The iPhone 4G will run on the Arm Cortex A8 processor and a 512MB memory

[sammich]

Please excuse my ignorance, by why can't the ipad with all that flash memory simply use it? Is RAM memory that much faster than flash memory?

How does it work? What about caching?

RAM is at least 100x faster than flash memory. Roughly speaking.

 

[Revelation78]

I can see them adding 512mb of ram to "justify" the higher cost of the iPhone over the iPad.

I am in the camp: I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[-aggie-]

Perhaps based on similar principles where thinner circuits means less power consumption. Lower resistance.

This was explained in the article:

To solve battery life issues, the new iPhone's panel is 33% thinner than in previous iPhone versions to permit more space for larger battery modules supplied by Simplo Technology and Dynapack International Technology, Kuo said.

The panel is supposedly the LCD panel (or the thickness of the case maybe?). It’s not the processor that is thinner.

I don't think they were suggesting that it would have the same 800 MHz Cortex A8 processor, underclocked to 600 MHz. Cortex A8 is really a processor family, a group of processors which conform to ARM's A8 instruction standard. That group includes, for example, both the current iPhone processor and the iPad's A4 chip. Like any processor family, such chips can come in different clock speeds, can have different power consumption and performance. Samsung, for instance, produces a 1GHz A8 processor, as did Intrinsity (recently purchased by Apple -- there is some speculation that the A4 is, in fact, a modified version of Intrinsity's 1 GHz A8).

Yes, but if they run at 800, then the battery life is going to be even worse. We’ll know soon enough. BTW, some people are saying WWDC is early June. Are they misinformed? I thought it was fairly common knowledge it was going to be the week of June 28th.

 

[Geckotek]

This was explained in the article:



The panel is supposedly the LCD panel (or the thickness of the case maybe?). It’s not the processor that is thinner.



Yes, but if they run at 800, then the battery life is going to be even worse. We’ll know soon enough. BTW, some people are saying WWDC is early June. Are they misinformed? I thought it was fairly common knowledge it was going to be the week of June 28th.

Guess I should have read the article. 😉

Dude, where you been?!?! It was announced a while back for the week of June 7th.

http://developer.apple.com/wwdc/

 

[-aggie-]

Guess I should have read the article. 😉

Dude, where you been?!?! It was determined a while back that it's the week of June 7th.

Perhaps I got tired of seeing the same threads. 😱🙂 The last think I heard was it was definitely the week of the 28th.

Anyway, if it’s that soon, then we’ll know soon enough about this and all the other speculation.

 

[Geckotek]

Perhaps I got tired of seeing the same threads. 😱🙂 The last think I heard was it was definitely the week of the 28th.

Anyway, if it’s that soon, then we’ll know soon enough about this and all the other speculation.

Yeah, June 7th can't come soon enough. Can't wait for that Verizon announcement! 😛


J/K!!!

 

[MikeDTyke]

I will be stoked to see 512MB of RAM it'll make OS4.0's multitasking really practical. Developers will still target 256MB & 128MB devices, because it maximises the number of sales they can make.

Having the extra Ram though means things like background turn by turn GPS becomes a much more performant option. 😀

 

[old-wiz]

Perhaps based on similar principles where thinner circuits means less power consumption. Lower resistance.

And more space for a slightly bigger battery.

 

[itpromike]

Probably so, but then all you have is a 3GS+. Same processor, same RAM, and a new camera with better OS and supposedly HD.

This won't be the same processor as the 3GS, they've already confirmed that this is the A4 processor, the same that is in the iPad, the same processor that beats the pants off of the snapdragon.

Also if you're concerned about battery life the rest assured this will have a MUCH better battery life. The battery is 20% larger due to the extra room by making the mother board smaller and a thinner LCD screen. This is also using the same A4 processor as the iPad which was already confirmed in the last tear down, the iPad has an amazing battery life. Unlike the iPad however the new phone won't have a huge 10" IPS screen to power so the battery life should be comparable to the iPad if not better.

 

[-aggie-]

This won't be the same processor as the 3GS, they've already confirmed that this is the A4 processor, the same that is in the iPad, the same processor that beats the pants off of the snapdragon.

See the title of this thread. 🙂

 

[Geckotek]

This won't be the same processor as the 3GS, they've already confirmed that this is the A4 processor, the same that is in the iPad, the same processor that beats the pants off of the snapdragon.

Who "confirmed" what? We've seen EVT, DVT, and PRO2 models. Only one of those (the PRO2...an early prototype) revealed any chips. I've yet to see a PVT (production) model opened yet.

 

[itpromike]

I can see them adding 512mb of ram to "justify" the higher cost of the iPhone over the iPad.

I am in the camp: I'll believe it when I see it.

Umm... iPhones are $199 and $299, iPad is $499... how would they justify the higher cost of an iPhone over the iPad if the iPhone is actually LOWER in cost? I don't follow your logic.

 

[Geckotek]

Umm... iPhones are $199 and $299, iPad is $499... how would they justify the higher cost of an iPhone over the iPad if the iPhone is actually LOWER in cost? I don't follow your logic.

Because the prices you list are not the actual cost. Those prices are subsidized.

 

[TSX]

Please excuse my ignorance, by why can't the ipad with all that flash memory simply use it? Is RAM memory that much faster than flash memory?

How does it work? What about caching?

I think the reason apple doesn't use the flash is because when you write to it to much it starts to degrade and you start to lose some.

 

[itpromike]

See the title of this thread. 🙂

The Apple A4 processor that's in the iPad IS a Cortex A8 processor... It's just a speciality built A8 with a very sophisticated SOC build.

 

[Geckotek]

I think the reason apple doesn't use the flash is because when you write to it to much it starts to degrade and you start to lose some.

I understand it's an option you can enable in the iPad.

 

[TSX]

Umm... iPhones are $199 and $299, iPad is $499... how would they justify the higher cost of an iPhone over the iPad if the iPhone is actually LOWER in cost? I don't follow your logic.

The iPhone is about 700 ithink at least for the 32gb 3gs.

 

[itpromike]

Because the prices you list are not the actual cost. Those prices are subsidized.

Yes but most consumers (I would say 85%+) will see the subsidized pricing so there still won't be any need to 'justify a higher' price from a purchaser standpoint... Also $499 and $599 are also the same prices of the non subsidized iPhones... so it still won't be a higher price than the iPad. It will be the same price.

 

[TSX]

I understand it's an option you can enable in the iPad.

Wow, I didn't know that it sounds very un-apple like.

 

[itpromike]

Who "confirmed" what? We've seen EVT, DVT, and PRO2 models. Only one of those (the PRO2...an early prototype) revealed any chips. I've yet to see a PVT (production) model opened yet.

The last prototype that had a tear down performed had an A4 processor in it...
Sure they could change the processor to the same as the 3GS before launch but this close to launch I don't think they will choose to not include the newer processor and opt for last years processor. Also that wouldn't make sense given the higher res screen which means more pixels to push as well as the 720P recording which would make the 3GS processor choke... With the things we ALREADY know about the new iPhone, the 3GS processor just wouldn't work. And seeing as the latest prototype found had an A4 in it, I'm pretty sure it's safe to say the A4 will make it's way into the production model.

 

[Geckotek]

The last prototype that had a tear down performed had an A4 processor in it...
Sure they could change the processor to the same as the 3GS before launch but this close to launch I don't think they will choose to not include the newer processor and opt for last years processor. Also that wouldn't make sense given the higher res screen which means more pixels to push as well as the 720P recording which would make the 3GS processor choke... With the things we ALREADY know about the new iPhone, the 3GS processor just wouldn't work. And seeing as the latest prototype found had an A4 in it, I'm pretty sure it's safe to say the A4 will make it's way into the production model.

"This close" implies that the phone was very recently built. However, the PRO2 marking on it says otherwise. PRO2 reveals that it is an early prototype.

And I'm not implying it will be the 3Gs processor, I'm saying it could have 512MB RAM.

 

[thelatinist]

Yes, but if they run at 800, then the battery life is going to be even worse. We’ll know soon enough. BTW, some people are saying WWDC is early June. Are they misinformed? I thought it was fairly common knowledge it was going to be the week of June 28th.

I don't seem to be making myself clear. There are literally dozens of different A8 processors with varying clock speeds and power consumption profiles. There are at least two and maybe 3 different 1 GHz A8 processors, including the Apple A4. Saying that the chip is a Cortex A8 processor does not preclude it's being the A4 or any other faster, more battery efficient A8-based chip.

 

[itpromike]

"This close" implies that the phone was very recently built. However, the PRO2 marking on it says otherwise. PRO2 reveals that it is an early prototype.

And I'm not implying it will be the 3Gs processor, I'm saying it could have 512MB RAM.

I thought PRO2 was the marking on the unit that Gizmodo had? I'm talking about the unit that was discovered over this weekend... Or did that have PRO2 on it too?

 

[iPadztr]

can't wait for the official announcement 🙂 I'm assuming the screen will stay the same as the current iPhone 3.5 but higher res...

 

[STEVESKI07]

I thought PRO2 was the marking on the unit that Gizmodo had? I'm talking about the unit that was discovered over this weekend... Or did that have PRO2 on it too?

I believe DVT was the marking the Gizmodo unit had.