HiTechEdge

Tag: M1

  • Parallels Plans to Bring Windows 11 to macOS

    Parallels Plans to Bring Windows 11 to macOS

    Parallels is already working on supporting Windows 11 on Apple’s macOS, although no release date has been set.

    Parallels is one of the leading virtualization companies and has been a stalwart on the Mac platform for years. The software allows Mac users to run Windows and Linux from within macOS.

    The company recently updated its software to support Apple’s M1 processors, based on the same processor the company uses in its iPhone and iPad. The company confirmed to iMore that it is now working to support Windows 11 as well.

    “Since Windows 11 has just been announced recently, the Parallels Engineering team is waiting for the official Windows 11 Insider Preview build to start studying changes introduced in the new OS to deliver full compatibility in future Parallels Desktop updates,” Nick Dobrovolskiy, SVP of Engineering and Support told iMore.

    Parallels did not give a release date, or even a window, but did say it “will surely do everything that’s possible to make it happen.”

  • Apple’s M1 Chip Has an Unfixable Flaw, but There’s No Real Concern

    Apple’s M1 Chip Has an Unfixable Flaw, but There’s No Real Concern

    Apple’s new M1 chips have an unfixable vulnerability, but the developer who found it says not to worry.

    The M1 chip is based on the Arm architecture, and is the continuation of the A-series chips Apple has used in the iPhone and iPad for years. Apple has been transitioning the Mac platform to the M1, and has incorporated it in the 2021 iPad Pro as well.

    Developer Hector Martin has discovered a flaw in the M1 that allows two apps to secretly communicate with each other — all without the normal oversight the OS would provide.

    A flaw in the design of the Apple Silicon “M1” chip allows any two applications running under an OS to covertly exchange data between them, without using memory, sockets, files, or any other normal operating system features. This works between processes running as different users and under different privilege levels, creating a covert channel for surreptitious data exchange.

    To make matters worse, Martin says the bug cannot be fixed with a software update, and will require a change in the upcoming versions of the M1 and its successors.

    Despite the dire-sounding nature of the bug, Martin says the actual impact is minimal. The vulnerability cannot be used to commandeer a machine, or steal private data. The only real-world danger is that a malware program could communicate with other malware on the same computer. Of course, as Martin points out, if a computer is already compromised with malware, two instances of malware communicating are probably the least of your concerns.

    Really, nobody’s going to actually find a nefarious use for this flaw in practical circumstances. Besides, there are already a million side channels you can use for cooperative cross-process communication (e.g. cache stuff), on every system. Covert channels can’t leak data from uncooperative apps or systems.

    Actually, that one’s worth repeating: Covert channels are completely useless unless your system is already compromised.

  • Qualcomm Releases Next-Gen Snapdragon for Arm-Based PCs and Chromebooks

    Qualcomm Releases Next-Gen Snapdragon for Arm-Based PCs and Chromebooks

    Qualcomm has released the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 processor to help further Arm-based Windows PCs, as well as Chromebooks.

    Apple upended the PC industry when it announced it would switch its Mac computers to its own custom silicon. Apple’s new M1 processors are the evolution of the same Arm-based chips Apple has used in iPhones and iPads for years. Shortly after the announcement, former Apple executive and Be, Inc. founder Jean-Louis Gassée predictedMicrosoft would be forced to follow suit, due to the advantages Arm’s architecture offers over Intel.

    Qualcomm is working hard to help the Windows and Chromebook world embrace Arm-based chips with its new Snapdragon 7c Gen 2.

    “Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 brings the leading innovations of our compute portfolio to the next generation of entry-tier and affordable devices. Laptops powered by this platform will redefine mobile computing for education users, first line workers, and everyday light consumers, enabling reliable and powerful devices that feature advanced AI, and support for multi-day battery life,” said Miguel Nunes, Senior Director, Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “We are excited to bring this next generation upgrade to our entry level platform, for the very best mobile PC experiences.”

    Qualcomm has simultaneously released Snapdragon Developer Kit, aimed at helping developers test their Windows 10 applications on the Arm-based chips.

    “We have a proud history of creating helpful developer tools in coordination with Microsoft, and the Snapdragon Developer Kit is the latest outcome of that collaboration,” said Miguel Nunes, Senior Director, Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “This developer kit provides an affordable alternative to other consumer and commercial devices. With the smaller desktop configuration, this kit gives developers more flexibility than notebook options, and at a lower price point. We remain committed to helping developers address requests from customers, while reducing the overall cost of deployment.”

  • Apple Preparing MacBook Pro and Air Updates

    Apple Preparing MacBook Pro and Air Updates

    Apple is preparing its next round of MacBook Pro and Air updates, adding a 14 and 16-inch Pro and faster M1 processors.

    Apple introduced the new MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini last November, with all of them sporting the company’s new M1 chip. Based on the same designs that have powered the iPad and iPhone for years, the M1 immediately won rave reviews for its performance and battery life.

    The company is now preparing to add a 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro as soon as early summer, according to Bloomberg’sMark Gurman. In a move that’s sure to please Apple’s professional customers, the new MacBook Pros are expected to have a redesigned chassis that will include additional ports, an HDMI port and an SD slot — features that were removed from previous models in some of the company’s most unpopular moves.

    The new MacBook Pros will have 10-core chips, eight high-performance and two high-efficiency cores. The chips will be offered in two variations, differentiated by either 16 or 32 graphics cores. The chips will also support a maximum of 64GB of memory, a major upgrade over the 16GB in current M1 models.

    An updated MacBook Air is also expected as early as the end of the year, building on the success of the current M1 Air. Gurman’s sources say the MacBook Air’s chip will contain the same computing cores, although they will run faster. The graphics cores will also increase from the current 7 or 8 to 9 or 10.

    Mark Gurman is one of the most reliable Apple-watchers. If his sources are correct, the updates will bring welcome changes to Apple’s laptop lines and raise the bar for laptop performance.