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Apple introduces M4 chip

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Re: Apple introduces M4 chip

#711

Post by SpaceManNabs »

strangescript wrote: post #569
rsp1984 wrote: post #457

Together with next-generation ML accelerators in the CPU, the high-performance GPU, and higher-bandwidth unified memory, the Neural Engine makes M4 an outrageously powerful chip for AI. In case it is not abundantly clear by now: Apple's AI strategy is to put inference (and longer term even learning) on edge devices. This is completely coherent with their privacy-first strategy (which would be at odds with sending dat…

The fundamental problem with this strategy is model size. I want all my apps to be privacy first with local models, but there is no way they can share models in any kind of coherent way. Especially when good apps are going to fine tune their models. Every app is going to be 3GB+

I don't think HN understands how important model distillation still is for federated learning. Hype >> substance ITT

Re: Apple introduces M4 chip

#712

Post by therealmarv »

_ph_ wrote: post #647
therealmarv wrote: post #325

So why should I buy any Apple Laptop with M3 chip now (if I'm not in hurry)? lol

If you are not in a hurry, you almost never should buy new hardware as the next generation will be around the corner. On the other side, it could be up to 12 months, until the M4 is available across the line. And for most tasks, a M3 is a great value too. One might watch how many AI features that would benefit from a M4 are presented at WWDC. But then, the next Mac OS release won't be out before October.

The Macbook Airs with M3 have been launched 2 months ago. 2 months is really not that long ago, even in the Apple universe. For sure I'm waiting on what happens on WWDC!

Re: Apple introduces M4 chip

#713

Post by paulcole »

asow92 wrote: post #332

Why are we running these high end CPUs on tablets without the ability to run pro apps like Xcode? Until I can run Xcode on an iPad (not Swift Playgrounds), it's a pass for me. Hear me out: I don't want to bring both an iPad and Macbook on trips, but I need Xcode. Because of this, I have to pick the Macbook every time. I want an iPad, but the iPad doesn't want me.

As hard as it might be to believe, software developers are not the “pros” Apple is choosing to appeal to with the iPad Pro.

Other jobs exist!

People with disposable income who just want to buy the nicest/most expensive thing exist!

Re: Apple introduces M4 chip

#714

Post by pquki4 »

deergomoo wrote: post #666
littlestymaar wrote: post #566

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 8gb of ram. WTF? Why so little? That's insane to me, that's the amount of RAM you get with a mid-range android phone.

I'm not defending Apple's absurd stinginess with RAM (though I don't think it's much of an issue on an iPad given how gimped the OS is), but I've never understood why high-end Android phones have 12/16+ GB RAM. What needs that amount on a phone? 8GB on a desktop is...well it's not great, but it's usable , and usable for a damn sight more multi-tasking than you would ever do on a smartphone. Is it just because you nee…

I think that is very obvious. You have a browser window and a few apps open -- messaging, youtube, email, podcast etc. When you switch between apps and eventually back to your browser, you don't want the page to reload due to other apps eating up the memory. As simple as that. It's about having a good experience.

Re: Apple introduces M4 chip

#715

Post by kylehotchkiss »

FredPret wrote: post #357

Why does a tablet have a camera bump!? Just take out the camera. And let me run VSCode and a terminal.

The new document scanning functionality the camera bump helps enable is really nice. That previously required third party apps, which started out great (Swiftscan) then got greedy and turned into monthly subscriptions. I will happily enjoy Apple erasing entire categories of simple apps that turned one time purchases into monthly subscriptions.

Re: Apple introduces M4 chip

#716

Post by pquki4 »

kylehotchkiss wrote: post #493
asow92 wrote: post #332

Why are we running these high end CPUs on tablets without the ability to run pro apps like Xcode? Until I can run Xcode on an iPad (not Swift Playgrounds), it's a pass for me. Hear me out: I don't want to bring both an iPad and Macbook on trips, but I need Xcode. Because of this, I have to pick the Macbook every time. I want an iPad, but the iPad doesn't want me.

Visual studio code running from remote servers seemed like it was making great progress right until the AI trendiness thing took over... and hasn't seemed to advance much since. Hopefully the AI thing cools down and the efforts on remote tooling/dev environments continues onwards.

If we are talking about running from remote servers, my 2018 iPad Pro with A12Z (or whatever letter) can do that almost just as well.

Re: Apple introduces M4 chip

#717

Post by brcmthrowaway »

teaearlgraycold wrote: post #280
sulam wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If your back is hurting from the ~1lb extra going from 13" to 15", I would recommend some body weight exercises. Your back will thank you, and you'll find getting older to be much less painful. Regarding a small iPad, isn't that the iPad mini? 8" vs 7" is pretty close to what you're asking for.

I highly recommend doing pull-ups for your posture and health. It was shocking to me how much the state of my spine improved after doing pull-ups as a daily exercise.

set and rep protocol?

Re: Apple introduces M4 chip

#719

Post by kllrnohj »

numpad0 wrote: post #459
NorwegianDude wrote: post #264

> M4 has Apple’s fastest Neural Engine ever, capable of up to 38 trillion operations per second, which is faster than the neural processing unit of any AI PC today. I always wonder what crazy meds Apple employees are on. Two RTX 4090s is quite common for hobbyist use, and that is 1321 TOPS each, making two over 69 times more than what Apple claims to be the fastest in the world. That performance is literally less tha…

Also the 38 TOPS figure is kind of odd. Intel had already shown laptop CPUs with 45 TOPS NPU[1] though it hasn't shipped, and Windows 12 is rumored to require 40 TOPS. If I'm doing math right, (int)38 falls short of both. 1: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-says-l...

Snapdragon Elite X is 45 TOPS as well, so Apple's isn't even the fastest ARM-based SoC NPU

Re: Apple introduces M4 chip

#720

Post by pquki4 »

qwertyuiop_ wrote: post #136

Does anyone know how much of this giant leap performance as Apple puts it is really useful and perceived by end users of iPad. I am thinking gaming, art applications on iPad. What other major ipad use cases are out there that need this kind of performance boost.

I have a 3rd gen iPad Pro 12.9 for reading and other light activity. I haven't found any reason to upgrade for the past few years. I don't see myself getting another iPad unless this one dies or if Apple actually unlocks the potential of the hardware.
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