TRANSLATION SAVES OLD MAC SOFTWARE

Apple Computer is making the leap to Intel thanks in part to a software translation technology from a 65-person company in Los Gatos.

Transitive Technologies confirmed Tuesday that it is providing Apple with technology that allows old Macintosh software programs to run on computers based on Intel rather than IBM chips. Transitive's technology will be part of software called Rosetta, which will work for current Macintosh OS X programs that run on PowerPC systems but not for older programs that run on OS 8 and OS 9 software, according to Apple.

Apple Computer Chief Executive Steve Jobs demonstrated Rosetta on stage at a developer's conference Monday, where he announced the alliance with Intel.

``Steve was nice enough to recognize a relationship with us,'' said Bob Wiederhold, CEO of Transitive. ``Our efforts involve integrating our technology into their system software.''

Rosetta will be important for Apple to hang onto its loyal Macintosh customers at a time when it is making a major switch to new hardware. If Rosetta lives up to its promise, consumers won't have to throw away their old software when they buy a new computer from Apple with Intel chips.

Read More >MercuryNews.com