Aug 4 2011
Apple To Merge iOS & OS X With Quad Core A6 Chip?
I’m going to file this one under maybe. Apple may be flirting with some sort of Nettop based on a rumored quad-core A6 chip, but ditching Intel processors is a long shot for its Pro line of Laptops and Desktops. ARM is the low power darling, but Intel has been no slouch in this department and has been driving power reductions further with each new generation of chips. The A6 may never be able match the processing power of an Intel processor, but yes it could still beat it in power consumption.
The most logical situation is that universal binaries would exist that would allow an app to work on Apple’s mobile devices and also work on desktops just like some apps are universal for iPad and iPhone. This makes sense, but not making iOS all things to everyone it just would not work and would only serve to fragment the market. See my earlier opinion on the downfall of several prominent companies because they forget their core business and try to branch into everything.
Apple’s best position is to make universal binaries that are cross compatible, sometimes a single-minded app is what people need, and full screen apps do tend to improve productivity when it blocks out all other apps. Turn off your communicator or email while at work and see how much more you can get done.
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