TAIPEI (Computex 2010) – June 1, 2010 – Eighteen months since its introduction, Freescale’s i.MX51 product family has sparked compelling new product categories, cemented the company’s leadership position in fast-growing markets and secured more than 50 design wins across a broad range of consumer applications.
Today, Freescale introduces the i.MX535 processor, the first member of the new i.MX53 product family, offering HD playback and integrating key technologies that boost performance and help lower the costs of next generation consumer products.
Exploding demand for touch-screen consumer devices that deliver all-day battery life and engaging end-user experiences has fueled tremendous market acceptance for Freescale’s i.MX51 processor. More than 50 OEM and ODM customers have selected the i.MX51 to power a wide array of consumer products including tablets, smartbooks, eReaders, smartphones and video-enabled IP phones.
Building on the market momentum and technical innovation of the i.MX51, Freescale’s new i.MX535 processor debuts at Computex 2010 to deliver new levels of performance, integration and software optimization for smart mobile devices. The processor features 1080p video decode, 720p video encode, improved graphics performance, and a 400MHz-capable external memory bus that enables larger LCD screens. The device also integrates a vast array of key peripherals including DDR3, Serial ATA, LVDS, Ethernet and four USB ports, thereby boosting scalability and lowering bill of material costs.
The i.MX535 is based on an enhanced version of the ARM Cortex
-A8 core running at up to 1 GHz, and a derivative part designed to deliver up to 1.2 GHz of performance is planned for later this year.
“Freescale’s long track record of optimizing the advantages of advanced ARM technology continues with the newest addition to Freescale’s pacesetting i.MX product line,” said Bernd Lienhard, vice president and general manager of Freescale’s Multimedia Applications Division. “The i.MX535 delivers a compelling blend of features, functionality, performance and energy efficiency that consumer device manufacturers need to take smart mobile device design to new levels.”
The i.MX535 processor’s rich feature set supports a number of highly compelling use cases:
- HD capability with 1080p video decode provides access to HD content available on popular online video platforms, while duplex video in HD delivers outstanding video conferencing experiences and supports the growing media/V2IP market.
- Adobe
Flash Player 10.1 is optimized to run on the i.MX535’s OpenGL ES graphics engine and H.264 video cores to deliver outstanding video experiences and long battery life. - Integrated LVDS and support for analog TV outputs up to 1080p60 are ideal for tablets and enable the creation of “next-gen ready” consumer products that don’t require additional or costly external components.
- External memory support up to 2GB prepares end devices for cloud computing applications, as well as future operating systems and browsers. And improved graphics performance means faster windowing, accelerated gaming, and more responsive user interfaces.
Optimal code reuse and broad software support
Because the i.MX535 shares operating system support and multiple peripherals with the i.MX51, manufacturers can preserve the value of their i.MX51 software investments and simplify code migration to the newer device. The i.MX535 also enjoys support from a deep pool of software partners. Many popular operating systems integrate tightly with the processor’s ARM Cortex-A8 core, including Android OS, Microsoft Windows Embedded Compact 7, Linux OS and Chromium OS.
“Opportunities for OEMs to deliver rich, immersive user experiences and streamlined connectivity on a range of specialized consumer devices, such as slates, feature phones and other CIDs, continue to grow,” said David Wurster, senior product manager for Windows Embedded at Microsoft Corp. “We are excited to work with Freescale and our entire ecosystem of global partners to drive differentiated devices that are easy to use and provide seamless connections to the world of Windows 7-based PCs, servers and online services through Windows Embedded Compact 7.”
Multicore roadmap
As smart mobile devices evolve to meet consumer demand for ever-greater performance and energy efficiency, Freescale is laying the groundwork for next generation multicore i.MX product families. The company is investing in a new family of single, dual and many core processors leveraging the very latest core technology from ARM, Ltd. Optimized specifically for tablets, eReaders and other select smart mobile device markets, this family of scalable processors is planned for initial sampling during the first half of 2011.
Exceptional energy efficiency
The i.MX535 has qualified for the Freescale Energy Efficient Solutions mark, which means it is designed to offer customers assurance that Freescale has employed the right combination of technologies and techniques to achieve optimal energy savings as relevant to a particular application space. The mark stands for Freescale’s technology expertise in delivering products optimized for high performance within the constrained energy and power budgets of embedded environments.
i.MX535 availability and pricing
The i.MX535 processor is expected to ship in volume quantities in Q1 2011. Pricing and additional information are available from regional Freescale sales offices. For more information, visit www.freescale.com/imx535
About Freescale Semiconductor
Freescale Semiconductor is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial and networking markets. The privately held company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales operations around the world. www.freescale.com.