Apple owns ARM chip designer Intrinsity, says report
There hasn’t been any announcement, but there have been signs. From workers changing their employment status on social networking sites to the disappearance of the company’s Web site, it’s clear something’s afoot at this bleeding edge fabless chipmaker.
EDN, quoting “a solid rumor,” reports that Apple may have purchased ARM chip design firm Intrinsity, which is know for its low-power static design techniques. Thereupon, it’s speculated that the company may have played a lead role in creating the A4 processor used in the iPad, a device with superlative battery life and performance.
Add to this brew an Ars Technica write-up that notes activity by Intrinsity employees on a certain social networking site.
…a number of engineers at the company have indicated that they are now or soon will be employed by Apple. Some of them have even gone as far as to change their LinkedIn profiles, with one reverting it — possibly out of fear of drawing the wrath of his new, secretive employer.
Better to rule in…
In addition to Intrinsity’s design acumen, Apple may be seeking to replenish the ranks of its own in-house team. That is, industry scuttlebutt posits that most of the designers and top managers Apple acquired with P.A. Semiconductor in 2008 have jumped ship for startups.
Lastly, Intrinsity has worked closely with Samsung, a primary chip supplier for the iPad.
Got Apple acquisition dish? You know where to find me…
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