VOA慢速英语--苹果将放弃在所有Mac电脑上使用英特尔芯片,改用自主设计芯片

Apple says it will start using the same chip technology it uses in its mobile devices to power the next generation of Mac computers.

The new technology will replace Intel-based chips, which have been built into Mac machines for the past 15 years.

Chips help power a computer's processing system. One of the main materials used to make computer chips is silicon², a chemical element.

In its announcement this week, the company said its first Mac to include the new "Apple Silicon" chips would be available by the end of 2020.

The news came during Apple's yearly conference for computer programmers and mobile app developers. This year, the conference was held online because of the coronavirus crisis.

Apple chief Tim Cook told people watching the conference that the decision marked a historic new beginning for the Mac. "Silicon is at the heart of our hardware," he said. "Having a world-class silicon design team is a game changer."

The company already uses Apple-designed chips in its iPhone and iPad devices. The same kind of chips are also used to power most smartphones in use throughout the world.

Apple says the decision to move away from Intel chips is designed to make Mac computers faster and more efficient while requiring less power.

Johny Srouji is Apple's vice¹ president for hardware technology. He explained the change to the conference. "The first thing this will do is give the Mac a whole new level of performance," he said.

Srouji said the company will draw on its experience designing "the world's most energy efficient chips" that currently power Apple's mobile devices.

"It all started with the iPhone," Srouji said. "The iPhone demanded performance and capabilities³ that were seen as impossible in a device that small."

The change will also "establish a common architecture across all Apple products," the company said in a statement. That means the new Macs will be able to run apps that currently work only on iPhones or iPads.

Apple promised that developers would be able to "easily convert their existing apps to run on Apple Silicon." A company official said the majority of existing apps for the Intel-based machines should be able to be changed in "just a few days."

Apple said the new system should be in all Macs within two years.

In a statement, Intel said it still planned to keep its relationship with Apple "across several areas of business." Experts told the Reuters news agency this could include Intel continuing to supply Apple with data center chips to power its iCloud service.

The new Apple chips are based on technology developed by Arm Holdings, a semiconductor⁴ and software design company owned by Japan's Softbank Group.

On the same day as Apple's conference, a machine that uses Arm technology was named the world's fastest supercomputer. The Fugaku supercomputer was developed by Japanese research organization RIKEN and Japan's Fujitsu Ltd.

The Fugaku system was at the top on the TOP500 list, a ranking that comes out two times a year of the world's most powerful computers. Arm Holdings announced the latest list on Monday.

Before that, the top-ranked supercomputer on the list was a machine based at Oak Ridge⁵ National Laboratory in the United States. That system runs on chips designed by American technology company IBM.

Chips from IBM and Intel were used in all other systems in the top 10, except for a system using a Chinese-designed chip from China's National Supercomputing Center in the city of Wuxi.

One use of supercomputers by governments is to simulate nuclear explosions in weapons tests. They are also used to model climate systems and in biotechnology research. The Fugaku supercomputer will be used for such projects in Japan.

I'm Bryan Lynn.

Words in This Story

chip – n. a small piece of semiconducting material used to make parts that help power computer processors

app – n. a program for a smartphone or other device that performs a special function

efficient – adj. working well and not wasting time or energy

capability⁶ – n. the ability of power to do something

draw on – phrasal verb. to use information, knowledge or experience to help achieve something

architecture – n. a set of rules that form the structure and logical organization of a computer or computer-based system

convert – v. to change the appearance, for or purpose of something

ranking – n. a position in a list that shows things or people of importance

simulate – v. to recreate a process or situation

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 silicon   

n.硅(旧名矽)

参考例句：

• This company pioneered the use of silicon chip.这家公司开创了使用硅片的方法。
• A chip is a piece of silicon about the size of a postage stamp.芯片就是一枚邮票大小的硅片。

3 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

4 semiconductor   

n.半导体

参考例句：

• In the beginning,engineers hoped to use semiconductor lasers.在开始时，工程师们希望能够利用半导体激光器。
• The main agent of the company brand semiconductor sales.本公司主要代理各品牌半导体销售。

5 ridge   

n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭

参考例句：

• We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。
• The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。

6 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。