Qualcomm updates Snapdragon processors for Windows 8 tablet market

Announces chips for tablets and laptops as well as TVs

TAIPEI: Qualcomm has announced it will launch a Snapdragon S4 processor for the tablet market in preparation for the Windows 8 platform as well as other markets beyond its traditional smartphone base.

Qualcomm told delegates at the Computex convention in Taiwan that it will release four different varieties of its chip designs, with one specifically targeted at Windows 8 tablets and laptops.

Under the branding names Pro, Prime, Plus and Play, the chips will not only control mobile devices and PCs but also HDTVs and set-top boxes.

Qualcomm said its Snapdragon S4 Pro chips have been designed especially for the upcoming Windows 8 RT operating system for tablets and notebooks.

It will feature the Adreno 320 GPU in order to provide "support for higher resolution displays, as well as hardware and software compatibility with the S4 class".

The S4 Prime chip will have a 1.5GHz quad-core processing unit as well as Adreno 320 graphics made to power the TV sets. The Snapdragon S4 Plus features dual-core CPUs clocked to 1.2GHz and Adreno 203 graphics, making it designed for the higher end of the smartphone market.

Qualcomm said the last in its range of new chips, the S4 Play, is aimed towards the budget smartphone market.

Qualcomm chose Computex in Taiwan to launch its newest chip designs despite only two months ago blaming Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) for chip shortages, saying that it was looking at "several alternative sources" for chip fabrication.