Netbook News

Smartbook Tablet: il prototipo Freescale

Progettato per la vendita a 200$. Schermo 7 pollici touch

Freescale Semiconductor ha presentato un nuovo modello di riferimento per la produzione di tablet economici da usare per la navigazione web. Costruiti attorno al processore ARM Cortex A8 ed al chipset Freescale i/MX515, saranno esposti all’imminente CES 2010 e potranno essere fabbricati per 140$, permettendo alle aziende di vendere a 200$ e ricavare un buon profitto.

Il processore ARM a basso consumo è costruito su un’architettura a 7 core, uno per il calcolo, uno per la grafica 3D, uno per quella 2D, uno per la codifica di video HD 720p e via dicendo.

Ecco le principali caratteristiche del prototipo di base:

• Schermo da 7 pollici, 1024×600 px touchscreen (single touch)
• Form factor: 200 x 128 x 14.9 mm
• Peso inferiore a 0.5Kg
• Autonomia di 12 ore (batteria 2100 mAh)
• Disco di tipo flash (4GB – 64GB) con slot MicroSD per eventuali espansioni
• Sistema operativo personalizzato a partire da Linux/Android
• WiFi, GPS e Bluetooth integrati ma niente 3G (nel modello base)

Il mercato di riferimento per questi tablet sono i ragazzi dai 15 ai 25 anni i quali, secondo Freescale, non hanno bisogno di una tastiera QWERTY (difficile da inserire su un schermo inferiore ai 10 pollici) e riescono a muoversi con tutta tranquillità anche con il solo schermo touch.

Allo stesso modo la scelta di non inserire il 3G nel modello base (ovviamente i produttori potranno poi optare per altre vie) è dovuta al target di utenza. Freescale ha preferito fornire il solo Wifi ed evitare di “spaventare” i giovani utenti con contratti e tariffe mensili; WiFi che può essere usato anche all’aperto con Hotspots gratuiti o in abbonamento.

Freescale si aspetta di vedere i primi prodotti basati sul suo reference design già entro la primavera 2010. Per maggiori informazioni potete visitare la sezione dedicata sul sito Freescale o attendere l’esposizione dei primi esemplari al CES 2010.

Segue il comunicato stampa in lingua inglese.

AUSTIN, Texas – Jan. 4, 2010 – Freescale Semiconductor has unveiled the future of the smartbook category with a tablet reference design featuring a 7-inch touch screen with up to four times the viewing area of a typical smartphone and based on a form factor that is approximately one-third the size and volume of today’s typical netbook.

The solution is intended to enable a second generation of smartbook products with prices less than $200 and featuring form factors that fully leverage the power, performance and functionality advantages of advanced ARM® processor technology. It is designed to provide instant-on functionality, persistent connectivity and all-day battery life. The tablet will be demonstrated at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show running both the Android and Linux® operating systems.

Designed to help OEMs jump-start creation of smartbook tablets, the solution is based on Freescale’s highly integrated i.MX515 processor incorporating ARM Cortex™-A8 technology. It also includes Freescale’s MC13892 power management IC, SGTL5000 audio codec and MMA8450Q 3-axis accelerometer. End products based on the design could hit retail shelves as soon as the summer of 2010.

“Freescale’s new tablet opens the door to an exciting new world of compelling form factors specifically designed and optimized to support common online activities including social media, high-quality audio/video playback and light gaming,” said Henri Richard, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing for Freescale. “We believe the tablet will emerge as a popular form factor for the next generation of smartbooks. By introducing this prototype reference design, Freescale intends to play a vital role in propelling the mainstream adoption of smartbooks.”

The design is the first platform in Freescale’s Smart Application Blueprint for Rapid Engineering (SABRE) series. The SABRE tablet platform for smartbooks incorporates feedback from a recently completed end-user research study conducted in conjunction with Savannah College of Art and Design’s prestigious Industrial Design program.

“Semiconductor providers looking to differentiate in the nascent tablet market will need to offer solutions-focused system reference designs if they are to succeed with the world’s foremost consumer electronics OEMs,” said Jeff Orr, senior mobile devices analyst at ABI Research. “There is clearly strong end-user demand for tablet form-factors, and new reference designs look to play a major role in helping OEMs speed tablet smartbook products to market.”

The Freescale tablet includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® wireless connectivity, and also features a 3D desktop framework with touch screen/QWERTY keyboard support. 3G modem and RF4CE protocol options are available. The tablet’s modular approach to 3G connectivity lets systems designers select carrier-specific air interfaces appropriate for different regions. Modules can be pre-certified by carriers and selected to match a range of features and performance targets. This method makes it easy to migrate quickly to new modem technologies as they are introduced.

Example smartbook platform applications intended to run on the tablet include a web browser with Adobe® Flash® Player and multimedia plug-ins, a media center, PDF and image viewers, a mail client, an RSS reader, an office suite, handwriting utilities and various widgets for Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Weather SMS and other applications.

Smartbook reference design features

• Size: small/thin form factor (200mm x 128mm x 14.9cm and weighing 376 grams); no need for fan or heat sink
• Processor: Freescale i.MX515 applications processor provides high performance and low power
  • ARM Cortex-A8 core
  • OpenVG & OpenGL/ES graphics cores
  • HD video decoder hardware
• Power management IC:
  • Battery charging system for both USB and wall charging
  • Output buck converters for the processor core and memory
  • Boost converters for LCD backlighting
  • Serial backlight drivers for displays and keypad, plus RGB LED drivers
• Display: 7-inch (1024 x 600) touch screen
• Memory: 512 MB DDR2
• Storage: 4-64 GB internal storage; removable micro SD
• Connectivity: 3G modem (option) 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, RF4CE (option
• Ports: USB 2.0 and USB mini (also for charging), audio in/audio out, SIM card
• Audio: speaker, microphone
• Camera: 3 Mpixel (video recording up to VGA @ 30fps)
• Battery: 1900mAh, USB charging
• Sensors: MMA8450Q 3-axis accelerometer and an ambient light sensor

Partners

Freescale and its partners offer a range of support, including turnkey designs. Inventec Appliance Corporation (IAC) provides expertise in design and manufacturing services for handhelds and netbooks. Freescale has also partnered with Thundersoft for software integration customization and optimization. For companies wishing to manage their projects internally, Freescale offers design aids including block diagrams, schematics, lists of materials and a Linux board support package.

Availability

The smartbook reference design is expected to be available for evaluation beginning February 2010 through local Freescale sales representatives. Reference design details are available at www.freescale.com/smartbook.

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freescale, News & Rumors, prototipo, reference design, smartbook, Tablet