Intel announces next-gen Atom SoC for media phones

Intel announced a next-gen SoC (system-on-chip) based on the Atom processor core yesterday at the Intel Developer Forum in China. The new SoC integrates a memory controller, graphics engine and video engine in one chip.

The new architecture will allow anyone to make a PCI express compliant device that can use the Atom CPU. Intel expects this chip to be used in cars for in-vehicle entertainment, in IP media phones, printers, networking gear, and NAS devices.

Tunnel Creek uses four x1 PCIe lanes, and will enable companies to connect their silicon to the Intel chip without the need to license the proprietary DMI bus. This has been a major bone of contention for nVidia, and their ION 2 GPU.

According to the release, china carmaker HawTai plans to incorporate Intel Atom processor and MeeGo software in future in-vehicle-infotainment platform

What's happening with Moorestown? A quick search though engadget archives shows some promising MID prototypes, most notably the LG GW990, which uses a custom UI on top of MeeGo.  Android was also added to the compatibility list recently.

Intel CEO Paul Ottelini also made a brief mention of dual core Atoms by Q2 this year, which means that you will *finally* be able to buy a netbook that doesn't seem woefully underpowered. Dual core Atoms designed for nettops have been integrated by Asus in a netbook, available in the west for now. The Asus 1201N has Nvidia 9400M w/256MB Graphics and a Dual-Core Atom N330 CPU.