Cell Computer Project

[mihail_m]

Hello everyone,

I would like to show my project:

Cell Computer Project

http://genetechnics.webs.com/

I have been working on it for a year and a half - there is a thread on the Cellular & Handheld Application Development forum that is read-only since this month and I would like to discuss the ideas of the project on this forum.

Best regards,

Michael Molin

GeneTechnics Company

[mihail_m]

Though, this is the theme of the other ISN forum, it's main Intel's research for multi-cores and my major scientific project for AI. Join the discussion:

What would you do with 80 cores? by Sean Koehl

And new review and announcement:

Multi-core research update: the intimate coupling of software & hardware

Michael

[mihail_m]

A new discussion on IT@Intel blog:

Why can't a mobile phone just be a phone? by Heath Buckmaster

Michael

[mihail_m]

I love this game. Do you really believe that anyone would replace a half drunken bottle of beer or something at a party with any device except a cell phone?

Compact size and comfortable interface. Plus PC functionality using new mobile processors.

Michael

[mihail_m]

Samsung May Partner With Armani to Manufacture Mobile Phones

A new level? A Cell PC instead of the Q1?

Michael

[Jason_Z_Intel]

I think Samsung wants to develop the cool phones for fashion users. iPhone is one good example of cool phone. The joint design work with Armani may be mainly focusing on ID design, but not software stack and UI applications, which is not the strength of Armani.

I am interested to see what 'Coool" stuff that they will bring to the market, and how will it compete with iPhone.

[mihail_m]

I like that Samsung is making a real progress in many directions. Samsung is a No.1 innovator in the world - together with the Japanese electronics manufacturers (Sony Clie *NX70V*, NX80, TG50 and NZ90 and Sharp Zaurus SL-6000L and SL-C3000 are still just dream devices) which mostly work for their own market.

Now, Samsung is implementing new technology projects increasingly better with each model and what's the most important for all the world. It is a real leader in the industry. The most recent examples - Samsung SGH-P520 and F700 (compare it with HTC Touch). They really one-up HTC as a affiliated smartphone manufacturer for Microsoft exactly in this relation using the same Windows Mobile platform. And my hope for the future is Windows Mobile for Cell PC (like Windows XP for Tablet PC).

Michael

[mihail_m]

BTW, about my major project - AI-based expert translation.

One small step for IT projects

Also, some links about iPhone development:

Joe Hewitt presentation on iUI (Video)

Joe Hewitt's blog: Introducing iUI

Aptana IDE: iPhone Development Plugin

Actually, all those iPhone's limitations for users - "There are no gestures to perform cut, copy, paste, drag-and-drop, and text selection operations," could be easily overcome by using the combination of the keyboard and control panel of the Cell PC Platform.

For example, drag-and-drop operation for toolbars customization - the Enter key resembles a trackball for cursor navigation and by double-clicking it you can grab an icon, move it independently (even between the main and second displays - e.g. F6 key is used for toggling) and then put it at the right place by the next click.

This also enables working even with 2D and 3D graphic elements in the document window of the main display - by one click, the element can be selected and then scaled; the image of the element can be zoomed with two different scales using the arrow keys - by 100% (up and down) and by 10% (right and left); by double-clicking, the graphic object can be rotated or transformed using the arrow keys in combination with the control keys, and these editing operations could also be transferred to the external TV screen.

Michael

[mihail_m]

Join the contest. My bid is Immanuel Kant.

Did Bradbury or Asimov Predict Multi-Core?

Actually, the multi-core computing as a really working model of the human brain is like landing of an expedition on the Moon in 2020 according to NASA plans. No one wants to live in Pripyat' near the Chernobyl' nuclear plant - the shield of magnetic field of the Earth protects any living and thinking creatures not to go out of it. The human brain uses perception (trasferring of original data that are saved in neural networks - memory) during the multithreading of sensory signals not computation (processing of original data). And the processing or combining them as a thinking or moving-ahead process is performed in one center for balancing body - cerebellum (for a description, read the article of Henrietta C. Leiner and Alan L. Leiner - link). Exactly, the cerebellum has turned our ancestors into people by balancing on two feet. And then, that's those exact movements learnt from the experience - a handy work that made a man in the process of evolution.

A cell has one core (PC platform) and many sensory mechanisms (attached processors of the Cell processor). This is the Cell processor model.

Computing is a sequential process as an ordinary program even when these processes are running on multiple processors or cores. In this relation, I'm remembering the article of Bernard Cole:

Virtual Machines, Cell's "apulets" and the future of connected computing

"If the application being sent or requested requires more processing than is available locally, additional compute resources are on the network, and, depending on timing constraints, are made available locally. Since all computing resources have the same basic structure and employ the same ISA, the particular resource performing this processing can be located anywhere on the network and can be dynamically assigned."

Also, the discussion on Research@Intel blog:

What Makes Parallel Programming Hard?

BTW, subscribe to CNET's podcast for every workday - Buzz Out Loud. I really like it. They are truly amazing and working on the level of the radio stars I have listened to - Laura Schlesinger (psychology) and Stephanie Miller (politics).

Michael

[mihail_m]

Ballmer: Innovation Takes Time

That's the current politics of the party. Three to seven years. Too many contracts in the industry in order to change anything (e.g. Apple and AT&T for iPhone).

"When I arrived at Microsoft 27 years ago, there was a company that owned 70 percent of the IT industry."

"That company is still a fine company, but it is not that company that it was 27 years ago, in part because it lacked the patience to stay with their investments. It's ironic that IBM invented the personal computer business but is no longer a participant."

Now, the king and queen - Intel and Microsoft. But why to hold back the progress for longer term? Anyway, it can't be that way. When a really working light bulb was invented by Edison it has changed people's lives immediately. I would think about the other 27 years of Microsoft (Google is nigh). There is no other chance in the industry - "A Cell PC and Mobile Web 2.0 For Everyone". That's the politics.

World Ahead.

At WinHEC 2007, Craig Mundie, Chief Research and Strategy Officer, Microsoft said in his keynote:

"So, let me leave the developed world behind a little bit and go on now to a demonstration of what is going to happen in the emerging markets, and how the use of computing and other types of communications technologies is going to allow us to change that environment.

So, here we might expect that a lot of these people are going to live in an environment, maybe a rural village. The one thing that we do know today is that those people, they're buying computers. They happen to call them cell phones. Cell phones today and in the next few years will have microprocessors that rival the performance capabilities of the things that we all designed for and used as desktops not that many years ago. And the ability to use these not just for the traditional telephony activity but for other applications is going to become increasingly important."

That's really actual and concerns the developed world too. My goal - a personal compact-as-a-cell-phone computing device allowing to work with information on the go and at home using a TV screen. MID - 53x103 mm.

It is the real deal for developers and users due to a unique geometry of the two touch-screen UIs (full-screen document window (widescreen - 3.2") and 53 keys (8 mm wide) of the keyboard) and control panel (13 keys and a trackball).

Michael

[mihail_m]

To the situation in the industry:

IBM (Cisco and Oracle) - spades, Intel (HP and Dell) - clubs, Microsoft - diamonds, Apple - hearts.

Now, we have a new 'mobile hardware' leader - Nokia (an iPhone-like device - Engadget - N800 as a precursor). Paired strongly with Microsoft according to the corporate approaches. Apple (Palm and Google) as innovators look like very 'closed' companies here at the moment.

There is definitely a need of consolidation. In this relation, it's really interesting what Google is planning to launch on the mobile software and hardware market - Mobile Web 2.0 development is the goal for implementing a comfortable mobile access to information. That's a corporate social responsibility for them.

The next revolution in computing is developing before our eyes - Joe Schutz.

Cell computer.

Actually, its not about cores - Intel proved it. Its about displays.

http://blogs.intel.com/technology/2007/04/the_current_revolution_in_comp.html

I like this situation - Microsoft and Nokia really trust in 'cell PC concept'. And the most important goal of its implementation is mobile advertising where both companies have definite planned strategies.

Michael

[mihail_m]

A discussion on The Official Palm Blog:

Ed Colligan: A Message to Palm Customers, Partners and Developers

My comment for the discussion here:

I think it's nothing wrong with Foleo. It is one of the most compact form factors for the notebook PC platform that is allowed by the ergonomics of full-size keyboard. I would call it the only possible quantum jump from the Treo's level as a Pocket PC category. Note that any standard PC platform UI has two necessary components: a display (a full-screen document window) and a keyboard with a mouse (trackball). That's the reason why the PDA category of devices has no any significant share of the mobile PC market. Only Palm Treo by having a keyboard meets these standards but the ergonomics of its keyboard is far from ideal - the keys have to be twice as bigger (7-8 mm wide) for a comfortable UI. And the Treo's functionalty is limited by Latin alphabet while two-thirds of people of the world are using non-Latin alphabets. So, a new form factor requires at least two displays - one for displaying a document and the second one of a touch-sensitive type for interaction with it by displaying a full-screen keyboard. Think of MotoRAZR2 clamshell form factor. That's the base of my project - Cell PC Platform.


P.S. I'm also remembering Michael Mace's post as a comfirmation of the 'quantum jump or leap' mentioned in my comment.

Michael Mace: "But I don't think the Foleo really is a "mobile companion." Back when I started to work at Palm (before the turn of the century) one of the old veterans of the company pulled me aside and passed along a little wisdom. "Michael," he told me, "Ya gotta think in terms of real estate. If you're in another device's real estate, you're competing with that device. Palm lives in your pocket; it competes with other things that go in your pocket. If you get bigger than the pocket, you're living in the briefcase, and you're competing with the notebook computer."

Foleo lives in the briefcase. It's displacing the notebook computer from your bag. I don't care what they call it, I don't care if Palm fully realizes it yet, but the fact is that Foleo's a notebook computer."

Agreed. That's why UMPCs are actually living better in cars as entertainment and navigation systems:

When geek meets style - Form factor and Usage Innovation using Intel Mobile Products

Michael

[mihail_m]

An interesting discussion on MediaPost website about mobile search:

Steve Smith: An Open Question...

My comment for the discussion here:

Just give the web developers enough screen space and functionalty of a standard PC platform (that has created the Internet itself by using 15-20? displays for the development) and any website can be converted into a mobile one if there is a strict definition of its four main parts: 1. logo 2. menu 3. web content - sections. 4. advertising sections.

Then, create a standard platform having a clamshell form factor with two displays (the second display is instead of the keypad e.g. MotoRAZR). Thats all - Mobile Web 2.0 is here - it just needs two displays for navigation: main display - logo at the top, the web content is below; the second display - first, the full-sceen ads are displayed, then there is the menu of a website.

Remember, the first steps of the Internet - there were the versions with or without frames - the situation is the same for mobile websites: the current Mobile Web 1.0 - PDA versions without frames. Note that a new standard platform with two displays has the screen area that is one and half bigger than iPhones.

Thats the answer for developers and users - Cell PC Platform - http://geocities.com/gene_technics/

Also, a discussion on Research@Intel blog:

Justin Rattner: Improving Energy Efficiency across the Technology Ecosystem

Michael

[mihail_m]

A MID based on Intel's Moorestown platform (video). Looks like a remote control. In a general concept, a step in the right direction towards a cell computer.

IDF: Intel to dump Microsoft as OS supplier for Mobile Internet Devices?

Not an open question. Microsoft Office is a standard for business-oriented devices.

Also, a post on Technology@Intel blog:

Breaking Barriers & Unleashing Computing Experiences -- IDF Day 2 Mobility Keynotes

Two rules of thumb for mobile platforms marketing:

1. If a mobile hardware platform has no a full-sized keyboard for touch typing - its just a media player that cant compete with any notebook that has it.

2. If a smartphone hardware platform has a bigger form factor than a MotoRAZR which is a standard for cell phones, 100 millions of people will not use it every day.

As for the mobile Internet, the task is to create an infrastructure of Mobile Web 2.0 for moving the current cell phone users to a new standard hardware platform.

Recent years, the specialists working on the implementation of the W3C Mobile Web Initiative call to learn from the first steps of the Internet - this lesson is that it hasn't been created without a standard PC platform (thanks to Intel and Microsoft) with a 15-20" display (that means enough screen area for displaying).

The factor of maximum screen area of a mobile device that has a compact form factor is the most important - a Cell PC has one and half bigger screen area than iPhone and new Intel prototype presented at this IDF also has less screen area.

Let's ask cell phone users to choose: 42x145, 53x103, 61x115 mm. What is the practical value of these big sizes when users need a compact device with a familiar form factor? And what is the practical sense in ten thousands models of cell phones if they can't be used as computers running fully functional applications - now when Intel is launching such 'high performance processors with low power consumption'. The progress of technologies offers new possibilities for mobile users.

Remember the beginning of 80s - it's time for a standardization in the industry to create the base for development. No other way - that's the lesson Intel and Microsoft know very well to achieve success - for sake of everyone.

There would be no Mobile Web 2.0 without a standard PC platform with a cell phone form factor (not a PDA form factor - exactly, a cell phone factor to replace existing cell phones with a standard mobile communications platform with a full PC functionality). Until this, all the talks about working with information on the go will last next 5-10 years with no useful result for every ordinary person.

I'm emphasizing that it's for working 'on the go' - two thumbs typing on the PDA phones and smartphones or tapping like in the demo above is good when you are sitting on the couch - and, in this case, at home, at work, on the train etc. a compact and slim notebook is much more productive choice for that. The benefit of a compact cell phone form factor is one-hand operation and especially one-hand typing and surfing e.g. while commuting or walking in the s treets.

Intel, give the world a standard platform for Mobile Web 2.0 that has a cell phone form factor as you did it for the Internet. Together with Microsoft. For the progress of information technologies.

Michael

[mihail_m]

Touch screen devices the trend in future tech

x86 gunning for ARM market share in mobile spaces

It says everything - a standard cell 'PC' platform - and I suppose that's the reason that the XScale processors were sold. It will allow to port desktop applications more smoothly.

"When this happens, x86 will bring with it a host of interoperable tools which allow for desktop software creation parallel to mobile. In some cases, a recompile will not even be required to run on the mobile device."

In this relation, I'm remembering the words of Ray Ozzie, Microsoft's CTO:

"Our dream is to deliver a seamless experience where all the technology in your life and business comes together in a way that just works for you" - Microsoft

It's up to their corporate social responsibility.

Michael

[mihail_m]

Is Google trademarking Google PC?

Well, we already know about IBM PC trademark. I understand that Google Phone might be mixed with iPhone for sure but you can't have a cake and eat it - the Intel hardware platform (Silverthorne) has been launched and when does the development begin? Also, a post of Arik Hesseldahl, BusinessWeek about this key issue:

Why I Won't Buy an iPhone

And Microsoft Cell PC as a generic name sounds better.

Michael

[mihail_m]

New interesting posts at Blogs@Intel:

What's the next big thing? by Jacqueline Mu

Wireless Co-existence: Helping radios get along with each other by Xingang Guo

My comment for both posts:

I think its just a question of time - now USB protocol is a standard for wired connections between devices and IP protocol - for network connections, then something like WiMAX will be a standard for transfering IP packets via wireless networks connecting any types of devices and providing mobile communications and location-based services.

The same is for the Internet browsing - original version for desktop and notebook PC platforms and Mobile Web extension for a standard cell phone form factor device like MotoRAZR with the second display instead of the keypad which is providing overall screen area that is 1.5 times bigger than an iPhone is offering for customers now.

This is the Cell PC platform - with a x86 architecture as a standard for computers.

Michael

[mihail_m]

A new interesting discussion on CSR@Intel blog:

Digital Inclusion, Digital Divide...is there a difference? by Perry Gruber

Also, good news from Microsoft:

Ballmer: Microsoft will power the mobile revolution by Cade Metz

"Compared to anybody else participating in the industry, we are trying to provide a critical mass of solutions that will really be an enabler of third parties," Ballmer said. "Apple's done some nice work clearly, but it's far more end-to-end and self contained. And you've had the same kind of approach from RIM."

Right on. Though if they are planning to launch SCMDM similar to RIM's one they have to consider a unified 'hardware' platform not only software one.

"We have to think about the phone as a universal remote control for your life - your business life as well as your personal life," he said. "Consumers will want phones that span all of their life personas."

I like this. And I guess he means 'computers' based on the Intel's mobile 'PC' platform called Moorestown with a Silverthorne processor. Phones were left in the last 'digital' century. Before IDF Fall 2007. "Do what you want from one device" - isn't it a computer or "all-in-one multimedia computer" as Nokia defined the concept of N95. And Google is already starting to talk about Google PC according to the recent news. I hope Microsoft also supports this approach as Intel develops it.

And for the overall picture, NVIDIA is telling about their concepts:

Small plans: NVIDIA and the future of smartphones by Jon Stokes

Here is the introduction to the story:

"The past two decades of PC history have been about desktops, servers, and laptops, but the "personal computer" of the coming decade is a small, pocket- or purse-sized device with a brightly lit screen, wireless networking and I/O, a sizable chunk of storage, and plenty of CPU and GPU horsepower on board."

And as a conclusion:

"In contrast, the only usage scenario that Intel seems bent on enabling with Silverthorne is "it's just like using a PC laptop, but even more cramped."

Why cramped? It's so simple. You type on your PC keyboard with two hands, you operate your cell phone with one hand on the go. That's all the cell PC is about. The same applications, the same experience.

Nokia also has great news - Nokia, Motorola and Qisda plan to launch WiMAX devices and handsets in 2008

In addition to The Register's coverage of CTIA:

mocoNews.net's @CTIA

CTIA: Liveblogging the Steve Ballmer Keynote by Dieter Bohn

and the Wall Street Journal's article on this topic:

Why Microsoft, RIM Fight Is Entering the Consumer Market by Robert A. Guth and Jessica E. Vascellaro

The beginning of the next year promises to be really exciting. And really, where's Bill Gates as one of the founders of UMPC (and Tablet PC earlier) development (his webcasts page)? It would be interesting to know about his vision of the current situation in this relation. Is Microsoft planning something while Google is declaring about their future mobile platform? The Register says in their article about Steve Ballmer's keynote:

"As part of this effort, he explained, Microsoft is intent on building a mobile platform that bridges the gap between work and play."

I really like this strategy. Let's wait for its implementation. A unified hardware platform is the solution.

Michael

[mihail_m]

Hi, there

I found an article on CNET that is really worth it to start a discussion:

The mobile future is wide open by Tom Krazit

Meanwhile, among the news about Google's announcement, I've found some forecasts that explain many things about the goals of the Open Handset Alliance.

infoSync World reports:

"As such, the biggest surprise today was that Google actually has managed to get the three key holders of the future mobile development to join their initiative; namely Intel, Broadcom and Qualcomm. Regardless of manufacturers, carriers and service providers, these three companies are gold worth to Google. If Google manages to keep an open dialog with all three companies in the long run, there's a good chance that we'll see Google reaching its most obvious goal at least; the mobile Web and the Web goes hand in hand into the future, and eventually becomes one seamless Web.

Other surprises were to find Sprint and HTC on the list. As we all know, Sprint will start rolling out mobile WiMAX next year; while HTC will unveil Intel based Mobile Internet Devices taking advantage of that network. Just as interesting, although we haven't seen it in person, HTC has already created a prototype of a mobile device that is supposed to run Android.

However, perhaps next year already, we may see Intel based Mobile Internet Devices powered by the Android platform (which currently supports Ubuntu, Windows XP and Vista). This again means that Google in the years to come may attract computer giants such as Dell, HP and Toshiba. One thing is for sure though; Microsoft is in serious need of new mobile strategies if they want the masses to use Windows platforms when browsing the mobile Internet in the future.

Fortunately for Microsoft fans, the company is already working on its next-gen mobile platform, which will breed business and consumer needs while at the same time talking seamlessly with Windows computers."

And another interesting thing - among the new upcoming touch-screen phones from Samsung and LG, I've just found that LG Venus has a touch-sensitive display as the 'second' one and not as the main one. It's the second touch screen for navigation - and now, the concept of a dual-display navigation for cell phones will be implemented for all the handset markets not only in Japan (Mitsubishi D800iDS launched in the beginning of the year). Well, it's a progress. Next year is WiMAX-enabled on Menlow platform. Motorola and Nokia are going to launch the WiMAX devices and handsets according to the recent news. So, I believe that there are really good prospects for developers.

Michael

[mihail_m]

Hi everyone,

This time I would like to talk about the one-hand navigation in a mobile Internet browser working on the Cell PC Platform. As you know from its description, the central ring of the control panel has a trackball. So, when you are holding the device in the right (left) hand, the only one thumb is used for navigation while you are working with both displays.

The central ring is working as a two-button mouse with a scrolling wheel: pressing the trackball - left-button click for cursor placing in the forms of the document window (main display) or selecting items in the context menu (second display); 'up and down arrows' - a scrolling wheel for browsing the content in the document window (main display) and navigating through the items of the context menu (second display); 'right arrow' - right-button click for showing the context menu on the second display with transferring the control to it and 'left arrow' invokes the keyboard on the second display.

For working in the document window of the mobile browser, single clicking the trackball allows to set the position in the text from where it can be selected by cursor movement, the next pressing of the trackball defines the borders of the selection; for text editing operations, single clicking the trackball is used for selection with the arrow keys in combination with control keys; double clicking the trackball is used for drag-and-drop operations and advanced editing.

And, for the whole picture, note that according to the concept of the Mobile Internet development based on the Cell PC Platform - the logo and sections of a mobile website are in the document window (main display) and the menu of the mobile website is on the second display (the full-screen ad banners are shown before the menu when you are opening a website (or the section of the website) - the same is for the contextual ads while the mobile search with displaying the results in the document window is performed).

Michael

[mihail_m]

The root of the problem is the availability of the 'Mobile Internet' services for everyone not only to corporate users that have notebooks and wireless connections. Why am I emphasizing the Mobile Internet services? It's the only way to develop all this stuff for the devices that everyone has - cell phones. Do you remember how Apple told about 'not watered down Internet' on an iPhone in their ads? And what is now? Facebook has developed a special version of their site for iPhone. Because fast and comfortable working with information is a key thing. And ability to work with it on the go without a need for carrying the notebook with you everywhere.

The current situation suits cell phone carriers because they don't have to worry about anything regarding ubiquitous connectivity for accessing to 'information' for everyone (just for corporate users) - people talk on their cell phones, text their SMSs (really, that's something from pagers' era - a message with 256 characters - and that's for modern technologies of exchanging the information with megabit speeds) and not even tend to send their photos via MMS. Just because there is no compelling 'Mobile Internet' services with rich graphics except those that are being developed for an iPhone.

There is no mass demand for them in relation to other cell phone models. And why? Cell phones are not intended for access to information by definition - the only good job for them is voice communications. Now it's already an old-fashioned category as pagers. Mobile content providers want to offer more than ringtones and games for subscribers around the world - music, video, TV, Mobile Internet.

A personal device has to be a business information tool first of all - a 'personal computer'. The market of telecom and IT services is in need of a unified hardware platform with a x86 architecture as Intel Moorestown (with WiMAX connectivity) for the Mobile Internet development. The fact is that this platform is significantly closer to cell phone factor (42x145 mm) than an iPhone (61x115 mm). And for maximum efficiency (provided by maximum screen area of two displays) and comfort of working with a device, I'm offering a device with a standard cell phone form factor - the Cell PC (53x103 mm). That's the base for the 'Mobile Internet' services offered for everyone. For ubiquitous access to information.

Michael

[mihail_m]

Motorola's Zander out after Razr deemed one-hit wonder

My offer for the cell phone inventor - Motorola Cell PC.


Regards,

Michael Molin

GeneTechnics Company