World's Smallest Dual-Core ARM Cortex-A9 Module?

DeviceGuru writes "Variscite has unveiled what it claims is the world's tiniest Cortex-A9 system-on-module, measuring 52 x 17mm. The Linux- and Android-compatible DART-4460 board is based on a 1.5GHz dual-core TI OMAP4460 SoC, is available with up to 1GB of DDR2 RAM and 8GB eMMC flash, and can run at 400MHz on just 44mA. The module provides interfaces for display (HDMI, RGB, DSI), wireless (Bluetooth, WiFi), audio, camera, USB, and more, and it consumes as little as 5mA in suspend and 44mA while running from a 3.7V battery at 400 MHz, according to Variscite. And in case you were wondering, the iconic Gumstix form-factor is 12 percent larger, at 58 x 17mm."

Re:Impressive but the market does not demand it.

[bobbied]

I'm sure this is very innovative, and shrinking things down to this scale is an amazing technological feat, but speaking as someone who has a masters degree in Marketing Science, I have to wonder, did these guys do any market research AT ALL?

Whoa there partner! You've not done any market research, nor do you understand the technology.

Assuming they have made the processor smaller by using better technology to lower the die size in the wafer fab.... They will get lower power consumption for the same clock rates. This translates into lower heat dissipation (which may lead to a lighter device) AND LONGER battery life.

This is the same thing Intel and AMD have been doing with their processor lines for decades, spending billions on R&D and building out wafer fabs to sell smaller CPU's that run faster and cooler.

Pretty soon, disposable computing

[bobjr94]

Not to much longer these types if systems will sell for $20, then $10 until they are no longer seen as computers and just in everything. Special box of Captn' Crunch that include include cartoons or a movie on a little system like this, your kids watch them while eating breakfast, once it goes dead you throw the box away like anything else.

Why are they still sticking with Cortex A-9 ?

[Taco Cowboy]

With A-7 available for almost 2 years already I can not understand why vendors still producing SoC based on the A-9 chip

http://www.carbondesignsystems.com/virtual-prototype-blog/bid/171998/IP-Selection-ARM-Cortex-A9-or-Cortex-A7 [carbondesignsystems.com]

Time for a standard small-size docking connector

[knarf]

With all these small, smaller and smaller yet again modules popping up left and right for often lower and lower prices - or at least higher performance/price ratios - it gets more and more interesting to decide upon a standard small-size docking connector. This connector should offer access to a display interface, fast external storage, USB, power, etc. Everythin needed to interface it to a 'slab' containing a screen, UI actuators, camera(s), sensors, a power supply and the like.

Using these two components you can 'build' or 'upgrade' those mobile internet devices which currently get left on the shelves because their processing capacity is deemed to anaemic by modern standards. Done right it would not add much to the total price of the device but it would expand the capabilities markedly.

Something like this would not be launched by any big brand as they like the buy-use-retire cycle as it is more profitable - for them. If the standard existed and their was demand in the market that demand *would* be fulfilled from suppliers in China - just look at the amount of Arduino-compatible hardware which is produced there. Since nearly all hardware is produced in China anyway the existence of such a standard would only make it easier for the designers of those low-price mobile internet devices which are currently on offer. It would make those devices more interesting as well. Since there is as good as no brand loyalty to these suppliers they will not care about any reduced profits stemming from the replacement of buy-use-retire by buy-use-upgrade-use-retire - they'd just supply materials for the upgrade cycle.

Time for YetAnotherKickStarterProject...?