Apple Job Listing Reveals More Powerful ARM Processors and Video Processing for iPhone
A recent Apple job listing that we just discovered reveals that Apple is looking for a low level iPhone programmer with detailed knowledge of the ARM processor including its NEON vector unit.
We've previously speculated that the Cortex processor would be the most likely candidate to power the next generation iPhone. The Cortex is also capable of multi-core variants though its not entirely clear how soon these will be commercially available. Palm's Pre is also based on a version of the Cortex processor. The presence of these sort of extensions could also be leveraged to provide users with faster/better multimedia functions including the rumored video recording, processing and editing capabilities.
In fact, another job listing reveals that Apple is also hiring for someone to deliver "cutting edge embedded video processing". They are specifically looking for someone with experience in real-time media and networking applications over Wi-Fi and cellular networks which would suggest an iPhone implementation. Obviously, all of these listings reflect unfilled jobs but can provide a hint into what Apple is presently working on.
The successful candidate will have excellent understanding and knowledge of processor architecture, specifically ARM and its vector unit NEON. Additional Intel SSE or PowerPC AltiVec is also very helpful. Being able to use processor micro-architecture to write and deliver fast routines is an essential attribute.
NEON is an extended instruction set similar to Intel's SSE or PowerPC's AltiVec which can accelerate multimedia applications. What's interesting is that NEON is the marketing term for the most recent version of these extensions specifically for the ARMv7 Cortex processors. Apple presently uses the ARMv6 processor in the iPhone and iPod Touch which does not appear to offer NEON. The obvious reason for Apple to be seeking a programmer with this expertise is that they must be optimizing the iPhone OS for the new Cortex processors.We've previously speculated that the Cortex processor would be the most likely candidate to power the next generation iPhone. The Cortex is also capable of multi-core variants though its not entirely clear how soon these will be commercially available. Palm's Pre is also based on a version of the Cortex processor. The presence of these sort of extensions could also be leveraged to provide users with faster/better multimedia functions including the rumored video recording, processing and editing capabilities.
In fact, another job listing reveals that Apple is also hiring for someone to deliver "cutting edge embedded video processing". They are specifically looking for someone with experience in real-time media and networking applications over Wi-Fi and cellular networks which would suggest an iPhone implementation. Obviously, all of these listings reflect unfilled jobs but can provide a hint into what Apple is presently working on.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
35 months ago
surely this would all point to a release of new hardware later than the summer? Or have I missed something?
35 months ago
surely this would all point to a release of new hardware later than the summer? Or have I missed something?
Macrumors has had several posts in the past regarding Apple job listings for particular technological applications. However, I haven't run across any analysis on lag time between job postings and implementation of said new technologies.
(Care to take this on, arn?)
Of course, I don't expect Apple to hire just one person for this task. I expect that they either already have a number of people working on it, and just need more (so hopefully for an iPhone this summer), or they are just starting to ramp up a team to get cracking on this, which would then be for the iPhone released next year.
Here's hoping that it's the former, rather than the latter.
Cheers,
DCBass
35 months ago
Perhaps they are taking on more people to work on this because they run the risk of missing the deadline if they don't. That's the only justification I can see for hiring someone right now to work on the 3rd-gen iPhone which is supposedly coming out in June/July.
Either that or it is destined for a later model.
Either that or it is destined for a later model.
35 months ago
Macrumors has had several posts in the past regarding Apple job listings for particular technological applications. However, I haven't run across any analysis on lag time between job postings and implementation of said new technologies.
It's a hard analysis. Job listings are very speculative as Apple usually doesn't want to show too much of their hand. All Job listings, however, don't mean that products aren't coming out forever.
I remember a ton of iPhone job listings appeared after Apple first announced the iPhone. While there was still a long lead time before the iPhone became available, obviously, Apple had been working on it for some time up until then.
The Cortex is an obvious processor for Apple to be interested in. The Pre will use it. I will be surprised if it's not used soon.
arn
35 months ago
Will be interesting to see the quality of stills and video from the next sensor - is it likely it's the neat top end Omnivision? If so, are we likely to see their TrueFocus http://www.ovt.com/products/truefocus.php and or some Scalado tech?
http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/21/scalado-demonstrates-zero-lag-cellphone-camera/
Zero lag on taking stills, and decent video, with processing capabilities enough for editing would be big - Apple could always add the editing functionality later, if they got the hardware into the phone presumably.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/21/scalado-demonstrates-zero-lag-cellphone-camera/
Zero lag on taking stills, and decent video, with processing capabilities enough for editing would be big - Apple could always add the editing functionality later, if they got the hardware into the phone presumably.
35 months ago
For developing something as complex as a new iPhone, I would think Apple would begin working on it 9 months ahead of release. When the 3G iPhone came out in July, it had been already announced back in January, and that previous fall, there were already rumors surfacing. If Apple has plans to release an iPhone this July, I suspect they were working on it last fall (they likely never stopped, after designing the iPhone 3G). If they are not planning a release until Fall 2009, even if not until November, I would suspect they were already working on it back in January. And let us not forget that the current beta for the OS 3.0 has numerous evidence for future features. So, perhaps, a new iPhone for 2009 is already designed, and this job posting is really for the NEXT (summer/fall 2010) iPhone, and dozens or more people will actually be hired from that one job posting.
t0mat0, I want antishake/image-stabilization technology in the camera.
t0mat0, I want antishake/image-stabilization technology in the camera.
35 months ago
It seems a tad late to be hiring people for the next gen iPhone if it is supposed to come out in june. Oh well I'm happy about the processor.
35 months ago
t0mat0, I want antishake/image-stabilization technology in the camera.
Agreed - Looking at the Omnia HD, which has it, and does 720p HD, I think the quote from T3 was -"It's the worst thing about phone cameras (except for the image noise, poor low-light performance, desaturated colors and incessant motion blur): the picture delay" Isnt the i8910 a good benchmark of what expectant iPhone buyers are looking for?
35 months ago
This job listing is for 'software' manipulation correct?
Which means what I wonder? Could it just mean they want more people familiar with working on software for future updates for the next gen iPhone due out in a month or two?
Who knows. :rolleyes:
Which means what I wonder? Could it just mean they want more people familiar with working on software for future updates for the next gen iPhone due out in a month or two?
Who knows. :rolleyes:
[ Read All Comments ]
Apple today updated iBooks [App Store] to version 2.0.1, bringing a fix for an issue that resulted in some iBooks Textbooks not opening in the application.
Apple is not terribly specific about...
As the Mac becomes more popular, the arrival of A-List titles to the platform is beginning to become a more common occurrence. The latest top-shelf game to hit the Mac is Id Software's RAGE,...
One year ago today, News Corp. launched its iPad-only newspaper called The Daily. It was the first app to take advantage of the "In-App Subscription" feature that Apple launched the same...
As noted by 9to5Mac, Apple today began seeding Safari 5.1.4 to developers for testing, signaling the next round of improvements for Apple's browser software. Safari 5.1.4 is available in...
MCV reports (via The Next Web) that Apple has nabbed yet another gaming PR executive, this time hiring Microsoft's European chief of Xbox Live marketing Robin Burrowes to oversee App Store...
