abcslayer
06-02-2007, 05:58 PM
:) This is one of the first questions passed by in my mind when I heard, read and watch about the iPhone. And I really, really want/think the answer would be yes. ^_^
Why?
1st, let's talk about hardware development trend: x86 embedded is really flying up these days. You could see both AMD and Intel shifted their focus in embedded computing from ARM-based solutions to x86-based solution. Their solution is more and more powerful while keep the power-consuming going down as much as needed.:rolleyes: , both CPU, chipset have been shrunk/integrated and consume less power (as well as space, of course).
Earlier this year, VIA has announced a very small system-onboard that has the size of the credit card. And also the flash industry has grown very fast, flash chip is bigger , faster, cheaper and consumes less power.
GPU for PDA is getting more powerful
PDA and UMPC have high res. LCD touch screen (from 0.4 to ~1MPx display).
More and more focus on UMPC, and UMPC is getting more usable.
2nd, about the embedded operating system:
The leo has vector-based GUI. It means you could have an easy to adapt for nearly every resolution GUI (it would take a lot of proccesing power but the embedded GPU is onboard so why we have to care about it? ^_^).
A lot of article from the net and also the Jobs keynote said about the OS X inside iPhone.
3rd, about Apple:
Save time for porting or writing new embedded operating system.
Draw attention from users and developer.
Make it easier to develop apps for iPhone.
Keep us away from make iPhone's software run on other popular PDA (ARM-based) since knowledge about ARM-based system is widespread and very detail.
Surf on the new wave in embedded computing industry. Keep them "think different".
------------------------
There's still a chance for Portal Player system since NVIDIA has bought this chip maker and announce they will make SoC which is combined of Portal Player's AP and NVIDIA's eGPU.:cool:
Why?
1st, let's talk about hardware development trend: x86 embedded is really flying up these days. You could see both AMD and Intel shifted their focus in embedded computing from ARM-based solutions to x86-based solution. Their solution is more and more powerful while keep the power-consuming going down as much as needed.:rolleyes: , both CPU, chipset have been shrunk/integrated and consume less power (as well as space, of course).
Earlier this year, VIA has announced a very small system-onboard that has the size of the credit card. And also the flash industry has grown very fast, flash chip is bigger , faster, cheaper and consumes less power.
GPU for PDA is getting more powerful
PDA and UMPC have high res. LCD touch screen (from 0.4 to ~1MPx display).
More and more focus on UMPC, and UMPC is getting more usable.
2nd, about the embedded operating system:
The leo has vector-based GUI. It means you could have an easy to adapt for nearly every resolution GUI (it would take a lot of proccesing power but the embedded GPU is onboard so why we have to care about it? ^_^).
A lot of article from the net and also the Jobs keynote said about the OS X inside iPhone.
3rd, about Apple:
Save time for porting or writing new embedded operating system.
Draw attention from users and developer.
Make it easier to develop apps for iPhone.
Keep us away from make iPhone's software run on other popular PDA (ARM-based) since knowledge about ARM-based system is widespread and very detail.
Surf on the new wave in embedded computing industry. Keep them "think different".
------------------------
There's still a chance for Portal Player system since NVIDIA has bought this chip maker and announce they will make SoC which is combined of Portal Player's AP and NVIDIA's eGPU.:cool: