AMD Not Interested in Google Android Tablets, M$ Win8
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 12:19 pm
XBits
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.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.
