TI unveils dual-core OMAP 4440 for phones, tablets

TI teased a major performance boost for smartphones and tablets today by unveiling the OMAP 4440. The design uses a dual-core, up to 1.5GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor at its heart, already representing a leap, but also adding two Cortex-M3 cores to shoulder tasks that need to be handled in real-time. It marks a 50 percent overall speed boost over current chips and is fast to enable 3D video, even in 1080p, and 3D photos from two 12-megapixel cameras.

The design should load websites about 30 percent faster and catches up to rivals with a PowerVR SGX540 core that should be about 25 percent faster for games and other 3D-intensive tasks. It can handle HDMI 1.4 video output, including 3D, and supports two-way 1080p 2D video chat or multiple users at 720p.

Test samples should reach companies early next year and should lead to full-scale production in the second half of that year. TI didn't name companies making phones and slates with the OMAP 4440, but Motorola and Palm have been the two most eager adoptees of the OMAP line and could see major leaps in performance.

In the nearer term, the OMAP 4430 is due to reach finished devices early next year and will have much of the same design but at a lower 1GHz speed that limits it to 720p 3D. It may be the heart of Motorola's Android 3.0 tablet and possibly webOS devices like the HP PalmPad.

By Electronista Staff