Rumor: Apple testing new MacBook Air powered by same A5 processor as iPad 2
A new report claims that Apple has built a test MacBook Air powered by the same low-power A5 processor found in the iPad, and the company was impressed by the results.
The claims came on Friday from Japanese site Macotakara. Citing an anonymous source, it reported that Apple, in its internal labs, made "test equipment" of a new Thunderbolt-equipped MacBook Air powered by an A5 processor.
"According to this source who saw live A5 MacBook Air actually, this test machine performed better than expected," the translation reads.
The report also noted it was "not clear" whether this system was running Apple's lightweight iOS operating system, found on the iPhone and iPad, or the full-fledged Mac OS X operating system. It also mentioned that a switch to a processor based on the ARM architecture would require developers to modify their existing applications.
Given the challenges that would come with a transition from Intel processors to an ARM-based CPU, the A5-powered MacBook Air was characterized as an "experiment." The hardware is said to have been built by Quanta Computer.
The latest rumor comes weeks after a separate report claimed that Apple is looking to transition its laptops to ARM processors "as soon as possible." That report claimed that Apple could switch to ARM processors for its laptops when 64-bit variations are available at the end of 2012 or by early 2013.
As the role of ARM CPUs for Apple has grown with the iPhone and iPad, Microsoft also has plans for the ARM architecture in the future, as mobile devices offer longer battery life with the low-power chips. The Redmond, Wash., software giant revealed at this year's Consumer Electronics Show that the next version of its desktop operating system, Windows 8, will also run on ARM architecture.
Last December, Macotakara correctly reported that Apple's second-generation iPad would have a smaller bezel, a flat back panel, and a larger speaker. The site also revealed that Apple was planning an event to announced the iPad 2 in March.
The same site also joined a chorus of others in reporting that Apple will ship its fifth-generation iPhone later than usual this year. A report in March said that Apple was not yet ordering components for its fifth-generation iPhone, and that the anticipated device was not expected to contribute to Apple's fiscal 2011 bottom line. Apple's fiscal year 2011 concludes on Sept. 24, which would put a new iPhone launch in late September at the earliest.
The claims came on Friday from Japanese site Macotakara. Citing an anonymous source, it reported that Apple, in its internal labs, made "test equipment" of a new Thunderbolt-equipped MacBook Air powered by an A5 processor.
"According to this source who saw live A5 MacBook Air actually, this test machine performed better than expected," the translation reads.
The report also noted it was "not clear" whether this system was running Apple's lightweight iOS operating system, found on the iPhone and iPad, or the full-fledged Mac OS X operating system. It also mentioned that a switch to a processor based on the ARM architecture would require developers to modify their existing applications.
Given the challenges that would come with a transition from Intel processors to an ARM-based CPU, the A5-powered MacBook Air was characterized as an "experiment." The hardware is said to have been built by Quanta Computer.
The latest rumor comes weeks after a separate report claimed that Apple is looking to transition its laptops to ARM processors "as soon as possible." That report claimed that Apple could switch to ARM processors for its laptops when 64-bit variations are available at the end of 2012 or by early 2013.
As the role of ARM CPUs for Apple has grown with the iPhone and iPad, Microsoft also has plans for the ARM architecture in the future, as mobile devices offer longer battery life with the low-power chips. The Redmond, Wash., software giant revealed at this year's Consumer Electronics Show that the next version of its desktop operating system, Windows 8, will also run on ARM architecture.
Last December, Macotakara correctly reported that Apple's second-generation iPad would have a smaller bezel, a flat back panel, and a larger speaker. The site also revealed that Apple was planning an event to announced the iPad 2 in March.
The same site also joined a chorus of others in reporting that Apple will ship its fifth-generation iPhone later than usual this year. A report in March said that Apple was not yet ordering components for its fifth-generation iPhone, and that the anticipated device was not expected to contribute to Apple's fiscal 2011 bottom line. Apple's fiscal year 2011 concludes on Sept. 24, which would put a new iPhone launch in late September at the earliest.
Comments
I'm not buying apple will transition away from the intel architecture, there's just too much at stake and invested that would put everyone at risk to warrant the move. Besides, intel macs are performance wise equal or superior to windows based PC's.
You are right when does it end with all this new concepts from Apple? Stick with Intel and stop dicking around.
You are right when does it end with all this new concepts from Apple? Stick with Intel and stop dicking around.
We have to remember that Apple has hundreds of "experiments" in the labs that never see the light of day. This was probably just one of those "what if" moments the engineers had that, if developed, could be a good backup plan if things go sour with Intel or the ARM architecture eventually outperforms Intel's. So let's all breathe and realize that even if we do eventually see something like this, it's won't be for many, many years.
I doubt Apple would stop using Intel chips in the bulk of their computer line up.
Besides, we have Universal applications on our Mac's, no reason why overtime they could not support the Arm architecture.
You are right when does it end with all this new concepts from Apple? Stick with Intel and stop dicking around.
Given that compiling to multiple architectures is an inherent part of the OS X design (NeXTstep was on 680x0, Intel, Sparc, MIPS; OS X on PPC, Intel, Arm (iOS)), and that for most applications you're a compile switch away from adding and Arm support (assuming you don't have a lot of actual assembly code tied in), it's not nearly as prohibitive as it is for some other companies. I suspect you'd see a fair number of native apps show up pretty quickly if Apple did release something like this.
Now whether it makes any sense, I don't know either - having an architecture that tops out at 32 bits currently doesn't sound like where they should move any actual OS X product, but it probably helps to keep the thumbscrews on Intel in terms of pricing negotiations and access to newer CPUs.
Either way. Apple will continue looking for ways to separate themselves completely from all the others.
...a new Thunderbolt-equipped MacBook Air powered by an A5 processor.
I think that right there is enough to discredit the rumor. Thunderbolt is welded to Intel's x86 chipset.
Not so sure why people are so against this
Windows on bootcamp. Even if MS produces an ARM version of Windows, you'd still have millions and millions of people with legacy software they would not want to re-purchase.
Just like hybrid cars, Apple could introduce a hybrid MBA, where all web browsing etc. could be done automagically with the onbard ARM chip, saving power. Once you open photoshop, the MBA could fire up the intel chip...
I remember they used to say that back in the pre-OSX days, about intel chips and Motorola chips. They could put one of each processor in there and....
I think that right there is enough to discredit the rumor. Thunderbolt is welded to Intel's x86 chipset.
well spotted!
Not so sure why people are so against this
Windows on bootcamp. Even if MS produces an ARM version of Windows, you'd still have millions and millions of people with legacy software they would not want to re-purchase.
That's one.
Also, I wonder if people are conflating "64 bit" with a performance benchmark. The 64bit ARM chips will still pale beside the power of intel's Core2 chips.
I think that right there is enough to discredit the rumor. Thunderbolt is welded to Intel's x86 chipset.
++++++
When the new MBA is released in the next several weeks, it'll be fun to come back and see how completely full of crap this "anonymous source" was.
Which is why this rumor is crap.
That's one.
Also, I wonder if people are conflating "64 bit" with a performance benchmark. The 64bit ARM chips will still pale beside the power of intel's Core2 chips.
I think the performance worries are overstated. Apple has done a LOT to design osx and apps developed for it offload work off to te gpu. Besides these are tests for the air, which was never a performance powerhouse.
Additionally, this will most certainly be at least a few years off, by when apple should have faster arm processors. Let's not forget that a much weaker and poorer apple had been developing parallely on intel for over 5 years before deploying intel chips.
The way I see it, Apple will create development airs which they will give out to deva Roger this or the next wwdc an tell them to make sure their apps wok on both, and then deploy a few ARM based macs over the next couple o years.
I doubt more than a very small percentage of air users are dual booting windows.
Windows on bootcamp. Even if MS produces an ARM version of Windows, you'd still have millions and millions of people with legacy software they would not want to re-purchase.
Yep. The rise of virtual machines and the ability to dual-boot to hardware level Windows has really helped the growth of Mac sales. Lose that ability to switch between the two and Mac sales plummet. In the corporate world, sometimes you have to have Windows and/or Internet Explorer.
The dual chip approach is interesting, though. OS X for ARM and Intel on the HD. OS dynamically engages whichever CPU is most appropriate. Toss in native iOS and you could have an interesting Franken-computer that would be totally unfocussed, confusing to consumers, and complicated to engineer. Great bit of engineering, but I don't think practical.
- Jasen.