Marvell (News - Alert), a company that develops storage, communications and consumer silicon solutions, reportedly launched the ARMADA 618 application processor for next generation HD-capable smartphones. This latest addition to the ARMADA family of application processors offers a CPU core with PC-class performance.
The ARMADA 618 application processor features integrated 1080p full-HD encode and decode, an integrated ISP capable of 16MP image capture, an integrated audio processing engine for extremely low power audio playback and high quality sound and advanced 3D graphics. It consumes low power, while maintaining high processing performance at attractive price points. This lets manufacturers deliver high-performing features in lightweight form factors, with the extended battery life that consumers look for in their smartphones.
The ARMADA 618 is based on a Marvell-designed ARM (News - Alert) v7 compatible CPU offering gigahertz-class performance. It offers the flexibility to use LP-DDR1 or LP-DDR2 memory up to 533 MHz, a flexible display controller capable of four simultaneous displays and a robust security subsystem. In addition, it features a 3D graphics engine that supports DirectX, Open GL ES 2.0, and Open VG 1.1, rendering up to 45 million triangles per second. ARMADA 618 supports Linux, Android (News - Alert), Windows Mobile and full Adobe Flash.
The ARMADA 618 features Marvell’s Qdeo technology with an integrated video accelerator that can seamlessly encode and decode h.264 High Profile 1080p video at 30fps. In addition, the ARMADA 618 incorporates a complete Image Signal Processor (News - Alert) which can capture high resolution color pictures as well as stream 1080p video at 30fps. This enables smartphones to access the latest HD content from the Web, record and playback HD videos and capture high quality images.
According to Weili Dai, Marvell's co-founder and vice president and general manager of Marvell semiconductor's consumer and computing business unit, the ARMADA 618 application processor represents a dramatic leap forward in high-end, multimedia smartphones with the fastest LP-DDR and optimized power for longer battery life.
Dai said that the ARMADA 600 series of application processors essentially gives customers a common platform solution to build multiple products and formats for the always-on consumer. The ARMADA family of processors is designed for next generation ARM instruction set smartphones, smartbooks, consumer and embedded devices, and displays.
Carolyn John is a Contributor to TMCnet. To read more of her articles, please columnist page.
Edited by Amy Tierney