Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • PC Hardware

    Apple to Switch From Intel Chips to ARM Silicon: Report

    Written by

    Nathan Eddy
    Published November 6, 2012
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      Consumer technology giant Apple is getting ready to replace the Intel processors used in its PCs with silicon developed by British company ARM, according to a Nov. 6 report in Bloomberg, which quoted unnamed sources familiar with the situation.

      Apple has been using Intel chips in its PCs since 2005, and the transition wouldn’t happen for a few more years, the sources said. Processors from ARM, which licenses chip designs to Qualcomm and others, are currently found in Apple’s iPhone and iPad products.

      An investor note from Sterne Agee said it would take some time before Apple can optimize the chips to run the Mac OS X operating system, but noted that eventually the ARM processors would be powerful enough to run intensive Mac applications. Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu said the migration to a proprietary chip was inevitable.

      “We are frankly not surprised as this has been talked about since iPad shipped in 2010 and Mac OS X Lion in 2011 that borrowed heavily from iOS. We believe it is inevitable to merge iOS and Mac but not likely for a few years as Mac code is optimized for [Intel chips],” the note said. “While we believe it is inevitable that [OS X and iOS] merge at some point, we don’t believe it will likely happen for a few years. From our understanding, the key reason is because OS X is optimized for Intel x86 processors while iOS is for ARM RISC. It will likely take some time to optimize OS X and hence Mac for ARM.”

      This is a challenge to Intel to deliver stronger battery life; an 11-inch MacBook Air, the smallest-form-factor mobile Mac, delivers battery life of about four to five hours under heavy use, which is only half the nine to 10 hours for an iPad, Wu wrote. The note said one key argument for the change is to simplify the architecture and to take advantage of the large code base that has been developed on iOS by Apple itself as well as through third-party vendors through the App Store.

      “In addition, merging could also allow Apple to deliver a more seamless and integrated experience across its platforms,” Wu wrote. “The other reality is that Mac represents only 14 to 18 percent of its revenue, compared with 45 to 50 percent for iPhone and 20 to 25 percent for the iPad.”

      The note also touched on Apple’s announcement that it sold 3 million iPads over its opening weekend for the iPad Mini and its fourth-generation iPad, topping the 1.5 million third-generation WiFi iPads sold in March. Wu noted that the 3 million figure was at the upper end of expectations for 1 to 3 million units.

      “While the company did not provide a detailed breakout, our supply chain checks indicate that iPad Mini accounted for the majority of units. We believe this should help alleviate concerns that its $329 price point is too high,” Wu wrote. “We continue to believe iPad Mini is the competition’s worst nightmare as it slows down adoption of competitors’ tablets and Windows 8. We remain comfortable with our December-quarter forecast of 25 million units, versus 14 million shipped in the September quarter.”

      Nathan Eddy
      Nathan Eddy
      A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan was perviously the editor of gaming industry newsletter FierceGameBiz and has written for various consumer and tech publications including Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, CRN, and The Times of London. Currently based in Berlin, he released his first documentary film, The Absent Column, in 2013.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×