Quote:Nvidia has announced a new mobile media processor aimed at the feature-rich mobile phone market - and they've even built a prototype handset running it.

The APX 2500 is a low-power ARM11-based processor designed to support multimedia functionality on a handset-like device. Supporting OpenGL ES 2.0, the mobile flavour of Direct3D and with built-in programmable vertex and lighting support in hardware wee're talking about a chip light years away from what wee've seen in the past.

Even more amazing than the 3D features is the video support. Nvidia is claiming that the new chip will allow mobile phone handsets to play back 720p video. To prove it, the prototype handset the company has developed comes with a HDMI 1.2 port on the side for output to a compatible display device. That's right: 720p HD video from your mobile phone to your big-screen TV, no extras required.

Of course, you'll need somewhere to store these HD videos, and the prototype has an SDHC compatible MiniSD slot to take care of that. Interestingly, the slot is accessible from the outside of the case without removing any covers or batteries – something which certainly makes switching cards an awful lot more convenient.

Power is always a consideration with mobile devices, and Nvidia claims that the ultra-low voltage design of the new processor will allow for ten consecutive hours of HD-quality video playback or one hundred hours of MP3 audio playback. Which is nice.

The device is, as mentioned, only a prototype at the moment. If Nvidia can find a partner willing to tick as many geeky boxes with a retail product as they have done with their prototype, they can certainly put me in the queue for one.

Features:

    * NVIDIA® HD AVP (High Definition Audio Video Processor) with PureVideo® technology
          o Capture or playback of HD 720p movies with your mobile device
          o Unprecedented picture quality and ultra-smooth, vivid movie playback with low CPU utilization and power consumption
    * Superior Imaging
          o Take sharp and steady pictures with a 12MP camera with built-in image stabilization algorithm
          o Integrated Image Signal Processor (ISP) with proprietary algorithms enables image and video stabilization, face tracking, and advanced trick modes
    * NVDIA ULP (Ultra Low Power) GeForce® technology
          o World's fastest GeForce graphics technology architected for low power applications
          o Superior 3D user interface capabilities based on a unique compositing framework delivers seamless web browsing
    * NVDIA nPower™ technology
          o Enables the industry's longest HD video and MP3 playback on your phone
          o Architected to deliver optimized system power utilization
    * True dual display subsystem for flexibility of use
          o Entertainment – watch a movie on an HDMI display and use your phone as a remote control device
          o Business – present your proposal on a SXGA projector using your phone as a pointing device
          o Personal – show your favorite photos on the television while previewing them on your phone

About time the mobile market took a big leap and I certainly think having a mobile device that can output 720p for over ten hours qualifies.