One of the hot processors right now is the Qualcomm 1GHz Snapdragon processor. The HTC HD2 uses it, as well as the recently released HTC EVO 4G on the Sprint network. If that kind of power isn't enough for you though, there is hope. Qualcomm has just announced a line of dual core 1.2GHz Snapdragons.
These powerhouse processors are designed for smartphones and tablets. Still based on ARM architecture, platforms like iOS (Apple's new name for the iPhone OS), Windows Phone 7, Android and WebOS can take advantage of it.
The family of processors support HSPA+ or HSPA_/CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev. B. For graphics, they support 2D and 3D acceleration engines for Open GLES 2.0 and Open VG 1.1. Video is no sweat either as they support 1080p encoding and decoding for display on a crisp 24bit 1280x800 screen.
Of course, low power is mentioned several times in the press release, but you have to wonder how much battery life those dual cores will consume.
While raw power is nice, one potential benefit of multiple cores in mobile devices is multitasking. The iPhone hasn't supported multitasking since it launched in 2007, though version 4 will have limited support for very specific tasks. Windows Phone 7 removed multitasking from Microsoft's mobile platform after supporting it for over a decade in its predecessors. Power consumption is one reason, but having a rogue process hog the processor causes the device to act sluggishly and that generally is blamed on the device, not the third party app.
Having multiple cores means you could theoretically lock third party apps to the second core and leave primary device functions on the first core. Whether or not platform developers make use of it this way remains to be seen. At best, we are a few years away from this. It does raise interesting possibilities.
Qualcomm press release.
Qualcomm Ships First Dual-CPU Snapdragon Chipset
Third-generation Snapdragon Solutions Feature Two Application Processor Cores Running up to 1.2 GHz to Enable Advanced Smartphones
Qualcomm Incorporated, a leading developer and innovator of wireless technologies, products and services, today announced the Company has sampled its first dual-CPU Snapdragon™ chipsets. The Mobile Station Modem™ (MSM™) MSM8260™ and MSM8660™ solutions integrate two of the Company’s enhanced cores running at up to 1.2GHz. Targeted at enabling high-end smartphones, the MSM8x60 solutions are third-generation chipsets from the Company’s expanded Snapdragon platform, which has been powering smartphones, tablets and smartbook devices in markets around the world.
“Qualcomm’s first-generation Snapdragon chipsets set a new standard for advanced smartphones and smartbook devices, and our second-generation solutions are already shipping in volume,” said Steve Mollenkopf, executive vice president of Qualcomm and president of Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “We are very excited by the innovation our customers are already showing as they begin designing products based on our dual-core MSM8260 and MSM8660 chipsets.”
The MSM8260 for HSPA+ and MSM8660 for multi-mode HSPA+/CDMA2000® 1xEV-DO Rev. B feature two enhanced CPU cores running at up to 1.2GHz for high levels of Web application and multimedia performance, including a powerful GPU with 3D/2D acceleration engines for Open GLES 2.0 and Open VG 1.1 accelration, 1080p video encode/decode, dedicated low power audio engine, integrated low power GPS, and support for 24-bit WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution displays.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon family of chipset solutions includes:
• First-generation products: QSD8x50™ with 1GHz enhanced core
• Second-generation products: MSM8x55™ and QSD8x50A™ with 1GHz enhanced core, including multimedia optimizations and 1.3GHz enhanced core, respectively
• Third-generation products: MSM8260, MSM8660 and QSD8672 with dual-CPU architecture featuring enhanced cores running at up to 1.2GHz and 1.5GHz, respectively.
