[ Thanks to LinuxDevices.com for this link.
]
“Cirrus Logic used the occasion of the Embedded Processor Forum
(San Jose, CA) to unveil the first public details of a new family
of very high integration system-on-chip (SOC) devices. The first
SOC in the new Maverick family is the EP9312 — a one-chip computer
meant to enable cost-effective home audio jukeboxes and servers.
Time will tell, but this speck of silicon with 5.7 million
internal transistors, slated for Q4 ’00 sampling, seems to be a
strong candidate for “most integrated SOC, 2000” — and what’s
more, it’s intended to play embedded Linux!“
“Though it could certainly be used in thousands of embedded
system and appliance applications, Cirrus developed the EP9312
primarily for next generation Internet audio appliances. Matt
Perry, VP and General manager of the Embedded Processors Division,
offers this vision of these future feature-rich Internet audio
systems: “they will be able to convert current CD music collections
to digital files (a process known as “ripping”) and store the music
using a builtin hard drive. Music might be securely purchased
and/or downloaded free from the Internet without a personal
computer. Internet radio can be played or stored. Songs can be
catalogued, arranged and replayed to different rooms using existing
stereo system components or home networking systems. Music files
can be transferred to portable Internet audio devices.”