(1)
FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR
Freescale launches multi-core communications platform

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "Freescale Semiconductor has unveiled its Multi-core Communications Platform based on its PowerQUICC processor families. The architecture is designed to help customers more easily migrate to multi-core environments while preserving the value of legacy software investments."

Readers Say:
"Excellent"
"Primarily interested in power performance vs. other system designs"
"Not enough attention is being paid to time critical application in multicore development. In particular, determining WCET is becoming intractable."
"Power dissipation handling at the core and chip level needs a refresh"
"Have heard about the significance but never utilized. Great"
"Multi-core products are only as good as the firmware that can leverage the multiple cores."
"Optimum utilization of Multi-core can done using mesh-type bus network , not with single bus line"
"Sounds good. But their Power PC line always loses out to IBM in the market. Maybe not this time. I love the company but they always shoot themselves in the foot, at least when they were Motorola."
"Good idea for products with multitask requiring high speed"
"Limited temperature environment"
"Seems unusual to announce so many months before samples."
"As processing requirements for communications go up this is a natural direction to evolve to."

USABILITY RANK: 1

(2)
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS
Microcontrollers reduce part count in automated meter readers

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "In response to utility companies adopting electronic-based meter readers to reduce cost while providing new services and energy-saving options to consumers, Texas Instruments Inc. has announced the sampling of its 16 MHz MSP430F47x4 ultra-low-power microcontrollers (MCU) for one- and multi-phase metering applications."

Readers Say:
"Fast"

USABILITY RANK: 2

(3)
VIA TECHNOLOGIES
World's smallest x86 mainboard?

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "VIA Technologies Inc. has unveiled the VIA EPIA PX, the first commercial mainboard based on its recently introduced Pico-ITX form factor measuring 10-cm x 7.2-cm. Powered by the 1-GHz VIA C7 processor and supporting up to 1-Gbyte of DDR2 533 SO-DIMM system memory, the tiny 10-layer VIA EPIA PX mainboard is based on the single-chip VIA VX700 system media processor. "

Readers Say:
"This product will enable me to embed Linux into low/moderate volume test instruments."
"The panel size is a critical issue"
"Thanks"

USABILITY RANK: 5

(4)
APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS
PowerPC embedded processor dissipates 5-W of power at 1-GHz

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "Based on the Power Architecture standard, the Power PC 460EX embedded processor from Applied Micro Circuits Corp. (AMCC) is designed for a wide range of high performance applications, including multifunction printing, networking, home gateway and general embedded processor requirements."

Readers Say:
"Fast and able to withstand temp."
"Like the SATA capability."

USABILITY RANK: 7

(5)
RENESAS TECHNOLOGY AMERICA
Multi-core microcontrollers target embedded applications

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "Renesas Technology America, Inc. has introduced five SuperH 32-bit microcontrollers that use multi-core technology to achieve the high levels of performance required by many embedded system applications such as consumer products, industrial equipment, and car audio and navigation systems."

Readers Say:
"Power consumption?"
"Reliable"

USABILITY RANK: 4

(6)
LUMINARY MICRO
Stellaris MCUs integrate Ethernet, CAN-bus capabilities

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "Luminary Micro Inc. has launched 27 new Stellaris microcontrollers (MCUs) that deliver networking capabilities for real-time applications in motion control, building and industrial automation, fire and security, remote sensing, instrumentation, point-of-sale, and deeply embedded connected systems. The Stellaris MCUs are based on the ARM Cortex-M3 processor."

Readers Say:
"Yeah"

USABILITY RANK: 3

(7)
MICROCHIP
LCD controllers double the Flash and RAM memory

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "Microchip Technology Inc. has introduced six new members of the 8-bit PIC microcontroller family with integrated Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) module. The new PIC18F85J90 series doubles the amount of Flash and RAM memory over existing 64- and 80-pin family members."

Readers Say:
"Excellent product pricing"
"Easy application"
"Great combination of price and performance."

USABILITY RANK: 6

(8)
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS
Texas Instruments unveils 1st floating-point DSCs

eeProductCenter's Kenton Williston says: "Texas Instruments (TI) today introduced its first floating-point digital signal controllers (DSCs), the F28332, F28334, and F28335. The F2833x DSCs have the same 32-bit fixed-point architecture as TI's existing C28x DSCs, but the new parts introduce a single-precision floating-point-unit (FPU) and other architectural enhancements. The new parts run at 150 MHz, range in price from $13-20, and target digital motor control, advanced sensing, and digital power supply applications."

Readers Say:
"No comments"

USABILITY RANK: 8

(9)
STREAM PROCESSORS
DSP delivers 112-GMACs of compute performance

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "Stream Processors Inc. (SPI) is sampling the latest member of its Storm-1 DSP family, the SP16HP, which provides a cost-effective, easy-to-design, C-programmable alternative to FPGA and multi-DSP designs in digital imaging, video and wireless infrastructure applications."

Readers Say:
"No comments"

USABILITY RANK: 9

(10)
CONCURRENT TECHNOLOGIES
Storage module supports 2.5-in. SATA HDDs, two CompactFlash drives

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "Concurrent Technologies has developed the AdvancedMC (AMC) mass storage module, supporting either two 2.5-inch SATA hard disk drives (HDD) or two CompactFlash drives. Raid 0 and Raid 1 support is also available."

Readers Say:
"It is fast"

USABILITY RANK: 10

In case you were wondering, here's how Ultimate Products works: Our editors select up to 10 of the most significant products posted at www.eeProductCenter.com during the calendar quarter. Then, using an electronic balloting process, we submit the products with the accompanying editorial reviews to selected, qualified readers. Those readers score the products by technical significance and
USABILITY on a scale of 1 through 5, with 5 being the highest score. The product ranked No. 1 in each category was judged as most technically significant for that category. Relative
USABILITY rankings and selected reader comments are also reported. More than 1,000 of you helped to choose these products. As always, we are grateful for your enthusiastic participation.

Patrick Mannion
Editor-in-Chief, Techonline Network and eeProductcenter.com
pmannion@cmp.com