iPhone News Updated

Apple takes steps towards designing its own chips

Bad news for TriQuint Semiconductor, Infineon Technologies, Samsung, Broadcom, and other companies the sell computer chips to Apple: the electronics giant is taking steps towards designing its own chips.

Last year, Apple bought chipmaker P.A. Semi, a small chip company that specializes in low-power processors, or computer “brains.” Now Forbes reports that Apple is boosting its chipmaking know-how even more, by hiring leading designers from IBM and Nintendo.

Computer chips can be a commodity. Nearly every PC has a processor from Intel or its rival Advanced Micro Devices, for example.

But speciality chips can help differentiate one product from another — especially if they’re designed with a specific purpose in mind. A chip for a portable device, such as the iPhone, could be designed to preserve battery life, for example.

There’s big money at stake. Researcher iSuppli estimates that each iPhone 3G costs about $174 to make. Apple spends most of that money on components, such as chips, that it buys from other companies.

Even if Apple plunges into chip design, don’t expect the company to build a giant chip factory, called a fab. They cost billions. Apple would likely design the chips, then outsource their manufacture to a for-hire chipmaker, such as TSMC or UMC.

[Thanks: http://blogs.usatoday.com]

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Konami: Full version of Metal Gear Solid Touch on iPhone and iPod Touch

The most recent game to create a stir among iPhone and iPod Touch users is the Metal Gear Solid Touch. Konami finally introduced a full version of the popular game on the Apple App Store. The game includes many new levels and a host of intuitive touch shooting controls.

In the absorbing world of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriot, gamers can now literally ‘touch’ the Metal Gear Solid world. The full version of the title wraps in eight more gameplay levels for the iPhone and the iPod Touch.

Specifically fabricated for the two devices, the title is now packed with 5 chapters that span over 20 stages. Players need to get rid of familiar enemies who still keep Old Snake away from his mission. Setting new levels are some characters appearing in the latter eight stages of the game. With an array of new abilities, these characters will take the excitement to newfound heights.

The full version includes powerful enemies like the remainder of the ‘B&B Corps’ and the dreaded Gekko. Accompanied by the distinct gameplay mechanisms, players will be up for multiple challenges that can be taken care of by a simple ‘tap’ of their iPhone/iPod. Piloting Metal Gear REX in battle, the version offers many new elements that will test both the player’s strategy and insight.

Utilizing the iPhone to the best of its abilities, a simple shake of the device will gear up players for the Mantis Boss Battle attack. On completing the 20 stages, gamers will be offered an unlocked Survival Mode. This mode allows players to play stages consecutively by jumping over the story images, thus keeping their life gauge intact.

Gamers are also provided with an added bonus which includes access to over 30 original wallpapers via Drebin’s shop. Each stage awards Drebin Points as per the score attained at the end of the stage. The wallpapers comprise of varied artwork and Metal Gear Solid’s character designer Yoji’ Shinkawa’s unreleased illustrations. It also features outstanding 3D CG along with images that have been fashioned using Metal Gear Solid as a motif.

Besides, Konami also plans to release Metal Gear Solid Touch Lite which is a free version of the game that can be sampled by enthusiastic gamers.

The complete version of the game can be updated for free by gamers who already have the initial release of Metal Gear Solid Touch. Others who are yet to purchase the game can avail it from the App store.

[Thanks: http://www.techshout.com]

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