LG to bring Nvidia Tegra 2 chips to smartphones

According to the WSJ, LG will begin using Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processors in upcoming smartphones, marking just the second time a company has agreed to use the chips in their mobile devices.

Currently, smartphones from Samsung, Motorola and others use processors from Qualcomm and Texas Instruments.

Microsoft's now-defunct Kin smartphones used the Tegra chips, but poor branding and marketing led to heinous sales of the devices. Microsoft's Zune HD media player uses the Tegra line, with excellent results.

The new deal should breathe new life into both companies, especially on the heels of LG announcing a loss for their mobile division for the first time in years.

It is unclear what operating system will be paired with LG smartphones using the Tegra chips, but most tend to agree it will be Windows Phone 7, Microsoft's upcoming mobile OS. The Tegra chips should be able to flawlessly power Xbox Live gaming, one of Microsoft's headlining features of the new OS.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 20 Aug 2010 14:04

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7 comments

biglo30

I think these new tegra chips will be top of the line.

20.8.2010 19:05 #1

enantiomer2000 (unverified)

Word on the street is that the Tegra 2 chipset is 20% over it's power usage. I think that the new TI OMAP4 will be top of the line. Tegra 2 will be 3rd in line probably.

20.8.2010 20:20 #2

KillerBug

"It is unclear what operating system will be paired with LG smartphones using the Tegra chips, but most tend to agree it will be Windows Phone 7, Microsoft's upcoming mobile OS."

The Tegra must be cursed...first it goes into the Kin (Possibly Microsoft's biggest failure ever), now it is going into WinMo7 (After all the investments and higher hardware costs, this actually might be a bigger loss than Kin).

I don't know what the idiots over at nVidia are thinking; if this is actually a good chip, then ship a few over to HTC and Motorola, and they will build awesome Android phones around them. If it is not a good chip, then I guess they are on the right path (only selling the chips to companies that won't make any sales anyway).

20.8.2010 23:13 #3

chanulus

Originally posted by KillerBug: "It is unclear what operating system will be paired with LG smartphones using the Tegra chips, but most tend to agree it will be Windows Phone 7, Microsoft's upcoming mobile OS."

The Tegra must be cursed...first it goes into the Kin (Possibly Microsoft's biggest failure ever), now it is going into WinMo7 (After all the investments and higher hardware costs, this actually might be a bigger loss than Kin).

I don't know what the idiots over at nVidia are thinking; if this is actually a good chip, then ship a few over to HTC and Motorola, and they will build awesome Android phones around them. If it is not a good chip, then I guess they are on the right path (only selling the chips to companies that won't make any sales anyway). I have a Zune HD and it works fine. I am very happy with it. Not an apple fan, and not looking to start flame war, but I think this may make for a permanent replacement for my zune and BB.

20.8.2010 23:45 #4

KillerBug

...But that is a Zune...it is nothing but a media player...no internet, no flash, no calling. It does not really need much performance to do such minimal tasks...it would work just as well (possibly better) with one of the many ARM variants found in smart phones.

21.8.2010 02:52 #5

shaffaaf

zune HD does have net, and a few apps and games.

though this tegra 2 is cortex A9 dual core, with brilliant graphics. Pspphone anyone?

21.8.2010 07:34 #6

DXR88

i despise nvidia chipsets.

23.8.2010 17:37 #7

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