Updated Centrino computing

Intel this week debuted the next generation of its Intel Centrino Mobile technology, which is expected to be available next year. Codenamed Santa Rosa, Intel Executive Vice President Sean Maloney outlined Intel’s mobile future with advances in its mobile computing platform. Detailed for the first time at Maloney’s keynote, Santa Rosa is designed to give users better overall performance and graphics, improved wireless connectivity and improved security and manageability. Santa Rosa is expected to include a more powerful mobile microprocessor, an improved graphics chipset, codenamed Crestline, an 802.11n Wi–Fi adapter (codenamed Kedron), as well as Intel–optimized advanced management and security solutions. The platform will also include Intel’s NAND flash–based platform accelerator, codenamed Robson, which enables much more rapid boot–up time and power savings.

Santa Rosa, available in the first half of 2007, will use Intel’s next–generation dual–core mobile microprocessor based on Intel’s Core microarchitecture (code-named Merom), which delivers more energy–efficient processors and better performance. Intel said that an initial version of Merom will also be available for the current Intel Centrino Duo platform--just in time for the 2006 holiday buying cycle; it will be socket or pin–compatible with the current version of Intel Core Duo processors, so manufacturers will not have to make changes to the motherboard architecture.

Maloney also showcased two new concept PCs from Intel that offer multiple operating modes to increase their usability. These devices provide innovative form factors, multiple ergonomic configurations, and innovative features that can spark new design ideas for PC manufacturers. The concept PCs featured integrated WiMAX and wireless WAN technology, hard drive backup capability and broadcast digital TV reception capability.

by MacNN Staff