The latest project updates bring display co-processor support to M3 devices, which enables sleep mode and makes the display area surrounding the notch usable. Alongside these consumer-facing improvements, the development team submitted over 16,000 lines of driver and Devicetree code upstream, covering macaudio and AVD implementations. Developers also resolved complex virtualization hurdles involving Apple's Exclaves security mechanisms by running the Secure Kernel across virtual machines. This work establishes the necessary framework to study, boot, and reverse-engineer macOS on M4 and M5 generation chips.
Key points
Reverse-engineering workflows can now proceed on M4 and M5 chips after developers success…: Reverse-engineering workflows can now proceed on M4 and M5 chips after developers successfully virtualized Apple's isolated Exclaves security environment.
Foundational support is moving forward for next-generation hardware through barebones Dev…: Foundational support is moving forward for next-generation hardware through barebones Devicetrees that successfully boot M4 Pro, M4 Max, and M5 chips to a TTY.
Contributions from Alyssa Millburn, Anna Maniscalco, and TellowKrinkle have made progress…: Contributions from Alyssa Millburn, Anna Maniscalco, and TellowKrinkle have made progress on the redesigned M3 GPU by enabling m1n1 to initialize the hardware.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Progress Report: Linux 7.3
Well here we are again. Linux 7.3 is out and it’s been an eventful few months, so let’s get stuck in to another Asahi Linux progress report!
Upstreaming continues
As always, upstreaming work continues to progress. Aside from the usual patches for low-level SoC blocks, two major drivers made it on to the list this cycle: macaudio and avd. Getting macaudio ready for submission has been a challenge. The audio subsystem on Apple Silicon devices is rather special, and required quite a number of core ALSA changes to properly support it. Apple also uses special variants of speaker and headset amplifiers that were already supported upstream, and these drivers also needed some pretty significant modifications. We have previously discussed a lot of this work at length, and we are finally in a position where we can submit the main driver for review. The driver and Devicetree changes represent a hefty chunk of our total patchset, about 3100 lines.
AVD is a whole different beast. The AVD driver has spent barely 3 months in our downstream tree…
Research firm Omdia revealed that the broader tablet market is experiencing a significant downturn, hitting its weakest performance milestone in recent history. Major industry players are feeling the pressure as consumer demand cools across the entire device category. This downturn has dragged quarterly shipment volumes down to levels not seen in nearly three years.
Researchers analyzing internet-connected infrastructure detected broad exposure of advanced assessment software that has migrated into malicious workflows. The widespread availability of these functional installations creates severe opportunities for unauthorized network intrusions. Security teams face heightened risks as threat groups increasingly weaponize automated defensive utilities during active digital intrusions.
A long-term real-world trial in a 1930s residence evaluated whether automated heating controls deliver tangible efficiency gains over rigorous manual radiator adjustments. Upgrading an aging gas boiler with multi-room smart hardware allowed zoned climate regulation alongside algorithm-driven adjustments based on occupancy and ambient conditions. The findings highlight both the operational capabilities and the substantial upfront equipment and subscription expenses tied to intelligent home climate management.