“The company has posted a job description for engineers to ‘design microarchitecture and […] meet the functionality requirements, performance goals, and physical constraints such as power, area, and timing,’ indicating the work will focus on producing chips for mobile devices,” Dilger reports.
Dilger reports, “The position seeks candidates who will ‘work with performance modeling engineers to develop design options and select the most suitable one for design,’ suggesting that the company is aiming to create original works, not just overseeing the production of existing chip technology.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Andrew W.,” “Lynn W.,” and “James W.” for the heads up.]
I have said it before and will say it again! 😀
soon will come the A4 macintosh!
and the end of the intel hackintosh!
hoorah haha!
It’s a pity that Intel never had such vigorous chip designers…. Just imagine what macbook pros would be like today if Intel was as good at making great chips…
I mean, the A4 pretty much fits everything onto the chip… it’s insane… why can’t intel do it on a slightly larger (and faster) scale?
I bet Apple’s engineers are trying to fit fans and nitrogen cooling systems into the iPad!
That’s the way to go, right MSI Windpad 100W ?
Right?!
swiley,
Not such a great idea, when you realise it means the end of the simple escape route that Intel-based Macs give those who are currently tied to Windows in some way or another.
Whilst I’m sure that Boot Camp and/or virtualisation users lose the need for their WIndows security blanket within 12-18 months of switching, solid performance for Windows under either regime is a great safety net for those who still need to be convinced.
Genuinely glad that you’re not running Apple’s product or software strategy.
These are processors designed for small mobile devices, not full blow OS activities.
@ MCCFR
I think apple likes having ibm compatible macs about as much as I do
Apple tried as hard as they could to hide the fact that macs could boot windows for about a year until they realized some hacker was about to get it too
and so they released boot camp
apple used the intel processor because it has been the fastest and smallest (although no wear near as fun to program) for the past few years
in 2011 it’s place will be taken by the A5 (pcs, like always, will probably still use intel chips)
“These are processors designed for small mobile devices, not full blow OS
activities.”
the A4 is a mobile processor, the A5 will be a desktop processor
the arm archetchur is one of the first desktop processors designed for parallel computing, now days it isn’t so much the clock speed but the number of processors you have that determines how fast your computer will run (and yes arms were originally used in desktops (and still are) that ran at full spead, they were just so small and energy efficient many companies (including apple) used them in portable devices)
Apple should buy Intel, apply their manufacturing process to their mobile CPUs, and announce end-of-life of the x86 architecture.
-jcr
Inevitable and just in time for the next phase. This will stop the thieving cheapskates and separate the men from the boys.
To the moon Apple, T the moon!
I’m hoping the A5 in the iPad2 will be built around a dual-core Arm A9.
@swiley,
If that’s true, then Lion must be one hell of an OS!!!
I have very old and new Macs of all shapes and architectures but I think another major CPU change from Apple will make many uneasy. it makes Apple look fickle and unstable, their machines becoming outdated too quick. I already have to deal with several generations of Macs unable to advance to the next operating system advances merely because of CPU changes. Granted machines that are too old should be replaced anyway but that isn’t always the case.
I know Apple is no doubt trying to become master of it’s destiny and be able to offer real differences between what they offer and others from the CPU on up but they might be moving too fast if so. But I suppose if it’s “magical” enough we’ll all fall for it… again!
If Apple intends to bring Retina display screen resolution to the iPad the challenges faced by the SoC in driving the display are non-trivial, both from a pixel density and power management viewpoint.
So in order to drive screen resolution several notches up from the original iPad Apple engineers will need to consider designing a dual core chip where on-die GPU processes can be efficiently handled. Not to mention heat dissipation issues that need to be dealt with.
I would gladly take a Mac with an ARM for Power!
…uneasy. it makes Apple look fickle and unstable,…
Quite the opposite- It’s simple skating to where the puck is going to be. Apple has never been in the “backwards compatibility” business…( and no- I don’t count Rosetta).
Have a Happy and SAFE New Year everyone- yes… Democrats too.
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They make it, we buy it! Simple as that.
Happy and healthy new year to all
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I will bet that Apple has a secret A4 (or beyond) Mac running a full-blown version of Mac OS X 10.6 on it.
Imagine an ARM chip in a server. HIgh performance and very low energy requirements. What’s not to like?
Sell them with OSX Server (unlimited license) and the machines would sell like hot cakes. Once the OSS crowd produced a solid version of Linux to run on the ARM architecture, Intel would have a very hard time competing in the server market.
And while we’re at it, let’s hear it for the Brits
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” /> The original ARM designs were produced in Cambridge, England…..
Happy New Year to all.
I like intel chips in Apple desktops because you get a like for like comparison, or at least it feels that way.
And you have to remember that Apple, Acorn and VLSI founded together what is now ARM Holdings.
@Tacitus
One of the great strengths of the ARM business model is that it enables companies like Apple to innovate in chip design whilst still giving the industry the benefit of a fit-for-purpose, standard core architecture that merits ongoing investment. It is almost a polar opposite to the Wintel monopoly and both those companies have been sleeping whilst the revolution actually took place.
If only I had bough a shed load of ARM shares 15 years ago, then sold at the peak of the tech-stock boom and now be sitting on another handsome profit as the consumer world wakes up to what is happening.
Wait a minute, I did!!
I like Intel in my Mac because I have to use Windows for work. From 8a-5p I use Windows via Parallels. At 5p, I shutdown Parallels and enjoy just my Mac apps. But during that 8a-5p there are also some Mac apps I use for work, not to mention having access to my personal info on the Mac while working. So, Intel chips in the Mac has been good because I can buy one machine and use it as 3 (I run Linux sometimes too, just for fun, in Parallels). My Mac does it all and fast. And this is thanks to the Intel CPU. It was a very good choice for Apple to make as it provides a great migration path for PC users and for those of us that need to use Windows for work.
I do not think Apple will be dropping the Intel chip from the desktop/laptops – at least not until EVERYONE has migrated over from Windows, LOL.
Yes, a more powerful iPad! While the other “Computer Design” companies are waiting for a third party chip company to make the next chip set to bolt into there Windows or Android based iPad killer, Apple is creating their own. Oh and then they will write the improved version of iOS to run on it. And don’t forget the cutting edge design of case that will hold it.
Seems to me there is only one Computer Design Company out there. All others are board stuffers chasing the latest innovation from Apple!
Apple continued to use ARM processors in its i Pods and Air Port base stations as well as the new i Phone in 2007. However, the company used a low power Intel chip to run the original Apple TV, and began evaluating Intel’s Atom for its upcoming tablet and smart phones.
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