ass is always good for a laugh but could you at least try and make your comments tech related?
Wow, no kidding? And it still can't counteract my Windows install from slowing to a snail's pace after 1 year install.
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Bull. The only way that could possibly be happening is if you are not running anti-virus and firewall software and are getting LOADED with viruses because of your own stupidity.
I'll be blunt: I almost NEVER re-install the OS on my PC's, unless I have done something MYSELF to bork them up.
My ex roommate ran AVG free, a year later his OS needed a fresh install. I ran Avira AntiVir, a year later mine didn't. Of course, I also ran Malwarebytes Antimalware, SmartDefrag, Advanced Windowscare and a few other apps meant specifically for system cleanup or registry tweaking.
I spent an hour a night running malware scans, cleaning the cache, making sure the registry was right, checking for spyware, making sure no extra apps snuck into the startup menu, etc. I also ran a nightly defrag since that app automatically turned off my PC at the end.
He did what you suggested, ran an antivirus with a firewall provided by the ISP.
In other words, your way doesn't work, keeping Windows (XP or earlier) running for more than a year really does take too much work. So glad I went to Linux.
But, as Microsoft is putting it, they are going to charge more than $100 for it.
But yes, I agree to an extent that Windows 7 should either be free to Vista users or sold cheap.
One thing that would be nice that I haven't seen yet is support for additional languages in the system wide Dictionary. I can't stand the current Dictionary trying to make me spell with dratted American English...
LOL I wonder how much extra HD space is taken up by all those unnecessary "u"s...?
English is hard enough to learn as a second language with few rules and mainly exceptions on top of which there are a number of illogical spellings like "litre" (lee tray?) and "colour". Many in Asia thank the Americans for at least attempting to fix this.
;-)
"I wouldn't touch one if every sinlge Windows PC on the planet was bathed in nuclear waste, pissed on, etc."
So you wouldn't touch a mac if every single windows PC on the planet was bathed in nuclear waste and pissed on? What is wrong with you?
For your information, if Windows PCs were to have comparable hardware and software (imovie, idvd, iweb, iphoto, garage-band), that pc would be substantially more expensive than any mac, you realize this, yes?
I am the proud owner of a brand spankin' new MBP...love it. It will take a lot to get me back to any other brand of laptop.
That being said, all the programs you mentioned have similar, very will built counterparts that you can get for free or dang near close to it off the net.
Macboys need to stop using the argument that PC's end up being as expensive as Macs after this, that or the other. They don't. We buy our Macs because they're the most well built, well integrated and well designed machines there are. And they look fantastic.
If you can't afford a Mac...bummer for you. It doesn't make your $972 dollar Dell any better.
What an idiotic statement. So, your time and knowledge are worth what? Nothing? Apparently your common sense is lacking.
@PPD4195: If you can't afford a Mac...bummer for you.
Well, you can always get your jollies hanging out on message boards like Lerianis3 pouting and spouting and fuming. It must be fun, he does it so much. If he were paid just $1 per message he could probably afford a new MBP! ;-)
an $800 PC laptop vs a $1200 macbook.
Add $140 for premiere elements = iMovie
Add $130 for Ravisent = iDVD
Add $70 for Mixcraft = Garageband
Add $200 for Contribute = iWeb
Now, the pc probably only has home premium. Considering that OSX is fully featured, and not limited to "home" versions, lets add windows vista ultimate on top of that for $110
That pc is now worth $1450, $250 more than the macbook that comes with the same hardware, and comparable programs.
And once again, I have never seen any free programs other than picassa for iphoto that even compare to the rest of the iLife suite. Hardwarewise, the PC is cheaper. But, software/hardwarewise, the mac will always be cheaper.
It runs Windows, + OS X :)
If OS X has a break through for something new, its a big deal. Another thing is there are lots of mac owners out there.
I haven't seen or heard much good out of windows in years since windows 3.1 ...
BogusBasin got you! He's a Mac dude playing a Windows dude pretending to be a LInux dude.
- by C433Z June 8, 2009 4:20 PM PDT
- All I can say is that I've been using XP for years with only 'AVG Free' (I repeat, Free) and haven't experienced any problems or slow downs. AVG (on top of being free) runs nicely in the background and I don't notice it.
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- by tipoo_ June 8, 2009 5:10 PM PDT
- AVG is pretty awesome.
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- by tm_anon June 8, 2009 10:36 PM PDT
- For both of you, scan your machine with Avira AntiVir, notice how many pieces of malware AVG free misses.
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (116 Comments)And don't knock Win7 till ya've tried it, my dad put the RC1 on his old machine and it's really nice!
As for real life experience to back me up, my ex roommate had a PC running XP with AVG free, mine at the time was running XP with Avira AntiVir. His mysteriously stopped being able to update any virus definitions automatically. One day, while he was off to work, I uninstalled AVG free, installed Avira AntiVir, still couldn't update automatically so I just ran a scan, found 30 pieces of malware.
Now, it could've been a lot worse. It could have had hundreds of pieces of malware instead of the 30. Still, AVG isn't nearly as great as you think it is.