There's a curious yarn flying around today to the effect that Apple has designed Intel's Atom processor into its iPhone.
This is not for a current iPhone, but for a 2010 vintage iPhone, when Intel is said to have promised Apple it will have a low-power Atom, using about a tenth of the passive power of its current Atom, and will be making it on a 32nm process.
Intel is said to have pushed its 32nm process as the unique selling point for its next generation Atom, in persuading Apple to design it in.
The only snag is that Intel's main competitors, Qualcomm and TI using ARM-based processors will probably be out on 32nm before Intel because their foundry, TSMC, is planning risk production on 32nm in the second half of next year.
If past form is anything to go by, the first TSMC process out of the block will be the low-power process designed for telecoms chips with Qualcomm being the lead process development partner.
And, of course, the chip-sets made on the TSMC 32nm process will undoubtedly have moved on from their present power consumption levels, leaving the 32nm Atom trailing 32nm ARM-based chips in the power consumption stakes.
The whole saga makes the statement by Intel CEO Paul Otellini that ARM licensees 'don't have access to' the latest process technology, and that they are 'a generation or two behind', look particularly silly.
And makes the story of the Apple design-in for Atom look rather improbable.
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Comments (2)
Did you forget that Apple bought PA Semi? Or their strong relationship with Samsung and that Samsung ARM processors are in every iPod and iPhone? Seriously, think this through, instead of using Apple's name to get a few hits on your blog.
Posted by John | July 3, 2008 3:14 PM
Posted on July 3, 2008 15:14
No, I didn't forget any of that stuff. But saw the story on the Internet, thought it improbable and said so. I understand Intel have now denied it
Posted by David Manners
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July 3, 2008 4:06 PM
Posted on July 3, 2008 16:06