Evidence of Quad-Core Chips Shows Up in iOS 5.1 Betas

[Taz Mangus]

I don't understand the need for multiple cores on the iPhone because it doesn't even have true multitasking.

This again. iOS 5 has full multi-tasking capabaility. The Apple API allows for multiple levels of multi-tasking capability ranging for sleeping a task in the background to fully running in the background. It is up to the developer to decide what level they want to use. All this was because of how running tasks in the background will reduce battery life.

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What about the heat problem? I'm not saying it's just an issue for Apple, but "we" can't keep making devices more and more powerful with no way to cool them.

Heat is one reason why Apple chooses to reduce the clock speed on the iPhone. Apple is probably looking at reducing power consumption on each processor interation.

 

[morespce54]

...The report notes that single-core processors such as the A4 found in the iPhone 4 and original iPad fall under a "cores/core.0" designation, while dual-core processors such as the A5 in the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 are covered by a "/cores/core.1" designation. The "/cores/core.3" reference thus suggests compatibility with a quad-core chip...

So:
core.0 = single-core
core.1 = dual-core
core.3 = quad-core


OMG, I got my maths backward!

 

[herocero]

It would be easier for people just to explain indexing of the first core starts at 0 and the 4th core is at 3.

think like a programmer. you start counting with 0.
1 core = core0
2 core or core 0+1= core1
4 core or core 0+1+2+3=core3

BFD

 

[Renzatic]

I didn't say they don't publicize any specs. I wrote that they didn't publicize many specs.

Note carefully that Apple does not tell the CPU frequency, nor how much RAM the iPhone contains. They don't mention what version ARM architecture the A5 chip has, nor the graphics subsystem name.

I can't think of many companies out there who go that indepth when advertising their tablet specs. Just look at any of the big Android tablet websites. Usually they'll have a splash with something like "NOW WITH TEGRA3 AND ULTRA FAST GRAPHICS", then has a bunch of pictures of people editing documents or playing with butterflies. Detailed specs, such as ram and CPU architecture, are kept to the specifications page. They're not much different than Apple in that regard.

Poor example, Tegra 3 is a 5 core CPU. The 5th core is a low power/speed core that handles most of the work. (basically I am saying that Tegra 3 cheats)

Damnit. Now I gotta go read up on crap to see if you're right or not.

edit: Okay, you're right. Sorta. Though I wouldn't call it cheating. I'd call it a great idea implemented smoothly.

Also, warning on that video. It's dry as hell. That guy's voice makes me think I'm watching one of those "How Beef Gets To The Supermarket" videos back in school.

 

[Tiger8]

iPad!

Ohhhhh.... i can't wait!

If indeed there are problems producing the A6 in time for iPad 3, I think apple would probably delay the iPad 3. iPad 2 is **still** killing them all so it could potentially enjoy a 1+ year run.

That said, I hope not! I am holding out for an iPad 3

 

[adildacoolset]

I don't understand the need for multiple cores on the iPhone because it doesn't even have true multitasking.

Well, if they add 1GB ram on top of this, then most likely ios 6(or even 5.1) will have true multitasking. I think they didn't add 1GB so far because its a bit expensive and power consuming. So no true multitasking, as you know Apple wants it to be done properly. So 512MB probably wasn't good enough. Now if they add 1GB, expect true multitasking somewhere along the line.

 

[Eauboy]

based on the convention they've chosen, "core.2" would imply, um, tri-core.

I see... I was thinking that it was a per-core designation.

 

[PeterQVenkman]

as far as i know, there are no tri core processors out there.

AMD has one, but is it just a quad with one core disabled?

http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/multi-core-processing/Pages/triple-core-processing.aspx

 

[mattburley7]

does this kinda prove that we wont see iOS 5.1 public release till there is new hardware?

 

[blue22]

skepticism completely understandable...

If by this time you actually believe the rumor of an iPad 4 later this year, I have an iPad 5 and and iPhone 7 I'd like to sell you.

LOL... but hey, stranger things have happened at sea

 

[apolloa]

Whilst I fully expect the next iPad to have a quad core chip. I am not so sure about the next iPhone because not a lot, if any, smartphones currently have quad core chips? I'm sure I will know more after CES as from what I've read about the Transformer Prime due to it's quad core architecture it has improved battery life over the dual core version!

I am only interested in the next iPhone so kinda hope it yes a quad core, but only as long as the battery life is better to the same. And considering the crappy home button on my iPhone 4 I am praying they make it a capacitive one too!

 

[firewood]

I don't understand the need for multiple cores on the iPhone because it doesn't even have true multitasking.

Clueless, and obviously not an iPhone user who plays music, tracks location, and downloads email in the background (etc.) while running some other app. Also obviously not an iOS developer who uses simultaneous multi-threading to maximize performance, also possibly in conjunction with other music, voip, or location apps multitasking in the background. There are plenty of iPhone apps that show the dozens of unix processes running on your device, just as it should be with a multitasking BSD-Unix-like OS kernel.

More cores makes for less wasted clock cycles and memory traffic swapping all these processes in and out of each processor core.

 

[Krazy Bill]

The next 13" Macbook's should have a quad-core processor then if the iDevices can make use of them

Careful what you wish for. A6/A7 in macbooks soon - all running a rendition of iOS. (aka iLion).

The days of OSX are numbered I fear.

 

[morespce54]

think like a programmer. you start counting with 0.
1 core = core0
2 core or core 0+1= core1
4 core or core 0+1+2+3=core3

BFD

Thanks for the explanation.
But wait... wouldn't 0+1+2+3 equal a core6 ?

 

[WeegieMac]

That's not allowed, mate. Apple kick folk off the program for that.

No they don't mate.

This was rumoured a few months back when iOS 5 was nearing release, MacRumors ran the story because Devs were complaining of being removed from the program and it was thought to be down to accepting UDID's onto their program that weren't true debugging devices. However, it was never proven to be the case and the mass removal of Developer accounts never happened.

What was thought to be happening would be that place like IMZDL would be targeted as they have numerous developer accounts, all maxed out to 100 slots, after people paid $10 or whatever to get their UDID on there, hence profiting from the account. Again, nothing was ever done though and the likes of IMZDL are still going strong.

Apple won't kick a developer off the program for adding the odd device to their account, and they don't check what each one does or look for it's purpose on the account. A developer who has five devices registered and adds another 10 from the likes of here, for example, is not going to be booted off the programme.

 

[lilo777]

Apple following Android crowd

It has been so easy to predict the specs for upcoming iOS devices lately. Apple is just following Android manufacturers:

* Android gets dual core - Apple follows
* Android gets quad core - Apple follows
* Android tablets get cameras - Apple follows
* Android phones/tablets get better hi-res cameras - Apple follows
* Android phones get bigger screens - Apple follows (expected this year)
* Android phones get NFC - Apple follows (expected this year)
* Android devices get LTE - Apple follows (expected this year)
* Android devices create market for 7" tablets - Apple follows (later this year)

To get an idea of which new features the next Apple phone/tablet will get, one can simply look at the current crop of the best Android devices. The only mystery about Apple designs left is the number and location of buttons (usually one, usually we know where).

 

[Xenomorph]

I don't understand the need for multiple cores on the iPhone because it doesn't even have true multitasking.

iOS multitasking is "true enough", and is certainly better than Android's Desktop-style "anything goes, battery be damned" multitasking.

Also, iOS has always had multiple background processes. You could start up some music in Safari and then run other applications, since Safari, Mail, and many other things could always run in the background.
The mutli-threaded nature of the OS and applications will easily take advantage of multiple cores.

Besides, testing with the current A5 show that having multiple cores doing something at the same time (and then returning back to 0% utilization) to finish a task quicker is more efficient, battery-wise, than an older, single core struggling at 100% load for an extended period.

Bring on the cores!

 

[damir00]

A6 might be a bit soon, but knowing Apple's historical penchant for top-to-bottom control, are we going to see Airs based on A7?

 

[WeegieMac]

It has been so easy to predict the specs for upcoming iOS devices lately. Apple is just following Android manufacturers:

* Android gets dual core - Apple follows
* Android gets quad core - Apple follows
* Android tablets get cameras - Apple follows
* Android phones/tablets get better hi-res cameras - Apple follows
* Android phones get bigger screens - Apple follows (expected this year)
* Android phones get NFC - Apple follows (expected this year)
* Android devices get LTE - Apple follows (expected this year)
* Android devices create market for 7" tablets - Apple follows (later this year)

To get an idea of which new features the next Apple phone/tablet will get, one can simply look at the current crop of the best Android devices. The only mystery about Apple designs left is the number and location of buttons (usually one, usually we know where).

I'll trump all that and take you back to 2007.

Apple release iPhone, Google takes a fit, moulds Android (which at that point had looked more like a RIM knock off) into a UI that resembles iPhone. Whores Android to multiple manufacturers, who use it to create their own "version" of the iPhone.

 

[griz]

It's only a matter of time before Apple merges iOS and OSX. A Quad core CPU would certainly be helpful when that day comes.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/01/apple-patent-wa/
Seems way more plausible now that the iPad is out.

 

[MacSince1990]

common sense would tell you cores.2 should be q tri core. as far as i know, there are no tri core processors out there.

Actually there are plenty of tri-core chips out there. Generally they're quad-core chips with one core disabled, but they're sold as tri; please don't condescend whilst being ignorant.

 

[lilo777]

I'll trump all that and take you back to 2007.

Apple release iPhone, Google takes a fit, moulds Android (which at that point had looked more like a RIM knock off) into a UI that resembles iPhone. Whores Android to multiple manufacturers, who use it to create their own "version" of the iPhone.

That's weak. You do know that there were several mobile OS for smart phones before iPhone came out, right? iPhone was indeed one of the first phones with a new form factor (LG PRADA was the first one) which was made possible by the progress in the development of capacitive screens but this generally has very little to do with Apple. They just happened to enter this space when the technology was changing. They did not invent capacitive screens or multitouch (the fact that they just paid to Elan for infringing multitouch patents clearly indicates just that).

 

[ThatsMeRight]

It has been so easy to predict the specs for upcoming iOS devices lately. Apple is just following Android manufacturers:

* Android gets dual core - Apple follows
* Android gets quad core - Apple follows There are no quad-core processors just yet
* Android tablets get cameras - Apple follows
* Android phones/tablets get better hi-res cameras - Apple follows There are no higher resolution cameras on the iPad just yet
* Android phones get bigger screens - Apple follows (expected this year) Expected? So it isn't here yet...
* Android phones get NFC - Apple follows (expected this year) Expected? So it isn't here yet...
* Android devices get LTE - Apple follows (expected this year) Expected? So it isn't here yet...
* Android devices create market for 7" tablets - Apple follows (later this year) Expected? So it isn't here yet... and as it appears right now, won't be here anytime soon!

To get an idea of which new features the next Apple phone/tablet will get, one can simply look at the current crop of the best Android devices. The only mystery about Apple designs left is the number and location of buttons (usually one, usually we know where).

You can do it the other way around. Apple creates a tablet PC. Others follow. Apple creates a Mobile OS. Google follows.

You do realize Apple can't always be first? So what if someone else has a quad core processor? Notebooks and desktops already had quad core before tablets... so you could say Android manufacturers are following the notebook-industry.

And oh, you should be ashamed of yourself. You name eight subjects Apple has 'copied', but only two of these eight are correct. The rest are pure expectations.

I really don't care if you want to talk negatively about Apple (because you clearly want to). I do care about it when you are stating things as 'facts', even when these 'facts' are just pure speculation.

 

[AWallen90]

Poor example, Tegra 3 is a 5 core CPU. The 5th core is a low power/speed core that handles most of the work. (basically I am saying that Tegra 3 cheats)


Um, the 4 and 4S are both clocked at 800Mhz, the 4S architecture is faster than the 4. Clock for clock. How is the 4S slower?

I made an assumption from what has been published about the ipad, ipad 2. My mistake.

 

[WeegieMac]

That's weak. You do know that there were several mobile OS for smart phones before iPhone came out, right? iPhone was indeed one of the first phones with a new form factor (LG PRADA was the first one) which was made possible by the progress in the development of capacitive screens but this generally has very little to do with Apple. They just happened to enter this space when the technology was changing. They did not invent capacitive screens or multitouch (the fact that they just paid to Elan for infringing multitouch patents clearly indicates just that).

Please, take your PRADA, and ram it.

I used touch screens prior to the iPhone, nothing and I mean NOTHING had an interface that good or a screen that responsive. I had a top of the line Sony Ericsson and I owned an LG, and both were horrendous. The Sony used a stylus that clipped onto the side and the LG was utterly unresponsive.

Pre-iPhone, smartphones were awful. Pre-iPhone, Android looked like a RIM knock off. That's your facts.