I'm somewhat nervous about Apple developing its own GPU technology (if that's indeed what this means). We've seen thus far that Apple's move to develop its own CPU technology (Apple armv7s swift core versus licensing ARM Cortex A15) has served it well in the iPad 4 and iPhone 5, but licensing PowerVR intellectual property from Imgtech has always kept Apple on the forefront of mobile graphics. Every generation of iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch has licensed the GPU technology from Imgtech and they've always, always had the fastest GPUs of any given generation. And Imgtech's roadmap seems pretty Apple friendly: OpenGL ES 3.0 support and OpenCL support, the two huge graphics technologies that Apple is backing.
So I wonder what spurs this move for Apple to create its own GPU design center. What are they looking for that Imgtech has not provided them? What are they going to use these resources to do?
You have to look at this in the very long-term. Yes, IMGTec already has Rogue and probably also some future IP for future Apple use and Apple seems to do a perfect job writing the graphics drivers for PowerVR graphics for iOS, but Apple is not going to develop for different systems forever.
I´ve adressed this in one of my past posts in a news article (too lazy to dig it out now):
Apple seems to have a long-term plan to merge iOS and MacOS platforms. And I´m not talking solely software (Apple has never been purely about software), but also their hardware. This may not be perfectly obvious right now, but as features and performance/capacity and most important TDP of Desktop devices (CPU/GPU) are almost at a point already, where you could swap an Apple developed SoC for e.x. an Intel CPU/GPU combination (which Apple is already using in their other Mac products) there will be no need anymore for IMGTec´s PowerVR technology, if Apple is able to build their own CPU (which they do already -> SWIFT) and GPU in-house.
Consider this a grand vision of things, which is also evident given the internal changes at Apple. The iOS team(s) closely working with the MacOS team(s). The next MacOS (WWDC) should integrate a lot more stuff that was purely mobile (iOS) specific before.
If you have the ability to put in a e.x. a powerful x86/x64 compatible chip, which not only runs a lot more software, but also does it extremely fast, which also has a TDP comparable to a purely mobile based SoC with it´s own ecosystem, why would you go for a mobile SoC? You wouldn´t. Intel (because AMD can´t keep up and Desktop is going away slowly) slowed down it´s pace already, they are targeting mobiles now, which means that soon, there will be not much of a difference anymore between a CPU/GPU chip or a SoC. And Apple knows that.
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Mobile devices are going to eat into Desktop even more in the future when that step has been accomplished. The world is about mobility and flexibility and if you can carry around enough horsepower and compatibility for >=95% of your everyday work and all that with at least 10 hours battery time there´s simply no need for a Desktop. Yes, there still will be the additional Desktop at home when you demand maximum performance, a bigger screen, more connectivity, etc., so Desktop is not going to go away entirely.
A device that let´s you work with maximum compatibility, flexibility and with professional software on the go. A classic laptop is not the answer, because a Laptop basically copies what a Desktop does, it´s just a lot smaller. A tablet, however, can do everything a Laptop can do (with an additional keyboard or a pen for certain situations, when you need it) in even less space, touch input, and more tightly integrated stuff.
The iPad currently is largely a consumer device. It does it´s work, but it´s not a device I would consider a professional tablet. There´s just not enough good software that lets me work productive on it. And that´s a shame given the great hardware it already has. The current Surface Pro shows that there is incredible potential in that sector. It´s still too limited by battery time, performance, size and weight, but - like already explained - don´t expect that to be the case forever.
