Perhaps Apple's most important executives: Secrets of iPhone "Silicon brains"-iPad Pro,A9, processor-IT information

On February 20, Apple has become the most profitable company in the world, without the hard work of many executives, including Chief Financial Officer Luka·maaisiteli (Luca Maestri), Senior Vice President of retail and online sales anjila·alundeci (Angela Ahrendts), Senior Vice President of Internet software and services AiDi·kuyi (Eddy Cue) and others. However, Apple executives are likely to be the most important yuehanni·siluoji (Johny Srouji), perhaps you've never heard of him, but its importance is undeniable. Bloomberg news reporters to interview him recently, the article is summarized below:

Pushing the iPad Pro breakthrough research

A year ago, Apple had trouble, big-screen iPad Pro hardware, software as well as stylus development is behind schedule, causing it to miss the Spring Conference. In this regard, Apple's Chief Executive, Tim Cook (Tim Cook) and his senior management team were forced to publish iPad Pro postponed until autumn. This gave most of the Apple engineers more time, but left to siluoji less time.

Siluoji is Senior Vice President of Apple's hardware technology, he managed the Department is responsible for making processor chips, and was known as the iPhoneand theiPad, Apple Watch as well as Apple TV "Silicon brain." Apple originally planned to launch in 2014 iPad chip A8X Pro tablet, iPad Air 2 and it uses the same processor. But deferred to the fall means that the iPad Pro will be released along with iPhone 6s, which will use the newer, faster chips for smartphones A9.

For Apple, iPad Pro is very important, Apple tried to use it to open outlets in the enterprise users. IPhone 6s along with faster processor, will make the iPad Pro looks backward. To this end, siluoji engineers focused on implementation of the emergency programme, spent six months developing a new Tablet-style computer processors A9X. Engineers have completed the task on time, iPad Pro final with faster chips and 12.9-inch display.

Siluoji effort to get huge returns. Last December, he became a Cook, new Member of the management team, and 90,000 additional Apple stock awards. 2008 Apple siluoji, finally inevitably go into the spotlight. As the most profitable company in the world, siluoji in charge of Apple's most important and most difficult to understand the sector. Since 2010, he after the team for the original iPad A4 chip, Apple will immerse yourself in expensive and complex in Silicon.

Apple developing specialized microprocessors, and as a means of enhancing the competitiveness of products unique. Apple's design line allows companies to customize products, perfectly compatible with the functions of the software, while controlling the balance between speed and power consumption. Chip parts, image signal processor and memory controller is more important, they made adjustments, storing photos and useful functions, such as iPhone5s the introduction of rapid "burst mode".

The Center is siluoji, a 51-year old Israel man. Before joining Apple, he used to work for Intel and IBM. Siluoji has plenty of ability, fluent in Arabic, Hebrew and French, his English accent. When it comes to iPhone body thinner, siluoji said: "the trouble is a good thing, do the simple thing is a waste of time. Apple's chip designers are artists, engineers were shamans. ”

Siluoji told Bloomberg news in an interview recently, he guided a reporter visited the Apple, located in Cupertino, and Israel Hertz, Leah's chip plants. There is no doubt that they are of strategic significance. Last year, investors have been selling shares, resulting in devaluation of more than 25%. As critics say, most people are quite satisfied with their cell phones, not willing to spend more money to upgrade.

Apple's response to this is often a strong NI·aiwei (Jony Ive) and its outstanding industrial design, or prominent phone elegantly machined aluminum or, as well as other new features. Apple seems to always have a new show, but no one ever explained the key component of Apple's profit machine, the chip business. Siluoji said: "I think this is not to say the story at this stage, I hope we do not give too much information. ”

Starting from scratch to build Apple chip business

When Apple's first iPhone launched in 2007, Steve Jobs (Steve Jobs) is clearly aware of its shortcomings, including no front-facing camera, battery life is too short, only supports slow AT&T 2G networks, etc. Former Apple engineer involved in developing this phone says, this phone is a breakthrough technology, but it has many limitations, because it is the up of parts manufactured by different vendors, including DVD player Samsung chip. Siluoji said: "he came to the conclusion that: for Apple, to create truly unusual great products, the only way is to have its own silicon technology. You have to control and own it. ”

One of his most trusted advisers Bob Mansfield are here (Bob Mansfield) when he was head of Apple's hardware Division, recruitment of siluoji in charge of the task. Siluoji then at IBM, is the semiconductor engineering rising star. Mansfield to the siluoji commitment to provide it with the opportunity to start from scratch building a new chip business.

Designing Semiconductor is in itself a risk decision. This only the size of a postage stamp about the microprocessor is the most important part of all computer equipment, it can be used for playing games, release post on Facebook, send text messages and pictures, and so on. By millions of tiny transistors, weak current flows from the battery, trigger commands and react in a very short time. It's like having your finger on the tip to build complex city. When the chip is unable to efficiently operate, the device will slow down or crash, users want to be down on the wall.

If the software has vulnerabilities, you only need to publish a corrected version, with completely different hardware. Siluoji said: "once a transistor go wrong, the game is over. Each transistor must be responsible, Silicon research need to be rigorous enough. "Computer and Smartphone manufacturers in the industry practice is to the processor's development and manufacturing to the professional manufacturers like Intel, Qualcomm and Samsung, they spend billions of dollars developing chip technology, and of course prices are not cheap.

When siluoji to join Apple, the company has about 40 engineers are responsible for the chips from different vendors on the iPhone. In April 2008, the number of teams increased to 150 people, when Apple acquired Silicon Valley chip start-up P.A. Semi, which has high performance semiconductor design technology. Siluoji team found themselves frequently interact with other departments, software developers want them to design new chips support. Ivey's industrial designers, they want to help develop more stylish mobile phone. An engineer recalled that senior managers at the meeting will prepare a lengthy report, because siluoji support is a key new feature is approved.

Siluoji work publicly for the first time in 2010, when Apple launched its iPad and iPhone 4. They use A4 from the United Kingdom company ARM Holdings designed an improved version of the, which authorized the use of its mobile technology to Apple. A4 is designed to support Apple's newest high-resolution "retina display". Siluoji said that this is a contest, competition on who first developed the system on chip. He said: "the plane has taken off, I now need to build the runway. ”

Led Apple to develop new chip standard

In the past few years, Apple design continuous improvement in introduced support for fingerprint recognition, video calling, iPhone sound activated Intelligent Assistant, Siri, as well as other features of the chip. While many companies when using Google's Android OS tablet, most easy to use mobile phone processors. Starting from the third generation iPad in 2012, siluoji team started designing ASIC supports Tablet PCs.

These mysterious semiconductors from Apple's curiosity about the tech industry, but when you publish iPhone 5s until 2013, rivals began to focus on Apple chip business. When equipped with A7 Mobile Smartphone is the first 64-bit chip, was the 32 bit twice. New technology supports new features, such as Touch and Apple Pay ID questioned scanner. Application developers must override in order to adapt to the new standards, but it can provide a smooth map, cool video games, more responsive applications.

As the largest current mobile phone chip design company, Qualcomm has made expensive decision: give up development of 32-bit chips, and focus all of its resources to develop new technologies. Tracks the semiconductor design trends Web site AnandTech editor laian·shimisi (Ryan Smith) said, phone companies want shiny new product, the A7 is truly the world upside down. When memories of Apple's 64-bit chip to competitors at the shock, siluoji a smile on his face, he said: "when we decided to do something, it is because we believe that no one can solve the problem, or one of the creative so unique, and the best way is to do it ourselves. ”

Siluoji was born in Israel in northern port city of Haifa, he was the youngest of 4 children. Siluoji family are Christian Arabs in Israel belong to minority ethnic groups. Siluoji said: "Haifa is Israel one of the most comprehensive city, where there are Christians, Muslims, Jews, and so on, have any religion you can think of. But everyone can live together in peace, it is to me, Fusion is nature. ”

Siluoji's father is out of town with the metal plate business. From age 10, siluoji on weekends and during the summer vacation to help his father make engine parts, wooden model of medical equipment or other machinery. His father believed in an unusual idea: he will suffer for the complex work of the user to take less money, simple job to collect money more efficient. Siluoji said: "If there is a very complex thing, and he never did, he wanted to do. "Siluoji's father had died in 2000, but he kept reminding his son not to keep the family business.

Education is equally important. In high school, siluoji in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and science performance is excellent. Israel Science and Technology Institute Technion work teacher also teaches his computer knowledge, which is one of the top engineering schools in the world. Siluoji attended Technion, night stay in the computer lab with a pencil draft code, he received undergraduate and master's degrees in computer, his master's thesis on new technologies to test software and hardware system-related.

After graduation, siluoji working in IBM, which in Haifa has the largest non-United States research facilities attract a large number of Technion and other Israel University graduates. Siluoji study on the distributed system, which is an emerging field, in different parts of the computer can be done through networking with computer-intensive tasks. Siluoji's first boss, IBM Haifa research lab, Vice President and head of the laboratory of aodaide·keen (Oded Cohn) said: "sometimes, I would like to know why he assigned tasks in a day so perfect? He is too smart, or not sleeping at night. Sometimes, the answer is twofold. ”

Although Israel and Jewish-Arab relations have always been very nervous, but this does not affect siluoji of the world. Cohen said that their different background has never been a problem. Cohen said: "when technicians treat technicians, primarily on the basis of their personality and technical capacity. You don't have to consider other factors, only collaborative efforts. "In 1993, the siluoji left IBM to join Intel, where he created a new technology, you can run a simulation mechanism test the performance of semiconductor design.

Help Apple take control of their own destiny

Siluoji live from Apple headquarters in Cupertino, where the furthest One Infinite Loop, he was driving a black Mercedes to work, to participate in weight-lifting and cycling to relax over the weekend. Siluoji said he did not want to mention too many details about the Apple product, because a lot of things is a company secret. At Apple, and most people will maintain a common refrain.

Friends have noticed siluoji carefully. Former Intel colleague Weiser, he visited Apple headquarters lectured on chip development, after the speech, an aide accompanying Weiser is no one visiting the siluoji's Office, where he noted that files were turned over on the table. Siluoji after entering the room, telling Weiser he must leave. He said: "we are at Apple, you can't sit here. "Siluoji also dispatched aides with Weiser, even to go to the bathroom with gusto.

One morning, February, siluoji press in their own territory for a brief visit. Here in Silicon Valley, but there is no clear sign. A bus left One Infinite Loop, after a 10-minute drive through a series of residential areas, to an office building near the Santa Clara. Many of the rooms were locked, chip test here in the future. The building is very quiet except for the hum of air conditioning, up the big black box with red and green light flashing. Apple white color of the room, very clean, but it's not clean, bulky cables and sockets are everywhere.

Never use a Mac like the books that have been read as placed on a shelf, all equipment is remote control. Box scan chip that is running software defects that may occur in the schema. An element of the test chip needs to last for a few days, and then on to the next test, until the test is completed, all process may take several months. Siluoji said: "If you are lucky, perhaps before shipping finds errors. ”

In the adjacent room, the circuit board is connected by stack size as the milk carton, capacity to simulate future iPhone or iPad. Apple's software programmers around the world can be code that chip design of remote testing them in the future. Since then, buses siluoji go a few kilometers into another unmarked building, there are a large number of customized version of Mac Minis are a variety of temperatures and test the prototype chips under pressure. Siluoji Description: "standing in the aisles and around the exposed circuit board and surrounded by digital equipment, like in the matrix. ”

Everything looks very complicated, siluoji does not discuss costs, but Apple's research and development expenses reached US $ 8.1 billion last year, 2014 and 2013 compared with us $ 6 billion and US $ 4.5 billion. Many analysts believe Apple due to sharp increase in research and development costs may be chip research and development. Siluoji can say is, Cook never limited his budget, but his control is strict. He said: "I think, engineers only when taking into account the limitations of resources, tools, and resources, and will do our best. If you have too much money and become reckless, that is the wrong mindset. ”

Apple has yet to fully control their own destiny, in many ways, is still in the supply chain "prisoner". Apple monitors from Samsung, cellular modems from Qualcomm. Samsung and TSMC are still manufactured processors, Apple's ability to meet the demand needs to be depends on the output of these companies. In addition, in the field of chip development, Apple also behind Samsung. Silicon Valley firm senior mobile chip analyst Linley Group Maike·daimule (Mike Demler) says, "if only to address hardware, I think Samsung has a better processor. ”

Apple's chip may have only just begun on the road, it had to rely on the vendor's Wi-Fi modem, but it will always be sustainable? Siluoji said: "I don't want to talk about Wi-Fi. "Apple is joining Tesla script, began developing its own batteries. In response, siluoji said: "I don't want to talk about the battery problem. ”

If Apple did a good job in mobile processors, it may be decided to enter the field of conventional chips, using its Mac desktops and laptops with Intel for collision. Of course, siluoji admitted that his team's mission is also very limited. He said: "if we try to do all the things in the world, I don't think this is a wise move. ”

或许是苹果最重要的高管：揭秘iPhone的“硅脑” - iPad Pro,A9,处理器 - IT资讯

2月20日，苹果之所以能成为世界上最赚钱的公司，离不开诸多高管的辛勤工作，包括首席财务官卢卡·马埃斯特里（Luca Maestri）、零售和网络销售高级副总裁安吉拉·阿伦德茨（Angela Ahrendts）、互联网软件和服务高级副总裁艾迪·库伊（Eddy Cue）等人。然而，苹果最重要的高管可能是约翰尼·斯洛基(Johny Srouji)，或许你从未听说过他，但其重要性却不容置疑。彭博社记者近来对他进行专访，文章摘要如下：

力推iPad Pro研发取得突破

一年多以前，苹果曾遇到麻烦，大屏iPad Pro的硬件、软件以及手写笔开发都落后于预定计划，导致其赶不上春季发布会。对此，苹果首席执行官蒂姆·库克（Tim Cook）及其高级管理团队被迫将iPad Pro的发布推迟至秋季。这给了大多数苹果工程师更多时间，但留给斯洛基的时间却更少。

斯洛基是苹果硬件技术高级副总裁，他管理的部门负责制造处理器芯片，又被称为iPhone、iPad、Apple Watch以及Apple TV的“硅脑”。苹果最初计划于2014年推出iPad Pro的平板电脑芯片A8X，它与iPad Air 2使用的处理器相同。但是推迟到秋季意味着，iPad Pro将随同iPhone 6s发布，而后者将使用更新、更快的智能手机芯片A9。

对于苹果来说，iPad Pro非常重要，苹果尝试利用它在企业用户中打开销路。与采用更快处理器的iPhone 6s同时发布，将令iPad Pro看起来显得落后。为此，斯洛基将工程师们集中起来执行紧急方案，用了半年时间研发出新的平板电脑处理器A9X。工程师们按时完成了任务，iPad Pro最终配备更快的芯片和12.9英寸显示器。

斯洛基的努力也获得丰厚回报。去年12月份，他成为库克管理团队的新成员，并获得9万股额外苹果股票奖励。2008年加盟苹果的斯洛基，也最终不可避免地走到聚光灯下。作为世界上利润最高的公司，斯洛基掌管着苹果最重要、也是最难被人理解的部门。自从2010年，他的团队为原始iPad研发出A4芯片后，苹果就将自己沉浸在昂贵而复杂的硅学中。

苹果开发专门的微处理器，并将其作为增强产品竞争力的独特方式。苹果设计的线路允许公司定制产品，令其与软件功能完美兼容，同时在速度和电量消耗之间控制平衡。在芯片零部件中，图像信号处理器和存储控制器比较重要，它们让苹果调整拍照、存储照片的有用功能，比如iPhone5s引入的快速“突发模式”。

这一切的中心就是斯洛基，一个51岁的以色列人。在加盟苹果前，他曾为英特尔和IBM效力。斯洛基很有能力，可以流利地讲阿拉伯语、希伯来语以及法语，他的英语稍有点儿口音。在谈及iPhone机身越来越薄时，斯洛基说：“困难是好事，做简单的事情就是浪费时间。苹果的芯片设计师都是艺术家，工程师则是巫师。”

斯洛基近日接受了彭博社专访，他甚至引导记者参观了苹果位于加州库比蒂诺和以色列赫兹利亚的芯片工厂。毫无疑问，这些工厂都具有战略意义。过去一年，投资者不断抛售苹果股票，导致其贬值超过25%。正如批评者所说，大多数人已经对他们的手机感到相当满意，不愿意花费更多钱进行升级。

苹果对此的回应往往是强尼·艾维（Jony Ive）及其杰出的工业设计，或突出手机优雅的加工铝或是应用以及其他新功能。苹果似乎总是有新鲜玩意展示，但是从来没人解释过苹果利润机器中的关键部分，即芯片业务。斯洛基说：“我认为这是现阶段不该说的故事，希望我们不会透露太多信息。”

从零开始打造苹果芯片业务

在苹果2007年推出首款iPhone时，史蒂夫·乔布斯（Steve Jobs）显然很清楚其缺陷所在，包括没有前置摄像头、电池续航时间太短、只支持AT&T缓慢的2G网络等。曾参与研发这款手机的苹果前工程师表示，这款手机虽然属于突破性技术，但其有很多限制，因为它是有不同厂商制造的零件拼凑起来的，包括DVD播放器中使用的三星芯片。斯洛基说：“乔布斯得出的结论是：对于苹果来说，要想打造真正与众不同的伟大产品，唯一的方式就是必须拥有自己的硅技术。你必须控制和拥有它。”

乔布斯最信任的顾问之一鲍勃·曼斯菲尔德（Bob Mansfield）担任苹果硬件部门主管时，招募到斯洛基负责这个任务。斯洛基当时还在IBM，也是半导体工程领域冉冉升起的新星。曼斯菲尔德向斯洛基承诺，将向其提供从零开始建造全新芯片业务的机会。

自主设计半导体是相当冒险的决定。这种大约仅有邮票大小的微处理器是所有计算机设备中最重要的部件，它可被用于打游戏、在Facebook上发布贴文、发送短信以及照相等。通过数以百万计的微小晶体管，微弱电流从电池中流出，在很短时间内触发指令和作出反应。这就像在你的手指尖上建造复杂城市。当芯片无法高效运作时，设备就会变慢或死机，导致用户想要将其摔在墙上。

如果软件中存在漏洞，你只需要发布更正版本即可，这与硬件完全不同。斯洛基说：“一旦某个晶体管出错，游戏就结束了。每个晶体管都必须各负其责，硅研究需要保持足够的严谨。”在电脑和智能手机制造商中，行业惯例是将处理器的研发与制造交给英特尔、高通或三星这样的专业厂商，他们斥资数十亿美元研发芯片技术，当然价格也不便宜。

当斯洛基加盟苹果时，该公司有大约40名工程师负责将来自不同厂商的芯片集成到iPhone上。到2008年4月份，这个团队人数扩增至150人，当时苹果收购了硅谷芯片初创企业P.A. Semi，后者拥有高效的半导体设计技术。斯洛基的团队发现自己需要经常与其他部门互动，软件程序员希望他们设计的新功能获得芯片支持。对于艾维的工业设计师们来说，他们希望帮助研发更时髦的手机。一名工程师记得，高级经理人们开会时会准备冗长报告，因为斯洛基的支持是新功能获得批准的关键。

斯洛基的工作首次被公开是在2010年，当时苹果发布了iPad和iPhone 4。它们使用的微处理器A4源自英国公司ARM Holdings设计的改进版本，后者向苹果授权使用其移动技术。A4被设计支持苹果手机上最新高分辨率“视网膜显示器”。斯洛基说，这是一场竞赛，竞争谁将首先研发出系统级芯片。他说：“飞机已经起飞，我现在需要及时建好跑道。”

带领苹果制定全新芯片标准

在过去几年中，苹果在设计方面不断保持改进，引入支持指纹识别、视频通话、iPhone声音激活智能助手Siri以及其他功能的芯片。当许多公司使用谷歌安卓操作系统制作平板电脑时，他们大多数使用方便的手机处理器。而从2012年第三代iPad开始，斯洛基的团队就开始设计专用芯片支持平板电脑。

这些神秘的半导体来自苹果对科技行业的好奇心，但直到2013年发布iPhone 5s时，竞争对手们才开始关注苹果芯片业务。当时配有A7处理器的手机也是首款64位芯片智能手机，是当时32位标准的2倍。新技术支持全新功能，比如Apple Pay和Touch ID质问扫描仪。开发者必须重写应用以便适应新的标准，但它可以提供更流畅的地图、更酷的视频游戏、反应更快的应用等。

作为当前手机芯片最大设计公司，高通也曾做出昂贵决定，即放弃开发32位芯片，集中全部资源开发新技术。专门追踪半导体设计趋势的网站AnandTech主编赖安·史密斯（Ryan Smith）说，手机公司都想要闪亮的新产品，A7则真正颠覆了世界。当回忆苹果64位芯片给与竞争对手带来的震撼时，斯洛基脸上出现笑容，他说：“当我们决定做某件事时，那是因为我们认为没人能解决问题，或者某个创意如此独特，而最好的方式就是我们自己来做。”

斯洛基出生在以色列北部港口城市海法，他是家中4个孩子中的老三。斯洛基的家人都是信奉基督教的阿拉伯人，在以色列属于少数族群。斯洛基说：“海法是以色列最具综合性的城市之一，那里有基督徒、穆斯林、犹太人等，有任何你能想到的宗教。但所有人都能平和地生活在一起，对我来说，融合就是天性。”

斯洛基的父亲在城外拥有金属制板业务。从10岁开始，斯洛基就在周末和暑假期间帮助父亲制作发动机部件、医疗设备或其他机械的木质模型。他的父亲信奉不寻常的理念：他会因复杂工作向用户少收钱，简单的工作反而收钱更高。斯洛基说：“如果有非常复杂的东西，且他从未做过，他就想要去做。”斯洛基的父亲已经于2000年时去世，但他不断提醒儿子不要安于家族生意。

教育也同样重要。高中时期，斯洛基在数学、物理、化学以及科学方面表现非常棒。在以色列科学技术研究所Technion工作的老师还教授他计算机知识，这个机构是世界上最顶级的工程院校之一。斯洛基进入Technion就读，晚上待在计算机实验室用铅笔起草代码，他获得了计算机本科和硕士学位，其硕士论文就与测试软件和硬件系统的新技术有关。

毕业后，斯洛基进入IBM工作，后者在海法拥有最大的非美国研究设施，吸引大量Technion和其他以色列大学毕业生。斯洛基研究分布式系统，这是一个新兴领域，不同地方的电脑可以通过联网以完成计算机密集型任务。斯洛基的首个老板、IBM位于海法研究室的副总裁兼实验室主管奥代德·科恩（Oded Cohn）说：“有时候，我很想知道，他为何能在一天之内就将分配的任务做得如此完美？是他太聪明，抑或是晚上不睡觉。有时候，答案是双重的。”

尽管以色列与犹太阿拉伯人关系总是很紧张，但这却未能影响斯洛基的世界。科恩说，他们不同的背景从未成为问题。科恩说：“技术人员对待技术人员时，主要根据其个性和技术能力。你不必考虑其他因素，只需要合作努力。”1993年，斯洛基离开IBM加入英特尔，他在那里创造了新技术，可运行模拟机制测试半导体设计的性能。

帮助苹果掌握自己的命运

斯洛基住在距离苹果位于库比蒂诺总部One Infinite Loop数里远的地方，他驾驶黑色奔驰上下班，周末参加举重和骑自行车放松。斯洛基表示，他不想提及有关苹果产品的太多细节，因为很多东西都属于公司机密。在苹果，大多数人都会保持共同的克制。

朋友们已经注意到斯洛基的慎重。他曾邀请前英特尔同事威瑟前往苹果总部就芯片发展发表演讲，在演讲结束后，一名助手陪同威瑟前往斯洛基的无人办公室，他在那里注意到桌上的文件被翻了过来。斯洛基进入房间后，告诉威瑟他必须离开。他说：“我们身在苹果，你不能坐在这儿。”斯洛基还派助手跟着威瑟，就连去洗手间都不放过。

2月份的一天早上，斯洛基带领记者在自己的领地进行了短暂巡视。这里位于硅谷，却没有任何明显标志。一辆大巴离开One Infinite Loop，驱车10分钟通过一系列居民区后，来到圣克拉拉市附近一栋办公楼。这里的很多房间都锁着，未来芯片正在这里进行测试。这栋建筑非常静，只能听到空调的嗡嗡声，黑色的大盒子堆叠起来闪烁着红色和绿色的光芒。房间呈现苹果白颜色，显得很干净，但是并不整洁，粗大的电缆和插座到处都是。

未曾使用过的Mac像已经被读过的书籍那样摆放在架子上，所有设备都是遥控操作。正在运行软件的箱子扫描芯片架构中可能出现的瑕疵。测试芯片的一个元素需要持续数天时间，然后进行下一项测试，直到测试完成，全部过程可能需要数月时间。斯洛基表示：“如果你够幸运，或许能在出货前找到错误。”

在相邻的房间中，线路板被与牛奶盒大小的堆栈连起来，模拟未来iPhone或iPad的能力。苹果的软件程序员位于世界各地，可以在未来芯片设计中遥控测试他们的代码。此后，大巴载着斯洛基再走数公里，到了另一个没有标志的建筑，这里有大量定制版Mac Minis正在各种温度和压力环境下测试原型芯片。斯洛基描述称：“站在过道中，周围被暴露的电路板和数字设备所包围，就像身在《黑客帝国》中。”

一切看起来都非常复杂，斯洛基没有讨论成本问题，但苹果去年的研发费用高达81亿美元，2014年和2013年分别为60亿美元和45亿美元。许多分析师认为，苹果研发成本大幅增加可能是芯片研发所致。斯洛基能说的就是，库克从不限制他的预算，但他自己控制得很严。他说：“我认为，工程师们只有在考虑到资金、工具以及资源限制时，才会做到最好。如果你因为有太多钱而变得草率，那是错误的心态。”

苹果还没有完全掌握自己的命运，从很多方面来看，其依然是供应链中的“囚犯”。苹果的显示器来自三星，蜂窝式调制解调器来自高通。三星和台积电依然在制造处理器，苹果满足需求的能力部分需要依赖于这些公司的产量。此外，在芯片研发领域，苹果也落后于三星。硅谷技术咨询公司Linley Group资深移动芯片分析师迈克·戴姆勒（Mike Demler）说：“如果只论及硬件，我认为三星拥有最好的处理器。”

苹果的芯片之路或许才刚刚开始，它需要依赖供应商的Wi-Fi调制解调器，但是这种情况会永远持续吗？斯洛基说：“我不想具体谈及Wi-Fi事宜。”苹果也正加入到特斯拉的剧本中，开始研发自己的电池。对此，斯洛基表示：“我也不想深入谈及电池问题。”

如果苹果在移动处理器方面做得很好，它可能会决定进军传统芯片领域，利用其Mac台式电脑和笔记本电脑与英特尔进行碰撞。当然，斯洛基也承认，自己团队的使命也十分有限。他说：“如果我们试图做世界上的所有事，我不认为这是明智之举。”