Screw the tech forum: Windows 8 officially coming to ARM, Nvidia designs its first CPU (an ARM chip)

[Asher]

Awesomesauce is on its way, gentlemen.

Initial details on Nvidia's first CPU:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4099/nvidias-project-denver-nv-designed-high-performance-arm-core

NVIDIA's CEO, Jen-Hsun Huang just announced Project Denver - its first CPU architecture design ever, based on ARM's ISA. This is a custom design done by NVIDIA in conjunction with ARM and targeted at the high performance computing (HPC) market.

This is a huge announcement from NVIDIA, but not entirely unexpected. Prior to Project Denver NVIDIA licensed ARM IP but developed its own IP everywhere else for use in Tegra. Going forward, NVIDIA is turning into a full fledged SoC architecture company. This is a huge step in NVIDIA becoming a major player in the SoC evolution going forward.

Update: NVIDIA provided some more details on the announcement. Project Denver is targeted at everything from PCs to HPC/servers. This is completely a high end play going after the x86 stronghold. Project Denver ties in completely with Microsoft's announcement to bring Windows 8 to ARM next year.

NVIDIA also announced that it will be licensing ARM's Cortex A15 core, presumably for use in lower end devices (e.g. smartphones). I wouldn't be surprised if NVIDIA eventually moves to its own architecture based on ARM across the board.

[Fake Boris]

I can understand Nvidia, but why is Microsoft making the move?

[Asher]

Tablets.

Windows 8 Tablet Edition is my guess. Think of an iPad with more utility. Apple is in a direction of "simplifying" everything (the next OS X dumbs it down to be more like the iPhone/iPod OS), MS looks to be heading in the other direction and enabling more on tablets.

[Fake Boris]

That is good

I had thought that low-power G/CPUs in 2011 from Intel and AMD would do the job for improved tablets, though.

[Asher]

Intel is moving in on ARM's territory, ARM is moving in on Intel's territory. Convergence.

MS is covering their bases. Would hate to lose to Android/iOS for ARM tablets because they don't compete there.

[Wiglaf]

TECH FORUM TAKING IT

[Lorizael]

Microsoft finally responding to complaints that Windows has sucked on tablets since 2001.

[Asher]

And here is why Windows 8 will have an ARM version.

Google announces Android 3.0 (for tablets): http://mashable.com/2011/01/05/android-3-0-video/

[SlowwHand]

Invalid poll.

[Fake Boris]

Let me guess: Google ebooks can't be downloaded?

[Al B. Sure!]

This is supposed to be in the Tech forum. That's why we have it.

[Kuciwalker]

Goddamnit Google we don't need more incompatible ebook stores, just make a ****ing Kindle app.

[onodera]

Goddamnit Google we don't need more incompatible ebook stores, just make a ****ing Kindle app.

There is a Kindle app for Android. We need more stores to drive the price down. Except they all compete for publishers' attention, not ours.

[MikeH]

Independent publishing will be the way forward. If I was a big name writer, as soon as my current publishing contract came to an end I'd refuse all digital rights in any new deal and sign my own with Kindle and any other major e-book suppliers.

New writers are already making more money being purely independent by selling for less. $1 or $2 for an e-book can be an impulse purchase, and if the writer gets half that (or potentially 70% on Kindle) that's a good deal.

I can also see people offering, say, the first part of a trilogy or a long running series completely free.

There's a ton of opportunity but at the moment the publishing industry is making all the same mistakes the music industry did. And thusly they will have their profits utterly smashed by piracy.

[Asher]

Goddamnit Google we don't need more incompatible ebook stores, just make a ****ing Kindle app.

Amazon is making one for ChromeOS (which is to say, any web browser). There's already one for Android (and it's great).