Freescale’s flagship applications processor product line enjoys marketplace momentum, spawns new offering

Today, Freescale introduces the i.MX535 processor, the first member of the new i.MX53 product family, offering HD playback and integrating key technologies that boost performance and help lower the costs of next generation consumer products.

Exploding demand for touch-screen consumer devices that deliver all-day battery life and engaging end-user experiences has fueled tremendous market acceptance for Freescale’s i.MX51 processor. More than 50 OEM and ODM customers have selected the i.MX51 to power a wide array of consumer products including tablets, smartbooks, eReaders, smartphones and video-enabled IP phones.

Building on the market momentum and technical innovation of the i.MX51, Freescale’s new i.MX535 processor debuts at Computex 2010 to deliver new levels of performance, integration and software optimization for smart mobile devices. The processor features 1080p video decode, 720p video encode, improved graphics performance, and a 400MHz-capable external memory bus that enables larger LCD screens. The device also integrates a vast array of key peripherals including DDR3, Serial ATA, LVDS, Ethernet and four USB ports, thereby boosting scalability and lowering bill of material costs.

The i.MX535 is based on an enhanced version of the ARM Cortex™-A8 core running at up to 1 GHz, and a derivative part designed to deliver up to 1.2 GHz of performance is planned for later this year.

“Freescale’s long track record of optimizing the advantages of advanced ARM technology continues with the newest addition to Freescale’s pacesetting i.MX product line,” said Bernd Lienhard, vice president and general manager of Freescale’s Multimedia Applications Division. “The i.MX535 delivers a compelling blend of features, functionality, performance and energy efficiency that consumer device manufacturers need to take smart mobile device design to new levels.”

The i.MX535 processor’s rich feature set supports a number of highly compelling use cases:

* HD capability with 1080p video decode provides access to HD content available on popular online video platforms, while duplex video in HD delivers outstanding video conferencing experiences and supports the growing media/V2IP market.
* Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1 is optimized to run on the i.MX535’s OpenGL® ES graphics engine and H.264 video cores to deliver outstanding video experiences and long battery life.
* Integrated LVDS and support for analog TV outputs up to 1080p60 are ideal for tablets and enable the creation of “next-gen ready” consumer products that don’t require additional or costly external components.
* External memory support up to 2GB prepares end devices for cloud computing applications, as well as future operating systems and browsers. And improved graphics performance means faster windowing, accelerated gaming, and more responsive user interfaces.