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Intel is porting Android 2.2 Froyo to its x86 architecture. That'll mean, for example, Atom-based netbooks and tablets can soon run Google's Linux-based OS. In IT Blogwatch, bloggers ponder the future.
Your humble blogwatcher selected these bloggy morsels for your enjoyment. Not to mention a bit shady...
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Rik Myslewski brings "bad news" for "the increasingly irrelevant" Microsoft:
Intel is porting Android 2.2, née Froyo, to the x86 architecture. ... with an x86 Froyo on tap, Android could make inroads into the established netbook market as well as the nascent tablet market. ... That's unlikely to cheer up ... Redmond.
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After stumbling on its Menlow low-end attempt, Intel ... [now has the] much more power-miserly Moorestown platform. ... Its use in netbooks and tablets would seem to fit ... quite nicely, with smartphones being a better target for Moorestown's follow on, Medfield.
David Flynn actually broke the story:
The highly-anticipated Android 2.2 Froyo release looks set to mark another stage in the evolution ... with the move onto ... x86. ... Android was originally written for the ARM processors.
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Our expectation is ... [it] will be based on the Froyo release and will be available this summer to developers [said] Renee James, Intels senior veep for software and services. ... [It] wasnt tremendously difficult, as we have a lot experience in Linux. ... All of the ... code will be fed back into the open branch that will be created for x86.
Someone had to make the "armless" joke; Nick Farrell obliges:
The move could put Android on a lot more slates and netbooks and be a major blow to ARM. ... Intel's chum Microsoft ... will be a lot less happy to see Android running on netbooks instead of Windows 7 or Windows 7 Mobile.
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Microsoft has muttered darkly about running Android out of town in an IP war. However, if it finds itself opposite Intel in the court room, Redmond will be very lonely.
David Gonzales doesn't know about us:
I dont know about you, but Im pretty much satisfied with running Windows 7 on my netbooks. ... But if for some reason, you would like to run Android on your netbook, then youll be glad to hear that youll be able to do that soon.
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The fruit of their labor can be expected in the next two months.
Speaking of fruit, are you pondering what Dexis pondering?
Speaking of Fruit, I wonder what Apple thinks about all this, since Intel is the source for all motherboards and chips in the current Macs.
To which, zeo offers this riposte:
There are rumors of Apple switching to AMD processors. Im sure theyve got OS X running on an AMD box already. ... Then itd be like the 90s all over again with Apple having put out benchmarks that say theyre faster on their hardware compared to Intel.
Meanwhile, Helmore wishes Intel would hurry up, already:
The longer Intel waits with getting Android phones running on their hardware the harder it will get for Intel. I mean, all apps that are made with the NDK or have parts build with the NDK won't run on Intel's x86 chips unless the developer recompiles them with an NDK that works for x86.
Richi Jenningsis an independent analyst/consultant, specializing in blogging, email, and security. A cross-functional IT geek since 1985, you can follow him as @richi on Twitter, pretend to be richij's friend on Facebook, or just use good old email: itbw@richij.com.
