Well, AFAIK, the only ARM-based cpu that can play 1080 video by itself is the zms-05 (and newer models of course) from zii labs (former Creative Labs). But then this has a Cell-like 24-SPU media array which can perform 1080 video decoding (amongst other things). Quite a nice and cheap cpu, actually, but only when it comes to media stuff, or stuff that can be offloaded to the media array. Try loading OpenOffice or Firefox on that. Did you mean some other chip?

no, i meant exactly this one. and my point was the same as yours - it's a media-accelerated device, but the arm cpus in there are of the same class as the one in my gsm mobile (arm5tej).

apropos, ziilabs are not former creative labs - ziilabs are former 3dlabs (of gl/gles fame), it's just that they are now a creative subsidiary yet again (they were once before).

er, right, I meant 3d labs, thanks for correcting me :)

Just FYI; there's nothing stopping the iMX515 from decoding 1080p video except limited on-chip bus bandwidth. The video decoder is specced for 1080p but the implementation of the bus can only support enough data transfer to reliably get 720p. You may, just MAY be able to get 1080i out of it if you don't do ANYTHING else, but this implies a 1920x1080 screen which will do a lot to impact the available bandwidth of the decoder :)

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Matt Sealey

@ Neko

Maybe the next version then... :-)

Maybe but as I said before, you can count the number of devices that will have an iMX515 connected to a >1280x720 display on the fingers of an amoeba.

People here are itching for a 1920x1080 *netbook* which they just won't get. Expectations have to be brought down a little; although when Apple brings out a 1080p capable iPhone, I am sure we will have egg on our faces. Roll on 2015 :D

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Matt Sealey

Rule of the absurd. A sign of our times.

I wonder what's all this High Definition rave about. Come on, how much content is really HD? Yes?, That much? And among it, how much is simlpy not UPSCALED from non-HD source? And among it, how much more interesting to watch is it?
For me, HD main impact is boosting sales of absurdly huge storage media and crazy bandwidth internet connections... Just to enjoy a remaster of a twenty year old movie you've seen a dozen times already.

Unless you are sitting 6 feet from a 52" 120Hz OLED TV the quality difference between 720p and 1080i/p is negligible and even then - most people won't be able to judge which resolution they are watching without a side by side comparison. The whole point of high definition media codecs is to fuzz out the places that the human eye cannot discern fast enough.

It's just a big buzzword right now to be "1080p" capable.

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Matt Sealey

1920x1200 or 1920x1080 isnt just for movies... makes a great desktop, you can fit so much more on it. i notice alot going from my desktop to my ibook.

matt

And you can have that but you're not going to be decoding movies at 1:1.

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Matt Sealey

It is no bad when the cpu is not as fast as it could be as long as it is supported by the right accelarators e.g. video(audio) decoding and 3d accelaration. An accelator can do such specific task much more efficient and faster then a cpu can. A cpu should not waste effort on making things visible on screen it should make effort making an spreadsheet calculate formula's or let an game a.i. do its work.

Ps my beagleboard runs nice with 1024x768 resolution even with 3d. No need to go higher as i doubt my lcd tv supports that :-)

I think the point is we told people it can decode H.264 video (which it can, at 720p, reliably) and then everyone decided that it sucks because it can't do 1080p..

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Matt Sealey

Those who did are comparing apples to oranges. The iMX515 is a great cpu and I'm glad Genesi chose it. Personally I'm still with ppc at heart, but I'll have to adapt or go extinct like the dinosaurs.

i dont need video to be 1080 just the desktop.

Can has!

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Matt Sealey