IDF Day 2: Anand Chandrasekher: "MIDs: Platform for Innovation"

Name: IDF Day 2: Anand Chandrasekher: "MIDs: Platform for Innovation" - Page 3
Brand: IDF

by Daniel A. Begun — Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 08:15 PM EDT

Compatibility and form factors

Page 3: Compatibility and form factors
- Page 1: IDF Day 2: Anand Chandrasekher: "MIDs: Platform for Innovation"
- Page 2: Atom

One of the issues stifling development of mobile Internet applications according to Chandrasekher, is the lack of compatibility between devices. As new Internet technologies develop, it becomes increasingly problematic for developers to try to support the new technologies on multiple devices and platforms. However, by developing for an IA platform (such as Core 2 or Atom), developers need only write one version of an app, which would be compatible across multiple platforms and form factors.

To prove the point, Russ launched a Flash 10 (beta)-based photo editing application on a Compal MID. Next, Warren Tomlin, Chief Creative Officer for Fuel Games demonstrated a Flash-based game that he says took only one day to port over to the MID platform--and that included adding touchscreen capabilities to the application.

Fuel Games is one of hundreds of ISVs creating content for the "MID ecosystem." Other companies include Skype, Real, and MobiTV. New partners were announced today as well, including McAfee, Orb, and Livecast. One such company is Neusoft, which Chandrasekher said is the largest software company in China. Neusoft is developing both consumer and business applications for the MID platform in areas such as the digital home, automobile information and entertainment, IT, and health care. Dr. Liu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Neusoft said that a hospital in Beijing was already using a PDA-based system and that the MID platform would be even more efficient, allowing doctors to review test results, health records, MRIs, and other similar documents in real time.

Companies such as Asus, BenQ, and Panasonic have also designed Menlow-based products. (Menlow is the Intel codename for a particular iteration of the Atom-based MID platform.) Chandrasekher said we are currently in wave one of Menlow products; wave two will come towards the end of the year; and the third wave of products will come out next year. Chandrasekher also mentioned that MIDs will come in different form factors and product categories. Chandrasekher broke the product categories up into productivity netbooks and MIDs, consumer MIDs, and communication MIDs.

Rance Poehler, President of Panasonic Solutions Company, showed off an ultramobile, ruggedized Toughbook that will start shipping next month for the enterprise and government sectors. Starting today, in parts of Asia the Fujitsu Atrom-based Lifebook MID is shipping. Also launching today is the ClarionMiND device in the consumer and communications space. The device is primarily a navigation device, but it also supports media functionality, such as video playback. In the entertainment space, the Lenovo IdeaPad is already shipping in China.