MacRumors has come across an Apple job listing for someone with:
excellent understanding and knowledge of processor architecture, specifically ARM and its vector unit NEON. Additional Intel SSE or PowerPC AltiVec is also very helpful. Being able to use processor micro-architecture to write and deliver fast routines is an essential attribute.
Neon, they remind us, is the brand name for the ARMv7 Cortex, the next-generation of the processor Apple uses in the current iPhone and iPod touch.
What’s not yet clear is whether Apple will tap the multi-core potential of the ARMv7 Cortex to really shift multimedia performance into the mobile stratosphere. However, another tantalizing glimpse into the iPhone’s potential future is revealed in a second job listing, this one for an engineer with:
Experience developing embedded image and video processing solutions. Experience developing embedded image and video analysis solutions. Experience working on real-time media and networking applications (WiFi and cellular networks).
Of course, we won’t keep our fingers crossed too hard for those iTunes Replay, personalized podcast streaming, or remote DVR access patents Apple has teases us with in the past…
While “patent peeping” shows what Apple might be doing in the far flung future, the equally voyeuristic “job watching” gives a slightly better idea of what’s going to be happening in the now and soon. With that in mind, following up on rumors of the next generation iPhone packing a 3.5 or 5 megapixel camera, it’s nice to see Apple looking for a Camera Project Manager and Camera Design Engineer.
AppleiPhoneApps.com points out:
The most intriguing part of the job listing is that they mention integrating a camera into an iPod as well.
Could it simply be a boilerplate mixup, or is the iPod touch 3,1 (likely to debut this fall at the next iPod/Music Special Event) going to be packing it’s own megapixel surprise?
So a new employment opportunity popped up at Apple’s job listings the other day and Apple is looking for an experienced iPhone Security Engineer to create “proof of concept” attacks on current security mechanisms and provide risk analysis of potential security threats. Basically, Apple needs an iPhone Hacker to prevent future jailbreaks, unlocks, and security breaches.
So if any of you are good at what you do and want to work for the “good guys”, go give it a try. Apple is trying to ramp up security to protect enterprises who are adopting iPhone 2.0 and more selfishly, protect their own App Store from competition ahem Cydia & Installer. Either way, Apple is getting serious about security and the iPhone.
What do you think?
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