ARM Community: Connected life at CES: Dual core platforms, tablets, & Yahoo Connected TV - ARM Community

CES this year is awash with innovative technology to power our connected lives. For years, technologists have talked about a future where our digital life is seamlessly integrated at home, at work, and on the go. In this future world, devices would work together to connect us to each other and to our content and high-performance processors (equivalent to super computers of the past) would power these new visionary devices. Well all I can say is this year at CES the future is now.

Are you part of the tablet craze yet? No - then you must meet the Motorola Xoom tablet!
I’m a tablet convert. If I wasn’t, CES 2011 would definitely convert me. For the first time I can explore the show and stay up to date with no laptop required staying connected with only a couple of 3G smartphones and my 3G connected tablet. While there is no shortage of Android tablets at CES, the Motorola Xoom tablet at the Verizon was getting a lot of attention. What makes this tablet stand out? The Honeycomb release of Google’s Android operating system which has been optimized for the tablet form-factor that is making its debut at CES this year. The Motorola tablet is definitely going to be a competitor in the competitive tablet market. A supercomputer or tablet? This device is powered by NVIDIA’s Tegra2 platform featuring a dual-core, 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor. Check out my first CES blog (CES Day1: ARM Partners take center stage: NVIDIA, Motorola, Microsoft and Rockchip ) where I highlight more NVIDIA and Motorola CES news.


Blackberry Playbook tablet makes full use of its dual core platform
For years we have been talking about multi-core processors becoming a reality in mobile products. In fact ARM was the first to launch a multi-core embeddable processor back in 2004 and in 2007 we launched the ARM Cortex-A9 multi-core processor technology. This year at CES there is no shortage of dual-core mobile systems, but nothing quite puts a face on multi-core processing like the RIM Blackberry Playbook powered by QNX software. This device is very impressive. Since, it is a Blackberry device it naturally handles work applications with enterprise level email and supportive productivity apps. But what sets this device apart for me was the fun side. With real multitasking we were able to launch a high-def video, a stunning 3D game, and responsive web browser. And instead of pausing each app as you move from one to the next, this device keeps all three going while giving you a really amazing UI. This is true multicore - Great job QNX & Blackberry.


Atablet with two sides – check out this reference design by NEC
Want to see something new in Android tablet development? How about a tablet with two sides? ARM Partner, NEC has developed a new tablet concept powered by the ARM Cortex-A8 processor. This reference design opens like a book and delivers Android across two screens. New applications optimized for this form-factor take advantage of the two sides by giving you a work space and acreative space there by further enhancing the Android experience. In fact they have a great application for education that integrates video instruction and interactive functions on the left hand page with a written book on the right hand side of the page. NEC is supporting a special SDK for this platform to enable these types of optimized applications. Have a look and tell me what you think.


Yahoo Connected TV - can’t wait till my daughter sees this one!
While the tablets here are pretty cool, I am really intrigued by smarter TV that integrations your world on the web with your content at home and works seamlessly with all your connected devices. We got a sneak peak at the latest innovations from Yahoo on their new Connected TV platform. This platform combines your video content with the web. Not just with widgets and a browser interface, but by searching the web and bringing content related to what you are viewing or from your personal network together on one screen. You can then manage and interact with this content from your smartphone or tablet device. And while my teenage daughter views most of our content on her Macbook,I think this new platform may bring her back into the living room.


Stay tuned for more ARM CES coverage
Hope you enjoyed these highlights from Day 2 at CES. We had so many really great demos and devices from yesterday’s tour. So please stay tuned; we will continue to roll-out more updates over the next few days.

Kerry McGuire Balanza, Director of Strategic Marketing, ARM, Growing up in a tiny little technology town and then moving to Austin to work in the mobile industry has led to a lifetime of being a technology groupie. Fascinated by the changing technical industry and the impact of technology on society trends, she enjoys watching the industry evolve by working with the best of ARM’s partners.