Episode 20: Apple's Silicon Strategy

The Circuit · 29 May 2023 · 39m · Episode 21

What this episode covers

Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg discuss Apple's strategy of designing its own System-on-Chips (SoCs) to achieve performance-per-watt advantages and control over the product roadmap. They analyze Apple's intense leverage over suppliers like TSMC and Broadcom, noting how Apple funds manufacturing and extracts technical knowledge to drive efficiency. The hosts also explore the limits of Apple's silicon ambitions, particularly regarding the difficulty of designing modems and RF components, and speculate on the custom chips required for upcoming Apple Vision Pro glasses.

Mentioned

Companies
Apple, TSMC, Qualcomm, Broadcom, PA Semi, Texas Instruments, Skyworks, MediaTek, Foxconn, ASML, Dell, HP, Samsung, Oppo
Products
M3, Apple Vision Pro, iPhone, MacBook, Apple Watch, AirPods

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 14m

    We're Sorry! But Apple Ain't! - Remorseless RAM Racketeering

    Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the 'Silicon Mafia,' detailing how Apple uses its massive capital to buy up Renesas fabs and memory at rock-bottom prices, squeezing suppliers like Cirrus Logic. They analyze the Novena laptop's open-source hardware ecosystem, featuring a Spartan 6 FPGA and swappable batteries, and critique the Saleae Logic 4's streaming architecture. The hosts also expose a fraudulent Indiegogo campaign for a calorie-tracking watch and discuss the challenges of attending maker fairs and trade shows as embedded consultants.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 09m

    The RP1 and beyond with the Raspberry Pi Hardware team

    James Adams (CTO) and Liam Fraser (Hardware/Software Engineer) from Raspberry Pi discuss the development of the RP1 custom silicon, the success of the RP2040 microcontroller, and the architecture of the Raspberry Pi 5. They explain how RP1 acts as a Southbridge/chiplet to offload I/O functions from the main Broadcom SoC, allowing for cost and complexity reductions as process nodes shrink. The conversation covers their internal chip design tooling, sourcing strategies during the chip shortage, and the rationale for sticking with ARM over RISC-V.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 01m

    Microfichery

    Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the challenges of sourcing components like custom LCDs and LEDs, the history of Tektronix's microfiche archives, and the engineering and regulatory hurdles facing self-driving cars following an Uber fatality. They also touch on industry news regarding Apple's shift away from Intel, Tesla's financial struggles, and the expansion of the Hardware Happy Hour community.

  • EE Times Current · 29m

    How Much is Enough for Hyperscale Companies?

    Brian Santo hosts a discussion on how hyperscale companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft are reshaping the semiconductor industry by demanding extreme power efficiency and designing custom AI accelerators. Experts Rick Merritt, Gary Hilson, and Dylan McGrath explain that these giants are pushing beyond standard roadmaps, collaborating directly with equipment vendors like Applied Materials, and leveraging their vast capital to drive innovation in memory and process technology. The episode concludes with Wally Rhines' insight that these companies' ultimate goal is owning the data and systems rather than just selling silicon, raising concerns about their growing societal power.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 01m

    Two Dads Puzzlin Things Out

    Dave Young of Young Circuit Designs and Blue Stamp Engineering joins Chris Gammell to discuss the persistent challenges of the chip shortage, specifically the inability to source Raspberry Pis and instrumentation amplifiers, and the resulting need to pivot designs or pay scalpers. They analyze the consolidation of the analog semiconductor industry into a duopoly of Texas Instruments and Analog Devices, noting how this reduces supply chain resilience. The conversation also covers the technical complexities of integrating the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4), including the difficulty of hand-soldering 0.4mm pitch connectors and the necessity of controlled impedance for high-speed signals like MIPI DSI. Finally, they explore the implications of Amazon Sidewalk for low-cost IoT connectivity and discuss strategies for fostering engineering education and maker communities in the next generation.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Circuit. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.