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Gadgets Apple iPhone: ARMed And Dangerous
Brandon Hill (Blog) - February 7, 2007 10:56 AM

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26 comment(s) - last by lafchinaBIH.. on Feb 9 at 8:48 PM

Apple's iPhone will contain no less than three ARM chips

Earlier this year during MacWorld 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the world to Apple's iPhone. The phone, which is available in 4GB and 8GB varieties, set many hearts ablaze with its sleek, touch screen interface and music/widescreen movie playback capabilities.

Today, we have word that the Apple iPhone contains no less than three ARM processors under its touch screen display. Warren East, president and CEO of ARM Holding, wouldn't comment on exactly how many and what type would be used, but noted that "ARM is in 90 percent of the world's [mobile phone] handsets; we're in WiFi, baseband processors and applications processors and most of the world's MP3 players. So it's at least three."

Word on the street, however, is that the iPhone's main processor will be the Marvell PXA320 which was developed by Intel as a part of the XScale processor family. Marvell purchased Intel's XScale division for $600 million USD in June of 2006.

The Marvell PXA320 is available in speeds up to 806MHz (256KB L2 cache); however, there have been samples of the chips demonstrated at 1.2GHz. The processor features Intel SpeedStep and MusicMax technology for comprehensive power management. Also supported is a Wireless MMX 2 2D accelerator with a 768KB frame buffer and support for up to 5MP digital cameras.

The iPhone has enjoyed a lot of press over the past few weeks. The device also sent Cisco into a fiery rage over the use of the name iPhone. Cisco wasted no time in filing a suit against Apple claiming that it already had rights to the iPhone trademark and that it was already shipping products using the iPhone trademark.

The rhetoric on both sides has died down a bit in recent weeks and the two companies "have agreed to extend the time for Apple to respond to the lawsuit to allow for discussions with the aim of reaching agreement on trademark rights and interoperability."

In addition, we've learned all about Verizon's decision to pass on the iPhone, that Rogers Wireless would be the sole carrier for the iPhone in Canada and that LG's KE850 PRADA will be deemed a clone by many even though it was displayed first.

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Another typical apple product

By xNIBx on 2/7/2007 5:17:50 PM , Rating: 2

I usually consider apple products to be overpriced, underpowered and lacking features and iphone is no exception. To me, apple products are mostly for poseurs.

For example, why isnt this phone 3g? It will probably cost a fortune and it wont have features that much cheaper phones have. So you wont be able to do videocalls or surf the internet by using 3g(<----extremely important IMO).

It will have a pretty average camera(will it even have autofocus and a flash??) and i have serious doubts about the stability, performance and flexibility of its operating system. And lets not even talk about battery life with that big screen and processors combined with the fact that apple has no experience when it comes to mobile phones.

Its screen+multitouch is the only thing that i am excited about. My guess is that it will get easily dirty by your fingerprints, which will look bad on that black surface. But all in all, i think it might be really good. But a screen is only so good as the OS enables it to be.

Also you cant extend its memory, like you can with all other modern mobile phones. Will it even have an fm radio?

Apple says that current smartphones arent smart because they are too hard for the user to take advantage of their capabilities. Well if you are too stupid to use a smarthphone, buy an apple ffs. Smart phones need smart people. Otherwise, stick with fisher price products.

PS Lets see if this site has enough apple fanboys who will downvote me without even considering my points because i dared to criticise their precious company.

RE: Another typical apple product

By otispunkmeyer on 2/8/2007 3:45:18 AM , Rating: 3

pretty much

looks like an average phone in a nice party frock. same with the ipod. their main feature is simply how slick they look.

this will be bought mainly by the same type of people who buy ipods, and mini's (one/cooper/cooper s) i.e. not so much buying a product because of its useful-ness or goodness, but more as a kind of extension to their metrosexual wardrobes.

(mini is the exception here mind, because actually its a really good small car, its just a shame its become a fashion accessory...... i see 11 mini's when i walk through my university's small campus. 11! and theyre all student cars, its seems the mini is just the generic idea of a cool car, just like ipod is the generic choice of "cool" mp3 player)

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RE: Another typical apple product

By kelmon on 2/8/2007 7:26:52 AM , Rating: 2

I'm pretty sure that the iPod's big selling point was its interface rather than appearance. This appears to be exactly the same for the iPhone, hence all the patents. Apple's products have always been about how to make something that tends to be complicated simple. The design of the system certainly makes them appealing to buy but its the ease of use that retains customers.

As I've noted elsewhere, I buy Apple's products since they don't annoy me; how they look "on me" has absolutely nothing to do with a decision to buy.

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RE: Another typical apple product

By slacker57 on 2/8/2007 12:11:26 PM , Rating: 3

While I agree that it doesn't look like this phone offers even close to enough to warrant its price, I can't understand the rash of negative comparisons to the iPod. I certainly didn't buy an ipod for what "image" it would give me, and I don't know anyone who did. I put my ipod into a really ugly case (because it was the cheapest) to protect it from scratches, so mine certainly does not improve my wardrobe. Where do you live that people are "wearing" an ipod for an "extension of their metrosexual wardrobes"? Riding the metro or walking the streets in D.C., everyone I see that has an ipod has it tucked into a pocket so you can't see them. Do people hang them around their necks like Snoop Dogg's bling on your campus? I bought an ipod because it was a device I knew would be reliable, would hold a lot of music, and had a simple interface (ooh, and I like that it autopauses when the headphone jack slips out, but then autopause is so metrosexual)

Sorry to sound defensive, but hey, nobody likes to be called a metrosexual. :)

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RE: Another typical apple product

By otispunkmeyer on 2/8/2007 1:39:12 PM , Rating: 2

please remember im from the UK

i think its a bit different here, and comparisons to the mini wont be as valid in the US either.

i know plenty of people that have blindly bought ipods simply because its a fashionable piece of kit, and its in that cool white. the same people buy mac books for the same reason...theyre kitsch and cool, they dont necessarily care for the hardware nor its functionality or its performance, they just want some one to go "hey cool you have a mac, awesome! oooo its made of metal too"

one of my mates even went as far as to purchase that ipod compatible jacket...that you plug your ipod into and it had a remote on the sleeve.

ill admit right now that i plan on owning a imac at some point too. though being abit more into the computer side of things my reasons arent simply because it looks good and is different to most people. with the student discount its pretty hard to beat in terms of specs and quality.

i guess its different in the US, but here and the uni i go to the ipod is definately more than a mp3 player. its a fashion item, its a way of life, if you want a mp3 player then its got to be ipod.

i have to say though, the ipod nano is actually something id consider owning simply because of its size. its impressive for sure. im not here to hate on it because its another apple product, ill give credit where its due, but i can definately say that here i notice the ipod is a bit of a wardrobe extension

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RE: Another typical apple product

By otispunkmeyer on 2/8/2007 3:47:27 AM , Rating: 2

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RE: Another typical apple product

By kelmon on 2/8/2007 7:19:36 AM , Rating: 2

Are you trying to be flame-bait or something? I'm honestly surprised that you haven't said something like "it's only got one button, just like their mice" or other such FUD. Personally, while I'm not exactly back flipping over the specifications of the phone I'm certainly going to see if I can try one when they are released in Europe in order to make a decision.

To me, Apple products are for people who don't want to get annoyed at technology. If it costs me more not to have the urge to take a hammer to my device (which is supposed to be serving me, not the other way around) then I'm very happy to do so. This goes for computers, music players and, most definitely, phones.

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RE: Another typical apple product

By otispunkmeyer on 2/8/2007 1:54:02 PM , Rating: 2

ohh ill try one too, dont get me wrong. i love things that just work in that slick refined way. but under the superbly done UI its really nothing special. paying for the name and the fancy interface and thats it.

i dont mind that its got one button, one button works on a mac, thats why its there. like i said i give credit where its due, apple make some fantastic stuff and ill even be buying an imac (student education discount FTW) one of its attractions is the fact i can have a fully working computer that can run OSX and XP and it'll have just 1 wire, and is easy to transport. perfect.

but some of their products, for me, are over priced and under spec'd and there are better alternatives out there. but to me it seems alot of people buy the ipod because thats the cool thing to do. nothing more, nothing less.

i agree that apple takes the fuss out of the technology, their stuff usually just works and thats great.

this phone will be nice for sure but its going to be bought by the people who spend all their wages on clothes, going out and those folding metal roof coupe/cabriolet mutant family cars that seem to do so well here in the UK. the people that kinda latch onto a product like its the best thing ever and turn it from cool to uncool after 15mins

it happened with the first Audi TT. when i saw the concept shots i was stoked, when they released it i was impressed at the industrial minimalist design and the fabulous Audi build quality, then it simply became every hairdressers idea of a cool car.

the old TT isnt even that good a car, its performance is lacklustre, its price high, and is devoid of any feedback when driving, but people, even my gf, seem to aspire to own one one day because its cool....its just a shame its everyones idea of cool. the generic idea of cool.

same with the mini cooper and cooper s here. only difference is thats actually a good car.

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RE: Another typical apple product

By xNIBx on 2/9/2007 10:19:02 AM , Rating: 2

--"this will be bought mainly by the same type of people who buy ipods, and mini's (one/cooper/cooper s)"--

I like mini cooper s(the other minis are too underpowered imo). It has good horsepower and its decently cheap for its performance(and style obviously). What i dont like with the new minis, is their size and weight but i would consider buying a cooper s over something similarly priced.

--"Are you trying to be flame-bait or something? I'm honestly surprised that you haven't said something like "it's only got one button, just like their mice" or other such FUD."--

Ha, nice one. Unfortunately, new macs come with a 2 button mouse :(. Shame really, because i was having a blast making fun of their 1 button mouse. Fortunately, macbooks still have 1 button touchpad :P.

No, i am not trying to flame-bait. BUT if this phone was a samsung(or whatever) phone, i probably wouldnt have bothered posting any criticism. Why? Because samsung doesnt have the same attitude that apple has. The “holier than thou” bs that they keep saying every time they launch a product.

Yes, all companies say bs when they release a product, but with apple it's 10 times worse. They think that all their products are godsend and that they will save humanity. They dont try to sell their product, they try to sell an attitude. Often, they dont even sell a damn product, they just sell the attitude.

This means, that most of their customers will be people who are willing to “buy” that attitude, thus poseurs. And apple knows that. And they design their products with that market in mind. Which means, that their products can often lack substance or that it takes a while before something wrong, gets fixed.

And when it does get fixed, it's like they reinvented the wheel. They advertise it and say how huge breakthrough it was to implement that. Macs can use c2d now? It must be a new awesome apple customised, optimised c2d that gives amazing performance that pcs cant have. And they are 2x times faster than previous macs? How apple managed to do that? They roxor.

Or they make mac pros with nvidia 7300gt, omg what a breakthrough for graphics. Now mac people can enjoy graphical fidelity that only supercomputers and rendering farms have. Apple says in their site “Now you can have macpro with killer graphics. Set your sights high and get a macpro with 7300gt”. Seriously wtf?

All in all, apple constantly disappoints me with their attitude. Even if their products are superb on some areas, because their products are mostly indented for a non technical crowd, apple can get away by lacking in many other areas. Which means, that not only it offers are bad performance/cost ratio, which is ok, ferraris dont offer good performance/cost ratio either, but it also lacks things that most rival products have.

When people pay premium price, they shouldnt have to compromise that much. Compromised overpriced products + arrogant behaviour = Apple. And some cool ideas or solid products simply arent enough to change apple's profile, especially since their attitude remains the same.

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Yep

By MobileZone on 2/7/2007 12:24:58 PM , Rating: 2

Yep, to handle all that fancy scrolling and animated interface, only one would not do the job. I don't see my 416MHz PPC doing those kind of things smoothly.

RE: Yep

By bhieb on 2/7/2007 1:40:58 PM , Rating: 3

Bet all those processors will do wonders for the batter life!

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RE: Yep

By StevoLincolnite on 2/7/2007 9:46:49 PM , Rating: 2

Battery Life should be Fine, The Nintendo DS has 2 ARM Processors, An LCD Screen, Plus a Touch Screen, And when using WiFi The battery lasts for a fair while. The Arm Series of processors were designed for ultra low power.

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RE: Yep

By MobileZone on 2/8/2007 1:44:48 AM , Rating: 2

Battery life is always fine when you can change it.

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RE: Yep

By ChronoReverse on 2/8/2007 11:53:49 AM , Rating: 2

You can't change the battery (easily) on a DS either.

However, the two ARM cpus in the DS are clocked very low (33 and 66 MHz) hence power frugal. It doesn't hurt that the screens are small as well.

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Why Verison not using iPhone?

By NullSubroutine on 2/7/2007 12:25:00 PM , Rating: 3

Why Verison not using iPhone? Simple answer, it probably wont work with Verion's forced software. I bought a KRZR when it first came out (when I reup is when new phones are released), low and behold Verizon's streamlined software removed almost all of the features the vanilla KRZR featured out of the box. I had to hack and technically break my service agreement to use these features. Verizon forgot to mention when advertising their phones that they were crippled unless you pay monthly charges to Verizon.

The iPhone and other phones would be nice if you can pick up a decent carrier.

RE: Why Verison not using iPhone?

By CrazyBernie on 2/7/2007 1:14:19 PM , Rating: 2

It's actually a combination of the fact that Verizon uses CDMA (Apple wants this to be a global phone), and Apple's desire to recieve a percentage of the monthly subscription for every customer who buys the phone.

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RE: Why Verison not using iPhone?

By h0kiez on 2/7/2007 2:47:38 PM , Rating: 2

If you did a little research, you would've known that. I don't blame you for being irritated, but you should've taken the phone back and found yourself a new carrier. I remember reading a couple of reviews for other phones including the Envy saying that they really wanted to like the phone, but ended up not because of what was locked down by Verizon.

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Check the specs

By mlittl3 on 2/7/2007 12:20:06 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
The phone, which is available in 2GB and 4GB varieties,

I thought the phone was available in 4GB and 8GB varieties.

RE: Check the specs

By Marlin1975 on 2/7/2007 12:24:55 PM , Rating: 2

and a lot of cache as well...

quote:
256MB L2 cache

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Fill me in

By wackie999 on 2/8/2007 1:29:05 AM , Rating: 2

Anyone aware of expected/projected arrival in stores?

RE: Fill me in

By slacker57 on 2/8/2007 11:53:08 AM , Rating: 2

Well, you could click the first link in the main article or pretty much just google it, but since I'm a slacker, too, I can be polite and just say that you can expect it in June. :)

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