Motorola's First Intel-Based Handset Launches In UK 64
New submitter lookatmyhorse writes "As promised, Google's Motorola unit has released its first Intel-powered smartphone. The Razr i is based on a mid-range model sold in the U.S. that features an ARM-based Snapdragon processor. Motorola said the change of chip meant improved camera performance. However, it has also meant Google's Chrome browser is not installed on the device. Intel recently cut its sales forecasts citing weaker demand. Although it dominates PC chip sales, it is a niche player in the smart device sector. The handset is Motorola's first to feature an Intel processor; its existing smartphone partners — ZTE, Lenovo, Lava, and Gigabyte — are all relatively minor smartphone forces in Western markets. So, Intel's tie-up with Google — which also makes the Android system — is widely seen as its most significant effort to crack the market to date. The handset will be offered in the UK, France, Germany and Latin America."
Re:So many problems... (Score:5, Informative)
According to TFA you can still install Chrome from the Play store (which is what most Android users do since Chrome is not installed by default on most Android devices). The one thing Chrome users with the Intel chip will lack is hardware accelerated page rendering.
I'm not sold on this chip, but I do like to see competition in the mobile CPU segment.
Re:Zero performance, where it matters... (Score:5, Informative)
Well, sure, except that when writing Android NDK apps, making them run on x86 is as simple as changing:
APP_ABI := armeabi
...to:
APP_ABI := armeabi x86
...in your Application.mk file. Then you end up with an APK which installs and runs fine on both. And if you want MIPS as well?
APP_ABI := armeabi x86 mips
Of course, this won't help existing apps that haven't been cross-compiled, but the Intel San Diego we have here does seem to have a ARM emulator. But I haven't looked at that in much detail because TBH it doesn't interest me much.