At CES last week, we saw Intel’s CEO Brian Krzanich introducing the firm's next big step in strategically entering the wearable devices market. He introduced Edison, a complete computing system in the form factor of an SD Card. The firm also introduced four wearable products alongside Edison which include; Smart earbuds, ‘Jarvis’ a Smart headset, a Smart charging bowl and a Smart watch. These devices would help create "a transformation from a world of screens and devices to a world of immersive experiences," according to Krzanich. Watching the presentation it was easy to assume that these wearable tech products were Intel powered but now it appears that some of them utilised ARM processors.
Yesterday evening claims that these Intel prototypes from CES were not actually powered by Intel chips were published by PCmag. Subsequently these findings have been confirmed by Intel, as spokesperson Bill Calder admitted that some of the reference designs shown at the tradeshow have "third-party parts" inside them.
A close-up of 'Jarvis'
Though Calder did not specify which of the products had non-Intel chips inside or who the chips were designed by, PCmag sourced a person with knowledge of the matter and reported that the ‘Jarvis’ smart headset is powered by an ARM-based chip. The smart earbuds also had non-Intel processing, but Calder clarified that this simple sensor-based demo device did not need any kind of complex central processor or microcontroller.
Calder said that people shouldn't read too much into the situation and took a jab at ARM saying, "If you want a powered-down, lower performing chip for a reference design, ARM's great." However as spectators of the Intel keynote came away with the impression that all the devices being showcased were Intel processor based his 'trash-talking' sounds a little ungracious.
In related news today Intel’s profits are up as it appears the decline in its PC business bottomed out towards the end of 2013. The firm enjoyed a 6 per cent rise in profits year-on-year.
