Apple Offers Better Dev Support for Intel

Apple on Tuesday launched a new resource for those developing on the upcoming Intel platform. While the first Macs based on Intel processors are not due until 2006, the Cupertino company would like to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible.

Although most of the content on the Developer Transition Resource Center is freely available, some of it will only be available to registered users of the site. Topics, resources, tutorials and QuicktTme videos of Intel-related WWDC sessions are some of the content that will be made available.

Apple continues to work on the Intel-compatible version of Mac OS X, recently releasing a new preview for developers to test. The new version, numbered 10.4.2, fixes issues with the previous release that allowed some to install the operating system on non-Apple sanctioned hardware.

Shortly after Apple released the first developer preview of the Intel build at WWDC in June, various enthusiasts began to tear apart the code and look for ways to fool the system into running on regular PCs.

While Apple executives have said the company would not prevent consumers from installing Windows on Intel Macs, they did make it clear that the Intel version of Mac OS X would not be permitted to run on non-standard hardware.

Apple offers a program for $999 USD where developers can lease a development machine with a 3.6 GHz Pentium 4 processor. However, the machine must be returned at the end of the beta testing period.