"Tegra is Nvidia's 1st foray into the mobile computing realm. Nvidia is the company that makes the awesome video cards for your desktops and laptops. Most higher end machines use some type of powerful GPU made by ether Nvidia or ATI. For instance, my Gateway FX laptop uses a GeForce 8800 GTS & my desktop uses a 9800 GTX. Why are GPU’s good for computing? Once again take a look at the laptop. In most laptops the CPU does the heavy lifting for the GPU also, this is called "integrated graphics". In the Gateway FX, a GPU handles the task of blasting pixels to the screen, allowing the CPU focus on more important stuff, like processing and cruching non visual data. A setup like this is called "discreet graphics"."
You have to watch the videos to truly appreciate what this card can do but a device powered by this card would be very impressive. Obviously if I'm writing about it here then it must mean something for the Zune, right? I can't really be sure about that but according to the LiveSide blog, the Tegra is slated to launch in "mid 2009" and Microsoft is a featured partner. There's only one mobile device that Microsoft makes that I can think of. With all of the rumors of the Zune HD we've been hearing about now, could this be powering it?
I really hope so because that would solve one of my biggest complaints with the Zune. I hate that it only has 16 bit color depth. On such a small screen the resolution isn't as important to me as the color depth since color dithering just really stands out to me in videos. With a powerhouse like this as the GPU then hopefully 32 bit color will soon be a reality!
If they do incorporate 3D capabilities I wonder what it might use it for. XBLA? Silverlight Apps?
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Windows 7 - Gateway Laptop, Windows 7- Gateway Desktop - Dual 22" LCD
Windows 7 Media Center - HTPC homebrew, Dual Tuner
XBox 360, Zune 120 and Windows Home Server - HP MediaSmart (3 TB)
I think the interface itself would even benefit from 3D capabilities. This does lead me to suspect that there may be a limit to how much backwards compatibility there may be here.
This does lead me to suspect that there may be a limit to how much backwards compatibility there may be here.
Well I think the user interface paradigm shift to touch input would necessitate a break in backwards compatibility, meaning basically that our squircles and d-pads would seem downright out of place by comparison. I would like to request that they at least provide some buttons on the bottom of the device for play/pause, etc. It's one thing that really bugs me about my iPhone.
I wonder how well Windows 7 would run on Tegra with say... 1GB of Ram.
__________________ Phone: Nexus one Backup Phone: AT&T Samsung Jack; Future Phone: I'm Watching WP7; Media Player: Platinum Zune HD 32GB; Home Server: HP MediaSmart Server LX195 Console: XBox 360, PS3, Wii
Tegra To Power Zune?
Linear Mode
