Notes on Apple's Rosetta Technology

MacRumors · Jan 13, 2006, 11:30 PM

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif

With Apple transitioning the entire Macintosh line over to Intel processors over the next 12 months, users will have to be familiar with Rosetta. Rosetta is the emulator (translator) that allows current Mac (PowerPC) programs to run under the new Intel processors.

Apple has posted some recent developer notes about Rosetta which may be of interest to users.

Rosetta supports "applications that run on the PowerPC G3 or G4 processor that are built for Mac OS X". This excludes the following applications:

- Classic Environment, and subsequently any Mac OS 9 or earlier applications
- Screensavers written for the PowerPC
- System Preference add-ons
- Applications which specifically require the PowerPC G5
- Kernel extensions
- Some Java applications

As developers compile their applications for the new Intel processors, they will be releasing all new applications as Universal Binaries. Universal Binaries have both PowerPC and Intel code and can be used on either type of Mac.

You can tell if an application is is Universal or PowerPC by opening the Info window in finder. (example)

macbaseball · 12:02 AM

Very interesting. I wonder if EyeTV will be supproted as it needs the Dual G5 for HD playback...

Eidorian · Jan 13, 2006, 11:37 PM

Old but worth mentioning again.

ksz · Jan 13, 2006, 11:38 PM

I wonder if AltiVec is being translated. Apps that make specific use of the G5 does not exclude AltiVec since AltiVec debuted on the G4.

Lacero · Jan 13, 2006, 11:39 PM

Quote:

- Applications which specifically require the PowerPC G5

Final Cut Studio doesn't run under Rosetta and it doesn't require a G5. How about any app that needs direct access to CoreAudio and OpenGL?

maxp1 · Jan 13, 2006, 11:40 PM

Guess that's the end of the line for that.

Good ridance.

(sadly this isn't quite true, there will still be people using their old graphite Macs with OS9 a decade from now. )

DMann · Jan 13, 2006, 11:41 PM

Rosetta ought to work fine until all goes native!

BornAgainMac · Jan 13, 2006, 11:43 PM

Some Java? That is strange to be in the same list as OS 9 applications.

I wonder how you can tell if a screen saver is written for PowerPC vs CPU independent.

Abercrombieboy · Jan 13, 2006, 11:49 PM

Maybe someone can find more applications that are currently universal on their Macs, but the only 2 that I can find on mine are Quicktime and iTunes. The rest are still PowerPC. Will Software Updates from here on out start changing all of the applications over to Universal?

milky23 · Jan 13, 2006, 11:51 PM

Will my newly purchased Adobe Creative Suite 2 run on Rosetta?

Undecided · Jan 13, 2006, 11:54 PM

How about a tool to scan the installed apps, extensions, etc., etc. and report on which are PPC and which are universal? And lookup which PPC have universals available? That's be sweet.

Chaszmyr · Jan 13, 2006, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milky23

Will my newly purchased Adobe Creative Suite 2 run on Rosetta?

Yes. Steve Jobs showed Photoshop running under Rosetta at the keynote.

SnarkMan · Jan 14, 2006, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undecided

How about a tool to scan the installed apps, extensions, etc., etc. and report on which are PPC and which are universal? And lookup which PPC have universals available? That's be sweet.

If you're running 10.4.4 the System Profiler already does that.

Doctor Q · Jan 14, 2006, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BornAgainMac

I wonder how you can tell if a screen saver is written for PowerPC vs CPU independent.

The same as any other application, with Get Info. But you'll first have to locate the screensaver, e.g., /Users/BornAgainMac/Library/Screen Savers.

freiheit · Jan 14, 2006, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacero

Final Cut Studio doesn't run under Rosetta and it doesn't require a G5. How about any app that needs direct access to CoreAudio and OpenGL?

Since the idea of both CoreAudio and OpenGL is to provide APIs rather than having the developer code directly for the hardware, I'd say there should be no problem with those. But I'm not a developer; it just seems silly to make software functions that provide access to underlying hardware if you still have to code for the underlying hardware.

jimthorn · Jan 14, 2006, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxp1

OS 9 finally dead. Guess that's the end of the line for that. Good ridance.

Yes, it's about time.

I was wondering about Classic after it was confirmed that Virtual PC wouldn't work on Intel either. Interesting about G3/G4 compatibility versus G5.

mmzplanet · Jan 14, 2006, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abercrombieboy

Maybe someone can find more applications that are currently universal on their Macs, but the only 2 that I can find on mine are Quicktime and iTunes. The rest are still PowerPC. Will Software Updates from here on out start changing all of the applications over to Universal?

I would bet iLife 06 apps are all universal.

I'm sure someone who has it installed already could confirm that.

D3LM3L · Jan 14, 2006, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmzplanet

I would bet iLife 06 apps are all universal.

I'm sure someone who has it installed already could confirm that.

They are, Steve said so at MWSF.

LEgregius · Jan 14, 2006, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BornAgainMac

Some Java? That is strange to be in the same list as OS 9 applications.

I wonder how you can tell if a screen saver is written for PowerPC vs CPU independent.

Java applications that use JNI bindings, i.e. hooks into native libraries, won't work because the VM that starts up the app will be running natively. Normal Java applications will work fine.

dornoforpyros · Jan 14, 2006, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milky23

Will my newly purchased Adobe Creative Suite 2 run on Rosetta?

I think jobs said it would run...but not fast enough for a pro. Personally I'd stick with the PPC macs for the next year or so untill the transition is complete.

ReanimationLP · Jan 14, 2006, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacero

Final Cut Studio doesn't run under Rosetta and it doesn't require a G5. How about any app that needs direct access to CoreAudio and OpenGL?

None of the Pro apps run on Rosetta. They want you to crossgrade.

kanaka · Jan 14, 2006, 12:18 AM

I believe widgets with plugins will not work under Rosetta either. The plugin used by the widget needs to be rebuilt as a universal binary. Native applications (such as the DashboardClient) cannot use non-native plugins. This is also probably why 3rd party System Preference panes are on the exclusion list.

nagromme · Jan 14, 2006, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksz

I wonder if AltiVec is being translated. Apps that make specific use of the G5 does not exclude AltiVec since AltiVec debuted on the G4.

AltiVec is now being translated. A year ago Apple said not. But Rosetta has improved since then

(Don't expect AltiVec speed, just AltiVec compatibility.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReanimationLP

None of the Pro apps run on Rosetta. They want you to crossgrade.

I wonder whether they really can NOT be run at all, or if it's just that performance wouldn't be acceptable for pros, and fast native versions are coming very soon, so Apple's calling them incompatible. (Like some games that claim they need a G4--but actually run on a G3 if you try it, just not quickly.)

We'll know soon.

Kyle? · Jan 14, 2006, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BornAgainMac

Some Java? That is strange to be in the same list as OS 9 applications.

I wonder how you can tell if a screen saver is written for PowerPC vs CPU independent.

The page linked to in the article clarified that this is only for Java JNI apps and non-native apps running applets. JNI is the Java Native Interface. It allows Java code to interface with native libraries. Most Java apps rely on the Java runtime to interact with the system and don't need to use JNI. Also, JNI ties an app to a specific platform, which goes against the portability Java is intended for. This mostly affects businesses who need to have Java apps interface with their legacy code.

samh004 · Jan 14, 2006, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macrumors

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif

Rosetta supports "applications that run on the PowerPC G3 or G4 processor that are built for Mac OS X". This excludes the following applications:

- System Preference add-ons

Can someone please explain this a bit more. Does that mean these preferences wont even load ?

Jan 13, 2006, 11:30 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Notes on Apple's Rosetta Technology http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif With Apple transitioning the entire Macintosh line over to Intel processors over the next 12 months, users will have to be familiar with Rosetta. Rosetta is the emulator (translator) that allows current Mac (PowerPC) programs to run under the new Intel processors. Apple has posted some recent developer notes about Rosetta which may be of interest to users. Rosetta supports "applications that run on the PowerPC G3 or G4 processor that are built for Mac OS X". This excludes the following applications: - Classic Environment, and subsequently any Mac OS 9 or earlier applications - Screensavers written for the PowerPC - System Preference add-ons - Applications which specifically require the PowerPC G5 - Kernel extensions - Some Java applications As developers compile their applications for the new Intel processors, they will be releasing all new applications as Universal Binaries. Universal Binaries have both PowerPC and Intel code and can be used on either type of Mac. You can tell if an application is is Universal or PowerPC by opening the Info window in finder. (example)

Jan 13, 2006, 11:37 PM	#2
macbaseball macrumors 65816 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern California	Very interesting. I wonder if EyeTV will be supproted as it needs the Dual G5 for HD playback... __________________ Power Mac G5 2.3 GHz, 2.5 gigs of RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, and a ATI Radeon 9600 128 MB video card. Apple 20 inch Display Running 1680x1050 512 MB iPod Shuffle Airport Extreme Base Station 2 Airport Expresses Last edited by Doctor Q : Jan 14, 2006 at 12:02 AM. Reason: no need to quote the entire first post

Jan 13, 2006, 11:37 PM	#3
Eidorian macrumors G3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Indiana	Old but worth mentioning again. __________________ MRoogle it! hikari T7500 2.2 GHz / 4 GB / 320 GB / GMA X3100 / 10.5.8 chobimaru Core i5 750 2.66 GHz / 4 GB / 640 GB / 4830 / Windows 7

Jan 13, 2006, 11:40 PM	#6
maxp1 macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2005	OS9 finally dead. Guess that's the end of the line for that. Good ridance. (sadly this isn't quite true, there will still be people using their old graphite Macs with OS9 a decade from now. )

Jan 13, 2006, 11:41 PM	#7
DMann macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: 10023	Not Bad for Immediate compatability Rosetta ought to work fine until all goes native! __________________ Think Different - Innovate

Jan 13, 2006, 11:38 PM	#4
ksz macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Jose, CA	I wonder if AltiVec is being translated. Apps that make specific use of the G5 does not exclude AltiVec since AltiVec debuted on the G4.

Jan 13, 2006, 11:43 PM	#8
BornAgainMac macrumors 68030 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Florida Resident	Some Java Apps and OS 9 Apps Some Java? That is strange to be in the same list as OS 9 applications. I wonder how you can tell if a screen saver is written for PowerPC vs CPU independent.

Jan 13, 2006, 11:49 PM	#9
Abercrombieboy macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: South Dakota, USA	Maybe someone can find more applications that are currently universal on their Macs, but the only 2 that I can find on mine are Quicktime and iTunes. The rest are still PowerPC. Will Software Updates from here on out start changing all of the applications over to Universal? __________________ Mac: 20" Aluminum iMac Core 2 Duo 2.4 Ghz, Mac OSX 10.6.1 iPod Touch 32 GB iPod Classic 80GB Silver Motorola Droid A855

Jan 13, 2006, 11:51 PM	#10
milky23 macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2005	Will my newly purchased Adobe Creative Suite 2 run on Rosetta?

Jan 13, 2006, 11:54 PM	#11
Undecided macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2005	scan tool How about a tool to scan the installed apps, extensions, etc., etc. and report on which are PPC and which are universal? And lookup which PPC have universals available? That's be sweet.

Jan 14, 2006, 12:18 AM	#22
kanaka macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: SF, CA	I believe widgets with plugins will not work under Rosetta either. The plugin used by the widget needs to be rebuilt as a universal binary. Native applications (such as the DashboardClient) cannot use non-native plugins. This is also probably why 3rd party System Preference panes are on the exclusion list. __________________ iPhone medical apps Customize the appearance of your login screen with Visage Login

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