Apple Job Listing Reveals More Powerful ARM Processors and Video Processing for iPhone

[MacRumors]

A recent Apple job listing that we just discovered reveals that Apple is looking for a low level iPhone programmer with detailed knowledge of the ARM processor including its NEON vector unit.

The successful candidate will have excellent understanding and knowledge of processor architecture, specifically ARM and its vector unit NEON. Additional Intel SSE or PowerPC AltiVec is also very helpful. Being able to use processor micro-architecture to write and deliver fast routines is an essential attribute.

NEON is an extended instruction set similar to Intel's SSE or PowerPC's AltiVec which can accelerate multimedia applications. What's interesting is that NEON is the marketing term for the most recent version of these extensions specifically for the ARMv7 Cortex processors. Apple presently uses the ARMv6 processor in the iPhone and iPod Touch which does not appear to offer NEON. The obvious reason for Apple to be seeking a programmer with this expertise is that they must be optimizing the iPhone OS for the new Cortex processors.

We've previously speculated that the Cortex processor would be the most likely candidate to power the next generation iPhone. The Cortex is also capable of multi-core variants though its not entirely clear how soon these will be commercially available. Palm's Pre is also based on a version of the Cortex processor. The presence of these sort of extensions could also be leveraged to provide users with faster/better multimedia functions including the rumored video recording, processing and editing capabilities.

In fact, another job listing reveals that Apple is also hiring for someone to deliver "cutting edge embedded video processing". They are specifically looking for someone with experience in real-time media and networking applications over Wi-Fi and cellular networks which would suggest an iPhone implementation. Obviously, all of these listings reflect unfilled jobs but can provide a hint into what Apple is presently working on.

Article Link: Apple Job Listing Reveals More Powerful ARM Processors and Video Processing for iPhone

[liambresnahan]

surely this would all point to a release of new hardware later than the summer? Or have I missed something?

[DCBass]

Originally Posted by liambresnahan

surely this would all point to a release of new hardware later than the summer? Or have I missed something?

Macrumors has had several posts in the past regarding Apple job listings for particular technological applications. However, I haven't run across any analysis on lag time between job postings and implementation of said new technologies.

(Care to take this on, arn?)

Of course, I don't expect Apple to hire just one person for this task. I expect that they either already have a number of people working on it, and just need more (so hopefully for an iPhone this summer), or they are just starting to ramp up a team to get cracking on this, which would then be for the iPhone released next year.

Here's hoping that it's the former, rather than the latter.

Cheers,

DCBass

[Shookster]

Perhaps they are taking on more people to work on this because they run the risk of missing the deadline if they don't. That's the only justification I can see for hiring someone right now to work on the 3rd-gen iPhone which is supposedly coming out in June/July.

Either that or it is destined for a later model.

[gnasher729]

Originally Posted by Shookster

Perhaps they are taking on more people to work on this because they run the risk of missing the deadline if they don't. That's the only justification I can see for hiring someone right now to work on the 3rd-gen iPhone which is supposedly coming out in June/July.

Either that or it is destined for a later model.

Think about it: Today is May 21st. If I was the right person for that job, and I read their advertisement today, it would take several months until I would be starting. Job interviews, background checks, salary negotiation, someone higher up has to agree, and then I still have to leave my old job which doesn't happen right today. That person will _not_ write software that you will find on an iPhone in June or July.

[arn]

Originally Posted by DCBass

Macrumors has had several posts in the past regarding Apple job listings for particular technological applications. However, I haven't run across any analysis on lag time between job postings and implementation of said new technologies.

It's a hard analysis. Job listings are very speculative as Apple usually doesn't want to show too much of their hand. All Job listings, however, don't mean that products aren't coming out forever.

I remember a ton of iPhone job listings appeared after Apple first announced the iPhone. While there was still a long lead time before the iPhone became available, obviously, Apple had been working on it for some time up until then.

The Cortex is an obvious processor for Apple to be interested in. The Pre will use it. I will be surprised if it's not used soon.

arn

[Schizoid]

I'll have a go, got my own soldering iron and everything!

[t0mat0]

Will be interesting to see the quality of stills and video from the next sensor - is it likely it's the neat top end Omnivision? If so, are we likely to see their TrueFocus http://www.ovt.com/products/truefocus.php and or some Scalado tech?
http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/21/s...lphone-camera/

Zero lag on taking stills, and decent video, with processing capabilities enough for editing would be big - Apple could always add the editing functionality later, if they got the hardware into the phone presumably.

[iphones4evry1]

For developing something as complex as a new iPhone, I would think Apple would begin working on it 9 months ahead of release. When the 3G iPhone came out in July, it had been already announced back in January, and that previous fall, there were already rumors surfacing. If Apple has plans to release an iPhone this July, I suspect they were working on it last fall (they likely never stopped, after designing the iPhone 3G). If they are not planning a release until Fall 2009, even if not until November, I would suspect they were already working on it back in January. And let us not forget that the current beta for the OS 3.0 has numerous evidence for future features. So, perhaps, a new iPhone for 2009 is already designed, and this job posting is really for the NEXT (summer/fall 2010) iPhone, and dozens or more people will actually be hired from that one job posting.

t0mat0, I want antishake/image-stabilization technology in the camera.

[Dragonos]

It seems a tad late to be hiring people for the next gen iPhone if it is supposed to come out in june. Oh well I'm happy about the processor.

[Santa Rosa]

Originally Posted by Schizoid

I'll have a go, got my own soldering iron and everything!

The successful candidate will have excellent understanding and knowledge of processor architecture, specifically ARM and its vector unit NEON. Additional Intel SSE or PowerPC AltiVec is also very helpful. Being able to use processor micro-architecture to write and deliver fast routines is an essential attribute while owning your own personal soldering iron is the main factor considered in selection

Looks like you got a good chance

[gnasher729]

Originally Posted by arn

It's a hard analysis. Job listings are very speculative as Apple usually doesn't want to show too much of their hand. All Job listings, however, don't mean that products aren't coming out forever.

I remember a ton of iPhone job listings appeared after Apple first announced the iPhone. While there was still a long lead time before the iPhone became available, obviously, Apple had been working on it for some time up until then.

The Cortex is an obvious processor for Apple to be interested in. The Pre will use it. I will be surprised if it's not used soon.

Just hypothetically: Say Apple thinks about using Neon technology, they know what it will cost, but they do not know how much performance it will bring in real life. They can easily hire someone today, give him the task to get maximum speed-up with Neon technology, and in twelve months time they check the results and either switch to a new processor or not. That would cost them less than 0.001% of their cash in order to make an educated decision instead of guessing.

[jellomizer]

Originally Posted by liambresnahan

surely this would all point to a release of new hardware later than the summer? Or have I missed something?

Well Yes...
1. They are looking for a position they haven't filled it yet. So any one who is applying now still hasn't started working yet.

2. In a slow economy people who are hiring will tend to hire people who are over qualified vs. under qualified. So they may not be doing work on that platform for an other year. However they can get them on staff learn about the product details work on a couple current models then when they are ready for the new chip they can use these people in that position.

3. It may not be directly an iPhone project yet. Lets get OS X optimized for these chips work out the bugs. Then when the chips reach the right price point or power usage or whatever then we can start making the iPhone for it.

4. Perhaps it is for some R&D project. Ill just say a multi-touch keyboard. That uses such a chip to keep the processing load off the main CPU.

5. Upgrade to the POS (Point of Sale) systems at the apple store.

6. Even they were to start today, they need to climatize themselves to Apple culture, and work flow. This in it self could take a couple months.

[sterlingindigo]

Looks like I'll be upgrading again this Summer. Hope that cheaper rate plan applies to me. Anyone remember the 1st Gen. early adopters $100 rebate? That was cool.

[lazyrighteye]

This job posting has nothing to do with a position that effects the iPhone shipping this summer. That device is a done deal - already in production (if they do intent to hit WWDC or shortly thereafter).

If anything, I think it simply indicate Apple's fairly obvious path with their mobile OS and associated devices. But again, nothing to do with this summer's device.

[celtikmind]

iPhone... i Think i Yawn.

[Constable Odo]

It's hard to believe that just a few years back that cellphone were basically used to make telephone calls. I know the smartphone has been around a fairly long time, but using it to watch videos, browsing the internet and using it as a GPS unit is relatively new. Apple seems to be trying to turn the iPhone/iPod Touch mobile platform into something that hasn't been defined yet. Almost any day now, I'm scared of possibly hearing that Apple may discontinue it's desktop computer line for some new pocketable mobile device.

I like desktop computers but it seems the world is in some sort of frenzy over computers you can carry around and that's why this netbook craze is in full swing. Maybe Apple can make more money if they corner the market on pocket computers. My Apple desktops always lasted at least four years, but maybe these pocketable devices will have a lifespan of only two years, so Apple can get more product turnover.

I think Apple is still missing the biggest piece of the pie by ignoring the enterprise. Instead of merely looking for more powerful processors, they need to be building some tools to manage tens of thousands of iPhones from a centralized location and put RIM and the BlackBerry out of the picture. What's the video processing going to be used for anyway? Games or looking at HD movies on that smallish iPhone screen? Maybe they're scaling up for that tablet device.

[celtikmind]

Originally Posted by Constable Odo

It's hard to believe that just a few years back that cellphone were basically used to make telephone calls. I know the smartphone has been around a fairly long time, but using it to watch videos, browsing the internet and using it as a GPS unit is relatively new. Apple seems to be trying to turn the iPhone/iPod Touch mobile platform into something that hasn't been defined yet. Almost any day now, I'm scared of possibly hearing that Apple may discontinue it's desktop computer line for some new pocketable mobile device.

I like desktop computers but it seems the world is in some sort of frenzy over computers you can carry around and that's why this netbook craze is in full swing. Maybe Apple can make more money if they corner the market on pocket computers. My Apple desktops always lasted at least four years, but maybe these pocketable devices will have a lifespan of only two years, so Apple can get more product turnover.

I think Apple is still missing the biggest piece of the pie by ignoring the enterprise. Instead of merely looking for more powerful processors, they need to be building some tools to manage tens of thousands of iPhones from a centralized location and put RIM and the BlackBerry out of the picture. What's the video processing going to be used for anyway? Games or looking at HD movies on that smallish iPhone screen? Maybe they're scaling up for that tablet device.

Then they better get their a** in gear and release something before they fall of the truck!

And with their price policy they'll have to get into enterprise applications. No normal consumer can afford their prices with two year turnaround without being an enthusiast or fanatic.

[Seahawk Fan]

Originally Posted by celtikmind

Then they better get their a** in gear and release something before they fall of the truck!

And with their price policy they'll have to get into enterprise applications. No normal consumer can afford their prices with two year turnaround without being an enthusiast or fanatic.

In the cell phone arena they are right at the right price point with other Smart Phones. What is the point you are trying to make?

This isn't a Mac forum posting room it's for discussing processing power in the iPhone and other Smart Phone devices.

[cvaldes]

Originally Posted by liambresnahan

surely this would all point to a release of new hardware later than the summer?

Not necessarily.

There are probably several engineers with similar qualifications already on the team and they are looking to ramp up staffing to provide additional resources to exploit more of this functionality. As the iPhone acquires new features, it may require new engineering talent to handle previously unavailable technologies.

Thus it is possible that we could see limited optimizations in the upcoming iPhone OS 3.0 release, plus additional optimizations when a later release is offered (version 3.1 perhaps).

The job listing doesn't indicate what will be in the iPhone 3.0 release, just an inkling of what might be available in the future. In the same way, the acquisition of P.A. Semi was not predictor of when we could expect those technologies to emerge in Apple products.

[Cleve]

That could also mean that a Video camera iPod is on the way
http://blogs.computerworld.com/ipod_...a_in_the_works

[twoodcc]

sounds good to me. can't wait for wwdc

[i.mac]

New hire are meant to take on work already started so that the experts and seasoned engineers can move on to advance projects (i. e. iPhone 2010+)

The work for the next iPhone is already done by now, and new hires will get trained on the maintenance of this product (new iPhone)

[ventro]

Does anyone think the new iPhone will be able to shoot video in HD? This is the only way I see them making a big deal out of it...

[gt1948]

Since they are just posting these new job listing for the iPhone, does that mean that a new iPhone for the June shindig is off? Hope not....