TSMC and Samsung Both in iPhone 6s It emerged that for the Apple iPhone 6s and 6s+, Apple decided to take a dual-source foundry approach with both Samsung and TSMC building the A9 application processor that powers it. Since these are different processes, there are a few subtle differences. Not in performance since the clock rates are independent of the foundry. But it turns out that the Samsung process dissipates more power. For normal use, the power used by the phone is dominated by the backlight for the screen and, perhaps, the radio transmitters. But for gaming there can apparently be a difference of about 45 minutes as to how long the battery might last. Which chip is in the phone does not appear on the box, apparently, so you can't go to the Apple store and insist on getting a TSMC-chip version. This might be a big deal or it might be nothing. The official Apple position is that it is just a few percentage points difference and irrelevant. It is certainly not Volkswagen-serious. If you have an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus and you are interested (you are reading this blog, I rest my case) then do this: Launch Battery Memory System Status Monitor, tap System at the top of screen, check the device's ID number under the device->model subsection. It will have a number like N71AP (for a 6s) or N66AP (for a 6s Plus). If there is also an "m" between N71/N66 and AP then it is TSMC, if not then it is Samsung. I don't have one so I haven't checked this. Intel/Altera Deal There are reports around that the European Union will approve the Intel/Altera deal without any restrictions next week. I think that has been perceived as the only significant barrier to the deal, as the EU seems philosophically against large technology companies in the US since they haven't really managed to create any of their own on the same scale, apart from Nokia (RIP). I happened to read in the Economist this week that the newest company on the CAC 40 (pronounced kack-karant if you want to sound knowledgeable), which is the French equivalent of the S&P 500, was created in 1967 almost 50 years ago. It is AccorHotels (Sofitel is probably their most famous brand), not exactly Facebook. Skyworks acquires PMC/Sierra Skyworks is acquiring PMC-Sierra for $2B in cash. I happened to be at lunch at JUG on Wednesday with some PMC-Sierra folk. They said there were rumors around that some business lines were going to be sold, so it was complete surprise then when the whole company was sold (deal hasn't closed yet, of course). After the acquisition, Skyworks will have revenues of about $4B. 5nm Test Chip Tapeout Cadence/imec announced the tapeout of the first 5nm test chip. It is actually more subtle. They made two versions of metal2 and metal3 using SAQP and EUV, respectively. Then they made two versions of the cut mask required for the SAQP version, one multi-patterned (so multiple-reticle) and one with EUV. Then two versions of the contact mask, one with SAQP (no cut mask needed) and one with EUV. These can be combined three ways for an all SAQP version, a version with SAQP and EUV cut mask, and an all EUV version. But you already knew that, since you read here earlier in the week, didn't you?![]()
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