An Intrinsity Chip Powers the iPad and Apple's New A4 Processor

"Such an effort is said ... to take billions of dollars". Who says that? Tell me who said it, and I can tell you that someone is a total idiot.

"Such an effort is said ... to take billions of dollars". Who says that? Tell me who said it, and I can tell you that someone is a total idiot.

It is Bob Russo, Intrinsity CEO - see the link

It is Bob Russo, Intrinsity CEO - see the link

Smart people can be stupid too.

this is great news. i hope the next iphone has a screaming fast processor

So this is a Samsung chip, which is actually an ARM A8 chip, which is actually an Intrinsity chip, which is actually an Apple A4 chip? Isn't that like... a tiny bit confusing? :D

Ultimately this has to be better value for Apple than buying Arm. For a fraction of the price they have bought the company that can make Arm processors even better so they are protecting their own advantage over all the other companies that use the A8 processor.

So this is a Samsung chip, which is actually an ARM A8 chip, which is actually an Intrinsity chip, which is actually an Apple A4 chip? Isn't that like... a tiny bit confusing? :D

Essentially, Apple paid for all of the custom work to be done so they get to put their logo on the package. That was exactly what they were doing on the previous Phone/Touch chips only with somewhat less customization and hoopla. You also have to remember that Apple doesn't manufacture anything any more. It is going to be "somebody" who makes something is going to be a contributor in some fashion. Whether it is basic design elements or constraints on process implementation.

So this is a Samsung chip, which is actually an ARM A8 chip, which is actually an Intrinsity chip, which is actually an Apple A4 chip? Isn't that like... a tiny bit confusing? :D

That's how ARM rolls... ;) ARM chips come to life by a very different process than Intel's chips(for example). ARM doesn't make chips, they just design the core functionality. And then license that "core" to others, like Samsung and TI and Apple, among MANY others.

Those licensees can then "add to" that core to make a more complete chip. In the case of Samsung and TI, they "flesh out" the ARM core and then manufacture the chips themselves. However, in the case of Apple or Intrinsity or others, who don't physically manufacture chips themselves but just do the DESIGN portion of the "fleshing out" of the ARM core, Samsung et al also act as chip-builders-for-hire.

That's why although the OLD iPhone chips were Samsung ARM designs, the A4, despite also apparently being manufactured by Samsung, aren't "Samsung chips" in the same sense. Samsung is just building Apple's chips for them since Apple is fab-less.

Apple's ability to flesh-out the ARM core with ONLY what they need and not a single function extra is where their advantage comes/will come into play. Other chips, like the Snapdragon for example, may well have features in it that a particular manufacturer doesn't need. Those designs are intended to appeal to a large number of customers. A good example is that a huge number of final ARM-based designs include a resistive touchscreen controller on-chip. I'd bet the pre-A4 chips in the iPhones and iPod touches all have this feature sitting there as well. Unused, of course, since Apple doesn't use a resistive touchscreen.

It is confusing, but pretty cool. :)

Can someone explain to me WHY this is good news? Aren't they basically saying that they put a second rate processor in iPhone/iPad but having NOW bought a ''better'' manufacturer so that future products will have the better chip?

Also the revival of apple was dependent on a lot of factors, one being that they outsourced the production of components. This let to competition and ultimately a better product - ipod etc.

So why is this good news?

I don't understand.. How can Apple claim that the A4 was made "in-house", when it was actually a Samsung chip designed by Intrinsity?

I'm also wondering when the PA Semi people will actually make something :confused: