Like the original Rosetta technology, Rosetta 2 allows users to run macOS applications from one platform to another – this time translating Intel applications into the ARM architecture of the M1 chip. Although I don’t expect Rosetta to go away anytime soon, Apple may disable it in some regions, as macOS 11.3 beta codes suggest just that.
iOS developer and MacRumors Contributor Steve Moser just shared on Twitter what he found in the third beta of macOS Big Sur 11.3, released today for developers. Apple has added new code to the Rosetta API that mentions removing this feature in some regions.
“Rosetta will be removed after installing this update,” says the code. Another string clarifies that Rosetta 2 is being removed from M1 Macs in some specific regions.
Rosetta is no longer available in your region. Applications that require Rosetta will no longer run.
At least for now, it does not appear that Apple has disabled Rosetta 2 in any region, and there is still no evidence of when, or if, the company will actually do so. The message may have been added only as a precaution if the company faces any related restrictions in the future. But what would that restriction be?
In 2017, when Microsoft started working on Windows 10 for ARM, the company announced the emulation of x86 applications, as well as Apple. However, Intel threatened Microsoft on the grounds that the x86 architecture has proprietary technologies and could not be emulated on other processors without permission.
Although Windows 10 ARM was able to emulate 32-bit applications of the x86 architecture, 64-bit application emulation was recently added to an Insider Preview build – which may be related to Intel patents. Apple may be preparing to face a similar dispute with its Rosetta 2 technology.
On a related note, Moser also found changes that Apple made to the game controls on macOS Big Sur 11.3 beta 3, as well as a new option to allow connections with friends on the Game Center.
MacOS Big Sur 11.3 also brought a few more minor changes, including a new warranty feature in the About This Mac section and a new Autoplay feature on Apple Music that debuted earlier on iOS 14, and some tweaks to the Touch Alternatives menu.
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