Thread: Apple promotes Its Own CPU, the 1GHz A4

Apple has presented its long-awaited tablet, the iPad. It is unique because it incorporates the first processor stamped an apple, Apple A4.

The processor apple, Apple A4

This is the first time Apple has designed an internal processor and the results appear promising, although the complexity of its tasks is not excessive. Indeed, the performance of the iPad seem sufficient: Internet browsing and scrolling of pages is very fluid, even on a site loaded, and OpenGL games liked.

The A4 is the result of the acquisition by Apple of PA Semi in April 2008 ("Apple takes a designer processor).We knew the firm was working on a 64-bit ARM processor 2 GHz before his redemption and Cupertino would develop its own model ( "Apple will design its ARM processor). The processor runs the iPad to 1 GHz and integrates the ARM CPU and the GPU Imagination Technologies in the same package. Its consumption also seems relatively weak to allow the battery 25 Wh to have autonomy of 10 hours with Wi-Fi and 30 days standby.

Apple has been very discreet about the architecture of its new product, and we doubt that the firm discloses more information than that. Imagine by cons it should use the A4 or any of its versions in the next version of the iPhone.

The Apple iPad

About the iPad, the keynote, which focused exclusively on this product, just by itself, Apple did not present more information later on. The date of the Wi-Fi version is scheduled for late March and Steve Jobs talked in relation to international availability. The 3G version will be accessible in April in the U.S. and June in countries where the business will have signed a partnership with the telephone operators.

Prices in euros have not yet been disclosed. The iPad Wi-Fi + 3G will sell $ 630 for the 16GB version, $ 730 for 32GB and $ 830 for 64 GB iPad The Wi-Fi starts at $ 499 for 16 GB, then sold $ 599 for 32GB and $ 699 for 64 GB.

On a diagonal of 9.7 inches, the tablet has a resolution of 1 024 x 768. It handles video output through a VGA adapter. There is also a model with a composite output.

Note the lack of webcam and flash motor. This is not so surprising that it nevertheless, since the iPad runs on the iPhone OS. For those who regret the lack of multitasking, we emphasize that the presentation of the iPad has focused on the product version that uses a fundamentally similar to the iPhone, Apple has the same argument used to emphasize that 75 million users were already using the tablet. Those hoping to see this feature should at least wait until the WWDC and the presentation of a new version of the operating system.