Windows Phone Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

"Collectively these new chips deliver significantly lower power including >50x reduction in idle power, >20x reduction in audio power, and 2-3x reductions across browsing and video scenarios - all at the platform level when compared to Intel's previous-generation product. These power savings translate into >10 days of standby, up to 2 days of audio playback and 4-5 hours of browsing and video battery life3. When combined with 1.5-3x higher compute performance, 2-4x richer graphics, >4x higher JavaScript performance, and support for full HD 1080p high-profile video decoding and 720p HD video recording, these low-power innovations bring a rich, PC-like visual experience to powerful handheld computers."

I have been waiting for this for years, even before Intel decided to push into the low-power processor space. What Moorestown brings to the table is the ability to run x86 applications, while still offering decent phone-like battery life for mobile devices. Note that at this stage Intel isn't claiming compatibility with Microsoft Windows of any flavour, prefering to focus on Android, Meego and Moblin. That's understandable as Windows isn't yet optimised for the much smaller screens of smartphones/MIDs and we still have the yet-to-be-overcome problem of switching from a mouse/keyboard control pardigm to one that focuses on touch. Having said that, just the idea of being able to bring all my apps and data around with me on a very mobile platform without restriction or having to deal with file conversions, has me shivering with anticipation. Despite what Apple says, some application types have yet to make the transition to smartphones ("no, there isn't an app for that"), which is where the appeal for Moorestown lies.

"Some folks from Fortune magazine recently toured the Intel campus and, while checking out Intel’s new Moorestown (a 2-chip system designed for low-power UMPCs) the hosts accidentally let it slip that they were working on an even lower-powered version called Medfield. Medfield is designed to bring notebook power to smartphones (how friggin’ awesome would that be?) by 2011."

Intel's Moorestown chips, from what I have been reading at least, seem like some pretty interesting pieces of technology. Compared to Intel's Atom processor, the Mooretown is said to consume 10 times less energy when in standby mode. Seeing something like that moved to the smartphone arena just brings a smile to my face... Unfortunately 2011 seems like such a long way off.