AMD Not Interested in Google Android Tablets, M$ Win8

[Sabre]

XBits

Advanced Micro Devices has no plans to support Google Android operating system with its Fusion accelerated processing units (APU) and for now its media and business tablet strategy is completely focused around Microsoft Corp. Windows 8 platform. While the latter operating system may someday dominate desktops and laptops, Apple iOS and Google Android are currently dominating media tablets.

Although several years ago AMD hired software specialists to explore Google Android operating system, which demonstrated interest of the company in supporting the platform, currently the firm does not plan to develop a software stack, which would allow its chips to work under Android OS. At present, Google Android operating system dominates smartphones and over time will likely dominate media tablets as well, thanks to support from major consumer electronics companies, including Samsung Electronics, Sony Corp. and others. By contrast, Microsoft Windows 8 only powers select business tablets that control just a fraction of the market.

Since the majority of Google Android-based media tablets utilize ARM architecture system-on-chips (such as Qualcomm Snapdragon, Nvidia Tegra, Samsung Exynos, etc.), which cost $25 - $40 per unit, AMD cannot successfully compete against such offerings with its Fusion APUs that cost considerably more. Therefore, AMD currently only targets tablets that cost $499 - $599 and over.

“AMD is looking to make a mark in tablets priced starting at around $499 or $599. We are betting heavily on Windows 8,” said Lisa Su, senior vice president and general manager of global business units at AMD, in an interview with IDG News Service.

Wow, nothing could turn me off more from AMD now than this... unless I found out they were hurting kittens or puppies. I was always a big AMD fan, but alienating a market like that is just STUPID when you're behind the ball.

[complacent]

it's clear, they're allergic to earnings. it appears to be a fatal diagnosis.

sad, sad panda. they really had a shot a few years back.

[Sabre]

They did. I had high hopes for Bulldozer, but those fell flat. Without that being a market changer, they feel behind... waaaaay behind. Intel is turning out better and better products with better support for everyone, M$, OpenSource projects, etc.

[Raven]

Android is ARM. AMD is not. I'm not very surprised.

[Sabre]

Android can run "easily" on x86 (See http://www.android-x86.org/ and this article). If AMD had come out with a killer chip, I'm guessing some manufacturers would have converted to x86 versus ARM. I love the ARM architecture, but competition is always good!

[complacent]

I want to see a giant colo or such fill a floor with arm blades... Fill a floor, for real. See what one could goose out of them. And then look st the electricity bill for the month.

[Mr Kleen]

...competition is always good!

troof