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5:30 PM – When Apple unveiled the iPhone 5s, the company introduced the new A7 chip. This power 64-bit chip set a panic inside the chip-making industry, according to a Qualcomm insider (via HubSpot). Non of the chipmakers were expecting Apple to come out with such chip that fast. In interviews and in the public’s eyes, company officials were downplaying the A7 microprocessor, however, there was and still is panic going on inside chipmakers. More specifically, lets take a look at what the Qualcomm insider has to say how things are at their company.
“The 64-bit Apple chip hit us in the gut,” Qualcomm employee says. “Not just us, but everyone, really. We were slack-jawed, and stunned, and unprepared. It’s not that big a performance difference right now, since most current software won’t benefit. But in Spinal Tap terms it’s like, 32 more, and now everyone wants it.” The employee is right to say that right now, there is not much of a performance difference right now, however in the near future, things will start changing. Apple has already prepared for the change, while its competitors are left in the dust scrambling.
Related Read: Qualcomm issues statement following Chandrasekher’s comments on Apple’s 64-bit processor
Many say that the 64-bit architecture is not very beneficial on the mobile platform yet, but from Apple’s point of view, it is beneficial. A 64-bit platform handles more data and gets it done fast than 32-bit. So of course there is one difference there, but the mobile platform right now can’t entirely take advantage of it.
Qualcomm insider continues on to say that “the roadmap for 64-bit was nowhere close to Apple’s, since no one thought it was that essential.” Also adding that the “the evolution was going to be steady. Sure, it’s neat, it’s the future, but it’s not really essential for conditions now.” Qualcomm this month introduced their own 64-bit processor and hopes to have it in smartphones by second half of 2014. This would put them a year behind Apple.
The iPhone 5s comes with the new 64-bit A7 chip, paired along with the M7 processor. There are a lot of benefits to the 64-bit A7 chip that competitors are not seeing, however Apple knows very well what they are doing, and they do it at the perfect time. This time around, they managed to punch other chipmakers in the gut.
So, what’s next?
