Apple Buy Out PA Semi
Thursday, April 24th, 2008I’ve always been interested in Apples stand in their product architecture, when Apple decided to make the move to the x86 platform openning new leases to Linux based OS not to mention being able to run windows. Any way moving back to the topic!
Apple have bought the Chip manufacturer PA Semi. On behalf of Apple they current develop low-power processors for their PowerPC architecture. Apple have used the firm for previous products such as the PowerBook and Power Mac.
As you are all aware Apple have used Intel Processors for their current x86 architecture systems. Apple have decided to use Intels Atom microprocessors for their future IPhone release, the iPhone currently uses the ARM-base microprocessor. The ARM-base based iPhone owned by StrongARM have been integrated into Intels organisation so the move to the x86 architecture is appropriate.
The migration to the new architecture ‘x86′ is problematic. There are many advantages of moving to the architecture from a developers point of view, create once and run forever, using the Atom based processor! compare this to the ARM processor, it has been created by different manufacturers causing incompatible software between versions, no future/ backward compatibility, in conclusion causing entirely separate versions of applications and Operating Systems. The consumer must also note that the architecture will run on any desktop and laptop system, well the majority, x86 based.
With the Apple buy out of PA, Apple has now said in their future specification of products they will influence PA’s future product base.
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