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Arch changes wouldn't be a problem for Apple; besides having done it before, they don't have an issue with forcing devs to make major changes if it makes the pl

Arch changes wouldn't be a problem for Apple; besides having done it before, they don't have an issue with forcing devs to make major changes if it makes the platform better. However, it's unlikely Apple would switch to x86 unless Intel was willing to license the spec (Intel would much rather make the chips); as ARM licensing allows them near-full control over their chipset vs being dependent on a third party.

protomyth 14y ago
> unless Intel was willing to license the spec (Intel would much rather make the chips); as ARM licensing allows them near-full control over their chipset vs being dependent on a third party. Intel's lack of customization is the real problem. NVidia, Apple, Samsung, TI, and Qualcomm can build amazingly specific chips to the task of mobile, while Intel wants a one size fits all solution. Intel has effectively removed all the chipset makers from the PC world giving us poorer performing PCs. This approach won't work in mobile.
- ConstantineXVI 14y ago
  From a mobile OEM's perspective (excepting Apple and Samsung, who have the capability to produce their own SoCs), besides arch there's very little difference between Intel and other SoC vendors. Snapdragon, Tegra, and OMAP all leave about as much room for customization as Medfield (the mobile Atom variant) does. Qualcomm actually goes a step further than most and packs the modem into the SoC itself. This is partially why you see so many international phones using a different SoC end up swapping for a Snapdragon in the US. Qualcomm was heavily involved in the LTE spec, ensuring they had a head start on modems vs. the rest. Thus when American carriers demand LTE (or DC-HSPA in T-Mobile's case), it's then easier for OEMs to use a Qualcomm part vs. wait on a competitor's part to be approved and be late to market.
  - protomyth 14y ago
    Since Apple and Samsung are the majority of the market at this point, it makes a big difference. Beyond that, you have a number of vendors able to use ARM cores to make product. Never mind AMD getting using ARM cores. Intel has a chipset they want to sell everyone. The ARM ecosystem consists of multiple solutions from multiple vendors all with the core CPU software being the same.

protomyth 14y ago

> unless Intel was willing to license the spec (Intel would much rather make the chips); as ARM licensing allows them near-full control over their chipset vs being dependent on a third party. Intel's lack of customization is the real problem. NVidia, Apple, Samsung, TI, and Qualcomm can build amazingly specific chips to the task of mobile, while Intel wants a one size fits all solution. Intel has effectively removed all the chipset makers from the PC world giving us poorer performing PCs. This approach won't work in mobile.

ConstantineXVI 14y ago
From a mobile OEM's perspective (excepting Apple and Samsung, who have the capability to produce their own SoCs), besides arch there's very little difference between Intel and other SoC vendors. Snapdragon, Tegra, and OMAP all leave about as much room for customization as Medfield (the mobile Atom variant) does. Qualcomm actually goes a step further than most and packs the modem into the SoC itself. This is partially why you see so many international phones using a different SoC end up swapping for a Snapdragon in the US. Qualcomm was heavily involved in the LTE spec, ensuring they had a head start on modems vs. the rest. Thus when American carriers demand LTE (or DC-HSPA in T-Mobile's case), it's then easier for OEMs to use a Qualcomm part vs. wait on a competitor's part to be approved and be late to market.
- protomyth 14y ago
  Since Apple and Samsung are the majority of the market at this point, it makes a big difference. Beyond that, you have a number of vendors able to use ARM cores to make product. Never mind AMD getting using ARM cores. Intel has a chipset they want to sell everyone. The ARM ecosystem consists of multiple solutions from multiple vendors all with the core CPU software being the same.