FCC iPad Images Reveal Broadcom Chip, Apple A4, Toshiba Flash Memory

[cmaier]

If you look in the App Store for "Pad Info" which can be viewed at http://appshopper.com/utilities/pad-info you will see the device apparently contains 4GB of RAM.

Uh, no. That was probably run on the simulator. I'm sure the author of that app didn't have an actual device.

 

[ImperialX]

No. I wouldn't say. It would only disappoint me if the thing isn't at least as fast running iPad apps as my 3GS is running iPhone apps. The amount of RAM tells me nothing about how fast it will be in my hands.

I still think that having a number will be more indictive of performance than a mere statement, and I think it's safe to say that 256MB isn't enough to give the iPad a 3GS-like performance given its much higher resolution.

If you look in the App Store for "Pad Info" which can be viewed at http://appshopper.com/utilities/pad-info you will see the device apparently contains 4GB of RAM.

Thanks. This app will at least tell me how much RAM the iPad has when I get it.

P.S. the 4GB is actually the RAM his Mac has, not the iPad.

 

[gnasher729]

Whoever made this PDF is gonna see some heat...

It's one day before the release, and I don't think a company like Apple wants to have enemies at the FCC I guess Apple will politely point out to them that this shouldn't have happened.

 

[doctoree]

Have we learned nothing about using layers to "black out" things in PDFs?

http://it.slashdot.org/it/06/06/22/138210.shtml ... and I know there's been a ton of others.

They seem to be real experts. First photograph it with a exttemly distorting lens and then using these layers....

 

[Toups]

I still think that having a number will be more indictive of performance than a mere statement, and I think it's safe to say that 256MB isn't enough to give the iPad a 3GS-like performance given its much higher resolution.



Thanks. This app will at least tell me how much RAM the iPad has when I get it.

P.S. the 4GB is actually the RAM his Mac has, not the iPad.

You may be right and I thought about that as well, but typically the simulators lock the simulation to the available memory on the actual device platforms to avoid developers making a iPhone with 2GB of RAM, running a demo, then it stall on a device with only 256MB.

Not sure if anyone has taken a look at some of the apps, i.e. X-Plane at 156MB install, Dungeon Hunter HD at 211MB, Asphalt 5 HD at 232MB... these are not small games and load the entire application into RAM at start-up in most cases for smoother game play and access. These games are highly memory intensive (not to mention GPU tasking) especially since it has 4 times the resolution of the smaller iPhone/iPod Touch devices. (not accounting for alleged multi-tasking of 3rd party applications)

 

[gnasher729]

Somehow or another Apple will figure out how to make removing a layer from a PDF a violation of the DMCA

Did that layer prevent copying of the PDF? If it didn't prevent copying then removing it can't be a DMCA violation. Was it an effective copy protection measure? As far as I know many people use tools that could remove a layer in a PDF file for completely legitimate reasons and people using these tools (printers, editors) could do this without problems. If it is not an effective copy protection method then it can't be a DMCA violation.

Anyway, Apple is not the copyright holder of these pictures. The FCC is. So again, no chance for DMCA violation that _Apple_ could sue for.

 

[cmaier]

You may be right and I thought about that as well, but typically the simulators lock the simulation to the available memory on the actual device platforms to avoid developers making a iPhone with 2GB of RAM, running a demo, then it stall on a device with only 256MB.

Trust us.

 

[cmaier]

Did that layer prevent copying of the PDF? If it didn't prevent copying then removing it can't be a DMCA violation. Was it an effective copy protection measure? As far as I know many people use tools that could remove a layer in a PDF file for completely legitimate reasons and people using these tools (printers, editors) could do this without problems. If it is not an effective copy protection method then it can't be a DMCA violation.

Anyway, Apple is not the copyright holder of these pictures. The FCC is. So again, no chance for DMCA violation that _Apple_ could sue for.

Based on what theory?

 

[BadCatOS]

The Apple A4 chip looks lame. The marketing images were better, but thats understandable. I want to know the Ram like everyone else. Let's see some exact specs Apple.

 

[cmaier]

The Apple A4 chip looks lame. The marketing images were better, but thats understandable. I want to know the Ram like everyone else. Let's see some exact specs Apple.

Do you need to know the exact diameter of the hose clamp in your car, too?

 

[LbrTradr]

I wonder if these FCC pictures are what Steve Jobs was talking about when he was spotted with Eric Schmidt a week ago and was heard saying:

"They're going to see it all eventually so who cares how they get it."

https://www.macrumors.com/2010/03/2...chmidt-seen-chatting-at-palo-alto-restaurant/

 

[liamhemsworth]

Top 9 reasons NOT to buy an iPad:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/02/why-not-to-buy-an-ipad-ph_n_523619.html

A MacBook Air-in-a-manila-envelope ad from a few years ago. Uh-huh. How'd that turn out for you?

Ah Mac, the Fisher Price of the tech industry. At least it's pretty.

 

[bozeefus]

imagine if the macbook pro upgrade is delayed due to implementation of A4 chips. LOL!!!!! worst idea ever?

 

[cmaier]

imagine if the macbook pro upgrade is delayed due to implementation of A4 chips. LOL!!!!! worst idea ever?

what on earth does one have to do with the other?

 

[ImperialX]

Do you need to know the exact diameter of the hose clamp in your car, too?

No, we don't, but if we are to treat the iPad as a computer (which we are), then knowing the size of the RAM should be common knowledge.

imagine if the macbook pro upgrade is delayed due to implementation of A4 chips. LOL!!!!! worst idea ever?

The new MacBook Pros will be using Intel chips. It has nothing to do with the A4.

 

[cmaier]

No, we don't, but if we are to treat the iPad as a computer (which we are), then knowing the size of the RAM should be common knowledge.

The whole point of the iPad is that you shouldn't have to treat it as a computer (meaning you shouldn't require any knowledge of its innards, you shouldn't need any special training to operate it, etc.)

 

[ImperialX]

The whole point of the iPad is that you shouldn't have to treat it as a computer (meaning you shouldn't require any knowledge of its innards, you shouldn't need any special training to operate it, etc.)

I find this strange coming from a developer. I'm not saying everyone has to know how big the RAM is, but certain people do.

 

[ouimetnick]

The whole point of the iPad is that you shouldn't have to treat it as a computer (meaning you shouldn't require any knowledge of its innards, you shouldn't need any special training to operate it, etc.)

You do treat it like a computer. Steve said its a netbook successor, and it kicks the netbooks ass, so iPad is then a computer.

 

[marksman]

I really wonder if its really worth it for Apple to develop their own chip. I mean its not like the wow factor is within the chip.

The benefit for them is to be able to design the hardware and software to work together in a direct and integral fashion.

Competitors will not be able to do this using off-the-shelf parts. So Apple will likely be able to get more performance and battery life out of their own chip design, as opposed to using one for general consumption.

Speed and Battery Life are both things that help with the "wow factor" as you put it.

 

[ouimetnick]

The benefit for them is to be able to design the hardware and software to work together in a direct and integral fashion.

Competitors will not be able to do this using off-the-shelf parts. So Apple will likely be able to get more performance and battery life out of their own chip design, as opposed to using one for general consumption.

Speed and Battery Life are both things that help with the "wow factor" as you put it.

Look at iPhone and iPods, and Macs. They all use off the shelf parts and contain the wow factor. Also is the Apple A4 really that power efficient? Those batteries are huge.

 

[dacapo]

Why does everyone think this is the FCCs fault?

Do you really think the FCC would presume to know what is or isn't 'TOP SECRET' according to Apple? Also, do you really think they would have someone on THEIR staff take the time to blackout each individual chip?

I'm pretty sure if Apple wanted the FCC to display a 'blacked out' version of a photo then APPLE would have to supply it on their own.

If I'm totally off base then so be it but I kinda doubt the FCC would needlessly take on the responsibility, ESPECIALLY since most hardware designers don't request this level of secrecy. Finally, while the FCC does try and respect certain wishes from submitters (like to not publish before a certain date) I think I read (somewhere) that they aren't formally obligated to do so.

agreed. it's not like the FCC is a reseller/partner/customer or any of those other entities in which an NDA or contract would have any enforceability. it's apple's fault most likely anyways and the FCC as a regulatory agency has nothing to gain or lose from this anyways.

as someone i know once said: if a person forcibly takes your money, it's called robbery. if the government forcibly takes your money, well, that's called taxation.

 

[kas23]

Where's the magic generator? Or, is it invisible because it's magic too?

 

[Cloudane]

ifixit's analysis of the images proves, for those of us who wanted to be certain, that the 3G model has a full GPS. Excellent.

 

[Avicenna]

Can someone tell me whats this FCC and PDF? lol, totally confused.

 

[DanielSw]

I really wonder if its really worth it for Apple to develop their own chip. I mean its not like the wow factor is within the chip.

I really wonder if you've ever read any of the articles about the A4. You must not have. Otherwise you'd know why they did it. Not some arbitrary decision.