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Dream finally becomes reality: use vanilla OS X kernel on normal PCs.

This might not be sth. new to some readers as the patch was initially released few days ago. The newest version as of today is v5.1, which includes various bug fixes and multiboot support.  Again, as the previous installation guide, this is also based my very own experience and not a simple duplication of the readme.

All credits go to netkas(who made this patch), def(for multiboot), Turbo and everyone works on the osx86 scene.

Update 1: Fixed a mistake in the tutorial  which will cause “endless reboot loop”. Sorry for everyone who encounter this issue!

Update 2: The EFI patch has been confirmed to work with current 10.4.11/10.5.1 update. Many hackintosh users have enjoyed the same update experience as genuine MAC users.

Update 3: Download in this guide updates to the latest pc_efi version, which is v5.1 as of today(11/17). Link to ToH kernel is also updated.

What is EFI and why is this “patch”?

The Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) is a specification that defines a software interface between an operating system and platform firmware.

EFI is intended as a significantly improved replacement of the old legacy BIOS firmware interface historically used by all IBM PC compatible PCs. But as of today, most PCs running Microsoft Windows still rely on BIOS, while Intel based Macs, since the day one, are using EFI. Despite the technical advantage, this is more like an artificial barrier to prevent normal PCs running OS X.

Ironically, Microsoft Windows support BIOS only, and Apple makes Boot camp to fill the gap. The EFI patch works in a similar approach: it emulates EFI data for normal BIOS-based PCs and let OS X treat them as genuine EFI-based Macs.

The EFI emulation is a long dream in OSX86 community, but prior to this, thanks the Apple’s open source Darwin Project and those Hackintosh gurus, we can still enjoy OS X on normal PCs, with patched kernels/kernel modules which just bypass EFI. Now with the EFI patch, the hackintosh can boot off VANILLA UNMODIFIED OS X kernel and use  vanilla kexts, which gives a more clean room and great peace of mind for future system updates.

Click for more on HowTo: Install EFI patch and Use Unmodified OS X Kernel in Hackintosh »

Has been seeded to developer, build 9B13.

With the number of bugs that’ve already been reported for Leopard — most of which are fairly inherent in any .0 release, but are no less annoying — it doesn’t take much of a rumor-enthusiast to figure out that Apple is hard at work on a 10.5.1 update. The first fruit of that effort just hit ADC developers today, in the form of build 9B13. The update is pretty broad, and since this is just the first seed of 10.5.1, there’s no telling how long it’ll take for Apple to get this all tightened up for public consumption. Issues that are being addressed include:

• Mail Sync
• Spotlight Index
• Disk Management
• DesktopServices and moving files across partitions
• Text Drawing
• iCal and CalDAV syncing
• Keychain login
• Read-Only Issue with SMB
• AirPort 802.1X
• Application Firewall
• To-Do Notes
• and Smart Mailboxes.

Click for more on MAC OS X 10.5.1 Almost Here »

As rumored, Apple has quietly updated the MacBook to the Santa Rosa architecture with mild speed bumps and the GMA X3100 integrated video.

White 13.3″

• $1099.00 2.0GHz/1GB RAM/80GB/Combo/GMA X3100
• $1299.00 2.2GHz/1GB RAM/120GB/SD-DL/GMA X3100

Black 13.3″

• $1499.00 2.2GHz/1GB RAM/160GB/SD-DL/GMA X3100

Click for more on Apple Updates MacBooks »

It took Apple approximately six weeks to ship its 2 millionth copy of Mac OS X Tiger back in 2005.

Apple said Tuesday that it sold over two million copies of Mac OS X Leopard since its release on Friday, far outpacing the first-weekend sales of Mac OS X Tiger, which was previously the most successful OS release in the company’s history.

Sales included copies sold at Apple’s retail stores, Apple Authorized Resellers, the online Apple Store, under maintenance agreements and bundled with new Mac computers. In comparison, it took the Cupertino-based Mac maker approximately six weeks to ship its 2 millionth copy of Mac OS X Tiger back in 2005.

Click for more on Apple sells 2M copies of Mac OS X Leopard in first weekend »

Install OSX Leopard on your x86 PC, dual or triple boot OSX with Windows XP/Vista.

Credit goes to BraizlMac@osx86scene forum who made the original patch to make all these possible. This guide is a summing up with some  corrections.

If you’ve get your Leopard running, try to add EFI capability and enjoy the vanilla kernel.

This currently works on INTEL system with SSE3 support ONLY. An AMD/SSE2 patch should come  shortly. Use CPU-Z to check the system capability if you are not sure.

Warning: the patch is rather experimental atm, and even your processor supports SSE3, the installation might still fails due to various compatible issues. Also, the patched DVD seems to be problematic, missing the booting setup part, and most likely would render a system unbootable. Most guides online are based on the instruction comes with the patch file, they didn’t actually install it! I did manage to install the Leopard on my own PC and this guide is based on my very own, first-hand experience. I’ll try to make it as accurate and correct as possible.

Update: AMD/Intel SSE2 users try this. Need to patch the original Leopard DMG though, no pre-patched disk available atm.

What you’ll need:

• Optional: Original unpatched Leopard installation disk image, and patch file to enable x86 PC support and strip the image to 4.3G so it can fit on a single layer DVD. This requires access to an working OSX Tiger system, so might not feasible for everyone.
• Optional but highly recommended: Patched 10.4.10 Tiger installation disk(torrent download). Other Tiger disk will also work.
• the patched DVD image(torrent download), post install patch file.
• a DVD burner and empty DVD media
• a USB Flash Drive formatted as FAT or FAT32, flash memory+usb card reader will also work
• Computer with Windows installed, HDD with at least 10G free space.

Click for more on Howto: The Complete Mac Leopard Installation and Windows Multi-Boot Setup Guide »

Leopard vs. Vista: it’s on.

There no doubt, Vista and Leopard are both extremely advanced, feature rich consumer operating systems. But way back in January when Vista launched knew we had little choice but pit the two in a head to head chartngraph Thunderdome competition.

NOTE: This chart is only for out of box features, and does not take into account 3rd party software.

Click for more on Leopard vs. Vista: feature chart showdown »

Despite the official release date of 10/26, the newest OS from Apple has been leaked on torrent site.

The leaked file is in DMG format and with a size 6.56GB, so you need a D9 disk to burn it. It can be installed in original Apple hardware directly, but with some modification, you may also try your luck on the PC(a.k.a hackintosh).

The version number is 5A581, which believes to be the GM(golden master), identical with the one ships two days later. Some users have managed to install the shining new Leopard and post screen shot.

Download the torrent

Size of DMG (downloaded as separate .RAR files):7156338431
MD5 (osx-leopard105.dmg) = c38902e728dc47a4ccb34aa6143b9bbe

Also add these trackers for optimal performance:

http://inferno.demonoid.com:3416/announce 

http://www.moviex.info:2710/r12xjr0azivx42cjuyzn3c73mdqxj31q/announce 

http://vip.tracker.thepiratebay.org/announce 

http://araditracker.com/announce.php?pid=241eac72250a7cd33b0ae3c7080e2e7d

Apple has pulled the beta of Boot Camp, the application that lets Mac users run Windows XP or Vista on their Intel-powered machines, from its servers in preparation for Friday’s launch of Leopard.

Although a Boot Camp 1.4 beta page remains live, clicking on the download link brings up an error message that reads: “The page you tried was not found.” A graphic of the Mac OS X 10.5 packaging appears in the background.

Earlier this month, Apple reminded users that the license to Boot Camp would expire when Leopard shipped. The application’s beta has been available free of charge for Mac owners running Mac OS X 10.4, commonly known as Tiger.

Click for more on Apple stops Boot Camp downloads »

Apple sets a date for Leopard, get it for $129 or $9.95.

Back in April, Apple announced that it would delay the introduction of the long-awaited operating system due to needs of the iPhone program. The delay forced OS X v10.5 to an October ship date instead of June.

The wait is almost over and eager Apple fans will be happy to know that OS X v10.5 will ship on October 26. Apple says that the revised operating system contains over 300 new features and “installs easily, and works with the software and accessories you already have.”

Click for more on OS X v10.5 Leopard Available October 26, Pre-order Today »

Mac OS X “Leopard” preview package raises expectations that its release will come late this month.

Developers have received from Apple a “ZFS on Mac OS X Preview 1.1″ package, which offers preliminary support for the ZFS file system, originally developed by Sun Microsystems for their Solaris OS.

Click for more on Apple Gives Hint About ZFS for Leopard »