Apple licenses graphics technology?


EETimes is reporting rumors that Apple may have licensed "next-gen" graphics technology from Imagination Technologies. The latter announced that an "international electronics systems company" had purchased the right to use the company's SGX 3d graphics technology.

Observers have speculated that Apple will use the SGX 3D graphics and video cores in forthcoming products, with future generations of the iPhone as obvious candidates. The SGX core may also, or alternatively, be destined for inclusion in an Apple IPTV product, one observer said.

It is believed that the ARM processor used in current-gen iPhone includes Imagination's MBX core.

Editor's note: Once upon a time, the iPod supply chain leaked like a sieve. How leaky will the iPhone supply chain be?