The Lite Side

With WinXP Hacked for Macintel, Apple Announces 3 New Competitions

- 2006.03.20

Finally, the other shoe drops

Apple computer's new dual-core Intel iMac has successfully booted a version of Windows XP, so Mac users can now enjoy the benefits of having two boots - one for each foot. "The left foot is for Windows, and the right one is for OS X," writes Paul Thurrott in his weekly technology column, Why I Can't Make Up My Mind About Apple.

An enterprising hacker-like person (this isn't really a hack, it's an exploit) developed the method and won over $13,000 in prize money, according to vnunet.

The success of the contest, similar to the X-prize contest, the DARPA autonomous vehicle challenge, and several new NASA initiatives, has inspired Apple CEO Steve Jobs to try a similar approach.

"This spring, we'll be sponsoring several competitions to jump start new applications and new technology," according to Jobs. "We're hoping to develop algorithms, though, not hacks or exploits."

PodPortPro Competition

The first competition to be sponsored by Apple is the design for the new PodPortPro, a device which will effectively turn an iPod into a functioning portable computer. Slated to include USB ports and a video-out port for a computer monitor, the PodPortPro will include leftover G3 processors and just enough RAM to boot.

"We're starting with $72.50 in seed money we raided from the third floor coffee can," said Jobs. "Hopefully others will contribute when they see what a great product this will be." Early supporters will get first dibs on the inevitable flood of security patches that will follow release of the device.

Extreme iPod Competition

The next challenge involves determining under what extreme conditions an iPod will still boot up and run. "We're asking people to chuck their existing iPods over the balcony, take them in the shower, bake them, put them in dryers, and drop them in toilets," said Jobs. "We'll pay $650 for every iPod that survives an 'extreme' test."

If the iPod dies, Apple accepts no risk, and the user must buy a new iPod. "We figure this program will pay for itself in six to eight minutes."

MacGyver Competition

The final competition is getting a Windows-based PC to boot up as a Mac using nothing but a scratched copy of Tigger, a pirated Windows XP install disk with no codes, and a paper clip (sorry, duct tape is not allowed). "If you can get this thing to boot up, we'll buy you lunch in our really cool cafeteria," said Jobs. "We might even spring for a candy bar for dessert."

"By the way, this one is a hack, because it's done to a PC," said Jobs.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution a zillion years ago and keeps reminding us of its past glory in footers like this one. It also redefined the word "Pod" in everyone's mind when it developed a great MP3 player and called it iPod.

Join us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.

Recent Lite Sides

You Might Be a Computer Geek If..., 2009.06.17. 20 signs that you just might possibly be a computer geek.
What if Apple thought like a PC company?, 2007.11.01. Apple has innovated and blazed its own trail. But what if it had followed the path taken by the PC copycats?
How Microsoft can turn Vista lemons into lemonade, 2007.10.22. How Microsoft could profit by no longer allowing manufacturers to sell new PCs with Windows XP installed.
More in the The Lite Side index.

Links for the Day

Mac of the Day: Macintosh Portable, introduced 1989.09.20. The nearly 16 lb. behemoth was innovative but not a smashing success.
February 13 in LEM history: 01: Layoffs may hurt Mac market - 02: Unix for the Mac - Rage against the Macintosh - 03: Options to move data from PCs to Macs - 04: Low cost RAM for older 'Books - 06: Apple, IBM, and Intel - 07: Picking the right cheap computer, new or used - 08: I needed to find an older Mac
Support Low End Mac

Recent Deals

About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact

Low End Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Entire Low End Mac website copyright ©1997-2012 by Cobweb Publishing, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iPad iPhone, iMac, iPod, MacBook, MagSafe, Mac Pro, Apple TV, and AirPort are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.
Advice is presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work for all. Please report errors to .
LINKS: We allow and encourage links to any public page as long as the linked page does not appear within a frame that prevents bookmarking it.
Email may be published at our discretion unless marked "not for publication"; email addresses will not be published without permission, and we will encrypt them in hopes of avoiding spammers. Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
PRIVACY: We don't collect personal information unless you explicitly provide it. For more details, see our Terms of Use.

Custom Search

Follow Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac on Facebook

Low End Mac Reader Specials

TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct from Strider Software.

Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker and Mac Casino applications in minutes.

Affiliates

Amazon.com
The Apple Store
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
GainSaver
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay