Apple's graphics chip development center in Orlando houses former AMD, Intrinsity engineers
Apple's new graphics chip development facility in Central Florida features the Intrinsity team that was acquired years ago, as well as newly recruited employees from AMD, according to a new report.
Details on Apple's so-called "GPU Design Center" in Orlando, Fla., were revealed on Friday by MacRumors, which was told that Apple targeted the location because many of AMD's 3D graphics patents were issued from the chipmaker's Florida-based offices. As a result, Apple reportedly has a temporary office space in the area, and has been actively recruiting AMD employees.
They are said to be working with the team from Intrinsity, a privately owned chip design firm that Apple acquired to further its own custom silicon development in 2010. That acquisition, along with the purchase of PA Semi in 2008, set the stage for Apple to begin designing its own custom A-series processors for the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV.
AppleInsider was first to report in April that Apple was planning to design, build and test custom chips for future devices out of a new office in Orlando. The company has been actively recruiting candidates for its new Central Florida location throughout 2013.
Apple's Orlando offices are home to at least 12 ex-AMD employees who are believed to be working on next-generation mobile graphics processors for the company's ongoing custom in-house mobile chip design. While the current employees are housed in a temporary location, sources told MacRumors that permanent Apple facilities in the region are in the works.
Apple also has operations just south of Orlando in Melbourne, Fla., thanks to its acquisition of fingerprint sensor maker AuthenTec for $356 million last year. The iPhone maker apparently does not have plans to close those facilities, as it continues to advertise for positions available at its "Melbourne Design Center."
Rumors have suggested that AuthenTec's Florida-developed technology could appear in Apple's next-generation handset, frequently referred to as the "iPhone 5S." It's expected that the fingerprint sensor will be embedded under the home button in this year's iPhone, allowing users to bypass password entry, and potentially opening up new secure functionality such as e-wallet transactions.
Details on Apple's so-called "GPU Design Center" in Orlando, Fla., were revealed on Friday by MacRumors, which was told that Apple targeted the location because many of AMD's 3D graphics patents were issued from the chipmaker's Florida-based offices. As a result, Apple reportedly has a temporary office space in the area, and has been actively recruiting AMD employees.
They are said to be working with the team from Intrinsity, a privately owned chip design firm that Apple acquired to further its own custom silicon development in 2010. That acquisition, along with the purchase of PA Semi in 2008, set the stage for Apple to begin designing its own custom A-series processors for the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV.
AppleInsider was first to report in April that Apple was planning to design, build and test custom chips for future devices out of a new office in Orlando. The company has been actively recruiting candidates for its new Central Florida location throughout 2013.
Apple's Orlando offices are home to at least 12 ex-AMD employees who are believed to be working on next-generation mobile graphics processors for the company's ongoing custom in-house mobile chip design. While the current employees are housed in a temporary location, sources told MacRumors that permanent Apple facilities in the region are in the works.
Apple also has operations just south of Orlando in Melbourne, Fla., thanks to its acquisition of fingerprint sensor maker AuthenTec for $356 million last year. The iPhone maker apparently does not have plans to close those facilities, as it continues to advertise for positions available at its "Melbourne Design Center."
Rumors have suggested that AuthenTec's Florida-developed technology could appear in Apple's next-generation handset, frequently referred to as the "iPhone 5S." It's expected that the fingerprint sensor will be embedded under the home button in this year's iPhone, allowing users to bypass password entry, and potentially opening up new secure functionality such as e-wallet transactions.
Comments
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
Apple's new graphics chip development facility in Central Florida features the Intrinsity team that was acquired years ago, as well as newly recruited employees from AMD, according to a new report.
Details on Apple's so-called "GPU Design Center" in Orlando, Fla., were revealed on Friday by MacRumors, which was told that Apple targeted the location because many of AMD's 3D graphics patents were issued from the chipmaker's Florida-based offices. As a result, Apple reportedly has a temporary office space in the area, and has been actively recruiting AMD employees.
They are said to be working with the team from Intrinsity, a privately owned chip design firm that Apple acquired to further its own custom silicon development in 2010. That acquisition, along with the purchase of PA Semi in 2008, set the stage for Apple to begin designing its own custom A-series processors for the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV.
AppleInsider was first to report in April that Apple was planning to design, build and test custom chips for future devices out of a new office in Orlando. The company has been actively recruiting candidates for its new Central Florida location throughout 2013.
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Apple's Orlando offices are home to at least 12 ex-AMD employees who are believed to be working on next-generation mobile graphics processors for the company's ongoing custom in-house mobile chip design. While the current employees are housed in a temporary location, sources told MacRumors that permanent Apple facilities in the region are in the works.
Apple also has operations just south of Orlando in Melbourne, Fla., thanks to its acquisition of fingerprint sensor maker AuthenTec for $356 million last year. The iPhone maker apparently does not have plans to close those facilities, as it continues to advertise for positions available at its "Melbourne Design Center."
Rumors have suggested that AuthenTec's Florida-developed technology could appear in Apple's next-generation handset, frequently referred to as the "iPhone 5S." It's expected that the fingerprint sensor will be embedded under the home button in this year's iPhone, allowing users to bypass password entry, and potentially opening up new secure functionality such as e-wallet transactions.
I think fingerprint authentication will come to MacBook Pros before they make it to the iPhones and iPads.
I wouldn't dismiss the technology showing up on Mac Books in general but why would they be first? The utility of the sensor would be far greater on the mobile devices.
Will AuthenTec still operate under its own name and sell products to other companies, or will their products now be exclusive to Apple? What about other companies which currently use AuthenTec's products?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpamSandwich
I think fingerprint authentication will come to MacBook Pros before they make it to the iPhones and iPads.
Please don't quote the whole article.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Haggar
Will AuthenTec still operate under its own name and sell products to other companies, or will their products now be exclusive to Apple? What about other companies which currently use AuthenTec's products?
As with P.A. Semi, I'm sure Apple is obligated to honor current contracts, but not create any new deals.
I honestly don't expect to see the fingerprint tech until the iPhone 6 along with Apple's mobile payment system. Both of those are fairly big ticket features.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Haggar
Will AuthenTec still operate under its own name and sell products to other companies, or will their products now be exclusive to Apple? What about other companies which currently use AuthenTec's products?
No shortly after buying authentec apple announced to current customers including samsung that after a certain date that the they would no longer support or build sensors for any of the old customers and that the tech would specifically be for apples use.
See this article http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/09/24/authentec_to_reportedly_ditch_non_apple_customers_in_2013
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpamSandwich
I think fingerprint authentication will come to MacBook Pros before they make it to the iPhones and iPads.
Why would you want fingerprint authentication? Now if someone wants to steal your MBP they also have to steal your finger. Very intelligent, yes in deed. I prefer my fingers in my hand, thank you very much.
This entire paragraph is not needed in this article:
"Rumors have suggested that AuthenTec's Florida-developed technology could appear in Apple's next-generation handset, frequently referred to as the "iPhone 5S." It's expected that the fingerprint sensor will be embedded under the home button in this year's iPhone, allowing users to bypass password entry, and potentially opening up new secure functionality such as e-wallet transactions."
My error. Hard to fix on an iPhone, unfortunately.
Advanced security measures are coming, like them or not.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpamSandwich
Advanced security measures are coming, like them or not.
Advanced? I've seen fingerprint authentication on laptops for at least a decade already. Biometric authentication is a bad idea and it's not a new one either.