Intel today disclosed key technical details of next-generation Intel XScale processors for cell phones, PDAs, and other wireless devices. The upcoming processors, code named “Bulverde,” will add several new features that will help enable wireless devices to capture higher quality pictures, extend battery life, and deliver fast multimedia performance. Bulverde is a key component of the Intel Personal Internet Client Architecture (Intel PCA), the company's development blueprint for designing wireless devices that combine voice communications and Internet access capabilities.

“Cell phone and wireless PDA capabilities are moving well beyond just making a call or organizing personal information,” noted Hans Geyer, Intel VP and general manager of its PCA Components Group. “The ability to send and receive pictures, play rich 3D games or download ring tones, video clips and music are growing in popularity. To support the ongoing adoption of data services and applications, the underlying technology must be able to deliver enhanced multimedia capabilities and lower power.”

According to Intel, the ability to send and receive digital pictures or video clips has been one of the hottest developments in the cell phone and PDA segments worldwide. Intel developed Intel Quick Capture Technology, an interface that allows imaging devices to connect to a cell phone or PDA, to improve image quality and reduce the overall cost of adding digital image capabilities for mobile devices.

Intel says its Intel Quick Capture Technology provides the ability to get live video and high-quality still images from a wide range of camera sensors in current and future camera-enabled mobile handsets and PDAs. The technology consists of three primary modes of operation: Quick View mode (providing low power, real time previews); Quick Shot mode (providing high resolution image capture up to four megapixels); and Quick Video mode (providing full-motion, high-quality video capture).

Intel will also incorporate Wireless Intel SpeedStep Technology into the Bulverde processor, a technology which is intended to dynamically adjust the power and performance of the processor based on CPU demand. Intel says this can result in a significant decrease in power consumption for wireless handheld devices.

According to Intel, Wireless Intel SpeedStep Technology advances the capabilities of Intel Dynamic Voltage Management — a function already built into the Intel XScale microarchitecture — by incorporating three new low-power states: deep idle, standby, and deep sleep. This technology changes both voltage and frequency on-the-fly by intelligently switching the processor into the various low power modes, saving additional power while still providing the necessary performance to run rich applications.

Intel describes “Intel Wireless MMX” technology, announced last year, as an advanced set of multimedia instructions that will help bring desktop-like multimedia performance to Bulverde-based clients while minimizing the power needed to run rich applications. Intel Wireless MMX technology builds on the Intel MMX technology originally introduced in the Intel Pentium processor family, enabling software developers to quickly make their applications such as 2D and 3D gaming, streaming MPEG4 video, wireless encryption/decryption, and voice recognition available for Intel-based cell phones and PDAs.

Intel said it would release additional details surrounding Bulverde during the first half of 2004.

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.