Is Hackintosh about to get a whole lot easier?

[aphex]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/0...g-osx86-to-the-masses/

Word in the OSX86 world is that a new product will revolutionize (and simplify) the process of installing OS X on a PC -- and that product is called the EFiX. The USB dongle allegedly pops into a free port and allows you to install the retail version of the Mac operating system on just about any system by automatically locating the proper hacks and drivers needed. Famed OSX86 hacker Netkas has demoed a beta unit on video (which you can see after the break) and claims that it's working as it should. The manufacturer is aiming to have models available for purchase by June 23rd... barring any more "sabotage." This sounds like a much more reasonable solution than marketing a Mac clone -- feel free to send one our way whenever you like guys.

 

[Megatomic]

Meh, I'll just stick with Apple hardware.

 

[ViRGE]

This strikes me as being unlikely. There are several issues to contend with, such as emulating EFI, supporting GUID, drivers, hacked kernel for non-Intel SSE3 processors, etc. Without more technical details there's no way to be certain, but it strikes me as hoax of some kind.

 

[randomlinh]

They did something like this for the Apple TV, no? well, they as in the hacker community as a whole, dunno who specifically. All so very tempting. Hrm.. anyone successfully build a $700 clone close to the size of the mac mini yet?

 

[vailr]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
They did something like this for the Apple TV, no? well, they as in the hacker community as a whole, dunno who specifically.

aTV Flash
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/...5/apple-core-stop.html

Mainscreen

The makers of a third-party Apple TV upgrade, which gives the device support for new video file formats, video streaming and full web browsing, have pulled the product over unspecified "fair use" concerns.

Until yesterday, Highlands Ranch, Colorado-based Apple Core sold a very handy little USB stick called aTV Flash. The thumb drive was a plug-and-play solution to hack your Apple TV, bringing a slew of extra features for just $60. After restoring your Apple TV to factory defaults, you slip in the aTV. It goes to work and installs all the extra software needed. Because the process is reversible (just do another factory restore) and it doesn't involve physically opening the Apple TV, it doesn't void your warranty.

But yesterday, the company pulled the aTV Flash from its lineup and canceled and refunded all outstanding orders for the product, citing "questions arising regarding the fair use of a particular file present on the aTV Flash."

An Apple Core representative contacted by Wired.com said that the company was not pulling its product due to legal pressure from Apple.

"We need to clarify some licensing issues. But for the record it was not due to outside pressure," said James Abeler, an Apple Core partner.

In a statement posted on the aTV Flash product page, the company cited concerns over whether its use of a particular file would qualify as a "fair use" exemption under the U.S. copyright code.

 

[Zaap]

You can already install the retail version of Mac OSX on "PC" hardware. What's the big deal? It'll have Apple's seal of approval on it? Whoopidy. There's really no such thing as "Apple" hardware.

 

[Megatomic]

Well, I meant computer purchased from Apple when I said Apple hardware. I think that should have been easily determined.

 

[Zaap]

I know what you meant, just I hate this nonsense that gets passed around, like in those silly "I'm a Mac ads", the whole "Apple makes the hardware and the OS!" nonsense. There's no such thing as an Apple: motherboard, processor, hard drive, video card, RAM, PSU- opps, that's pretty much the 'whole widget' and they make none of it.

 

[ViRGE]

Sure there is. The motherboard is based on Intel chipsets since it's an Intel processor after all, but it's a custom design implementing things such as EFI and component combinations that you can't find on other boards. The video card implements a EFI-complient video BIOS, and the PSUs aren't usually ATX. They aren't fabbing their own chips, but there's a lot of customization you can do without needing to go that far.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Zaap
You can already install the retail version of Mac OSX on "PC" hardware. What's the big deal? It'll have Apple's seal of approval on it? Whoopidy. There's really no such thing as "Apple" hardware.

Did you even bother to actually read the article?

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Zaap
I know what you meant, just I hate this nonsense that gets passed around, like in those silly "I'm a Mac ads", the whole "Apple makes the hardware and the OS!" nonsense. There's no such thing as an Apple: motherboard, processor, hard drive, video card, RAM, PSU- opps, that's pretty much the 'whole widget' and they make none of it.

there's an apple enclosure. several different kinds in fact =P