Category: Laptops

Trim Slice Tegra2 ARM Cortex-A9 Dual-core Desktop!

Posted by – March 3, 2011

Compulab is showing this Tegra2 desktop for the first time at a trade show, it’s a full ARM Powered desktop computer based on the Nvidia Tegra2 processor. Has 2 HDMI outputs, one for full HDMI video, one for a secondary display, Gigabit Ethernet, 4 USB hosts, stereo audio output, audio in, SPDIF output, 12V power connector, connector for wireless antenna for WiFi and Bluetooth, SD slot, RF232 Serial Port, Micro-USB slave. They also have a slightly bigger version that can slot in a 2.5″ Sata hard drive. 1GB RAM, it also has an internal Micro-SD slot to store the OS. So if you want to upgrade or change the OS, just change the MicroSD card and reboot. It also ships with 32GB Flash storage. They are launching this with Ubuntu 10.10 and they will add support for Honeycomb by launch. Availability is June, the price is targeted at below $200 in bulk (can be re-branded as ODM) and to be about $250 at retail. You can find more information and follow the latest official news about it at http://trimslice.com

Beagleboard xM 1Ghz ARM Cortex-A8, 6 Ångström Linux desktops synchronized


This is how one can create a mega display wall, combining several displays. The mouse is synchronized accross 6 ARM Powered ubuntu desktops through synergy, and a ffmpeg synchronization app makes it possible to combine them into a video wall.

Worlds First Honeycomb Laptop at CeBIT 2011!!!

Posted by – February 28, 2011

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer is worlds first Honeycomb laptop, it looks fantastic. Honeycomb is awesome on laptops! This proves it! The Honeycomb web browser is fast! While the Asus Transformer combo might feel a bit heavy, that’s also because the keyboard dock includes a full battery, doubling the battery runtime of this Honeycomb laptop to 16 hours of use!

Acer DX241H, 24″ Monitor, Freescale i.MX51 Powered, comes with Chrome OS pre-installed?

Posted by – February 22, 2011

There is talk about a new version of the 24″ 1080p Acer monitor, the one that comes with the Freescale i.MX51 processor (see it in the video below), to be released with Chrome OS on it instead of that photoframe type of OS that is on the previously released Acer D241H. See my video from CES showing this Acer D241H and imagine it running Chrome OS as demonstrated by Freescale for the past year in other of my videos.

The simple thing is like this, Acer DX241H could simply come with some USB Host ports to connect USB keyboard and mouse, it could come with the slightly faster i.MX53 processor, possibly more RAM suitable for Chrome OS use, and most importantly, it just might be that we are approaching the point in time when Google is ready to unleash Chrome OS devices, ARM Powered as well, and this type of product could be it.

The key is this, you can add Chrome OS using ARM such as Freescale’s ARM Cortex-A8, with WiFi, and all, for just $50 more. The same thing is going to happen with HDTVs, you will be able to add Google TV to those as well using ARM for just less than $50 more.

Source: chromeossite.com
Found via: techcrunch.com

JKKmobile.com: ARM Powered Laptop built into Macbook by CUPP

Posted by – February 21, 2011

At Mobile World Congress, CUPP was showing some Macbook laptops with a switch that I guess puts OSX in sleep mode and switches over the the ARM SoC platform and Android or Ubuntu on ARM and using the same screen, keyboard and mouse for that.

This video was posted at: JKKmobile.com

ARM Dual-core Web browsing performance compared to Single-core

Posted by – February 20, 2011

ARM is demonstrating Dual-core usage and how it increases web browsing speed at same power consumption.

Asus Transformer, Honeycomb Tegra2 Laptop/Tablet device

Posted by – February 20, 2011

Asus made this Tegra2 Powered Laptop and Tablet combo device, where the tablet part can slide out of the bottom keyboard part. This prototype feels heavy though, perhaps it’s just because it’s a very metallic design.

Asus Eee Pad Slider

Posted by – February 20, 2011

Interesting slider design by Asus, to add a keyboard behind the tablet.

BusinessInsider.com: Microsoft has 1000 engineers working on ARM Windows 8 to be released this year

Posted by – February 20, 2011
Category: Tablets, Laptops, Windows

According to Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Holt and according to a source reported by BusinessInsider.com, Microsoft is investing very heavily on accelerating their support of Windows for ARM Powered devices, targeting a release of full Windows 8 Tablets before Christmas even. This could be closer than what some people think.

At CES last month, Microsoft showed Windows 8 at their keynote (using “existing” UI) running on current Texas Instruments OMAP4430, Qualcomm Dual-core MSM8660 and Nvidia Tegra2. For sure, Windows 8 could use the next gen ARM Processors coming out later in the year even better for full performance, such as the TI OMAP4440, Qualcomm Quad-core and Nvidia Tegra3 Kal-el, all coming out in consumer devices on the market before the end of the year already.

Nvidia shows project Kal-el Quad-core ARM Cortex-A9

Posted by – February 19, 2011

Nvidia Kal-el is now sampling, demonstrated here at Mobile World Congress 2011, to be in commercial products already in August this year. Nvidia goes on showing the first Quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 sample, getting those samples to their partners and planning for commercial launch by August this year already. This is impressive stuff, web browsing speed is doubled.

Freescale talks i.MX6 ARM Cortex-A9 platform at Mobile World Congress 2011


Freescale announced their ARM Cortex-A9 Dual-Core and Quad-Core processor platform. Here´s an interview with Freescale about their performance and features.

ST-Ericsson A9500 ARM Cortex-A9 Development Board

Posted by – February 16, 2011

This is the SKY-S9500-ULP-CXX aka SNOWBALL, the ST-Ericsson ARM Cortex-A9 development board, they put in there all the memory and everything needed to hack together end user products. It will be sold for about $200 from around April or May, it runs Android, Ubuntu and Meego thus far. You can find more information at http://igloocommunity.org

Texas Instruments talks OMAP5, OMAP4

Posted by – February 14, 2011

Texas Instruments OMAP Product Line Manager Brian Carlson presents the amazing OMAP5 ARM Cortex-A15 processor, to sample this year, ship in products next year, and OMAP4 devices that are about to ship, what kind of performance can be expected.

Honeycomb Designer Matias Duarte Interview

Posted by – February 14, 2011

Chief Honeycomb designer Matias Duarte explains how Google develops Honeycomb.

Texas Instruments OMAP4 runs Android and Ubuntu at the same time


Texas Instruments is showcasing that the OMAP4 ARM Cortex-A9 development platform can run full Android on the built-in LCD and Ubuntu on the HDMI output both at the same time, this is awesome. It shows how Texas Instruments OMAP4 can be used to power the upcoming all-in-one ultimate ARM Powered devices that combine Laptop and Media player functionality into the Smartphone.

Chrome OS on the Texas Instruments OMAP4 ARM Cortex-A9 platform

Posted by – February 14, 2011

This is just the Chromium OS based on the open source Chromium OS source code, until manufacturers and Google bring up Chrome OS to real ARM Powered laptops and desktops to be shipped hopefully soon.

Motorola Atrix 4G to cost $3220 on AT&T ?

Posted by – February 10, 2011

So the first reviews of this awesome “Best of CES 2011” device are reaching some blogs today including slashgear, bgr, crunchgear, engadget.

The talk on the blogosphere and on blogs.forbes.com is that the Motorola Atrix 4G will be $199 alone on 2-year contract, or $499 with the Laptop Dock on 2-year contract. I’m not sure what the Multimedia/Desktop Dock will cost, my guess is $199? (if someone knows the price of the multimedia/desktop dock, please post in the comments).

Notice, as most phones sold in the USA, consumers have to signup for a 2-year contract. I always think all blogs should make it a rule that all prices should include minimum and maximum pricing both unlocked, terminated (with early termination fees) and with those 2-year contracts.

AT&T 2-year contracts seem to cost approximately like this:

– $85 per month for 400 minutes of voice,
– $95 per month for 900 minutes of voice,
– $105 per month for Unlimited minutes of voice
with 2GB data and WiFi hotspot support. That’s between $2040 and $2520 for 2 years.

Total price of Motorola Atrix 4G (with both Laptop and Multimedia Docks) on AT&T for 2-years: between $2740 and $3220

This is not really new. Telco carriers are in the business of making tons of cash and money. This is business as usual.

Yet, as AT&T is making so many tons of money on the 2-year contract, I don’t exactly understand why AT&T doesn’t just give the Motorola Atrix 4G with both docking accessories at a more affordable price than something like this $700 upfront payment.

I mean, comon AT&T. Don’t you want to have some price competitive Android super phone options to destroy the iPhone now that your exclusive distribution deal with Apple is finished?

I’d hardly even consider the Motorola Atrix 4G for $499 with both Docks when the whole thing would be sold unlocked. I may be looking at a package for something like $1000 if I want it unlocked.

Anyways, it’s for sure Motorola still deserves “Best of CES 2011” award, no matter the pricing. Just because they are courageous enough to push the industry forward in terms of all-in-one ARM Powered device. It is understandable that Motorola wants to take ample profit margins on the accessories and not sell the laptop dock for $150 and TV dock for below $100 as they are supposed to. But for AT&T, well, it’s up to them. How fast do they want to sell these devices in the USA? If AT&T would sell the phone $199 on contract, and provide the accessories for $150 for laptop dock and $100 for tv/desktop dock, then they would have something really powerful to outsell the iPhone quickly and quickly get mass adoption. One can hope AT&T and the other carriers around the world who are looking into selling the Motorola Atrix 4G, that they all think hard about pricing, and that they bring the device with accessories to as many people as possible at some reasonable pricing.

Motorola Atrix 4G wins “Best of CES 2011”

Posted by – January 15, 2011

The winner of ARMdevices.net Best of CES 2011 award goes to the Motorola Atrix 4G smart phone.

Congratulations! clap clap..

With the launch of this new Motorola Super Phone, we have witnessed a historic moment in the history of consumer electronics. Motorola unveils not only the most powerful smartphone yet based on Nvidia’s Tegra2 AP20H ARM Cortex-A9 processor, but has actually worked feverishly on making software layers on top of Android to provide for a Desktop/Laptop replacement experience, all powered by the phone! Motorola presents full HD resolution Firefox web browser running on top of Android, Citrix virtualization integration for running all other x86 apps that can be virtualized, they put Android in a Window so you can still run any Android apps in that Window when in Desktop mode! And this is the first generation of this type of product, so you are only witnessing the beginning of ARM Powered Pocketable Smart Mobile Devices to be able to power everything you would do on a Laptop powered by Intel/Microsoft. Expect even faster dual-core processors to run this type of product soon with unlimited amounts of tabs with lots of pictures/embedded videos and do it all fully smoothly.

Here is my 25 minute long video featuring the part of the keynote unveiling of the product as well as 16 minute interview with Seang Chau, product manager on Motorola Atrix 4G, Vice President and Chief Software Engineer at Motorola Mobility Inc:

To tell you the truth, this award does not mean Motorola Atrix 4G is perfect yet. I noticed some lagging on scrolling when browsing through 3 or 4 tabs with websites loaded such as ARMdevices.net Engadget.com and Gizmodo.com and having Flash videos play in one of the tabs and maybe other Flash instances such as some advertisement running in some other tab. Maybe the slow downs can be removed if Flash can be managed to only use processing and memory bandwidth on-demand or seamlessly when in the front tab. This type of slow down may be caused by any number of factors. Maybe the Software isn’t fully ready yet and can still be optimized. Maybe the Chrome browser on ARM would be faster than Mozilla Firefox. Maybe the Nvidia Tegra2 AP20H processor doesn’t yet have enough fast access memory bandwidth, not fast enough I/O speeds to let the Firefox tabs load their contents instantly enough when switching tabs. Although, I haven’t tested it yet, I wonder if the Tegra2 AP20H is not yet fast enough for full 1080p@60fps high bitrate high profile video playback of all video formats. I tried to playback the 9mbitps .MP4 h264 that my Sanyo HD1000 camcorder makes as well as the 5-24mbitps .MTS h264 that a Panasonic SH900 camcorder makes, those files are not yet recognized or launchable by the file browser. Too bad I didn’t have some standard 720p and 1080p MKV movies on my mass storage device that I tested.

Anyways, multi-tab browsing and HD video isn’t smooth on a regular Intel Atom netbook either, 480p YouTube seems also to be the maximum that can smoothly be played back using even a recent dual-core Intel Atom N550 Acer D255E netbook, and over 100 million consumers seem to be more or less satisfied with that or even slower experience. The key here is to see if the ARM Cortex-A9 platforms in Laptop/Desktop situations can match performance of Intel Atom. At least Motorola is hereby showing that they are investing heavily into this convergence, they are now definitely officially focused on speeding up ARM Powered performances to a level where consumers and enterprise can be satisfied to replace their Wintel machines. This is the big type of high-end Android product that AT&T wants to promote now that their iPhone exclusivity is finished. Motorola may be trying to say that they are not entering the Laptop and Desktop market, when in fact they are and they are pulling the whole smartphone industry in there with them.

$130 Android Laptop

Posted by – January 14, 2011

Hopeland Digital Corporation of Shenzhen releases this NB-100 10.1″ Android Laptop, powered by the ARM11 Telechips 8902 processor, 256MB RAM, 8GB nand flash, SD card slot, WiFi, it runs Android 2.1 for now, possibly upgradable. What does Google need to do to optimize Android for the Laptop? I think someone just needs to put an ARM Cortex A8 or A9 processor inside (with good fast I/O and memory, enough RAM..) and port a full Chrome browser for it (perhaps just run Chrome OS for ARM) and we’ll be all set. Do you think this type of platform is soon ready to replace $300 netbooks and the $1000 MacBook Air?

OLPC XO-1.75, ARM Powered OLPC XO Laptop is faster than x86!

Posted by – January 9, 2011

OLPC CTO Edward J. McNierney gives us an overview of the ARM Marvell Armada 610 version of OLPC XO Laptop, XO 1.75, to be released soon, being optimized now in Taiwan, it provides for a sub 2 Watt One Laptop Per Child XO Laptop. One Laptop Per Child created the Netbook market, now they will push the PC/Laptop industry towards ARM support for lower power consumption and lower prices through increased industry competition and optimized SoC designs. The $100 Laptop is nearer. Marvell’s 610 is now one of the ARM SoC platforms that is now powerful enough to power a full desktop/laptop system.

OLPC XO-1.75 One Laptop Per Child ARM Powered Laptop OLPC XO ARM Laptop