First Look:

PortalPlayer Preface opens up new Vista on notebooks

By Bernard Cole
iApplianceWeb
(01/07/06, 12:54 AM GMT)

Las Vegas, Nev. – Looking beyond supplying hardware and software technology to MP3-enable portable and mobile phones, PortalPlayer, Inc. introduced a new technology called Preface that will give notebook users instant access to data, music and photos without opening the notebook, booting the system and loading the needed application.

"This is an exciting time for the company as we begin our diversification into new markets beyond our traditional MP3 business," said Gary Johnson, president and chief executive officer of PortalPlayer. "Gartner Inc. estimates that the

combined global professional and home mobile market will grow from shipping 73.6 million units in 2006 to 111.7 million units in 2009(1).

To address that market, the PortalPlayer Preface technology platform is designed to enables a second user interface in new notebook computers that seamlessly integrates with a flexible new feature set in Microsoft Windows Vista called Windows SideShow.

Acting as a second user interface for notebooks and a set of applications that link to the programs and data stored on the main system, the new interface is "always on," providing immediate access to critical content such as e-mail, contacts and other digital media.

The main components of the complete secondary subsystem include an ultra-low-power processor, a second display and user controls that can be installed in various locations, including the notebook cover on the other side of the main display.

Johnson said nNotebook computer manufacturers can choose from a wide variety of PortalPlayer processors, firmware and software options.

Typical solutions may include a small color screen and navigation buttons, finger print sensor or touchpad. Included in the platform are several native software applets, represented as icons, which enable access to the applications on the primary system from the second user interface.

In addition, Microsoft is encouraging software developers to create new applets for Windows SideShow called gadgets, which add new information lookup functionality.

Important elements of the Preface technology platform include the System-In-Packages, such as the initially available PP5024, which integrates all processor, peripheral interfaces, audio and power management capabilities.

Johnson said the PP5024 uses dual ARM7 cores in a parallel architecture that maximizes peak performance and extends battery life in "always on" situations.

The company is also making available a firmware development kit -- with multiple music formats, digital rights management technologies and multimedia codecs.

How Preface works

Designed to work closely with Microsoft’s Vista, the PortalPlayer platform includes specific Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to enable native functions and the easy development of customized Windows SideShow gadgets.

Depending on the native applications and gadgets installed, the second interface will automatically synchronize with Windows Vista and cache the data requested. This synchronization will occur through a Microsoft module called Windows SideShow firmware, which runs on top of PortalPlayer's firmware, providing a complete API layer for seamless integration with Windows SideShow firmware and the Microsoft .Net development framework.

The Preface technology platform is available now and is expected to appear in notebook computers in the second half of 2006. The Preface reference design, including the PP5024 System-In-Package, optimized Firmware Development Kit and PC Software Development Kit, is available now.

To learn more, go to www.portalplayer.com.

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