Category: Texas Instruments

LG Optimus black

Posted by – January 8, 2011

An awesomely thin and light 109 grams Android Super Phone from LG using the Texas Instruments OMAP3630 ARM Cortex-A8 processor, it comes with LG’s new 700nit NOVA LCD screen and Wi-Fi Direct functionality demonstrated in this video.

Medapps health monitoring

Posted by – January 8, 2011

Provides real-time monitoring for diabetics, congestive obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, uses several monitoring equipment with Bluetooth and a GSM system that uploads that information wirelessly to the health monitoring system called Healthcom that doctors can use to monitor up to 400 patients at the same time to provide early intervention in case of health problems.

Bodymedia Fit Armband BW

Posted by – January 8, 2011

It monitors your body 24 hours a day, you strap it to your upper arm, it’s not too heavy but could probably be lighter (I think they should make it a light and compact wrist watch). It has 3 axis accelerometer monitoring all movements, it measures sweat, it’s a pedometer, heart rate and body heat monitoring and based on your height and weight it can calculate calorie output/usage with 90% accuracy (so they say) using clynically approved methods. It’s available on Amazon.com

General Imaging GE PJ1, pico-projector in a camera

Posted by – January 7, 2011

In the future, every camera, every phone, everything will integrate built-in projectors. Basically to make a big screen on any wall or table out of any pocketable device. It uses the new nHD pico projector technology by Texas Instruments at 640×360 resolution and around 15 lumen output.

Seco srl presents Pico Projector in a Lamp concept

Posted by – January 7, 2011

Check this out cause it’s actually awesome. This is a concept device, integrating a Texas Instruments OMAP3530 processor platform running Android, WiFi, Bluetooth, into a lamp that takes power from any lamp. It’s a lamp, but it projects Android and apps to the wall, any video. Find more information about Seco at http://seco.it

Seco Q7 OMAP4 dual-core module

Posted by – January 7, 2011

This is the first OMAP4 dual-core module for the embedded form factor market for theindustrial environment for the mobile and automotive markets. Thanks to Seco’s pression on the q7 consortium, people can now swap the x86 module for an ARM architecture, it works for Windows, Android and Linux OS. Find more information at http://www.seco.it/

Microsoft shows full Windows for ARM Powered devices

Posted by – January 6, 2011

Check this out. This is the full Windows on ARM platforms developed by Texas Instruments, Qualcomm and Nvidia. Microsoft demonstrates a recompiled version of Microsoft Office for ARM, some other apps, talks about how it will support all the apps on ARM, this is awesome.

anandtech.com: Benchmark of top ARM Cortex-A8 SoC GPUs

Posted by – December 19, 2010

Check out this interesting GLBenchmark 2.0 at anandtech.com, they compare the performance in benchmarks for following devices:
– Nexus S and Samsung Galaxy S using SGX540
– myTouch 4G and T-Mobile G2 using Adreno 205
– iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPad using SGX535
– Nokia N900 and Motorola Droid using SGX530
– Nexus One, Optimus One and HTC EVO 4G using Adreno 200

Not in the benchmark, Droid X, Droid 2 and the Archos Gen8 Tablets have SGX535.

It will be interesting to see what will happen once possibly more competition comes with ARM Mali-400 in the upcoming ARM Cortex-A9 dual-core processors and where its performance might be. Also I’d like to know what kind of performance Tegra 2 does for this 3D stuff. What Qualcomm Adreno 220 is cooking for its upcoming dual-core Snapdragons. And what 3D on-die GPU Marvell is going to use (supposedly does 200 million triangles per second) in its upcoming 628 Tri-core processor.

Find the full GLBenchmark 2.0 article over at: anandtech.com

Texas Instruments OMAP4440 ARM Cortex-A9 at 1.5Ghz, improves Web Page load times by 30% over OMAP4430

Posted by – December 11, 2010

TI just unveiled their most advanced ARM Cortex-A9 processor yet in the 1.5Ghz Dual-Core ARM Cortex-A9 OMAP4440 processor and SoC platform. Performance improvements over their OMAP4430 includes:
– 1.25x increase in graphics performance
– 30% decrease in webpage load time
– 2x increase in 1080p video playback performance
– 50% increase in clock speeds, as fast as 1.5 GHz per ARM® Cortex™-A9 MPCore™

I’m hoping this means this processor is definitely fast enough for full 1080p h264 high profile at the highest bitrates in MKV containers. 30% faster web page loading times is important for Laptop, Desktop and Tablet form factors with large high resolution screens for this processor to be optimal choice for Chrome OS, Honeycombe Tablets and Google TV type devices.

TI’s Remi El-Ouazzane, vice president, OMAP platform business unit said following in their official press release:

We seized an opportunity to enhance the platform capabilities driving the OMAP4430 processor’s success today. As OMAP4430 processor-based products hit the market in first half 2011, we’re arming our customers with a huge performance boost via an easy migration to OMAP4440 processor for their next wave of exciting devices. The resulting user experiences will radically impact how consumers continue to integrate mobile technology into their daily lives.

OMAP4440 processor: Primed for upgraded mobile user experiences
The OMAP 4 platform is a highly-optimized system-on-chip (SOC) leveraging two ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore general-purpose processors, reaching speeds of 1.5 GHz per core, complemented by two ARM Cortex-M3 cores to power-efficiently offload time-critical and control tasks. High-performance multimedia capabilities are provided by programmable cores including a POWERVR™ 3D graphics engine, TI IVA 3 for high-definition/multi-standard video, TI image signal processor (ISP) for high-quality/high-megapixels imaging, TI low-power audio processor and TI digital signal processor (DSP) based on the TI C64x DSP for natural user interface and signal processing innovations optimized for mobile applications.

The OMAP 4 platform efficiently supports concurrent, high-performance processing and high-definition multimedia with dual, high-bandwidth memory channels. The platform is secured with TI M-Shield™ security, and delivers high performance within the small power budget of mobile devices by leveraging TI SmartReflex™ power and performance management technologies. As the second member of the OMAP 4 product family, the OMAP4440 processor’s upgraded features and benefits include:

Feature* Benefit
Two ARM® Cortex™-A9 MPCores™ optimized to 1.5 GHz each 50% increase in overall performance; 33% reduction in webpage load time
End-to-end graphics acceleration enhancement (triangles per second, fill rate and shaders) 25% increase in overall graphics performance
Support for HDMI v1.4 3D modes Full 1080p HD S3D playback to 3D TV
1080p60 video format support 2x higher performance video playback
Support for up to two 12-megapixel cameras in parallel Higher stereoscopic resolution encode enabling stereo photography, which meets the same resolution previously experienced only with 2D photography
IVA 3 multimedia hardware accelerator Industry’s highest quality video playback at low bit rates
Complete pin-to-pin hardware and software compatibility Easy migration from the OMAP4430 processors

*Comparative data is relative to the OMAP4430 processor’s performance

The OMAP4440 processor is uniquely positioned to support the widely anticipated mobile video teleconferencing experience. For example, successful mobile video teleconferencing requires a few key components directly addressed by the following OMAP4440 processor features:

Mobile video teleconferencing component OMAP4440 processor-enabled feature
High-quality mobile video conferencing Improved video quality in low-light conditions; video stabilization
Chat software (i.e., Skype or Google Talk) Video codec support includes H.264, VP7, H.263, SVC, and more
Peer-to-peer (1 local user with one other user) chat functionality 1080p mobile video conferencing
Multi-chat (1 local user with up to 4 other users) functionality 720p resolution with stereo audio support
Cloud access for simultaneous application support (e.g., browsing the web while chatting or document sharing) Optimized symmetric multiprocessing architecture to deliver low latency and high bandwidth support

Availability and pricing
The OMAP4440 applications processor will sample in first quarter 2011, with production expected by the second half of 2011. These products are intended for high-volume wireless OEMs and ODMs and are not available through distributors.

Archos 70 Internet Tablet on Leo Laporte’s This Week In Google episode 69

Posted by – November 19, 2010

As I told you in yesterday’s MacBreak weekly 221 post, last Sunday as I was in the Silicon Valley to video blog the ARM Technology Conference for my http://ARMdevices.net site, I had fun traveling up to Petaluma and bring Leo Laporte some of the Archos Gen8 tablets (70, 43 and 32) so he could test them out and let his Twit gang also play with them. So that they could compare those with Apple and Samsung tablets. The time code in this “This Week In Google” episode 69 where they start talking about Archos is around the 5th minute.

You can discuss this video in the forum: http://forum.archosfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=40903

Archos 70, 43, 32 Internet Tablets on MacBreak Weekly 221

Posted by – November 18, 2010

As I was in California to video-blog the ARM Technology Conference in Santa Clara on my http://ARMdevices.net, I thought I’d suggest Archos send me some extra Gen8 so that I could use those as excuse to bring them to the Twit Cottage in Petaluma, as I am a fan of the Twit podcasting network, the most advanced high quality production quality podcast network, I watched most of the Twit and Twig shows since 2006. The weekly Twit podcasts (they do about 20 weekly, some even daily podcasts!) are some of the most influential and popular technology audio and video podcasts worldwide.

In this episode of MacBreak Weekly, Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Merlin Mann and Andy Ihnatko discuss the Archos 70 Internet Tablets versus the iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab. In the embed below of MacBreak Weekly episode 221, I forward the video to about the 1h01m30s time code when they start talking about the Archos tablets (they mention the Archos 7 Home Tablet Amazon pricing for a few minutes).

You can discuss this video in the forum: http://forum.archosfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=40794

PandaBoard, Texas Instruments OMAP4 ARM Cortex-A9


It is released now, available for $174 to developers at http://pandaboard.org deliveries starting at the end of this month.

WebM Running on TI OMAP 4

Posted by – November 1, 2010

WebM might eventually become the main video codec for the web, it’s Google’s open source video codec now being hardware accelerated by ARM Processor vendors such as Texas Instruments here demonstrating WebM 1080p playback on the upcoming OMAP4 ARM Cortex-A9 processor in both Android and Ubuntu:

Source: blog.webmproject.org
Found via: netbooknews.com

Barnes and Noble NOOKcolor runs on TI’s OMAP3621 45nm 600Mhz ARM Cortex A8 processor

Posted by – October 29, 2010

Image representing Barnes & Noble as depicted ...
Image via CrunchBase

Barnes and Noble just announced the NOOKcolor Android based LCD e-reader. I was wondering what ARM processor platform it may be based on and I just received the confirmation that it is TI’s OMAP3621 600Mhz ARM Cortex A8 at 45nm, it comes with POWERVR 3D graphics acceleration, and TMS320C64x+™ DSP technology for multimedia acceleration. Unlike the ARM11 based Pandigital Novel, this LCD e-reader should have enough power to provide some advanced hardware accelerated smooth user interfaces. The point at which Barnes and Noble and TI can develop smooth user interfaces that take full advantage of hardware acceleration will be interesting to see, as the customized e-reader application layers on top of Android that they have been showing on the NOOKcolor surely are interesting. Things like navigating through color magazines could be very interesting. Of course, I am also looking forward to this type of devices using the Pixel Qi reflective LCD screen technology. Also, it sounds interesting that TI provides OMAP3621 fir e-ink e-readers as well, with boasting of double as much battery runtime for e-ink page turns and with advertising of the fact that they want to support customized Android features for e-ink e-readers.

NOOKcolor runs on TI’s OMAP3621 (ARM Cortex™-A8 processor-based) applications processor—a member of the OMAP™ 3 processor family that was optimized for the consumer market. OMAP3621 delivers a robust, multitasking environment required to simultaneously run the eReader’s new feature-rich applications, which exercise the CPU, multimedia and graphics engines.

NOOKcolor represents the very first commercial launch of a reading-centric product using TI’s OMAP hardware and Android software architecture that we announced at CES 2010. And, today’s announcement is a prime example of how the OMAP 3 technology’s power and performance capabilities are leveraged in new consumer markets.

Source: ti.com

Android 2.2 Froyo on Archos Gen8 Tablets

Posted by – October 28, 2010

I have been secretly testing this for the last week (together with cajl of http://jbmm.fr and Thocan of http://archoslounge.net), it works pretty much awesome. Few optimizations and few bug fixes still to be done before Archos can release this cool firmware update.

Also check my video review of the Archos 70 Internet Tablet in multiple parts: Part 1 and Part 2.

PandaBoard OMAP4 ARM Cortex-A9 development board released for $174

Posted by – October 21, 2010

If you are an ARM Powered mobile computing app developer, if you want to prepare OS and apps for TI’s upcoming ARM Cortex-A9 platform, shipping from around the end of November, you can pre-order the PandaBoard now for $174 at http://pandaboard.org.

OMAP4430 Processor (Highlights)

Dual-core ARM® Cortex™-A9 MPCore™ with Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP) at 1Ghz each. Allows for 150% performance increase over previous ARM Cortex-A8 cores.
Full HD (1080p) multi-standard video encode/decode
Imagination Technologies’ POWERVR™ SGX540 graphics core supporting all major API’s including OpenGL® ES v2.0, OpenGL ES v1.1, OpenVG v1.1 and EGL v1.3 and delivering 2x sustained performance compared to the previous SGX530 core
Low power audio (upto 140+ hr CD-quality audio playback)

ARM Cortex-A9 as in this OMAP4 may be the ARM Processor generation that we have been waiting for to realize full ARM Powered desktop performance in devices such as for Laptops, Desktops, set-top-boxes for HDTVs and other high resolution full desktop user experiences. So this new processor is not only about speeding up Smart Phones, it’s also to start supporting higher resolution larger screen devices and provide ARM Powered full computing as credible challenger to x86. The OMAPvideo YouTube channel is releasing some videos to demonstrate PandaBoard’s setup and performance, here is a video of Ubuntu 10.10 booting on this development board:

At mobile world congress, a TI spokesperson told me after I filmed my OMAP4 demonstrations video, that real-time video encode on OMAP4 is within 2% of x86 based multi-pass encoding. I wonder if that is really true, or if he meant within 2% only for real-time encoding.

Hopefully 1080p playback on OMAP4 is impeccable, so 1080p high profile at very high bitrates h264 and mkv works fine so Boxee type people can’t complain like they complained on video playback performance on Tegra 2 so it isn’t mysteriously replaced with Intel CE4100.

Source: pandaboard.org and OMAPvideo on YouTube
Found via: blogarm.net

Review: Archos 70 Internet Tablet (part 2)

Posted by – October 19, 2010

Testing some cool features, Dolphin Browser HD multi-tabs, video-chatting, RDP, video-games, I just did a 37 minute VOIP call using SIP on Fring and using my $8/month 1GB/month SIM card in my Huawei Mifi and it works pretty much perfectly. For some reason audio in Skype and in Fring video-chat is still buggy, but I am sure Archos will fix this in a firmware update imminently. Also see Part 1 of my video review of this product.

Archos 70 Internet Tablet Review

Posted by – October 16, 2010

First unboxing and review of the Archos 70 Internet Tablet, a $275 alternative to the $499 iPad and the $599 Samsung Galaxy Tab. I was amazed by how thin and light it is when I first took it out of the box, at 300 grams, it nearly feels like it’s an empty case without any electronics inside.

Archos 70 Internet Tablet

The capacitive touch screen on an Archos tablet is cool, I need to get used to that. Hopefully I will learn to type on it as fast as I do with my finger-tips/nails on my resistive screens. My plan this winter is to carry this 7″ Archos Android tablet with me everywhere in the inside of my jacket pocket. In this video, I try to show you multi-touch, web browsing speed, email, facebook, Google Maps Street View, Live wallpapers, video playback, HDMI output and more.

This review model is still running Android 2.1, while Archos is putting finishing touches to their faster and more optimized Android 2.2 firmware, hopefully to be ready in like days or so for when this device and its 101 big-brother actually ships worldwide. As I showed you in my previous video, Google Marketplace works on these Archos Android tablets using the gApps4Archos.apk one-click installation file. All codecs up to H264 high profile high bitrate 720p MKV works even on HDMI output (still to be tested and optimized in firmware). It’s only 300 grams (vs 380 grams Galaxy Tab and 680 grams iPad).

Pictures available at Picasa:
Archos 70 Internet Tablet Archos 70 Internet Tablet vs Archos 43 Internet Tablet Archos 70 Internet Tablet vs Archos 43 Internet Tablet Archos 70 Internet Tablet vs Archos 43 Internet Tablet Archos 70 Internet Tablet vs Sony PRS-650

You can discuss this video in the forum: http://forum.archosfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=38513

Google Marketplace now works on Archos Gen8 Internet Tablets

Posted by – October 9, 2010

The full Google Marketplace with Gmail, Google Maps now works on Archos new range of Android Internet Tablets, it has been made available as a one-click installation file with the name “gApps4Archos.apk” in the ArchosFans forum by a forum user. In this video of the Archos 43 Internet Tablet, I also feature demonstrations of Skype (these Android tablets can be a perfect as cheap VOIP devices!), Bluetooth speakers, 720p MKV high bitrate video playback with DTS audio and a couple of action packed 3D games on the HDMI output.

Here’s a reminder of the new Archos Android Tablets that this Google Marketplace gApps4Archos.apk installation file works with:

Archos 28 Internet Tablet, 4GB, 2.8″ resistive screen: $99 (2.29x cheaper than iPod Touch!) (available next week)
Archos 32 Internet Tablet, 8GB, 3.2″ resistive screen, VGA camcorder, composite tv-out: $149 (available since a couple of weeks at certain online resellers like Amazon.com)
Archos 43 Internet Tablet, 16GB, 4.3″ resistive screen, HD camcorder, HDMI output: $199 (3x cheaper than Droid X!) (available next week)
Archos 70 Internet Tablet, 16GB, 7″ capacitive screen, front-facing webcam for video-chat, HDMI output: $275 (2.5x cheaper than Samsung Galaxy Tab!) 250GB version for $349 (available next week)
Archos 101 Internet Tablet, 8GB, 10.1″ capacitive screen, front-facing webcam for video-chat, HDMI output: $299 ($200 cheaper than iPad!) 16GB version for $349 (available next week)

PandaBoard, OMAP4430 open-source ARM Cortex-A9 development board!

Posted by – October 3, 2010

It’s shipping to selected few developers starting this month. This is Texas Instrument’s Dual-Core ARM Cortex-A9 OMAP4 development board, the successor of the ARM Cortex-A8 OMAP3 based BeagleBoard.org project, they are to launch the PandaBoard.org community now, for powerful embedded open source Linux development. Development of the kind of software that we could be seeing on upcoming ARM Powered laptops, tablets, set-top-boxes, desktop replacements and not only on smart phones!

This type of development board could provide one the worlds fastest and smoothest Ubuntu and Chromium on ARM development platforms yet with high resolution 1080p output and a whole bunch of exciting stuff.

If you are a hard core ARM developer, you can apply on PandaBoard.org to get an early access to this development board.

Source: PandaBoard.org and OMAPpedia.org
Found via: blogarm.net (really cool french blog on ARM related news)