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BDTI Releases Benchmark Results for CEVA-Teaklite-III By BDTI, 2/18/2009 BDTI has released BDTI DSP Kernel Benchmarks™ results for the CEVA-TeakLite-III core from CEVA. As we’ve written previously, CEVA-TeakLite-III is a 32-bit DSP core that primarily targets audio applications (both portable and high-definition) but also targets VoIP and cellular baseband. It is the third generation of CEVA’s TeakLite architecture, and the first to use a native 32-bit data size. The CEVA-TeakLite-III also supports SIMD (single-instruction, multiple data) dual-16-bit MACs. (More)

Xilinx Intros Spartan-6, Virtex-6; Promises App-Specific Development Support By BDTI, 2/18/2009 Xilinx recently introduced two new FPGA chip families, Spartan-6 and Virtex-6, that offer increased capacity and lower power consumption relative to their predecessors. For the first time, the new Spartan and Virtex families use the same underlying architecture to enable easier migration. There are, however, differences in fabrication process and features. Spartan-6 chips will be fabbed in a 45 nm process, while Virtex-6 chips will be fabbed in 40 nm.  Spartan-6 chips incorporate DDR3 integrated memory controllers and support for 3.3-volt I/O; Virtex-6 chips include specialized FIFO logic, tri-mode EMAC, and System Monitor. (The System Monitor is a debug and thermal management tool that was introduced in Virtex-5.) (More)

Measuring Energy Consumption of Embedded Applications By BDTI, 2/18/2009 Energy consumption is a chief concern for most embedded applications, especially for portable applications where battery life is paramount. In these applications, an accurate understanding of energy consumption is critical to processor selection and to system design. Unfortunately, many obstacles hinder comparisons of processors’ energy consumption. (More)

Jeff Bier's Impulse Response — Mindless Lawyering*** By Jeff Bier, 2/18/2009 Not too long ago I received (as I often do) a press release describing a new product from a chip vendor.  I read through the press release, and at the end, I saw this: Confidentiality Notice. This message may contain information that is confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, disclosure, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message, or any attachments, is strictly prohibited. (More)