Apple Hires Key Chip Designer from Samsung

[KnightWRX]

Got it!

Heck, you have to also ignore how Apple basically "stole" Visual Voice Mail from Klausner, tried to claim it as their own only to have to license out the patents in the end. Then how they "stole" the very iPhone trademark from Cisco. At least they had the decency to ask before using iOS the 2nd time they basically wanted a Cisco trademark.

Then there's the whole hopla about the iPod's user interface. That little company known as Creative Labs sure had a ball cashing Apple's check on that one after having to drag them to court over it.

Then there's the matter of Apple using FRAND patented technologies from major players that basically brought us Cellular networks without paying for them, and then having the gal to tell those players that their terms aren't "fair" as the reason why they don't pay up (Nokia sure was happy walking into the bank with that check though...).

Every. Player. Is. Guilty. Sorry guys, if you're going to boycott anyone in this industry over IP related infringement, you're not ever going to buy a single product again. They are all guilty. There's way too much IP protection out there to not be when making a device.

As for Samsung's advertising, if you really are offended by an ad that laughs at people standing in line for a damn phone, then sorry, you need to fix that insecurity. I laugh at people who line up for hours for a phone too. I still own an iPhone, a 5 no less, and had my 4S last year too.

 

[Technarchy]

Talent comes and goes all the time in these companies.

No biggie. Samsung has the bucks to hire new talent if they need to.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Soon the MBP, MBA and iMac will be sporting AMD like processors. And kiss the Mac Pro goodbye. But at least Apple will be getting rid of Samsung, and that is what is truly important to the consumer.

 

[Rocketman]

former AMD chip designer and executive Jim Mergard has now moved to Apple after a brief stint at Samsung

Apple's ARM-based chips are key components that are currently manufactured by Samsung.

This is the take-away for me. They hired someone compatible with their supplier's system, and an advocate, at AMD, of the very minimalist theory they are married to.

I hope he gets to still live in Austin. It's nice in a very different way than Cupertino or Palo Alto.

Besides the spaceship has not yet landed.

Rocketman

 

[Oracle1729]

Because Samsung knows more about Apple than anybody else

Including Timmy.

 

[tdtran1025]

The latest apple's own iteration A6 proves they can manage CPU design. I agree with someone here in the forum Apple may want tighter integration between CPU and GPU to maximize power efficiency.

 

[Saladinos]

I don't think Apple will move off Intel until Windows becomes less relevant.

Apple is with Intel for Intel. Windows doesn't come in to it.

Maybe one day laptops will run on little ARM-based SoCs, but it isn't happening any time soon. There are other things to consider - like graphics and controllers for stuff like thunderbolt (which Apple currently sources from... Intel!). Those things all need to be built in to the same packaged chip with a SoC. That's why Apple use graphics from guys like Imagination who license their IP cores out as opposed to guys like NVidia who keep all their IP close to their chest and sell you finished chips. If you're ditching Intel, you're going to need to implement your own controllers for all this stuff.

SoCs don't have standardised plug-n-play architectures like typical mainstream computers. It's a total computer architecture on a chip. What Apple can do now suffices for the iPhone, but there's a big gap between that and the functionality found on something like a MacBook Pro or iMac.

Technology can surprise you, but for the next 5-7 years SoCs aren't going to be worth the transition. Whether it will ever be worth it is another question.

 

[Bubba Satori]

"The gadget maker..."

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Soon the MBP, MBA and iMac will be sporting AMD like processors. And kiss the Mac Pro goodbye. But at least Apple will be getting rid of Samsung, and that is what is truly important to the consumer.

How long have you been a spokesperson for all consumers?
Is it an elected position or did you appoint yourself?

 

[Rogifan]

Soon the MBP, MBA and iMac will be sporting AMD like processors. And kiss the Mac Pro goodbye. But at least Apple will be getting rid of Samsung, and that is what is truly important to the consumer.

Ok this is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a while.

 

[Slix]

Question:
What do the following all have in common?

- iBook/MacBook
- All Apple mice (the Mighty Mouse sucked btw, the scroll ball constantly needed cleaning)
- Apple Studio Displays (see through)
- iMac G3, most of the G4, and G5

Answer:
All consisted of plastic

I don't care if you don't like Samsung, but if you're going to call them out having a plastic POS, then let's be fair about it.



The iPad mini is nothing more than a rumor...although likely IMO. We don't even know the specs of it, yet you say to "get an iPad mini." You sound like a...dare I say...an fanyboy.

The difference with most of those products you listed is that they will not be often dropped or shoved in a pocket with other things in it.

I'm glad Apple is hiring some key people that can be a major asset to them, definitely if it means faster and maybe cheaper iPhones in the future.

 

[cotak]

Have a feeling this is another move towards Apple ditching Intel and becoming almost 100% vertically integrated. Slightly worrying for those that remember the days of ADB & AIM. For all their superiority & simplicity Apple just couldn’t keep up with its fingers in so many pies.

After Apple Maps I wouldn't be so quick to cheer on vertical integration.

There are times when doing something yourself is good and other times when it's just a waste of effort.

Apple in the past were so obsessed with proprietary solutions that it made them uncompetitive due to all the weight they had to carry themselves.

 

[iphoneclassic]

Not sure how hot is the chip designers skill set are with market consolidation. AMD is barely surviving most because of graphic processors. Intel is the only one producing in large scale but future is not that rosy in Post-PC era. IBM is a high-end very small scale player. Mobile device chips are in $25-$50 range so there is not much profit.

Samsung's profit will not impact even if Apple cancels all contracts. These are basically ultra high volume deals for show off. No supplier is going to make Billions profit on these contracts. Samsung can use that production capacity for their retail products and make more profit.

On the flip side Apple has to depend on small suppliers and may end up having supply chain issues. Or they have to recycle components from old iPhones.

 

[skunnykart]

Soon the MBP, MBA and iMac will be sporting AMD like processors. And kiss the Mac Pro goodbye. But at least Apple will be getting rid of Samsung, and that is what is truly important to the consumer.

It will take years and years (not soon) for Apple to replace intel chips with an in house designed alternative. Mind you, the A6 in the iPhone 5 is a great piece of engineering work but it wasn't built and designed from scratch. May may have been successful at bringing out an enhanced ARM based SOC but that does NOT mean that with this single new ex-AMD/Samsung employee Apple will soon be designing a new CPU for their line of laptops and desktops.

And do you really think by hiring one guy, that Apple will be getting rid of Samsung as a business partner? You make it sound as if it was because of this guy being at Samsung that Apple did any business with Samsung and that now that he is moving into Apple, Samsung is now some how doomed and there is no reason to do business with them. Mate, Samsung never designed Apple's SOC's, Samsung was always just the factory that made the chips according to Apple's instructions.

 

[wikus]

Heck, you have to also ignore how Apple basically "stole" Visual Voice Mail from Klausner, tried to claim it as their own only to have to license out the patents in the end. Then how they "stole" the very iPhone trademark from Cisco. At least they had the decency to ask before using iOS the 2nd time they basically wanted a Cisco trademark.

Then there's the whole hopla about the iPod's user interface. That little company known as Creative Labs sure had a ball cashing Apple's check on that one after having to drag them to court over it.

Then there's the matter of Apple using FRAND patented technologies from major players that basically brought us Cellular networks without paying for them, and then having the gal to tell those players that their terms aren't "fair" as the reason why they don't pay up (Nokia sure was happy walking into the bank with that check though...).

Every. Player. Is. Guilty. Sorry guys, if you're going to boycott anyone in this industry over IP related infringement, you're not ever going to buy a single product again. They are all guilty. There's way too much IP protection out there to not be when making a device.

As for Samsung's advertising, if you really are offended by an ad that laughs at people standing in line for a damn phone, then sorry, you need to fix that insecurity. I laugh at people who line up for hours for a phone too. I still own an iPhone, a 5 no less, and had my 4S last year too.

You forgot the most important bit:

Apple's deal with Samsung to get dibs on NAND memory during the iPod days which basically secured Apple a lot of NAND chips at such a low cost that made it basically impossible for other MP3 player manufacturers to compete; Cowon, Creative, iRiver etc.

Not a lot of people in this forum are willing to admit Apple's theft or unethical practices because the fanboyism is a borderline health risk.

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Soon the MBP, MBA and iMac will be sporting AMD like processors. And kiss the Mac Pro goodbye. But at least Apple will be getting rid of Samsung, and that is what is truly important to the consumer.

That is beyond ridiculous, first and foremost because we've already kissed the Mac Pro goodbye as Apple has made it very clear to us that they don't give a damn about the professional user.

Second, what does moving away from Intel having *anything* to do with Samsung?!

 

[pipa]

If you really feel that Samsung is not making a fortune off apple then you are sadly mistaking my friend. If Samsung needed more space to build more products, then they would build them. If Samsung lost the apple contract, the company would take a huge hit

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Not sure how hot is the chip designers skill set are with market consolidation. AMD is barely surviving most because of graphic processors. Intel is the only one producing in large scale but future is not that rosy in Post-PC era. IBM is a high-end very small scale player. Mobile device chips are in $25-$50 range so there is not much profit.

Samsung's profit will not impact even if Apple cancels all contracts. These are basically ultra high volume deals for show off. No supplier is going to make Billions profit on these contracts. Samsung can use that production capacity for their retail products and make more profit.

On the flip side Apple has to depend on small suppliers and may end up having supply chain issues. Or they have to recycle components from old iPhones.

^^^^^^^

 

[mjtomlin]

Samsung's profit will not impact even if Apple cancels all contracts. These are basically ultra high volume deals for show off. No supplier is going to make Billions profit on these contracts. Samsung can use that production capacity for their retail products and make more profit.

On the flip side Apple has to depend on small suppliers and may end up having supply chain issues. Or they have to recycle components from old iPhones.

Samsung has more to worry about than just Apple leaving for elsewhere; the more Samsung starts stepping on competitors toes, the higher the chance that other OEMs may start to look at other component suppliers.

There are many of other companies around that could replace Samsung. The biggest issue is making sure they can all produce the same yields. Apple has already moved most of their display manufacturing away from Samsung (I believe the iPad 3 is the only one left). Next will be their SoCs (to TSMC or even Texas Instruments) ...both of which are higher margin components.

Any customer moving away to a competitor will only hurt your business. Apple could easily partner with someone else to build the parts they need. Is there someone waiting in the wings as a customer for Samsung to make for losing Apple? Probably not.

Furthermore, Samsung already over produces and floods the market with their products. By upping manufacturing for their own products they will only stand to lose profit.

 

[lunaoso]

If you can't beat em, join em!

 

[mjtomlin]

You forgot the most important bit:

Apple's deal with Samsung to get dibs on NAND memory during the iPod days which basically secured Apple a lot of NAND chips at such a low cost that made it basically impossible for other MP3 player manufacturers to compete; Cowon, Creative, iRiver etc.

Not a lot of people in this forum are willing to admit Apple's theft or unethical practices because the fanboyism is a borderline health risk.

How is that unethical, unless you can prove that Apple was intentionally hoarding those parts? If I'm not mistaken Apple's iPod line had 70-80% of the MP3 market, why wouldn't they ACTUALLY need a majority of the NAND?

I'd also like to point out, those were just pre-payments... They didn't actually get all that memory at once. If a company needed to build more fabs to increase volume to meet future demand, then that is up to that company, not Apple. Apple had the cash, why not make deals? That's how businesses are run.

How do you think PC makers were able to under sell Apple's products? Economies of scale. If you can buy a million and your competitor can only buy a thousand, then you're going to have a competitive advantage.

There's nothing unethical about it.

Your ignorance IS a health risk.

 

[BlueParadox]

Read the article...

So...if all samsung does is copy apple, why is apple hiring design talent from samsung?

Please read the article.

 

[KdParker]

Apple is moving into the chip business.....this could be good.

 

[skunnykart]

Apple is moving into the chip business.....this could be good.

They are already in the chip business.

 

[AppleScruff1]

"The gadget maker..."

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How long have you been a spokesperson for all consumers?
Is it an elected position or did you appoint yourself?

Ok this is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a while.

Sorry, I thought the sarcasm would be obvious. But reading this forum daily for the last year or so I would honestly have to say that the majority of the posts I see here indicate that most would be ecstatic if Apple got rid of Samsung. Nothing like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

 

[Schmitty11]

Apple: You use our technology and we sue sue you. But hey, can we use your technology?

 

[macs4nw]

Including Timmy.

Ouch!

Yes. A new chip design. Samsung sues alledging use of proprietary information by former employee.

This. Sounds like a very long, very messy lawsuit.

Always good to see great talent coming to APPLE, but yes, this could be very worrisome.

....I have been looking to see if Sharp or LG offer an LED TV comparable to Samsung's, but mostly I am waiting to see if Apple announces something in this area by the Spring 2013 timeframe.

Don't hold your breath waiting for a full size APPLE television. Fully integrated set-top boxes with top-notch Gui's and SIRI would make a lot more sense. Sony's XBR tvs, though more expensive, are, if not at the top, definitely near, the very top of the current display technology ceiling. LED backlighting with local dimming is the next best thing to their TRILUMINOUS displays they had in the XBR8s, which were too expensive to appeal to anyone but the most dedicated Videophiles; $6999 for a 55" Flatscreen, anyone?
SONY's X-Reality PRO Engine produces high contrast WITH amazing picture detail, especially shadow detail. I've had the opportunity for side-by-side comparisons with Sharp, Samsung and LG. Imho, none come close.

Yea, I wanna see them put out a scratched up phone where every scratch is unique and magical and a half arsed working map solution to replace Google Maps. Their most broken Map App yet! Lets not forget having the phone force data over 3G/4G instead of an available Wifi connection since the phone knows you should use carrier data instead of free wifi. Revolutionary! For poops and gigs they bump the screen by an Innovative .5 inches!

Not happy with APPLE, are we?

 

[faroZ06]

This is like when the bad guy in a superhero movie has the good guy trapped and says something like, "You know, you and I, we're not so different ".

Image

CTM
Nice one

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So shut up already - Samsung rocks

...at making TVs, home appliances, chips, other computer parts, and gadgets that copy Apple designs. I'd seriously respect Samsung if they didn't do that last thing. Although copying Apple is certainly better than copying Microsoft, so I guess they're smart.

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Soon the MBP, MBA and iMac will be sporting AMD like processors. And kiss the Mac Pro goodbye. But at least Apple will be getting rid of Samsung, and that is what is truly important to the consumer.

Does Samsung make Xeon, i5, and i7 processors? Did I miss out on some information?

I'm not going to kiss the Mac Pro goodbye. No matter what Apple does, even if they improve the Mac Pro significantly, I am going to stick with my 2008 8-core beast Mac Pro.