AppleInsider is reporting that the new iPhone 3G S’ processor could support 720 HD video. This chip is, as expected, is a Samsung S5PC100 running at 600Mhz and based on ARM’s Cortex A8 reference design. Although a PDF from Samsungs site says this about the chip: “The S5PC100 adopts a 32-bit ARM Cortex A8 RISC […]
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iPhone 3G S Chip Could Support 720p HD Video

Jun 19th 2009 by

AppleInsider is reporting that the new iPhone 3G S’ processor could support 720 HD video.

This chip is, as expected, is a Samsung S5PC100 running at 600Mhz and based on ARM’s Cortex A8 reference design. Although a PDF from Samsungs site says this about the chip: “The S5PC100 adopts a 32-bit ARM Cortex A8 RISC microprocessor and a 64/32-bit internal bus architecture, and operates up to 833MHz.” So, in short, the iPhone 3G S’ processor is not running as fast as it could be. This might be due to heat restraints, power consumption restraints, or this might be built in obsolescence so Apple can update the device at little cost next product cycle. Maybe a little of all three. Who knows.

There is another thing Apple left out of the chip, a high definition multi-format codec for higher resolution multimedia at low power consumption. This again may be for power, heat, or a cheap feature to add later on. But, if you really want my opinion, and I know you do, this was cut out of the feature list because 720p HD video on a handheld device is lunacy.

To paraphrase Daniel Eran Dilger “Low Def is the New HD”. This statement is in regards to handheld devices.

People are willing to give up audio and video quality for speed and convenience. Think of how much more room an HD video will take, on a device with relatively limited storage. Are those costs worth the benefits? Not to most customers.

Will we ever seen large quantities of HD content on the iPhone? Yes. Just not at this time.

Image courtesy of AppleInsider

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