Palm Pixi processor, chipset specs get detailed at last
By Donald Melanson 
posted Sep 14th 2009 6:29PM
posted Sep 14th 2009 6:29PM
Palm may have divulged most of the details about its new Pixi phone when it got official with it last week (and let us get our hands on it), but it was unfortunately staying mum about a few key specs, including the mystery processor at the heart of the device. Thankfully, Qualcomm has now come out and clarified that situation so Palm doesn't have to, and detailed the complete specs for the MSM7627 chipset that powers the Pixi. The big news there is that the chipset packs two ARM cores on a single chip, including one dedicated 600MHz applications processor, and a separate 400MHz modem processor to offload some of the heavy lifting. Otherwise, the phone is said to pack a 200MHz, OpenGL 2.0-supporting GPU for some decent gaming capabilities, and a 320MHz application DSP to handle multimedia on the device, including full 30 fps WVGA video encoding and decoding. Hit up the link below for the complete rundown.
[Thanks, Fernando]
[Thanks, Fernando]
"The big news there is that the chipset packs two ARM cores on a single chip, including one dedicated 600MHz applications processor, and a separate 400MHz modem processor to offload some of the heavy lifting"
That's pretty normal for smartphones. Latest ARM CPU for the smartphone OS, older ARM CPU for the modem.
Yeah, even the Nintendo DS does that (ARM7 for GBA mode and as a coprocessor in DS mode, ARM9 for DS stuff).
And still, a "low" end WebOS Palm phone has a much faster processor than the latest "HIGH" end Android phones from HTC/Motorola/Samsung/LG.
Way to treat Android well, phone makers!
yeah but considering the OpenGL ES 2 support, the OS ARM is probably a Cortex CPU where as the competing $99 iPhone 3G uses a ARM11. keyboard, multi-tasking, slimmer, etc. certainly makes the Pixi an attractive package if the rumored $100 price is true
Offload heavy lifting? What heavy lifting? This platform doesn't even have meaningful
apps to begin with. WTF?
Yeah, this is nothing special at all. Once again I say to the technically-illiterate Engadget writers -- "ARM" IS AN INSTRUCTION SET, NOT A PROCESSOR. YOU NEED TO LIST THE SPECIFIC MODEL! This is simply a 600Mhz ARM11 core just like every smartphone for the last few years.
It will be a joy to own.
I agree, love the completely simple look.
Engadget comment system is one more thing that's ridiculous. I am positive that I clicked the reply button for xbit's comment, not DanielTs.
Maddy, it's not always about the gigabitches..Some OS need less than others.
With no WiFi? Whatever you say.
RAM?
Bring on the video recording!
You want video recording? Get an iPhone!
dont be stupid, the iphone is a console
the ipod nano is the video recorder
I am pretty shure that i was able to record video on my nokia 5410, back in 2004 or so.
It wasnt HD, but it got the job done, and you could actually watch it later on a big screen and see details.
all my phones ever since could do video.
Is video recording now that the iphone can do it something special?
This thing actually looks nice.
Durrr...Palm Pre Killer. ;D
Also, can I ask what is the point of the "Remember Me" checkbox? I make it remember me, but I still have to enter my credentials every time. ???
Welcome to the engadget comment system. It doesn't work.
Are you clearing your cookies/form history? The cookies and history need to stay if you want to use that feature. I see no way how the comment system could actually be at fault for your problem...
@ sac: no.
I have the same issue sometimes. I'll comment on one article, look around at other articles and try to make a comment and I get the "You did it!" message that says they sent me an email for confirmation. I haven't reinstalled vista or firefox since I built this machine over a year ago and have been using the same e-mail and password for engadget the entire time. so, I send e-mails using the contact us options to engadget with the same usual "I haven't changed anything, fix your broken shit and get your database to recognize me" message and MAGICALLY it works the next day.
it's the comment system plain and simple. don't try to offload this fail comment systems issues on a single person.
i just copied their password from the mail and saved it in firefox...
this technique is mostly popular with the "first crowd"
yeaa i will love to know the RAM as well...
so in all this phone has 4 cores to cpu and 2 gpu? if so that is amazing i hope this trend catches on in the mobile industry though i worry about battery life.
umm no it has a single cpu with 2 cores and a graphics processor (single core) which is UNUSED IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM under webos.. the comment about lol gaming on the pixi in the original post is largely .. posted for comedy
not 4 cores on one chip though. 2 core cpu a seperate gpu
yeah but is it any better than the Pre?
Big dif is no wifi on the pixi.
Unlike some other "fruit" flavored phone, I seriously hope, we get to enjoy all the features this chipset has to offer.
You won't. Palm has not enabled OpenGL in WebOS, so there won't be any real 3D gaming, not that that would stop me from buying one.
Why even bringing the iPhone into the conversation?
3D hardware accelerated games in WebOS are not too far away. Webkit recently announced limited support for WebGL. I am sure Palm is hard at work to support WebGL as well, and that will open the floodgates for hardware accelerated 3D games on WebOS.
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Webkit-Now-Offers-Limited-Support-for-3D-Graphics-with-WebGL-121585.shtml
As mentioned, theres the WebGL thing, and shouldnt the fact it brings an OpenGL 2.0 Processor imply that palm plans on expanding this area? They could have really cut down costs by including weaker stuff. Especially since WebOS doesn't take advantage of the GPU as of yet, why should palm include it if they don't need it. It all seems to point to me like palm is planning a major revamp in WebOS graphics-ability at some point.
I really like the look of this thing, but doesn't it lack wifi? I use wifi so much currently, that kinda kills it for me :(
why shrink the screen? whyyyyyyyyy?
yeah, looks like they had some more real estate on there to work with...bummer.
It's supposed to replace the Centro.
The space that looks empty is actually the gesture area.
that space below the screen is a gesture area.
@ darthwhit & qrius
ahhh, i see. makes sense...thanks!
the bummer is that i have a 3 year old digital camera with a screen(3.0-inch) larger than what the pixi will have(2.63-inch).
I seem to be the only one that doesn't care so much about screen size =P I suppose it is because I have really good eyesight(not to sound cocky or anything lol). I actually prefer screen to smaller and have more pixel density/be sharper, then to have a large screen with low res. Like, the Pre's screen looks so much better than the iPhones to me because it is the same resolution packed into a smaller space.
How about a comparison to the Pre for those of us who don't remember it all off hand?
Yeah, does that mean that it's faster than the Pre?
No, it is not faster then the Pre. It's a phone for less heavy users. More consumer centric.
Love the formfactor, though the keyboard looks dreadful.
So will this phone actually use the GPU? If I'm not mistaken, the GPU on the Pre currently goes unused.
Having a newer ARM core as a general processor and a secondary core for other task (phone, usb, touchscreen, camera, storage etc.), with additional DSP, is pretty normal and has been for many years. Not sure what the "big news" or deal here.
As a consumer, why would one pick this over say a blackberry or an e72?
Because it has innovative features like "web browsing" and "touchscreen technology".
The better question is why would anyone buy a Nokia E72 or a Blackberry when you can get something like this with a far superior interface, better hardware and more capabilities.
Your first point is pretty much invalid. The Nokia E72, like Nokia's previous smartphones, has a WebKit-based browser with Flash support.