“Silicon vendor Broadcom has put Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and an FM radio on a single 65nm CMOS chip. The device should cut the cost – and power demands – of Wi-Fi enabled phone handsets, and hasten converged phone services,” Peter Judge reports for Techworld.
“Although Marvell announced Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on a chip last year, that was a larger chip using 90nm CMOS. Broadcom’s BMC4325 has got ahead of the game by using a smaller lower-power technology – and throwing in an FM receiver as well,” Judge reports.
Judge reports, “The smaller chip has power demands 40 percent less than competing chips, says Broadcom. But the implementations on the chip aren’t cut-down. The Wi-Fi system supports the 802.11a/b/g standards, and the Bluetooth uses the faster 2.0 plus standard with enhanced data rate (EDR), and will be upgradeable to Bluetooth version 2.1. Both take on significant processing, which cuts demands on the main phone processor, again increasing battery life.”
“Even the FM radio isn’t just a basic one – it support both US and European standards for radio data,” Judge reports.
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “TTzz” for the heads up.]
Niiice.
No way MS would use this chip.
They’d want AM, 8-track, and LP 45 compatibility too.
MS wants to keep that signature “brick” look especially for the Zune.
Totally off subjet,
But today has started out grand, a casual friend who has been waiting for Vista to purchase a new wintel called a few minutes ago.
Seems he has been reading the reviews, saw Gates on TV, started researching about Mac.
well to some it up he asked if I would go with him to the local reseller and help with his spanish in picking out a new iMac (we are in Mexico).
number 5 switcher for me , since I switched in July!!
atsiv gets it. Microsoft has no use for any of this nonsense from Broadcom. Just as “more is better”, as in Microsoft’s awesome market share advantage over Crapple, but “bigger is better” as in my Zune is bigger than your iPod.
How in the world does a customer benefit from smaller form factors and lower power consumption? They don’t. The geniuses in Redmond know this, and Cupertino has yet to figure this out, I mean look at the iPod Shuffle. WTF. Half of you Apple lemmings probably have 2 of those things under the drivers seat next to the french fries that fell down there last August. No way could you lose a Zune that way. One of its main advantages is its size. Wake up you iPod losers.
Your potential. Our passion.
“Both take on significant processing, which cuts demands on the main phone processor, again increasing battery life.”
If the main phone processor is doing less work and the new chip is doing more work, where is the power savings? Isn’t it just being shifted? Is it because the typical main phone chip is presumably not also 65nm?
This could only be good news, as in hastening the arrival of the rumored Zune Phone. A bright future indeed. Score one for Microsoft!
Your Potential. Our Passion.
Atsiv…you got an issue with AM? I have no clue why AM has not been offered after market or built-in. It still has more than one advantage over FM. Where is your comparison between AM and 8 track or LP’s? One is alive and (mostly) well. Two are not. I listen to both AM & FM equally. In some communities, many people can only pick up AM channels.
Hotinplaya…congratulations! Switcher plus Five…
Nice job, hotinplaya! I’ve switched only two PeeCeers in the past year myself, but MANY more friends and business associates are asking solid, relevant questions about the Mac . . . especially its ability to run virtually ALL major software packages.
Let’s all keep up the good work!
I have got 3 people to switch. The really good news is that I have planted the seed in many, many others.
I will be in the market for a new Mac in about a year. I’m excited to see what new desktops come out over the next year. I already have a 12″ PowerBook g4
I have also purchased 4 iPods. 1 3rd gen and the new shuffle for myself and two as gifts.
However most people I know under 30 have an iPod. I’m just picking up the straglers.
Lastly everyone I show the iPhone to has one of two reactions:
1. I don’t need a phone that does all that.(casual users)
2. I think it’s awsome but I wouldn’t switch to cingular for it.(power users)
3. My personl opinion is a combination of #2 and the fact I wouldn’t pay that much for one. (I’ll wait for the iPhone mini or nano)
O and one more thing .MAC is waaaaaaaaaaay over priced!!!!!!!!!!!!!(but I would still like to have it for the right price)
My friend is interested in the macbook pro 15″
unless its changed from a few weeks ago, they were still selling the core duo models and not the core 2 duo,
Is there that much differance between the two?? would he be better off with a Macbook w/core 2 duo??
(Mexico is always a few months behind with the new models)
he owns a small b @ b, mainly reservations and emails, no power computing, but he has $$ and likes the best
I’ve switched a number of people and the trend is continuing. I own 3 ipods including a first gen that still has the original battery and works great.
I will get an iphone…no doubt about it. There are functions and features that are yet to be completed and it’s functionality points the way to the future beyond any question.
Cingular is growing their network. It’s improving all the time…
and .Mac is about to grow with much larger disc allotment and some professional level features.
hotinplaya:
they have the core 2 duo on the mexico store:
http://www.apple.com/la/macbookpro/
Your friend can always order it on line.
MDN should have a switcher counter we can keep adding people. In the last 6 months I’ve converted at least 10 friends and not an unhappy one in the group. It was almost like domino’s because after the first one fell we were talking about it at a party and then next one went down and the chain reaction began. At one party a friend couldn’t make it because she was sick so I walked her thru iChat and everyone at the party said hello and at least two more got hooked…
Rock on
hotin playa:
If it were my money i would get the macbook 13″ core 2 duo (not the core duo, only because of what I read online, original core duo was a little quarky) and Black.
Or
I might get the macbook pro 15″ Core duo (not as many issues it seemed as with the macbook)
I’m shopping for a refurb…If you can afford a 15″ core 2 duo, ya can’t go wrong.
Money’s kinda tight since i want to upgrade the ol’ tv as well. Still on a CRT TV, anxious for a 37″.
((( BACK ON TOPIC )))
((( BACK ON TOPIC )))
Could this chip be used in a iPod?
No more wire… and finally FM radio!
AM/FM? I didn’t realize that anyone was still listening to radio. What for? You won’t hear anything decent in the way of music, that’s for certain. NPR maybe? What’s available on the radio that isn’t on the interthingy? This is one feature that has puzzled me in the music player mishigas; why does anyone want a radio in their digital music player?
.Mac is NOT overpriced in comparison to what my ISP wants to charge for extended upload features, including additional disk space, automatic web page uploads and download limits.
My ISP wants U.S. $8.95 + $15 setup fee for an equivalent, but less user-friendly package. That’s $122.40 total. .Mac is $99.
Radio is good for traffic reports. That’s the only reason I turn the one in the FJ on.
A lot of gyms have TVs in front of the treadmills with the sound transmitted over FM, so you need an FM radio to hear them.
we lucked out, they had a shipment of 17″ imacs on special bacause they were with english software and keyboard, , in USD paid $1,540.00
Don’t they know that M$ created everything first and that they’re copying and that Steve Jobs is cool, but he doesn’t rule the world? I mean… geez– some people!
FM radio is just one of a multitude of features that make Zune a much better product than you iPod lemmings’ choice of mediocre MP3 player.
FM radio also mirrors the vast consumer choice Bill Gates talks about when he discusses the superiority of the Windows platform over your crappy, proprietary Macs. On some stations you get Christina Aguilera. On others you get Britney Spears. It’s about choice. If we made the comparison to your little girly Macs, FM would only play the Wiggles over and over.
Welcome to the Social.
Hg,
Atsiv…you got an issue with AM? I have no clue why AM has not been offered after market or built-in. It still has more than one advantage over FM.
AM is great. Unless there’s a thunderstorm within 50 miles. Or you’re near power lines. Or it’s after dark. Or….
My point is MS’s DNA is so warped on feature bloat & keeping the past alive, that this chip wouldn’t do anywhere near enough for them. They’d probably want HAM, shortwave, and Edison cylinder support too.
Only if they could put Sirius on that chip also
Howard Stern and Bubba the Love Sponge is all that one needs
also the Pulse is a good substitute during the weekend
AM/FM? I didn’t realize that anyone was still listening to radio
–
They’re not. Apple’s had internet radio in iTunes since inception, and no one touches it.. why? no control over music. Exactly the same thing that made iPod so cool in the first place.
Portable radios are not that interesting.
Your Potential. Our Passion.
What Zune Tang really means is, “Our passion is squashing your potential
with our uninspired, cheap-ass products.”
Ain’t that right, Zune Tang?
The difference is not that .Mac costs $99 but that they want it all up front.
btw Micros**t sucks.
Oh, and when I see the words ‘Zune Tang’ above the comment I skip to the next one.
Not worth reading.
Right on rlhamon! Howard Stern is AWESOME! I never get tired of Howard asking some chick to take off her shirt. It is just as funny today as it was ten years ago. How about when he asks about lesbian escapades? Still hilarious after the 17,961st time. Good stuff.
Microsoft is fading. Our stock refuses to rise above $31. It keeps falling back. Investors have faith in us. We are yesterday’s IBM. Big and inefficient and refusing to acknowledge the good technology out there — “we can do it all better.” Ha.
Welcome to our social.
hotinplaya,
Keep ’em coming. The more the merrier.
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Thanks for spreading the Gospel of Mac.
Off topic
I have read somewhere that irony is beyond the comprehension of children. Could it really be that all those furious reactions to [the real] Zune Tang are from underage guys?
@ Neil,
Please tell me you’re kidding. You DO recognize gratuitous use of sarcasm and irony, don’t you?