Marvell announced a new ARM-based chip for televisions
on Thursday that will run Android and Google TV
software, filling a void left by Intel's decision in
October to depart the TV market.
Google TV is moving from x86 to ARM, and Marvell's
Foresight platform powered by the Marvell ARMADA 1500
HD Media System-on-a-Chip (SoC), has been selected to
power the next generation of Google TV hardware.
The ARMADA 1500 Foresight Platform delivers the full
continuum of rich multimedia entertainment on
single-chip architecture. Using Marvell's Qdeo video
processing technology, the ARMADA-based Foresight
Platform is designed to deliver 3D video, rich audio,
3D graphics, video encoding / decoding and upscaling as
well as TV-friendly Web content.
The ARMADA 1500 contains Marvell's highest-performing
ARM v6/7-compatible PJ4B SMP super-scalar dual-core
CPU. The chip is designed to enable PC-like processing
power to support Web browsing with support for Flash
and other key technologies - with the aid of more than
6000 Dhrystone MIPS of computing horsepower, FPU v3.0,
512KB of L2 cache and WMMX2. Marvell claims that the
Foresight Platform is energy efficient and has advanced
cell-phone like power management.
The second-generation Google TV platforms feature a simpler design, more intuitive interface, and the new Android Honeycomb OS. Coupled with the Armada 1500 processor, Google TV 2.0 solutions can provide access to YouTube, Netflix, Pandora, Skype, Picasa, and the latest Android applications all optimized for Smart TVs.
"Marvell and Google have teamed up to change home
entertainment forever - transforming the TV into the
command center for our connected lifestyle. Marvell and
Google are fundamentally changing the relationship
between the producers and consumers of content - from
Hollywood to Madison Avenue to publishing and major
news networks - creating a dynamic, two-way experience
featuring real-time global news, social network,
entertainment and information," said Weili Dai,
Co-founder of Marvell. "I believe this is a major
breakthrough movement and it's just the beginning of
our bigger vision. The same forces that are
revolutionizing today's television experience will
transform numerous vertical applications for small
businesses and large enterprises, enhancing the way we
all work, connect with each other and collaborate
globally."
"The Google and Marvell teams have been working closely
together to bring our combined software and chipset
technologies to market to grow the Google TV ecosystem
of manufacturers and devices. Marvell-powered Google TV
solutions will enable powerful products to be brought
to market at attractive prices," said Mario Queiroz,
VP, Product Management Google TV.
Google TV currently is being used only on TVs and
set-top boxes equipped with Intel's x86 processors.
Sony TVs and Logitech's Revue set-top box are among the
best-known Google TV products based on Intel's chips.
Google TV to date has seen poor acceptance, leading
Logitech to discontinue its Revue set-top box in
November.