Intel Medfield third-gen MID platform shipping to partners
updated 06:10 am EST, Wed February 23, 2011
Intel’s Atom-based ARM challenger due Q3?
Intel has accelerated the development of its Medfield third generation mobile internet device platform according to a report by Digitimes. Citing industry sources, Intel has now shipped prototypes of the Atom-based chips to its Taiwan-based hardware partners for testing. The latest design, fabricated on a 32nm process, is much improved over its predecessors and should be competitive with ARM-based mobile chip designs that currently dominate the mobile device market.
According to the report, Intel is prepping the next-generation Atom platform for a fall release and expects to have partners demonstrating Medfield-based smartphones and tablets at Computex Taipei 2011. Intel is also said to be leveraging the technology that it acquired with its acquisition of Infineon Wireless to further boost the competitiveness of its devices.
Currently, Atom-based tablets running Windows 7 can run on a single charge for around 5 to 6 hours, well short of ARM-based designs in Apple and Samsung tablets which are capable of delivering 10 or more hours of continuous video playback.
The timing of the rumored launch of Medfield is line with comments made by Intel CEO Paul Otellini in December, which had previously hoped to have the Atom Z600 shipping in a smartphone by early 2011.
