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yannickweb
If you want an A4 arm processor you have to find founder who propose this IP ...
Luis Sanchez
A4 chip drives AppleTV, iPod Touch
Rick Merritt
9/1/2010 7:04 PM EDT
SAN JOSE, Calif. – With its latest products announcements, Apple Inc. has spread its A4 microprocessor across all it non-computer products, lowering its hardware and software design and manufacturing costs. Intel takes a big hit in the move, losing three sockets in the AppleTV and seeing the chance for future non-computer design wins slip further away.
Apple announced it is using its A4 in the latest iPod Touch and its re-launched AppleTV product. The chip is already used in the iPad and iPhone 4.
The previous AppleTV was effectively a PC using an Intel PentiumM-class processor and two supporting chips, an Intel memory controller with embedded graphics and an I/O chip.
The three chips cost $60-65, took up 975mm2 of packaged area and 242mm2 of silicon area, according to Jeff Brown, vice president of business intelligence at UBM TechInsights, a division of United Business Media, the publisher of EE Times. By contrast the A4 replaces all three chips with one device that is estimated to cost Apple $15-20, takes up 196mm2 of packaged space and 53mm2 of silicon area.
"There's phenomenal reuse for lowering manufacturing and design costs here," said Brown. Now Apple can "develop using one operating system [iOS] on all those products--that’s a big benefit," Brown said.
| Original Apple TV |
New AppleTV |
|
| Release |
Jan. 2007 |
Sept. 2010 |
| Chipset maker |
Intel | Samsung |
| Chipset | Pentium M | Apple A4 |
| Speed |
1 GHz |
1 GHz |
| Chip count |
3 | 1 |
| Package area (mm2) |
975 | 196 |
| Die area (mm2) |
242 | 53 |
| Pins | 2,344 | 531 |
The resolution would not be a big issue for gamers if they could use the $99 box to tap into Apple's existing library of low cost games available for the iPhone and iPad games. It's not clear whether AppleTV will be able to run games or applications on a TV.
"Bluetooth wireless controllers exist for gaming, and could be a next step for AppleTV," said Brown.
He speculated that Apple is probably re-using a lot of the same components from the iPhone on the new AppleTV and iPod Touch products, potentially including a Broadcom BCM4329 Wi-Fi controller that also supports Bluetooth and FM radio. The original AppleTV, launched in January 2007, used a Broadcom BCM4321.
The new iPod Touch also uses an A4 processor and a three-axis gyro, presumably the same STMicroelectronics part used in the iPhone 4. Another TechInsights analyst said he expects the part will be used in a future iPad.
Previously the iPod Touch used a Samsung system-on-chip based on an ARM core. Thus iPod Touch developers did not have to rewrite as much software as the team behind the AppleTV which was based on the x86.
The new iPod Touch also uses the same 960x640 pixel so-called Retina display as the iPhone 4. However, it does apparently use a novel camera.
The new iPod Nano moves from the familiar Apple wheel interface to touch input. It also adds an accelerometer, again presumably the same device used in iPhones.
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rick.merritt
9/1/2010 7:15 PM EDT
What's next, an Apple notebook running the A4?
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goafrit
9/2/2010 9:10 AM EDT
Yes, this is possible. Apple is a threat to the whole industry. These guys are enormously good. If they continue like this, in 15 years, Apple will acquire Intel
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iniewski
9/1/2010 7:49 PM EDT
Good for Apple bad for Intel...the article does not mention the key difference beyond the price: Apple chip dissipates less power than Intel combo...will that development explain why Intel acquired Infineon wireless biz? trying to get back into Apple sockets at all costs? Kris
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rick.merritt
9/1/2010 9:16 PM EDT
Good point. The PentiumM combo no doubt sucked tons more power--and Intel will still have non-computer design wins at Apple with its new wireless unit from Infineon. But what about that notebook with a next-gen A4, possible or just a wild idea?
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Neo1
9/2/2010 1:57 AM EDT
Apple is making some sound decisions here, not only the saved big on silicon but also power and cost. For one, they are not dictated by the "legacy" bulldozer, they decide what the customers need!
I think they have some grand plans if they opt for same platform for all their products, it gives them enormous leverage which they love to have.
Graphics is no problem, with the space and cost saved they can plugin in a lean and high perf gpu to decode the HD which IMO would do better than intel solution.
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Sudarshan NS
9/2/2010 3:52 AM EDT
Looks like Intel is losing in Embedded market and Samsung gaining a lot. Samsung ARM based SoC's are relatively cheaper and works well comparing to Freescale processors and Intel. Prediction is Samsung will have major share in embedded market SoC's..............
-Sudarshan
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goafrit
9/2/2010 9:16 AM EDT
Intel has to acquire lots of companies to stay in the embedded systems game. They have since lost the competitive engine. If they lose the embedded market, they will miss the next mobile industry which will be bad.
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hm
9/2/2010 12:55 PM EDT
As demonstrated Apple A4 is very capable processor. Many designers may be wondering employing the same in many other innovative solution and markets – industrial control, bio-medical, military and others. Will Apple give literature about this processor in public domain? Will they market this chip as for other design? It will be very encouraging if get this processor and Apple iOS or some real time version of it.
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Weatherbee
9/2/2010 7:50 PM EDT
That will never EVER EVER happen. Apple is a consumer company and getting into industrial/medical/military apps would be far too risky for what they would have to charge to be competitive. It would also possibly "dilute" their brand. It is a really nice idea I've already pursued.
Anyway, check out the Texas Instruments AM3715. It is pretty much an A4. You're going to be running Linux for cost sensitive apps or if you are doing hardcore realtime VXWorks/Nucleus/Neutrino etc.
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Duane Benson
9/2/2010 1:27 PM EDT
Rick - If you look at what has been done with the Beagleboard, running a Ti OMAP (same ARM Cortex A8 core as the A4), you can see that a netbook/notebook using the A4 isn't too far off.
I've browsed the Internet and done word processing with Linux on the Beagleboard we built here at Screaming Circuits. The performance wasn't anything to write home about, but it's pretty darn close. And that was with the 600MHz OMAP.
If ARM can keep it's power draw and heat generation down as it continues to improve performance, I'd guess that in two years the processor will be viable for low-end netbooks.
I suspect that Intel is chasing after the same market with its Atom processor. ARM coming at it from the low-end up and Intel coming from the high-end down.
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jimcondon
9/2/2010 4:40 PM EDT
Rick,
I'm on board with you and an A4 based netbook from our friends at Apple. I'm imagining a iPad with a keyboard in an Macbook Air form factor. Of course we could rotate the screen to use as a tablet or a netbook form factor. That may be enough to turn me entirely into a mac fan boy.
From a processing side, it's definitely possible. The A4 in my iPad is fine for most cloud-based processing. I'm not doing any molecular modeling or 3D design. :) The industrial design will be the side where innovation is required.
Jim
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BrettS
9/2/2010 9:14 PM EDT
Once ARM technology moves into 64 bit space, then Intel has something to worry about.
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ChakC
9/3/2010 7:15 AM EDT
The PA semi A4 engineers are doing great, putting the A4 as a key component in every Apple product. I like the fact that A4 has a much reduced die size and smaller the pin number, so as greatly reduced power consumption. My Moto Droid phone is getting to hot all the time.
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somethingtofill this stupidentry
9/3/2010 10:15 AM EDT
To bad it is still 1990 technology, the A4 processer will not go above 720p. Any other personal video recorder and most video sources today are High definition (1080i 0r 1080p) higher then 720p and will not work with Apples latest and greatest products with out down conversions.
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Luis Sanchez
9/6/2010 5:03 PM EDT
Can somebody lead me to the A4 technical specs?
Is it an Arm processor? who's the foundry? Did Apple design it alone or was it a joint effort?
Did they hire special staff for this chip?
I would like to know more of this chip do you know where can I find more info?
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yannickweb
9/9/2010 4:40 AM EDT
If you want an A4 arm processor you have to find founder who propose this IP processor in a SOC. In fact this is another big adavantage for ARM, you can find a lot of supplier(STm,Samsung,freescale...)
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