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DASH7 Alliance

Texas Instruments, Michelin, Lockheed Martin’s Savi Technology, and others are forming the DASH7 Alliance, a cross-industry initiative to expand the use of a wireless data technology commonly used in the global defense industry but increasingly used by commercial customers. The U.S. Department of Energy and three of its laboratories, as well as the University of Pittsburgh, plan to serve as technical advisors.

The technology, based on the ISO 18000-7 standard, provides commercial and government users with the ability to track the whereabouts of a wide range of everyday objects, including vehicles, shipping containers, pharmaceutical products, etc.

The alliance will work to ensure cross-vendor interoperability as well as to promote greater use of the ISO 18000-7 wireless data standard, which is more cost effective, more reliable, and operates at lower power levels than ZigBee and similar wireless data technologies. Visit www.dash7.org for more information.

IGP market to disappear by 2012

According to a new study by Jon Peddie Research (JPR), a research and consulting firm for graphics and multimedia, the end is near for the popular integrated graphics processor chipset, known as the IGP. The IGP will be replaced by graphics embedded in the processor. Integrated graphics are used in desktop and net top PCs, notebooks, and netbooks, and various embedded systems such as point of sale, set-top boxes, and signage systems.

The study indicates that in 2008 67% of the graphics chips shipped were IGPs. JPR predicts that in 2011 it will drop to 20%, and by 2013 it will be less than 1%. However, contrary to what many believe, this will not impact the discrete graphics and add-in board market. In fact, with hybrid configuration, embedded graphics will enhance the discrete GPU sales.

The research report, The Future of Integrated Graphics , is available now for $1,200. For more information call 415-435-9368 or visit the Jon Peddie Research Web site at www.jonpeddie.com.