1/7/2001: Apple might gain access to thousands of free applications

    ... For his new operating system MacOS X. At least this would be the consequence of the appearance of a version for MacOS X of the popular servant of windows of X Windows XFree86. With him, the users of the imminent operating system of Apple would have access to any application X Window, in which the users of Linux and other UNIX are more than accustomed.
    The new version is completely compatible with Aqua, the piece of news interface for defect of MacOS X (that it has much of UNIX in his structure, certainly). With the new version it turns out to be possible to change in real-time from Aqua (much more advanced than any other windows servant and with characteristics that will revolutionize the market) to XFree86 (with an enormous base of available applications). It is still not a "transparent execution" of X Window, but almost.
    This joined the imminent appearance of the new processors G4, can do of 2001 one year in which the definitive blast-off of the Apple becomes true. Also, one still speculates on the possibility that MacOS X is carried towards the architecture PC, since in these moments the technological base of the new operating system (called Darwin) can be executed so much in a PC in the same way that does it in a Mac, and the piece of news XFree86 has been designed to work on Darwin, with what inside very little we might execute the same applications in a PC and in a Mac without any problem.

1/5/2001: Motorola G4 Bonus, a need for the Apple of the future

    The PowerPC G4 Bonus, the new microprocessor of Motorola destined for the computers Apple, is in his final straight line... but Motorola thinks that it will have still to be waited to the summer to purify the last mistakes in the manufacture. Meanwhile, it is probable that there is used the PowerPC G4 7410 in replacement of the current model, the G4 7400.
    The G4 7410 turns out to be very similar to his predecessor, with a high yield and scarce heat to be removed. Designed in 0,18 microns technology with copper interconnectors (what allows him to have a size the half that the original G4 and low dissipation of heat), originally it was destined for other types of devices (communications, networks, storage...) but it can be the key to overcome soon 500 MHz that is anchored the current one G4.
    Nevertheless, to come to 750 MHz and more, the G4 Bonus turns out to be essential. This mike will have diverse advantages, like two units AltiVec instead of one, but the most important thing his potential is to come at least up to 1 GHz.
    Undoubtedly, Motorola has been working hard not to lose the sale of his mikes to Apple (threatened by the G3 of IBM and perhaps even for Intel and AMD). And the fact is that it does not import that the PowerPC G4 are much more advanced than the mikes of Intel or AMD (up to the rapids double at the same clock speed), the question is that most of the people only are fixed in the MHz and GHz... and in that they go much behind.

1/3/2001: New year, new nuclei: Linux and Windows are renewed

    The newly inaugurated year is going to provide interesting innovations to us at operating systems level. On the one hand, Microsoft hopes to disembark at the end of year with his new operating system Whistler, that he is born with the vocation (and obligation) of unifying two current families of Windows: the family based on the nucleus 9x and that of the Windows 2000 (or NT 5.0, much stabler and advanced). At present the Microsoft Whistler finds in the beta phase 1.
    This intentions declaration would suppose the end of the sale and the official technical support of Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0, coinciding with the Whistler appearance. A polemic decision and of little taste for the users, especially the companies, for the economic effort that he would suppose and a little time of the one that would prepare to migrate to the new platform. New year, new Windows... loves or not, do absence or not.
    On the other hand, Linus Torvalds has announced the availability of the definitive, first and only official pre-version of the nucleus (kernel) 2.4 of Linux (only available for testeadores). Let's remember that this new nucleus, with big advances and progress, takes a considerable delay since proper Linus announced in June, 1999 that "the version 2.4 is on having fallen down".
    Meanwhile, most of the distributions have chosen to include betas of 2.4, good as basic or optional nucleus; the definitive version is waited in the short term. We will keep you informed...

1/2/2001: New products Intel Inside (and they are not microprocessor)

    Although it looks like a lie, Intel not only makes microprocessors; hurried up by the scarce sales of PCs and the strong competition, in price and yield, of AMD, Intel glides to promote to the maximum his "other products of consumption" for the environment PC.
    The very same CEO (President) of Intel, Craig Barrett, it will present on Friday in Las Vegas some new products that will take advantage of the well-known slogan "Intel Inside", between which a portable music breeding animal is in diverse formats, including of course immensely popularly MP3.
    Other products are focused to achieve the more portable Internet one: ChatPad is a small device to order and to receive messages of e-mail (a species of Internet "search"), and WebTablet is a flat screen size pad of notes to sail along Internet.
    The diversification seems to be the only possible way so that a company as big as Intel could be supported afloat in the current situation, especially considering his enormous investments in factories and publicity. And also, the new inventions keep on needing a classic PC to be useful, and there work with microprocessors StrongARM... also Intel Inside, skylight.