Maylin
Apple will indeed support PA Semi’s line of PowerPC-based processors. PA Semi’s staff has started notifying a limited set of customers that the company’s existing dual-core processor will be indulged with long-term support. Apple will employ a number of old PA Semi staffers just for this task, which is indeed good news.
Last month, we had learnt and reported on Apple’s latest acquisition. ‘P.A.Semi. A designer of PowerPC chips; veterans of popular chip design projects founded P.A.Semi in 2003. This includes people from DEC’s Alpha and StrongARM processor groups. Apple acquired the company to move away from Intel, whom so far produced the chips for the iPod and iPhone.’
Though the information available is highly confidential and limited at the most at this point; it is probable that military interest in PA Semi’s low-power chip may have forced Apple’s to stage a sleight of hand and takeover the company. CEO Steve Jobs may need to order up a camouflage version of that infamous mock turtleneck soon.
Apple however has washed its hands off P A Semi architecture and has abandoned any efforts to push the PA Semi architecture forward. Taking over, PA Semi for a bargain of $278 million, a figure that hardly makes a scratch on the bonnet of its humungous profits, Apple has yet to say why it bought the company, which has expertise in low-power processor designs.
With Apple killing of the PA Semi gear, it is highly unlikely for Macs or iPhones to sport the PowerPC inside anytime soon in the near future. An iBomb however, seems to be a viability.
May 16, 2008
Wow, that is a very interesting article. I had never heard of PA Semi gear before this. The fact that there might actually be military interest takes apple to a whole new level. And the fact that everything is confidential only makes the consumers wonder what is apple doing.
May 17, 2008
Apple did the right thing by doing away with Power PCs. Intel provides a much Wider Range and affordable Processors. I don’t know why Apple is again moving towards PowerPC architecture.
Apple wanting to develop some new device seems the only logical reason for this….lets see what happens at the WDC this June….
May 18, 2008
I think that Steve Job did a wonderful job of acquiring the company because who knows where the military are going to use the technology. Such technology would be better put to use if companies used it to their advantage than military. I’m sure that the military will only used it to produce mass destruction.
May 20, 2008
Um…Postman…I’m not sure why you said that the military will only use it to “produce mass destruction.” Most countries need armed forces to defend themselves from external threats and, on occasion, to protect vital national interests outside their borders under certain guidelines. I could be wrong and misreading your post, but you’re suggesting that any acquisition of technology by the military is wrong, no matter what applicationn it’s used for?
May 24, 2008
I have never heard of the PA Semi gear before reading this article. This is quite an interesting concept. I must say Apple has been very active in the past few years and has made quite a comeback. Steve Jobs has been through a lot if you read his biography you will know how much trouble he’s been through. But now look at how far he’s come.