With Intel dipping the proverbial toe in the water with this hopefully we'll see some decent leaps in the mobile space later this year early next from the other SOC guys.

With it being Atom/x86 based though what OS will these devices be running?

Android I would expect.

We had taken for granted, that given the inclusion of integrated graphics cores in the firm's latest processors, that the on-board core would be of Intel design

Not sure why - the Atom Z-series has *always* had Imagination Technolgies graphics. Hexus (well, Scott B) even wrote an article about how interesting that was back in the Z5xx / US15W / GMA500 days… :confused:

Platinum
Android I would expect.

To start with certainly, but presumably Windows 8 once it's released…?

scaryjim
Not sure why - the Atom Z-series has *always* had Imagination Technolgies graphics. Hexus (well, Scott B) even wrote an article about how interesting that was back in the Z5xx / US15W / GMA500 days… :confused:



To start with certainly, but presumably Windows 8 once it's released…?

Fully understand that the GMA 500 was essentially a re-brand and used in the Z6xx series (not all Z series had GPUs), however given consistent improvements made with each new Core i series including again the upcoming Ivy and the inclusion of Intel graphics in other Atoms, I had personally hoped for more out of Intel's own graphics IP, as the convergence of the two appears to come ever closer.

Regards OS, it'll indeed be releasing with Android 4.0 initially, whilst Windows 8 support will no doubt be possible, Windows 8 is geared towards tablets/ultrabooks and not necessarily a replacement for Windows for phones, as far as I know, Windows Phone 7 doesn't support x86. It's interesting as it means for phones the SoC will be stuck with Android for now and the tables on x86 compatibility will be turned when it comes to any apps with native components.

Scribe
… I had personally hoped for more out of Intel's own graphics IP …

As much as Intel's graphics IP has improved, I don't think it can run at low enough TDPs to be a genuine contender in a phone SoC. Early ultrabook reviews showed the graphics performance to be very ordinary once the design becomes TDP limited. Let's not forget that current Atom designs use GMA3150, not a HD Graphics derived core, and it's pretty dire graphically … it makes sense for them to continue licensing proven low power graphics cores when they're aiming to penetrate the mobile market…