Intel is now looking to the Android operating system as it
breaks away from years of optimizing its top line of Core PC processors,
including the recently launched Haswell processors, chiefly for Windows.
Intel is looking to hire a program manager whose job will be
to manage Android development for the company's upcoming Core chips code-named
Broadwell, Haswell's successor due next year. The job listing hints
that Android development will continue beyond Broadwell and into future Core
chips.
The listing for an "Android System Software Program
Manager" includes responsibilities for "planning and delivery for
full system -- across architecture, development, integration and
validation."
Intel already backs Android for its low-power Atom tablet and
smartphone processors, but the company has not yet talked publicly about
Android for Core processors. Core processors have more advanced instruction
sets and graphics capabilities than Atom processors, and those would need to be
optimized for Android. Rival x86 chip maker Advanced Micro Devices earlier this
month moved away from an exclusive focus on Windows and said it will optimize
chips for Android and Chrome OS based on customer demand.
Intel is seeing innovation among PC makers and the company
will support multiple OS choices, said a company spokesman in an email.
Designs of PCs are changing with tablet-like hybrids and
convertibles, and Android could be used in some of those devices, according to
Jack Gold, principal analyst at J. Gold Associates.
"It's very smart of them to make sure Android runs on
all of Intel's architectures," Gold said. "But Microsoft won't go
away anytime soon."
Slow Windows 8 PC and tablet sales have hurt Intel and AMD,
but neither will abandon Microsoft's OS anytime soon. Intel's aggressive
multi-OS strategy will also help the chip maker compete with ARM, which
dominates on Android devices. Android and Windows tablets priced from US$199 to
$500 and with Intel's upcoming Atom tablet chips code-named Bay Trail will
reach shelves this holiday season.
Intel has already started development of the next-generation
Core processor called Broadwell. The chips will be made using the
14-nanometer process, and will initially be released for PCs. PCadvisor
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