New Freescale I.MX7 Processor Line Takes Aim At IoT 34
DeviceGuru writes: Freescale has unveiled a new i.MX7 embedded processor family. The family launches with two parts having one or two Cortex-A7 cores, along with Cortex-M4 microcontroller cores, and boasts much lower power consumption than the company's popular i.MX6 embedded processors, making it ideal for power constrained Internet of Things applications. The i.MX7 is Freescale's second i.MX family to use Coretex-A7 cores, and its first to move backward in performance, although significantly upward in power efficiency — a testament to how IoT is impacting the semiconductor business. Like the recently introduced i.MX6 UltraLite, the initial i.MX7 parts are limited to 2D image processing in hardware. An ARMv8 Cortex-A53 based i.MX8 line is also under development, and is expected to be announced next year with 2016 or 2017 availability.
Behind (Score:4, Interesting)
I'm currently working on an IoT project that uses a Freescale iMX6 chip and they are so far behind other ARM chip companies it's ridiculous. Next year they will have a 28nm chip, *sigh*. Maybe, firing their entire iMX group wasn't a good idea after all.
Re:Behind (Score:4, Funny)
It must suck not being able to see outside.
Re: Behind (Score:1)
I'm not talking about ARM. I'm talking about Freescale. The Qualcomm and Samsung ARM chips aren't as far behind for example.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: Behind (Score:1)
If the individuals responsible for choosing the ARM manufacturer had fully understood the thermal implications at the time, I think they would not have chosen Freescale. Now it's mostly just inertia.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Based on silicon and mfg or based on support and software support?
And at what quantities?
Yeah, last year Qualcomm was all the shiz. But can you move 100K+ parts/month? No? Then it's off the table.
Broadcom, Nvidia, even TI (worse parts and massively worse support, IMO) same, same same.
Bottom line? I'd recommend Freescale 9 times out of 10 for any of the medium to small players if I was looking for a high end ARM SOC.
For the smallish player Freescale is you best supported higher end ARM SOC. The fact that the
Re: (Score:3)
Not correct. Qualcomm has plenty of support companies who will gladly do smaller quantities. Sure you won't get the personalized support that Samsung and all the other big guys get,
Re: Behind (Score:1)
So, you are telling me that the utilite2 [omgubuntu.co.uk] is doing at least 100k per month?
I might be OK with Freescale if they didn't require you to use a windows only tool to flash the damn thing.
Re: (Score:1)
Are you working with Yocto and the iMX6SL EVK? I need a complete replacement for mfgtool, right now it's killing my workflow.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Of course except for Sitara and i.MX6 the GPIO on ARM processors tends to be pathetic.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
You mean like the Allwinner A80 SoC, in a 636 ball BGA package?
It's a Chinese manufactured chip designed for bottom-dollar tablets and set-top boxes.
I wouldn't be surprised if any factory outside of China has put one on a board.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Internet Open Trousers?
Re: (Score:1)
e-Ink? (Score:2)
I have an iMX5 in an e-reader device, for which it has custom display support.
So I'm wondering if these latest chips will make it to the next-gen Rakuten/Amazon devices.