Google Glass Has Fully-functional Application Processor Inside

Jozi · April 28, 2013

Google Glass Features Dual-Core System-on-Chip, Runs Android 2.3 “Gingerbread”

[04/28/2013 12:02 PM]
by Anton Shilov

While it was clear from November ’12 that Google Glass has some kind of application processor inside, it was not obvious whether it was a sophisticated app processor, or a simplistic custom SoC. As it appears, Google Glass features Texas Instruments 4430 processor inside, the same chip that powers a number of smartphones and media tablets.

TI OMAP 4430 is made using 45nm process technology and features two ARM Cortex-A9 general-purpose cores, ImgTec PowerVR SGX 540 graphics engine as well as LPDDR2 memory controller. The SoC was originally released in Q1 2011 and is used by such popular devices as BlackBerry PlayBook, LG Optimus 3D P920, Motorola Droid 3, Motorola Droid Bionic and other. The device runs Google Android 2.3 “Gingerbread” operating system.

As it now appears, Google Glass device can actually run applications even without a smartphone, reports GSMArena. Given the fact that the device features rather vast capabilities, it should be possible to develop software with significant feature-set that runs only on the Glass goggles, but not on the smartphone.

Google Glass has a 0.5” micro display with 640*350 resolution, which should be equivalent of a 25” high definition screen from eight feet away. The prototype Google Glass augmented reality glasses model XEB (FCC id A4R-X1) have Broadcom 2.40GHz 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 low energy radios, power meters/sensors, thermometer, bone conduction transducer that delivers audio and some other electronics components. The device also integrates 5MP camera that can capture still images as well as 720p video. The product also has 16GB of NAND flash memory, of which 12 GB of memory synced with Google cloud storage is available for the end-user.

Google seems to be very open about the gadget itself, but only to developers, not the general public.

“Not to bring anybody down… but seriously… we intentionally left the device unlocked so you guys could hack it and do crazy fun shit with it. I mean, FFS, you paid $1500 for it… go to town on it. Show me something cool,” said Stephen Lau, a Google rep via Google+.

Target applications for the Google Glass device include, among other things, taking and sharing photos, checking appointments, accessing maps and the Internet as well as some other, like e-mail, notification center, information updates and so on.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mobile/display/20130428120220_Google_Glass_Has_Fully_Functional_Application_Processor_Inside_Reports.html