UMPC prototype and CPU news from the IDF.

Update: A CNET video of the prototype ultra mobile PC show below is now available. (Via jkOnTheRun.)

A few interesting bits of UMPC-related news have come out of the Intel Developers Forum in the last 24 hours.

Firstly, Intel have said that they will be able to get the power usage of their mobile CPU’s down to 2.5W by the first half of 2007. (I assume that this is the Ultra Low Voltage Merom devices that are planned for Q1 2007. See the ultra mobile PC CPU update for more.) They have also said that by 2008, they will cut the power down to 1/10th (0.5W) and gave a target of 8-hours battery life by 2008. (2 years earlier than previously announced)

I have a few points to make on this. Firstly, VIA are already at the 1W power consumption level so reaching 0.5w is no big deal. What might be a big deal is that these 0.5w processors could be 1.2-1.5Ghz devices with relatively high processing power making them good for advanced operating systems like Vista. Secondly, these CPUs will be expensive. Don’t expect too see a Merom ULV based processor in a reasonably priced ultra mobile PC before late 2007. Finally, there’s no point talking about CPU’s enabling 8 hours battery life. An 8 hour UMPC will require more than just an Intel processor running at 0.5W. Efficient screen, solid state disks and a better battery technology will all be required if you want to run Vista in a sub 1000gm device. In theory, Samsung already have an 8 hour battery life with the VIA C7-M based Q1b. Just put the extended battery on it and you have 10 hours of life (Samsung are stating 60% battery life improvement over the standard Q1)

I applaud all efforts to get the power consumption down and Intel will probably continue to have ultra mobile PC processors that have the most processing power but I just want to keep it in perspective!

Secondly, Intel showed off a nice ultra mobile PC prototype with a swivel screen.

(more images and info at Anandtech)

The ultra mobile PC is running StreetDeck in-car software which is a kind of Windows Media Center for cars. Mp3car.com is the place to go to find out more about the StreetDeck software. There aren’t many details of the device apart from the fact that it has Wifi and WiMax. I love the design though. There’s the keyboard that will blur the Microsoft definition of a UMPC.

The demonstration was performed with Volkswagen who, as announced at the IFA in Berlin, have been working closely with Intel on in-car computer development.

Steve /Chippy.