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        MIPS chips gain Windows CE 6.0 R2 BSP

        Jonathan Angel | Date: Jun 5, 2008 | Comments: 1


        RMI Corporation has released a Windows CE 6.0 R2 BSP (board support package) for its MIPS-based Alchemy family of system-on-chips (SoCs). Part of a freely downloadable software development kit (SDK) 2.0, the BSP supports the Au1200 processor family's "unique" MAE (media acceleration engine) hardware, says RMI.



        iRiver's P10 PMP uses RMI's Alchemy Au1250 processor, and offers handwriting recognition
        (Click image for further information)

        First shipped in production quantities last year, and rev'd to 700MHz in January, RMI's Au1250 has been adopted in a variety of Windows CE 5.0-based devices. These include the Nani, a combination phone/portable media player (PMP) from Sophia of Japan, the Q5W PMP from Cowon, Clearview Technology's miPC, and -- most recently -- iRiver's P10 (right), a PMP with built-in handwriting recognition.

        The on-chip MAE provides hardware-based D1 (up to 720 x 480) video processing, making it ideally suited for use in PMPs, according to RMI. Lacking, however, had been Windows CE 6.0 support. The new "SDK 2.0" now takes care of that, providing Windows CE 6.0 R2 features such as support for Remote Desktop Protocol 6.0, Microsoft Web Services on Devices, and enhanced VoIP functionality. The SDK 2.0 also includes optimized media codecs, RMI says.


        A block diagram of RMI's Au1250, including the Media Acceleration Engine

        The software upgrade enhances previously touted hardware features for the 700MHz Au1250. According to RMI, the SoC can perform the following operations simultaneously while still using under 700mW, according to the company:
        • Playing 2Mbps WMV9 video at D1 resolution with WMA audio, with IDE hard drive and display active
        • Running Windows CE
        • Keeping all on-chip peripherals active except the USB 2.0 ports
        RMI also offers versions of the Au1250 ranging from 400MHz to 600MHz. Other members of the MIPS-based Alchemy family, all apparently pin- and software-compatible, include the Au1200 and Au1210. The latter supports video decode up to Wide-CIF (480 x 288) resolution, making it useful for cost-sensitive devices where higher resolution is not required, according to RMI.

        RMI's Alchemy is often found in devices, such as the iRiver P10 mentioned above, that sport custom user interfaces written using Adobe's Flash software. This is no coincidence, since BSquare has distribution rights to embedded Windows ports of Adobe's Flash Lite software, and recently announced that version 3.0 has been ported to the Au1250.

        Further information

        The new SDK 2.0, including the Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R2 BSP, is downloadable now from RMI's Alchemy developer support website (registration required), here.


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