Intel is apparently looking for some graphics know-how in the most unlikely of places, British chip designer ARM.

ARM listed Intel as a “semiconductor partner” for its upcoming Mali-T658 graphics core, but this is a pretty broad statement and it is hard to say what the partnership actually refers to. In the past Intel always relied on in-house IGPs for its entire product range. However, this practice changed with Cedar Trail, as the new Atom platform uses Imagination Technologies PowerVR SGX545 graphics.

What might be even more surprising is the fact that Intel owns about 14 percent of Imagination Technologies, while Apple owns 9.5. Imagination Technologies currently owns the iOS market and it is a major player on the Android platform.

ARM on the other hand claims to have 57 Mali licensing agreements with 43 partners, including the likes of Samsung, which has just signed a licensing agreement with Imagination Technologies, in part owned by Apple, the very same company that sued Samsung on every single continent aside from Antarctica. We are sure it all makes perfect sense. (Probably. sub.ed.)

More here.