Archive for freescale
Tablets War: Let the Battles Begin
January is always fun. It is going to be even more fun for geeks. Late in January 2010, you and I will witness one of the most fierce battles among software and hardware giants of our times. 
Each and every company seems to be in a hurry to capture as much share of personal computer market as it can. Tablet PCs used to be an expensive and luxury toy only meant for top executives and the very rich.
Today, every kid on the block wants a touch sensitive slate like device to act as a phone, laptop and even multimedia entertainment centre. If a manufacturer can deliver it under $200 price tag, I am sure, the world will beat the path to their door. It would be next big thing after iPhone.
This is phenomenal development. Many things contributed toward making it possible. I can think of following
- Huge reduction in cost of LCD displays
- Popular acceptance of touch sensitive gadgets like iphone
- Introduction of solid state drives and supper slim battery and motherboards.
Nokia’s N900 internet tablet, Apple’s iPhone and amazon’s kindle can be regarded as the classic era devices that pave the way for this evolution of Personal computing.
The Battle Ground for Tablet Wars
The venue for the tablet wars is set at this week’s Consumer Electronic Show at Las Vegas.
Google Chrome OS available for download Shortly
Google Chrome OS will be available for download by end of next week (source). Since Google announced in July, 2009 that it is developing it’s own operating system, IT developers and enthusiasts in general are waiting for its launch date. Earlier some news pieces suggested that Google is expected to launch beta version of its long awaited Operating System (Chrome) sometime in early fall.
There is a lot of speculation about the features and bugs that will come in the new operating system. Providing driver support for large array of hardware would be one of the biggest challenge faced by developers at Google. Although It has dedicated a huge team of developers for development of hardware drivers, it is almost impossible to include all the hardware available out there. especially the legacy devices.
There are rumors that Google would expect the hardware manufacturers to provide drivers for their own hardware. If these rumors are true then Launch of Google Chrome OS would be a sure Flop. Manufacturers have no incentive to invest into driver development before widespread availability and acceptance of the new operating system
