Intel To Release Android 3.0 Honeycomb Tablets This Year

[digitalnirvana 646]

Intel will have "quite a bit of tablet demonstrations" at Computex running MeeGo, Windows, and Android operating systems. "We're heads down on a number of designs on tablets on all three of those operating systems," he added. Regarding Android, Intel's fifth CEO said, "We've received Android code – the Honeycomb version of Android source code – from Google, and we're actively doing the port on that, and expect to be able to ramp those machines over the course of this year for a number of customers."

- Intel chief Paul S. Otellini

Some reports have pegged the processor manufacturer down to announce the release of Intel Android tablets sometime later this year. Their plan, named PRC Plus, will see Intel introducing Android 3.0 running on tablets powered by their processors. With Intel’s CEO announcing that they received the Honeycomb source code when they announced their first-quarter 2011 financial results, this doesn’t come as much of a surprise.

Intel x86 processors have been known to outperform their rival ARM chips when it comes to processing power, but Intel hasn’t been able to scale down the technology to make it work with a lower power consumption rate yet – one of the key advantages ARM chips have over Intel’s own chips. But this year things could change, especially since Intel recently launched their Oak Trail processors.

Since they also recently released their Oak Trail platform, they have reported that more than 30 tablets and tablet-convertibles were going to be launched by Samsung, Lenovo and other PC heavyweights that would be using their Oak Trail system.

And if you believe the report from digital beat site DigiTimes, Intel is going to be employing the Android Honeycomb in a big way in their tablet onslaught. The commitment is so strong Intel is reportedly ready to incentivize their vendors with $10 per tablet shipped for every tablet manufacturer that uses the Intel software package. That could mean a nice little payday if, say, Samsung uses the Oak Trail Platform and sells 100,000 units, which is nothing in the tablet era. A nice little $1 million bonus could attract the attention of many more vendors looking for a platform to build their tablet on, and could tilt the scales in favor of entering the Atom fold rather than using another firm.

Google and Intel have reportedly reached this agreement after over a year of negotiations, and have already outlined the entire agreement. Everyone is aware of Intel’s dual and quad core processor success, and the Intel processors are much stronger than the average ARM type processor currently being used in many tablets. There is even the bonus that vendors would probably save money from the cost of Windows and its licensing charges if they choose Intel chips in their tablets.

Sure, someone will cry foul, antitrust lawsuits will be entered, and everyone will be upset. But if it is true as rumors indicate that a 1.5 GHz single core Atom tablet processor costs $75 for the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). For comparison, the tablet-favorite Nvidia Tegra 2 costs only $20 for OEM buyers, so the $10 subsidy may be the only way to get vendors to take Intel seriously.

To justify the higher price, Intel claims long battery life, gaming, web surfing, multimedia, HDMI and Android support will be better with their processors.

Source: topcomputertablets.com, ubergizmo.com and engadget.com

[Karthik R 246]

While Intel still is the world’s largest chip maker, it has to compete against ARM’s army which presently dominates the tablet market

Note here that ARM doesn’t make chips itself. It designs a general architecture and its licensees such as Qualcomm, Marvell, Broadcom, and Nvidia develop chips based on the architecture that are used in mobile devices.

[digitalnirvana 646]

True but if Intel does have an exclusivity or preference agreement with Google then it will be half the battle won.