x86 Processor Endgame: ARM Archives

ARM CEO lays into Intel's Medfield

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on January 16, 2012 11:29 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

One from David Manners' Mannerisms blog:

Intel's Medfield chip-set aimed at getting the company into smartphones has been dissed by ARM CEO Warren East.

"Are they ever going to be the leaders in power efficiency? No, of course not," East told Reuters at CES.

"It's inevitable Intel will get a few smartphone design wins," added East.

Continue reading ARM CEO lays into Intel's Medfield.

ARM becomes processor of choice for embedded modules

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on November 25, 2011 9:44 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Congatec, a major user of x86-based processors from Intel and AMD in its modules, says it now plans to increasingly use ARM technology. It is the latest embedded computer module firm to increase its dependence on ARM processors, writes Richard Wilson.

As a result it will use Freescale's ARM-based i.MX portfolio of products. As a first step congatec is expanding its Qseven product family with Freescale processors.

Embedded computer module suppliers Kontron and MSC already have ARM-based products.

Continue reading ARM becomes processor of choice for embedded modules.

Intel version of Android to compete with ARM on Atoms

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on September 14, 2011 4:21 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

A cross-fertilisation of blogs... but this post has run on the Eyes on Android blog, ragerding Intel taking on ARM via a customised version of Android...

This one caught my eye on SlashGear. It seems Intel is looking to get a custom version of Android Gingerbread in order to support tablet builders looking to run with its Atom E series of processors.

According to SlashGear it would better enable Intel to compete against the likes of ARM in the mobile space where power consumption, and hence battery life, is all important.

The story originates from Carrypad.com. According to "Chippy":

Continue reading Intel version of Android to compete with ARM on Atoms.

25% of notebooks to be ARM-based in 2015

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on July 20, 2011 10:52 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

According to analysts iSuppli, a quarter of all notebook PCs sold in 2015 will have ARM processors, writes David Manners.

"Starting in 1981, when IBM first created its original PC based on Intel's 8088 microprocessor, the X86 architecture has dominated the PC market," says iSuppli's Matthew Wilkins, "over the next generation, billions of PCs were shipped based on X86 microprocessors supplied by Intel and assorted rivals--mainly Advanced Micro Devices Inc. However, the days of X86's unchallenged domination are coming to an end as Windows 8 opens the door for the use of the ARM processor, which already has achieved enormous popularity in the mobile phone and tablet worlds."

Continue reading 25% of notebooks to be ARM-based in 2015.

Intel rejects ARM but chases low-power

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on May 18, 2011 12:02 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Paul Otellini - President and CEO, Intel Corporation RES.jpg

Intel is chasing low-power. As the archetypal chaser of speed, this transformation is not unlike a Frenchman saying he's a one-woman guy.

Intel CEO Paul Otellini made it official at an investor conference this week, saying that Intel will aim for a mid-point power consumption of 15W for laptop ICs compared to today's 35W.

Otellin slapped down any suggestions Intel will make ARM architecture processors. It is relying for low-power on its move to Finfets at 22nm.

Continue reading Intel rejects ARM but chases low-power.

Intel could match ARM for power this year

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on April 20, 2011 3:10 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Intel is nudging closer to mobile device power levels with this new Atom processor, writes Richard Wilson, editor of Electronics Weekly.

Fabbed on a 45nm process the Z670 processor comes with a 3W power tag. This is a big improvement on earlier Atom processors and moves the mobile processor into ARM territory.

The N450 Atom runs off 6.5W while the dual core N550 Atom runs off 8.5W.

Continue reading Intel could match ARM for power this year.

ARM bets on Linux for netbook progress

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on February 4, 2010 1:19 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

In an interview with PC Pro, the CEO of ARM, Warren East, is in bullish mood for the future of low-power netbooks.

"Although netbooks are small today - maybe 10% of the PC market at most - we believe over the next several years that could completely change around and that could be 90% of the PC market," said East. "We see those products as an area for a lot of innovation and we want that innovation to be happening around the ARM architecture."

Continue reading ARM bets on Linux for netbook progress.

ARM processors to overtake x86 in UMDs in 2013

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on January 25, 2010 3:11 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Analysis published by ABI Research suggests that annual ultra-mobile-device shipments (netbooks, MIDs, smartbooks and UMPCs) based on ARM instruction sets will overtake x86-based UMDs by 2013.

This is according to senior analyst Jeff Orr, who states "2010 will be pivotal for building momentum behind non-x86 solutions, and gaining adoption in both distribution channels and by end-user populations worldwide."

The ABI Research website writes:

Continue reading ARM processors to overtake x86 in UMDs in 2013.

Asus choosing between Chrome and Android and ARM

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on January 15, 2010 2:26 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

An interesting article on ZDNet UK, which has interviewed the Asus chairman.

David Meyer writes:

Jonney Shih, Asus' chairman, said in an interview on Wednesday that the manufacturer was still not sure how many people would sacrifice the application compatibility advantages of Windows and Intel for a lower-cost subnotebook running a Linux-based OS on an ARM chipset. He also said Asus was working on a tablet or slate device.

Continue reading Asus choosing between Chrome and Android and ARM.

CES eye catchers

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on January 11, 2010 4:12 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Here are some highlights from CES that caught my eye:

Qualcomm's Dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon 8X72 chipset is due by end of 2010, says Slashgear.

There was an appearance of a Dell Mini 5, an Android-powered 5in "entertainment" slate, reports PC Pro.

Intel prepping an x86-based system-on-a-chip: "the so-called 'Tolapai' unit will be based on Pentium M architecture, and pack 256KB of L2 cache and support for DDR 2 memory, along with a full compliment of integrated connectivity options, including PCI Express, USB, SATA, Gigabit Ethernet, RS-232 and a cellular link," writes Engadget.

Continue reading CES eye catchers.

Nokia ships Maemo 5-based N900

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on November 10, 2009 5:29 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Nokia has announced shipment of its N900 mobile computing device based on open source Maemo 5 software, which was announced back in August.

"What's exciting is the Maemo software, which takes its cues from the desktop computer and offers a full browsing experience like no other handset," says José-Luis Martinez, Vice President, Nseries, Nokia..

The Nokia N900 is based on the ARM Cortex-A8 processor and has up to 1GB of total application memory. According to the company:

Continue reading Nokia ships Maemo 5-based N900 .

ARM targets eBooks, smartphones and MIDS with Cortex A-5

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 21, 2009 2:07 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

"The Internet Everywhere" is ARM's slogan for its latest low-power processor, the 45nm Cortex A5 MPCore, which is aimed at smartphones and MIDS and other such mobile devices, and is available with up to four cores.

Few details are available, writes our Technology Editor, Steve Bush, but the processor includes the firm's TrustZone security block and its 128-bit SIMD Neon multimedia engine, first introduced with the Cortex-A8.

Along with the core, ARM had released a physical IP package for 40nm chips, including low-leakage, said the firm, logic libraries optimised for TSMC's 40LP process.

The core is compatible with existing Cortex-A tools and software, said ARM, including Android, Adobe Flash, Java Platform Standard Edition (Java SE), JavaFX, Linux, Microsoft Windows Embedded, Symbian and Ubuntu.

Continue reading ARM targets eBooks, smartphones and MIDS with Cortex A-5.

ARM removes Flash barrier to netbook entry

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 5, 2009 3:34 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

One of the barriers to entry for ARM-based Netbooks appears to have been lifted - ARM say they have optimised Adobe Flash Player 10.1 on ARM-powered devices.

The work is part of the Open Screen Project, writes David Manners, which is an industry group with nearly 50 participants working together to deliver a consistent runtime environment across mobile phones, desktops and other consumer electronic devices.

The key point appears to be that Adobe Flash Player on ARM-powered devices will give consumers access to virtually all Web content everywhere, states ARM.

Intel has previously maintained - rather improbably - that the Web is geared for x86 devices. Tell that to users of Apple's iPhone 3GS.

Continue reading ARM removes Flash barrier to netbook entry.

Linux key to ARM processor breakthrough with Dell laptop

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 5, 2009 11:20 AM | 2 Comments | No TrackBacks

ARM came of age with a major PC design breakthrough last week, writes Richard Wilson.

The Cambridge-based company will see a microprocessor based on one of its low power cores sitting side-by-side with an Intel Core Duo in a Dell laptop PC.

Continue reading Linux key to ARM processor breakthrough with Dell laptop.

ARM hard Cortex A9 targets PCs, games machines, digital TV

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on September 17, 2009 11:35 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

ARM has produced a hard macro version of its Cortex-A9 processor which has been sold as soft IP since 2007. The idea is to give users of Cortex A9 a high performance version of the macro which can be implemented in designs relatively quickly, writes David Manners.

More importantly for ARM, it allows A9 to address other markets than the cellphone market.

Continue reading ARM hard Cortex A9 targets PCs, games machines, digital TV.