(Application Binary Interface) A specification for a specific hardware platform combined with the operating system. It is one step beyond the application program interface (API), which defines the calls from the application to the operating system. The ABI defines the API plus the machine language for a particular CPU family. An API does not ensure runtime compatibility, but an ABI does, because it defines the machine language, or runtime, format. See Wabi.
ABI and API Relationship
ABI and API Relationship
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Hold 6 and 4 keys at boot to enable 64-bit Snow Leopard (Updated)
- As I mentioned in a post last night, the latest developer release of Snow Leopard, a.k.a. Mac OS 10.6 (build 10A432, presumed to be GM) doesn't automatically boot into the 64-bit kernel except on an Xserve. To boot into 64-bit on any other Mac you must hold down the "6"...
- Blog posts 2009-08-19
- Will your Mac boot 64-bit Snow Leopard by default? Not unless it's an Xserve
- If the current developer seed (build 10A432) of Snow Leopard is indeed the Golden Master version as has been highly rumored only Xserves will be able to boot into 64-bit version of Mac OS 10.6 by default. All other Mac users will have to hold down the "6" and "4"...
- Blog posts 2009-08-18
- Infrastructure sharing to save companies $60 bln by 2014
- ABI Research finds that the worldwide combined OPEX and CAPEX savings from active infrastructure sharing could amount to as much as $60 bln over the next five year period. The study finds that operators could enjoy at least 40% cost savings in addition to those available from passive site sharing....
- Blog posts 2009-04-08
- $94 bln spent on home network-enabled devices in 2010
- Total revenues for network connected devices will rise from about $74 bln in 2009 to over $94 bln in 2010, ABI Research reported. by AM
- Blog posts 2009-04-07
- Are netbooks quietly driving us toward cloud computing?
- Are netbooks quietly driving us toward cloud computing?Both netbooks AND smartphonesNetbooks & smartphones are likely to cause companies to re-evaluate their computing strategies.By moving to browser-based/cloud applications, companies can:1. reduce their support costs software updates are propagated to all clients instantaneously.2. provide OS (Windows/Linux/OS X) & device (smartphone/netbook/notebook/desktop) flexibility.3. simplify...
- Discussion threads 2009-03-02
- Third-party software for cellular base stations to grow by $1 bln by 2010
- The market opportunity for third-party software written for cellular base stations and other infrastructure will increase by about $1 bln dollars by the middle of 2010, according to ABI Research. In the past, over 95% of the base station bill of materials was hardware, but now they use off-the-shelf...
- Blog posts 2009-03-01
- Managed services for mobile networks generated $19 bln in 2008
- Managed services for mobile networks returned about $19 bln revenue in 2008, ($5.8 bln for network services and $13.4 bln for IT-related services.) Europe led managed services adoption: Tier One operators there face stiff competition, so they have turned to managed services to improve their margins. According to a new...
- Blog posts 2009-02-27
- 16.5% of mobile users spent over $100 in app stores
- An ABI Research survey of US smartphone users who installed applications on their devices in 2008, conducted in November 2008, reveals that a surprising 16.5% spent between $100 and $499. That level of spending is especially significant given the low cost of most mobile applications, ranging from as little as...
- Blog posts 2009-02-24
- Only 11% would use netbook as primary PC
- Only 11% would use a netbook as their primary computer, while a massive 79% view netbooks as a secondary device to be used in addition to a laptop or desktop computer, ABI Research says. The firm forecasts worldwide shipments of nearly 35 million in 2009, rising to an estimated 139...
- Blog posts 2009-02-21
- 36% of social networking users want access to social networks on TV
- Today’s consumers are looking to extend their social networks to the TV, as 36% of those who currently use social media on a regular basis say they’d like to access their networks on the TV screen, ABI Research found. by AM
- Blog posts 2009-02-20
- 500 mln mobile TV viewers by 2013
- While mobile broadcast TV was pioneered in Japan and South Korea, following the switchover traditional and mobile TV broadcasters and cellular operators in many regions will launch mobile TV services that are forecast to attract over 500 mln viewers by 2013, ABI Research found. by AM
- Blog posts 2009-02-18
- Freescale to use Android, ARM for $100 Netbook
- Chip maker Freescale has announced that it will use Google's Android operating system for a new type of Netbook by next quarter. Though Google's Android software was originally developed for smartphones, Freescale believes it can use the flexible OS to make a new class of less-expensive mini-notebooks...
- Blog posts 2009-02-18
- 200 mln small-medium businesses to be mobile by year-end 2009
- Sometime late in 2009, the estimated number of mobile small-medium businesses in the world (those with between five and 99 employees who use smartphones when travelling) will pass 200 mln. In some regions, 99% of all businesses are classed as small-medium, according to ABI Research. by AM
- Blog posts 2009-02-16
- 8.5% of Americans to use push-to-talk by 2013
- Push to Talk PTT, the mobile phone feature that enables users to connect virtually instantaneously with other users, is forecast to find its way into 8.5% of the North American market by year-end 2013, but in no other world region will it even begin to approach that market share, ABI...
- Blog posts 2009-02-15
- 240 mln GPS-enabled phones to sell in 2009
- While global handset shipments are expected to drop by 4-5% in 2009, GPS-enabled phones will climb to 240 mln units, an increase of 6.4% over 2008, ABI Research predicts. by AM
- Blog posts 2009-01-21
- Surveys show consumers love HDTVs, but show some confusion about HD programming
- Two recent research studies have found that the demand from U.S. consumers for HDTVs hasn't slackened despite the tough economy, but confusion remains about what you do with the TV once the set is purchased. You would presume that people are seeking out HDTVs in order to...
- Blog posts 2008-11-30
- Mac Sequence View 1.0 (Mac)
- The Mac Sequence View Software suite comes with three programs to enhance your productivity when performing DNA sequence analysis. The main program - Mac Sequence View - is a drag and drop application that quickly generates a detailed, sortable quality report from your DNA chromatogram files. From the report, you...
- Software downloads 2008-11-26
- 46% of social networking users visited mobile social networks
- According to ABI Research, 46% of those who use social networks have also visited a social network through a mobile phone. Of these, nearly 70% have visited MySpace and another 67% had visited Facebook. No other social networking site reached 15% adoption mobile adoption. SHARETHIS.addEntry( { title: "46%...
- Blog posts 2008-10-06
- 2.4 bln Bluetooth-enabled devices to ship worldwide by 2013
- By 2013, nearly 2.4 bln units of Bluetooth-enabled equipment will ship worldwide, with more than half that number representing cell phones, and when headsets are added, it brings the phones and headsets to more than 75% of the Bluetooth market, said ABI Research. Worldwide, by 2013, nearly 30% of all...
- Blog posts 2008-09-02
- Office 14: Alpha testing to begin before year-end
- Office 14: Alpha testing to begin before year-endSlowly but surely going 64-bitI heard about the nominations for TAP and I was interested in joining but after reading about the requirements I think I will skip and hold out until the private technical beta. Its good to see Microsoft is moving...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-18
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