Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Apple's new A4 chip

Apparently the iPad is not the only thing new from #Apple. Inside the iPad is $AAPL new processor: the A4.


While the CPU speed does not seem too impressive, since other mobile CPUs such as Qualcomm's 1GHz Snapdragon which powers Google's Nexus One run at the same speed, it's the power consumption or the lack of it is what may become a game changer here. Some reports suggested that you could play HD video for 10 hours before you ran out of power. True or not, with devices such as netbooks and laptops requiring bulky batteries to last a measly 4 hours, at 10 hours (if its true) while doing any processing IS impressive.

A4, the efficiently powered system on a chip which integrates the main processor, graphics, memory controller and few others is manufactured by Apple's own PA Semi, which Apple acquired back in 2008.

PA Semi is a low-power chip expert before getting acquired by Apple.  Apparently Apple had the iPad in mind when it acquired PA Semi almost 2 years ago.

While the iPad itself look like the victim of "Honey, I blew up the iPod," just like with the iPhone, the innovative minds of Steve Jobs and his team has brought in a potentially disruptive technology. It may not be the iPad per se that will bring Apple more explosive growth into the future.  It's the combination of things, the increasing demand of apps through iTunes, the potential of crossing into Amazon's eBooks/Kindle territory via iTunes, and depending on Apple's willingness to sell its A4 processor to other mobile device producers - the potential of being on top of the mobile processors market.

What's next? iPad with OLED display and super battery so power can last up to 20hrs?

For the iPad specs click here.

Apple iPad tech specs: rumor vs. reality scorecard

Engadget has this scorecard (http://bit.ly/9IQjXS) lining up the comparisons between what's rumored and what actually is there on the iPad when it's unveiled today.

Some of the no shows from the rumors according to engadget are: no camera (not yet), no multitasking, no phone (use safari to google voice web app and you may have got a phone. Assuming somewhere you can connect a headset via bluetooth), no Verizon, no iPhone OS 4.0, and no Flash anywhere to be seen.

And hey... I'd like to see a battery benchmark result on this puppy. How long can I use it before its running out of juice. Will it be as lousy as the iPhone?

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Google Chrome 4 is out of beta

With the release of Google Chrome 4, you can now use extensions with Chrome. The update to the new version is supposedly automatic, but if it hasn't happen to your Chrome installation, you can click on the wrench icon on the upper right hand corner of your browser, click "About Google Chrome" and if it still says 3.0.xxx.xx, click on Update Now to update to Chrome 4.

Then go to https://chrome.google.com/extensions to browse for available Chrome Extension.