Apple Hires Key Chip Designer from Samsung

[Gnomepatrol]

This guy spent most of his career at AMD and was only briefly with Samsung. The statement about the "brains of the iPhone" is hardly accurate. No doubt Samsung makes cool tech, but their ethics and practices and advertising are extremely questionable. They have been involved in more scandals (including bribery of government officials) than any of the big tech companies. I had my heart set on buying a Samsung TV because their displays are awesome. But when it came down to it, I could not bring myself to pull the trigger on the purchase after the terrible taste left in my mouth by Samsung's business practices surfaced in the Apple v Samsung trial. Samsung's anti-iPhone-user advertising does not help them in my book either since it seeks to insult me.

That whole Samsung/Apple trial showed a side of Samsung that made me think twice about supporting a company like that with my hard-earned money. Since that day at Costco & Best Buy where I struggled to spend money on a Samsung TV, 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.



I don't think Apple will move off Intel until Windows becomes less relevant. Windows 8 may really push Windows down the slippery slope of fading relevancy. Not because the technology is horrible (much of it is awesome), but the execution by Microsoft is ridiculously bad. If Windows 8 succeeds it will be in spite of Microsoft making some really lame-brain decisions. I am guessing Windows 8 will alienate most Windows users who typically upgrade because of familiarity. What Microsoft should have done:

1) Release "Windows 8" as a tablet operating system that defaulted to the Metro start screen with absolutely NO DESKTOP crutch. They should have made Office fully metro and they should have made the Metro version of IE10 support Flash & tabs, rather than requiring you to use the desktop version to get the full feature set.

2) Release "Windows 8 Pro" for the desktop PC and have it default to the standard Windows-7-like desktop that is familiar to users. However, Microsoft should have offered a "hot corner" that would slide the Metro tiles start screen in so you could run your "Windows 8" tablet apps right on your PC. Then give an option in the setting to make Metro the default start screen for advanced users.

Instead they are doing the worst of both worlds. The desktop and MS Office looks like a mess on the tablet (even with an expert like Ed Bott showing it off) and the Metro start screen is going to confuse the heck out of users who keep using Windows out of familiarity.

Apple spent years advertising windows as a retarded comedian.

Mac: Hi I'm a mac.

PC: And I'm a PC.

Mac: PC what are you doing?

PC: Eating dirt and sucking on my foot.

Mac: Oh...

 

[albusseverus]

I only hope they don't have to kill the guy if he accepts a job from Samsung, later on.

Maybe Apple will have perfected those mind-wipes, like the movie Paycheck.

Either way, doesn't look too good for newest-acquisition. Hope he's happy at Apple, for a very long time.

'Bout time Apple got real value from Samsung!

 

[TheRdungeon]

Oh... Mergard

 

[hchung]

Apple, as far as I know, never used their own processors. Back in the pre-intel days (2006?), they used Motorola/IBM PPC chipsets..

The Apple Newton MessagePad in 1993 used the ARM 610, which, according to Wikipedia, Apple had some hand in designing.

 

[MH01]

I think it's becoming clear why Apple will drop Intel from Macs. All future Apple products will run on some variation of A Chips.

So that is the reason the mac pros are delayed..... Who would have thought eh.

 

[Hastings101]

They shouldn't let children under the age of 6 to post on this site.

They shouldn't they allow grumpy people to post either

 

[iChrist]

NICE.

So the Wall Street Journal refers to Apple as "the gadget maker".

Sad but true. Piece together other people's parts to make little gadgets.

...

 

[MH01]

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

Cause under all the sexy aluminium/design , Apple products have the same internals as the other companies that fanboys make fun of.

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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.

Is that cause Samsung makes the intel chips that go into the mac range??? The clue is in the "INTEL" chips.

I believe you need to explain what consumer means to you, I suspect it's angry individuals with no rationale thought process that really need to get out.... A lot more! Or about 0.000000001% of the actual consumer base. Consumers do not give a crap who made the components.

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NICE.

So the Wall Street Journal refers to Apple as "the gadget maker".

Sad but true. Piece together other people's parts to make little gadgets.

...

Apple used to be called Apple computers I'm still waiting and waiting and waiting for some mac pro love...... We used to get back in the days

 

[MacDav]

Hope this has more to do with Apple becoming self sufficient and not relying on Samsung for it's mobile processors more than it has to do with Apple getting away from using INTEL processors. I'm sure there would be many benefits to having an chip specifically designed for your needs but I think it would be a mistake to get away from INTEL. It would make switching to Apple a bigger risk for new customers not having the option to run windows natively.

No one but Apple insiders know what this means. Although I should note that Windows runs just fine on AMD chips not just on Intel chips. I'm sure this is about iOS and not OS X though. So relax, life is short.

 

[Scooz]

Great choice. I remember him playing Linda Litzke's first date. Excellent performance.

 

[MuppetGate]

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.
!

Nothing 'unethical' about it. It's just good business. Others are free to make the same deals, and it's certainly not Apple's fault they can't afford it.

I think some of the whining around here is starting to sound a little bit desperate.

 

[HurryKayne]

Apple chips.

Ok,but X86 or Arms?
Or Maybe Hybrid ones?
Then why not to buy AMD entirely?!..
Maybe because they're..gadget makers..
not yet Mac makers..anymore.
For now please Apple give us some new Imacs,
i promise ,i will buy one of you Arm Parade
next decade.

 

[nba1341]

Samsung part seems rather insignificant since he is a chip designer.

The AMD part is important. But mac rumors just hates on samsung all the time

 

[Lancer]

Does it bother anyone else that Apple is frequently referred to as a maker of "gadgets" instead of as a technology/computer company? To my mind, it's a bit of a dig at Apple's products as mere toys/gadgets rather than the sparks that ignited the entire mobile/post-PC computing era.

It also makes me a bit depressed, as the press doesn't seem to remember that Apple even builds Macs any more.

(Sometimes I wonder whether Apple itself remembers that.)

/nostalgia

I agree.

Sometimes I wonder if Apple remembers it makes computers... still waiting for a new iMac

 

[vmachiel]

O snap, **** just got real

 

[KnightWRX]

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

Apple moved into the chip business long ago with their PA-Semi acquisition. Remember the A4 ?

Why is this even seen as "a new direction" for Apple by some ? Are you guys that ignorant of Apple's acquisitions/past accomplishments in this segment ? Is your memory that short ?

 

[Fishticks]

Well done.

Good for us if he can help Apple reach Samsung's standards of quality and of great features for customers.

 

[GoodWatch]

The question is, what kind of chip will he make? Potato?

Or his inside information is worth his weight in gold........... The Golden Potato Chip

 

[725032]

Wow Apple is really sucking up all the left overs... Samsung must be loving it!

 

[Jimeny]

He's an AMD guy - - he was only briefly poached by Samsung.

I was just going to post the same thing. The media always looks for an opportunity to put down America's golden boy.

The golden boy that is propped up by young, sweaty asian boys..

 

[macandiPhone]

New chip designer hired!!!

Coool. Now Apple will be taking tips from Samsung's hardware...Haaaa!!!

 

[bobob]

The golden boy that is propped up by young, sweaty asian boys..

I wouldn't have chosen that allusion (not that there's anything wrong with that!), but it is not just true about Apple, but of almost the entire American manufacturing economy.

 

[ChrisTX]

Yes he is seriously saying that. The SGIII is plastic piece of crap. It stutters, which is unforgivable at this point! The screen sucks, and so does the camera. If you put up an SGIII against an iPhone 4S, the 4S is a way better experience. And I don't care what it scores on GeekBench.

The Note 2? Puleeze. Get an iPad mini.

Interesting, never seen an S III stutter. Certainly not with my own personal experience. Screen is fairly decent(PenTile Matrix is hardly noticeable), and the camera is fairly high quality, but nice try. The 4S is top notch but it boils down to personal preference.

 

[iphoneclassic]

Samsung has more to worry about than just Apple leaving for elsewhere.

Apples business for Samsung is 1.5%-5%. Not much.

There are many of other companies around that could replace Samsung.

There are not many players in chip fabrication. Even if they are there is very little rare earth material outside China. And China doesn't export this material. If you follow news, US Govt filed a complaint with WTO on this subject over China.

Hynix is a small player. Keep in mind all are Korean/Asian players. Apple can pit one against another only so much, before regional affinity comes in to picture.

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.

Any one in Sales field will tell you some times it is better to let a customer go, particularly notorious ones. I said in my previous post, most of these ultra high volume contracts are for publicity.

 

[KdParker]

Apple moved into the chip business long ago with their PA-Semi acquisition. Remember the A4 ?

Why is this even seen as "a new direction" for Apple by some ? Are you guys that ignorant of Apple's acquisitions/past accomplishments in this segment ? Is your memory that short ?

Yep. Brain fart

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Apples business for Samsung is 1.5%-5%. Not much.



There are not many players in chip fabrication. Even if they are there is very little rare earth material outside China. And China doesn't export this material. If you follow news, US Govt filed a complaint with WTO on this subject over China.

Hynix is a small player. Keep in mind all are Korean/Asian players. Apple can pit one against another only so much, before regional affinity comes in to picture.


Any one in Sales field will tell you some times it is better to let a customer go, particularly notorious ones. I said in my previous post, most of these ultra high volume contracts are for publicity.

What rare earth material?