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Intel's Silverthorne Ultra-Mobile Proecessor Now Called 'Atom'
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sleepingworker
macrumors 6502a
trademark violation?
There is already an Atom microcontroller. Even has an embedded Basic version.
Did Intel pay up front, or are they about to pay later?
There is already an Atom microcontroller. Even has an embedded Basic version.
Did Intel pay up front, or are they about to pay later?
It isn't suitable for an iPhone, but a future 32nm version could be. It's called "Moorestown" - it has the power consumption we're looking for, on-die memory controller and graphics (like the iPhone's current processor) and is due in Q4 2009.
Apple founded ARM in 1990 (together with Acorn) with ultra low power consumption processors as a primary goal. The first ARM processor was used in the Newton MessagePad.
They sold off their stake in ARM over time to get themselves through a rough patch in their history. It's the most successful architecture with 10 billion processors shipped as of last month!
sterlingindigo
macrumors 6502
Why the name change, is that a preproduction/postproduction thing?
How about "either the rumored Apple tablet/PDA AND the next generation iPhone"?
How about "either the rumored Apple tablet/PDA AND the next generation iPhone"?
Not really, it doesn't have anywhere near the performance of the Core 2 Duo.
It would however be natural to replace the underclocked Pentium M in the AppleTV with an Atom Processor.
It would be well suited to a tablet device.
Yeah, Intel doesn't use their codenames for marketing.
For example:
The Penryn and Merom processors are marketed as "Core 2 Duo"
The Woodcrest, Harpertown and Clovertown procesors are marketed as "Xeon"
11800506
macrumors 65816
Here's to a launch of a bigger iPod touch like device.... support HD iPod content (same content on your iPod or HD TV).
Allow it to support email, calendar and to do lists, and you'll have all the GTD type people (that would be me) racing to the apple store to pick one up...
All signs point to yes:
- "iPod Touch is a platform"
- Intel is creating this chip for Mobile Internet Devices
- iPod Touch has been successful
- Apple already created the User Experience (Multitouch)
- If you can run amlost a full OS - you can have BT connected keyboard and mouse, if you want to use more like a PC
- I've been wanting something like this
There are so many other positives from all this - I'm looking forward to something big on Thursday.
Allow it to support email, calendar and to do lists, and you'll have all the GTD type people (that would be me) racing to the apple store to pick one up...
All signs point to yes:
- "iPod Touch is a platform"
- Intel is creating this chip for Mobile Internet Devices
- iPod Touch has been successful
- Apple already created the User Experience (Multitouch)
- If you can run amlost a full OS - you can have BT connected keyboard and mouse, if you want to use more like a PC
- I've been wanting something like this
There are so many other positives from all this - I'm looking forward to something big on Thursday.
iPhone RAM problem
The iPhone CPU only currently runs at about 412 mhz, but I've read that it's capable of up to 620 mhz. Apple has the firmware underclock it to preserve battery life. So in all honesty, the CPU is only running at 66% capacity.
If you're serious about making the iPhone snappier, I think the best thing they could do would be to double the RAM. I think it's obvious that 128 MB just isn't enough for certain things. That's why the web pages in Safari go blank when you have more than 2 or 3 open. That's why the music stops playing when you're listening to something and using Safari. More ram could help it run more complicated applications and run them each more smoothly.
The Silverthorne processers seem more like something for an
Tablet device. Some sort of mini, hand held computer device that isn't quite as tiny as a phone.
The iPhone CPU only currently runs at about 412 mhz, but I've read that it's capable of up to 620 mhz. Apple has the firmware underclock it to preserve battery life. So in all honesty, the CPU is only running at 66% capacity.
If you're serious about making the iPhone snappier, I think the best thing they could do would be to double the RAM. I think it's obvious that 128 MB just isn't enough for certain things. That's why the web pages in Safari go blank when you have more than 2 or 3 open. That's why the music stops playing when you're listening to something and using Safari. More ram could help it run more complicated applications and run them each more smoothly.
The Silverthorne processers seem more like something for an
Tablet device. Some sort of mini, hand held computer device that isn't quite as tiny as a phone.
MattInOz
macrumors 68030
Not this Thursday that's for sure. Maybe this Thursday next year.
Yes iPod touch is a platform, and at this stage that platform is ARM based, and fits in your pocket. Two things a device based on this chip wouldn't be.
There are two ways for Apple to approach this chip.
Either any device made with this version of atom is either going to be part of the Mac OS platform family, which means they would need to be further along the multitouch transition and training programme(already started with MacAir).
Or they'd have to transition iPod/TouchOS to Core Instruction set and there is no point doing that till they can do the whole platform. Like the original Intel transition.
As already pointed out Atom ain't going near an iPhone till the late next year at best. So while this chip gives Apple a chance in the future to merge their two platforms, it would seem there isn't a driver to do it. As they seem to have a few other projects on the burners to really take on that one as well.
They could knock out a big touch (say 5inch screen still fits in your pocket) tomorrow on the ARM platform if they really wanted to. Me i'd like that.
sleepingworker
macrumors 6502a
Lepton
macrumors 6502a
Mac Addict
macrumors member
Apple will continue to merge these two platforms... maybe not that crazy of an idea.
I'm suing!
I saw an Apple presentation that mentioned Silverthorne and now I find out that Apple never had any plans to use such a product EVER! I don't care if you say that Atom is just as good, I had my heart set on Silverthorne and I'm going to sue for damages and mental distress!
I saw an Apple presentation that mentioned Silverthorne and now I find out that Apple never had any plans to use such a product EVER! I don't care if you say that Atom is just as good, I had my heart set on Silverthorne and I'm going to sue for damages and mental distress!
Exactly! The comments about using Silverthorne in the iPhone/touch are getting annoying. While Silverthorne is a VERY low-power x86-CPU, it's still nowhere near the Arm-CPU that power the iPhone! And the Arm-CPU includes 3D graphics accelerator, whereas Silverthorne does not!
So currently the CPU + GPU in the iPhone consumes WAY less power than Silverthorne alone does!
Silverthorne would be ideal for tiny laptops and the like, but something like iPhone or iPod touch is NOT where it's meant to be used!
It would wokr fine in a device like Air, but then we need to ask that what would happen to the performance. Current CPU in Air would be considerably faster than this processor is.