Apple Developing ARM Processors for iPhone

[MacRumors]

A NY Times blog entry reports that Apple is indeed working on its own variant of the ARM processor for the iPhone. The information verifies what has long been speculated based on Apple's acquisition of P.A. Semi earlier this year and announcements by both ARM and Steve Jobs.

Former P.A. Semi engineer Wei-han Lien lists his current position as "Senior Manager Chip CPU Architect at Apple" in his Linkedin profile. His specialties include high performance microprocessor architecture/micro-architecture and verification. According to his published profile, his present job is managing the "ARM CPU architecture team for iPhone".

Apple presently uses several ARM processors for the existing iPhones but after the company's acquisition of P.A. Semi, Steve Jobs revealed that P.A. Semi would be working on custom chips for iPhones and iPods. Additional speculation pointed to the possibility that Apple had become a major architectural licensee of ARM which would allow them to have more control over the design of the handsets. By developing their own versions of the chips found in the iPhone, Apple could benefit from cost savings and competitive advantages:

By developing its own ARM variant, Apple could create a processor that meets the specific needs of the iPhone and iPod, building support for functions such as the touch screen or scroll wheel into silicon and possibly savings on costs by reducing the number of processors needed in each device. In addition, Apple’ will be able to maintain tighter controls on who knows what about its future products by disposing of an outside chip supplier.

Article Link

[Moof1904]

Cool. This should decrease cost and increase power across the entire handheld product line.

[olliebraves20]

With the ability to custom make a processor that would be great for Apple. As the article says they can build it to exactly the specs that they want...great acquisition apple!!

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5F136 Safari/525.20)

I really hope this means cost savings transferred to the consumer. It would be nice to see the next iPhone with twice the power for half the price with no contract.

[Kilamite]

Ah, the joy of a contract phone. I'm still waiting another month or two before diving in for an iPhone because of my current mobile contract, but seeing that a new iPhone could be released come May/June next year, I'd hope it would be a free upgrade (like the iPhone to iPhone 3G was a free upgrade).

[rdowns]

Originally Posted by kornyboy

I really hope this means cost savings transferred to the consumer. It would be nice to see the next iPhone with twice the power for half the price with no contract.

I fail to see what Apple working on their own version of an ARM processor has to do with a contract.

And good luck waiting for half the price. Apple is a for profit company. They didn't buy PA Semi to lower prices.

[iSee]

I'm pretty sure we already knew this, right?

SJ said they'd be working on custom iPhone/iPod chips.
What would be surprising is if Apple wasn't working on ARM processors.

[Full of Win]

So... the only new info is this Wei-han Lien fellow, indicating he is working on a project/effort that Steve Jobs has already admitted to.

[twoodcc]

wow, i think this is great. i can only see good things for Apple from this

[Apple Ink]

Hmm.... seems like we're going to have more trouble speculating whats new as much can be bundled in one chip! Whats more exciting is the fact that there we're probably heading for a more powerful iPhone with the capability for better graphics and processing so cooler apps!

[fastbite]

control! Best way to go and as much power as possible please, otherwise playing icopter will suck.

[MrCrowbar]

Can you say anti-aliasing in cover flow and games?
Seriously, I can't imagine anythingmore than that without Apple discriminating against early iPhone and iPod users. New games wouldn't run on old phones. Or maybe the new one would only have better textures, nicer effects etc. but there would be a version for both the old and new hardware.

Battery life on Apple's pocket devices is pretty good as it is and I don't think the CPU uses a significant amount of power compared to the display, headphones amp and wireless interfaces. So future battery life will depend more on better batteries I guess.

[MrCrowbar]

Originally Posted by Apple Ink

Hmm.... seems like we're going to have more trouble speculating whats new as much can be bundled in one chip! Whats more exciting is the fact that there we're probably heading for a more powerful iPhone with the capability for better graphics and processing so cooler apps!

That means more traffic to macrumors and more joy and wonder on the keynotes. Everyone wins!

[pohl]

Originally Posted by MrCrowbar

Battery life on Apple's pocket devices is pretty good as it is and I don't think the CPU uses a significant amount of power compared to the display, headphones amp and wireless interfaces. So future battery life will depend more on better batteries I guess.

If the chip count in the phone is reduced, it is very likely that power consumption would be, too.

[retroneo]

ARM Cortex A9 + Imagination PowerVR SGX....

[MrCrowbar]

Originally Posted by pohl

If the chip count in the phone is reduced, it is very likely that power consumption would be, too.

True, I overlooked that. And things will probably get even smaller. But I think the new nanos are about as small as you want a device with a display to be.
I don't mind having a rather large iPhone in my pocket. Since it replaced two devices (phone and iPod) in a way those walkman phones can't (Sony Ericsson's implementation of a music player is just wrong...), it's all good. I like how thing the new Touch is though...

[Firefly2002]

Lies. Apple should use G4s ~~

[kk1ro]

What does this mean for people who are going to buy an iPhone 3G?
I'm from Portugal and here we have Vodafone and Optimus that sell the iPhone without a fixed plan (no monthly charges) for 510€ ($725) and I'm seriously thinking about buying one!
I was already worried about the whole battery replacement issue but now that we have Apple developing chips in-house (and probably releasing them on the new and more powerful iPhone and that will most definitely see the light of day a year from now), I'm starting to think that waiting is the best option...
I will use my iPhone mainly for its phone and iPod capabilities as well as a mobile gaming device, so buying a $725 phone that will be obsolete in one of those functions (referring specifically to gaming, as better hardware will probably mean better games that aren't compatible with today's iPhones) within a year is not something I'm looking forward to...

[daneoni]

Do people really think Apple/Carrier will let you upgrade for free again...you do realize the original phone wasn't subsidized?. Then again it may be possible although i doubt it. The iPhone is gonna be like the iPod you buy a new one every year

[The Tall One]

Great. Cheaper iPhones, by January you think? Me want.

[macsamillion]

Is it possible that Apple is wandering toward a G6 processor of their own devise? It seems there would be advantages using all three types of chipsets, ARM, Intel and PowerPC; not to mention the potential that miniaturization will have on homogenizing their product line—as in a universally networked AirBook. That would be sooo cool.

[ztigerpaw]

Hope it decreases application crashes and maybe they'll add more memory. Like they did with the Intel Macs. I'd fork over a couple to get that upgrade.

[slapppy]

I think Apple is wasting money on this. They should be working on building a network so that iPod Touch users can have WiFi everywhere. Watch it really take off if you can buy an iPod Touch and have WiFi available everywhere. Like Satellite WiFi if there is such a thing. You just pay a monthly fee like 10 or 20 bucks a month.

[quandmeme]

Just connecting the dots on previous info, I have no independent knowledge but the outfit they acquired doesn't have its own fab plant right? They've always designed and then moved their production to whomever has the right production facility. I like the agility, but outsourcing is still good for rumor mongers.

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by kk1ro

.... so buying a $725 phone that will be obsolete in one of those functions (referring specifically to gaming, as better hardware will probably mean better games that aren't compatible with today's iPhones) within a year is not something I'm looking forward to...

If the above is true today, then it will be true in five years. No matter when you buy there will always be a better one avail later. You will have to wait forever.

The good thing about waiting forever is that you save a lot of money but then you have no phone, no computer, no camera and no car. But lots of cash.