Apple picked up PA Semi, the low-power PowerPC start-up, last week to do who knows what with, and Sun picked up the assets of Montalvo Systems, the laconic, heading-for-the-crapper start-up that was supposed to be doing an Intel-competitive low-power/mobile four-core x86 chip for reasons it hasn't shared yet. It apparently plans to integrate the Montalvo technology into its own processors to what effect remains to be seen. Popular wisdom thinks Sun's interest has nothing to do with x86 compatibility.