Samsung's Exclusive Contract for iOS Device Chips Expiring in June as A7 for iPhone 6 Heads to TSMC?

[Peace]

I'm hoping TSMC does indeed get the New York/ Oregon fabs running with the 28nm chip.

That would make it built in the USA.

https://www.macrumors.com/2012/12/1...edicated-to-building-processors-for-idevices/

 

[Jetson]

If it were not for Samsung and Microsoft, Apple would have curled up and died long ago.

It is my contention that if it weren't for Apple revealing it's OS to Bill Gates and Microsoft in the early days so that MS could cut its teeth developing GUI apps (such as Microsoft Word in 1984 BEFORE it was created for Windows which didn't exist until 1989), Windows would not have been born and Microsoft would likely have curled up and died long ago.

Also Apple surely could have found another chip vendor other than Samsung, but that relationship was working fine until Samsung started stealing Apple's product designs.

 

[Renzatic]

I don't know why so may seem to think Samsung designs the A Series chips???? They supply them under contract, but Apple is the designer of the chip. Getting the chip out of Samsung I think is a good thing. Like it or not, Samsung has proven they too (like everyone in high tech) will steal ideas.

Thing is, there aren't many ideas Samsung can steal from Apple by looking at their current hardware set. Their processors are both tweaks upon the same basic ARM designs, and really, Samsung is moving in an entirely different direction than Apple on this front.

And what about screens, ram, NAND chips, ect.? What can they learn from that? That the iPhone 6 will have a high quality 4.5 inch screen and 2GB ram with 32GB minimum storage? None of these are directly designed by Apple, only utilized. All they'd get is a basic spec sheet, and it's not like Samsung doesn't already have products out that nearly match that now.

The only thing Samsung could conceivably steal from Apple and actually come out ahead would be their software and chassis designs. Neither of which they'll see at any point during the component manufacturing process.

----------

(such as Microsoft Word in 1984 BEFORE it was created for Windows which didn't exist until 1989)

The first version of Windows came out in '85.

 

[samcraig]

Thing is, there aren't many ideas Samsung can steal from Apple by looking at their current hardware set. Their processors are both tweaks upon the same basic ARM designs, and really, Samsung is moving in an entirely different direction than Apple on this front.

And what about screens, ram, NAND chips, ect.? What can they learn from that? That the iPhone 6 will have a high quality 4.5 inch screen and 2GB ram with 32GB minimum storage? None of these are directly designed by Apple, only utilized. All they'd get is a basic spec sheet, and it's not like Samsung doesn't already have products out that nearly match that now.

The only thing Samsung could conceivably steal from Apple and actually come out ahead would be their software and chassis designs. Neither of which they'll see at any point during the component manufacturing process.

So what you're saying is that Samsung know that Apple products will have better processors, cameras, more memory, better screens/etc - all from without having an inside track?

Impossible. How could they possible know that? How could I possibly know that? I clearly have "ins" at Apple. Right? Because that information is just too clandestine to be obvious

 

[uknowimright]

I disagree. Not to mention - the OP spoke of iOS - not product roadmap.

And again - just because they order chips and screens and nand doesn't mean all three are in one specific product.

I can order Eggs, Milk and Sugar from a supplier - that doesn't mean I'm making a cake. Or cookies. I could be making just about anything.

heck, you could even be making ice cream

 

[Jetson]

The first version of Windows came out in '85.

Yes Windows 1.0 came out in 1985, one year after Word for the Macintosh.

Of course we all know that Windows was practically non-existent until the 3.0 release in 1989.

Sorry that I wasn't explicit enough in my rant

 

[saha-med]

how much does apple's orders actually contribute to the profits of samsung as a whole?

I always though this is not gonna affect that much

 

[dec.]

If it were not for Samsung and Microsoft, Apple would have curled up and died long ago.

And that would be awful because you couldn't share your love for apple on this message board...

 

[carlgo]

It would seem that it must be tempting for Apple to buy into the manufacturing business themselves. Why sub out everything from the parts to the assembly?

And then the Apple logo would be seen on the parts in Android phones, and Apple would actually build the things as well...

And then, like the oil companies do, have an occasional "breakdown" at one of the plants and then raise the price due to "constrained supply"...

 

[dkersten]

Hope this is true. Once Apple moves manufacturing of essential parts to other companies, Samsung will no longer have the benefit of figuring out Apple's iOS roadmap.

That is good news.

let this be a lesson to you Samsung. Don't bite the hand that feeds you

I'm still shocked Samsung has been supplying Apple for the past year with the lawsuit and all. "Apple needs Samsung and Samsung needs Apple" is BS.

You realize Apple has a relationship with Samsung for a reason right? Samsung has the quality control and has the capacity to manufacture parts for iOS devices. Good luck trying to buy the next iPhone/iPad when there aren't nearly as many readily available at launch

 

[Renzatic]

So what you're saying is that Samsung know that Apple products will have better processors, cameras, more memory, better screens/etc - all from without having an inside track?

Impossible. How could they possible know that? How could I possibly know that? I clearly have "ins" at Apple. Right? Because that information is just too clandestine to be obvious

"Guys! I just got the new yearly order from Apple in! Get this! They're making another iPhone! AND IT'S GOT FASTER STUFF IN IT"!

"OH CRAP! THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING! AGAIN"!

But really. What can Samsung learn from looking at Apple's spec sheets? Not a damn thing. The GS4, which as we're all aware is already out now, is probably more a preview of what the next big iPhone upgrade is going to have in it than it is a direct copy of anything Apple's done. It's got more ram. More cores. Better GPU. The upgrade process isn't something that's difficult to predict, and just about every smartphone manufacturer out there all draw from about the same sources.

 

[nick_elt]

You realize Apple has a relationship with Samsung for a reason right? Samsung has the quality control and has the capacity to manufacture parts for iOS devices. Good luck trying to buy the next iPhone/iPad when there aren't nearly as many readily available at launch

hey!

you!

no logic allowed here!

burn in hell samedung!!!...........

 

[samcraig]

"Guys! I just got the new yearly order from Apple in! Get this! They're making another iPhone! AND IT'S GOT FASTER STUFF IN IT"!

"OH CRAP! THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING! AGAIN"!

But really. What can Samsung learn from looking at Apple's spec sheets? Not a damn thing. The GS4, which as we're all aware is already out now, is probably more a preview of what the next big iPhone upgrade is going to have in it than it is a direct copy of anything Apple's done. It's got more ram. More cores. Better GPU. The upgrade process isn't something that's difficult to predict, and just about every smartphone manufacturer out there all draw from about the same sources.

Exactly my point.

And with rumors being so public - it's not like they can't "predict" now a watch, tv, and I'm sure other things rumored.

They don't need the relationship with Apple for road maps. And they weren't getting SOFTWARE road maps as the OP suggested from their relationship.

 

[nunomoreira10]

Well i can see an 28nm A6r2 higher clocked with lpddr3 for the iphone5

As for the mini an normal A6 with lpddr3 should have enough power and bandwidth for the display.
The mini is supposed to be a lower end device, unless apple wants to raise it´s price i don´t see it having better specs then the iPhone.

 

[deconstruct60]

If Microsoft didnt exist Apple would be no. 1 computer company since the 80's.

That is highly doubtful. Microsoft was IBM's second choice for an OS. IBM's first stop was Digital Research and their CP/M. IBM wanted them to sign some NDA that gave them leverage. They balked and went to Microsoft.

If Microsoft didn't exist IBM just would have made a second stop. Maybe even to that smaller company that had a pseudo CP/M clone that was DOS.

IBM (then IBM PC clones ) drive the PC market past Apple in the early 80's; not Microsoft. If Windows had not taken off OS/2 would have been the driving GUI.

In short there have been numerous alternatives that were driven on more openly licensed hardware/software relationships. Any one of them would have driven Apple into the corner they went.

And if it werent for Samsung, they, well, would have diferent suppliers. (please take this comment with as much seriousness that you should take the one I was talking about, im just making a point)

Perhaps not at the same pace. I can't imagine someone who isn't smoking something at Apple depending upon TSMC to get a new process up and running at high yields early after installing the hardware. They have consistently failed at doing that.

It is unclear Apple would have found a partner that was a consistent as Samsung at the same levels of volume.

 

[BvizioN]

But that could be any product. A phone - a refrigerator.

Right! That's because Apple does countless products including refrigeration (like Samy) and it's very hard to figure out what it is for!! Com on...

 

[samcraig]

Right! That's because Apple does countless products including refrigeration (like Samy) and it's very hard to figure out what it is for!! Com on...

Missed my point entirely.

 

[deconstruct60]

So what you're saying is that Samsung know that Apple products will have better processors, cameras, more memory, better screens/etc - all from without having an inside track?

It is more so is that any more significantly different from the requests that everyone else is making.

It is bit of a huge leap that only Apple knows what the exactly correct mix of components that future phones.

It isn't like Samsung isn't busy designing next generation NAND if Apple doesn't order any. It isn't like Samsung isn't busy designing next generation SoC if Apple doesn't order any. They were doing both before Apple showed up with orders. Samsung has pushed AMOLED screens and Apple hasn't used them. Samsung went to bigger screens long before Apple did in the phone space.

Yes the broad scope of parts gives Samsung some general abilities. Especially, since it chooses to build every different kind of phone possible ( an extremely different tactic than Apple's ). But the individual components by themselves ( just the ARM core. just the NAND. etc. ) aren't very deeply insightful.

 

[irfaanfaki]

To all my fellow Apple fanboys loving the Samsung hate apple is NOT doomed, their just getting started
I'm expecting all of you to have my back incase "iveOS 7" isn't all that great, because my expectations may be too damn high

 

[tdtran1025]

do or die for A as the Exynos Octa is the current king.

 

[samcraig]

It is more so is that any more significantly different from the requests that everyone else is making.

It is bit of a huge leap that only Apple knows what the exactly correct mix of components that future phones.

It isn't like Samsung isn't busy designing next generation NAND if Apple doesn't order any. It isn't like Samsung isn't busy designing next generation SoC if Apple doesn't order any. They were doing both before Apple showed up with orders. Samsung has pushed AMOLED screens and Apple hasn't used them. Samsung went to bigger screens long before Apple did in the phone space.

Yes the broad scope of parts gives Samsung some general abilities. Especially, since it chooses to build every different kind of phone possible ( an extremely different tactic than Apple's ). But the individual components by themselves ( just the ARM core. just the NAND. etc. ) aren't very deeply insightful.

You know I was being snarky, right? My point was - Samsung can't tell very much at all from a parts order. And their road map is generally predictable. We all know that phones have certain specs which get improved.

And as I said before - the OP wrote that Samsung could determine iOS's roadmap from hardware specs. That's just wrong.

 

[nick_elt]

do or die for A as the Exynos Octa is the current king.

I wouldnt say that, IOS requires alot less power, the A6 is very powerfull for Apples needs. What is do or die for Apple, is ios 7 (imo).

 

[Renzatic]

I wouldnt say that, IOS requires alot less power, the A6 is very powerfull for Apples needs. What is do or die for Apple, is ios 7 (imo).

I'm thinking iOS8 is gonna be the big game changer for Apple. 7 is going to be the one foot in one foot out upgrade, where they've started changing thing around, but haven't had enough time to completely renovate it yet.

 

[Archon]

Some thoughts on this

This is thermonuclear, Apple/Jobs style.

Knowing Apple's custom ARM CPU design is absolutely something of interest for Samsung.

Surprised Intel isn't mentioned, they could be another option for A7

Btw: buying Apple products is buying American.

That is all.

----------

do or die for A as the Exynos Octa is the current king.

That is a misleading statement, king of benchmarks but is it king of real world usage? Not from what I've seen in videos so far.

The lowly A6 series runs iOS far more efficiently. I never "felt" the need for 8 cores. Maybe that's me.

 

[samcraig]

This is thermonuclear, Apple/Jobs style.

Knowing Apple's custom ARM CPU design is absolutely something of interest for Samsung.

Surprised Intel isn't mentioned, they could be another option for A7

Btw: buying Apple products is buying American.

That is all.

----------

1. It's business. Happens all the time. Hardly "thermonuclear."
2. If you say so
3. Buying any product these days (electronics) is not just buying American. Companies have onshore and offshore arms. Apple is a US company in that this is where they are founded and operate the HQ. It's very much a global company.