Attention Hits Hack in 10.6.2 Enabling Atom Support

[Michael Essany]

Even though some discovered this information weeks ago, only now is it widely coming to light as high-traffic news and rumor sources like 9to5Mac are finally promoting word that Atom support can be enabled by a hack in 10.6.2. And while this news doesn't come as a major shock to anyone, it is somewhat surprising how quickly a fix has come along to effectively "work around" the decision by Apple to drop support for Atom processors in OS X 10.6.2 - a move that effectively killed Hackintosh netbooks.

A Russian hacker was able to slap an old Atom-supporting OSX Kernel on the newer Mac OS 10.6.2 build and get it running on his little Atom netbook. Depending on how much Apple cares, we'll probably see this shut down in 10.6.3. Rinse. Repeat.

The Russian hacker behind this development (named “Tea”) is responsible for making a patched kernel tailored for the Atom CPU. Fairly straightforward and simple, copying this to the root level of your drive and rebooting should then restore everything back to the way it was in 10.6.1.

If you can't read Russian, it's important to note that "Tea" didn't personally give this kernel a whirl on 10.6.2. Some other intrepid souls, however, did follow "Tea's" recommendations. And according to most known reports, everything went according to plan and worked as "Tea" had anticipated.

Yep, we knew this would happen. Apple, for whatever reason (they didn't test it and don't care or they are trying to prevent Hackintosh) killed support for Atom in their latest 10.6.2 build.

While this news is a welcome gem of information to many, it's certainly a frustrating reality for Apple - but not for the reason most would immediately suspect. Rather than thinking Apple merely wants to impede the Hackintosh movement wherever possible, it's far more likely that Apple hopes to prevent copy-cat troublemakers like Psystar from pulling their usual stunts and casually ringing the register on the intellectual property that rightfully belongs in Cupertino.

Image via Insanely Mac

[bbillh77]

What is so bad about hackintosh why does apple fight ppl so hard that like there stuff just want it a little differnt If I am selling something that a lot of ppl want let me make mine if they alter it a little all it will do is increase sales why fight it

[riku98523]

Well most hackintosh users just pirate the OS anyway. Apple could make more money off teh Hackintosh community if they would just allow the OS to run on multiple platforms only problem with this is that Apple doesn't want to offers support to everyone because they honestly can't offer support for hackintosh users. If Apple was to expand to the size of M$ then sure they could open the OS and offer more support but for them its just easier to offer support on their own hardware.

[nico_swd]

Well most hackintosh users just pirate the OS anyway. Apple could make more money off teh Hackintosh community if they would just allow the OS to run on multiple platforms only problem with this is that Apple doesn't want to offers support to everyone because they honestly can't offer support for hackintosh users. If Apple was to expand to the size of M$ then sure they could open the OS and offer more support but for them its just easier to offer support on their own hardware.

Macs rarely crash/hang, because their software is limited to (or "made for") specific hardware from specific manufacturers. If they had to support all hardware they'd just as reliable as any PC.

[tarekkkkk]

link download anything please my hp dv7 (resurrected)

[rwin84]

back on track thanks devs!

[riku98523]

Macs rarely crash/hang, because their software is limited to (or "made for") specific hardware from specific manufacturers. If they had to support all hardware they'd just as reliable as any PC.

I have had macs hang on me more than any PC in my life. Only time I have ever had blue screens on windows is when a piece of hardware was failing. That's kinda the point though if Apple made the OS open they would lose 90% of their user base. Macs only advantage is less crashing and what not (which I myself haven't noticed) and if they lost that then their only "winning" feature over windows would be gone. At the same time this limits Apple they can never become the leader in the market if they only support their own hardware its really a lose/lose situation either they stay behind windows or they drop out because we all know if Mac started allowing their OS on custom built PCs and allowed Manufactures to buy the OS and sell their own PCs Apple would still charge absurd amounts.

[dq13]

the only reason that apple does not support all hardware and it is limited to their machines, is only so they can sell more mac comuters for a rip off price of at least 1500 when you can get a pc for 400. if they open mac os to most hardware, then ppl will just buy mac os for 150 instead of buying a mac for a couple of G's

[DarkoNova]

Mac's "only feature" isn't that they're more stable than pc's. That is one of the features, yes, but it isn't the only one. You pay a premium for better quality parts, aesthetic appeal, reliability, and customer service.

You pay $1500 for a MacBook because it looks slick, it's super thin, it has functions that most other laptops don't have (i.e., backlit keyboard, built in camera only recently began to be implemented by pc companies), insanely long battery life, etc. It's a case of you get what you pay for. Are there 17 stickers on a Mac from various companies letting you know what's inside? No.

Are there 17 stickers on a Dell/Sony/HP/Acer from various companies letting you know what's inside? YES.

Do they also come preloaded with a bunch of bs programs? YES.

If you don't like Apple or Mac OS, fine, but it's not a rip-off if you actually like it and/or have a use for it.

Matt

[NessLookAlike]

Mac's "only feature" isn't that they're more stable than pc's. That is one of the features, yes, but it isn't the only one. You pay a premium for better quality parts, aesthetic appeal, reliability, and customer service.

Ok, lets start.

1.) You do not pay a premium for better quality parts. Apple pulls its parts from outsourced companies and then brands it as their own, just like any other notebook manufacturer.

2.) Paying "premium" for aesthetic appeal in a laptop is foolish and a waste of money. People that buy Macs only for this reason are shallow, foolish, and wasteful people.

3.) Reliability varies from user to user; many will say that Macs are more reliable, but just as many will go on and on about their horrible experiences with failing Macs. Reality check: if you don't think a BSoD-esque screen exists for Mac, or that such a screen ever gets displayed on a Mac, you are quite mistaken.

4.) I suppose Apple should provide great customer support, considering all the profit they're making off people who either buy Macs because they have shallow personalities and need any help they can get to garner attention from others.

Lets continue.

You pay $1500 for a MacBook because it looks slick, it's super thin,

Unless you're thinking the one and only Macbook Air, Macbooks are typically no thinner than any other laptop.

it has functions that most other laptops don't have (i.e., backlit keyboard,

Backlit keyboard is nice, but Apple isn't the only one to do it. A lot of laptops have light-up letter keys versus backlighting, so this feature is trivial.

built in camera only recently began to be implemented by pc companies),

Apple didn't pioneer the concept of cameras in laptops, Apple isn't the only one that does it, lets make sure we define "only recently" as in MULTIPLE YEARS NOW SUCH THAT MOST if not all PCs HAVE IT. Its not a big deal or a deal breaker, at all.

insanely long battery life,

No. Just, no.

It's a case of you get what you pay for. Are there 17 stickers on a Mac from various companies letting you know what's inside? No.

No, there are 17 stickers of that damn Apple logo so you can paste it all over your car, your books, your boxes, your guitar case, your windows, and anywhere else you'd like to garner attention and show off your ability to pay more for little extra functionality.

Are there 17 stickers on a Dell/Sony/HP/Acer from various companies letting you know what's inside? YES.

Seriously, those peel off.

Do they also come preloaded with a bunch of bs programs? YES.

Preloaded with no-more BS programs than the programs preloaded for Macs. Usually PCs come with some LAN or wireless software, a program to update drivers, and maybe an antivirus. Whats so bad about that? None of those things will kill a system.

If you don't like Apple or Mac OS, fine, but it's not a rip-off if you actually like it and/or have a use for it.

If you really believe that, then I have a really nice bridge here I'd like to sell you, I'm sure you'll love it. It even comes with stickers.

[tudtran]

I didn't know Apple was using Atom chip on their computers.

[chuckiecheese]

I am running 10.6.2 on my Dell mini 10v. This is an excellent netbook its so much smaller than my 13" macbook.

[domenicp]

the only reason that apple does not support all hardware and it is limited to their machines, is only so they can sell more mac comuters for a rip off price of at least 1500 when you can get a pc for 400. if they open mac os to most hardware, then ppl will just buy mac os for 150 instead of buying a mac for a couple of G's

That's definitely a strong reason for Apple to continue with this approach. However, from the very start Apple was a hardware plus software company. For Apple its been a philosophical stance since the first offerings personally built by Woz. Today, one could argue its about the money, but people seem to like what they sell, and are willing to pay for it, so I'm not sure you can fault Apple.

[rhekt]

well this is certaINTLY news too ME