Intel Unveils SD Card-sized Computer Called 'Edison'

[dgstorm]

Raspberry Pi now has a scary new competitor. Chipzilla themselves (Intel) just announced a new product called 'Edison' which is basically a computer built-into an SD Card. Edison has built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and can support multiple operating systems. The purpose of the tiny little computer is to give manufacturers a modular option to add a simple and quick computer to any wearable devices they might bring to market. It's actually very clever of Intel to jump on this, especially considering how they were late to the party with mobile technology. Here's a quote from Intel CEO Brian Krzanich explaining this focus,

“Wearables are not everywhere today because they aren’t yet solving real problems and they aren’t yet integrated with our lifestyles. We’re focused on addressing this engineering innovation challenge. Our goal is, if something computes and connects, it does it best with Intel inside.”

Obviously, this tech could be implemented in other areas as well. What sort of things can you dream up for such a cool idea?

Intel's full press release,

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich demonstrated Intel-developed designs for wearable devices including smart earbuds with biometric and fitness capabilities, an always-on smart headset that integrates with existing personal assistant technologies, and a smart wireless charging bowl.
Krzanich announced strategic collaborations with luxury retailer Barneys New York*, the Council of Fashion Designers of America* and international design house and curator Opening Ceremony* to explore and bring to market smart wearable technology.
He debuted Intel® Edison, a new Intel® Quark technology-based computer housed in an SD card form factor with built-in wireless capabilities and support for multiple operating systems.
Krzanich disclosed a global “call to innovation” campaign with the Intel ‘Make it Wearable’ challenge.
CEO said Intel plans to offer elements of McAfee mobile security products for free to help guard today’s most popular mobile devices and will introduce Intel Device Protection technology this year to improve enterprise security of all Intel-based Android* mobile devices.
He unveiled the Intel Security brand, which will be used to identify all Intel security products and services, and said that McAfee products will transition to the Intel Security brand over time.
Krzanich stated that Intel is the first microprocessor company to support devices that combine the best of Windows* and Android* operating systems in a single device.
INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW, Las Vegas, Jan. 6, 2014 – Intel Corporation CEO Brian Krzanich today outlined a range of products, initiatives and strategic relationships aimed at accelerating innovation across a range of mobile and wearable devices as well as individual inventors’ own connected creations. He made the announcements during the pre-show keynote for the 2014 International Consumer Electronics Show to be held here this week.

Krzanich’s keynote painted a vision of how the landscape of computing is being re-shaped and where security is too important not to have it embedded in all devices. The world is entering an era of integrated computing defined not by the device, but by the integration of technology into people’s lifestyles in ways that offer individuals new utility and value. As examples, he highlighted several immersive and intuitive technologies that Intel will begin offering this year. For example, the company is bringing human senses to Intel-based devices in a new family of hardware and software products called Intel® RealSense™ technology.

Intel’s CEO also discussed how Intel is addressing two critical issues casting shadows over the consumer electronics industry: data and device security and conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He said Intel had achieved a critical milestone and the minerals used in microprocessor silicon and packages manufactured in Intel’s factories are “conflict-free” as concluded by third-party audits or direct validation by Intel’s supply chain organization.

“Two years ago, I told several colleagues that we needed a hard goal, a commitment to reasonably conclude that the metals used in our microprocessors are conflict-free,” Krzanich said. “We felt an obligation to implement changes in our supply chain to ensure that our business and our products were not inadvertently funding human atrocities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Even though we have reached this milestone, it is just a start. We will continue our audits and resolve issues that are found.”

Intel Inside Wearable Devices

Krzanich said Intel is actively pursuing a range of products and initiatives, with the goal of accelerating wearable device innovation. Intel’s approach to this next evolution in computing is to imagine and create reference design devices and platforms ready for use by customers in developing wearable products, he said.

Intel’s CEO highlighted number of wearable reference devices, including smart earbuds that provide biometric and fitness capabilities, a smart headset that is always ready to engage and can integrate with existing personal assistant technologies to make the consumer experience more intuitive, and a smart wireless charging bowl.

The Intel CEO also announced collaborations with Barneys New York*, the Council of Fashion Designers of America* and Opening Ceremony* to explore and bring to market new smart wearable technologies, and to increase dialogue and cooperation between the fashion and technology industries. He also kicked-off the Intel ’Make it Wearable’ challenge, a global effort aimed at accelerating creativity and innovation with technology. The effort will call upon the smartest and most creative minds to consider factors impacting the proliferation of wearable devices and ubiquitous computing, such as meaningful usages, aesthetics, battery life, security and privacy.

In addition to developing reference devices for wearable technology, Intel will offer a number of accessible, low-cost entry platforms. These are aimed at helping lower entry barriers for individuals and small companies to create innovative Internet-connected wearables or other small form factor devices.

Underscoring this point, Krzanich announced Intel® Edison, a new Intel® Quark technology-based computer housed in an SD card form factor with built-in wireless capabilities and support for multiple operating systems. From prototype to production, Intel Edison will enable rapid innovation and product development by a range of inventors, entrepreneurs and consumer product designers when available this summer.

“Wearables are not everywhere today because they aren’t yet solving real problems and they aren’t yet integrated with our lifestyles,” said Krzanich. “We’re focused on addressing this engineering innovation challenge. Our goal is, if something computes and connects, it does it best with Intel inside.”

Increased Data and Device Security

Krzanich also unveiled the Intel Security brand, which will identify Intel products and services in the security segment, and disclosed plans to transition McAfee* products to the Intel Security brand while retaining the familiar red shield.

“The complexity of keeping digital identities safe grows as mobile applications and devices become a more important part of our daily lives,” Krzanich said. “Intel’s intent is to intensify our efforts dedicated to making the digital world more secure, and staying ahead of threats to private information on mobile and wearable devices.”

Krzanich announced that Intel plans to offer elements of McAfee’s award-winning security solutions for mobile devices for free. These data and device protection solutions help guard today’s most popular mobile devices, including Apple* iPhone, Apple* iPad and Android* devices. More details will be announced in the coming months.

As corporate “bring-your-own-device” programs have grown in popularity, many firms have prohibited Android*-based devices that weren’t compatible with their companies’ security requirements. Intel Security this year will offer Intel Device Protection technology, which will help Intel-based Android* mobile devices meet most security standards for use at home and work.

Conflict-Free Intel Microprocessors

The DRC has been plagued for years by regional conflict. According to a report to the United Nations Security Council Committee1, a source of funding violence for armed groups includes the trade of mineral products from the DRC. Some of these so-called “conflict minerals” are in many kinds of products, including electronics.

Intel has implemented a process within its supply chain organization to validate that its sources – the smelters that provide tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold used in microprocessor silicon and packages manufactured in Intel factories – are not inadvertently funding this conflict in the DRC. Krzanich challenged the entire electronics industry to join Intel in its efforts.

 

[combatmedic870]

To big, geez!

 

[dgstorm]

To big, geez!

lol! They really need to shrink that... it's so huge and bulky!

 

[HarvesterX™]

lol! They really need to shrink that... it's so huge and bulky!

Really? How is that supposed to fit in my patented smart toilet roll dispenser?

 

[94lt1]

Idk if people with bad backs will be able to carry this..:what:

MAXXED OUT!!!!!

 

[LoneWolfArcher]

Where are the USB ports!??!

 

[lloydstrans]

Where are the USB ports!??!

Between the nano HDMI ports and the 3.5 nanometer head phone plug.

Sent from my DUM phone using Droid Forums

 

[DougDroid]

Just when I thought this stuff couldn't get any smaller

 

[CJM]

Just when I thought this stuff couldn't get any smaller

That's what she... uh, I thought too

 

[94lt1]

That's what she... uh, I thought too

MAXXED OUT!!!!!

 

[FoxKat]

It also has the new low power Bluetooth so it can support wireless keyboards, mice, headphones and other BT devices. I just want to know how it is powered and how the video is connected.

 

[lloydstrans]

It also has the new low power Bluetooth so it can support wireless keyboards, mice, headphones and other BT devices. I just want to know how it is powered and how the video is connected.

Solar panel

 

[AECRADIO]

Just think, when we assumed to no longer need those antique '486 dumb terminals, we have this to contend with!
Now, we need to have laptops with 'noOS' as a base machine, so one could effectively use several of these cardputers, and load each one with a separate OS, from Android, to Ubuntu, to pure Linux, and then 'maybe', iOS and Windows.
Actually, I can see a bright future for these cards, add a large memory capacity, fast pipline burst caching, and a quad-core CPU, supported with at Snapdragon 805 GPU, and you can build a pretty 'nasty' mini supercomputer at a Wal-Mart price!

All we need now, is a good first supply, with a good price point, and I'm all in!

 

[AECRADIO]

If the video is not utilizing a pin on the SD card, it will probably be routed to the Bluetooth and WiFi sections, and transmitted in this manner.
This is my 'take' on how this will occur.

 

[AECRADIO]

I wonder if Intel will produce a Heisenberg compensator for my SD transporter system, with sub-millimeter wave CDMA waveform generator/monitor?