More on the tablet's PA Semi processor

Jonny Evans
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October 05, 2009
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Apple’s tablet may be powered by a PA Semi chip, claims Jason O’Grady, noting Intel’s May 2008 blunder when it claimed a larger version iPhone would eventually ship using an Intel Atom chip.

Intel later retracted the statement, issuing an apology in which it implied Atom wasn’t suitable for Apple because it was unable to match ARM’s low power demands.

O’Grady also believes Intel’s statements then hinted the firm would not be providing the chip for Apple’s tablet, which he sees as likely to ship with an ARM processor, “and eventually a new custom ARM chip from PA Semi”.

Development of that custom chip may be further along than he thinks. The Taiwan Economic News last month said the Apple tablet would use a PA Semi chip. And the company is aiming to sell 300,000 of the devices each month on launch in February.

ARM in September announced its new 2GHz, dual-core chip, a version of its Cortex-A9 architecture. This followed a December 2008 Computerworld article by our own Seth Weintraub, which predicts Apple’s tablet will be based on ARM’s Cortex architecture.

Earlier this year we also learned that PA Semi’s team was split into two parts following the Apple take-over of the company, one team designing portable ARM-based processors for iPhones and iPods, and another designing a processor for the tablet device.

Speculation as to all this is likely to continue in the months to come, with the New York Times this morning telling us Apple has had teams working on the device since 2003.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is understood to have pulled several prototypes off the agenda, partially because he couldn’t see what the tablet’s raison d’etre would be.

Today we can speculate the tablet will be a device which summons all Apple’s multimedia principalities into one place, capable of driving multimedia experiences on a par with iTunes Extras, shipping with a plethora of eBooks, and more. As well as interesting two-handed gesture/touch-based controls.

Comments (8)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | October 05, 2009 - 8:08am

Let me get this straight, I'm going to have an oversize iPhone that will sit on my lap for watching movies, listening to music, playing games, reading stuff that I have to use with earbuds because it won't work with my iPod docks because it's too big and it will either lie flat on a table or my lap or I'll hold it? I don't get who wants that beside dorks who can't waste their money fast enough on electronics. Hopefully I'm missing something because I can't make sense of it. iPhone or iPod touch I can see this thing I can't. iTunes extra and albums running on AppleTV makes sense running them on a tablet only makes sense for train commutes or plain rides for people who don't already have a laptop/iPhone. Sounds crazy to me.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | October 05, 2009 - 10:22am

Well you are missing the idea of students not wanting to lug around 50 lbs of textbooks with them. This tablet could also allow them to take their notes on this thing, while recording their lectures at the same time(speculating of course)creating a digital catch-all for college/university courses.

Some of the more simpler things you seem to have missed would be the fact that this would probably have speakers so you wouldn't have to wear headphones, and someone could easily create a dock extender cable to let you hook up to your existing stuff.

Then of course there is the larger storage capacity (100's of gigs)and probably HD video output allowing you to take your movies with you when you travel and output them on any tv you come across. If you really don't want the tablet to lie flat, there will be a plethora of stands to choose from. etc. etc.

It seems like you are writing this thing off without any deep thought put into it.

caedfel (not verified) | October 05, 2009 - 9:06am

i have an iphone & it has replaced my laptop for checking the web. However, i would prefer a slightly larger screen. So the itablet is just a bigger iphone/ipod touch? It could be but I hope not.

I am sure they would sell but they would not change the industry as the ipod and iphone have done. The iphone/ipod touch is great for consuming information e.g browsing the web, apps replacing safari but apple should make the tablet great for creating/editing information - just like laptops & desktops are great for creating/editing information/data but overkill for consuming info.

This means that new applications need to be created for the itablet - applications that run on the arm chipset. These will be applications that are non 486. Just like apps on the iphone at the moment that are used to create and edit information/data. These apps will not be the huge applications that run on the 486 chipset e.g photoshop, office but apps that suit our needs e.g like the ilife or iwork applications. This would change the balance of power away from microsoft and intel.

Steven McQueen (not verified) | October 05, 2009 - 9:17am

On January 3rd, 2008 (nearly 18 months ago), a patent Apple submitted was revealed, showing an iMac-like enclosure, with a laptop sliding in from the side...

Fast forward two-years later (January 2010), and the concept has morphed into being Apple's tablet solution.

The tablet will run on a single-core when on the road, and dual-core when docket into the iMac-like monitor casing.

The OS will run OS X desktop apps via Rosetta (with speeds are are "good enough"), while iPhone Apple are native.

NOTE: It does not run OS X desktop apps unless docked.

When working as a tablet, it will retain the iPhone OS-like interface. When in Desktop model, OS X Snow Leopard interface (with a quick ability to access all iPhone apps, running in point and click mode).

Price:
Apple hates to compete on price, and launching this product downstream in a $599 - $799 category leaves it less than a MacBook, perhaps slightly more than a netbook... Making this system a solution sale, iMac on one hand, portable on the other, adds value. The forthcoming iMacs are going to start at $999/$1,099, allowing for the "iPad" to start at $1,299. This includes the 20" docking station with built-in HD (tablet is Flash-based storage).

This fits perfectly into Apple's mode of selling into a higher-priced space, instead of following the pack to a price-point-only game.

Positioning:
Who else could do this? No one. Windows CE (AKA Win Mobile), and Win7 are miles apart from one another. The HW integration and OS flipping modes seamlessly is only something Apple could pull off for the next year or two. This type of solution is on one-one's radar. For competition to come close, two-years until poor Win 7 wanna-be products introduced, and they are poor attempts at that.

Developers:
This is a huge win for iPhone app developers, allowing them to easily expand their programs to a desktop level, with more features, while being able to up-charge for them.

Desktop OS X Intel-based developers will have a choice, and it's one they won't like. Let their stuff run under Rosetta, and hope this design and solution goes away, hoping "bottom dweller" iPhone app devs do not gain a foothold to their cash cow market space... or, Desktop devs port their apps to this new Apple-based ARM chipset.

Use:
I"m a small business guy, who would gladly trade this in for my 15" 3.5 year-old MBP in a heartbeat. 85% of my work is in the office where a large monitor and keyboard work best. On the road, use is generally for email, looking at PDF's, surfing the web, watching a show. A tablet could perform all of this. This would be Apple's first mobile product that actually has a "quick release/insert" dock for the desktop.

Hints:
Notice the latest patent for an amazingly small bluetooth Apple keyboard? A touch-pad mouse? These would make excellent travel companions while in a hotel room for the tablet...

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | October 05, 2009 - 4:09pm

To all of this, let's add that it will be the perfect device for students - from elementary school to the university level. Apple can make money selling textbooks and resources (a la iTunes) and students can ditch the heavy backpack in favour of a single device that let's them complete assignments, conduct research, write, submit work, and listen to tunes all in the palms of their hands. A wireless keyboard and mouse will make it all possible.

AllanF (not verified) | October 05, 2009 - 5:31pm

Agree totally. If for no other reason the Apple Tablet will be a huge success because the value of having multimedia enabled books with links to all kinds of rich content, explanatory materials, related videos, etc. which will be a dramatic improvement in text books and in fact all books. Also nowadays if a person wants to be well read they have to read a substantial amount of material best and maybe only found on-line. A 8-10" Tablet will be a lot better for reading than iPhones or Netbooks.

Also most of the 85,000+ application on the Apps store, many which are free, will no doubt run perfectly on the Tablet. Also the on-screen keyboard will be a lot better than the tiny keys and really inconvenient mouse touch pad on Netbooks. Looks like the iTablet WILL be another sea change in the computer industry.

geezer76 (not verified) | October 05, 2009 - 11:52am

Holy sh** SteveMcQueen,
you really freaked me out with this comment - first real good comment on ANY of those iPad/Tablet rumor posts anywheere - I hope you are right!

Tim Holt (not verified) | October 05, 2009 - 7:53pm

Apple has quietly put into place the ability to change education. The tablet is just part of the overall bigger picture. Here is an article that shows how:

http://snipurl.com/sbj02