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Adding this:

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Update #1, January 28, 2010 22:22 GMT/UTC - Following the request for comments, we were incline to update the story. First of all, we do not have concrete information about the number of cores inside the Apple A4 "CPU that it isn't" i.e. A4 SOC. We were told that the ARM licensed its CPU and GPU technology to Apple. That's it. Out of that technology, Cortex-A9 is intended for manufacturing in advanced manufacturing process such as 45nm, 40nm, 28nm and so on, while Cortex-A8 doesn't have advanced video processing capabilities that Cortex-A9 has. As the time progresses, we'll know more about what LEGO brick components did Apple use to create the A4. One thing is certain - it uses ARM IP throughout the silicon.

ARM announces Atom killer, goes for Intel's jugular

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9/17/2009 by: John Oram

ARM recently announced the development of two Cortex-A9 hard macro for the TSMC 40nm-G [general purpose, as opposed to the conventional low power - 40nm-L] process. This is almost the identical process used by nVidia and AMD for several of their 40nm parts [majority of GPUs uses 40nm-P, high performance node]. They claim the clock speed can be in excess of 2GHz.

ARM is aiming their dual-core Cortex-A9 design directly at Intel's Atom which currently owns the netbook marketplace. ARM is still facing the hurdle of not having Microsoft's Windows XP or Windows 7 as operating system choices. Their CPUs can run Windows CE, Windows Mobile, Linux, Android, Symbian, and other proprietary real time operating systems for embedded products. What makes the situation potentially worse for Microsoft is the fact that Qualcomm and nVidia are pushing their smartbook designs to telecom operators and that might potentially limit the success of Windows 7-based netbooks.

ARM Cortex-A9 Microarchitecture - this is how a single A9 core looks like.

When Google introduced Chrome they said it would run on both x86 as well as ARM chips and they were working with multiple OEMs to bring a number of netbooks to market next year.

Nandan Nayampally, director of CPU marketing at ARM said that the latest processor is an attempt by ARM to show that it can raise clock speeds if needed. The dual-core ARM processor while running at 2GHz consumes mere 1.9 Watts of power and that is nowhere near the highest clock achievable by the architecture. The processor delivered better performance than Intel's Atom N270 netbook chip operating at 1.6GHz, according to benchmarks provided by ARM.

Thanks Swordmaker and Ernest_at_the_Beach.

...not unlike what Intel is trying to achieve with its future "Moorestown" Atom processor that debuted inside LG's Smartphone.

I recall reading how, when Jobs got done agreeing to buy what was then the next-gen 68K family chip, he told Motorola's people, "I'll sure be glad to be rid of you." :') The iPad was only made possible by a chip with the capabilities (including low power consumption) that could satisfy this guy. :') I was looking around for deals (last ones, display models, in Macs of course) at the Big Box store tonight, found nothin', and cruised the netbooks. That was a busy aisle, had to come at it from the back end. Anyway, there's an Atom-based desktop unit (I forget which manufacturer, but I think it was Acer) that stands on end, is about an inch wide and six square, $199.

Earlier I went to the Apple store, and it was PACKED. No floor model of the iPad though, which is really what I wanted to check out.