News

iOS Core Ported To Non-Apple Hardware For On-Going Open Source Project

It appears that the software developer Winocm has managed to port the core elements of Apple’s iOS operating system to non-Apple devices, according to an article from 9to5 Mac. The core is named “XNU Kernel” and it’s what Apple developed from the very start to create the foundation of OS X respectively iOS afterwards. It has been successfully ported to a non-Apple device, namely a Nokia N900 smartphone, however the porting does not stop here, since it can be used on other hardware as well.

Hardware compatible for the porting process:

  • ARM RealView Emulation Baseboard (ARMPBA8_ALT)
  • ARM RealView Platform Baseboard for Cortex-A8 (ARMPBA8)
  • Texas Instruments OMAP3530 (BeagleBoard/BeagleBoard xM) (OMAP3530)
  • Texas Instruments OMAP3430 (Nokia N900) (OMAP3430_RX51)
  • Texas Instruments AM335x (BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black) (OMAP335X)

To be pointed out here is that only the core elements were ported, which does not include any iOS or OS X UI elements and therefore cannot run as a functional operating system. It does however includes many of the system’s core features.

This does not mean that Apple will license iOS to other hardware makers and does not mean the entirety of iOS can run on devices that are not designed by Apple. However, this work opens up the opportunity for other developers to port other aspects of iOS to other hardware. Winocm built a minimal variant of iOS with no user-interface for non-Apple hardware. Other developers, in theory, could pick up and expand the core to a fully functional OS.

The project and instructions on how to install the core iSO can be found here.

Thank you 9to5 Mac and Winocm for providing us with this information
Images courtesy of 9to5 Mac

Gabriel Roşu

Disqus Comments Loading...

Recent Posts

Still Wakes the Deep 

LIVE THE HORROR: An immersive disaster story aboard a stunningly realised North Sea oil rig,…

4 hours ago

PHILIPS 275V8LA – 27 Inch QHD Monitor

The Philips VA LED display uses an advanced multi-domain vertical alignment technology that gives you…

4 hours ago

EPOMAKER Ajazz AK820 Pro 75% Gasket-mounted Mechanical Keyboard 

【TFT Screen: The Interactive Interface】This 75% mechanical keyboard comes equipped with a TFT Screen, serving…

4 hours ago

Funko Fusion

FANDOM FUSION Play as your favorite characters and wield their unique weapons and skills. Team…

4 hours ago

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Standard Edition

The Definitive Version of Shin Megami Tensei V - Fully evolved with stunning visuals for…

4 hours ago

Hand Warmers Rechargeable 2 Pack

【Unique Split Design】5200mAh hand warmers rechargeable together with double-sided heating function, split snap swivel design,…

4 hours ago