MIPS CPU and Newton2 Platform for Wearables

MIPS CPU and Newton2 Platform for Wearables
by Eric Esteve on 11-19-2014 at 11:00 am

I have written recently about SmarCoT (Smart Connected Thing) and smartwatches are one of these numerous smart and connected applications that some still refer to as IoT. Imagination Technologies is working hard to be part of the SmarCoT ecosystem and Ingenic, IMG customer, has recently launched a MIPS-based chip (M200) and … Read More


Are you SmarCoT or IoT?

Are you SmarCoT or IoT?
by Eric Esteve on 11-14-2014 at 4:00 pm

No need to explain the IoT acronym (Internet of Things) except that IoT doesn’t really describe a reality: do you really know about any “Thing” being directly connected to the Internet? In fact, there is probably some intermediate system linking this thing with the Cloud, like a smartphone, an Internet box, a PC, etc. Just take a … Read More


How many 28nm FDSOI SoC Design Starts in 2015? In 2020?

How many 28nm FDSOI SoC Design Starts in 2015? In 2020?
by Eric Esteve on 11-13-2014 at 4:28 am

I would like to further discuss this graphic (presented during IP-SoC 2014 by John Koeter, VP of Marketing IP and prototyping, Synopsys) and focus on Active Design and Tapeouts at 28nm. In fact the very first activity appeared in Q1 2007, but it was only during 2010 that 28nm become popular, after the first Tapeouts coming in Q1 and… Read More


IP-SoC 2014 Top Class Presentations…

IP-SoC 2014 Top Class Presentations…
by Eric Esteve on 11-12-2014 at 1:00 pm

… were given to an ever shrinking audience. This is IP-SoC paradox: audience has enjoyed very good presentations made by Cadence, Synopsys or ST-Microelectronic, to name just a few. As far as I am concerned, I was happy to present the “Interface IP Winners and Losers (Protocols)” in the amphitheater during the first day, enjoying… Read More


What Presentations to Attend During IP-SoC 2014 ?

What Presentations to Attend During IP-SoC 2014 ?
by Eric Esteve on 11-01-2014 at 11:00 am

Will you go to Grenoble next week to attend to IP-SoC? I will do it and will certainly listen to these Keynote Talks:

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Who Really Needs USB 3.1?

Who Really Needs USB 3.1?
by Eric Esteve on 10-29-2014 at 4:58 am

USB is certainly the most ubiquitous of the Interface protocols. I would bet that everybody is using USB everyday (I mean activate a USB connection, as we also use PCIe or SATA even if we don’t realize that we do it), but which application will get benefit of the 10 Gbps delivered by USB 3.1? Before precisely answering the question, … Read More


Sensing, Processing and Connecting: IoT Fundamentals

Sensing, Processing and Connecting: IoT Fundamentals
by Eric Esteve on 10-25-2014 at 7:00 am

Internet of Things, or Internet of Everything, is certainly the buzzword of the year. Does IoT describe one product family? Not really as the acronym describes a family of concepts, each of these concepts could effectively be turned into a family of products, if this concept reach the market, or fulfill a market need. Nevertheless… Read More


SecureCore: secure MPU for IoT

SecureCore: secure MPU for IoT
by Eric Esteve on 10-22-2014 at 8:44 am

The evaluation of the number of connected (IoT) systems by 2020 varies depending on the source, but we should see in the range of 30 billion IoT devices by that date. We already know some of the basic requirements: such a device will have to be connected, low cost, ultra-low power and… secure. The first three are key enablers, but we … Read More


MIPI Soundwire IP Sounds Innovative

MIPI Soundwire IP Sounds Innovative
by Eric Esteve on 10-19-2014 at 3:07 am

MIPI SoundWire specification will be integrated into mobiles systems, like smartphone or media tablet. In fact some of the well-known chip makers have already decided to integrate MIPI SoundWire into their last application processor release. MIPI SoundWire is also the type of specification which could be used in many other … Read More


GPU Benchmarks? Try to See the Complete Picture…

GPU Benchmarks? Try to See the Complete Picture…
by Eric Esteve on 10-15-2014 at 3:29 am

We all know benchmarks, but do we really understand benchmark results? Benchmark users should always look beyond the simple score when making in-depth technical analysis and request to see all the facts. There are many graphics benchmarks to choose from but let’s name today these three below:

3DMark Ice Stormfrom Futuremark… Read More