Speaking at the Intel Developer Forum, which opened today in San Francisco, Paul Otellini showed off some 22nm chips that may be available for consumers in the second half of 2011. The 22nm wafer displayed by Otellini is made up of individual die had more than 2.9 billion transistors packed into an area the size of a fingernail.
The chip giant’s game plan is clear, says ZDNet: Use manufacturing prowess to beat rivals over the head. Intel has alreay began production of 32nm chips.
“The same experience on any device. That’s the theme,” said Otellini. Intel’s next-gen Atom Pine Trail, the Atom-based processor/graphics chip, was demoed in nettops running 480p video. Intel said it was capable of 1080p playback, but you still need a separate video processor, says Engadget.
To encourage the creation of applications for Intel’s Atom processor, Intel today launched the Intel® Atom™ Developer Program for independent software vendors. The program provides a framework for developers to create and sell software applications for netbooks with support for handhelds and smart phones available in the future.
“Using Silverlight’s cross-device, cross-browser, cross-platform technology, developers will be able to write applications once and have them run on Windows and Moblin devices, expanding the reach of Silverlight applications to more consumers, regardless of whether the device they’re using is a PC, TV or phone,” said Ian Ellison Taylor, general manager, Microsoft Client Platforms and Tools.
In addition to keynotes by Intel executives, there are 125 technical sessions, including interactive discussions, hands-on labs and panels.
Day One keynotes:
- Intel CEO and President Paul Otellini will kick off the opening day keynote slate with a leadership address.
- “Intel Architecture Innovates and Integrates” by Pat Gelsinger, senior vice president and general manager, Digital Enterprise Group, discussing
- “Silicon Leadership: Delivering Innovation in High Volume” by Bob Baker, senior vice president and general manager, Technology and Manufacturing Group
Day Two keynotes:
- “The Mobile Computing Revolution” by David Perlmutter, executive vice president and general manager, Mobility Group
- “Developing for the Full Spectrum of Computing” by Renee James, vice president and general manager, Software and Services Group
- “The Architecture of Television Innovation” by Eric Kim, senior vice president and general manager, Digital Home Group
Day Three keynotes:
- “The Future of Mobile and Immersive Computing Experiences” by Justin Rattner, Intel senior Fellow and vice president, and Intel Labs director and chief technology officer.
Nehalem is Intel’s new processor microarchitecture and is used currently in its high-performance Core i7 series of desktop processors and more inexpensive Core i5 series. The chipmaker is expected to move most laptop, desktop, and server processors to the Nehalem architecture in 2010. The Core i7 “Clarksfield” is expected to be introduced Wednesday, with a quad-core processor for higher-end laptop designs.
Also on display at IDF: demo machines running 32nm Arrandale chips, based on the I-5/7 processors that should be ready to go later next year and Gulftown gaming chips, which have six cores and can fit into a X58 mother board. Intel also announced that both BMW and Mercedes-Benz will be shipping Atom-based infotainment systems designed by Harman-Becker in 2012
Attendees will also get first hand experience with Moblin 2.0 beta, running on portable Internet gadgets. Moblin is a Linux derivative that primarily is focused on devices that use an Intel Atom, unlike Android, Windows Mobile, Apple OS, Symbian and half a dozen other mobile device operating systems that run on low-power ARM processors. Intel sold their ARM division to Marvell some time ago.
Intel today announced Moblin 2.1, a new version of designed for Atom-based phones. Intel hopes to attract mobile device makers and users to the Atom. But stuffing an Atom into a tiny handset will be a neat trick – WiMAX-ready or not. The Linux Foundation now oversees Mobilin. LTE/WiMAX handsets may be near, but you probably won’t see one in the wild for a year or two.
Handset-to-handset combat, between Atom and ARM processors, may have to wait ’til next year.
