Any word on Universal Binary FM8 builds?

[Perren]

Well now we have intel based macs and a whole new potential can o' worms to deal with.

Anyone have any idea when/if FMI is going to put out a universal binary version of FM8 products for the mac?

I'm sooo very tempted by the new MacBook Pro, but leary of running/developing via Rosetta translation.

Thanks,

--Perren

[raymanj]

If someone could mention any info on how fast or well FM8 Pro, Adv, etc run on one of these new Intel Macs, would be great.

[Marc .]

There's another catch...

It would seem (not my science, read it on the web) that if an application is a universal binary, the plugins must also be universal binaries.

In other words: Both the app AND the plugin must be either universal binaries OR use you have to use Rosetta (apparently there's a way to force universal binaries to run in Rosetta mode.

Any word from our plugin developers...?

[Perren]

Not a plugin developer, but it's true. If you have to compile the code using xtools or somesuch app then universal support is an issue for you.

Luckily developers don't have to wait for FMPro to go Universal to make their plugins Universal. I would *hope* that it's much easier for plugin authors to upgrade their code and keep it relatively painless for all involved.

I'm sure versiontracker will let us know if new releases are universal or not from this point forward.

[Perren]

Got a glimmer of hope from FMI. I just had to call and ask, I couldn't take it anymore. :

Anyway, "they're committed" to building universal binaries for the FM8 series of products.

No timeline - recommended being subscribed to their newsletters for the quickest answer when they have one.

HTH,

--Perren

Edited January 17, 2006 by Guest

[iMarcW]

This was on Macintouch today. Note that it says "future versions" will be universal binary and version 8 will be "supported via Rosetta emulation mode," but they can't say when on either count. I think this means that if you buy an Intel iMac, you can't run FileMaker on it *at all*.

(quote)

Thank you for contacting FileMaker, Inc. Customer Assistance with your inquiry.

Apple Computers move to the Mac Intel platform is very exciting for FileMaker, Inc. and our Customers. We are working on future versions of FileMaker software products that support both the Power PC and Intel architecture.

We expect to make available FileMaker 8 software products which are supported via the Rosetta emulation mode. Rosetta is a technology offered by Apple Computer to allow a user to migrate data and applications from a previous Macintosh to the new Mac Intel platform.

Currently, FileMaker, Inc. is not able to offer any specific timing on when our software products will be tested and certified to operate on this new Mac Intel platform. ...

[Perren]

FM8 *does* work under Rosetta using intel Mac hardware. This reader report is also from Macintouch:

http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/imacintel/topic3807.html#jan17

Hope this helps...

--Perren

[iMarcW]

Good to know. I've posted under Mac hardware looking for anyone's experiences with FMP 6, because that's what we're still using for the next few months or so.

http://www.fmforums.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/173398/