“Imagination Technologies, the British-based technology firm that has long licensed the GPU tech used in Apple’s mobile devices, issued a scathing rebuke of Apple’s plans to soon drop the company,” Jim Tanous writes for The Mac Observer. “The remarks, made by Imagination Technologies CEO Andrew Heath, were published as part of the company’s latest financial report to investors.”
“Imagination’s earnings report reveals that its financial situation has improved slightly since the fallout from Apple’s announcement, but that the company remains for sale,” Tanous writes. “The heart of the issue is that, after having access to its patented graphics technologies for so many years, Imagination claims that it would be impossible for Apple to develop its own mobile GPU for future iPhones and iPads without running afoul of the company’s intellectual property.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Ironically, if Apple were to develop its own mobile GPU, Imagination will have been proven to lack imagination.
There’s more than one way to skin a cat.
SEE ALSO:
Former Apple supplier Imagination Technologies puts itself up for sale – June 22, 2017
Imagination Technology starts dispute process with Apple – May 4, 2017
UBS: Imagination likely to see Apple royalties slashed, then cease altogether – April 19, 2017
It’s getting even tougher to be an Apple supplier – April 19, 2017
Without Apple, Imagination Technologies’ PowerVR has no future – April 10, 2017
Apple steps up homegrown GPU plans with London hiring spree – April 9, 2017
Why Apple’s ditching of Imagination is critical for the future of the iPhone – and maybe even the Mac – April 5, 2017
Apple aims for more control, less cost as it accelerates in chip design – April 5, 2017
Apple could look to buy Imagination Technologies after ditching the chip firm, share price plunge – April 4, 2017
Imagination Technologies’ shares collapse after Apple dumps UK chip designer – April 3, 2017
Apple nabs top talent from iPhone 7 GPU chipmaker Imagination Technologies – October 13, 2016
After failed takeover talks with Apple, Imagination Technologies sells stake to state-owned Chinese company – May 9, 2016
Apple in ‘advanced talks’ to acquire Imagination Technologies for PowerVR GPU – March 22, 2016
Apple is not abandoning Imagination Tech, they’re looking at reducing payment from $0.30 to $0.10/device with their own tech.
First rule of the second-coming of Steve Jobs:
Secure every possible strategic resource—hardware, chips, software, raw materials, patents, etc.—necessary for the success of your products.
Second rule of the second coming of Steve Jobs:
If you can’t secure every strategic resource, make sure you have “options” or start investing in “options.”
Another disingenuous & self-serving company POV when it comes to losing income & the easy money. Try focusing on another areas to compensate for your loss instead of lashing out.
I guess it hasn’t (yet) occurred to Imagination Technologies that Apple wouldn’t have announced a strategic move pull away unless they had already solved the IP problem.
Crow pie is most certainly in IT’s future.
blahblahblah Imagination claims that it would be impossible for Apple to develop its own mobile GPU for future iPhones and iPads without running afoul of the company’s intellectual property.
NO. This is mere ‘fool the stockholders’ bullshit. Apple has licensed ARM GPU tech to go along side their licensed ARM GPU tech.
Your homework, better-informed Imagination Technology stockholders:
http://www.arm.com/products/graphics-and-multimedia/mali-gpu
History lesson:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_Holdings
The company was founded in November 1990 as Advanced RISC Machines Ltd and structured as a joint venture between Acorn Computers, Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.) and VLSI Technology. The new company intended to further the development of the Acorn RISC Machine processor, which was originally used in the Acorn Archimedes and had been selected by Apple for their Newton project. Its first profitable year was 1993. The company’s Silicon Valley and Tokyo offices were opened in 1994. ARM invested in Palmchip Corporation in 1997 to provide system on chip platforms and to enter into the disk drive market. In 1998 the Company changed its name from Advanced RISC Machines Ltd to ARM Ltd. The Company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange and NASDAQ in 1998 and by February 1999, Apple’s shareholding had fallen to 14.8%.
More fun:
ARM Closes in on Imagination in GPU Shipments
– Peter Clarke @EETimes
9/26/2013 12:58 PM EDT
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1319626
That was 2013. It’s now 2017 and Apple is turning to ARM GPU technology instead. Writing on the wall much?