Opera is always on the look-out for a new niche for its small memory browser, where Internet Explorer is not dominant, and the mobile world has proved its best hunting ground. Under pressure from Linux-based browsers and the threat of a mobile Google Chrome, the Norwegian company has hit back with an alliance with graphics processor specialist Nvidia, itself trying to challenge a giant ‘ Intel ‘ in the mobile internet device sector.
Opera and Nvidia are working to run the former’s browser on the Tegra family of processors, the chip company’s key weapon in broadening its market from graphics products into mobile apps processors, and taking on Intel Atom. The smallest in the Tegra line-up of ‘computers on chips’ consumes less than one watt of power and is targeted at high end smartphones with dedicated applications processors, and at mobile internet devices. Running Opera 9.5 on such a multimedia optimized platform would deliver functionality like in-browser video; hardware accelerated 3D touch browsing; and a lower power way to use panning and zooming. All these could set Opera significantly apart from other browsers on devices incorporating Tegra, while the partnership will also bring support for JavaScript, accelerated vector graphics and video content to those MIDs.
Tegra processors integrate ARM cores with media acceleration and integrated GeForce graphics processors. MIDs and smartphones with Opera and Tegra are expected to be available to consumers in mid-2009. “Opera and Nvidia are cooperating to create a powerful browsing experience that will truly make the internet an integral part of the advanced Tegra mobile visual computing experience,” said Neil Trevett, VP of mobile content at Nvidia, in a statement.
Apart from Atom, the main obstacle to Nvidia’s ambitions is the rising trend to incorporate advanced apps and media processing functionality into the baseband rather than including an additional processor. Single-chip smartphone architectures are gaining ground and this sector is led by Qualcomm and Infineon.
Tegra incorporates an 800MHz ARM 11 processor, an Nvidia GeForce graphics processing unit, an image processor and a high definition video processor. It can also support hard disk drives, mouse and other peripherals. Michael Rayfield, the general manager of Nvidia’s mobile business, has said that he expects Tegra to enable MIDs that cost between $200 and $250. Intel CEO Paul Otellini said recently that he expected the market for the Atom family – including the imminent Diamondville version for low cost notebooks, and the mobile iteration Pineview, scheduled for 2009 ‘ to be worth $40bn in 2-3 years’ time.
Nvidia expects its OEMs to target the midrange market for smartphone/PC hybrids, and to come up with products with displays of between four and 12 inches, using small keypads and/or touchscreens, and featuring a broadband wireless connection with Wi-Fi, WiMAX and/or 3G. The company is looking to the enterprise user base first, and Tegra will support Microsoft Windows CE as well as mobile operating systems such as Windows Mobile and Linux. Eventually, Nvidia is planning a Tegra iteration running at less than 100 milliwatts. The current platform should provide 130 hours of audio playback and 30 hours of high definition video playback, and is promising devices with better graphics,video and user interface than the current iPhone, which in the public (and Wall Street) mind has set the benchmark for mobile internet products (and itself uses a dedicated apps processor).