Nice Apple (stroke, stroke)
Two days ago we reported comments made by Intel execs at its developer forum in Taipei, that questioned the ability of the Apple iPhone to process the "full internet", i.e. more processor intensive applications.
The main reason for doing this was to highlight what it perceived as the failings of the processor currently used by the iPhone, which is designed by UK chip outfit ARM. Intel would like the world's mobile phones to run on Intel processors but currently that market is dominated by ARM designs.
So the real target of Intel's ire was ARM, but it had to go through the iPhone to get to them and this, presumably, is where the problem was.
On the "Chip Shots" part of Intel's online press room, a short bulletin announced the following:
Anand Chandrasekher issued a correction on comments made by members of his team yesterday at Intel's Developer Forum in Taiwan.
As general manager of the Group responsible for Intel's ultra-mobility products, he acknowledged that Intel's low-power Atom processor does not yet match the battery life characteristics of the ARM processor in a phone form factor; and, that while Intel does have plans on the books to get us to be competitive in the ultra low power domain - we are not there as yet.
Secondly, Apple's iPhone offering is an extremely innovative product that enables new and exciting market opportunities. The statements made in Taiwan were inappropriate, and Intel representatives should not have been commenting on specific customer designs.
