Apple's Acquisition of Chip Design Firm Intrinsity Confirmed

[MacRumors]

The New York Times confirms that Apple has acquired Intrinsity, an Austin, Texas company that has played an integral role in speeding up ARM-based chip designs such as those used in Apple's iPhone OS devices. Speculation that Apple had purchased Intrinsity arose early this month, and MacRumors discovered evidence on professional networking site LinkedIn that seemed to confirm that a number of Intrinsity employees had transitioned to Apple.

Apple has finalized a deal to acquire a small chip company called Intrinsity, Apple confirmed. Intrinsity, of Austin, Tex., made a name for itself by creating a fast chip for mobile devices in cooperation with Samsung, both a partner and competitor to Apple.

Many experts in the chip industry have speculated that Apple relied on Intrinsity’s chip as the basis for the main engine behind its new iPad.

As usual, an Apple spokesperson declined to comment further on the acquisition, acknowledging only that it occasionally purchases smaller companies and as a policy does not comment on plans for them.

Article Link: Apple's Acquisition of Chip Design Firm Intrinsity Confirmed

 

[theheadguy]

I wonder how long it takes from the acquisition of these companies until their operations are fully in line with whatever Apple's vision is. I'm really more interested in the recent purchase of Lala.com and what that means, if anything, to the future of streaming media for Apple.

 

[iPhysicist]

That is why they do not buy ARM. There is no need in creating a whole platform when you can enhance a well functioning chip design to a superior one at lower costs.

 

[ouimetnick]

Good. Maybe an A3 chip for iPhone.

 

[kernkraft]

I'm for sale too (gimme a 13" anti-glare first)

Apple Inc should really buy the Vatican.

 

[Chaszmyr]

That is why they do not buy ARM. There is no need in creating a whole platform when you can enhance a well functioning chip design to a superior one at lower costs.

As many have reported, if Apple were to buy ARM, it probably would be to gain a competitive advantage over companies currently licensing ARM designs, rather than to specifically design an entirely new chip.

 

[Jaro65]

Good. Maybe an A3 chip for iPhone.

How about an A5? Or maybe even an A6 (Quattro)?

 

[hundleton1]

How about an A5? Or maybe even an A6 (Quattro)?

I look forward to the upcoming iPhone 3GS Quatro

 

[carmenodie]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Snnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap!

 

[cmaier]

Good. Maybe this will put a stop to EVSX/Intrinsity running around to every microprocessor company claiming they are infringing Intrinsity patents.

 

[jayducharme]

Good. Maybe this will put a stop to EVSX/Intrinsity running around to every microprocessor company claiming they are infringing Intrinsity patents.

Yeah. Instead they'll be infringing on Apple patents.

This could get really interesting. The potential of the acquisition is enormous, with Apple no longer at the mercy of another chip maker. They could gain a tremendous advantage with chip systems that are the envy of every other manufacturer. It might take a few years before we see the fruits of the acquisition, but it should be pretty awesome.

 

[MorphingDragon]

Apple is eventually going to be everything but a personal computer company.

 

[nuckinfutz]

Apple Inc should really buy the Vatican.

iCatholic?

Glad this is finally confirmed. Good buy for Apple. They get to integrate the IP and talent from PA Semi and now Intrinsity to propel future designs. It's going to get REALLY interesting from now on out.

 

[cmaier]

Yeah. Instead they'll be infringing on Apple patents.

This could get really interesting. The potential of the acquisition is enormous, with Apple no longer at the mercy of another chip maker. They could gain a tremendous advantage with chip systems that are the envy of every other manufacturer. It might take a few years before we see the fruits of the acquisition, but it should be pretty awesome.

Intrinsity is not that interesting a company, actually. Apple's individual hirings in the valley are much more interesting.

 

[danpass]

Probably securing their supply.

 

[*LTD*]

Even more confirmation that Apple is ready to go it on their own, in control of their own destiny. You seeing any of this, Intel?

 

[nuckinfutz]

Intrinsity is not that interesting a company, actually. Apple's individual hirings in the valley are much more interesting.

+1

Apple has a sneaky way of accumulating talent. Well sneaky isn't the word but they certainly keep their cards close to the vest. Any names you can throw our way about interesting new hires or at the least job area?

I noticed that Jon Callas of PGP encryption fame just joined again. I guess security will be a strong focus of 10.7, webkit and more (as it should be)

 

[Scooterman1]

More Money...

 

[cmaier]

+1

Apple has a sneaky way of accumulating talent. Well sneaky isn't the word but they certainly keep their cards close to the vest. Any names you can throw our way about interesting new hires or at the least job area?

I noticed that Jon Callas of PGP encryption fame just joined again. I guess security will be a strong focus of 10.7, webkit and more (as it should be)

They've hired folks I know. Rather not give names since they may or may not be permitted to admit they work there. Good guys, though. Lots of high-end microprocessor design experience.

Intrinisity presumably will stay in Austin. Wonder if they'll see-saw designs between the two sites like we did at Exponential and AMD.

 

[nuckinfutz]

They've hired folks I know. Rather not give names since they may or may not be permitted to admit they work there. Good guys, though. Lots of high-end microprocessor design experience.

Intrinisity presumably will stay in Austin. Wonder if they'll see-saw designs between the two sites like we did at Exponential and AMD.

I wonder if the teams have certain specialties for example the PA Semi guys could be masters at delivering low power processors while the Intrinsity guys are good at squeezing out maximum performance.

Perhaps the two companies are somewhat symbiotic.

</wild ass guess>

 

[cmaier]

I wonder if the teams have certain specialties for example the PA Semi guys could be masters at delivering low power processors while the Intrinsity guys are good at squeezing out maximum performance.

Perhaps the two companies are somewhat symbiotic.

</wild ass guess>

I don't detect that. At least in Sunnyvale, those guys are a mix of low-power guys from PA Semi, and high performance guys hired from various other places. Intrinsity is more of a low performance kind of company (1 GHz is high for ARM, but slow compared to the AMD's, Intel's, etc. of the world).

 

[Frisco]

Maybe AOL should buy ARM?

 

[gmfeier]

Apple is eventually going to be everything but a personal computer company.

They already are. Remember when the name changed from "Apple Computer" to "Apple" in January of 2007? That's when I realized that the personal computer was on its way out. There will still be more and better Macs, of course, but it's not Apple's focus any more.

 

[nuckinfutz]

They already are. Remember when the name changed from "Apple Computer" to "Apple" in January of 2007? That's when I realized that the personal computer was on its way out. There will still be more and better Macs, of course, but it's not Apple's focus any more.

Nor should it be. The mobile platform will eventually outstrip the potential of Desktop OS IMO.

Don't get me wrong. Apple will still invest in the Mac platform but the future is in mobility.

 

[lifeinhd]

Why does Apple even have spokespeople if they never comment anyways?