The new iOS 4.1 update for the iPhone and iPod touch offers security fixes and new features on different models. But does the new operating system change the speed of the phones? After running five benchmarks, we found no significant speed gains or losses on an iPhone 4, 3GS or 3G.
The benchmarks were first executed on the phones running the previous version of iOS, version 4.02. We then upgraded all the phones to 4.1. After running the benchmarks in 4.1, we found speeds on the various tests remained within about 10 percent of the iOS 4.02 results. Click on the charts below to see the scores.
• Graph: Change in Performance
• Chart: Change in Performance
• Chart: iPhone 4 Scores
• Chart: iPhone 3GS Scores
• Chart: iPhone 3G Scores
Our benchmarks were split into three categories: processor and memory performance; application loading speed of a complex game; and Web browser performance.
Processor and Memory
BenchTest 1.4 ($0.99 in the iTunes store) tests memory allocation, floating point and integer calculation, 2D drawing performance using CoreGraphics, filesystem writes, and some JavaScript functions.
Geekbench 2 ($1.99 in the iTunes store) tests floating point and integer calculation and measures sustainable memory bandwidth and memory performance.
Application Load Time
"NFSU Launch" is the time for the device to launch "Need for Speed Undercover 1.2.0" ($4.99 in the iTunes store) to playable mode.
Web Browser Performance
SunSpider and V8 (version 5) are complex JavaScript benchmarks that test JavaScript runtime performance. The iPhone 3G could not run the entire V8 suite, so we picked two tests, "Richards" and "EarlyBoyer."
All tests were run with devices connected to a Wi-Fi network.
-pc mag.
A mid-level Apple manager faces twenty-three counts of a federal grand jury indictment alleging that the 37-year-old Paul Shin Devine, a global supply manager, is guilty of wire fraud, money laundering, and kickbacks related to his position at the company. Andrew Ang, of Singapore, faces the same charges as well.
And if that's not bad enough, Apple itself has filed a separate civil suit against Devine, alleging that the Sunnyvale, CA-based (former) employee accepted more than $1 million in bribes and kickbacks from countries including China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore.
According to the indictment, Devine allegedly used his position at Apple to acquire various bits of confidential information about the company. He would turn around and sell this information to more than a half-dozen Apple suppliers—including the aforementioned Ang—and both would receive payments for their efforts. Using the confidential knowledge, said suppliers would be able to better position themselves to bid for and receive Apple contracts.
The San Jose Mercury News reports that the companies in the indictment remained unnamed, but they're said to be involved in supplying materials for Apple's iPods and iPhones.
"Apple is committed to the highest ethical standards in the way we do business," said Apple spokesman Steve Dowling in a statement. "We have zero tolerance for dishonest behavior inside or outside the company."
The somewhat-complicated scheme, reads the indictment, involved a number of U.S. and foreign bank accounts, as well as the falsified company "CPK Engineering," to process the payments. Devine allegedly attempted to conceal the money transfers using code words as to not clue his employer into what was actually transpiring, and would even go so far as to open the foreign bank accounts in his wife's name.
The Internal Revenue Service reports that Devine is currently in the custody of U.S. Marshals, awaiting a 1:30 p.m. court appearance this coming Monday in the U.S. Northern District Court in San Jose.
-Pcmag
