Intel Shows Off Prototype Handheld with Near-DVD Quality Video

During a speech at the 3GSM World Congress, Intel's president and CEO Paul Otellini demonstrated a prototype handheld running a next-generation XScale processor. With the assistance of a multimedia accelerator, this device was able to play what Mr. Otellini described as near-DVD quality video.

According to internetnews.com, this model, which Intel calls Carbando, runs one of the Bulverde processors. This is the code-name for an upcoming set of XScale chips that are expected to offer higher clock-speeds than current ones, as well as other improvements.

To achieve its strong multimedia performance, this device needs the 3-D multimedia accelerator for the XScale line that was announced last week at Intel Developer Forum.

Though Mr. Otellini did a demonstration of this handheld design, little is known about it, including whether it includes a built-in mini hard drive to store large multimedia files.

Carbando is a reference design that will be made available to handheld manufacturers. A company spokesperson told internetnews.com that the first devices based on Carbando should be out in the second half of this year, though he declined to give any details.

Part of a Larger Plan

Though the Bulverde processors will be important to traditional handhelds, Intel is also setting its sights on a potentially larger market: cellular-wireless handhelds and smart phones.

In his speech, Mr. Otellini discussed the fact that the Bulverde chips are actually a part of the Hermon series. These will combine application processors, like the XScale line, with the chipsets needed for mobile phones.

Wireless models based on Hermon processors won't be available until 2005.

Related Links

• Next-Gen XScale Chips Coming Late this Year
• Upcoming TI Chips Could Mean Smaller Wireless Devices
• RumorMill™: Faster XScale Processors Coming this May
• Brighthand's Coverage of the 3GSM World Congress 2004