Technical Q&A QA1451

Intel-Based Macs, Dashboard, Safari, and You

Q: How does the transition to Intel-based Macintosh computers affect Dashboard widgets and websites viewed in Safari?

A: In most cases, Dashboard widgets contain standard web elements such as HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and of course image files. Widgets such as these, which don't use compiled code, should work exactly the same on Intel-based Macs as they do on PowerPC-based Macs.

Dashboard widgets that use plug-ins, however, will need to make sure those plug-ins have been built as universal binaries. There are two types of plug-ins that a widget can make use of:

• Widget Plug-Ins. If your widget contains a plug-in, you must build the plug-in as a universal binary for it to run natively on an Intel-based Macintosh computer.

• Internet Plug-Ins. Internet plug-ins, typically incorporated via the embed tag, must also be built as universal binaries to run in Dashboard and/or Safari on Intel-based Macintosh computers. If your Dashboard widget (or website) uses a third-party internet plug-in, please contact the developer of that plug-in to make sure a universal binary version of the plug-in is available or in progress.

If you are the developer of a widget plug-in or internet plug-in, you should consult the Universal Binary Programming Guidelines to find out whether or not your code needs to be updated for compatibility with Intel-based Macintosh computers. Depending on the tasks your plug-in performs, converting to a universal binary may require more effort than simply rebuilding it in Xcode with the appropriate flags.

Document Revision History