The A5 in the iPad 2 is significantly larger than the current A4 in the iPhone 4 (10.1 x 12.1 millimeter versus 7.3 x 7.3 millimeter - soure: http://9to5mac.com/2011/03/15/the-a...e-size-of-a4-fabbed-on-samsungs-45nm-process/)
ARM announced 32nm Cortex-A9 Processor Optimizations in November 2010 with functional test silicon existing at the time of the announcement (source: http://www.arm.com/about/newsroom/arm-announces-32nm-cortex-a9-processor-optimizations.php)
The next generation iPhone is at least 3 months later than the previous release cycle of announcement at June WWDC with first availabilty shortly afterwards (source: look around you!).
One possible explanation that would fit the above three facts is that Apple needed to redo the A5 on a smaller geometry to get the size (and probably also power consumption and heat output) down so as to get it into the next phone form factor, especially if the rumours of a much thinner design are true. Does anyone else think that this is a possibility? Since Apple would have presumeably needed to make alternative fab arrangements is it possible that, if this was happening, that nothing would have leaked?
- Julian
ARM announced 32nm Cortex-A9 Processor Optimizations in November 2010 with functional test silicon existing at the time of the announcement (source: http://www.arm.com/about/newsroom/arm-announces-32nm-cortex-a9-processor-optimizations.php)
The next generation iPhone is at least 3 months later than the previous release cycle of announcement at June WWDC with first availabilty shortly afterwards (source: look around you!).
One possible explanation that would fit the above three facts is that Apple needed to redo the A5 on a smaller geometry to get the size (and probably also power consumption and heat output) down so as to get it into the next phone form factor, especially if the rumours of a much thinner design are true. Does anyone else think that this is a possibility? Since Apple would have presumeably needed to make alternative fab arrangements is it possible that, if this was happening, that nothing would have leaked?
- Julian