WWDC rumors and ramblings

Okay, I guess I have to capture my thoughts on the rumor de jour:

What makes sense:

1. If Apple is really ready to take on MS with a x86 version of OS X, then this might make sense of the rumor. As a shareholder, I would applaud the move so long as it happens today, not next year when Longhorn will be at least close to shipping. Market data would indicate Apple has an opportunity to strike and take share of the desktop now, not in twelve or eighteen months.

2. If there is a fork in the product line where Intel gives better performance. Since my focus is software, I can't really comment. However, the fact that Apple has significant rights to AIM architecture and the ARM processor as well, it could be a production agreement, not an architecture shift.

3. Last year at WWDC, developers had strong interest in when cross-compilation would be a fact. The limiting factor was not technical, but the need to port OS X frameworks to x86. What if it's been done? What if XCode2.5 is a cross complier? What this would do if a subset of frameworks was enabled for x86, say for a home entertainment platform? And it might still run windows software, but safely for ma & pa?

What doesn't make sense:

4. A shift in architecture as the platform is starting to take off.

5. Steve staying the course with all the "leaks" in the press.

6. Announcing this at the core of your development efforts. Last year it was Tiger. Now, something that will require additional effort for developers to support? Not smart.

Of course, we'll know in a couple of more hours.