http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 4:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 4:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 5:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/
It might have been interesting if it had been available 18 months ago, now it's way behind the game. The ARM designed CPU + System on a Chip is more than a generation older than the ones used in Snapdragon and OMAP3 or even further behind those in OMAP4.

On the GPU side of things, NVIDIA does seem to getting decent performance from it, but I'm not sure that it's any better than the PowerVR and ARM's home grown designs - nothing would suggest that it is.

This is a case of brand name and marketing getting people excited. There are far more exciting products in the world of ARM based SoCs!]]>Jun 2nd 2009 6:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/
This "yesterday's news" has easily outdone "today's Snapdragon". Have you not seen the Toshiba phone with the 1GHz Snapdragon chip and the choppy UI?
The GPU you undermine is also a handheld breakthrough.
And the power efficiency of the overall chip is unrivaled.]]>Jun 2nd 2009 7:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 11:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/
+ keep battery life]]>Jun 2nd 2009 12:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/
1) You cannot judge the relative performance of a processor based on two completely different phones. There are so many variables that affect performance --- The operating system kernel, the graphics subsystem, the windowing system, the GPU driver implementation, etc. I'm telling you right now. The Snapdragon is the fastest single-core ARM processor ever created, and it's graphics subsystem and DSP are also excellent. If the Toshiba phone was running slow, it is a lack of optimization and driver issues.
BTW, windows mobile is a terrible judge of speed as it is compiled for the ARM v4/v5 architecture from 5+ years back and doesn't even take advantage of hardware GPU acceleration in the interface.

2) The Tegra may have a good GPU, but the ARM11 CPU architecture is old-school for products coming out in Q3 2009. Qualcomm's first-gen Snapdragon (Custom ARM Cortex implementation) and T.I.'s OMAP 3 (Cortex-A8) are almost twice as fast as ARM11 at the same clock speed, and the Cortex CPUs (using new ARMv7 instructions) finally introduce a true SIMD unit called "Neon".
So the first-gen single-core Snapdragon @ 1.0Ghz or the single-core OMAP 3640 @1.0Ghz are both roughly equal to a 2000mhz ARM11 or a 1.0Ghz dual-core ARM11. So even the dual-nature of Tegra doesn't make up for the vastly inferior ARM11 cores.
Additionally, power usage is also an issue. The two 650-800mhz ARM11 cores in the Tegra use a lot more power than a single-core 600-800mhz Cortex-A8 that has the same performance.]]>Jun 3rd 2009 1:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/you've got to think from the business point of view to look at these
offerings.

According to some press releases, NVIDIA ION netbooks will cater to
200$-400$ market. And Tegra based netbooks will attract 100$-200$
segment. So whatever you consider best for your needs, attach
yourself to the appropriate segment. Don't be greedy that i want all
functionalities (ability to run my favourite player and stuff) and
still don't wanna pay more than 200$.
If it had been easy to get all that done at that price, every
manufacturer would have done that already.

Lemme ask a very basic question-
If you have 200$ and wanna view 1080p/720p videos on your netbook,
what would you opt for ? A device that can run vlc media player and
plays the video with stutters or let the application be anything, the
playback should be seamless. The end user experience is better at the
same cost, so decide your priority.

More broadly, look at it this way-
Buy a 600$ laptop for yourself that you can use in office too.
Buy a 300$-400$ netbook for your son in college.
Buy a 100$-200$ netbook for your daughter in junior high school.]]>Jun 3rd 2009 3:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 4:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 4:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/M
G

]]>Jun 2nd 2009 4:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/
Now where is Intel? Where is AMD?]]>Jun 2nd 2009 4:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 5:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 5:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 11:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/
WTF! How the hell is that possible without a massive battery? I believe it when I see it NVIDIA.]]>Jun 2nd 2009 4:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/
Just as "video games play at up to 46 frames per second" is - which games? Tetris and Space Invaders?]]>Jun 2nd 2009 4:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 10:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 7:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 9:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 11:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/
MIDs??? Where's my damn Tegra phone?!

Also it would be wise to rephrase "update":
"These systems will cost around US$199 when they hit the market and could be as cheap as $99 if the price is subsidized by a mobile operator, Nvidia said."
Instead of "200 or less with subsidies" - makes you think retail price will be $600+.

The news are great. But I want it in a phone.]]>Jun 2nd 2009 1:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/]]>Jun 2nd 2009 4:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 4:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 4:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 4:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 4:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 5:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 5:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 5:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 6:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 4:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 4:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 5:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 4:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/
And why didn't you hyphenate "12 Tegra devices", in the same headline?]]>Jun 2nd 2009 4:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/- Intel has "UMPCs", "MIDs" and "netbooks", depending on the purpose and form factor.
- NVIDIA has "MIDs" (at least with the Tegra) which cover all form factors smaller than a notebook.
- Qualcomm is developing the Snapdragon for their "smartbooks", which is their term for netbooks.

This isn't confusing...


On a side note, I hope someone gets a Tegra and puts it into a form factor like the Sony Vaio P. I'd buy that in an instant (as long as it doesn't have the Sony Tax.)]]>Jun 2nd 2009 4:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 5:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 5:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 5:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/
Also, I'll believe it when I see it.]]>Jun 2nd 2009 5:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/
Listening to music for >>>25 days]]>Jun 2nd 2009 5:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 5:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 5:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/
Over-hyped.]]>Jun 2nd 2009 5:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/
They have 3 different models of the chip. Some can only play 720p and others can play 1080p.]]>Jun 2nd 2009 5:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/The smartphone version (which I was aching to see) does 720p.

And the secret ingredient here is power consumption.]]>Jun 2nd 2009 7:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/Jun 2nd 2009 5:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/nvidia-unveils-12-tegra-powered-devices-claims-the-mobile-comp/How many different tegra chips are there?]]>Jun 2nd 2009 6:57AM