It seems we’re giving a lot of airtime to ARM-based architectures today. And why not; The evolution of the smartphone into the MID and netbook sectors is one that we should all be aware of. In this, largely promotional video from Texas Instruments, Seshu Madhavapeddy, General Manager, Mobile Internet Devices talks about the MID segment, their OMAP 3 platform (as used in the new Archos) and mentions a 1-watt MID. That is, 1-watt at full power including connectivity and screen. Wow! My N82 smartphone with its tiny screen and highly integrated silicon takes more than double that at full internet-connected tilt so I wonder what timeframe Ti are talking about here.
For more on Ti’s MID plans and platforms, have a look at some of the resources here including a blog and a very interesting PDF that draws comparisons with Intels X86 platform. There’s also a software webinar coming up on the 26th of September. Registration might be required for some of the links.
September 16th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
sounds promising
September 17th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Interesting that you didn’t mention the MID-type device that they actually show in the video (and that appears in your own product list), the Nokia N810. Their opening/closing banner image also shows what looks a lot like a Nokia N800.
(I say MID-type, because I’m pretty sure that MID specifically revolves around Intel’s defn, which specifies an x86 architecture)
September 17th, 2008 at 1:39 am
Yup, N810 was in the Video. Don’t read anything into the fact that I didn’t mention it!!
I still regard the N8x0 as a nice demonstrator but not a serious, full-speed internet tablet but, if Nokia are still working on Internet Tablets, I think we can assume that the next-gen will be based on OMAP 3/Cortex core. I’ll be extremely interested to see it, how fast it is, whether they include 3G/4G and to see how they differentiate it from their rumored ‘touch’ product. I really hope its not ring-fenced using limitations.
September 18th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
It’s not a MID, but it’s an interesting device based on the TI stuff:
http://www.openpandora.org
Might be worth keeping an eye on anyway, at least from a technological point of view.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
“Mobile Internet Device Solutions
The mobile phone continues to revolutionize our everyday lives. It has transformed from a simple voice communicator to a personal multifunction, multimedia device. With the integration of new features, the ordinary phone is evolving into the Mobile Internet Device (MID). Consumers have become accustomed to experiencing high-quality video and full-page Web browsing at home. Increasingly handset manufactures are looking for ways to provide this same content experience on handset, taking advantage of the network bandwidth to deliver an optimized mobile web browsing experience.
Mobile technologies from Texas Instruments are delivering enhanced web browsing capabilities today – making it possible for consumers to view content in full-screen mode and enjoy content in any format on the Smartphone and Mobile Internet Device (MID) markets with a complete hardware and software platform. Leveraging the company’s experience in the mobile market, TI’s ARM™ Cortex A8-based OMAP™ 3 processors such as the OMAP3440 address the performance and power needs of the emerging MID market today.” http://www.ti.com/mid
TI have the same view as many posters here that future smartphones will be MIDs. They also see that some people will want a MID without the phone.
September 18th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I am happy to see that UMPCportal.com is bringing further attention to the evolution of the smartphone into the MID and netbook sectors. It further supports interest in understanding how a developing market can change the way we use mobile devices in our daily activities. TI’s OMAP 3 platform is getting rave reviews on the new Archos Internet Media Tablets including iGIZMO magazine and excellent video reviews at http://archosfans.com. We look forward to further engaging discussions on the MID market and products that will hit the shelves in coming months!