9 to 5 Mac has discovered code references in iOS 5.1 beta that was seeded to developers last month, which indicate that future iPads and iPhones could be powered by a quad-core processor.
9 to 5 Mac reports:
Hidden deep inside the latest iOS 5.1 beta is updated processing-core management software that not only supports the dual-core processing enabled by the A5 iPhone and iPad chip, but also quad-core processing. The references to quad-core iPhone and iPad chips come by way of a hidden panel that describes cores that are supported by iOS device hardware. The updated core management software includes an option of “/cores/core.3,” and this represents a fourth available processing core…
Extremely reliable and knowledgeable people familiar with iOS’s inner workings explained to me that core references begin at “0.” For example: A single core device would be limited to ”/cores/core.0,” and a dual-core device would come in at ”/cores/core.1.” A “core.2″ (which is not referenced in iOS code) would be a triple-core processor according to this labeling method. iOS 5.1 beta 2 now includes core.3, a seemingly quad-core chip from Apple.
It remains to be seen if Apple's next generation A6 system-on-chip that is expected to power iPad 3 and the sixth generation iPhone will come with a quad-core processor. One of the major concerns of using a faster processors is the impact it has on battery life.
9 to 5 Mac points out that since the references have been found in iOS 5.1 beta, which is probably the version Apple is using to test iPad 3, it is possible that the next generation iPad will feature a quad-core processor.
What do you think? What else is on your iPad 3 wish list? Let us know in the comments.
[gmod]great work on the news whitetop.[/gmod]
