Renesas Mobile demonstrates their MP5232 platform, containing a Dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 at 1.5Ghz, PowerVR SGX544 GPU and integrated Cat-4 LTE/HSPA/2G triple-mode modem in a single chip, which offers a solution to handset vendors that significantly lowers the cost and power consumption of high-performance LTE smartphones. Together with Renesas MP5225 platform, a two-chip solution for high-end smartphones, and Renesas SP2531, a modem-only platform for Triple-Mode LTE/HSPA/2G data cards and embedded modules, Renesas Mobile is bringing LTE to the Mass Market.
Category: Tablets
Windows 8 on ARM Consumer Preview Mobile World Congress 2012 keynote presentation highlights
Posted by – February 29, 2012
Here’s my 21-minute highlights video of the Windows 8 on ARM “Consumer Preview” event keynote at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
After the presentation, I was able to ask a few questions to Steven Synofsky and Michael Anguilo, here are some of those replies that I got:
– Desktop apps on Windows Store and Windows Store for ARM: They’ll clarify it to my email later. Steve Synofsky says it’s clear in the blog post. Windows Store is for Metro apps but there is a “parallel thing” (paraphrasing) for Desktop apps, the whole Third Party Desktop Apps for Windows 8 are not to be previewed on the Consumer Preview release yet.
– Multi-booting other OS when secure boot is in use. Steve Synofsky says that is up to the OEM. Secure Boot is a feature Microsoft provides as an option. The whole point of Secure Boot is that people cannot just “boot stuff from their garage”. But he did not seem to dismiss that OEMs can dual-boot for example Android or Ubuntu on the same device.
He didn’t say if Microsoft plans to do backroom deals with manufacturers to force them only to load Windows 8 and nothing else on devices or not, I guess not, but you never know… Maybe they do not apply “rebates” for OEMs that make things a bit “too open”, does that make any sense?
– Windows 8 remains just TI, Qualcomm, Nvidia business for now on ARM, as with Windows Phone, Microsoft limits the number of ARM Partners that can fully hardware accelerate their software platform for now. I think a lot of the other ARM chip providers are in discussions with Microsoft to see when they can also support their software. My guess is Microsoft wants a very high performance for the first supported ARM SoCs, that is why it only is being demonstrated on TI OMAP4470, Nvidia Tegra3 and Qualcomm Krait MSM8960 for now.
If I do get in contact with someone from Microsoft over email to get clarifications for Windows on ARM, please let me know in the comments what type of questions remain to be answered.
Qualcomm Browser/Desktop Optimizations for Krait!
Posted by – February 29, 2012
Sy Choudhury, Director of Product Management of the Web Technologies at Qualcomm talks about the hardware and software optimizations that Qualcomm is working on to make full desktop sized web browsing and other Desktop style features as smooth on their upcoming Krait platform as on any Intel Atom or other x86 processor platform for ARM Laptops, ARM Desktops, ARM Convertibles and ARM Smartphones and Tablets with Desktop and Laptop Docks! Qualcomm is pushing for the full software optimizations for the full HTML5 support and they are pushing for new HTML5 specs to more rapidly improve the features of ARM Powered Productivity oriented use of devices.
Freescale Augmented Reality mixed with Immersive Virtual Reality
Posted by – February 29, 2012
Freescale shows how Augmented Reality applications can launch Virtual Reality applications.
Freescale Home Health Hub Reference Platform and Augmented Reality
Posted by – February 29, 2012
Freescale is working on some augmented reality using a tablet to identify medecine and help people who can need augmented medial advice.
Rockchip RK2918 based Ice Cream Sandwich 5″ Smartphone
Posted by – February 29, 2012
Nice looking affordable 5″ WVGA Android device based on the Rockchip RK2918 ARM Cortex-A8 processor.
Metaio Augmented Reality at Mobile World Congress 2012
Posted by – February 28, 2012
Metaio claims to provide the best Augmented Reality performance in hardware optimized software for ARM Processors, here demonstrating what they can do using the ST-Ericsson U8500.
Google Booth at MWC 2012, Archos, Tablets and Phones on Display
Posted by – February 28, 2012
Here are some of the phones and tablets rotating at the back of the Google Booth at Mobile World Congress 2012, between the free smoothies and the slide.
LG Optimus Vu
Posted by – February 27, 2012
LG unveils this new huge awesome LG Optimus Vu phone. Here’s an overview of some of its crazy features. Big phone yeah!
LG Optimus Vu vs Samsung Galaxy Note vs Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Posted by – February 27, 2012
Category: Tablets, Smartphones, Displays, Exclusive videos, Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, Samsung, MWC, Android
Here’s a video showing the screen quality and size differences between the LG Optimus Vu, Samsung Galaxy Note and Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
HiSilicon K3V2 Quad-core 40nm ARM Cortex-A9
Posted by – February 27, 2012
Huawei’s new high performance Diamond series phone uses the new HiSilicon K3V2 Quad-core 40nm ARM Cortex-A9, with 64bit latest/fastest DDR2-for-smartphone memory bandwidth, they claim it has the worlds fastest ARM performance. Here’s an interview with the chief architect on the processor. I try to ask him about the performance, memory bandwidth, GPU, processor design. The K3V2 is made at the TSMC foundry. He has a team of about 500 processor engineers working for him in Shanghai to design this processor. He claims HiSilicon’s cache coherent interconnect design makes it superior to designs such as Tegra3, HiSilicon does not need that “companion core” as they claim to have designed the Quad-core in “the correct way”. HiSilicon has a GPU design partner which I have not heard them mention who it might be. In 6-12 months, HiSilicon is likely to release an ARM Cortex-A15 design on 28nm and also to upgrade their ARM Cortex-A9 designs to 28nm “when 28nm is ready”, for now, he says that the 28nm process manufacturing has too much leakage.
Huawei MWC 2012 Press Conference (31-minute HD video!)
Posted by – February 27, 2012
Huawei presented their latest most powerful processor and smartphone at their press conference event in Barcelona. Here’s a 31-minute look into that press conference, featuring all of the highlights of it here on HD quality video!
ZMS inZair, free messaging on WiFi and Data networks
Posted by – February 23, 2012
inZair ZMS is being demonstrated at Lift12 in Geneva, can be used for free instant messaging and also provides social networking, localization layers are more.
Renesas MP5232 1.5Ghz Dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 released!
Posted by – February 17, 2012
Here’s the press release:
TOKYO, Japan, February 15, 2012 — Renesas Electronics Corporation and its subsidiary, Renesas Mobile Corporation, a leading supplier of advanced cellular semiconductor solutions and platforms, today announced the availability of the MP5232, the first single-chip, high-performance, scalable smartphone platform optimised to address the US$150-300 range device market. The MP5232 platform is designed to enable OEMs to accelerate the creation and delivery of high volume LTE/HSPA+ capable smartphones, tablets and mobile Internet devices the industry requires to deliver the full potential of LTE.
The MP5232 platform sets a new benchmark in terms of levels of integration and performance for fully featured high-volume LTE devices. At its heart, the Renesas Mobile modem, deployed in over two billion devices to date, delivers the industry’s highest throughput and low power multi-mode FDD and TDD-LTE Category 4 capabilities. Combined with a state-of-the-art application processor the platform delivers a no-compromise user experience with multi-core computing power, industry-leading graphics, video and imaging capabilities. The platform also includes advanced RF transceivers, power management and audio solutions. This highly integrated smartphone platform is delivered fully tested and certified to enable customers to bring new generations of fully-featured LTE/HSPA+ smartphones to market in as little as six to nine months.
“We are seeing a number of US$600+ LTE super phone devices being launched in the market, but the industry needs a wider penetration of LTE devices for the business case for LTE to pay off,” commented Jean-Marie Rolland, CTO and Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Renesas Mobile Corporation. “The MP5232 platform represents a new category of mobile platform optimised to increase the number of fully-featured, LTE high volume smartphones in the market. By integrating high performing, proven technologies the platform offers a low risk path for device manufacturers to create high volume, premium capability LTE multi-mode products for multiple market segments quickly and effectively, without having to make any compromises in terms of features or user experience.”
“The whole mobile industry is undoubtedly committed to LTE as the technology of choice for 4G services. However, it becomes increasingly challenging adding LTE to an already packed mobile devices that are required to support different legacy modes and bands,” said Malik Saadi, Principal Analyst, Informa Telecoms and Media. “In order to achieve global economies, vendors are keen to offer LTE multiband and multimode devices capable of roaming across different networks and regions, without compromising price, user experience, form factor, or power consumption.”
Renesas Mobile has brought its extensive consumer electronics industry expertise to the development of the platform, ensuring that the MP5232 benefits from the latest process technologies, methodologies and multimedia capabilities. The resulting platform is smarter by design with the lowest possible platform cost compared to current generation chipsets and an extremely high level of integration. In addition, the platform benefits from a unique modem architecture designed to consume the lowest possible power. Scalability and flexibility are baked in, allowing OEMs to create devices that address multiple price points and segments with minimal development time and maximum hardware and software reuse. Certified and proven technologies ensure that development, certification and maintenance costs are reduced.
Based on the Renesas Mobile’s state-of-the-art application processor technology, the MP5232 platform delivers a no-compromise user experience with 1.5GHz dual-core computing power, industry-leading graphics, video and imaging capabilities. The platform supports differentiating features including multi-camera and multi-display support, full HD 1080p multi-format video encoding/decoding, stereoscopic 3D (S3D) video and advanced graphics to deliver a console-like gaming experiences and engaging user interfaces.
Renesas Mobile consulting and support services leverage the company’s extensive system and production expertise to provide assistance at all stages of implementation, from design through to production. This support significantly reduces not only development time, but also production tuning and test time.
Availability
Samples of the MP5232 platform are available Q1 2012 to lead OEM’s in the form of reference designs together with supporting documentation, software and hardware. Pricing is available on request.
Related articles
- New Processor to Cut Cost of LTE Smartphones, Says Renesas (pcworld.com)
- Renesas Mobile Introduces First Integrated LTE Triple-Mode Platform Optimised for Full-Featured, High Volume Smartphones (prnewswire.com)
- Renesas MP5232 SoC promises dual-core processing and LTE connectivity for less cash (engadget.com)
Archos sells more tablets than Asus and Acer, has Europe’s number one sub-400€ tablet market share
Posted by – February 16, 2012
Archos worldwide revenues increased 106% in 2011 compared to 2010. For the tablet sales in Europe, Archos is the second biggest tablet maker tied to Samsung. For the sub-400€ tablet market in Europe, Archos is the number one. Archos yearly tablet sales in Asia has exploded 464% going from 4,4M€ to 24,9M€ in revenue.
Think about it for a second. Archos is a 250-employee company based in Paris, and they are the European leader for the sub-400€ tablet market, they are virtually tied with the Samsung tablet sales in Europe and they are far in front of giants like Asus, Acer, Motorola, Toshiba, LG, Huawei, ZTE, HTC tablet sales in Europe.
Archos revenue from US sales “only” increased 57% year/year from 18,2M to 28,6M, my theory is because Archos has to prioritize where to spend their cash for production and distribution. Just as the Samsung Galaxy S2, Galaxy Note were released in Europe and Asia before the USA, Archos also has to choose to prioritize shipments to the European and Asian market, some markets also where Archos may be able to extract larger margins and satisfy resellers more evenly (a US reseller constantly having to be out of stock gets angry..). Over the past 3-4 months, monitoring the forums at http://forum.archosfans.com one can see hundreds of messages of American consumers being somewhat dissapointed not being able to buy the latest Archos G9 series of tablets, and due to Texas Instruments OMAP4460 1.5Ghz Processor being delayed, Archos can only really start shipping that promised 1.5Ghz tablet speed since recently. Also to consider, Archos has yet to annonce a 3G/4G/LTE USB Stick carrier for the US market, as the US market isn’t compatible with the rest of the worlds open unlocked 3G/HSPA+ SIM card USB stick system (I do believe some carrier, at least an MVNO should soon be allowing Archos provide a USB stick compatible with their network).
Consider this, Archos is a 250-employee company, with currently their record yearly revenue at 171,4 Million Euros ($224.669 Million). Apple has 60400 employees and a 2011 revenue of $108.249 billion. That means Archos makes 481 times less revenue than Apple. Yet, Archos manages to be second largest tablet seller in Europe behind Apple and tied with Samsung.
My theory is that if/when a company like Archos can get access to more cash, they can increase the mass production of their products and I think Archos has no problems selling out of all of their inventory, pretty much regardless of the worldwide region. The likely upcoming Socialist French President Francois Hollande (likely to be elected April 2012 instead of Nicolas Sarkozy) can make it a National priority to use State cash to invest in promising high-tech companies like Archos, France can heavily and rapidly invest in Archos to help Archos grab even more worldwide market share in a tablet market analysts predict to more than double again in 2012 compared to 2011. More investments can create a situation where Archos can expand R&D and Marketing/Sales efforts in Paris, thus upgrading firmwares even faster, developing new hardware skews faster, optimizing manufacturing and BOM techniques faster, something Archos can use to increase the value for money even faster making it even easier to sell all stock regardless of volume produced. With significantly more cash for more production, faster R&D, I believe Archos can grow and be the French high-tech company to seriously compete with Apple worldwide.
The Android tablet market has exploded in 2011. I believe the daily Android tablets activations worldwide has now overtaken the iPad2. The regular stack of analysts will only demonstrate that when they estimate Q1 2012 tablet sales in early April. I base my estimation on the fact most major latest Android tablets were released not before December 2011 (Archos G9, Kindle Fire, Nook Tablet, Motorola XyBoard, Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0, Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, etc), thus counting since December 2011 (and not October 2011 as the latest analysts have) positions Android tablets even more favorably against the iPad2. If you count the Samsung Galaxy Note as a tablet (which most analysts aren’t), it’s even more obvious that Android tablets daily activations have overtaken the iPad.
With excellent value for money in Archos ICS-capable tablets, such as the $279 Archos 101 G9 Turbo 1.5Ghz, the $229 Arnova 9 G2, the $199 Archos 70b Internet Tablet and the $149 Arnova 7b G2, all of them imminently fully running Ice Cream Sandwich, (all those are MSRP prices, street prices can be 20-30% lower than MSRP with volume) I believe Archos is well positioned to continue their growth in tablet market share. It’d be awesome to see Archos find the time to also provide an OMAP4460 1.5Ghz 7″ Kindle Fire killer (at around $249) and a 5″ Galaxy Note killer (at around $199) tablet with USB 3G/4G/LTE stick support as my favorite tablet sizes are 7″ jacket pocket sized and 5″ pants pocket sized.
Revenue for the fourth quarter 2011
| In M€ non audited | Q4 2011 |
Q4 2010 |
Var (M€) |
Var (%) |
| EUROPE | 46,3 | 24,6 | 21,7 | 88% |
| ASIA | 8,7 | 2,2 | 6,5 | 300% |
| USA | 10,2 | 8,8 | 1,3 | 15% |
| TOTAL | 65,2 | 35,6 | 29,6 | 83% |
Total revenue for 2011
| In M€ non audited | 2011 | 2010 | Var (M€) |
Var (%) |
| EUROPE | 117,9 | 60,7 | 57,2 | 94% |
| ASIA | 24,9 | 4,4 | 20,5 | 464% |
| USA | 28,6 | 18,2 | 10,4 | 57% |
| TOTAL | 171,4 | 83,3 | 88,1 | 106% |
Yearly revenue (Million €)
2009 : 57,9 ($76M)
2010 : 83,3 ($109.5M)
2011 : 171,4 ($224.7M)
Source: Archos Q4 2011 earnings press release on abcbourse.com, boursier.com, easybourse.com and investir.fr
Windows 8 on ARM comes with Desktop (of course..)
There has been false rumors going around the web for the past 2-3 months, spread by Mary-Jo Foley of ZDnet and Paul Thurrot of winsupersite.com, that somehow Windows 8 on ARM wouldn’t be getting Desktop mode and full Desktop apps. Those rumors are wrong. In the following video, Microsoft demonstrates (again) how Windows 8 on ARM is going to come with a full Desktop mode with full Desktop apps such as Internet Explorer and Office.
The question of course is how does Microsoft plan to support more Desktop apps on ARM. For example, can we install a full Chrome browser on Windows 8 on ARM, how about apps like Photoshop and Ulead video studio? I expect Microsoft to have support for some recompiled desktop ARM apps in Windows store and support for PC over IP remote desktop for some x86 apps that can work smoothly over remote desktop which I expect Windows Azure to host as a cloud service.
To simplify compatibility, Microsoft is promoting the new Metro style HTML5 based apps system. Sure enough, Metro style apps all work on ARM and x86. But I am also sure that Microsoft carefully plans to also allow recompiled desktop apps on Windows 8 on ARM, they will for sure provide recompilation tools, specifications for use on PCoIP protocols, even partly use some parts of emulation and an ARM based Virtualization hypervisor.
Related articles
- Microsoft provides details on Windows 8 on ARM (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- ARM-powered Windows 8 devices will likely support desktop apps (bgr.com)
- Windows 8 will debut on ARM tablets at launch (news.cnet.com)
- Windows 8 on ARM: The Desktop Plot Thickens (pcworld.com)
- Windows 8 on ARM should keep traditional desktop (electronista.com)
- Door Open to Windows 8 Desktop Apps on ARM (gizmodo.co.uk)
- Updated: Windows 8 tablets: what you need to know (techradar.com)
- Windows 8 on ARM: The desktop is still there – ZDNet (blog) (zdnet.com)
- Windows 8 Consumer Preview Event Set for Feb. 29 (mashable.com)
- Desktop apps may run on Win8 for ARM after all… maybe (engadget.com)
- Windows 8 Consumer Preview to debut at Mobile World Congress (intomobile.com)
- Windows 8 ARM version may still include a desktop mode (slashgear.com)
- Windows 8 ARM edition will include Office 15 and desktop mode (theverge.com)
Archos 101 G9 Turbo 1.5Ghz for $279 at Woot.com today
Posted by – February 9, 2012
It’s basically as powerful (or more powerful) than a Tegra3 tablet, but at nearly half the price. The normal MSRP price (for the 16GB 1.5Ghz version) is $399 so this is a good deal! It’ll support Ice Cream Sandwich through an official firmware update probably coming later this month. Support for US-compatible 3G/4G/LTE USB sticks is possibly also soon to be announced (depends just on US carriers or MVNO’s allowing Archos to use their networks I think).
Check it out at http://www.woot.com/
Found via: androidpolice.com
Chrome for Android now released
This confirms my expectation for Ice Cream Sandwich, that Chrome OS and Google TV are being merged with Android. I’ve been talking about it since my October 5th ICS predictions and way before in May 2011, January 2011 and February 2010.
A full Chrome Browser in Android can be the key to see the huge market for ARM Powered Laptops explode.
Look forward to having a full ChromeOS-like Laptop experience on your ARM Powered Android Tablet as soon as you plug a Keyboard dock to it. Look forward to having a full Chromebox-like experience when you connect the HDMI output of your Smartphone to a PC monitor or HDTV and use a Bluetooth or USB Host Keyboard and mouse.
The main question is now to test the performance of the full Chrome browser on Android, I’d like to see its performance on the Galaxy Nexus that has the high memory bandwidth OMAP4460 1.2Ghz and 1.5Ghz processor. I’d like to see its performance on OMAP4470 1.8Ghz, and Tegra3 1.3Ghz. I think the Chrome browser performance on those Android devices can now be faster than on a Netbook.
Teradici PCoIP, optimized remote desktop on TI’s OMAP4460
Posted by – February 1, 2012
Teradici is doing software optimization using the PCoIP (PC-over-IP) protocol to run a full x86 desktop remotely over the Internet onto an OMAP4460 device. Here in this demo remotely using an x86 desktop that is over 2000 miles away (and considering that Internet connections at trade shows can be unreliable).
Texas Instruments shows latest Augmented Reality Tablet demos
Posted by – February 1, 2012
Using software from Total Immersion and Metaio, Texas Instruments is showing their latest status of hardware acceleration on the DSP, Still Image Co-processing for Augmented Reality applications, games, navigation and more.
