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Apple Closes OS X Intel Kernel Out of Piracy Fears

by , 2:20 PM EDT, May 17th, 2006

The Intel version of Mac OS X has a closed kernel, thanks to fears over piracy, according to InfoWorld's Tom Yager. While the kernel in the PowerPC version of OS X was open source, and thus alterable, the new one "no longer possesses the quality that elevated Linux to its status as the second most popular commercial OS," Mr. Yager wrote.

He added, however, that Apple's official position on the matter is that the OS X x86 kernel is "in flux," and his hope is that when the company ships Intel-based Xserves and Power Macs, its "flux settles into a strategy that favors demanding users and developers."

There's more in his opinion column, which is available at MacCentral.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:Small White Car Posts: 1950 Joined: 02 Jul 2004
Subject: OS X on a Dell?

This is to keep OS X off of other companies PC hardware, right?

I'm just guessing but it sounds like they thought they'd be able to keep it locked onto Apple hardware using other methods but when those failed they gave up and locked the whole thing down.

Hopefully they'll work it out in such a way that it doesn't limit legitimate users.

Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject:

This seems like a stupid arguement given that the #1 most popular commercial OS has a closed kernel. And then when you consider how horrible the acceptance of Linux on the desktop has been along with the fact that Apple clearly wants to remain a consumer-oriented product company, it becomes even stupider. Like they want to support people running a bunch of hacked up kernels with poorly written "enhancements".

Close Name:Small White Car Posts: 1950 Joined: 02 Jul 2004
Subject:

Biff, based on what I read in the fulll column, these are the people this will most affect:

http://www.apple.com/science/

Based on that link, wouldn't you say that Apple is interested in that market? It looks that way to me, anyway.

View Name:Guest
Subject:
Close Name:LaurieF -   TMO Forum Mod Posts: 3499 Joined: 15 Jun 2001
Subject:

OK, you silly little anonymous person, why is xnu (OS X's kernel)here? It isn't in the x86 directory.

You are non-accurate, and misleading.

View Name:Guest
Subject: Only Effects Developers
View Name:Guest
Subject: I agree with the car
View Name:Guest
Subject: opps who said virus?
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