Tiger Telematics’ eagerly anticipated handheld multi-entertainment device, the Gizmondo, will come complete with the industry’s most advanced on-board non-volatile memory chip, mDiskOnChip G3 from M-Systems
Launched in March 2004, mDiskOnChip G3 provides low cost, next-generation flash storage for embedded systems, without compromising reliability and performance. It leverages M-Systems’ field-proven technologies developed for mobile phones and PDAs to deliver the most reliable multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash-based data and code storage with boot functionality. mDiskOnChip G3 is optimised for seamless integration in embedded systems with support for all major CPU architectures, such as ARM, and all operating systems,
including Microsoft Windows CE .NET.
The Microsoft Windows CE.NET-powered Gizmondo boasts a 2.8-inch TFT colour screen with a Samsung ARM9 400MHz processor and incorporates a 64-bit graphics accelerator. Planned to hit markets in Europe and North America late
this year and during 2005, Gizmondo provides cutting-edge gaming, multimedia messaging, an MP3 music player, MPEG4 movie playing capability, a digital camera and a GPRS network link to allow wide-area network gaming. It also contains a GPS chip for location-based services and is equipped with
Bluetooth for use in multi-player gaming. Nestled within Gizmondo is M-Systems’ 64MB flash disk, providing the necessary on-board storage for the variety of software applications.
“I am sure that customers will appreciate the overall user experience achieved through the impressive combination of the latest technologies that is found within Gizmondo,” said Francois Kaplan, general manager of M-Systems Europe. “I am pleased to see our new mDiskOnChip G3 product contribute to the high-performance, small size and long battery life of this exciting multi-entertainer.”
mDiskOnChip G3 is based on the same technologies that catapulted Mobile DiskOnChip G3 to success, making it the choice of the top mobile phone and PDA manufacturers. Among these technologies are x2 technology and TrueFFS
software. x2 technology was developed by M-Systems to overcome the reliability and performance degradation of highly cost-effective MLC NAND technology, which stores twice the amount of data per cell than the standard, single bit, NAND flash. TrueFFS, an industry-standard for flash management,
maximises the lifetime of flash silicon, guarantees data reliability and contributes to the ease of integration of DiskOnChip products.
“DiskOnChip’s ease of integration has helped us to decrease our time to market. Like Microsoft’s operating system and Samsung’s processor, M-Systems’ flash disk is helping us to deliver an amazing amount of high-performance functionality, which should also help us to capture some of the enormous
handheld gaming market,” said Steve Carroll, CTO at Gizmondo.
Gizmondo will be priced between US$300 and US$400 and is set to first launch in the United Kingdom later this year.