Tag Archives: m4

Apple and Georgia Tech Team Up to Design the Future of Chip Engineering

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Apple’s efforts to shape the future of technology go well beyond the devices we use every day. The company’s New Silicon Initiative (NSI), started in 2019, aims to nurture talent in chip design, computer architecture, and integrated systems. With Georgia Tech now joining as the eighth university in this initiative, it helps bridge the gap between academic theory and industry practice, setting up future innovators for success in hardware engineering.

The partnership between Apple and Georgia Tech’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) builds upon a collaboration that introduced a digital circuit design course in 2022. This expanded initiative gives ECE students valuable access to Apple’s expertise in multiple ways. Students will have expanded coursework in integrated circuit (IC) design and the tapeout-to-silicon process, along with mentorship from Apple engineers, guest lectures by industry experts, networking events, and direct project reviews.

The final chip designed by ECE 4804 student groups embedded in a PCB.

A great example is the ECE 4804 VLSI Design: Theory to Tapeout course, created in partnership with Apple. This two-semester course takes undergraduates through the complete VLSI design cycle. In the first semester, students design a digital System on Chip (SoC) using industry-standard Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools. The second semester focuses on testing the fabricated chips manufactured using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)’s 65nm CMOS process. This hands-on experience gives students practical insights into chip design and manufacturing.

On October 3, 2024, a kick-off event at Georgia Tech attracted over 600 students, showing a strong interest in this collaboration. The initiative provides students with hands-on experience in integrated systems and silicon chip design, skills that are fundamental to the development of modern technology. The NSI program at Georgia Tech offers several benefits to students. These include scholarship and fellowship opportunities, such as a Ph.D. Fellowship in Integrated Circuits and Systems announced in October. The curriculum has been enhanced to focus on circuit technology, electronic devices, computing hardware, and emerging architectures. Students will receive direct feedback from Apple engineers on IC design course projects, giving them invaluable industry insights. Moreover, they will gain exposure to new technologies and industry practices, preparing them for an evolving tech landscape. These elements give students a valuable view of industry practices, preparing them for the tech landscape.

More than 600 Georgia Tech students joined the Apple NSI kick-off event at the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons in early October, highlighting the excitement around this partnership.

Apple engineers will collaborate with ECE faculty to present guest lectures in various integrated system design courses. The engineers will also participate in project reviews in several IC design courses and offer practical feedback to help students refine their designs during the tape-out process. In the inaugural run of the VLSI Design course, every student design was validated as fully functional—a success that highlights the value of direct industry involvement.

ECE Professor Visvesh Sathe teaching the first VLSI Design: Theory to Tapeout cohort in Spring 2023.

“Working with Apple as part of its New Silicon Initiative allows us to bridge the skills gap for a workforce in IC design and computer architecture by preparing students with the technical abilities and skills to enter a rapidly evolving, always in-demand industry,” said Arijit Raychowdhury, professor and Steve W. Chaddick School Chair of ECE.

This collaboration represents an important investment in the future of hardware engineering and chip design. By bringing real-world challenges and professional feedback directly into the academic setting, Apple is helping to accelerate the growth of the next generation of talent. This initiative impacts Georgia Tech students and the broader future of technology development and innovation.

Looking ahead, there are plans to expand this course and explore new courses in other chip development areas, like analog and packaging. As technology advances, initiatives like NSI are crucial in preparing tomorrow’s workforce to meet the industry’s challenges.

The post Apple and Georgia Tech Team Up to Design the Future of Chip Engineering first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 Reasons Why Apple’s iMac M4 is the All-in-One Desktop You Need: Unmatched Power, Innovation, and Style

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Apple has once again pushed the boundaries of desktop computing with the release of its latest iMac, powered by the M4 chip and Apple Intelligence. These two key advancements are central to this upgrade, driving significant improvements in performance, productivity, and user interaction. The M4 chip delivers powerful processing capabilities, while Apple Intelligence transforms how users interact with their devices through advanced AI-driven features. Let’s explore the ten features that make the iMac M4 a significant step forward in personal computing.

Designer: Apple

1. The Powerhouse M4 Chip

At the heart of the new iMac lies the M4 chip, Apple’s latest silicon marvel. This is a significant leap in performance. Compared to its M1 predecessor, the M4 chip delivers up to 1.7x faster performance for daily productivity tasks like multitasking between apps and browsing the web. For more demanding workflows, such as photo editing and gaming, users can expect up to 2.1x faster performance, offering an incredibly smooth experience for creative professionals.

According to Apple’s benchmarks, the new M4 chip features a more capable CPU with the world’s fastest CPU core, as described by Apple and an immensely powerful GPU with Apple’s most advanced graphics architecture. This allows the iMac M4 to handle more intense workloads, enabling smoother gameplay and faster rendering in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro apps. For gamers, this translates to up to 2x higher frame rates in titles like the upcoming Civilization VII, and for content creators, up to 2.1x faster performance when applying complex filters and effects in apps like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro.

The M4 chip’s Neural Engine delivers over 3x faster performance compared to the M1, making the iMac M4 the world’s best all-in-one for AI, according to Apple, making it a powerhouse for AI-driven tasks. This improvement supports Apple Intelligence and its advanced capabilities, transforming how users work, communicate, and express themselves. The faster Neural Engine makes tasks such as photo and video editing, AI content creation, and automation seamless and efficient.

The iMac M4 comes standard with 16GB of unified memory, which is faster and more efficient and can be configured up to 32GB. This ensures smooth multitasking and the ability to easily handle memory-intensive applications, making it ideal for professionals and power users who require robust performance for demanding tasks.

2. Apple Intelligence: Transforming How You Work and Communicate

One of the most exciting additions to the iMac M4 is Apple Intelligence, a personal intelligence system deeply integrated into macOS Sequoia. It brings powerful generative models combined with industry-first privacy protections, including on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute, unlocking new ways for users to work, communicate, and express themselves while ensuring privacy.

Apple Intelligence features systemwide Writing Tools that assist users with proofreading, rewriting, and summarizing text. These tools are available nearly everywhere users write on their Mac, making them invaluable for students, professionals, and anyone working with text. Additionally, the redesigned Siri allows users to fluidly switch between spoken and typed requests, answering thousands of questions about Mac and Apple products while accelerating everyday tasks.

In December, Apple Intelligence will also integrate ChatGPT, allowing users to access its expertise seamlessly without switching between tools. Users will be able to access ChatGPT without creating an account, with privacy protections such as IP address obscuring to safeguard user data. Features like Image Playground and Genmoji will also be introduced, offering creative ways to generate images and custom emojis.

3. A Vibrant New Color Palette

The iMac M4 is now available in seven vibrant new colors, offering buyers a broader range of choices to match their personal style. This expanded palette allows users to choose an iMac that truly reflects their personal style.

Image: Apple iMac M4

The iMac features a thoughtful color design, showcasing bold hues on the back and more subtle tones on the front. This allows it to look great from every angle while minimizing distractions during work.

Apple has also updated its accessories—the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and optional Magic Trackpad now come in colors that match the iMac.

4. Nano-Texture Display Option

Apple now offers a nano-texture glass option for the 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, significantly reducing reflections and glare for improved usability in bright environments.

Image: Apple iMac M4 New Nano-Texture Display Option

The nano-texture glass is created through a nanometer-level etching process that gives the display a matte finish, allowing users to place their iMac in brightly lit environments without worrying about reflections. This option makes the iMac particularly suitable for a wider range of locations, such as sunlit living rooms or bright office spaces, where traditional glossy screens might struggle with visibility. By reducing glare, the nano-texture glass helps maintain exceptional image quality, ensuring accurate colors and sharpness regardless of ambient lighting conditions.

5. Enhanced Video Calling with 12MP Center Stage Camera

The iMac M4 features a 12MP ultrawide camera with Center Stage, which uses machine learning to keep subjects centered in the frame. This makes video calls more engaging, whether it’s for families gathered on FaceTime or professionals giving presentations. Center Stage automatically pans and zooms as people move, ensuring everyone stays in view.

Image: Apple iMac M4 12MP Center Stage Camera

Additionally, the new camera supports Desk View, which utilizes the wide-angle lens to show both the user and a top-down view of their desk simultaneously. This feature is particularly useful for educators demonstrating lessons or creators showcasing projects, enhancing the versatility of the iMac for video communication. The camera is complemented by a studio-quality three-microphone array with beamforming technology, ensuring clear audio and a six-speaker sound system that provides an immersive audio experience for calls and media.

6. Advanced Connectivity with Thunderbolt 4

The iMac M4 features Thunderbolt 4 support on all USB-C ports, significantly enhancing data transfer speeds and providing greater versatility for external connections. With Thunderbolt 4, users can connect up to two 6K external displays, creating an expansive and productive workspace ideal for professionals needing multiple monitors for multitasking, video editing, or design work.

Image: Apple iMac 4 Thunderbolt 4

These Thunderbolt 4 ports also allow for seamless connectivity to high-speed external storage devices, making it easier to transfer large files, back up data, or expand storage capacity without compromising performance. This feature is particularly beneficial for creative professionals who work with large media files and need quick access to their projects.

In addition to Thunderbolt 4, the iMac M4 supports Wi-Fi 6E, the latest evolution in wireless technology, which provides faster internet speeds, reduced latency, and greater capacity for handling multiple devices simultaneously. Whether streaming content, gaming, or conducting video calls, users will benefit from a more stable and responsive connection.

Bluetooth 5.3 is also supported, ensuring improved connectivity with peripherals such as headphones, keyboards, and other wireless devices. This enhancement means users can enjoy faster pairing, greater range, and more reliable connections, which contribute to a more fluid and enjoyable user experience.

7. macOS Sequoia: Designed for Today’s Demands

The iMac M4 comes with macOS Sequoia, which introduces features like iPhone Mirroring—allowing users to interact with their iPhone directly from their Mac. Safari has also received significant updates, including Highlights, which quickly pulls up relevant information from websites, and a redesigned Reader offering a table of contents and high-level summaries. Distraction Control allows users to hide specific items on a webpage, creating a more focused browsing experience.

Gaming enthusiasts will appreciate the improvements to Game Mode, which optimizes system performance for gaming, and the addition of Personalized Spatial Audio, enhancing the gaming experience by delivering immersive sound that adapts to the user’s head movement. These enhancements position the iMac M4 as a capable gaming machine.

8. Environmental Consciousness

The new iMac M4 is designed with sustainability in mind. The stand is made from 100% recycled aluminum, while multiple printed circuit boards use 100% recycled gold plating, tin soldering, and copper. The packaging is entirely fiber-based, bringing Apple closer to its goal of eliminating plastic from all packaging by 2025.

Apple’s broader environmental initiatives include making the iMac energy-efficient and free of harmful substances like mercury, brominated flame retardants, and PVC. These efforts are part of Apple’s commitment to carbon neutrality across its entire carbon footprint by 2030.

9. Improved Security with Touch ID

The Magic Keyboard with Touch ID comes standard on models with the 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, providing a convenient and secure way to unlock the computer, make online purchases with Apple Pay, and switch between user profiles. Touch ID also works with Fast User Switching, allowing multiple users to quickly and easily access their personal settings on the same iMac, making it ideal for shared environments.

Image: Apple TouchID

For those who value both privacy and convenience, Touch ID ensures that sensitive information remains secure while providing a seamless experience. Whether a family shares a computer or a small business uses a shared workstation, Touch ID enhances the usability of the iMac M4 by providing a simple yet effective security measure.

10. Customization and Accessibility

Offering a range of customization options, the iMac M4 provides different processor configurations and color-matched accessories. Users can choose between models with varying core counts to match their performance needs, and personalize their workspace with accessories that complement their iMac’s color.

macOS Sequoia continues Apple’s tradition of robust accessibility features, making the iMac usable by as many people as possible. These features include VoiceOver for visually impaired users, Switch Control for those with limited mobility, and new tools designed to make macOS even more inclusive, ensuring everyone can experience the full power of the iMac M4.

A New Standard for All-in-One Computing

The iMac M4 makes desktop computing more powerful and intuitive, thanks to the M4 chip, Apple Intelligence, and upgraded display and camera features. Together, these enhancements create an all-in-one computer that boosts performance, productivity, and everyday use.

The post Top 10 Reasons Why Apple’s iMac M4 is the All-in-One Desktop You Need: Unmatched Power, Innovation, and Style first appeared on Yanko Design.

Steve Jobs would be absolutely proud of how far the new iPad Pro M4 has come

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Here’s a snapshot of the new iPad Pro – an industry-leading M4 Chipset, Tandem OLED screen technology, a design thinner than any other Apple device ever made, nano-textured glass, studio-quality mics, graphite-sheet-infused hardware and copper-infused logo for better thermals, and an absolutely game-changing Apple Pencil Pro. It’s almost as if Apple is operating with alien technology.

I’ve mentioned this in the past that the iPad Pro really has no true competitor. It’s left Android tablets so far behind that almost every Galaxy, Pixel, or OnePlus tablet is just a budget competitor with Apple’s regular iPad. The iPad Pro has always been in a league of its own, and truth be told, I entered the Apple event thinking we’d get an incremental iPad Pro M3 update… because why does Apple really have to blow minds any more than it already has? Turns out I was absolutely wrong, because the more-than-one-year wait for a new iPad Pro was absolutely worth it.

The tablet PC itself was a category that Jobs pioneered, ushering in a new era of handheld devices that would go on to become the intermediary between a phone and a laptop. Jobs introduced the iPad as a multimedia device back in the day, but today the iPad Pro is much more. In fact, it’s so ridiculously powerful that it could dethrone even Apple’s own MacBook. The landscape camera and Magic Keyboard with the function row are just two small updates that put the iPad Pro more and more in MacBook territory… except with an XDR touchscreen, a brilliant stylus, a flawless front-facing camera with LiDAR, and with FaceID – all features that the MacBook currently lacks.

Yes, I sincerely believe that if Jobs were around today, the iPad Pro M4 would have blown his mind because I’m pretty sure the CEOs of Samsung, Google, OnePlus, Huawei, and Microsoft are all mighty pissed at how much Apple has leapfrogged their own tablet efforts. There’s really no comparison between tablets the way there is between phones and even to some extent between smartwatches. No Qualcomm chipset matches the M4’s capabilities, neural engines (NPUs) on tablet chipsets aren’t that common or powerful (to our knowledge, only Microsoft’s Surface Pro has them), and the fact that the iPad is so good it could potentially eat into Chromebook sales is probably really irking some companies right now.

So what makes this iPad so ground-breaking? Well, for starters, pretty much all of us entered into this keynote expecting the usual – a chip upgrade, the shifting of the camera module, and maybe some Pencil tweaks. However, what Apple served up instead was miles ahead of what anyone could think. The first iPad Pro was touted as a magical piece of glass, given how thin and compact it was – this new iPad Pro, even with its new almighty M4 chip, is thinner than any iPad ever made. At 5.3 and 5.1 millimeters respectively (the 11 and 13-inch models), the new iPads are thinner than the thinnest iPod. Heck, they’re a full 40% thinner than an AirTag. AN AIRTAG.

That isn’t all, Apple’s new design is a combination of incredible engineering and borderline futuristic material sciences. The new screen gets bumped up from Retina to Tandem OLED, a technology that Apple developed in-house, merging two OLED panels together to bring screen brightness up to a peak of a whopping 1600 nits. Meanwhile, a nano-textured glass helps cut glare while refracting ambient light perfectly without causing any clarity issues. A better screen, an M4 chipset, and a radically thinner design obviously means the iPad Pro is prone to immense heating (it doesn’t have a fan the way laptops do either), but that’s where Apple’s ingenuity shines again. Instead of simply relying on machined aluminum, the new iPad Pro’s housing has graphite sheets incorporated into it… and that Apple logo on the back, that also has copper infused into it too, helping turn the iPad’s body into a much more efficient heat sink to dissipate heat.

The iPad Pro’s nano-textured glass

The new iPad Pros also have better speakers, a set of studio-grade microphones, and a repositioned landscape camera that manages FaceID as well as functions as the perfect video-conferencing camera with CenterStage capabilities. The camera sits right where the wireless charging coil for the Apple Pencil would otherwise sit, so the fact that Apple’s managed to squeeze both of those in, while still making the iPad Pro thinner than before seems like a borderline miracle.

The new iPad Pro is also complemented by a redesigned Magic Keyboard that’s slimmer, and has an all-new function key row and a pressure-sensitive trackpad… and a Pencil Pro that’s so ground-breaking it puts other styluses to shame (fun fact, the Pencil Pro got 5 full minutes of coverage in a 44 minute keynote, including an in-depth breakdown by Procreate CEO, James Cuda), but more on that in a separate article. Despite its radical redesign, the iPad Pro doesn’t get a price-bump. Instead, it still starts at $999 for the 256Gb model (the 128Gb model is now discontinued), and $129 for the Pencil Pro. Even by Apple’s own standards, that’s a massive technological leap for the same price each year. Like I said, Jobs would be absolutely chuffed.

The post Steve Jobs would be absolutely proud of how far the new iPad Pro M4 has come first appeared on Yanko Design.

HTC One Mini shows up as 601e in Chinese certification database

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Why hello again, One Mini! While HTC has yet to make this metallic 4.3-inch phone official, the closest thing we have right now is this certification in China's TENAA database. What's new is the "601e" model name, which positions it in a similar tier as the other slightly bigger 600 series devices destined for China, namely the Desire 606w (aka Desire 600 Dual SIM globally), Desire 608t and Desire 609d. But unlike these models nor the Chinese variants of the larger One, it appears that this 601e with WCDMA radio is just a single-SIM device. With the appearance of this filing, it shouldn't be long before the One Mini finally hits the shelves around the world.

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Via: ePrice

Source: TENAA

This is the HTC One Mini

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DNP HTC

The leaks are true: HTC's rumored M4 is indeed the One Mini. We know because a trusted source in possession of the "petite" 4.3-inch handset has fed us a direct image, while also confirming some specs. From what we've seen, the few renders and blurrycam shots that bled out earlier this year appear to be dead-on. The One Mini's a more approachable (and affordable) version of the One -- both inside and out -- with some notable differences. For starters, its screen size has been reduced to 4.3-inches, much like Samsung's Galaxy S 4 Mini, making it much more palm-friendly and deserving of the Mini moniker. But we don't yet have a clear handle on its resolution. Certainly, the Mini's not going to ape the One's dazzling 1080p Super LCD 3 display -- what's more likely is that this "smaller" screen is of the 720p variety.

The Mini still features the much-lauded metallic unibody HTC ushered in with the One and Beats Audio branding on the back, although now its front face is ringed with plastic. The consequence of that latter design change should aid in reducing its weight, but it also means you're getting considerably more bezel than on the One. There's also no IR blaster on the device, so you won't be able to use it as a handy replacement for your tv remote. And cosmetically, that's about as far as the Mini strays from the One.

Much could change by the time the One Mini is released later this year -- should be sometime in Q3 -- but for the moment, the handset's running a Sensed-up version of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with BlinkFeed on board. Specific details on the UltraPixel cameras weren't made available to us, but we do know the rear module's capable of full HD video recording and Zoe share capture. As for the processor inside, our source provided us with a few benchmark results, pegging the CPU as a 1.4GHz dual-core setup -- presumably, a Snapdragon 400 just like the HTC First. That's about the extent of what we have on the One Mini. For anything further, you'll just have to wait for more leaks or HTC's official announcement later this fall.

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HTC One ‘mini’ leaks showing 4.3-inch 720p display and UltraPixel camera

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HTC One 'mini' leaks, with 4.3-inch 720p display and UltraPixel camera

HTC One mini? HTC M4? Whichever moniker you want to give it, that appears to be what we see above. Shown in a bunch of photos on Estonian site forte.delfi.ee the 4.3-inch device seems to corroborate much of what we've heard already. Beyond the (slightly) smaller 720p display, the site also claims there's a dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage and a 4-megapixel shooter complete with UltraPixel technology. The same sources claim an August release date, at around €400, but we're not clearing our agenda just yet. That's all we've got to go on for now, but it seems 4.3-inch really is the new small.

[Thanks, Oliver. Image Credits: Forte]

Gallery: HTC One mini

HTC One mini

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Source: Forte.Delfi

HTC M4 possibly spotted next to two monstrosities: alleged Nokia Lumia 1030 and Sony ‘Togari’ (update: likely fake)

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DNP HTC M4 possibly pictured alongside alleged Nokia Lumia 1030 and Sony 'Togari' cellular monstrosity

If there's an award for the meatiest leak of the year, then this would make a fitting nomination. The above photo (reformatted for this page) was tweeted earlier today by France-based Dahny El Perro, who claims the blue device in the top right corner is an upcoming Nokia Lumia 1030. While it's hard to tell the physical features from the blurred shot, the wider spacing around the Windows Phone soft keys suggests this might be a larger device than the existing Lumia 920. More interestingly, its screenshot features an extra tile column, which is a feature rumored to be part of the Windows Phone 8 GDR3 update, according to ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley.

Next up we have what appears to be the rumored 6.44-inch, 1080p Sony "Togari," whose front panel was first spotted way back in January. Alas, there's little to see here, but we were quickly distracted by the much smaller HTC device next to it. Many have simply dismissed this as the One, though if you look close enough you should notice the subtle differences: the frame is white all around the phone, and the speaker grills are shorter. Indeed, this device matches @evleaks' earlier render of the 4.3-inch M4, thus making this leak its first real-life appearance. But of course, there's also a good chance that this is merely a very clever hoax involving three unannounced devices, not to mention that the Twitter account is also super fresh, so we won't be placing any bets just yet.

Update: WPCentral's sources say Nokia currently does not have plans for this type of over-sized phone, and they've confirmed that this image is inaccurate. Upon further research and analysis, we're leaning towards believing this is indeed an elaborate hoax.

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Via: Blog Of Mobile (Japanese)

Source: Dahny el Perro (Twitter)

HTC M4 leaked, suggests flagship style with middleweight specs (updated with comparison images)

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HTC M4 leaks, brings flagship style with middleweight specs

Remember the M4? We've seen glances of a spec sheet, but now we get to see how it's going to look. Courtesy of @evleaks, we can now tell it's looking good. After the critically-acclaimed One, the company looks to be sharing its style tips around -- at a glance the M4 appears almost identical to the HTC flagship, although the camera flash has been relocated to the center of the device and there's a few less micro-drilled speaker holes. Running over the leaked specs, you can expect a smaller 4.3-inch screen at 720p resolution and possibly a cheaper build to the unibody beauty that leads HTC's smartphone family.

There's likely to be a dual-core processor, LTE-capable radio and 16GB of storage too. There's better news, with the UltraPixel-packing 4-megapixel camera sensor rumored to make its way into the middleweight phone, although initial leaks pointed to a 13-megapixel sensor. The phone is said to be appearing later this quarter, but we're still waiting on official word (and that all-important price) before we get too excited. But hey, it worked for Samsung.

Update: We've made a couple of comparison images of this rumored M4 with the 4.7-inch One. Check them out after the break.

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Source: Phone Arena