TI launches $5 ARM Cortex-A8 microprocessors

[DarkAngel]

In a more aggressive push to become the part of the growing entry-level Android device market, Texas Instruments has announced a new family of low cost Cortex-A8 ARM chips. Dubbed as Sitara AM335x, these processors will sell for a price starting $5.

“The new Sitara AM335x ARM Cortex-A8 microprocessors from TI allow designers to explore infinite possibilities for upgrading their systems without increasing cost or power consumption. Moreover, TI gives you all the tools, free software and 24/7 support to design. That’s true design ease — paramount to every TI embedded processor offering.”

Dipti Vachani, general manager, Sitara ARM microprocessors, TI.

It supports full NEON single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) running at clock rate up to 720MHz, which is certainly not bad for entry-level devices, which are normally powered by 600MHz processors. It also comes with a 3D graphics accelerator.

Texas Instruments launches $5 ARM Cortex-A8 microprocessors | AndroidOS.in

$5 Cortex-A8 SoC aims to take on ARM9 in the embedded market - News - Windows for Devices

About time too. Sick and tired of the MSM7227 and MSM7227-T dominated sub 10k Android market. Bring some Cortex A8 love (Flash support, better GPU and better instruction set)

 

[comp@ddict]

Finally! EVen cheap phones will now have decent Power VR SGX530 graphics. Adreno 200 is too weak.

 

[hrohit85]

Hmm, not sure if these can be used to make phones. Read somewhere that they lack a camera interface.

The board may not be for use in smartphones, tablets or PCs, said Jim McGregor, chief technology strategist at In-Stat. It is mostly for embedded systems running specific applications, and could also be used in audio-visual systems and projectors.

Source : New £56 open-source hardware runs full Linux OS - ComputerworldUK.com

 

[vivek.krishnan]

They need to bring down the price asap. At roughly 90USD, that thing is pretty expensive, IMO for what it has.