Apple to Drop Intel and Use its own Chips in Mac Computers
2020-06-25
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Apple says it will start using the same chip technology it uses in its mobile devices to power the next generation of Mac computers.
2The new technology will replace Intel-based chips, which have been built into Mac machines for the past 15 years.
3Chips help power a computer's processing system.
4One of the main materials used to make computer chips is silicon, a chemical element.
5In its announcement this week, the company said its first Mac to include the new "Apple Silicon" chips would be available by the end of 2020.
6The news came during Apple's yearly conference for computer programmers and mobile app developers.
7This year, the conference was held online because of the coronavirus crisis.
8Apple chief Tim Cook told people watching the conference that the decision marked a historic new beginning for the Mac.
9"Silicon is at the heart of our hardware," he said.
10"Having a world-class silicon design team is a game changer."
11The company already uses Apple-designed chips in its iPhone and iPad devices.
12The same kind of chips are also used to power most smartphones in use throughout the world.
13Apple says the decision to move away from Intel chips is designed to make Mac computers faster and more efficient while requiring less power.
14Johny Srouji is Apple's vice president for hardware technology.
15He explained the change to the conference.
16"The first thing this will do is give the Mac a whole new level of performance," he said.
17Srouji said the company will draw on its experience designing "the world's most energy efficient chips" that currently power Apple's mobile devices.
18"It all started with the iPhone," Srouji said.
19"The iPhone demanded performance and capabilities that were seen as impossible in a device that small."
20The change will also "establish a common architecture across all Apple products," the company said in a statement.
21That means the new Macs will be able to run apps that currently work only on iPhones or iPads.
22Apple promised that developers would be able to "easily convert their existing apps to run on Apple Silicon."
23A company official said the majority of existing apps for the Intel-based machines should be able to be changed in "just a few days."
24Apple said the new system should be in all Macs within two years.
25In a statement, Intel said it still planned to keep its relationship with Apple "across several areas of business."
26Experts told the Reuters news agency this could include Intel continuing to supply Apple with data center chips to power its iCloud service.
27The new Apple chips are based on technology developed by Arm Holdings, a semiconductor and software design company owned by Japan's Softbank Group.
28On the same day as Apple's conference, a machine that uses Arm technology was named the world's fastest supercomputer.
29The Fugaku supercomputer was developed by Japanese research organization RIKEN and Japan's Fujitsu Ltd.
30The Fugaku system was at the top on the TOP500 list, a ranking that comes out two times a year of the world's most powerful computers.
31Arm Holdings announced the latest list on Monday.
32Before that, the top-ranked supercomputer on the list was a machine based at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States.
33That system runs on chips designed by American technology company IBM.
34Chips from IBM and Intel were used in all other systems in the top 10, except for a system using a Chinese-designed chip from China's National Supercomputing Center in the city of Wuxi.
35One use of supercomputers by governments is to simulate nuclear explosions in weapons tests.
36They are also used to model climate systems and in biotechnology research.
37The Fugaku supercomputer will be used for such projects in Japan.
38I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Apple says it will start using the same chip technology it uses in its mobile devices to power the next generation of Mac computers. 2The new technology will replace Intel-based chips, which have been built into Mac machines for the past 15 years. 3Chips help power a computer's processing system. One of the main materials used to make computer chips is silicon, a chemical element. 4In its announcement this week, the company said its first Mac to include the new "Apple Silicon" chips would be available by the end of 2020. 5The news came during Apple's yearly conference for computer programmers and mobile app developers. This year, the conference was held online because of the coronavirus crisis. 6Apple chief Tim Cook told people watching the conference that the decision marked a historic new beginning for the Mac. "Silicon is at the heart of our hardware," he said. "Having a world-class silicon design team is a game changer." 7The company already uses Apple-designed chips in its iPhone and iPad devices. The same kind of chips are also used to power most smartphones in use throughout the world. 8Apple says the decision to move away from Intel chips is designed to make Mac computers faster and more efficient while requiring less power. 9Johny Srouji is Apple's vice president for hardware technology. He explained the change to the conference. "The first thing this will do is give the Mac a whole new level of performance," he said. 10Srouji said the company will draw on its experience designing "the world's most energy efficient chips" that currently power Apple's mobile devices. 11"It all started with the iPhone," Srouji said. "The iPhone demanded performance and capabilities that were seen as impossible in a device that small." 12The change will also "establish a common architecture across all Apple products," the company said in a statement. That means the new Macs will be able to run apps that currently work only on iPhones or iPads. 13Apple promised that developers would be able to "easily convert their existing apps to run on Apple Silicon." A company official said the majority of existing apps for the Intel-based machines should be able to be changed in "just a few days." 14Apple said the new system should be in all Macs within two years. 15In a statement, Intel said it still planned to keep its relationship with Apple "across several areas of business." Experts told the Reuters news agency this could include Intel continuing to supply Apple with data center chips to power its iCloud service. 16The new Apple chips are based on technology developed by Arm Holdings, a semiconductor and software design company owned by Japan's Softbank Group. 17On the same day as Apple's conference, a machine that uses Arm technology was named the world's fastest supercomputer. The Fugaku supercomputer was developed by Japanese research organization RIKEN and Japan's Fujitsu Ltd. 18The Fugaku system was at the top on the TOP500 list, a ranking that comes out two times a year of the world's most powerful computers. Arm Holdings announced the latest list on Monday. 19Before that, the top-ranked supercomputer on the list was a machine based at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States. That system runs on chips designed by American technology company IBM. 20Chips from IBM and Intel were used in all other systems in the top 10, except for a system using a Chinese-designed chip from China's National Supercomputing Center in the city of Wuxi. 21One use of supercomputers by governments is to simulate nuclear explosions in weapons tests. They are also used to model climate systems and in biotechnology research. The Fugaku supercomputer will be used for such projects in Japan. 22I'm Bryan Lynn. 23Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters, Apple and online sources. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 24We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 25________________________________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27chip - n. a small piece of semiconducting material used to make parts that help power computer processors 28app - n. a program for a smartphone or other device that performs a special function 29efficient - adj. working well and not wasting time or energy 30capability - n. the ability of power to do something 31draw on - phrasal verb. to use information, knowledge or experience to help achieve something 32architecture - n. a set of rules that form the structure and logical organization of a computer or computer-based system 33convert - v. to change the appearance, for or purpose of something 34ranking - n. a position in a list that shows things or people of importance 35simulate - v. to recreate a process or situation