http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
It's a giant Zune HD.]]>Jan 28th 2010 4:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
isnt zune OS based on windows CE which is a multitasking operating system? definitely better than ifone OS]]>Jan 28th 2010 5:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
I'm convinced we'll see multi-tasking with iPhone OS 4.0 - remember this thing is only running OS 3.2 and was probably just released so developers could start from day one - they don't have to think of multi-tasking, Apple just needs to enable it..]]>Jan 28th 2010 5:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 5:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
I agree. A lot of people who have actually had hands on said they experienced some bugginess and Josh couldn't even search a book. I think Apple just wanted to announce it and get it out there, get developers working on it and focus on the rest of the year with their iPhone and iPod Touch updates as well as the next iPhone OS.

I am just hoping this processor makes it into the next iPhone with 512MB of RAM. I think we saw a reveal of what the iPhone will look like though, with an aluminium backing and a black strip at the top for the receivers.

]]>Jan 28th 2010 7:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
It keeps getting better and better. Can you hear the RDS creaking under the strain?

The Jesustampon has a CELL PHONE processor!!]]>Jan 28th 2010 7:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 7:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 8:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.symbian-guru.com/welcome/2010/01/custom-omnia-hd-rom-runs-50-processes-simultaneously.html]]>Jan 28th 2010 8:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 9:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 10:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 10:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
Roughly speaking iPhone 3Gs (Cortexx A8) is twice as fast as the iPhone 3G. If the core really is a single Cortex A9 (there is nothing to support it is dual core in Apple's release) at 1GHz then it is roughly 2.5 times the performance of the iPhone 3G. If it were an dual Cortex A9 then it would be closer to 4x the performance of the iPhone.

Check out this video for comparison of iPhone 3G vs 3Gs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZOJVUrAAzk

Cheers,
Kevin]]>Jan 28th 2010 11:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
The 10 hour battery life has more to do with the large 25 Whr battery that is in in the device rather than efficiency improvements in the A4 chip.

You cant fit a battery that big in a phone.
]]>Jan 28th 2010 11:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/BlackSlat3 for iPad here it comes....... ]]>Jan 28th 2010 11:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 12:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/And yes, it's not NVIDIA anymore when you take out their GPU but the idea is basically the same thing.]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
So, you are saying that iPhone OS can multitask but Apple just hid these features from users. As I see it, the end result for users - no multitasking (well there is some but very limited) so I do not get your point.]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
With the CES onslaught of slates, Apple had to do something fast. Give them credit it's good strategy (make Apple fans "wait" instead of buying something else now), but all you need is Amazon to release a better Kindle by April, or Android to thrown down some 1.3Ghz Snapdragon tablet (Nook2), or MS to release something cheaper with ZuneHD and the iPad will be history.

Good strategy, but they just opened a 2month window of opportunity for someone to pull the rug under the iPad.]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 12:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
Exactly

I multi-task on a jailbroken 3G all the time and there's barely a performance hit at all.

what DOES happen as that as the paltry 128MB of ram gets eaten up, the OS starts killing apps automatically, starting with the 3rd party apps.

I'm gonna bet that if iphone OS 4.0 adds in mulit-tasking, it will only be supported onthe 4th gen iphone and on the 3GS.

2G and 3G won't support multitasking in 4.0 due to "hardware restrictions" just like stereo bluetooth. :/]]>Jan 28th 2010 2:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 3:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
System-on-chips existed way before NVIDIA's Tegra hype train. Texas Instruments (guys that make OMAP chips) were in this business long before a lot of these folks.]]>Jan 28th 2010 3:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 3:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/arm-posts-cortex-a9-vs-atom-performance-video-intel-should-be-worried-2010016/
There is a link to an ARM video showing the difference.

Looks like Apple did the netbook they claimed will never do.]]>Jan 28th 2010 4:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
Obviously people don't realize that iPhone DOES multitask right out of the box. Safari, Mail, iPod, and Phone ALL run in the background. Its just that Apple only allows those 4 applications to run in the background, but that IS multitasking. So to say that the platform isn't capable of multitasking is quite arrogant.

And for everyone out there that is jailbroken and has Backgrounder and Proswitcher installed, they all know just how capable the iPhone is at multitasking. Its just as capable as the Pre, and with Proswitcher it uses the exact same card interface as the Pres.

So yes, the iPhone is very capable at multitasking, and even does so right out of the box (limited to those 4 Apple apps). All that needs to be done is for Apple to start allowing all other apps to run in the background and thats it, the OS itself is built to handle multitasking extremely well. And I'm willing to bet money that we are probably going to see Apple start allowing multitasking in OS 4.0, and will probably wrap it all up in a very nice interface for switching between apps. I think we will probably see it make its way onto the iPad first, and then later on to the iPhone. But I think the next hardware revision for the iPhone will have beefed up internals to get ready for multitasking.]]>Jan 28th 2010 10:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 29th 2010 12:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 4:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 5:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 6:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Nope, it can't. According to Apple's very on specs page:

"Support for 1024 by 768 pixels with Dock Connector to VGA Adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite Cable"]]>Jan 28th 2010 7:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
The issue is that the iPad doesn't support it which means it is likely a political (think movie companies) rather than a technical decision.]]>Jan 28th 2010 8:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/That is the max capability of the VGA connector. However, HDMI is a possibility on the dock connector, and the MALI55 GPU is capable to 1080p, so until we get some additional hadrware options announced in 60 days, please keep to what Jobs spoke, and that included 720p support. We'll dispute other claims when facts are available. ]]>Jan 28th 2010 9:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/IIRC Steve only said it supports "720p playback", which makes sense .. after all that's the resolution of iTunes' "HD" content - there was not word on 720p output.

And after Apple's recent commitment to Mini-DP i don't believe in an HDMI-adapter until I see one ..]]>Jan 28th 2010 1:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 4:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 4:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Ladies... Stop Complaining... They'll only stop when you lot stop posting over 1,000 comments on some of these posts.....................

Why should they stop when people want to comment? Sure most of it is bitching, but people seem to want to make the concious effort to bitch... At least they're giving you the choice to do so..........unlike Steve Jobs]]>Jan 28th 2010 8:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.brightsideofnews.com/comment/2010/1/27/apple-a4-soc-unveiled---its-an-arm-cpu-and-the-gpu!.aspx#3765 ]]>Jan 28th 2010 8:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
You guys might be right, all I know is that after the deluge of articles over the past few weeks, I now begin every sentence with [lowercase] i...

iGive up! iTime to get back to work.]]>Jan 28th 2010 8:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 8:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 4:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 5:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 5:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 5:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/I just hope they put this and 512mb ram in the next iPhone :]
Maybe give us multitasking is 4.0 =D? Ok maybe not =(]]>Jan 28th 2010 4:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
This wasn't in the iPad announcement. So you're basically saying you hated everything about the iPad DESPITE the fact that it runs on a Cortex A9, which it turns out you actually LIKE.

This is the problem with people knee-jerk hating on everything Apple does. You never have the full story.]]>Jan 28th 2010 2:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
Man-o-man, apple you are always pullin a shifty on us. Custom chip my ass. GTFOH

on another note the mobile industry is moving like theres no tomorrow. Arm is in the house. Im scared to spend. every two weeks something is popping up. yikes :''( ]]>Jan 28th 2010 4:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 8:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/
: -(]]>Jan 28th 2010 4:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-a4-is-an-arm-based-system-on-a-chip-a-la-tegra-2/Jan 28th 2010 4:58AM