News - Apple to buy ARM? Unlikely

[HEXUS]

A couple of UK papers have reported on this rumour, but there are many reasons to question it.

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[superscaper]

Would hardly be the first time. Apple actually formed ARM (jointly with Acorn).

[Scott B]

Would hardly be the first time. Apple actually formed ARM (jointly with Acorn).

Good point.

[jim]

I think Apple are more used to taking arms and legs.

[superscaper]

Good point.

Actually I'm not even aware they ever sold off their share of ARM. Although I could be wrong, so the rumour could be more of a case of seeking an increase of their existing shares.

[TheAnimus]

Hmm Apple aren't listed as one of the big holders on the berg, so I don't know how true these roumers are!

[oolon]

The reason why ARM is popular is it in not tied to a hardware manufacturer (this is why Acorn floated it, no one else wanted to licence while it was tied to a computer manufacturer), Nokia is not going to be ARM designs if Apple owns it. If Apple buys it, it will lose value as licence sales drop however, if apple wish to deny other handsets arm chips then its a good move.

[amdavies]

How many ARM-based products are due to be released in the next 6 months that compete directly with the ipod/iphone/ipad ?
Atom is still too inefficient and under-powered for tablets and will probably continue to be as long as people want Windows (x86) on this type of device. Intel's CULV chips are probably a better match for Windows-based tablets but are held back by their cost as Intel want to create a definite line between them and Atom when it comes to performance.

If (IF) Apple were to buy ARM (and then presumably stop other companies being able to license their designs) it'd wipe out a lot of competition in the smart phone, MID and low-end tablet markets.

[oolon]

Intel are not the only alternatives, mips based processors have a long history in low power technology, things like android could move across very fast, as linux is already available for such chips. Arm cannot pull licences due to they way they sell the designs however it could stop licencing new products, this would be interesting as Nokia do not make the arms chips insted companies like Texus Instuments do. Apples arm is designed in house however if arm lost customers like TI it would have less money for research and could fall behind.