Faster Windows 10 Mobile Devices Promised by Microsoft, Qualcomm

Faster Windows 10 Mobile Devices Promised by Microsoft, Qualcomm

By Unknown   22:11   No comments:

Microsoft said yesterday that it is paving the way for easier, faster Windows 10 computing on mobile devices with new support from Qualcomm's Snapdragon ARM processors. The partnership, announced at a Windows hardware engineering event in China, could lead to new mobile products running Windows 10 "as early as next year," according to Microsoft executive Terry Myerson.

The Windows 10-Snapdragon union could pose a threat to Intel's position as the market leader in PC chips, a number of observers have noted. At the same time, however, Microsoft yesterday also announced it was collaborating with Intel to bring new security and artificial-intelligence features to PCs, with a focus on gaming and mixed-reality applications.

Together, developments like these could signal that significant shifts in the microprocessor market are on the horizon. They could also enable a second chance for Microsoft to bring the full Windows experience to mobile devices, an effort the company failed to achieve with its previous Window RT mobile operating system.

Targeting Windows Users on the Go

In a blog post about several announcements made yesterday in China, Myerson -- who is executive vice president for Microsoft's Windows and Devices Group -- said the new Snapdragon-powered collaboration with Qualcomm is aimed at meeting "our customers' growing needs to create on the go."

"For the first time ever, our customers will be able to experience the Windows they know with all the apps, peripherals, and enterprise Relevant Products/Services capabilities they require, on a truly mobile, power efficient, always-connected cellular PC," Myerson said. "With Windows 10 on cellular PCs, we will help everyone make the most of the air around them."

By using Qualcomm's ARM chips instead of Intel's X86-based processors, Microsoft hopes to enable a new generation of Windows 10-native mobile devices like tablets and laptops. Traditionally limited to low-power applications, ARM chips are becoming increasingly powerful and bring the added advantages of support for longer battery life and cellular-based, always-on connectivity.

Second Chance for Microsoft

Thanks to "compatibility with the Windows 10 ecosystem, the Qualcomm Snapdragon platform is expected to support mobility to cloud computing and redefine how people will use their compute devices," Qualcomm executive vice president Cristiano Amon said yesterday in a press announcement.

Myerson noted that the partnership will enable Microsoft's hardware partners to "build a range of new Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered Windows 10 PCs that run x86 Win32 and universal Windows apps, including Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office and popular Windows games."

Microsoft had previously targeted the mobile computing market with ARM-based devices running Windows RT, which launched in late 2012. However, that OS failed to gain traction among consumers, and production of Windows RT-based devices like the Surface 2 and Lumia 2520 tablets came to an end in early 2015.

Meanwhile, a new collaboration between Microsoft and Intel called Project Evo will aim to "further push the boundaries of personal computing" with smarter voice-machine communication, new virtual and mixed-reality applications, better gaming and "true always-connected computing," according to an editorial penned by Navin Shenoy, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Client Computing Group.

"The work we are doing will help drive innovation in other areas too, from hardware-enhanced single- and multi-factor authentication powered by Windows Hello and Intel Authenticate for enhanced PC security to an even greater focus on connectivity -- starting today with LTE," Shenoy wrote. "This includes offering a wide range of PC form factors and price points that give people choice in mobility, whether they are carrying an ultra-thin and light notebook or a cool 2 in 1."

Read More

Qualcomm and Microsoft Patch Up to Bring in Windows 10 Apps to ARM Chipsets

Qualcomm and Microsoft Patch Up to Bring in Windows 10 Apps to ARM Chipsets

By Unknown   04:01   No comments:

Microsoft has been already in the news for the latest upcoming devices that are reported to be waiting in the pipeline to be released once 2017 sets in. And it’s back in the headline yet again but this time for a completely different reason. It is reported that Microsoft will be tying up with Qualcomm to enable the availability of Windows 10 desktops apps on ARM chipsets.

The news has come in that Windows 10 will be able to support ARM chipsets and the announcement has been made by the officials of both Microsoft and Qualcomm. This means that the desktop windows app will be available on the mobile devices like smartphones, laptops and tablets. And such compatible devices might come out “as early as next year” as the company officials have suggested.

It is also reported that the new Windows 10 which is going to support ARM chipsets from Qualcomm will be able to run desktop x86 Win32 apps besides the Universal Windows apps. This will surely make things much better particularly after the discontinuation of the Windows RT platform which did not feature any desktop apps. But it remains to be seen how well the apps perform because it is expected that the apps will still run better on the x86 chipsets made by Intel.

However, the latest developments have put under the scrutiny the relationship between Microsoft and Intel which many believe that might just have fallen out. But Terry Myerson, Executive Vice President of Microsoft, absolutely dismissed such possibilities. He has been quoted telling The Verge, “We’re working closer with Intel than we ever have before. The collaboration is better than ever before. It’s just the case where Qualcomm does have these chips with integrated connectivity and better idle power performance which enables new devices to get built.” Thus the speculations that the collaboration between Microsoft and Intel might come to an end in distant future should die down for the time being.

Regarding the availability of the PCs which would be coming out after such collaboration between Microsoft and Qualcomm, it is speculated that it might be very early in 2017. Qualcomm has been quoted saying that the Windows 10 based on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors are “expected to be available as early as next year.”  so the tech enthusiasts across the world would be eager to watch out how these new devices perform when they are brought out in the market.

A video demonstrating Windows 10 and Adobe Photoshop running on an ARM-based device is reproduced below, with Qualcomm and Microsoft promising to launch the first units some time next year.

Read More

ARM processor dedicated for functional safety applications

ARM processor dedicated for functional safety applications

By Unknown   05:40   No comments:

The Cortex-R52 by ARM was designed to address functional safety in systems that need to comply with ISO 26262 (ASIL D) and IEC 61508 (SIL 3). ST Microelectronics is the first chip vendor, which licensed the processor.

                                                  ARM processor dedicated for functional safety applications

The Cortex-R52 offers hardware-enforced separation of software tasks to ensure that safety-critical code is fully isolated. This allows the hardware to be managed by a software hypervisor policing the execution and resourcing of tasks. By enabling the precise and robust separation of software, the Cortex-R52 decreases the amount of code that must be safety-certified, so speeding up development as software integration, maintenance and validation is easier. The processor also deals with increased software complexity while delivering the determinism and fast context switching that real-time systems demand. The safety processor implements hardware to simplify the integration of increasingly complex real-time software environments while providing the robust separation of software necessary to protect safety-critical code. It introduces an extra privilege level, which provides support for a hypervisor. This is all achieved without impacting the determinism needed for real time systems and while providing higher levels of performance from single and multicore configurations.

"The Cortex-R52 is the first processor built on the ARMv8-R architecture and it was designed from the ground up to address functional safety," said James McNiven from ARM (United Kingdom). "We are helping partners to meet particular market opportunities, especially in fully autonomous vehicles and robotics systems where specific functionality is required for safety-critical tasks. By documenting the strict development process, fault modeling and supporting software isolation, ARM is enabling a faster route to market for partners addressing these applications."

The British company, which was recently acquired by Softbank (Japan) for about 31 billion US-$, presented also the first customer for the new processor: ST Microelectronics. It is expected that French-Italian chipmaker will provide models featuring CAN connectivity – of course, supporting the CAN FD protocol. "The Cortex-R52 supports our Smart Driving vision by enabling a new range of high-performance, power-efficient SoCs for any in-vehicle application demanding real-time operation and the highest levels of functional safety, including powertrain, chassis and ADAS," said Fabio Marchiò from ST Microelectronics. "The Cortex-R52's ability to compartmentalize software provides our users with the best solution for safety without loss of determinism. Its virtualization support simplifies the consolidation of applications and functions into a single processor, delivering a shorter integration time." First micro-controllers based on Cortex-R52 are expected on the market by 2018.

As an ECU manufacturer, Denso (Japan) supports the launch of the safety processor: "We welcome the development of new processor technology to drive the evolution of embedded real-time control, which is critical to advancing capabilities for autonomous systems," said Hideki Sugimoto. The availability of ARM’s Fast Models and Cycle Models enables software partners to develop solutions for the processor. They further speed the path to market as software developers will get access to the Cortex-R52 early in the design process. The Cortex-R52 offers a 35-percent performance uplift compared to the Cortex-R5, which is already deployed in a range of safety applications. It has achieved a score of 1,36 Automark/MHz on the EEMBC AutoBench using the Green Hills Compiler 2017.

"Green Hills Software is expanding its support for ARM processors with optimizing compiler solutions for the Cortex-R52," said Dan Mender. "Through close collaboration with ARM, we deliver the industry's highest performing safety certified compiler for the Cortex-R52, enabling customers to develop safety-critical products at the highest certified levels of automotive (ASIL D) and industrial safety (SIL 3)."

Read More

ARM releases chip for safety-critical devices like autonomous car systems

ARM releases chip for safety-critical devices like autonomous car systems

By Unknown   23:51   No comments:

STMicroelectronics is licensing the the Cortex-R5 to build (system on chips) SoCs for the automotive market.

ARM on Tuesday announced the release of a new chip, called the Cortex-R5, that's designed for real-time embedded systems with critical safety needs, such as autonomous driving or surgical automation.

STMicroelectronics is the first ARM partner to announce it's licensing the new processor to build highly integrated SoCs for the automotive market.

The new chip was developed to meet the requirements of the most stringent industrial safety standards (IEC 61508 SIL 3) and automotive safety standards (ISO 26262 ASIL D), making it easy to adopt. It also uses hardware to simplify its integration into complex real-time software environments, as well as to separate software tasks to protect and isolate safety-critical code. This allows the hardware to be managed by a software hypervisor.

"The Cortex-R52 supports our Smart Driving vision by enabling a new range of high-performance, power-efficient SoCs for any in-vehicle application demanding real-time operation and the highest levels of functional safety, including powertrain, chassis and ADAS," Fabio Marchiò, Automotive Digital Division General Manager of STMicroelectronics, said in a statement. "The Cortex-R52's ability to compartmentalize software provides our users with the best solution for safety without loss of determinism. Its virtualization support simplifies the consolidation of applications and functions into a single processor, delivering a shorter integration time."

The new processor, the first built on the ARMv8-R architecture, comes a couple weeks after Softbank finalized its acquisition of ARM with the intent of pushing into the Internet of Things.

Read More

Chip designer ARM launches processor fit for driverless cars

Chip designer ARM launches processor fit for driverless cars

By Unknown   23:40   No comments:

ARM, the British chip designer powering the global mobile phone industry, launched a new processor on Tuesday for driverless cars, seeking to secure its place at the heart of the burgeoning industry.

Bought by Japan's SoftBank for $32 billion this month, ARM said the processor was designed to increase safety in increasingly complex systems and could work across a range of industries from autonomous vehicles to industrial and medical robotics.

The Cortex-R52 processor, which has been under construction for between 3 and 5 years, has been licensed to Franco-Italian chipmaker and partner STMicroelectronics in its first deal.

ARM said the processor was designed to keep the most critical software code separate, in order to protect the running of the platform. That would enable it to improve safety when a car wants to overtake, accelerate or break suddenly, for example.

"If you have a piece of safety critical code, you want to be sure that nothing can interfere with that," John Ronco, VP Product Marketing, told Reuters.

The 26-year-old ARM, based in Cambridge, eastern England, provides the technology in nearly all smartphones including Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy.

It is also poised to play a central role in the tech industry shift to the 'internet of things' - a network of devices, vehicles and building sensors that collect and exchange data.

"What we see is that all of these systems have a similar technology platform, a similar framework in terms of what they're doing, and they have the same requirements in terms of having processors that can safely make decisions about what the system should do," Ronco said.

Autonomous or driverless cars are seen as the next big thing for the tech industry, with the British government putting the market value at 900 billion pounds ($1.17 trillion) worldwide.

Traditional automakers face competition from rivals such as Tesla and technology firms such as Alphabet Inc's unit Google, which wants eventually to be able to deploy fully autonomous vehicles without human controls.

Read More

ARM enables autonomous vehicles with its most advanced safety processor

ARM enables autonomous vehicles with its most advanced safety processor

By Unknown   23:29   No comments:

ARM has launched an all-new safety processor called the ARM Cortex-R52 that comes with advanced safety features. The same has been built from the ground up for use in autonomous vehicles and for medical and industrial robots.

The ARM Cortex-R52 core focus is safety and with that comes compliance for ISO 26262 ASIL D and IEC 61508 SIL 3, the most stringent safety standards in the automotive and industrial markets. It is a real-time processor that should enable applications as critical as surgical automation and even for safety management in automotive powertrain control.

STMicroelectronics is the first ARM partner to announce it has licensed the high performance processor to enable it to create highly integrated SoCs for the automotive market.

“The Cortex-R52 is the first processor built on the ARMv8-R architecture and it was designed from the ground up to address functional safety,” said James McNiven, general manager for CPU and media processing groups, ARM. “We are helping partners to meet particular market opportunities, especially in fully autonomous vehicles and robotics systems where specific functionality is required for safety-critical tasks. By documenting the strict development process, fault modelling and supporting software isolation, ARM is enabling a faster route to market for partners addressing these applications.”

Offering hardware-enforced separation of software tasks, the Cortex-R52 ensures safety-critical code is fully isolated. With the code now isolated, the hardware can now be managed by a software hypervisor. By enabling the precise and robust separation of software, the Cortex-R52 decreases the amount of code that must be safety-certified, so speeding up development as software integration, maintenance and validation is easier.

“The Cortex-R52 supports our Smart Driving vision by enabling a new range of high-performance, power-efficient SoCs for any in-vehicle application demanding real-time operation and the highest levels of functional safety, including powertrain, chassis and ADAS,” said Fabio Marchiò, Automotive & Discrete Group Vice President and

DENSO, a leading global supplier of advanced automotive technology, systems and components is supporting the launch.

Read More