Intel To Build Next Gen Processor For iOS Devices

BogenDorpher writes "It looks like Apple will be using Intel as a main processor manufacturer to power the iPad, iPod touch, and the iPhone. Apple, who currently uses Samsung, will focus on making a switch to Intel within a year."

Compatible?

[mwvdlee]

I thought Intel only did x86/64 and Samsung didn't do either. Is this another PowerPC->Intel type move from Apple or am I missing something (quite likely)?

How many generations out is this?

[Lluc]

Either: 1. Intel is going to build a non-x86 cpu with their fab -- highly unlikely. or 2. Apple is going to lose a tremendous amount of battery life -- highly unlikely. Maybe several generations down the line we'll see a x86 chip with acceptable power characteristics for a cell phone or tablet, but not next year.

process

[Gary W. Longsine]

It appears from casual googling, that Intel could make the A5 using a smaller process size than the current ARM manufacturers are able to produce.

Re:Compatible?

[Pinky's Brain]

Intel has roughly 2 years head start on the rest of the industry, process wise. Especially with computational lithography they are light years ahead of everyone else, and this is a critical technology to keep scaling immersion lithography ... which is necessary because EUV is very late. Because of patents they will probably not lose this lead up till EUV breaks through.

It would be foolish not to convert that lead into foundry business if they have spare capacity, or given just how fucking late EUV is they might even build extra fabs and take everyone's lunch. Not healthy for the industry ...

Re:Retribution

[uglyduckling]

I don't know if you're being deliberately silly, but Samsung (among others) have designed a phone that appears to be deliberately an iPhone clone, down to quite small details. If you're aware of a phone that existed before the iPhone that most non-techincal users would easily confuse with the iPhone, I'd concede the point. Without debating the rights and wrongs of it, it's disingenuous to try to claim that there aren't a number of manufacturers copying the iPhone hardware and software design to cash in on the market.