A6 chip to reach iPad 3 later in 2012, says analyst
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20097766-64/a6-chip-to-reach-ipad-3-later-in-2012-says-analyst/?part=rss&subj=latest-news&tag=image"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2011/08/26/arm-cortex-a9-quad-core-small.jpg" alt="" /></a></div><p>Apple's latest chip technology won't appear in the next-generation iPad until June 2012 at the earliest, according to a firm that tracks the mobile processor industry. </p> <p class="image-caption">An ARM Cortex-A9 quad-core design--which the Apple A6 processor is based on. </p> <span class="image-credit">(Credit: ARM)</span> <p>Getting new processor technology out the door (remember, Apple is also in the chip design business) is a Herculean task for even seasoned chip manufacturers like Intel. It will certainly be no different for Apple, whose next chip, dubbed the "A6," may not make an appearance in the iPad 3 until later in 2012, said The Linley Group, a chip consulting firm. </p> <p>The rumored A6 is a major step-up in chip design. Not only does it contain four processor cores (the existing Apple A5 has two cores) but will use so-called 3D technology, Linley Group senior analyst Kevin Krewell said this week in a research note, citing a report in the Taiwan Economic News. Intel also announced <a title="How Intel's 3D tech redefines the transistor (FAQ) -- Wednesday, May 4, 2011" href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20059431-64.html?part=rss&subj=latest-news&tag=embed">3D technology in May</a>. </p> <p>And on top of this, Apple will be switching to a new contract chip manufacturer, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and be using next-generation 28-nanometer technology. Currently, Samsung makes Apple's A5 processor. </p> <p>All of this takes time. "A final version of the chip wi... <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20097766-64/a6-chip-to-reach-ipad-3-later-in-2012-says-analyst/?part=rss&subj=latest-news&tag=readMore">[Read more]</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~4/fseYBCYnWek" height="1" width="1"/> [More]