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Apple wants all iOS apps to use 64-bit code starting in February
Apple may have only introduced 64-bit computing to iPhones and iPads a little over a year ago, but it's already preparing for the day when legacy 32-bit code is gone for good. The Cupertino crew is now telling developers that their iOS apps must include 64-bit support from February 1st onward. While the company won't kick out existing titles, both new apps and updated releases will have to make the switch. Theoretically, this is easy -- developers just have to build apps using the most recent tools and standard settings.
Google's Android emulator is ready to help developers make 64-bit apps
There's a lot to look forward to in Android's next major update, but hardware nerds are focusing in one one key feature: official support for 64-bit mobile chips. It's the mobile OS' inevitable future, and chip-makers have been preparing for it for quite awhile. Now app developers can jump in, too: Google announced today that a x86 64-bit Android L developer preview emulator image is available for developers that want to take their apps to the next generation. Not every dev will need to rebuild, however -- apps built in Java will automatically benefit from the 64-bit release's increased accessibility to memory and registers. Choose another language? Well, you'll need to recompile: head over to the source to start testing your apps in 64-bit.
Chrome for Mac will be a strictly 64-bit affair as of November
Still surfing the web from an old-school Mac? You may want to upgrade shortly. Google has revealed that it's launching the finished 64-bit version of Chrome 39 for OS X this November, and there won't be a 32-bit fallback (like there is with Windows) from that point onward. As the search giant explained when it unveiled the Chrome 38 beta, the bulk of Mac users have 64-bit systems -- it should be safe to move to the newer code without leaving too many people behind. That's cold comfort if you're hanging on to a first-generation MacBook Pro, but the upgrade should finally give most Mac fans a version of Chrome that's as fast and secure as their computer will allow.
Imagination Technologies to ARM: anything you can do, our new chips can do better
Despite Intel's best efforts, ARM remains the undisputed king of the mobile world, but another chip design house, just 51 miles down the road, is hoping to change that. Imagination Technologies, the outfit famous for its PowerVR mobile graphics tech, wants to knock its better-known rival off its perch with a new 64-bit MIPS chip. The Warrior I6400 promises to be a low-power, high-performance CPU for smartphones, tablets and internet of things devices that, the company claims, has the "technical superiority" over its competition. Since Android L will support silicon of this kind, Imagination is hoping that smartphone manufacturers will consider ditching ARM chips in favor of the plucky challenger. What does this mean for the consumer? Hopefully, faster devices, less power drain and a whole new topic where people can argue the merits of one architecture against the other.
Google releases 64-bit beta version of Chrome for Mac
Following the successful release of 64-bit Chrome for Windows earlier this week, Google has announced that it is bringing 64-bit support to Mac users through the Chrome beta channel. The new 64-bit version takes advantage of OS X's 64-bit architecture, offering performance and security improvements that are not possible with the current 32-bit Chrome for Mac release. While there are several changes under the hood, the most notable difference to users will be the faster initial launch of the Chrome browser and a decrease in overall system memory usage by the browser. Starting today, Mac owners can download this 64-bit version from Google's Chrome beta channel. The 64-bit Chrome beta for OS X is compatible with all Macs that have a 64-bit processor, which includes most modern Mac hardware. You can view this Apple support document for instructions on how to locate your processor type and determine whether it is 32-bit or 64-bit. Remember, this 64-bit version of Chrome is still in beta, which means it may still have some stability issues. These beta versions are used to test new features before they are included in the public version of Chrome. If all goes smoothly, we should see 64-bit support roll out in the public Chrome build in the near future.
Chrome's latest stable release brings 64-bit Windows support out of beta
Sure, a computer with a 64-bit processor can run almost anything designed for a less robust CPU -- but programs designed specifically for these chips tend to just run, well, better. Google's been trying to drag its web browser into the modern age for a few months now, and today it finally has: Chrome officially supports 64-bit processors on Windows. A beta of the 64-bit code showed up last month, but now it's part of the regular stable release. Why upgrade? Well, aside from gaining a more secure and stable browser, Google says the update significantly increases graphics and media performance on supported machines, and decodes HD YouTube videos 15% faster. Sound good? Check out that source link below.
One of HTC's first 64-bit phones is a budget model for Sprint
Qualcomm teased us with the prospect of powerful 64-bit smartphones arriving in late 2014 and early 2015, but it looks like you'll have to dial back your expectations for the first wave of devices. New tipster @upleaks has posted details and photos of HTC's A11, a starter smartphone in the Desire line that reportedly uses the more modest (if respectable) 1.4GHz Snapdragon 410 for its 64-bit processing. Other elements are modest, too; you're looking at a 4.7-inch 854 x 480 screen, plain speakers (sorry, no BoomSound here) and both a 5-megapixel rear camera as well as a front 0.3-megapixel shooter. No great shakes, then, although hints of a Sprint launch suggest that you'll see it in the US. There's no word on when the A11 will ship, although it's believed to run the existing Sense 6 interface on top of Android 4.4 KitKat -- that suggests that HTC may deliver its first 64-bit phone well before its usual spring refresh.
Google's 64-bit Chrome browser for Windows is available in beta
If you've wanted to try the 64-bit version of Chrome for Windows 7 and 8 but have been skittish about the flakiness of very early builds, your moment has come -- Google has released a beta of its beefed-up browser. As with the Canary and developer editions, this more reliable software makes full use of modern computing power to both speed up web page rendering and tighten security. The code still isn't complete, so don't be surprised if there are a few hiccups. However, a beta means that a truly stable 64-bit browser is likely just weeks away. Even if you're not willing to throw caution to the wind, it won't be long before you can give Chrome's big upgrade a spin.
Chrome goes 64-bit on Windows with promises of faster, safer web browsing
While many apps and operating systems made the jump to 64-bit code a while ago, Google's Chrome browser is still stuck in a 32-bit world on most platforms, missing out on much of what newer computers can offer. Today, though, it's moving into the modern era: Google has released test versions of 64-bit Chrome for Windows 7 and 8 users. The upgrade lets the app take full advantage of newer processors and their instruction sets, delivering about a 25 percent speed boost for media-intensive pages. It also lets the software use newer security safeguards to minimize exploits, and there should be fewer crashes. There's no word on corresponding Mac updates (Linux has had this for a little while), but Windows fans willing to live dangerously can grab a 64-bit Canary or developer build through the source link.
Qualcomm's 2015 chips may make you regret getting a new phone this year
Thanks to Moore's Law, anybody can predict that even the most powerful smartphones and tablets coming out right now (the HTC One M8 and Samsung Galaxy S5, for instance) will be made obsolete by whatever flagships get announced in 2015. These predictions fortunately don't have to be based off of speculation anymore, since Qualcomm just revealed the Snapdragon 810 and 808, a pair of 64-bit high-performance chipsets slated to show up in flagship Android devices early next year.
Intel's efficient 14nm processors to arrive on both enthusiast and entry systems
At IDF Shenzhen today, Intel briefly announced the 14nm successor to its budget 22nm Bay Trail processors. Dubbed Braswell, this new SoC architecture is mainly aimed at the likes of affordable Chrome OS and Android devices. It will also complement the higher-end Broadwell announced last September (and pictured after the break), though there's no word on availability for these two 14nm, 64-bit lines -- last we heard was that Broadwell's production had been delayed, with shipment still on track for the second half of this year. Fanless Core i7 systems just can't come any sooner.
Respawn: Titanfall not originally planned for Xbox One
While Titanfall might be one of the Xbox One's most popular games this year, Respawn said the game wasn't originally in production for the console at all. In an interview with Eurogamer, lead engineer Richard Baker explained that Titanfall was initially in development for PC only, saying that "originally we weren't planning on an Xbox One version of the game." Baker added that Xbox One development made the PC version of the game that much better, as it "justified the effort in moving to [DirectX 11] and even 64-bit." Those changes were necessary to adapt the Source engine so the game would run properly on Xbox One. This heavily involved making the engine "multi-threaded" so it "buffered commands as soon as they were issued." Among the other development decisions made by Respawn was the use of uncompressed audio in the PC version's 48 gigabyte download. [Image: EA Games]
Qualcomm updates its top-end chip, reveals future 64-bit and octa-core Snapdragons
No, this isn't quite the flagship chip we've been waiting on, but it's a worthy stopgap. Qualcomm has upgraded its successful Snapdragon 800 processor and notched up its title to the 801. For now, it probably represents the peak of the 32-bit era of Android, with clock speed increases across the board, including a nearly 10 percent increase on the CPU side of things (2.5Ghz instead of the 800's 2.3GHz), a 30 percent increase for the Adreno GPU as well as faster memory. Speed increases like that are par for the course as silicon fabs get into the swing of each product generation, but it means it'll be worth looking out for top-end phones that makes use of the extra power -- not least Sony's Xperia Z2, which is due out next month. As for 64-bit chips, we've already seen the low-end Snapdragon 410, but now Qualcomm has also revealed plans for its mid-tier Snapdragon 600-series. The Snapdragon 610 and 615 will arrive in Android smartphones in Q4 of this year, regardless of whether Android is able to benefit from 64-bit processing by that time. Like the 410 and other devices that will be based on ARM's Cortex-A53, there's full backwards compatibility with existing 32-bit apps, so it's more about future-proofing than anything else. In the case of the Snadpragon 615, it's Qualcomm's first-ever octa-core silicon. According to Anandtech, it looks like the eight cores are divided into two "clusters" that are similar to ARM's big.LITTLE design -- in other words, each quad-core cluster may be designed to handle different sorts of tasks. But Qualcomm added that all eight cores can be operational at the same time, making it a more powerful alternative -- and a more direct threat -- to MediaTek's own octa-core offer.
MediaTek's latest processor brings 64-bit to mid-range smartphones
You won't have to fork over a lot of cash to get a 64-bit smartphone this year -- at least, not if MediaTek can help it. The company has just unveiled the MT6732 (not shown here), a system-on-chip aimed at mid-range phone buyers who are willing to pay a little extra for high-end features. It centers around a 1.5GHz, quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor (sorry, no octa-core) that should offer both immediate speed gains and some futureproofing through its 64-bit code support. The chip also incorporates a Mali-T760 graphics unit that can handle both the latest OpenGL ES visual effects and general-purpose OpenCL computing. Its built-in modem offers 150Mbps LTE data on the right network, too. Unfortunately, you'll have to be patient if you want a device with the MT6732 inside. MediaTek isn't making the chip available to companies until the third quarter of the year, and finished hardware should reach the market shortly after that.
Intel's Bay Trail CPU will usher Android into the 64-bit era this spring
Sure, 64-bit support is all the rage nowadays in the mobile space, what with Apple setting off a trend with the introduction of the iPhone 5s. Now, according to Intel's CEO, tablets running Google's operating system are next and will soon be available with 64-bit compatibility. During an earnings call yesterday, Intel chief Brian Krzanich said that Android tablets using the company's new Atom-based Bay Trail processor are set to hit the market as early as this spring, bringing along a technology which so far has been limited to Windows 8.1 devices. It's also worth noting that while 64-bit slates may be arriving soon, the number of Android applications optimized to take advantage of the feature will be very low at first. Still, chances are developers will quickly take care of this as more and more 64-bit-ready phones and tablets start to become available.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 to bring LTE and 64-bit support to emerging markets
We knew it was only a matter of time before Qualcomm came out with its own chipset capable of supporting 64-bit, but we figured it'd be in something a little more... high-end. The Snapdragon 410, however, is a 28nm SoC that seems to be focused more on lower-end devices and emerging markets instead. Announced by the company today, the new Snapdragon is expected to sample to manufacturers in the first half of 2014, with it reaching consumer devices during the second half. The chip also comes packed with plenty of extra feature support. First on the list is LTE, which Qualcomm says is a feature it wants to bring to all product tiers. In particular, this next-gen connectivity comes with multimode and multiband support, ensuring that many devices carrying the chip will work on LTE networks around the globe (a feature we assume will be up to the OEM to enable). In addition, the Snapdragon 410 will feature an Adreno 306 GPU and offer support for dual- and triple-SIM devices, with 1080p video playback, up to a 13MP camera, GPS/GLONASS, WiFI, NFC and Bluetooth. It'll also be compatible with Android, Windows Phone and Firefox OS, and is geared toward "high-volume" devices in emerging markets which sell for under $150. Of course, even though a lower-tier Snapdragon is the first Qualcomm chipset with 64-bit support, we strongly suspect that it won't be too long before the company comes out with new higher-end SoCs that offer the same capability. After all, CES and MWC are not too far away.
Some of iWork's missing features return with the latest update
Some of the features culled during iWork's 64-bit transition have reappeared with the productivity suite's latest update. To start, Pages, Numbers and Keynote for OS X are regaining their sorely missed custom toolbars. Additionally, Apple's Keynote presentation app for both desktop and iOS picks up a handful of new builds and slide transitions. Oh, and of course there are the typical stability improvements and bug fixes across the board. If you're curious about what else is back, we've listed the full release notes after the break.
Google Maps SDK for iOS now supports Apple A7's 64-bit architecture
If you're an iOS developer who uses Google Maps in your apps, you're gonna like the latest Google Maps SDK for iOS. Google Maps SDK for iOS version 1.6 adds full support for Apple's 64-bit A7 processor. This means Google's Maps can now take full advantage of the power of Apple's latest chip. Another nice new feature of the SDK is support for marker opacity, which allows developers to set the transparency of map markers that are displayed. Here's the full release notes: The Google Maps SDK for iOS now supports 64-bit architectures. Both 32- and 64-bit binaries are built into the single GoogleMaps framework. The correct binary will be selected by Xcode based on your build settings. For instructions on building 64-bit applications, please refer to Apple's 64-bit transition guide. (Issue 5806) Changed some instances of CGFloat to either a float or double where it was more appropriate. Added the ability to restrict min and max zoom on GMSMapView. (Issue 5882) Added opacity on GMSTileLayer and GMSMarker. Core Animation on GMSMapView now requires model values to be set Google Maps SDK for iOS version 1.6 can be downloaded here.
First 64-bit quad-core ARM chips to be fabricated by... Intel?
Intel's largest chip manufacturing customer, Altera, has said that it'll soon be building chips there based on -- wait for it -- ARM technology. Its Stratix 10 SoC will contain a quad-core, 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 CPU, which Intel confirmed would be the first of that type manufactured by anyone. By contrast, Apple's latest Samsung-built 64-bit A7 ARM chips used in the iPhone 5s are only dual-core. However, Altera's processors, which will be fab'ed with Intel's advanced 14nm tech are destined for networking equipment only and won't compete with the likes of Qualcomm and Samsung for smartphones. In any case, Intel's just a gun for hire with its biggest competitor's tech, so it would be unwise to draw any conclusions -- after all, the chip giant has its own Clover Trail to follow.
Apple asks developers to submit 64-Bit apps for iPhone 5s
Apple has posted a note on its Developer website asking developers to begin submitting apps optimized for the iPhone 5s' 64-bit A7 processor. From the note, titled "Submitting 64-bit apps": You can submit 64-bit apps for iOS 7 today that take advantage of the power of iPhone 5s. Xcode can build your app with both 32-bit and 64-bit binaries included so it works across all devices running iOS 7. If you wish to continue to support iOS 6 then you will need to build for 32-bit only. Next month we will be making changes that will allow you to create a single app binary that supports 32-bit on iOS 6, as well as 32-bit and 64-bit on iOS 7. As Apple states, developers who wish to support any iOS below version 7 must keep their apps 32-bit. However, the company will allow developers to release one build, supporting 32-bit chips on iOS 6 and 64-bit chips on iOS 7, starting in October. The 64-bit chip in the iPhone 5s is the first 64-bit chip in a mobile device and Apple says it is twice as fast as the 32-bit A6 chip found in the iPhone 5 -- and a whopping 40 times faster than the chip found in the original iPhone.