Monthly Archives: April 2010

Apple and AMD/ATI should merge

Posted by Tom Schultz on April 16, 2010 None comments

So a friend at work showed me this article on macrumors.com today. It talks about Apple potentially looking to AMD for their next processor line up, due to Intel’s production shortcomings.

Now that’s interesting, AMD has been in Intel’s shadow for a long time and it would be great to see them get something good going again. It would be huge if Apple decided to use AMD processors in their computers. AMD has ATI which has been making great budget graphics cards.  AMD also has a really decent platform for their CPUs right now. While both Intel and AMD are screaming about hex-a-cores there appear to be some differences between the platforms that Apple could indulge in. For example, AMD’s processors appear to use less power. This would be huge for laptops and cooling issues.

So here is what I think…

Apple should buy AMD.

I think it would just make sense and be a benefit to both companies. Apple could then have in-house CPU and GPU production and they wouldn’t have to worry about production delays. They would also have the ability to have their hand in the development of new CPU/GPU platforms which they have already  expressed an interest in by purchasing P.A. Semi for the development of the A4 chip in the iPad.

Apple would have the ability to really open up their creativity for a bargain price!

AMD’s market cap is $6 Billion…that’s just 1 quarter’s revenue for Apple ($223 Billion market cap).  Of course, I’m using these numbers wrong, but I just want to put into scale the difference in the sizes of the companies.

So these thoughts have really made me wonder, “What was AMD really doing at the ApplePlex?”

Windows Mobile 7 has a chance (an article I thought I’d never write)

Posted by Tom Schultz on April 7, 2010 None comments

WARNING: Pretty pointless rant ahead…

Ok, let’s be real here. Windows Mobile hasn’t really seen an update since PC2000 back in April of the year 2000(Wikipedia). That’s a decade of not really putting money into this OS and it dominated the phone OS market for a long time.

Microsoft made what I believe to be a good decision when they decided to no longer support Windows Mobil 5/6 applications.  Some people may be upset by this but let’s be honest, all your windows mobile 5/6 applications are not that good.   The applications have been driving the leading mobile OS’s for the last few years.  The iPhone lead the way with their very large and hyped app store and then Google’s Android followed suit.  I mean really, what’s the point of having a powerful and awesome phone if there’s nothing you can do with it?  Which leads me to the next question…

What applications are going to be available for Microsoft new mobile OS? Or will Microsoft leave the ability to use their shiny new operating system behind?

What Microsoft is offering is “SkyMarket”.  I couldn’t find a ton about SkyMarket but it appears that Microsoft is going to have an app store!

So the next question of course is, how good is their SDK?

Well you can download it here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=71deb800-c591-4f97-a900-bea146e4fae1&displaylang=en

I guess you’ll have to play with the SDK your self.

Overall I think Microsoft is heading in a better direction than they have in the past but I  don’t see any innovation or excitement around this release, which leads me to believe that it will not be nearly as successful as the current leaders in mobile operating systems.

Microsoft had a real chance to come out with guns blazing but I think they missed their chance again.  I guess we’ll see on April 12th when Microsoft unveils their shiny new mobile operating system.