CRAMMING CHIPS: Otellini displays a silicon wafer containing the world's first working chips built on 22nm manufacturing technology. The circuitry contained on each chip is so small that 2.9 billion transistors can be packed into an area the size of a fingernail. - Intel

Intel dominates the PC market with its Core processors. Now it wants to spread its wings to more consumer devices, one step at a time.

By M. MADHAVAN

SAN FRANCISCO: FORGET convergence, the new tech buzzword that is here to stay, according to Intel, is “continuum.”

At its annual Intel Developer Conference, held in San Francisco, the chipmaker said the continuum is about making different devices work together seamlessly and in a familiar way for everyone — both for users and developers.

“We’re building a spectrum of computing devices, from the high-end servers to mainstream PCs to consumer electronics devices to embedded systems and all the way down to handhelds — all based on a single architecture,” said Paul Otellini, Intel president and chief executive officer.

“However, building these devices is one thing, gluing them all together is another.”

In the past, Intel has been focusing on aspects such as speed, size and battery life, and while they are still important but the differentiation is now around factors such as bandwidth, user interface, social networking and even tweets, he said.

“This is a profound shift for Intel, moving from the PC focus that we’ve had to making computing personal.”

The chipmaker will take a three-pronged approach — by keeping Moore’s Law alive by continuing to shrink its microarchitecture; making more platforms available; and releasing software development kits to drive them all.

Ever smaller

By continuing to shrink its manufacturing process, Intel will be making its chips faster by packing more transistors per chip and they will be more power efficient as well.

This will allow the Intel to penetrate even more markets — at IDF it announced that its Atom processor, which was a big hit with manufacturers of netbooks, will make its way into Daimler and BMW cars.

The Atom processors will power the car infotainment systems which will be manufactured by Harmon International. So, in the near future you can give a shot at overclocking your cars.

So far, Intel has shipped over two million chips manufactured using 45nm high-k metal gate silicon technology, which it started two years ago.

“To date, our competitors have shipped zero products based on 45nm while we are going beyond that. The next generation is 32nm,” Otellini said.

Intel said its 32nm manufacturing process is “very production-worthy” and it will ramp up to high-volume soon. And it has already begun production of its next-generation Westmere processor which will begin shipping in the fourth quarter of this year.

Otellini also had an ace up his sleeve — during his keynote he produced a silicon wafer with the world’s first working 22nm chips. The wafer consisted of SRAM memory modules that each contained 2.9 billion transistors. However, processors based on 22nm won’t begin shipping before 2011.

Invading TVs

If Intel has its way, you will not have to reach for your PC to access Facebook.

The company expects TVs to bring new kinds of capabilities and user experience which will blend broadcasts, video content, the Web, and social networking, all accessible via a rich 3D interface and voice navigation.

“There’s one simple truth about television. People do not want to lose that relaxed kick-back experience of television, even if they are a geek. Don’t make a TV act like a PC,” said Eric Kim, Intel’s digital home group senior vice-president.

SPEEDY PROCESSOR: Kim holds up the Atom Media Processor CE4100, which is expected to make HDTVs, Blu-ray players and advanced set-top boxes more intelligent and interactive. - Intel

To make the TV more intelligent and interactive, it would require a speedy processor and this is where Intel’s newly launched Atom CE4100 system-on-chip (SoC) comes in.

The chip is for high-end consumer electronics such as HDTVs, Blu-ray players and advanced set-top boxes.

“What is really interesting is that the most compelling and immersive application that consumers use today through the TV device is games. Today, in order to play a really a good game, you need a gaming console,” he said.

There are many old games that are being played and still loved by consumers, but these games are not available in the retail channels because it’s not economical viable to sell them in a physical format, he said.

Intel has also partnered with industry players such as Adobe and Transgaming so that users will also be able to play retro games on the TV like in an aeroplane but with a much nicer interface.

At IDF, TransGaming, which specialises in creating portable software technologies, demonstrated casual games which can be downloaded to a HDTV.

TransGaming is also developing a Game Through TV software kit, which will allow game developers and publishers to convert their existing games for HDTVs or create new ones.

Meanwhile Adobe is in the process of porting its Adobe Flash 10 player which will allow users to access tons of Flash games and software already available on the Net, which are mostly free.

LARGER THAN LIFE: Rattner shakes hand with a 3D image of Postley during a live 3D interview. Intel says it won't be long before 3D broadcasts make their way to your living room. - Intel

TV in 3D

One of the fanciest demonstrations at this year’s IDF had to be live 3D, where Intel broadcasted a live interview with 3ality Digital chief technology officer, Howard Postley.

The chipmaker also showed a recently recorded U2 concert in 3D using 3ality Digital’s equipment.

Three dimensional movies will be made possible by two key technologies which will be in place soon — a really fast processor for handling 3D decoding and a speedy I/O technology called Light Peak.

Postley said 50 copper-based cables on the set of a 3D shoot could be replaced with a single optical cable with Light Peak technology.

In addition to its extreme speed, Light Peak technology has the unique ability to simultaneously transport multiple existing I/O protocols (see following article).

According to Justin Rattner, Intel’s chief technology officer and senior fellow, innovation in the TV space will accelerate in the next few years.

“By the year 2015, you can expect 15 billion consumer devices capable of delivering TV content with billions of hours of video available,” he said.

“We’ll need much more sophisticated ways to organise content and provide it on demand. Intel Labs researchers are working on evolving technology so people can get the TV content they want, when they want it and wherever they want it.”

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