Apple Tablet to have PA Semi Chip? Two processor teams at Apple?

Seth Weintraub
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July 13, 2009
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Some interesting news coming out of VentureBeat (via Giz) on the state of Apple's in-house processor development as it relates to tablets:

..we’ve learned that PA Semi’s team was split into two parts, one designing portable ARM-based processors for iPhones and iPods, and another designing a processor for the tablet device.

Interesting. This would seem to indicate that a tablet isn't going to be a "big iPod touch" and it might actually be running a desktop-ish version of Snow Leopard like the Apple Tablet Patents indicated.  It will still be ARM-based obviously, but could be a multi-core ARM Cortex A9 which would push it past Intel's Atom-Moorestown's speed while using less electricity.

Comments (23)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 13, 2009 - 1:19pm

So the imminent apple tablet asks "can I haz the snappy"

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 13, 2009 - 1:34pm

Any chance this device could come with yet another operating system - one designed to power up quickly, be based on a browser, use primarily web protocols from html5 to sync cloud data locally?

In other words, Apple's version of Chrome OS?

Why? (not verified) | July 14, 2009 - 5:49am

Why?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 14, 2009 - 7:39am

It's a different device than an iPod/iPhone or a laptop/netbook. Therefore, a different OS is not a big stretch. Crunchpad has built an OS of sorts out of linux booting directly to a browser, and Chrome is an OS that will run out of a browser. For a media-centric tablet that seems like a pretty good operating model. Still OS X underneath, but a third skin to add to Mac OS X and iPhone OS X.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 13, 2009 - 1:48pm

so in other words, OSX snow leopard can run on ARM processors and not just Intel?

admin | July 13, 2009 - 1:56pm

exactamundo Chachi

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 13, 2009 - 1:59pm

You mean just not PowerPC yh? ;)

Gazoobee (not verified) | July 13, 2009 - 3:11pm

If it's a tablet and not a netbook it won't come with full desktop OS-X. This is a stupid idea that people need to just let go of.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 13, 2009 - 3:29pm

I like the idea of using ARM based CPU's
But there is a lot of programs today that is made for x86 only, and most of the new company's that that was Windows only in the past, and is now developing to OS X is doing it x86 (Intel) Only.
So it would give some problems with some programs, and limited what people can run on it. (Yes VMWare and Parralle is no go, if you are in to that)

So as mutch as I want to move away from the x86 based CPU, I can see to many problems in doing so, before you have the main industry programming cross platform/cross architecture

PhilR (not verified) | July 13, 2009 - 3:41pm

When they announced at WWDC that Snow Leopard was sporting a new reduced foot print being reduced by 6gb I tweeted at Andy Inhatko that I thought the primary reason was that they want to include it on the new tablet, Andy immediately shot me down but i'm still not convinced, I would have thought it is still the main reason for reducing the footprint, why else would they its not like anybody is struggling for disk space on desktops or even laptops but netbooks or tablets running an SSD now thats a different matter?

iansilv (not verified) | July 13, 2009 - 3:52pm

This will be a disruptive product as it will dock and work with a mighty mouse, wireless keyboard and connect to an external display with a mini displayport. People will be able to get a computer roughly as fast as a mac mini that they can use as a tablet, and plug in as a regular computer that can be a secondary display. think doc, 30" cinema display- take it with you- etc. etc. No spinning drives, SD card slot... iProD...

It's coming :)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 14, 2009 - 9:03am

The Macbook Pro is the product for that.

Apple will want to make a product like this small - and that means less powerful CPU, video card because the battery will be small.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 13, 2009 - 4:53pm

Think color Kindle but with a lot more power and features. Major magazine publishers have already privately expressed interest in a Apple Color Table for obvious reasons. Magazines are in color and not B&W. Downloadable magazine subscriptions are coming. Print is dead. They have all been waiting for the Tablet that get’s it right and it’s coming from Apple. Apple has had very close ties to just about all of the publishing houses for many years.

Besides being offered to consumers, the tablet will also be used in medical, manufacturing and engineering fields.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 13, 2009 - 7:50pm

Downloadable subscriptions are already here. I get a digital copy of MacWorld with every hard copy. I'm sure you already knew this. Soon we will be saving more trees. O yeah, and burning more oil to power our all digital lifestyles. Isn't convenience beautiful, lol.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 14, 2009 - 8:48am

"Downloadable magazines are coming"? Welcome to late 2007... it's called Zino every major magazine is already available to your computer.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 13, 2009 - 6:33pm

The iPhone form factor is being cloned by every other phone vendor and his dog...
Emergence of the Apple Tablet will do exactly the same...

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 13, 2009 - 7:44pm

I would imagine the tablet will offer 3G and/or EVDO Rev. A as a standard feature with a subsidized price for a 2-yer data contract or a non-subsidized price without data but with the possible pay as you go or per MB data option. I would opt for the later as I have an iPhone, MBP and I tether - my guess is the iPhone will be able to tether to the tablet with a little time and hacking by the community. I hope this is a real product as it would fit my needs for a second notebook and a GREAT vacation/note taking unit - my guess is it will also have built-in GPS and analog compass like the iPhone 3GS.

I hope Apple will allow a little detail out on this product as it is far to late for other manufactures to copy their exact form factor and style - it will happen but not by Apple leaking a few details here and their.

D

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 13, 2009 - 8:19pm

This is not likely to use subsidies with Apple separating from AT&T (most likely) within a year of this devices release. They will not use EVDO Rev because they have stated in the past that it is an inferior data network compared to 3G. It would make no sense to deny iPhone users from using EVDO Rev and allow a tablet (which needs access to more data and will be marketed above the iPhone) to use a lesser connection. As long as it can work on 4G and the next generation of the Verizon/Sprint network. As far as tethering goes, that should be possible at launch. Apple has nothing to gain by preventing existing and future iPhone users from tethering to another Apple product. AT&T might not like this but with the way their relationship is going I don't think they are in any shape to challenge Apple. Who knows what will really happen, but the next several months will be exciting.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 14, 2009 - 6:44am

Having use both - I think Apple is WRONG! EVDO for voice AND data would be a step down but EVDO for data only is MUCH MORE RELIABLE in my opinion and JD Powers not to mention Consumer Reports. EVDO AND GSM with LTE should be built into the tablet - not just one. You do know there are chip sets capable of running EVDO, LTE and GSM, right? If the relationship with ATT is as bad as you think why exclude others from getting their claws into an Apple product?

D

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 13, 2009 - 8:20pm

This is not likely to use subsidies with Apple separating from AT&T (most likely) within a year of this devices release. They will not use EVDO Rev because they have stated in the past that it is an inferior data network compared to 3G. It would make no sense to deny iPhone users from using EVDO Rev and allow a tablet (which needs access to more data and will be marketed above the iPhone) to use a lesser connection. As long as it can work on 4G and the next generation of the Verizon/Sprint network. As far as tethering goes, that should be possible at launch. Apple has nothing to gain by preventing existing and future iPhone users from tethering to another Apple product. AT&T might not like this but with the way their relationship is going I don't think they are in any shape to challenge Apple. Who knows what will really happen, but the next several months will be exciting.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 14, 2009 - 2:13am

"Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm sixty-four"

Feed me, Apple.

Just a big iPod Touch with a scalable interface, please.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 14, 2009 - 4:40am

Hmm seems like it's finally happening.
But really...all I want now is the Crunchpad...

Kenneth (not verified) | July 14, 2009 - 4:49am

Just hope this is true. It's been a long wait.