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Intel blames iPhone problems on ARM processor

updated 11:35 am EDT, Wed October 22, 2008

Intel rags on iPhone chips

The iPhone lacks power because it relies on ARM processors, claims Pankaj Kedia, Intel's director of ecosystems in the ultra-mobility group. Kedia spoke at the Intel Developer Forum in Taiwan yesterday, adding to comments from the company's VP in the mobility group, Shane Wall. "Any sort of application that requires any horsepower at all and the iPhone struggles," said Wall. Kedia accuses ARM of hurting the smartphone world as a whole, specifically by underpowering a number of devices.

Regarding the iPhone, Wall says that its success is mainly attributable to a well-designed interface, and the promotional ability of Apple CEO Steve Jobs. The phone would be considerably better with Intel technology inside, he suggested on Tuesday, arguing that Intel chips are two to three times faster than ARM equivalents. "If you want to run full Internet, you're going to have to run an Intel-based architecture," claimed Wall.

Although Intel is not famous for its cellphone technology, the company has been expanding in that direction, and is rumored to be Apple's choice for future iPhones. The iPhone 3G currently relies on Samsung ARM processors, but Intel technology is used throughout all Macs, as well as the Apple TV.

by MacNN Staff

(19)

TAGS :

Intel, iPhone, industry, Samsung, ARM, iPhone 3G

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boulder1259
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 2002

+4

10/22, 11:50am | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
Was Apple's choice...

This guy just killed Intel's chances. Apple doesn't take kindly to these types of criticisms, and Apple has the technical expertise to go elsewhere (i.e., they easily could design their own chip).

TheBum
Mac Enthusiast

Joined: Sep 2001

+6

10/22, 12:11pm | report spam | close Reply |
This is news?!

What's a representative from Intel supposed to say, that there's no advantage to going to an Intel processor? This is marketing, not news!

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

-4

10/22, 12:19pm | report spam | close Reply |
typical

I bet the Atom could solve that problem.
/sarc

Peter Bonte
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

+1

10/22, 12:40pm | report spam | close Reply |
fud

I'm not arguing intel has better chips now but Apple needed huge quantities 2 years ago, the iPhones internals won't change the next year.

JulesLt
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2005

+3

10/22, 12:49pm | report spam | close Reply |
Battery life

The major problem with the Atom is that it's still far more power-hungry than ARM chips.

There are good reasons all phone manufacturers, including Apple, use ARM chips, and the low-power (and lower-cost / lower-premium) market is something Intel have only just woken up to.

We'll only be able to make a real and meaningful comparison between the performance of the two systems once they've got equal power consumption - otherwise it's as meaningless as comparing an Atom and Core 2 Duo on raw performance.

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

+1

10/22, 01:05pm | report spam | close Reply |
maybe not FUD

it very well could be that Intel's new line is more capable than the ARM. But, Apple had been working on the iPhone for years based on ARM technology, and the Intel Atom just came out.

It could be in the future that Apple will switch to the Atom. And, if it's all Intel claims to be, we will have faster and better iPhones. Remember, the iPhone is a platform, just like the Mac, and it will continue to evolve and get faster processors and more memory and upgraded software.

So, if the Atom is the future, I say "bring it!"

-Rick

Roehlstation
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

+6

10/22, 01:06pm | report spam | close Reply |
This is news?

I didn't realize I was having problems with my iPhone..... Glad Intel told me.

Johnny Niles
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 2007

+3

10/22, 01:13pm | report spam | close Reply |
Battery life.

So if Intel's chips are 2-3 times faster, does that mean battery life will be reduced? I'm going with yes. an iPhone with a max 2 hours battery life is not something that anybody wants.

dynsight
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 2005

-1

10/22, 01:18pm | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
ARM is slow

When I was a windows guy using an HP Pocket PC a few years ago, I was amazed at how slow it was to do basic tasks. Large Word Documents choked, as well as complex spreadsheets.

Still, it was a handy device. Right now, the iPhone can do about 60% of what my pocket PC could do (still need a good word processor and spreadsheet)...but if someone can create a decent ray tracery (iTrace), there may be hope yet for some business tools like project management or flow charts.

sorry, how many ball/maze games do we need.

that one guy
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 2005

+4

10/22, 03:17pm | report spam | close Reply |
not really true

ARM Processor in iPhone:
0.45 mW/MHz power draw (with cache)
Intel Atom Processor:
2.5W for the N270 processor

That may be the reason for using the ARM processor. Intel is finally starting to produce processors that are power efficient. ARM specializes in doing just that. Don't count Intel out yet, when they put their mind to it, they do a good job. (the Current Core2 processors are really nice)

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

+2

10/22, 04:48pm | report spam | close Reply |
Unbiased Opinion

I'm sure that Apple would love to use a processor that was faster, used less (or the same) amount of power, and was cheaper (or the same) in cost. If Intel can't deliver on two of these three then they don't have an argument.

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

-2

10/22, 04:56pm | report spam | close Reply |
Unbiased Opinion

I'm sure that Apple would love to use a processor that was faster, used less (or the same) amount of power, and was cheaper (or the same) in cost. If Intel can't deliver on two of these three then they don't have an argument.

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

-2

10/22, 04:57pm | report spam | close Reply |
Unbiased Opinion

I'm sure that Apple would love to use a processor that was faster, used less (or the same) amount of power, and was cheaper (or the same) in cost. If Intel can't deliver on two of these three then they don't have an argument.

resuna
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2005

+1

10/22, 05:26pm | report spam | close Reply |
Mouth, meet foot?

Boy, way to torpedo your own product.

Intel makes ARM processors themselves, selling them under the name XScale.

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

+1

10/22, 05:35pm | report spam | close Reply |
Typical Intel

This is just plan boring:

ARM designs their core (I think it was an ARM4 core...I could be wrong).
Digital license the technology and produce StrongARM.
Intel win the rights (amongst other spoils) to StrongARM technology from Digital via a lawsuit.
Intel redevelops the StrongARM and calls it XScale
Intel don't like it and don't know what to do with it (and probably don't like paying the ARM license) as it's 'Not Developed Here' and sell it on.
Intel develops their 'Low Power' alternative, Atom (stifles a laugh) probably drawing on experience from the ARM design.
It's not as good as ARM (originally Acorn) have been designing low power devices since the 80's.
Apple bought a stake in ARM (40%? I don't know if they still have a stake) in the 90's and utilised ARM610 in their Newton.
For once Intel are on the back foot but the low powered market, for the moment anyway, is ruled by ARM and their manufacturing partners (ARM don't manufacture processors they just design and license them).

So Intel are just being pathetic and talking up an inferior product.

Yes, we've all seen this kind of rubbish 'oneupmanship' from Intel before. But we can't say that as we're all supposed to be Intel fan boys as Apple uses them in their products. I suppose that's childish but if someone like Intel can get away with criticism of that ilk the why can't I?

chadpengar
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 2001

+1

10/22, 07:28pm | report spam | close Reply |
intel owned StrongARM

DEC had gotten ARM technology and sold it to Intel. For quite a while Intel sold ARM processors. I think they sold that off a while back. Kind of funny.

Asphalt 4 is impressive running on my gen 1 iPhone.

chadpengar
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 2001

+1

10/22, 09:25pm | report spam | close Reply |
ARM at same wattage

I wonder what an ARM processor could do if it ran fast and had bigger caches such that it used the same power as the Atom.

Kind of like comparing a V6 Honda Accord 2-door. Goes faster has more power than a 4 cylinder civic. But the Accord uses a lot more gas.

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Intel blames iPhone problems on ARM processor

updated 11:35 am EDT, Wed October 22, 2008

Intel rags on iPhone chips

Was Apple's choice...

This is news?!

typical

fud

Battery life

maybe not FUD

This is news?

Battery life.

ARM is slow

not really true

Unbiased Opinion

Unbiased Opinion

Unbiased Opinion

Mouth, meet foot?

Typical Intel

intel owned StrongARM

ARM at same wattage

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Intel blames iPhone problems on ARM processor

updated 11:35 am EDT, Wed October 22, 2008

Intel rags on iPhone chips

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Was Apple's choice...

This is news?!

typical

fud

Battery life

maybe not FUD

This is news?

Battery life.

ARM is slow

not really true

Unbiased Opinion

Unbiased Opinion

Unbiased Opinion

Mouth, meet foot?

Typical Intel

intel owned StrongARM

ARM at same wattage

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