Multi-core Smartphone Applications Processors Grow to 25% Share in Q3 2011
Manufacturers use multi-core processors for smartphone feature differentiation. As a result, multi-core smartphone applications processors gained strong traction in the third quarter of 2011. According to Strategy Analytics, part of this growth is because of strong holiday quarter demand for multi-core smartphones from major smartphone manufacturers.
Q3 2011 Smartphone Applications Processor Revenues Grew to $2.24 Billion
According to Strategy Analytics, the global smartphone applications processor market grew to $2.24 billion in the third quarter of this year (Q3 2011). This is a 59% year-on-year growth. Qualcomm ranked first in the smartphone applications processor market with 49% of revenue share in the last quarter. Thanks to the ramp up of its Android business, Broadcom finally broke into the top-five vendor list for smartphone applications processors in the third quarter.
Texas Instruments Sitara AM335x ARM Cortex-A8 Microprocessors
Texas Instruments introduced their Sitara AM335x ARM Cortex-A8 microprocessors. The TI AM335x ARM Cortex-A8 microprocessor offers low power consumption, prolongs battery life, reduces heat emissions, and enables portable, pocket-sized, fanless applications. Pricing for the AM335x ARM Cortex-A8 microprocessors start at $4.99 (in 100,000 unit quantities). Application-specific reference designs based on the AM335x ARM Cortex-A8 microprocessors will be available later this year and into 2012.
ARM Reveals Details of 64-bit ARMv8 Architecture
The new ARMv8 architecture will feature a 64-bit instruction set. The ARMv8 architecture will expand the reach of ARM processor-based solutions into consumer and enterprise applications where extended virtual addressing and 64-bit data processing are required. The ARMv8 architecture specifications describing all aspects of the ARMv8 architecture are available now to partners under license. ARM will disclose processors based on ARMv8 during 2012, with consumer and enterprise prototype systems expected in 2014.
AVIX RTOS Supports IAR Embedded Workbench for ARM
AVIX-RT, the company behind the AVIX RTOS, today announced AVIX support for the IAR Embedded Workbench for ARM (IAR EWARM). The ultra-fast AVIX RTOS, which targets all commercially available Cortex-M3 microcontrollers, is a perfect match for IAR EWARM. In addition to enabling AVIX based applications development, AVIX-RT provides a kernel aware plug-in for the IAR EWARM environment. This plug-in seamlessly integrates with IAR EWARM and can be controlled entirely from within this environment. Using IAR EWARM combined with the AVIX plug-in allows for interactive monitoring of the status of all AVIX kernel objects through the plug-in provided Graphical User Interface.
NVIDIA Acquires Icera, 3G and 4G Baseband Processors
NVIDIA will acquire Icera for $367 million in cash. Icera is one of the few remaining independent baseband processor providers for both 3G and 4G cellular phones, data modems, and tablets. The remaining independent suppliers are specialized in either 3G or 4G (but not both 3G and 4G). The acquisition has been approved by both companies’ boards of directors and is expected to be completed, subject to customary closing conditions, in about 30 days.
Intel Makes Breakthrough with Three Dimensional Tri-Gate Transistors
Intel announced a transistor breakthrough today. The company will manufacture the first transistors using a three-dimensional structure in high-volume production. The three-dimensional transistor, called Tri-Gate, will be used at the 22-nanometer node in an Intel Ivy Bridge microprocessor. The 3D Tri-Gate transistor is a revolutionary change from the current two-dimensional planar transistor structure used in computers, mobile phones, consumer electronics, and electronic controls within cars, spacecraft, household appliances, and medical devices.
Texas Instruments MSP430 Microcontroller Capacitive Touch Portfolio
Texas Instruments introduced the MSP430 16-bit microcontroller capacitive touch solution. The MSP430 platform features the free MSP430 capacitive touch library; MSP430G2xx2, MSP430F51x2, G2xx2 and G2xx3 devices; Capacitive Touch BoosterPack (430BOOST-SENSE1); and MSP430F5529 Experimenter Board. The TI MSP430G2xx2 is priced from $0.33 (100K units). Samples of the G2xx3 is available now. Prices start at $0.42 (100K units). For a limited time, the Capacitive Touch BoosterPack is available for $4.30. The MSP430F5529 Experimenter Board is available now for $149. The MSP430F51x2 will start sampling in 3Q11.
Intel Atom Processor Z6xx Series Falls Short of Expectations
According to In-Stat, the Intel Atom Processor Z6xx Series still comes up short when compared with many of Intel’s mobile competitors. The Oak Trail processor features Intel’s SpeedStep, Deeper Sleep, and High Definition Audio technology. However, Oak Trail still requires an I/O chipset (SM35), does not offer alternative memory interfaces (such as package-on-package chip stacking) and is rated with a thermal design power of 3W, which is above the smartphone processors being used in other tablet designs.
Intel Atom Processor Z6xx Series and Intel SM35 Express Chipset
Intel introduced the new Atom processor Z6xx series, which is optimized for low-power embedded systems. Paired with the Intel SM35 Express chipset, the Z6xx platform is ideal for low power, battery-capable, embedded designs. Currently, there are two microprocessors in the Z6xx series (formerly Oak Trail): Intel Atom processor Z650 (512K cache, 1.2 GHz) and Intel Atom processor Z670 (512K cache, 1.5 GHz). The Intel Atom processor Z6xx series features an integrated, power-optimized 2-D/3-D graphics engine and memory controller in an ultra-small package.
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