At an Intel Developer Forum (IDF) keynote, Amino demonstrated a new MeeGo-ready set-top box (STB) while discussing its contributions to MeeGo's Connected TV reference platform. Due to ship in the fourth quarter, the Freedom STB is equipped with Intel's Atom CE4100 SoC, supports IPTV and traditional broadcast services, and offers both Adobe Flash 10.1 and Microsoft Silverlight.

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[Updated, 4:00 p.m.] — You might have thought it couldn't be done, but Intel has just popped out more Atom processors. The Atom E6xx is a system-on-chip (SoC) aimed at embedded applications such as in-vehicle infotainment systems for cars, smart grid devices, and IP media phones, while the Atom CE4200 is an upgraded SoC for set-top boxes (STBs) and smart TVs, according to the company.

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ARM joined China-based Nufront to announce the availability of a 40nm system-on-chip with dual ARM Cortex-A9 cores clocked from 1.6GHz to 2GHz. Apparently based on ARM's “Osprey” design, the NuSmart 2816 can run on as little as two Watts, offers 3D and 1080p processor engines, and targets not only netbooks and tablets, but also all-in-one desktops, says Nufront.

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DeviceVM previewed a new MeeGo-based version of its Splashtop instant-on distribution at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF), effectively opening up the technology to Linux developers. The distribution is already being made available to OEMs, with end user upgrades available in the first half of 2011, says the company.

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ARM and set-box semiconductor vendor Trident Microsystems say they have developed an Android-ready, HTML5-savvy IP-STB reference design that builds upon a Trident SoC equipped with the dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor. Meanwhile, the BBC-backed Project Canvas partnership, which aims to build an open internet-connected TV platform, released specs and announced 40 supporters for its Linux based STB design.

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BCM announced a pair of panel PCs using Intel's dual-core Atom D525 processor. The 18.5-inch PPC18W-525D and 15-inch PPC15-525D support up to 2GB of DDR3 memory, include 2.5-inch hard disk bays and CompactFlash slots, and have two gigabit Ethernet ports and two Mini PCI Express slots apiece, the company says.

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At the Intel Developer Forum (IDF), Intel showed off Atom-based Google TV devices from Sony and Logitech. Meanwhile, Google confirmed Google TV is on schedule, and D-Link switched its Linux-based Boxee Box set-top box (STB) from an Nvidia Tegra 2 to the same Intel Atom CE4100 chipset used by the Google TV devices.

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[Updated, 12:30 p.m.] — Intel kicked off this week's IDF (Intel developer forum) with details of its second-generation Core processors, previously code-named Sandy Bridge. Available “in early 2011,” the CPUs will provide visual performance rivaling discrete GPUs (graphics processing units), include dedicated hardware for video transcoding, and offer other architectural improvements including “next-generation” Turbo Boost technology, the company says.

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Motorola announced that its rugged, Android 2.1-based Motorola Defy phone will arrive later this year on T-Mobile USA. Meanwhile, LG announced it is developing a series of Nvidia Tegra 2-based Android smartphones, T-Mobile is rumored to be doing the same with a “MyTouch HD” phone, and Motorola's touted “2GHz Android phone” actually uses a Tegra 2 with dual 1GHz cores, say various reports.

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A Google executive has stated that Android 2.2 is not optimized for tablet computers, and that in particular, Android Market will not run properly on tablets. Meanwhile, the Android 2.2 based Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet will be offered by Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and Sprint, say reports.

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Lanner announced a 3.6-inch single board computer (SBC) built around the single-core, 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450. The VES-310 includes two gigabit Ethernet ports, four USB 2.0 ports, digital I/O (four in, four out), and a CompactFlash slot, the company says.

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Wireless semiconductor vendor Broadcom announced yesterday that it has released an open source Linux driver for its latest 802.11n chipsets. The “still in progress” driver supports Broadcom BCM4313, BCM43224, BCM43225 Wi-Fi chipsets, enabling Linux distributions to include native support for these popular chips, says Broadcom.

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Portwell announced a COM (computer on module) based on the Qseven form factor. Targeting gaming, industrial, medical, and military markets, the PQ7-M104G features Intel Atom Z5xx processors, 2GB of RAM and a 4GB SSD (solid state disk), gigabit Ethernet, eight USB ports, and two SATA interfaces, the company says.

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Google Android will become the No. 2 mobile operating system in the world behind Symbian, edging past Research In Motion and Apple's iOS in 2010, according to new numbers from Gartner. Meanwhile, fifth-place Windows Phone will recover only slightly in 2011, and falter thereafter, the research firm adds.

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BCM announced a Nano-ITX motherboard that includes a dual-core, 1.66GHz Intel Atom D510 processor and supports dual displays. The NX510D has Mini PCI Express and CompactFlash slots, two SATA ports, gigabit Ethernet, and is offered with an optional TPM (trusted platform module), the company says.

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