It was decided that the world’s most popular graphics technology maker, Nvidia, will make use of its new system-on-a-chip mobile phone stack known as Tegra to power next generation mobile operating systems. The company has now practically showcased the power of Tegra by running Google’s Android mobile operating system at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.

Tegra is the next generation chip that will offer unprecedented performance in terms of graphics processing and multi-tasking in smartphones. It integrates the central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), northbridge, southbridge and primary memory functions onto a single chip. The company presented the demonstration using the Tegra APX 2600 processor. The technology that this processor is based on is similar to the one that is used by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform. According to an Nvidia spokesman, the Tegra based devices will hit the consumer markets in late 2009. Google is welcoming the Tegra technology whole-heartedly as a means to boost its Android phones like the T-Mobile G1 Google-phone in the future and encourage the development of unique more demanding apps. One of the iPhone advantages, for example, is its powerful graphics processor that allows developers to come out with sophistaced games and apps for the Apple phone.

Michael Rayfield, general manager of the mobile business unit at Nvidia says, “Nvidia and Google are both working to unlock the visual computing potential of mobile devices, and this announcement matches the power of Tegra with the innovation of the Android platform. Nvidia will be working within the Open Handset Alliance to continually strengthen the ability of Android to tap into advanced mobile graphics and media acceleration to make interaction with handheld technology more intuitive and instinctive.”

The next generation Microsoft Windows Mobile based handheld devices including the PDAs, PMPs, PNDs and Smartphones will be blessed by the extreme and incredible powers of the NVIDIA Tegra APX applications processors. Now the users will experience high speed browsing, processing and the ultimate quality and precision in the most complicated graphics calculations.

Tegra APX uses advanced 3D technology, intuitive user interface capabilities to offer the users an unprecedented mobile computing experience. It is basically targeted at enhancing the general processing power as well as the graphics processing of the portable computing devices. Till now only the desktops, servers and laptops, such as the Sony Vaio VGN-AW11Z/B, were blessed with the amazing powers of Nvidia visual technology. However, now smartphones will also be rendering high definition graphics. The Nvidia Tegra APX is not the latest launch by the company. It was released in the mid of 20008 but it was not adopted at that time.

The Tegra chip measures less than a dime and thus contributes a lot to the small n lightweight form factor of the smartphones. This ‘tiny monster’ packs a speedy CPU, GPU and system memory all together on a single die and promises to offer up to 30 hours of HD video playback on a single charge. The Tegra is expected to the life line of the future smartphones and is optimised for Web 2.0 applications, heavy media processing, awesome image capture and processing and full 1080p display. It will also provide direct support for WiFi, disk drives, keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals.

HTC recently announced that it will make use of the powerful Nvidia Tegra APX processors in its new smartphones that are going to be launched in the second half of 2009. The Nvidia Tegra system-on-chip (SoC) is a hi-fi processor that was made by Nvidia, the world’s leading developer of top notch visual computing technologies. Tegra was developed in mid 2008 with a vision to offer awesome graphics processing features in HTC smartphones as well.

The Tegra processor packs the whole system memory, CPU and GPU in a single chip and features vary tiny form factor. This will help the HTC a lot in maintaining its smartphone’s aesthetic quality. The Nvidia Tegra will definitely take the smartphone computing to a much advanced level. Now the smartphones will produce jaw dropping visuals, fluid animations and high tech gaming effects right on your palm. This means we will start to see more advanced games and applications, like with the iPhone, on future generations of models like the HTC Touch HD. The Tegra 600 series SoC offers ARM11 CPU, GeForce graphics with programmable pixel shader and programmable vertex shader support, build-in low-power DDR memory controller, NAND flash memory controller, high-definition video processor supporting MPEG 4, H.264, VC-1/WMV9 decoding, H.264 and MPEG4 encoding. Apart from this the chip is optimised for dual displays, large MP cameras, USB file transfer, PATA drives and high definition displays.

According to Nvidia the Tegra is capable of running HD video for 30 hours on a single charge. It will also bring a whole new Web 2.0 experience to the end users. The HTC’s Tegra-based smartphones will be smarter, speedier and more stylish than any other phones currently available.

Tags for this article: smartphone, nvidia, tegra

Have you ever used a Jog dial in a phone? Well if not, then it might be worth trying something new with the Sasmung i640. The phone belongs to the family of smartphones that makes use of an unconventional and unique controlling mechanism, namely its Jog dial. Even some of the most advanced smartphones on the market, like the HTC PRO Touch, do not include a jog dial. A jog dial is very similar to the scroll wheel on your mouse, and lets you quickly and easily cycle through information.

The Samsung i640 includes numerous other high-end features, such as its compatibility with 2G (GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900) and 3G (HSDPA 2100) networks. Users can also enjoy navigating on the device with its 320 x 240 pixel 2.4 inches main display. Naturally, internet access is included, and thankfully the integrated QWERTY keypad makes all sorts of typing, emailing, and instant message writing quick and easy. The Samsung i640 is compatible with 40 channels polyphonic and MP3 ringtones as well. As a comprehensive package, it includes a 2 megapixel camera for entertainment purposes.

In terms of performance, the Samsung i640 fails to disappoint. It includes 128 MB of internal memory, expandable with microSD memory cards, and 64 MB of RAM. Bluetooth v2.0 is on hand for file and data transferring purposes. The gadget is run by the Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard operating system, and as such includes all the typical Windows Mobile programmes and applications. The battery is fairly impressive as well with up to 250 hours of standy time and 6 hours of talking time.