Moblin Mediaphone Illustrates Intel’s Smartphone Intentions
It shouldn’t be a big surprise that Intel wants back in the smartphone game, but if you doubted that thought, this video from MIDMoves ought to convince you. In it, you’ll see Inventec’s Mediaphone device built on the Atom platform and running Moblin. With that configuration, it should be a very capable web device, media player, and phone. Don’t expect to see such a handset until 2010, though, as it’s based on Moorestown (the next Atom platform with far greater power efficiency), which isn’t expected this year.
I think Intel has anticipated the mobile Internet market quite well, as it realized that its XScale ARM product wouldn’t be up to snuff for the web of tomorrow. That processor line powered the majority of Windows Mobile smartphones in the early and mid-2000s, but Intel sold the business off in 2006. The netbook craze took off about a year later and gave Intel a proving ground for what’s now the Atom platform. And its efforts with the Moblin project are timed just about right for next year’s debut of Moorestown handhelds.
MIDMoves plans for more photos and video of the Mediaphone device out of Computex, so stay tuned for more info. You know, we often focus so much on the “big and recognizable” names in the smartphone market — names like Apple, Microsoft, Nokia, Google, and recently Palm. I have a sneaking suspicion that many folks are overlooking the elephant in the room named Intel. 2010 is going to be a very interesting year in the smartphone world, I think. Will your smartphone have an “Intel Inside” sticker? Odds are, it just might.
All I can say first is – Finally Kevin
I have been waiting for you to say it for a long time. I know James will have harder time with it.
BUT, you stopped a step before the real revelation here.
The next logical conclusion is that this is the turning point (!!!) where MIDs become smartphones. And why give any emphasis to Moblin? Its what Intel wants to see there, but the platform will probably be good enough for Windows7 as well – no?
Tal
Tal, you gotta keep up with the group. I’ve alluded to or specifically called MIDs with voice, “smartphones”.
http://jkontherun.com/2009/02/27/open-plug-confirms-what-we-knew-intel-mids-to-be-smartphones/
http://gigaom.com/2009/05/22/intels-netbook-plans-pave-the-way-for-smartphone-aspirations/
http://jkontherun.com/2009/01/27/netbooks-hurting-notebooks-will-they-also-kill-the-mid-market/
Why give emphasis to Moblin? Because the post is about how Intel is preparing for their return to the smartphone market with both feet: hardware and software.
I stand corrected regarding the first point
Still thinking that the hardware once there will make Intel’s efforts mute, as the platform will be used by more “proficient” players.
Tal
Hey and I am slow … you are using your new icon
I think Moorestown was shooting for 1W power usage which still isn’t as low as ARM but it’s a whole lot better than Atom.
This is what I’m been waiting for, and possibly Apple since it’s still an x86 processor.
I’m not sure about phones, but decreasing the size of devices to run full OS’s is always a good thing.
Moblin should somehow integrate with Android, so that all of Android’s smartphone functionality & apps (location-based services, cell phone calls, SMS, etc.) would be available with Moblin.
A Moblin/Android integration could potentially add real scalability to Android (i.e. from Android-only, power/size constrained devices, all the way to full Moblin/Android desktops).
It has been suggested on the Moblin forums and hinted by one of their reps, but I haven’t heard about it since.
That would certainly give both parties a push, as Android is definitely a powerful contender in that smart-MID space.
Looking forward to June 11th when Archos release more info about their internet MID.
I’m not a big fan of netbooks- but I’m definitely a fan of netbook harware making it into a smartphone. Intel now provides Apple’s chips… could they be hoping to get a piece of the iPhone too?