3 ms·

More than just licensing the tech, Apple buys the companies who make it. Apple owns Intrinsity, which designed the A4 processor. Apple also owns P.A. Semi, whic

• masklinn 16y ago
  > Apple owns Intrinsity, which designed the A4 processor. That's a pretty long shot. Intrinsity clearly improved the A4, but overall A4 is a very standard Cortex A8 SoC. > Apple also owns P.A. Semi, which contributed to the A4 SoC. I have not seen any analysis or information pointing to actual PA Semi input in A4. Where Intrinsity is well known for improvements to existing designs (power-wise, mostly), PA Semi is generally credited with brand new and unique design, which the A4 isn't. I also understand most of PA Semi left after its acquisition.
  • Samuel_Michon 16y ago
    > Intrinsity clearly improved the A4, but overall A4 is a very standard Cortex A8 SoC. Agreed. According to the Times, Intrinsity only made the Cortex A8 perform at a higher frequency [0]. An another Times article suggests PA Semi worked on the A4 [1], but no details are given. [0] http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/technology/28apple.html http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/technology/28apple.html [1] http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/technology/business-computing/02chip.html http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/technology/business-comput...