iPad confirmed to use PowerVR SGX graphics, Apple job posting suggests A4 chip will hit other products
By Donald Melanson 
posted February 23rd 2010 5:27PM
posted February 23rd 2010 5:27PM
In related news, a recent Apple job posting has now also offered up the first hard evidence that Apple might actually be putting its huge investment in A4 to use other platforms besides the iPad -- shocking, we know. That job is for an Engineering Manager, who would lead a team focused on the "bring-up of iPhone OS on new platforms," and would otherwise be responsible for "low level platform architecture, firmware, core drivers and bring-up of new hardware platforms" -- experience with ARM-based SoCs is also an "additional success factor." Sound like the job you've been waiting for? Then hit up the link below for the complete details.
@7egend
It probably isn't that much different from all the other SoCs out there with integrated graphics hardware.
If it were, apple would have been bragging on the fact in the release event, or following weeks.
@newone
yup, everyone is using ARM and PowerVR on these smart gadgets. It's only now that we got some competition with nVIDIA's Tegra on the graphics side, though ARM largely remains safe
@JeremyBenthem
Well all use ARM, but on the graphic side there are many options. Beside PowerVR, there are ARM Mali are used by many while Qualcomm (acquired AMD handheld business) and nvidia use in-house designs.
3DMark Score?
Why doesn't the job posting ad the fact you must allow Apple to search your phone(no cameras allowed), laptop, PC at anytime or be fired if they suspect information leaks are coming from your department?
That should at least be listed as a benefit.
@techlord 3DMark uses DirectX...
Because it's not standard practice to discuss security arrangements in a job posting. And anyway if you go to work for apple, I'm pretty sure you would know what you're getting into.
@treats
Why do people cling to the first post with a totally irrelevant response to try to get their stuff to the top of the page...
@hfm because nobody will read all the comments that will follow on other pages. anyone will read whats on top because is easy for them to read. its why you and others that want their comments to be read write there.
by the way what others platforms have they in mind?? apple tv monitor with multitouch and iphone os when not plugged into computer. it will be nice.
@techlord
Does anyone know what kind of power its packing? A comparison to some other chips that are in use would be handy - perhaps that is what the OP was getting at. Without benchmarks its just a chip with a fancy name.
It may very well be more powerful on paper, but with Apple so concerned about battery life I would expect it to be undervolted and underclocked from spec to save power, with no way to bring it up to full speed. At least nobody has to worry about it getting overly hot though.
@NaterGator
It is tagged as "apple".
Personally, I'm enjoying reading all Engadget articles. People who wear blinkers are often blind-sided and scrolling past stuff you don't want to read isn't that hard.
Maybe next gen iPhone :D
@mtnDewFTW I'm just going to guess, but I'd think one of the reasons it's in a larger device than an iPhone in the first place is because it's a larger (physical) chip. Who knows if it'll be possible to fit it into an iPhone sized device in its current form.
@jhoff80 The chip itself is actually tiny, however it may need to big motherboard to power it.
But who knows, maybe Apple will find a way to put it into the iPhone.
But if they don't put it in the iPhone.. what other products could it actually be useful in?
@pachi72
Agreed. After announcement day when all the shortcomings (and high prices) were revealed, I lost interest.
@Canucker
Nope - tagged as "a4, apple a4, AppleA4". Article still shows up on "exclude".
Having said that, it's about the A4 chip which I think will be a pretty big deal in the coming year(s) and wouldn't want to miss news about it. Somehow people didn't talk about this too much - I thought this was the most interesting part of the ipad announcement.
@DirtyVegas
I wish engadget would let me downrank you twice, once for going to the non-apple site and a second for commenting in the article. You've only proven you are an in the closet apple fan
@Mentat
I'm a technology fan, which is why I'm here. Engadget has that snark and fun no other website has. However, I'd like to believe I have balanced opinions and merit based likes and dislikes of companies. No matter what the editors here claim, an Apple event results in a freakin' spam fest and they overdid it with the ipad coverage. Would gladly use the exclude option for future Apple announcements - I can get balanced coverage elsewhere for that time frame.
Will those that complain about the fragmentation of android (hardware wise) stop complaining with each iDevice that is released which uses iPhone OS?
Were already in a situation of different hardware configurations, screen sizes/resolutions, amount of ram and processing speeds and are on the Eve of special iPad versions of apps.
Fragmentation gets a new home.
@ChazClout
Forgot to add that this is a nice revelation for the iPad too. Very nice!
@ChazClout
really? because the screen size hasn't changed one iota between the iPhone and iPod touch. The iPad is, obviously, a separate product running its own customized OS.
As for 1G iPod touches vs 3G iPod touches, welcome to the tech industry, but you know what? I have a 1G iPod touch and downloading games, etc is great.
The problem with Android is
a) there's no singular delivery mechanism like iTunes for OS upgrades, so some people get new stuff, some people wait longer...its like being a WM owner :( ...
b) different button configurations means Devs feel like they're in the ATM business.
c) Low marketshare, of course, doesn't help anyone, and
d) Extremely low App store apps compared to Apple is... not helping anyone.
@Wesscoast Android Marketplace has 20,000 apps. I wouldn't call it extremely low.
@Uion1715
exactly!
tbh I own an iphone and half of the apps are either free or lite versions of paid apps where as most android apps are free anyway
@ChazClout I think it is hilarious how all the android fans hate on the iPad but drool over a tablet or netbook running Android. It is a phone OS even Google sees that. Probably the reason why they started Chrome OS
@Uion1715 compared to Apples app store yeah that is very low
i think its pretty safe to say in the near future all ipod, iphones and ipads will use this a4 chip. I reckon this chip will in the long run as its included in all its portable products now and in the future will save apple a lot of money whilst keeping there gear high spec'ed
@DirtyVegas
I agree, I find the processor to be something I am very interested in, and yet we know so little about it, like how well it performs against other similarly spec'd CPUs and what sort of specs it has.
All I know is, that it is lightning fast, it's new, and it sounds like an Audi inside (which is by no means a bad thing).
Can't wait for the S4!
I could see this being put into macbooks to provide a limited user experience (email, music, e-reader, some web surfing) and a very long battery life, kind of like LatitudeOn.
Excellent point!
@TMoney2007
I like that idea!
@TMoney2007 Great idea! That would be great and I could see myself using that feature a lot
Still inferior to Tegra 2, OMAP 4, and ZMS - 08.
@Prevacator
The iPad has the same chip as the Tegra2...
Both use 1GHz ARM Coretex-A9
@SirMaster
The Tegra 2 uses two of them.
Not to mention the Tegra 2 is capable of doing 1080p out, while the iPad can barely do SD. Just because they have the same ARM processor, doesn't make the SoCs equal.
@Prevacator The iPad's inability to do 1080p out has more to do with its low end video output circuitry (and Apple's belief that no one wants to use a tablet to drive a big HD external display) than the capabilities of its SoC.
The iPad has a higher resolution (1024 x 768) internal screen than some of the announced competitors (1024 x 600). Does that alone mean the iPad has a more powerful CPU? Of course not.
@darksharpie
I agree. To this day I really don't understand the whole HD out argument at all. PowerVR chips in SoC's without the benefit of A-9 cores have been shown to power full HD1080p outputs, so one is not a problem at all.
The real question is why so many seem obsessed with using a $350 netbook to play content on their 60' plasma that cost them thousands.
When really you could buy a $99 WD HD Live unit and a $50 WD external USB drive or stream from a network and get the same effect, with a remote control.
Oh I forgot, the netbook is portable so you can take it with you when you go visit all your friends with their 60'' HDTV with nothing hooked to it, that really need you to hook up your netbook so they can watch something.
If you want HD on the cheap, a netbook is actually a horrible choice.
@Prevacator
True it has 2. However, the iPad is only incapable of 1080p because of its screen. And we are still a ways away from 1080p tablet screens in
@Prevacator
True it has 2. However, the iPad is only incapable of 1080p because of its screen. And we are still a ways away from 1080p tablet screens in 10" sizes.
Even my iPhone can play back 1080p @ 30fps without stuttering and thats only a 600Mhz ARM Cortex-A8. The hardware has been there, the screens just aren't.
There is nothing besides Apple standing in the way of a 1080p output via the Dock connector.
@Atkins Actually that remains to be seen
@Abe High prices? To be fair those prices are pretty reason especially for Apple standards.
Thanks ;)
(Not for deleting my comment)
@XChrisX
It may be cheap, but if you take in practicality into account would you pay $500 on an oversized iPod touch?
Me fail English? That's unpossible!
@commenter7 Absolutely. I'll get more use and fun out of it than an undersized Dell Studio 17".
I'm a bit confused as to how taking reference designs from ARM and the SGX graphics component, and putting them together and sending them off to be made by someone else is a 1 billion dollar investment.
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/02/22/custom_apple_a4_ipad_chip_estimated_to_be_1_billion_investment.html
@Nitesh
I highly doubt they just took the reference designs and shipped them off to be made as you put it.
Not to mention that the purchase of PA Semi was over quarter of a billion dollars alone, plus the ARM architectural license and PowerVR licensing fees. But they do no less with the chips than any of the competing chip makers do.
And I really don't understand why everyone is predicting that the chip will be a single core when the A-9MP design it is based on can have up to 4 cores, and the PowerVR chip can have up to 16 cores.
There would be a lot more to it than just saying give me 2 of those cores and 2 of those cores and paint an apple on the top of it.
@dennisheadley The Cortex A9 spec can only be a dual core or a quad core, who said its single?
@Nitesh Commenters insisting the A4 (without even knowing its full spec) is inferior to Tegra 2...