Apple's Intel-ready OS X on a par with Power PC-based range

MacUser ^ | 11/4/2005 | Simon Aughton

[Swordmaker]

The version of OS X that Apple is developing in preparation for its transition to Intel hardware has caught up with the publicly available version for its Power PC-based Macs.

OSx86 Project reports that: 'This marks the first time that Apple has released a copy of the OS for the Developer Transition Kits which is identical to the PPC version.'

The website adds that this reflects the change in emphasis within Apple's engineering resources toward the Intel (x86) version of OS X.

The latest x86 version is said to have much stronger security controls than before, designed to prevent the software from being hacked to run on non-Apple hardware.

To that add Apple has applied for a patent on a 'system and method for creating tamper-resistant code'.

Put succinctly, the patent describes a method for translating code so that it can only be understood by specific hardware and is very difficult to reverse engineer, a process known as code obfuscation. It also means that applications have to be written if they need access to the tamper-resistant system code.

Or as the patent application abstract puts it: 'In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a first object code block. The method also comprises translating the first object code block into a second code block, wherein the translating includes applying taper[sic]-resistance techniques to the first object code block or the second object code block. The method also comprises executing the second object code block.'

Although it seems certain that OSX will, to some degree, be hacked to run on standard PCs, Apple's measures seem certain to ensure that those machines will not be able to run anything in the way of Mac applications, as they will require the obfuscated code, which should ensure that hacked versions are of interest to no-one but a tiny minority.

[Swordmaker]

Apple Intel OSX Macs will include proprietary, difficult to reverse engineer "tamper proof" code... PING!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[GarySpFc]

Ping

[IncPen]

which should ensure that hacked versions are of interest to no-one but a tiny minority.

But Apple users are a tiny minority!

_{< / Bush2000 >}

[TexasGreg]

A growing "tiny minority."

[SunkenCiv]

stronger security controls than before, designed to prevent the software from being hacked to run on non-Apple hardware

Oooh, sounds like another great "upgrade".