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Alongside the new A7 main chip unveiled in the iPhone 5s this week, Apple also featured a new "M7" motion coprocessor designed to capture motion data to support new features such as health and fitness applications. As Apple notes on its feature page, the chip can also enhance mapping and location functions, helping the iPhone 5s sense and interpret movement.
The new M7 coprocessor is like a sidekick to the A7 chip. It's designed specifically to measure motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass -- a task that would normally fall to the A7 chip. But M7 is much more efficient at it. Now fitness apps that track physical activity can access that data from the M7 coprocessor without constantly engaging the A7 chip. So they require less battery power.

M7 knows when you're walking, running, or even driving. For example, Maps switches from driving to walking turn-by-turn navigation if, say, you park and continue on foot. Since M7 can tell when you're in a moving vehicle, iPhone 5s won't ask you to join Wi-Fi networks you pass by. And if your phone hasn't moved for a while, like when you're asleep, M7 reduces network pinging to spare your battery.
nike_iphone_5s_m7.jpg
But beyond those mapping and navigation features, Apple is also working on tapping into the power of the M7 to add additional enhancements in future software updates, according to a report from 9to5Mac. Those improvements include the ability to help find a parked car as well as new features for public transit navigation and indoor mapping.
Sources say that Apple is testing a tool for its Maps app that, with the M7 chip, could analyze when your car is parked. When you park your car, the iPhone will register the car's location. Now when you return to the parking lot, your iPhone will be able to help you assist with finding your car since it knows the vehicle's location.

Besides the car-finding feature, Apple is also working on other mapping features. Apple is said to be planning notable updates to its Maps app in iOS 8, and the company is currently working on implementing both public transit directions and indoor mapping features (which Google already has on iOS).
These potential additions should be no surprise of course, as Apple has revealed its interest in such features through recent acquisitions of several smaller companies. In particular, Apple has acquired public transit app firms HopStop and Embark and indoor mapping firm WifiSLAM within just the past six months.

The iPhone 5s with Apple's new M7 chip launches on Friday, September 20.

Article Link: Apple Working to Leverage New 'M7' Motion-Sensing Chip for Mapping Improvements
 

Lordskelic

macrumors regular
Nov 3, 2010
115
0
Texas
Yay! More opportunities for Apple to collect data about us.

EDIT: This thread is pretty much dead now, but I meant this as a joke.
 
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TheKrs1

macrumors 6502
Apr 11, 2010
357
128
Yay! More opportunities for Apple to collect data about us.

True. But it's still part of why I'm in the Apple ecosysytem and not Android. Yes, they both collect information about us. (I would bet Google collects the most). Apple uses that information to give us a better experience. Google will also provide you key information to improve your experience, but they are also heavily leveraging that info for advertisments etc.
 

Mac'nCheese

Suspended
Feb 9, 2010
3,752
5,108
Like the part about not joining wi-fi networks when you drive by. That happens on my iphone a lot when driving home. I'll stop at a light and try to do something real quick and my phone has joined a really weak network (optimum usually, they cover most of my ride home but poorly...) and it takes longer to do then if I just used my cell data.
 

iVirusYx

macrumors member
Nov 16, 2009
31
12
I wonder why they don't use this a marketing strategy? Instead they use this 'Touch ID'. WOW...

For me this M7 chip is the innovation within the 5S, not the chip itself but the idea of how you can use it. Seriously, WTF Apple!?
 

glynhughes

macrumors member
Nov 12, 2008
52
0
Sounds like they're fiddling while Rome burns. Unless of course this 'M7 motion chip' has legs and goes out and about seeing what roads/shops/services exist and noting exactly where they are. That's the only way to enhance mapping.
 

joneill55

macrumors 6502
Sep 11, 2007
399
85
Better user experiences is the driving force behind Apple designs and why I am firmly entrenched in their ecosystem. Some are more successful than other at times, but their relentless pursuit of perfection and commitment to refinement of the user experience are notable and appreciated by this shareholder/customer.
 

crackbookpro

macrumors 65816
Feb 25, 2009
1,096
0
Om nom nom nom
There will be more use for this at first glance... as well as that thumb scanner thingyyyy!!!

(Now you will be getting speeding tickets via your iPhone... :eek: )
 

gmanist1000

macrumors 68030
Sep 22, 2009
2,832
824
I wonder why they don't use this a marketing strategy? Instead they use this 'Touch ID'. WOW...

For me this M7 chip is the innovation within the 5S, not the chip itself but the idea of how you can use it. Seriously, WTF Apple!?

They are:

Screen Shot 2013-09-12 at 10.07.46 AM.png
 

ValSalva

macrumors 68040
Jun 26, 2009
3,783
259
Burpelson AFB
Like the part about not joining wi-fi networks when you drive by. That happens on my iphone a lot when driving home. I'll stop at a light and try to do something real quick and my phone has joined a really weak network (optimum usually, they cover most of my ride home but poorly...) and it takes longer to do then if I just used my cell data.

Agreed, just fixing this joining of nearest available Wifi networks when driving or walking would be a much welcomed improvement. Now I just turn off Wifi if I'm on the go. It would be nice to have the phone have this sort of intelligence.
 

BC2009

macrumors 68020
Jul 1, 2009
2,236
1,371
I wonder why they don't use this a marketing strategy? Instead they use this 'Touch ID'. WOW...

For me this M7 chip is the innovation within the 5S, not the chip itself but the idea of how you can use it. Seriously, WTF Apple!?

You're seriously missing the power of Touch ID that is going to be unlocked as soon as iCloud Keychain comes to iOS 7 (maybe with the Mavericks launch). Imagine going to any website that requires a password and tapping a button to auto-fill the password and just having to touch the fingerprint sensor to access your keychain. You could even log into third-party apps if they open up the API for an app to retrieve its specific credentials -- they just need to ensure that one app cannot impersonate another.

Touch ID is going to be indispensable in mobile phone usage. It will bring the power of 1Password to a smartphone with one-touch unlock. You will also see Touch ID on iPads and on MacBooks and possibly on Apple's stand-alone trackpad -- though there are some security issues with transmitting the fingerprint over wireless from the trackpad.

M7 is cool too, but Touch ID marketing is heavily muted right now because Apple is obviously making sure they can properly secure user passwords from the likes of the NSA in the wake of recent news (hence the delayed launch of iCloud Keychain).
 

kas23

macrumors 603
Oct 28, 2007
5,629
288
These are cool ideas and all, but if Apple was gong to implement them, why wait until now? None of these "new" functions are specific to the M7 chip, the M7 chip only relieves battery life (or strain on the processor).
 

Rogifan

macrumors Penryn
Nov 14, 2011
24,084
31,015
Wow Apple this is all you've got? Where is the innovation? It would be here if Steve was still alive. /s
 

truettray

macrumors 6502
Sep 7, 2012
386
268
USA
That's actually really cool! I love the cleverness of reducing pinging when sleeping. Usually my phone is charging when I sleep, but for times when I just leave my phone on my desk for a few hours, that could be pretty nice!
 

illegalprelude

macrumors 68000
Mar 10, 2005
1,583
120
Los Angeles, California
These are cool ideas and all, but if Apple was gong to implement them, why wait until now? None of these "new" functions are specific to the M7 chip, the M7 chip only relieves battery life (or strain on the processor).

I imagine it has to do with reliability. With the M7, the iPhone has a much better sense of what you're doing versus before where it had to track your movement based on GPS only.
 

taptic

macrumors 65816
Dec 5, 2012
1,341
437
California
I can see this coming into play with the Find My iPhone feature. Remember the article about it being refined to being able to find it's location down to the room in a building...?

----------

Wow Apple this is all you've got? Where is the innovation? It would be here if Steve was still alive. /s

Innovation at Apple didn't start or end with Steve Jobs.
 

TheKrs1

macrumors 6502
Apr 11, 2010
357
128
You're seriously missing the power of Touch ID that is going to be unlocked as soon as iCloud Keychain comes to iOS 7 (maybe with the Mavericks launch). Imagine going to any website that requires a password and tapping a button to auto-fill the password and just having to touch the fingerprint sensor to access your keychain. You could even log into third-party apps if they open up the API for an app to retrieve its specific credentials -- they just need to ensure that one app cannot impersonate another.

Touch ID is going to be indispensable in mobile phone usage. It will bring the power of 1Password to a smartphone with one-touch unlock. You will also see Touch ID on iPads and on MacBooks and possibly on Apple's stand-alone trackpad -- though there are some security issues with transmitting the fingerprint over wireless from the trackpad.

M7 is cool too, but Touch ID marketing is heavily muted right now because Apple is obviously making sure they can properly secure user passwords from the likes of the NSA in the wake of recent news (hence the delayed launch of iCloud Keychain).

Agree! With iCloud Keychain, I can migrate all my passwords to a truely secure level. All of that, without having to memorize what the passes are. When I need them, just scan my print! Perfect!
 

netvvork

macrumors newbie
Jan 12, 2011
25
0
weak wifi signal

Agreed, just fixing this joining of nearest available Wifi networks when driving or walking would be a much welcomed improvement. Now I just turn off Wifi if I'm on the go. It would be nice to have the phone have this sort of intelligence.

oh god i hate this about my iphone. as i leave the house and i get in my car i start up maps, tunein radio, or whatever for my drive and my phone is hanging on for dear life to that weak dot of a wifi signal. how is it that they are not smarter about this? i have to turn off wifi for it to work. i even asked at the genius bar about it and they said there is no streamlined solution. i mean its gotta drive frigging fedderichi (or whatever) nuts as well. right? he walks in to work one day "guys, we have to fix this ********".
 
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