Several readers have noted IBM's announcement that they will be releasing a PowerPC-Linux based reference platform.
IBM says it will make its blueprint easily accessible to a wider range of developers by charging a low price for it--allowing the company to pit its PowerPC-Linux combination as an alternative to operating systems like the Palm OS and Motorola's processors or Microsoft's Pocket PC software and Intel's Xscale processors.
Of interest, the reference platform will not seem to have very strict requirements (no logo is required, no specific screen size). According to the article, IBM hopes to encourage small businesses and even individuals to be able to purchase the design for use.
The significance of this announcement in the relatively small PDA world could be remarkable, and will certainly spawn discussion and speculation about future Apple involvement. No hints at official Apple involvement have surfaced... though even without Apple's involvement, the emergance of a relatively "open" platform may be very interesting.
Thursday August 20, 2026 8:00 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple has yet to reveal when the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra will be announced and released, but the dates usually follow a familiar pattern.
As usual, the iPhone event is expected to take place in the first half of September.
Labor Day falls on September 7 this year. The last time the holiday was on that day was in 2020, but the iPhone event that year was delayed until October due to...
Thursday August 20, 2026 2:19 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
macOS 27 Golden Gate is not compatible with any Macs with Intel processors, marking the end of an era. The update, which is currently in beta ahead of a release later this year, is limited to Apple silicon Macs with an M1 chip or newer.
Last year, Apple said that macOS 26 Tahoe would be the final macOS release compatible with Intel-based Macs, so this was an expected development.
Intel...
Sunday August 23, 2026 11:19 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone Ultra is winning over the few people who have had hands-on time with the device, though the camera setup may leave some users wanting, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says people who have used the device – which is reportedly referred to internally as the iPhone Ultra – like how it fits in your...
Apple's first foldable iPhone, with a book-style design featuring a ~5.5-inch outer display and a ~7.8-inch inner display with a minimal crease down the middle.
