Apple job listing hints at new iPhone OS-based devices
Last week, Apple revealed it is looking to hire an engineering manager to work at its corporate headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. The full-time job would lead a team responsible for the architecture, firmware, core drivers and bring-up of new hardware based on the iPhone OS.
"The Core Platform team within Apple's Core OS organization is looking for a talented and inspired manager to lead a team focused on bring-up of iPhone OS on new platforms," the job listing reads.
Apple is looking for a "very technical and hands-on leader" to work closely with the company's hardware team, and someone who has a thorough understanding of the mobile operating system's underpinnings. The ideal candidate would have experience with Mac OS X or iPhone development, as well as ARM-based systems-on-a-chip.
In 2006, AppleInsider first revealed that Apple planned to utilize a variant of Mac OS X to embed in its mobile devices. That variant eventually became the multitouch iPhone OS, which is based on the underpinnings of Mac OS X. Apple's latest job filing would imply that the iPhone and iPad were just the first two new devices to take advantage of Apple's revolutionary mobile operating system.
The iPhone is based on the ARM processor architecture, which allows for low power consumption in mobile devices. For the forthcoming iPad, Apple created its own custom chip, also based on the ARM architecture and estimated to have cost the company $1 billion to make.
As first reported by AppleInsider in 2008, Apple has been a licensee of the ARM architecture for years. The company also purchased P.A. Semi for $278 million in 2008. Apple's experience with and acquisitions related to chip design could give the hardware maker more flexibility in the future to create unique devices that take full advantage of the iPhone OS.
Apple said its new engineering manager will work with the company's hardware and silicon teams "to bring-up new platforms and prototype systems," and also define the software roadmap for "a range of hardware platforms, including iPhone and iPod." The employee will also "lead the team's assistance in requirements for future hardware and custom silicon."
69 Comments
The open OS X UI on Mac's might be doomed. \
Looks like Intel processors use on Mac's is doomed too. If people buy the (cheaper?) closed iPhone/iPad UI devices to satisfy their needs, it decreases the demand for the open OS X UI devices.
Wow, just when OS X UI market share has exploded around the world.ARGHHH! I got to use insecure Windows now for a compatible, somewhat stable and open OS? After 20 something years of using Mac's?
Is Apple committing business suicide?
There is certainly some mixed signals coming out of Cupertino lately, including the removal of some racy Apps and some not.
WTF?? I wish Apple would calm the fears out there, I don't want to buy the newest MacBook Pro only to find out it's OS X UI is going to be obsolete soon and no more program development.
Got fooled by the PowerMac G5 and then Blamo! no more OS X development, what a total waste of several thousand dollars that was.
I saw this buzz a couple places. And I can see a 'clam-shell' like device with a keyboard and touch screen, but... How would you roll multi-touch into AppleTV? Unless it required a iPod Touch/iPad/iPhone as the remote control...
Now, the core iOS on Apple Silicon with a different (than iPad) UI? That is the future (if it has one) of the AppleTV.
But I can't see the Mac Mini or the MacbBook Air being 'replaced' by iOS devices. The Mac Mini is successful because it it IS a full Fledged Mac. And the cachet for the MB Air is a fully functional, ultra portable, premium laptop. [I can also see an iOS clam-shell device canabalizing this market - which would lead me to say that it won't happen]
A4 (and family) expectedly becomes their flagship...
It would be great to use my iPHONE to go online to PayPal and use it as an charging device - with or without an attached creditcard reader. Since MasterCard is now in GB available with an RFchip built in, I suppose the communication between card and iPHONE could also be done via WiFi.
The open OS X UI on Mac's might be doomed. \
Looks like Intel processors use on Mac's is doomed too. If people buy the (cheaper?) closed iPhone/iPad UI devices to satisfy their needs, it decreases the demand for the open OS X UI devices.
Wow, just when OS X UI market share has exploded around the world.ARGHHH! I got to use Windows now for a open and compatible device? After 20 something years of using Mac's?
Is Apple committing business suicide?
Or this could have nothing to do with macs at all. I could see aspects of iPhone OS going to Apple TV (or touchscreen controllers for Apple TV), a smaller iPad (or bigger iPod touch). Maybe they want to develop a touch screen device that car manufacturers can integrate into their vehicles. iPhone OS requires a computer to sync to, be it windows or mac. If anything it has brought more people to OSX (note the huge increases in mac sales despite some models being very old).