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Intel shows off a Moorestown smartphone

CES 2010 Smarter than the average brick
Fri Jan 08 2010, 11:26

INTEL IS SHOWING OFF a smartphone based on its Moorestown platform for mobile devices.

Chipzilla CEO Paul Otellini told the CES show yesterday that the GW990 smartphone will be made by LG Electronics and ship during the second half of the year.

This is the first device launched that is based on Moorestown, a chip platform with an Atom-based processor that Intel is targeting at smartphones and mobile Internet devices.

It has a five inch screen that can play back 720p high-definition video, supports multitouch input and includes cameras both front and back. The phone runs the Linux-based Moblin OS.

We've known that the device has been on the drawing board for a while. LG admited last year that it adopted the Moorestown platform for a device. Nokia also made a similar announcement but has not announced any products yet.

The GW990 smartphone can run multiple applications simultaneously and Otellini had it playing high-definition video and running a calendar application at the same time.

Intel claims that Moorestown uses half the power in active use and up to 50 times less power at idle compared to its predecessors.

It includes a power-efficient Atom processor dubbed Lincroft and the Langwell chipset. Lincroft is a system-on-chip with a 3D graphics accelerator, integrated memory controller and other components onboard. µ

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Comments
But they can't ditch x86

Unfortunately, the Intel and Microsoft duo can't ditch x86.

Microsoft's only OS for ARM is its failing Windows Mobile, which is now completely screwed in the market, and heading for cancellation. So that just leaves Microsoft with its full-blown Windows 7.

From Intel's perspective, it needs the Vole's applications, which require compatibility. You wouldn't think compatibility is necessary, but you see, if you don't care about all those old Windoze apps, then you would be better off ditching x86 altogether and instead buy a Smartbook running on an ARM processor.

posted by : Helen, 12 January 2010 Complain about this comment
Ditch x86

I wonder if they've made the giant leap forward and ditched the old x86 features?
For an application like this, wouldnt it be ideal if they'd support only i64 and ditch previous modes?
Surely this would save power and transistors on the die.

Compatibility is great, but for devices like this, does anyone see the need?

posted by : fred, 10 January 2010 Complain about this comment
Draw the line

At what point do we say a cell phone is no longer a cell phone and becomes a small laptop?
Make a USB device that converts your laptop into a Smartphone, then you can say you have a core2quad with 2gb ram and 500gb hdd running windows 7 os...now thats some phone!

posted by : dorman t reign, 10 January 2010 Complain about this comment
By 'predecessors' do they mean...

Intel dual core P4 with hyperthreading, 3.6 ghz? Then yes, this chip probably uses 1/50 of the power when idle.

posted by : mike, 08 January 2010 Complain about this comment
Duh

Atom is typically 2-5X the power draw as the ARM, so why on earth would Intel advertise this? Hello? You are supposed to think of those COOL blue guys dancing and doing stupid things, demonstrating how innovative Intel is...

posted by : Hucklebuck, 08 January 2010 Complain about this comment
well...

Since neither active or idle are being advertised you kind of have to assume that they're both rubbish.

posted by : spence91, 08 January 2010 Complain about this comment
Idle power means nothing

Idle power is a useless measure of power....Most processors should consume next to nothing when idle. It's the active power figures that everyone wants to see.

posted by : Andrew Jones, 08 January 2010 Complain about this comment
no sign of battery life of power draw

"up to 50 times less power at idle compared to its predecessors" means absolutely nothing without giving the actual figures in the first place.

posted by : spence91, 08 January 2010 Complain about this comment
aboutus
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