| Cult of Mac

Tiny fan makes MacBook Air perform like MacBook Pro

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Frore Systems AirJet cooling chip fits MacBook Air
A Frore Systems cooling chip can boost MacBook Air performance.
Photo: Frore Systems

MacBook Air performs well without a MacBook Pro’s cooling fan, but now a tiny cooling chip can bridge the difference between the two laptops, according to a new report.

The thin membrane-based AirJet chip fits in Apple’s lightest laptop and boosts its performance when needed. Too bad you can’t just buy it and install it.

iPad buyers wait months for delivery as chip shortage drags on

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iPad buyers wait months for delivery as chip shortage drags on
Order from Apple Stores around the world and you’ll be waiting weeks to get the 10.2-inch iPad.
Photo: Apple

Demand for some iPad models outstrips supply. And the result is customers waiting a month or more to receive their tablet. Buyers in some countries who place an order now will be waiting until March to receive it.

The problem is a shortage of the secondary processors used in the mobile computers. Apple just can’t get as many as it needs.

Google is making its own chips for phones and laptops. Sound familiar?

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iFixit teardown of pixel
A new in-house chip may power the Google Pixel next year.
Photo: iFixit

Google will take a play out of Apple’s playbook as it reportedly ramps up development of its own processors for use in Chromebooks and Pixel smartphones.

Under the code-name Whitechapel, Samsung is collaborating with Google on the design of the chip. Samsung also supplies chips to Apple.

Apple chipmaker already preparing for its next-next-gen chips

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Gather_Round_A12Bionic 2
TSMC debuted its 7-nanometer process with last year's A12 Bionic chip.
Photo: Apple

Apple chipmaker TSMC has kicked off development of its 3-nanometer process for future chips.

TSMC unveiled its 7-nanometer process with last year’s A12 Bionic chip. It is taking its 7nm tech for a victory lap with the A13 Bionic chip for this year’s iPhones. But according to the Apple chipmaker’s VP of corporate research Philip Wong there’s still plenty of space at the bottom.

Apple isn’t taking its power management chips in-house just yet

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chips
Apple's relationship with Dialog Semiconductor will continue for now.
Photo: Intel

Apple’s apparently not ready to produce its own power management chips, based on the fact that it has commissioned the design of new chips from partner Dialog Semiconductor, a new report claims.

That’s significant because a report from last year suggested that Apple planned to use its own chips starting 2018 or 2019. Instead, today’s news claims that Apple will continue using Dialog chips through 2019 or 2020.

Apple designing super efficient power management chips for iPhone

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chips
Apple is doing more and more of its chip design work in-house.
Photo: Intel

Apple is busy designing its own power management chips for use in future iPhones, which could debut as soon as next year, a new report claims.

The new chips would reportedly be the most advanced power management chips in the industry. They will boast superior processing abilities, allowing them to better monitor and control power consumption — thereby letting iPhones and iPads deliver better performance on lower power consumption.

Apple could ditch Qualcomm chips for future iPhones and iPads

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Qualcomm patents
Apple may rely on alternative companies instead.
Photo: Qualcomm

With the legal battles between Apple and Qualcomm showing no signs of coming to a close, a new report claims that Apple is working to develop new iPhones and iPads for 2018 which don’t make use of any Qualcomm chips whatsoever.

While Apple (obviously) hasn’t made any announcements yet, it is said to be looking at chips made by Intel and MediaTek. The reason for the lack of Qualcomm’s chips could be a mutual decision, due to Apple not wanting to continue to work with Qualcomm, and Qualcomm withholding the necessary testing software for its latest chips.

Apple could soon build its own iPhone modems and Mac processors

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chips
Apple is bringing more chip development in-house.
Photo: Apple

Apple is interested in developing its own in-house ARM-based processors for MacBooks, modem chips for iPhones, and a “chip that integrates touch, fingerprint and display driver functions,” claims a new report.

Doing this would allow Apple to lessen its reliance on companies on companies like Qualcomm, which Apple is currently locked in a legal battle with.