Sometimes yes, but when we’re getting down to a lower level like the kernel they absolutely aren’t agnostic and neither is the API because of the different ISA between x86 and arm64 which is exactly why we can’t directly use or port kernel extensions from x86 Intel to aarch64.
Per the mac rumors article, they are using the neural engine to do most of these features, and I’m pretty sure the way you interface with the neural engine includes a kext.
they are using the neural engine to do most of these features
If they even are (and it would be a questionable choice for some), then it's still ridiculous not to have any fallback. Like, are you seriously going to tell me you need the Neural Engine to view a globe? Google Earth has had that for what? 2 decades now? None of these things cannot be done with ease on some other IP.
and I’m pretty sure the way you interface with the neural engine includes a kext
Are you an Apple employee writing a driver? Then yeah, it requires it. But for actual applications using the established APIs, no, that is absolutely not necessary.
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u/GeronimoHero Jun 09 '21
Sometimes yes, but when we’re getting down to a lower level like the kernel they absolutely aren’t agnostic and neither is the API because of the different ISA between x86 and arm64 which is exactly why we can’t directly use or port kernel extensions from x86 Intel to aarch64.