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Apple OS and the new A4 chip could be headed to new gadgets

by Mel Martin Feb 23rd 2010 at 2:00PM

Apple appears to have plans for the iPhone OS beyond the iPhone, and iPad. A report in Computerworld notes a new Apple job posting for an Engineering Manager that can bring the iPhone OS to new platforms.

The Core Platform team within Apple's Core OS organization is looking for a talented and inspired manager to lead a team focused on bring-up of iPhone OS on new platforms. The team is responsible for low level platform architecture, firmware, core drivers and bring-up of new hardware platforms. The team consists of talented engineers with experience in hardware, firmware, IOKit drivers, security and platform architecture.

What could those new products be? Maybe a thinner, friskier Apple TV. Maybe smaller and lighter versions of laptops that get into netbook territory. And it is a pretty good bet that the next iPhone will be using the Apple designed A4 chip that is at the heart of the iPad. Apple could also be thinking about creating products or technologies for other products that are not Apple branded. The sky is the limit here.

With a considerable investment in the new A4 chip, it would be foolish of Apple to not be looking for other opportunities. Let your minds run wild.



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Apple appears to have plans for the iPhone OS beyond the iPhone, and iPad. A report in Computerworld notes a new Apple job posting for an...
 

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14 Comments

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Joe Lamb

"Maybe smaller and lighter versions of laptops that get into netbook territory."

That's wishful thinking, considering Steve said "netbooks aren't better at anything" and then said the iPad was the answer - the device to fill the hole that netbooks try to.

February 23 2010 at 7:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris

These might make their way into iPod touches, iPhones and possibly another unreleased product. It would definitely be nice to have a more energy efficient iPod touch. I am sick of having to charge the thing after every couple hours of use.

February 23 2010 at 6:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeff

I'd like to see the platform in cars. Not even the luxury automakers understand how to build an intuitive interfaces for their new touchscreen dash candies.

February 23 2010 at 5:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jeff's comment
Nelson Santos

I completely agree. How sweet it would be to have a built in system in your car that can play perfectly well with apple devices.

February 23 2010 at 10:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
WiiTodd

Something lame and underwhelming I'm sure. I've been disappointment with Apple announcements for a while now.

February 23 2010 at 4:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
punkassjim

1) I'm not sure the A4 chip is a small enough form factor for a device of the iPhone's size. Anyone here know?

2) When you've got as much cash in the bank as Apple has, you don't have to worry about selling your chip designs to other companies. Could it potentially be a cash cow? Sure. But if there's one thing we know about Apple, it's that that's not what they're all about.

February 23 2010 at 4:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dferns

I'm not sure whether a 1GHz A4 is any faster than the 1GHz Pentium M that's already in the Apple TV. A4 is ARM, Pentium is x86. x86 typically still beats ARM at similar clock rates.

February 23 2010 at 2:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to dferns's comment
dedgerton

Perhaps it would run at a higher clock speed in Apple TV where battery and cooling are less of an issue than in the phone or pad.

February 23 2010 at 3:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
timrowledge

Really? Do you have a suitable citation for that claim?
Since the A4 appears to be a dual core ARM CorTex A-9 based device I'd suggest there might be a bit more processing power there than a 1GHz single core x86. Not to mention dramatically less heat output.

February 23 2010 at 8:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Stan

I hope so!1

February 23 2010 at 2:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ilkyone

Sideboard processing on portables. Graphics, system functions, and all that other stuff on mac books, for instance. Could also be a bank of cores available for cocoa apps and other well heeled apps.

February 23 2010 at 2:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cubert

I so hope this is going into a new AppleTV. The people over at FixTheAppleTV.com would be happy.

February 23 2010 at 2:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ashwin

A redesigned Apple TV looks like a very strong possibility. New iPhone seems guaranteed. Custom hardware for other brands does not seem that likely.

February 23 2010 at 2:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Ashwin's comment
FightTheFuture

i really don't understand how the AppleTV could benefit with this processor while the Pentium chip inside is already playing back HD video.

what i would like to see is an iPod Touch that can output HD video to a TV.

February 23 2010 at 4:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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