Ultra-mobile computing trends
Otto Berkes, Architect
Simon Poile, Product Unit Manager
Mobile Platforms Division
Microsoft Corporation
Value of full PC functionality for
nomadic computing
Compatibility with existing infrastructure
Peripherals
Networking
User interfaces
Data and applications
Tools and support
APIs, compilers, documentation
Breadth of available content
PC is the universal data decoder
Key challenges to creating true
device-like PCs
Hardware cost and complexity
Size
Power consumption
Durability and ruggedness
Connectivity
User interface and interaction
Hardware cost and complexity
Display
Silicon
Storage
Batteries
Hardware: Display
Key cost determinants
Glass size
Pixel density
Manufacturing volume
We’re focused on 7” as a “sweet spot”
Large enough to render data well
Small enough to be highly mobile
Can support LED-based backlight in the
future
Already a common glass size
Hardware: Silicon
Moore’s Law in the PC space has been
harnessed primarily to increase performance
and functionality
Current PC silicon performance “good enough”
to drive majority of mobile computing scenarios
Harness Moore’s Law for original intent
Keep functionality &
performance constant
Drive integration up
Drive die size, cost
& power down
Hardware: Storage
Hard drives are proliferating in consumer
electronics
15% of total HD market in ’04, over 20% in ’05
Major investments by manufacturers in sub-1”
sizes
Pricing will be appropriate for mobile phones
and consumer electronics (i.e., low)
Hardware: Batteries
Use standard cylindrical batteries if
possible
Li-ion has higher energy density than lipolymer, and more robust cycle lifetime
18650 li-ion battery is standard, high-volume,
multi-vendor component
For larger form factors, the combination of low
cost and high energy density is a great fit
Use less!
Reduce battery budget by reducing total
battery consumption
The size challenge
How small is too small?
Windows on small displays is a challenge
Rendering rich data on small displays is a
challenge
Standard web pages on phones and PDAs range
from impossible to difficult to use
Similar issues with other standard data-based
content and documents
We believe 5”-8” is a feasible range for
data-centric rendering-based devices
This will drive the form factor
Power consumption
Battery technology is only improving between
8%-10% a year
No “breakthrough” technology on the horizon
Smaller size device dictates a smaller power
budget, so we have to design for greater
efficiency:
Smaller display will use less power
Less area to illuminate
7” panel requres less than ¼ the power budget of a 14” panel
Display is the major power consumer on the mobile PC
Develop LED-lit, transflective displays, use adaptive lighting
Micro-sized mobile hard drive
<0.01W idle vs ~0.2W idle with 1.8”, ~0.6W with 2.5”
Ultra-low-power PC-compatible silicon
Reduce chipset power & increase integration
Prioritize low average lower over performance/features
Durability and ruggedness
Drive total mass down
Eliminate mechanical complexity
Engineer and design for drop, high mechanical
stress, dust, and moisture
Shock-mounting, internal spacing to accommodate
shock, internal connector selection, fan-less design,
minimal ports, portfolio design (and similar risk
mitigation through integration protection)
Use highly robust mobile drives and/or solid
state memory
300G (2.5”) vs. 500G (1.8”) vs. 1000+G (1”)
Operating; half sine wave /2ms
Connectivity
Device should have “always connected”
behavior
Integration of WWAN capabilities
UMTS, CDMA 1xEV-DO, WiMAX, …
Seamless roaming between WWAN/WLAN/PAN
Device is always in some “on” state that can
respond to some network-based event
Network can always “push” to device
Major shift in how we can think about current PCclass software
Network connectivity moves past being destination-based
UI and interaction
Device interaction
The bad news: the traditional PC interaction model is
keyboard/mouse
The good news: the PC can accommodate the
broadest range of interaction technology
Pen/ink, speech and voice, touch, gesture-based interfaces,
remote control, etc.
Display UI
Small display is challenging with current Windows UI
We are building UI appropriate for on-the-go
scenarios and appropriate mobile interaction (fingerbased touch, d-pads, scroll wheels, etc.)
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