Google: All Future Versions of Android Will be Optimized for Intel x86
by Anand Lal Shimpi on September 13, 2011 12:54 PM ESTPaul Otellini just showed off a Medfield based Android phone (running the "latest" version of Android) and immediately announced a development partnership with Google. Andy Rubin from Google just joined him on stage to announce that all future releases of Android will be optimized for Intel x86 architecture. This ultimately means we'll see x86 in addition to ARM ports of future versions of Google. We already know that Intel isn't the launch partner for Ice Cream sandwich, but it looks like Intel may be in the running for whatever comes after it.
The first Medfield based phones are expected in the first half of 2012. It looks like MeeGo is old news and Intel is throwing its weight behind Android.
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damianrobertjones - Tuesday, September 13, 2011 - link
- That you don't care about the millions who've splashed out on Android devices?- That you've seen Windows 8 and thought, "Ohh crap"?
- That Google has no actual direction?
...or am I missing something? I'm probably way off mark but I'm being honest here.
IlllI - Tuesday, September 13, 2011 - link
it means intel paid them a butt-load of moneytaltamir - Friday, September 16, 2011 - link
Ding ding ding!We have a winner!
StormyParis - Tuesday, September 13, 2011 - link
It mas Android was built from the ground up to be fairly platform-independent, so why not take advantage of it ?I see that as a big positive: more apps, more competition, more phones... what's not to like ? (unless you're an ARM cpu manufacturer ^^)
IlllI - Tuesday, September 13, 2011 - link
intel cant compete in the hand-held market unless they buy their way in.Hector2 - Tuesday, September 13, 2011 - link
Those who know even a little about technology know that Intel won't be a player in hand-helds until they get the power down substantially and are as easy to use as today's units.I think it's pretty clear from the presentations today and the Haswell data shown that Intel is well on the way to getting there. I don't think even Intel is saying it'll be there next year, but it's coming. 22nm units will be pretty close. The 14nm units after that ought to pretty amazing.
hechacker1 - Tuesday, September 13, 2011 - link
Interesting to see Microsoft focusing heavily on ARM with Windows 8, and now Intel targeting Android. Presumably they will be competitive soon with ARM's power usage, but have X86 and support all the older Windows software.I wonder if Microsoft will target X86 based tablets.
Too bad about MeeGo, it had some potential as another Linux based alternative.
Guess we have Windows 8 (phones), Android, and iOS for the foreseeable future.
damianrobertjones - Tuesday, September 13, 2011 - link
"I wonder if Microsoft will target X86 based tablets."Eh?
jeremyshaw - Tuesday, September 13, 2011 - link
I had the same response, too :p Seriously, x86 tablets aren't even rare...Gondalf - Tuesday, September 13, 2011 - link
Android is very popular and Google has A LOT of money to invest on it. In the next months Intel will be present in both segment of the market. We will see if Win 8 or Android will be the winner :). Strategic alliace from Intel........