Intel to kick off mobile push with Windows 8 event in SF

27.09.2012
Chip maker Intel hopes to get into mobile devices in a big way Thursday as the company unveils the 1.8GHz dual-core Atom Z2760, the first chip from Intel's Clover Trail family. The new chip is designed specifically for Windows 8 tablets and hybrid devices as the company tries to compete with ARM-based chips that currently dominate the smartphone and tablet world.

Intel says Clover Trail boasts a number of key updates to its Atom platform: longer battery life; smaller die packaging (allowing for thinner and lighter devices); hardware acceleration for displaying higher-definition images; and 4G LTE network support. The new chip will be officially unveiled during a special Windows 8-themed event in San Francisco Thursday with numerous major PC manufacturers including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, and ZTE (check back later for PCWorld's event coverage).

What Will Battery Life Be Like Under Clover Trail?

The first big claim Intel is making for the 1.8GHz Atom Z2760 is that it can provide up to 10 hours of battery life for local (non-Web based) high-definition video playback, and up to three weeks of standby time. Intel's previous Atom chips were often criticized for offering poor battery life performance, which is one reason why ARM-based chips have been the preferred choice for mobile device manufacturers.

For Clover Trail, Intel has focused on improving power management, but it's too early to tell just how good it will be in the new platform. Nonetheless, if Intel wants to compete in a mobile market where battery life is critical, it will have to nail down power efficiency to have any chance of relevancy.

Clover Trail's Other Features