Mac on Intel: Software Vendor Announcements

[Doctor Q]

Please post links to press releases or news stories about Macintosh software vendors' plans for supporting Mac OS X for the Intel architecture. We should be seeing a number of such announcements starting this week.

Some applications will need only a recompile while some will need more tinkering in order to produce an Intel-compatible version. Some software vendors will need to switch to Xcode. If a software vendor does nothing, Mac OS X on Intel will use Rosetta translation technology to run the PowerPC binary on Mac OS X for Intel, but better performance is to be expected if vendors recompile, and in some cases tune their applications, specifically for Intel.

What matters to us, as users, is knowing how software vendors plan to address the issue.

 

[Doctor Q]

From the WWDC keynote presentation: Numeric calculation and modeling tool Mathematica by Wolfram Research, Inc. has already been ported in the lab. They will obviously be ready to ship a Mac on Intel version of Mathematica when Intel-based Macs are released by Apple next year.

* * *

News story: Software development system REALbasic by REAL Software Inc. will support both PPC and Intel, and applications developed with REALbasic will normally require only a recompile to run on Intel.

 

[Doctor Q]

News story: Parallel debugger FxP by Absoft Corporation will be out for Intel-based Apple hardware in 2006.

 

[Doctor Q]

Press release: 3D modeling, animation, and rendering package CINEMA 4D by MAXON has been leading a "secret double life" and universal binaries are already running in their lab.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Press release: 3D modeling, animation, and rendering package CINEMA 4D by MAXON has been leading a "secret double life" and universal binaries are already running in their lab.

That is amazing !!!

It's interesting how many people knew about it.

 

[Yebot]

In a recent Macworld.com article, 21 different companies have commented on the Apple-Intel strategy. Many are voicing their commitment to the Apple Intel future …

http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/06/08/saying/index.php

Adobe
Bare Bones Software
Chaotic Software
Delicious Monster
Elgato Systems
Fetch Softworks
FileMaker
Hamrick Software
Insider Software
Intuit
LaserSoft Imaging
Mark/Space
Microsoft
MYOB
Near-Time
Panic
ProVue Development
Roxio
Runtime Revolution
SmileOnMyMac
Wolfram Research

 

[Doctor Q]

Summary, after reading between the lines of the Macworld article:

Adobe (Creative Suite): committed to universal binaries

Bare Bones Software (BBEdit, Mailsmith, Super Get Info, TextWrangler): no commitment yet

Chaotic Software (Folder Spy, Fridge Magnets, King's Corner, Media Rage, Multimedia Tiler, Network Beacon, WebTimer): no commitment yet

Delicious Monster Software (Delicious Library): no commitment yet

Elgato Systems (eyetv, eyehome, eyeconnect): committed to universal binaries

Fetch Softworks (Fetch): plans to get software "ready for Intel" (ambiguous)

FileMaker, a wholly owned subsidiary of Apple (FileMaker): committed to "make the transition" (ambiguous)

Hamrick Software (VueScan, VuePrint): no commitment yet

Insider Software (FontAgent Pro): no commitment yet

Intuit (Quicken, TurboTax, QuickBooks): no commitment yet; talks of having the switch be transparent to end users (ambigiuos)

LaserSoft Imaging (SilverFast): porting to Xcode, implying universal binaries

Mark/Space (The Missing Sync): will "make the transition and support Apple's new hardware", implying universal binaries

Microsoft (Office, Virtual PC, Messenger, Windows Media, Remote Desktop Client, Outlook): will use Xcode to create universal binaries of MS Office

MYOB (MYOB): no commitment yet; will rely on Rosetta for the short term, looking at long term plans since they currently use CodeWarrior, not Xcode

Near-Time (Near-Time Current, Near-Time Flow, Near-Time Relay, Near-Time.net): no commitment yet

Panic (Unison, transmit, desktastic, CandyBar, stattoo): committed to "make a transition", implying universal binaries

ProVue Development (Panorama, SiteWarrior): no commitment yet

Roxio (Toast, Jam, Popcorn, The Boom Box): no commitment yet

Runtime Revolution Ltd. (Revolution, Dreamcard): will support the new "MacTel" architecture

SmileOnMyMac (PDFpen, disclabel, photoprinto, pagesender): commitment to universal binaries

Wolfram Research (Mathematica): committed to universal binaries

 

[Dr. Dastardly]

Heopfully this will rest some concerns about software on the new platform. I'm thinking the transition might even be faster and smoother than anticipated.

 

[Cooknn]

Add Photowarp to that list

If you're into QuickTimeVR 360° Pano's this one's for you:

From: Michael Rondinelli
Date: June 7, 2005 3:21:51 PM EDT
To: Dave Cook
Subject: Re: WWDC 2005 ( From EyeSee360 Forum )

Dave,

Yes, I'm at WWDC. Photowarp is already well under way to being universal, so we should be ready when Intel machines ship next year.

Michael Rondinelli
Chief Technology Officer
EyeSee360, Inc.

 

[Doctor Q]

ProjectWizards (Merlin for project management): committed to Intel binaries the day an Intel-based Mac ships [press release]

Luxology LLC (modo for surface modeling): committed to (and already has running) a universal binary [news story]

 

[Doctor Q]

Ryan Gordon reports success getting Intel versions running of Unreal Tournament 2004, Duke Nukem 3D, Feeding Frenzy, and Torque Game Engine.

The exact day Intel-Macs hit the retail stores, I fully expect to ship a patch to support these machines.

 

[Doctor Q]

Macworld reports that BBEdit 8.2.3 includes a universal binary.

 

[vniow]

The Colloquy IRC client is now provided as a universal binary download.

Firefox has been recompiled as well.

 

[MacAficionado]

And don't forget, Codeweavers

"Mac OS Support
Despite the fact that both CrossOver Office and Apple's MacOS are built atop Unix, CrossOver Office has been restricted to Linux because CrossOver Office requires Intel CPUs for optimal operation. Currently, Apple desktops use IBM PowerPC chipsets exclusively.
With the move by Apple to the Intel chips in 2006, CodeWeavers will be providing a version of CrossOver Office for Macintosh users as well as extending its porting services to the Macintosh for Windows software developers. With this change, users and developers will be able to step over the applications barrier to entry and more freely choose their platforms, enabling a richer and more market driven computing landscape."

 

[mduser63]

And don't forget, Codeweavers

"Mac OS Support
Despite the fact that both CrossOver Office and Apple's MacOS are built atop Unix, CrossOver Office has been restricted to Linux because CrossOver Office requires Intel CPUs for optimal operation. Currently, Apple desktops use IBM PowerPC chipsets exclusively.
With the move by Apple to the Intel chips in 2006, CodeWeavers will be providing a version of CrossOver Office for Macintosh users as well as extending its porting services to the Macintosh for Windows software developers. With this change, users and developers will be able to step over the applications barrier to entry and more freely choose their platforms, enabling a richer and more market driven computing landscape."

This sounds like good news, and it may be, but I worry about it too. It may make it so a lot of developers figure that since people can run their Windows apps on the Mac without any changes, there's no need to develop Mac native versions. I don't really see a point in using a Mac if you're stuck using the (IMO awful) Windows interface, and have such inconsistencies between programs. This will be good as long as it doesn't decrease the amount of truly Mac-native software available.

 

[vouder17]

This sounds like good news, and it may be, but I worry about it too. It may make it so a lot of developers figure that since people can run their Windows apps on the Mac without any changes, there's no need to develop Mac native versions. I don't really see a point in using a Mac if you're stuck using the (IMO awful) Windows interface, and have such inconsistencies between programs. This will be good as long as it doesn't decrease the amount of truly Mac-native software available.

This is a great thread, nice to know what is going on in the intel/mac world.
i agree with you on the codeweavers porting thing. But the one huge advantage that i do see is that games will finally be able to come to mac. Cos gaming people always bitch about the fact that they dont want to change everything over to OpenGL. So i guess that WINE could help with that. I find this whole transition thing really interesting. i am really interested to see where we will be in a year from now.

 

[jaw04005]

Any news on Aspyr or any of the other Macintosh gaming companies? I wonder how the move to x86 is going to affect the games I've purchased over the last two years.

 

[irmongoose]

Any news on Aspyr or any of the other Macintosh gaming companies? I wonder how the move to x86 is going to affect the games I've purchased over the last two years.

According to this July MacObserver article, many Mac game developers seem to be accepting the switch, although some are saying that if WINE gets ported over to OS X and if Windows games work natively on Macs, the Mac-gaming industry will see a downfall. The games you have purchased? They should run under Rosetta.


Also, Doctor Q, I think it is safe to take FileMaker off the list, because FileMaker is Apple!




irmongoose

 

[mcarvin]

Omni Group has a stealthy callout on their OmniGraffle page stating their existing product line will go Universal:

The Omni Group is committed to providing free upgrades to Universal binary versions that run on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs for all of our currently announced applications.
OmniGraffle 4*
OmniWeb 5
OmniOutliner 3
OmniDiskSweeper
OmniDictionary
OmniObjectMeter 2

* Purchases of OmniGraffle 3 made on or after April 25, 2005 receive a free upgrade to OmniGraffle 4.

 

[Doctor Q]

I think it is safe to take FileMaker off the list, because FileMaker is Apple!

Thanks. I noted the subsidiary relationship in my post above. However, I have yet to see a press release about universal binaries at FileMaker's site. Only the "committed to making that transition" comment in an interview with Macworld.

 

[AHDuke99]

According to this July MacObserver article, many Mac game developers seem to be accepting the switch, although some are saying that if WINE gets ported over to OS X and if Windows games work natively on Macs, the Mac-gaming industry will see a downfall. The games you have purchased? They should run under Rosetta.


Also, Doctor Q, I think it is safe to take FileMaker off the list, because FileMaker is Apple!




irmongoose

rosetta to run games? i doubt that will work well. i'll just boot into windows... rosetta runs it at about 80% full speed and doesn't emulate altivec, so games will not run well at all.

 

[Doctor Q]

News release:

OmniGraffle and OmniGraffle Professional (diagramming applications) by The Omni Group have been "readied for Intel Macs" with the release of version 4.1.

Free upgrade for registered users with version 4.x.​

 

[After G]

rosetta runs it at about 80% full speed and doesn't emulate altivec, so games will not run well at all.

Rosetta was updated so it supports Altivec.

 

[drew336]

Aspyr is working on universal binaries.

http://developer.apple.com/business/macmarket/aspyr.html

 

[mduser63]

Just noticed that one of my favorite Mac apps, MI-SUGAR, was released as a Universal Binary a couple days ago. I've already downloaded it, and am using the new version (which has a couple new features besides Intel support). http://www.macinit.com/