🚀 go-pugleaf

Hi Leute,

hier ein Press-Release von Digital.  Nein, ich werde nicht bezahlt von
denen, und kriege auch kein Geld daf�r;)

Aber ich glaube, das ist von generellem Interesse:

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||||||  Digital Press and Analysts News  ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
                                              Digital Equipment Corporation
                                          Maynard, Massachusetts 01754-2571
Editorial contact:

Linda Sanders
(508) 568-6501
     
Patricia McGloin
(508) 568-5102


Puts Supercomputing in the Palm of your Hand ....


             DIGITAL TARGETS SUPERCHARGED StrongARM CHIP
                   AT CONSUMER ELECTRONICS MARKET


     ....Enables Better Handwriting Recognition and True Speech
      Recognition for PDAs, Sizzling 3D Games, Interactive Home
                  Shopping, Fast Web Terminals....


MAYNARD, Mass., February 5, 1996 -- Digital Equipment Corporation 
today introduced the much anticipated SA-110 StrongARM 
microprocessor, the first processor to combine the performance of a 
supercomputer with power dissipation low enough to run on AA 
batteries, and pricing which is geared toward mass-market, consumer 
electronics products.

     "The StrongARM microprocessor family is one of the cornerstones 
of our merchant vendor strategy," said Ed Caldwell, vice president, 
Digital Semiconductor, a business of Digital Equipment Corporation.  
"We see tremendous opportunity to deploy this technology across many 
mass-market application areas."  According to industry analysts,
the potential microprocessor volume for the StrongARM target markets 
-- personal digital assistants (PDAs), electronic organizers, 
set-top boxes, and video games -- will exceed 29 billion units by 
1999.

     The SA-110 microprocessor is the first member of the StrongARM 
family resulting from the architecture license agreement between 
Digital and Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. (ARM), developer of the ARM 
32-bit RISC architecture.  "Combining ARM's low-power architecture 
with Digital's high-performance processor design expertise and CMOS 
process leadership has created a new paradigm for embedded consumer
electronics products -- supercomputer class performance on AA 
batteries," said Robin Saxby, president and CEO, Advanced RISC 
Machines Ltd.    

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

     Industry watchers see a bright future for the StrongARM 
technology.  According to Jim Turley, senior analyst, Microprocessor 
Report, "The SA-110 StrongARM processor is a technical tour de force 
and a milestone for both Digital Semiconductor and the ARM 
architecture.  It offers a nearly unbeatable combination of 
performance, price and power consumption." 

     Tim Bajarin, president, Creative Strategies International 
commented, "The design of the SA-110 StrongARM chip has clearly 
involved PDA developers, smart phone manufacturers, set-top box 
suppliers, and even companies exploring the internet computer.  This 
type of foresight heralds a new wave of mobile products which meet 
consumers' real needs."

INTERNET TERMINALS 

     The huge market potential for an instant access, low-cost 
product to 'surf the net' has grabbed the attention of both the 
computer and consumer electronics industries.  The SA-110 StrongARM 
chip is well-positioned to make this concept a reality. 

     According to Andy Laursen, vice president of Network Computing 
at Oracle Corporation, "The explosive consumer demand for 
inexpensive, high-performance internet access will fuel the need for 
a low-cost web terminal.  StrongARM represents the kind of 
technology that will put this product within reach of the mass 
consumer market."

PDAs AND ORGANIZERS 

     The SA-110 StrongARM processor will greatly enhance the 
functionality of next generation PDAs and electronic organizers.  
"Apple's Newton team and the StrongARM design team have worked 
closely together during the past eighteen months," said Michael 
Culbert, system architect, Apple Computer, Inc.  "We are very 
excited about this new technology and its potential to carry the 
next generation of Newton PDAs to a new level.  Our customers and 
licensees will be delighted by the new applications and human 
interface capabilities this chip can enable." 

     In addition, application developers targeting mobile workers 
are porting key applications to the StrongARM platform.  Papyrus 
Associates Inc., a leader in handwriting recognition software has 
endorsed the StrongARM technology. "The excellent computational 
capabilities will enable us to offer improved handwriting 
recognition software," said Bill Kania, president, Papyrus 
Associates Inc.  "Thanks to a mature compiler environment, our 
software was easily ported to StrongARM." Dragon Systems, Inc., the 
industry leader in speech recognition technology, is also 
enthusiastic about the StrongARM technology. "The performance 
delivered by the SA-110 will enable Dragon Systems to provide advanced 
speech recognition capabilities for handheld portable products," said 
Stephen Breit, manager of special projects, Dragon Systems.

SET-TOP BOXES AND VIDEO GAMES

     Second generation set-top boxes will drive the movement to real 
interactive TV and hyper-realistic 3D video games in the $200-$400 
range. "Interactive set-top boxes are a demanding product to build 
-- you need twice the performance of a desktop PC at one third the 
cost," said Malcolm Bird, chief executive, Online Media, Ltd., a 
leading supplier of set-top box technology and products.  "While the 
performance of these StrongARM processors is impressive, what sold 
us on this technology is the price points at which the performance 
is delivered.  This technology will help make interactive TV a 
reality."

INDUSTRY LEADING MIPS/WATT AND MIPS/DOLLAR

     The SA-110, available in 100 MHz, 160 MHz, and 200 MHz internal 
clock speeds, has set new industry benchmarks in terms of both 
power- and cost-efficiency, as well as overall processor 
performance.

     The 100 MHz part operating at 1.65 volts, delivers 115
Dhrystone 2.1 MIPS while dissipating less than 300 mW of power. The 
160 MHz version delivers 185 Dhrystone 2.1 MIPS at only 450 mW of 
power dissipation, giving a performance/power ratio (MIPS-per-watt) 
of over 400.  This makes it the most power-efficient processor 
available today.

     The 200 MHz part operates at 2.0 volts and performs 230
Dhrystone 2.1 MIPS while still running on under a watt of power.  
This device, priced at under $50, achieves the industry's best 
performance/price ratio at almost 5 MIPS/$ (MIPS-per-dollar).  
Pricing for the 100 MHz part is less than $29 in 10k unit 
quantities, while the 160 MHz part is available for $49 in the 
same quantities.

     Cost reduction is a primary focus for the SA-110 product. All 
three versions are packaged in a low-cost, small footprint, plastic 
package (144-pin plastic TQFP).  The SA-110 can accommodate 3.3 volt 
input/output levels, allowing system designers to utilize off-the-
shelf 3.3 volt memories and other commodity components.

     The SA-110 is produced on eight-inch wafers on a 0.35 micron 
CMOS process at Digital's state-of-the-art Fab 6 facility in Hudson, 
Mass.  Samples are available now, with production scheduled to begin 
in the spring.  Software development tools (compilers, assemblers, 
debuggers), operating systems, and applications are available 
through Digital and other third party companies supporting the ARM
architecture.

     Digital Semiconductor, a Digital Equipment Corporation business 
headquartered in Hudson, Massachusetts, designs, manufactures and 
markets industry-leading semiconductor products including Alpha 
microprocessors and PCI chips for networking, bridging, and 
graphics/multimedia, as well as low-power StrongARM microprocessors 
under license from Advanced RISC Machines Ltd.  Mitsubishi Electric 
Company is a second source for Alpha microprocessors.  World Wide 
Web site: http://www.digital.com/info/semiconductor.

     Digital Equipment Corporation is the world's leader in open 
client/server solutions from personal computing to integrated 
worldwide information systems.  Digital's scalable Alpha platforms, 
storage, networking, software and services, together with industry-
focused solutions from business partners, help organizations compete 
and win in today's global marketplace.
                                ####

Note to Editors:  Digital, Digital Semiconductor, and the Digital 
                  logo are trademarks of Digital Equipment 
                  Corporation.  ARM is a registered trademark and 
                  StrongARM is a trademark of Advanced RISC Machines 
                  Ltd.  Apple and Newton are registered trademarks 
                  of Apple Computer, Inc.

CORP/96/128
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