NVIDIA enables the world's first $99 HD mobile internet device
By William | Reporter Date: 02/24/2009
Today’s users want an always-connected device for social
media applications such as Facebook and YouTube, as well as
great multimedia performance for recording and watching HD
movies and videos on the go.
NVIDIA Corporation, the inventor of the graphics
processor, today introduced a new platform, based on the
NVIDIA Tegra 600 Series computer-on-a-chip that enables a
$99, always-on, always-connected HD mobile internet device
(MID) that can go days between battery charges.

This platform will enable OEMs to quickly build and
bring to market devices that carriers can offer for as low
as $99 —bringing broadband connectivity and all of the Web’s
HD content to the masses.
“Mobile internet devices have evolved to provide consumers
with the performance and connectivity required by today’s
lifestyle,” said Michael Rayfield, general manager of the
mobile business unit at NVIDIA. “Until now, consumers could
get just another ‘gadget’ with limited functionality or a PC
that’s not ‘always on’. A Tegra-based platform combines the
best of both worlds.”
The Tegra MID delivers:
- 720p and 1080p video playback
- Days of use between charges
- Full Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity
- Optimized hardware support for Web 2.0 applications
for a true desktop-class internet experience
- A complete software solution including Microsoft
Windows Embedded CE OS, application viewers, full
Internet browser, UI framework, board support package (BSP),
software development kit (SDK), Web mail client, and
more
“The next generation of smart, connected,
service-oriented devices are centered around rich
multimedia experiences and enhanced functionality,” said
Mukund Ghangurde, Director, CE and Consumer Product
Management at Microsoft Corp. “We are pleased to
collaborate with NVIDIA to develop platform resources
that assist OEMs in quickly bringing these new devices
to market.”
In addition, NVIDIA partnered with ST-Ericsson to add 3G
communication capability into this new platform,
allowing for seamless connectivity, worldwide.
“ST-Ericsson together with NVIDIA have developed a
Microsoft Windows Embedded CE implementation using the
ST-Ericsson U335 and the NVIDIA Tegra which is ready for
customer design development,” stated Jörgen Lantto,
Chief Technology Officer, ST-Ericsson. “This solution
takes advantage of the high volume, IOT tested and
proven U335 modem solution together with NVIDIA which
takes multimedia performance to a new level.”

ICD, a leading consumer ODM, also announced support of
the new class of devices enabled by this new platform.
“ICD has long believed that there will be a new
generation of innovative connected devices. Designing
these devices around the Tegra platform will bring
carriers an amazing level of functionality at prices as
low as $99,” said David Hayes, President and CEO of ICD.
NVIDIA Tegra is the industry’s first single-chip
computer capable of the rich high definition and
internet experiences we’ve come to expect from our PCs,
but on small pocket type devices. NVIDIA Tegra is
smaller than a US dime (10-cent piece), designed from
the ground up to enable the “visual PC experience” on a
new generation of mobile computing devices while
consuming the smallest amount of power.
NVIDIA is the world leader in visual computing
technologies and the inventor of the GPU, a
high-performance processor which generates breathtaking,
interactive graphics on workstations, personal
computers, game consoles, and mobile devices. NVIDIA
serves the entertainment and consumer market with its
GeForce products, the professional design and
visualization market with its Quadro products, the
high-performance computing market with its Tesla
products and the handheld, mobile market with Tegra..
NVIDIA is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and
has offices throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas. |
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