MIPS and partners accelerate SoC design for Android-based devices

CES, LAS VEGAS, USA: MIPS Technologies Inc. announced that it is working with leading providers of key IP for the connected digital home-including audio, video, graphics and security functionality-to help SoC developers get to market quickly with fully-integrated hardware/software solutions.

MIPS is working closely with Chips & Media, Discretix, Tensilica, Vivante Corp. and other leading providers of semiconductor IP to help customers meet cost/performance targets with solutions that optimize performance for devices based in particular on the Android platform.

"Providing integrated solutions for key SoC functionality is critical to helping our customers get to market on time. We are partnering with leading providers of semiconductor IP to offer best-in-breed solutions, and choices that enable companies to differentiate their products," said Art Swift, vice president of marketing for MIPS Technologies.

"We are pleased to work with Chips&Media, Discretix, Tensilica and Vivante Corp. to provide optimized solutions. These companies join our vibrant community of complementary IP providers for Android, and we expect to announce more partners in the near future."

For video encoding and decoding, MIPS is working closely with MIPS Alliance Program (MAP) partner Chips&Media.

Steve Kim, CEO, Chips&Media, said: "Developers can leverage Chips&Media's advanced video encoder and decoder IP covering the full line of video standards up to full HD resolution, for a wide range of consumer electronics devices. By integrating our video codecs with MIPS processor IP for Android-based products, we are enabling the next generation of connected devices. We are pleased to be a part of this revolutionary initiative."

MIPS is working closely with Discretix on integrated security solutions for Android-based products. "Platform security and content protection are essential for content sharing and access from online and local sources across multiple devices. Discretix offers a suite of security platforms, cryptographic cores and content protection applications allowing content to be secured both at-rest and in-transit, complying with multiple DRM standards and schemes. We are pleased to work with MIPS to offer integrated high-performance security solutions for Android-enabled products," said Edo Ganot, executive vice president, sales and business development of Discretix.

To enable OpenGL ES 2.0 hardware accelerated graphics for Android, MIPS is working with MAP partner Vivante. The company's' mainstream and high-end GPU cores, together with MIPS' processor cores, offer a range of scalable solutions for customers' next-generation products.

"With Vivante's GPU solutions, we are delivering a differentiated user experience that is tightly linked to critical middleware and applications ecosystem, including the revolutionary Android platform. We are working closely with MIPS to provide integrated solutions with the best available graphics quality, ease of integration and cost competitiveness," said Wei-Jin Dai, president and CEO of Vivante.

For HiFi audio, MIPS and Tensilica recently announced they are working together to accelerate SoC design activity on Android. For audio subsystems that require flexibility and ultra-low power programmable audio codec support, SoC developers can leverage Tensilica's HiFi 2 Audio DSP integrated with MIPS cores.

The proven high-quality audio solution provides over 50 difference audio codecs that span connected devices ranging from mobile wireless phones to low-cost digital picture frames, high-definition DTVs, set-top boxes, Blu-ray Disc players and more.