Intel Bows TV-Hip Chips
By Mark Fleischmann August 26, 2008 — With the growth of internet video, Intel is developing a new group of "system on chips" for use in DTVs, set-top boxes, optical disc players, and other devices. The aim is to provide "uncompromised internet access" with "high-definition video support, home-theater quality audio and advanced 3-D graphics," according to the press release.

The CE 3100 processor will ship next month to Samsung and Toshiba, among others, so look for it in upcoming generations of HDTV products.

Here's how Intel describes it:

As another SoC product from Intel, the Intel Media Processor CE 3100 is a highly integrated solution that pairs a powerful IA processor core with leading-edge multi-stream video decoding and processing hardware. It also adds a 3-channel 800 MHz DDR2 memory controller, dedicated multi-channel dual audio DSPs, a powerful 3-D graphics engine enabling advanced UIs and EPGs, and support for multiple peripherals, including USB 2.0 and PCI Express.

The Intel Media Processor CE 3100 also features Intel® Media Play Technology that combines hardware-based decoding for broadcast TV and optical media playback with software-based decode for Internet content. When a consumer watches broadcast TV or content on optical media players, the video is encoded in standard formats, such as MPEG-2, H.264 or VC-1. Intel Media Play Technology software routes the video to the on-chip hardware decoders. When viewing Internet content, the software automatically routes the video, and audio as applicable, to a software codec running on the IA processor core. As the Internet becomes more omnipresent, the ability to decode multiple video and audio formats will provide the industry with greater flexibility to evolving standards and technologies, and consumers with more viewing experiences.

See press release.

Intel is also working with Yahoo on the Widget Channel, a TV application optimized for TVs and other CE products.