NVIDIA unveils Tegra

Posted on 19-06-2009

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Amidst the hype about Intel's processor platform for MIDs called Moorestown, NVIDIA has unveiled an answer of its own, its Tegra Processor.

They unveiled 12 high definition capable MIDs powered by the Tegra chip which are capable of delivering a desktop like browsing experience complete with Flash. As can be expected of any NVIDIA product, it has powerful graphics support with animation acceleration, flash video support, and the capability to play back video at full 1080p.

Since it is targeted for portable devices, it is also optimized greatly for lower power usage and may give as much as 5 times the battery life that we can see in the netbooks of today. It is capable of 25 days of playing music on a single charge, and 10hrs of full HD 1080p video playback.

According to Michael Rayfield, general manager of mobile business at NVIDIA, “These new Tegra-based products combine excellent Internet and media capabilities, always-on operation, and wireless connectivity for the un-tethered Internet experience consumers have been craving.”

In order to have a desktop-like browsing experience, support for Adobe Flash is necessary. For this NVIDIA tied up with Adobe to optimize the Flash Player for Tegra, by enabling it to utilize the powerful GPU of Tegra based devices to make the online Flash video and animation experience as smooth as possible. The Tegra architecture utilizes multiple processors working in unison for giving the composite experience. A separate processor is used to processing HTML, and HD video.

With the capability to support 3G, WiFi and WiMAX it also welcome by wireless carriers. As stated by Antonio Domit, Executive Technology Advisor to America Movil, Grupo Carso, and Inbursa, “Devices based on NVIDIA Tegra will allow us to offer a mobile Internet device that delivers an amazing level of functionality at minimal cost or even free through subsidies, The combination of a Tegra-based MID and our high-speed national coverage will allow millions of people to access the Internet and have an unprecedented experience. I can imagine the story is the same for every country around the world.”

Tegra devices are expected to start coming out in the second half of this year.