RSSApple staffer's online leak points to new iPhone processor
By Jacqueline Emigh | Published September 16, 2008, 12:02 PM
In an update to his LinkedIn profile, Wei-han Lien seemed to confirm that in-house development on a custom ARM processor for the iPhone is now under way at Apple, in a move that could eventually save it millions.
Is Apple planning to save money on future iPhones by developing its own version of an ARM chip? Evidence from an Apple engineer's LinkedIn profile certainly seems to support that possibility.
In a recent update to his profile on Linked-In, Wei-han Lien, previously an engineer at PA Semiconductor, noted that he's been working as "senior manager chip CPU architect" for Apple since April of this year. His main task there has been to "manage [the] ARM CPU architecture team for iPhone," Lien said in a profile that subsequently disappeared from LinkedIn, but not before being captured by The New York Times.
Apple pioneered the use of ARM chips back in 1993 in its trailblazing, but ill fated, Newton handheld device. The current iPhone 3G phone rolled out this summer also includes ARM silicon, but reportedly through an implementation from Samsung.
Lien's start date at Apple, however, coincides with Apple's acquisition in April of PA Semi, a firm specializing in engineering processors combining strong performance with very low power consumption. ARM Inc., the company behind the chip of the same name, licenses its core to many manufacturers, who are able to customize the silicon for purposes such as graphics processing or communications. According to some observers, cost savings look likely to accrue to Apple if the company's new PA Semi subsidiary successfully attempts to reduce the numbers of processors needed for devices like the iPhone and iPod.
I will never go to a fregin spammers website. Probably full of spyware anyway. Ban hammer...
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Jaq, great job supporting the sniffing around in job sites to ruin people's careers by posting personal details. Linkedin is a private site where the users typically control who has access to their personal info. This guy is a simple employee, not an officer or public figure (till now). I haven't seen the original NYT article but find it disgusting how the same hacks crying about online privacy don't hesitate to exploit at the 1st opportunity. A new low for journalism.
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Mr Wei-han your fired!
Apple corp will not accept this! His Linked-in profile has been removed. Not like it's a real secret but intel and other apple partners have to notice apple is planning on leaving them and doing the CPU on their own at some point.
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You have to give Apple credit for their aggressive attempts to advance the design of their products - despite the majority here obsessing over several hour delays in activation of having to stand in line (waaaaa) to source a product.
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Yeah I will give Apple credit for trying to make more money. Good job Apple!
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I think I understand your moniker now - as you speak like a high school kid living with your parents.
Newsflash: Apple is a business. IT is a business. There is more to IT than just seeing who can get the high score in a video game.
So, while you aren't obsessing over your preoccupation with receiving spankings, you might want to take a business course when you grow up and discover that the purpose of a business is to make a profit.
Duh...
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I dont think you quite understood my post... Besides if you read the guidelines it asks people who post here to avoid the use personal attacks.
Best wishes,
(the high school kid living with his parents, which also is preoccupied with receiving spankings)
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I said your post, by virtue of the content and the tone of your whine, comes across as one who meets those criterion.
If I say your complaint is reminiscent of a 19th century penguin eating lettuce trader, is that a personal attack or an observation of a style in the manner incorporating simile or analogy?
On the other hand, perhaps you are 16 years old and living at home clueless about how society's structures operate - in which case perhaps we should be inquiring as to whether your parents know you are posting on such a dangerous and subversive website?
And you see, I didn't even say anything about your very curious moniker and the allusion that some might think refers to a fascination with corporal punishment.
But sometime I just might claim that you are all or some of these things. Then you can accuse me of making such an accusation. But not until then...
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Dude, if you want to sound smart, which you obviously do, then at least check your grammar. The plural of criterion is criteria, so it's either "that criterion" or "those criteria," but not "those criterion." Go back and take a high school English refresher, then feel free to b**** about 16 year olds who don't know anything about the world. But try not to be so pretentious next time and stick to words you understand.
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