As part of our meanderings through the output from a debugger from a prototype of the next iPhone, we discovered some of the new chips that are going into these devices. Lots of them.

One such part that we have not talked about is the Broadcom BCM4334 that has been found in code dumps. The BCM4334 is a step up from the 65nm BCM4330 used on the “new” iPad and the iPhone 4S, and it is notably built on a smaller, more efficient 40nm process.

From AnandTech:

So, we are looking at nearly half the power required for Wi-Fi. That should add some power savings to offset the bigger screen and LTE radios. The power savings will also help Apple to make a thinner phone with a thinner battery.

Along with now-standard stuff like Bluetooth 4.0 and FM radios, this chip also features dual-band Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Direct. From Broadcom:

While Apple is not likely to use Wi-Fi Display over its own AirPlay protocol, Wi-Fi Direct/Adhoc on the second Wi-Fi connection would seem to be directed at something pretty interesting…

The chip includes IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n single-stream MAC/baseband/radio, Bluetooth 4.0 + HS, and an integrated FM radio receiver. It is designed to be used with external 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz front-end modules, which include power amplifiers, T/R switches and optional low noise amplifiers. The combo device also features advanced switching techniques that enable concurrent dual-band operation to simultaneously support network connectivity with one band while also allowing content streaming via technologies such as Wi-Fi Display and Wi-Fi Direct.

Apple requires dual-band Wi-Fi cards when deciding which Macs get to use AirDrop (any Mac or Hackintosh can be hacked to use AirDrop, even over Ethernet). However, Apple limits AirDrop to these models and newer:

  • MacBook Pro (late 2008 or newer)
  • The MacBook Pro (17-inch late 2008) and the white MacBook (Late 2008) do not support AirDrop.
  • MacBook Air (late 2010 or newer)
  • MacBook (late 2008 or newer)*
  • iMac (early 2009 or newer)
  • Mac Mini (mid 2010 or newer)
  • Mac Pro (early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or mid 2010)

All of these Macs have the built-in Wi-Fi Direct on dual-band Wi-Fi cards. The new iPhone will be the first iOS device that meets Apple’s standard for AirDrop. Therefore, we could easily see the Lion adhoc file-sharing protocol added to iOS 6.

  • The MacBook Pro (17-inch late 2008) and the white MacBook (Late 2008) do not support AirDrop.

It certainly gives Apple a reason to bump up the Wi-Fi chip to this more expensive dual-mode version that was just announced in late February. Wi-Fi Direct is used in more and more printers as well, but its main purpose is to make wireless file-sharing extremely easy, just as Google does in its Galaxy Nexus devices.

With Apple’s easy-to-understand interface, an iOS AirDrop feature could make sharing between Macs and iOS devices (or dare we say to Android devices?) beyond simple.

  • Netgear announces first 5G 802.11ac Wifi router, speeds up to 1.3Gbps (9to5mac.com)
  • iFixit tears down the new Apple TV- two antennas, single-core A5 chip, and Broadcom 4330 chip (9to5mac.com)
  • Refurb Linksys Dual-Band 802.11n WiFi Gigabit Router for $80 + free shipping (9to5toys.com)
  • Refurb Linksys Dual Band 802.11n Gigabit Router for $110 + free shipping (9to5toys.com)