The end for Intel-compatible x86 apps on M1 Macs? macOS 11.3 could drop Rosetta in certain countries

[Redaktion]

Although Apple still has to confirm this, it looks like macOS 11.3 will come with a nasty surprise for some users. Depending on the region, this update might remove Rosetta, so the users of M1-powered machines in those countries will lose the ability to run x86 apps built for Intel-based Macs.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/The-end-for-Intel-compatible-x86-apps-on-M1-Macs-macOS-11-3-could-drop-Rosetta-in-certain-countries.526072.0.html

[ariliquin]

...only Intel, AMD, VIA Technologies, and DM&P Electronics hold x86 architectural licenses, and from these, only the first two are actively producing modern 64-bit designs....

Does this mean Apple was threatened with litigation and the difference is countries that do and do not recognise the x86 patents due to expiry rules?

[Anonym]

Does this mean Apple was threatened with litigation and the difference is countries that do and do not recognise the x86 patents due to expiry rules?

Apple does not use x86, but rather the much newer x86-64 (aka AMD64). If that is the issue, there is no way x86-64 is already expired anywhere.

[petunia]

This is why we can't have good things :(

[Codrut Nistor]

In the end, I hope Apple can come to an agreement with Intel/AMD/whoever is behind the legal problems. Otherwise, those companies deserve a little-big boycott.

[AndyChow]

Does this mean Apple was threatened with litigation and the difference is countries that do and do not recognise the x86 patents due to expiry rules?

Apple does not use x86, but rather the much newer x86-64 (aka AMD64). If that is the issue, there is no way x86-64 is already expired anywhere.

x86-64 is expired in most countries. Patents last 20 years and AMD's x86-64 instructions came out in 2000. A lot of modern instructions are still under patent, but not the original instruction set.