Theo Valich talks about his latest leak of Intel’s 2013/2014 Haswell processor specs, yup, Intel’s answer to the ARM threat is to crank up power consumption to 160W and 190 Amps he talks about his opinions on the industry, ARM vs Intel vs AMD etc.
Category: Opinions
Android at Linaro, the future, by Zach Pfeffer
Posted by – June 2, 2012
Here’s 19 minutes with Zach Pfeffer, Linaro Android Tech Lead, talking about the future of Android.
Look forward to plenty new videos from Shenzhen, and the Linaro Connect conference starts tomorrow for a week
Posted by – May 26, 2012
Yesterday, I filmed 13 awesome new videos here in Shenzhen. But I booked into a little too cheap of a hotel with a 12kb/s upload internet connection so I’ll have to wait to upload those videos tomorrow when I arrive at the Linaro Connect Hong Kong conference. Please do check back. I’ve filmed the new VIA WonderMedia WM8850 ARM Cortex-A9 platform, AmLogic AML8726-MX, Rockchip RK3066, MT6575, i.MX6 Quad, I filmed an awesome new 7-minute video in a $55 7″ capacitive Boxchip A13 factory here in Shenzhen! All that and more coming up tomorrow.
Starting tomorrow, I will be video-blogging at the Linaro Connect Hong Kong conference. Where the worlds top ARM SoC software engineers meetup for a week talking about, deciding, working together on the next advancements in Linux on ARM. Let me know in the comments if you have some suggestions for what I should ask them about as they are working on the newest and latest most advanced Linux solutions on TI OMAP, Exynos, i.MX, ST-Ericsson and more!
The Inevitable Convergence, Exynos 4412 getting too powerful for just being in a phone, SGS3 needs to use MHL for ICS+Chrome OS+Google TV
Posted by – May 6, 2012
The new 32nm Exynos 4412 1.4Ghz Quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 with Quad-core Mali-400 (probably cranked up at a higher frequency than before) launched by Samsung in the Galaxy S3 looks to be totally amazing. It may be one of the absolute fastest ARM Processors to date. That brings awesomely smooth and fast Android 4 ICS user interfaces on the gorgeous 4.8″ 1280×720 pentile Super AMOLED HD screen. And with advances in Android, new features using hardware acceleration, they’ll always find a way to put to use the extra performance. But if these newest ARM Processors now come with enough memory bandwidth to run a full Laptop as smoothly as using x86, if these newest ARM Processors can run 1080p Set-top-box user interfaces at 60fps on any 55″ HDTV, if these newest ARM Processors have amazing GPU power that can in theory run console quality games even on a 1080p HDMI, then why aren’t there accessories and docks to allow for that? Why didn’t Samsung announce a range of Laptop Docks and Google TV docks for the Galaxy S3?
Here’s my quick concept image for an MHL LapDock accessory that I’d like to see accessory makers sell on the market at $99-$149 depending on the quality/size, it should be similar to the Motorola LapDock 500 Pro but designed for MHL phones:
MHL enables a new market for LapDocks similar to the Motorola Atrix series, where you dock your smartphone and it powers your ARM Powered Chrome OS Ultrabook, Google TV Set-top-box and Home Console.
I think it is important to notice the huge leap in performance year/year of these latest and upcoming new ARM Processors. The new Exynos 4412 is nearly 2x more powerful than last year’s Exnoys 4210. Not just by the doubling of cores, that doesn’t actually double performance but more like increases it by 50% (at same frequency, and only for very multi-threaded tasks), the main thing is the smaller process node design, the increased memory bandwidth, cleverer memory bandwidth architecture also enabling a faster higher clock speed Mali-400 GPU. Basically what you are getting is 2x more performance for less power consumption, that’s pretty exciting and pretty kick-ass in my book. And we are not even yet arrived at the ARM Cortex-A15 which then again upgrades the performance even more!
Now all that is needed is for Google and the industry to merge Android, Chrome OS and Google TV. When you dock it in a Laptop Dock or Desktop Dock, it should switch to a full Chrome OS mode (or Ubuntu, not to forget Microsoft is welcome to add the Windows 8 app for $29.99 in the Google Play store. Or somewhat pre-install “Windows 8 mode” as a secured dual-boot when partnering with the smartphone maker). When you dock it to a Multimedia Dock it should switch to a full Google TV mode, maybe even with HDMI input and IR blaster if the Dock supports that, and also the new GPU is now near XboX 360 power even though it’s not yet the Mali-T604 and Mali-T658 which increases graphics even further next year.
The issue is Samsung and some others are maybe afraid to disrupt their own existing markets of selling Laptops, Chromebooks, Set-top-boxes and new 3DTVs with built-in Google TV, so maybe, just maybe, at the corporate headquarters of Samsung they fear the inevitable convergence. But if Samsung doesn’t want to promote the convergence that these new post-PC ARM processors enable, then competitors have a wide open door to use that for marketing. One little pocketable soon enough wearable device can now power all your productivity, content consumption and entertainment. The performance has arrived, it’s only a matter of someone deciding to start making, selling and marketing the new user interfaces that enable the full convergence.
Samsung Galaxy S3 may be the first smartphone with full ARM TrustZone support for enabling 100% security in everything online
Posted by – May 4, 2012
The newly announced Samsung Galaxy S3 may not only have an amazing new 32nm Quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor with a new accelerated higher frequency Quad-core Mali-400 GPU offering perhaps the fastest ARM SoC in the world at the moment. Samsung may also have done the right choice to fully enable and activate ARM TrustZone through the MobiCore integrated security platform directly onto the Exynos 4412 SoC. The Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) is joint venture between ARM (40%), Gemalto (30%) and Giesecke & Devrient (30%) which is currently in the process of getting approval from the European Commission for European Wide mass adoption as the default secure mobile authentication system.
While ARM TrustZone has been talked about for a while, it being supported in many ARM Processors, as far as I know it hasn’t been activated on any of those processors yet, the full Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) ecosystem has not yet been implemented in a mass market phone. The idea is to provide a 100% secure system for mobile payment, enterprise productivity, mobile banking applications, online commerce and premium content services. I believe ARM TrustZone can even be used for a fast and easy 100% secure authentication on your phone every time you log-in to your Google Account, and I believe that you may even set it up to 100% securely authenticate you when you log-in to any Open ID or other username/password protected websites on the Internet, Facebook, Twitter and any others included.
Basically consider these usage scenarios:
1. E-commerce: You click to buy something online, no need to type in credit card infos. Your phone automatically turns on in safe mode (identifiable by secure LED light lighting up on the side of the phone), you type your 4 digit pin code, payment 100% secure activated, the web page automatically updates, no click needed, and says thanks for your payment.
2. NFC or Online Payments/Money transfers: Tap your phone with the person you want to give some money to, or click on payment link in email or elsewhere online. Your phone automatically turns on in safe mode (identifiable by secure LED light lighting up on the side of the phone), you type your 4 digit pin code, payment or money transfer 100% secure activated. Both receiver and sender automatically get confirmation payment or money transfer has happened instantly.
3. Securely log-in to your Google or other web account. Click to login. Instead of using Google’s current 2-step verification (code being sent by SMS or Android app), a new easier, better and more secure 2-step verification system is established using ARM TrustZone TEE. As soon as you click to login, you don’t even need to type your password in the web browser, your phone automatically turns on in safe mode (identifiable by secure LED light lighting up on the side of the phone), you type your 4 digit pin code, you are 100% securely logged into your Google account.
Etc. Same system for 100% securely logging on to corporate networks and applications. You can also setup different pin codes depending on the different class of applications. For example your important payment systems may have a different pin code than basic website logons.
The idea of the ARM TrustZone Trusted Execution Environment is that once that security LED light is turned on on your phone, you can be assured that what you see on the screen is the encrypted alternative OS environment to authenticate you and authorize actions that it then encrypts and sends back through the Android OS to the Internet. For example it displays “Paying $20 to X” as you enter your pin code and click OK or you click cancel if you don’t agree. Again using encryption. Using systems of 128bit encryption, in theory this system should be 100% secure. As long as users always make sure to check that the security LED light is on on their phone when they enter their pin codes and click for authorizations.
If implemented correctly, ARM TrustZone will not only much improve security online, it will also make authentication and authorization processes easier and faster online. With the Galaxy S3 and the correct implementation of ETT support throughout the Internet, the Chrome browser, Android, you may never need to remember usernames and passwords for all websites again, you just use the same few PIN codes on your phone to do all your authentications, authorizations and every type of secure authenticated activities on the Internet.
I am very excited about the upcoming mass adoption of ARM TrustZone, because I believe we are going to see an explosion of awesomely advanced applications for secure authentication, online payments, mobile payments and the feeling for users is going to be that they are soon going to trust using their phones to replace their wallets, passports, credit cards, and that people are going to have a tool to be able to trust any and every website, as those will never be able to see your passwords as consumers will always be protected by the normal set of consumer protections and that online scams, online security breaches will be a thing of the past. ARM TrustZone Trusted Execution Environment means the end of paper money, it means the end of ticketing, it means the end of credit cards, it means the end of membership cards, it means the end of usernames and passwords online.
Here is the press release:
G&D announces MobiCore® integrated security platform to support Samsung GALAXY S III in Europe
Munich, May 4, 2012 – Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) today announced that its MobiCore security platform will be integrated in Samsung GALAXY S III smartphones distributed in Europe. Thanks to MobiCore, the NFC-capable smartphone from Samsung will be the first mobile device to boast a protected area on its application processor in which security-sensitive applications can be securely run and downloaded dynamically. The MobiCore platform will provide a secure execution environment for mobile payments authentication, emails or corporate VPN access.
The first application installed in the Mobicore-protected area on the Samsung GALAXY S III is a digital rights management (DRM) application which provides digital content with effective protection against misuse. In addition, G&D’s Trusted Service Management (TSM) solution will enable organizations such as network operators and banks to install and customize additional security-critical apps in the protected area of the smartphone. Samsung GALAXY S III, with integrated MobiCore security platform, will be made commercially available first in Europe and will then be rolled out globally.
Related articles
- Google Wallet should use ARM TrustZone for 100% security (armdevices.net)
- ARM, Gemalto and G&D form joint-venture to secure mobile devices, improve privacy (thenextweb.com)
Pixel Qi announces 2048×1536 better-than-iPad3 screen, with 100x lower power consumption
Posted by – April 23, 2012
Pixel Qi is finalizing the deals with partners about sizes and quantities to produce their next generation ultra high pixel density Pixel Qi screens, with a new very low power mode that runs at a full 100X power reduction from the peak power consumed by the iPad3 screen. Pixel Qi claims to have a new architecture that matches the resolution of the ipad3 screen, and its full image quality including matching or exceeding contrast, color saturation, the viewing angle and so forth with massive power savings. Here is Pixel Qi’s power consumption versus the iPad2 and iPad3:
My opinion and suggestion for Google:
I’d like to see Google invest heavily in Pixel Qi for a 7″ 1024×600 screen to be mass produced for the rumored upcoming Nexus Tablet, providing it 20 hours battery life on an ultra slim form factor, with a very small bezel if they can make it have a plastics based screen, suitable for reading Google Books, suitable for outdoor use. Google should invest the money needed in bringing Pixel Qi to the mass consumer market. And then also Google can help bring the 2048×1536 9.7″ Pixel Qi screen to the mass Android tablet market.
The success of the iPhone and iPad is due to ARM Technology, but also to the investments Apple has made in using new screen technologies, Apple basically financed exclusivity for the 3.5″ capacitive screen when launching the iPhone and they bought an exclusive on the 9.7″ IPS screen for the iPad. Now also Apple invested the $2+ Billion getting an exclusive on the 9.7″ Retina screen. Google should do the same, not only invest heavily to optimize Android on all the ARM Processors, Google should also invest the money needed in new screen technologies such as Pixel Qi LCD and use that for their “Google Hardware” Nexus devices but then also instantly allow access to the new screen technologies to every other Android hardware maker.
Source: pixelqi.com/blog1
Related articles
- Pixel Qi teases ultra-frugal Retina Display rival (slashgear.com)
- Pixel Qi: our new screen better, lower-power than new iPad (electronista.com)
- Pixel Qi promises retina-quality low power displays (liliputing.com)
- Next generation Pixel Qi screen said to have Retina display-like resolution, significant power savings (theverge.com)
- Pixel Qi promises tablet displays that meet iPad 3 quality – and draw much less power (venturebeat.com)
- Pixel Qi Says Next-Gen Displays Meet or Beat iPad 3 Screen Quality (hardware.slashdot.org)
Check back in the days to come
Posted by – April 21, 2012
I have many more videos from Hong Kong and the Chinese fairs to be posted here on http://ARMdevices.net in the days to come. I also am going to be announcing and launching some big new features of http://ARMdevices.net here soon. Check back!
Apple buys Facebook for $92.5 Billion, investors panic
Posted by – April 1, 2012
At 1:13PM Eastern Time, Apple Computers Inc announced that they have been in advanced talks for the past 3 months to acquire Facebook Inc of Santa Clara. The deal is about $69.1 Billion in cash and $23.4 Billion in shares. Apple Computers Inc CEO Tim Cook said:
We love what Facebook Inc has done with Social Networking and find it to be a perfect match to integrate with our iCloud and iTunes. If the European regulators approve of our plans to acquire Facebook Inc, we will integrated it Ping and the App Store. Our goal is to strengthen our position on cloud technologies through acquiring Facebook’s technology and talented workforce and together we plan to build a strong search competitor to Google.
At the news of this acquisition, Apple Computers Inc stock price was down 11.94% in after hours Japanese Nikkei tradings. Wall Street analysts are in shock. Goldman Sachs Group Inc chief analyst George Moignon had this to say:
We didn’t see this one coming. After Apple for the first time announced a dividend just 2 weeks ago, we were very surprised to hear this. We have been valuating Facebook Inc at $102 Billion because we believe in the value of their social graph. Yet we did not anticipate that Apple would spend nearly all of its cash and assets to buy the social network.
Baird Research analyst Colin Fritz reports:
After hearing this announcement, we have decided to recommend shorting AAPL stock. Our calculations demonstrate that over 90% of Apple’s current profits come from the sale of their ARM Powered devices, most importantly the iPhone 4S which currently represents over 80% of Apple Computers Inc’s overall profits. We would have thought Apple would invest their cash in owning Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese and Korean manufacturing capacity and blocking out the cheaper and better Android competition. We would have recommended Apple acquire Foxconn, Pegatron and Wistron, that they acquire Sharp Display Inc and that Apple’s cash reserves could have allowed Apple to own a controlling share of Japan Display Inc and then block out cheaper and better Android competition from getting access to the latest screen technologies and that Apple could have tried to also get exclusives on more crucial hardware components of ARM Powered tablets and smartphones. But instead, we now hear that Apple has planned to spend most of their cash on purchasing Facebook, which quite frankly, we do not estimate to have that much value. We believe users easily can migrate over to competing social networks such as Google+, and that Facebook’s social graph actually is quite worthless.
What do you think of this announcement? Do you think Apple has a chance to build a Google search competitor now that they are announcing the purchase of Facebook? If this is not the right move, what do you think Apple should have done with their $100 Billion? What do you think Mark Zuckerberg is going to do with the $23.7 Billion cash that is his share of this acquisition?
Sony to launch the first ARM Powered Chromebook?
Posted by – March 24, 2012
According to some FCC leak and rumoring, it looks like Sony is about to release a new Chromebook and the FCC info may point towards it running on an ARM Processor! T25 is the leaked processor info, that sound like the Tegra 250 T25. I think the thinking was T25 is intermediary between T20 and T30, in between Tegra2 and Tegra3. Basically, I think, the hope should be that if it’s a Tegra2, that it has a new faster memory bandwidth and a higher clock speed compared to the “first generation” Tegra2 devices that were released back since the end of 2010!
The Dual-core TI OMAP4470 runs at 1.8Ghz, the Dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 Krait S4 runs above 1.5Ghz, might it be that a new Dual-core Nvidia T25 processor also runs at similar clock frequency and might it be that the T25 has an improved memory bandwidth?
If Sony plans to have a target price for it around $199 for the 11.6″ version, with upwards 20 hours battery life, make it the thinnest, lightest, this can become one of the new top selling laptops in the world.
Source: laptopreviews.com via: engadget.com
Related articles
- FCC Documents Show Sony Chromebook, Potentially Running On ARM (techcrunch.com)
- Sony ‘VAIO CC111′ 11.6-inch Chromebook photos and manual outed by FCC (theverge.com)
900,000 Rockchip RK2918 7″ Tablets purchased by Thailand’s Government for Education
Posted by – March 21, 2012
The 900,000 Scopad SP0712 Android tablets are going to be delivered before the next semester. The first batch of 50,000 tablets to be delivered within 15 days of the signing of the memorandum of understanding (which may mean 15 days from now).
The price per tablet is $82 and to be delivered by Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development. The Chinese Government had suggested four suppliers be considered for the deal including also Huawei Technologies Co, TCL Cooperation and Haier Information Technology (Shenzhen).
I don’t know if those have capacitive screens, what the battery life is going to be.
I think it’s crucial for the successful use of tablets in education for those to include a Pixel Qi LCD screen! Readability and very low power consumption are crucial features for these! Android tablets can become very successful tools for education, but they need to last 20 hours on a battery and not 5 hours! And the screens need to be as readable as paper! And the screen must be usable outdoors!
Not using Pixel Qi I think may be the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful educational tablet initiative! In rich countries, consumers don’t care much, because they always have enough power, they don’t care about reading and they are satisfied just playing video games on the devices, in rich countries, the tablets are just being used as entertaining gadgets for a bit of fun, nearly no productivity happens thus far. If you want to use tablets in education, you really carefully have to think about usability, battery life and productivity.
A $5 keyboard dock design can also be quite crucial for those to actually be usable for productive learning!! A built-in kick-stand I think is also pretty much compulsory.
The Pheu Thai Party promised during its campaigning ahead of last year’s election that, if voted in, it would give a tablet computer to every first-grade student nationwide.
Gp Cpt Anudith said the next step was to draft the agreement and forward it to the Office of the Attorney General for checks. The process would be finished before the end of this month, he said.
Chinnapat Bhumirat, secretary-general to the Office of Basic Education, said: “The G to G contract and MoU agreement are not that different, and the Chinese government will help us deal with the supplier and get as low a price as possible.”
Mr Chinnapat said the first batch of about 50,000 tablets would be sent to Thailand within 15 days of the MoU being signed. A team of 1,000 experts will train 15,000 teachers and supervisors nationwide on tablet use in early May.
According to Rockchip, here are the 3 key points for the Rockchip Tablet solution to win governmental tender projects:
1: RK2918 has the highest cost-performance for governmental tender projects;
2: RK2918 MID has already passed CTS certification from Google both on Android 2.3.5 and Android 4.0.3 version, which is the most important thing for governmental tender projects;
3: RK2918 has its good reputation for its well software-supporting service from Rockchip Electronics among its clients all over the world.
Source: bangkokpost.com
