Intel unveils future tablets and updates its mobile chips

Intel is making a stronger push into the tablet computer and smart phone markets: The chipmaker announced two developments that it hopes will give its competitors—such as Nvidia and Qualcomm—a run for the mobile money.

Today, Intel said it plans to introduce more than 10 new tablet computers featuring its own low-powered mobile computer processors. The tablets, produced in partnership with Asian computer makers such as Asustek, will be unveiled at Computex, a computer trade show in Taiwan that opens on May 31.

The company also announced that its updating its two lines of low-power processors, code-named "Oak Trail" and "Medfield," designed for tablet computers and smart phones, respectively.

Intel CEO Paul Otellini told market analysts on a Tuesday conference call that the company had stumbled a bit in delivering an Intel-powered smart phone due to a failed partnership with Nokia. "That was, in hindsight, perhaps the wrong partner to have picked," said Otellini. "We plan to have Medfield phones in the market early next year," he added.

Market watchers note that the chipmaker will still have a tough row to hoe in the mobile device space. For example, neither of the updated Intel mobile chip lines feature more than one processing core, which promise faster performance. And competitors are already working on so-called quad-core processors for mobile devices.

Consumer Reports has tested a few of the latest smart phones with dual-core chips, such as the LG G2x and Motorola Atrix, and found noticeable speed bump-ups. Senior Editor Mike Gikas said in his review of the G2x:

Apps launched and refreshed quickly, and the display was highly responsive even when using graphics-intensive games, such as The Need For Speed Shift HD and Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance (NOVA), a shoot-'em-up space-alien game.

Intel says it may be a year or two before its mobile chips move into the multi-core arena. But, the chipmaker claims a new 3D chip manufacturing process will give its mobile processors a 37 percent performance improvement while using less battery power.

Intel To Unveil More Than 10 Tablets With PC Makers At Computex [Dow Jones via WSJ]
Intel to Unveil More Than 10 Tablet Computers [Fox News]
Intel Says 'Medfield' Smartphone Coming Early Next Year [PC World]
Intel chief says doesn't need ARM for mobile chips [Reuters]

—Paul Eng