Despite mounting opposition to a cell phone mandate that would put FM radios in mobile devices, combo chipsets are flying out the door. According to ABI Research, the so-called "combo" chips, which gather a variety of connectivity types in one small package are expected to approach 280 million worldwide by the end of the year and 979 million chipsets will ship in 2015. The chips are integrated with different radio technologies like FM, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS on a single chip. The downside is that performance may be comprised but the combo chips will flood the market because they save money, space and power. "The market for combo chipsets is taking off. Mobile phones are the main market for these combinations today, although ABI Research believes that for true mass adoption, combos will have to penetrate other product types that require short-range wireless: laptops and consumer electronic devices." Apparently vendors like Broadcom, TI, CSR, Atheros, and Qualcomm (Snapdragon platform) may not be so discriminating - as they continue on a course to break McDonalds burger count...
While manufacturers let the chips fly and fall where they may, tech trade groups including a coalition of six technology industry associations sent a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees urging them to resist efforts by the NAB and RIAA for an FM technology mandate for mobile devices...
While members of Congress appear ready to work with radio on the issue, some radio executives have questioned why the outlined deal doesn't specify HD Radio instead. Since HD Radio is a copyright of iBiquity, the more generic designation of FM is probably the reason the latter is being used instead of the former. That's my guess, anyway...
10 Timeline Memories:
1.1814] Washington sizzles: British forces invade Washington, D.C. and set fire to the Capitol and the White House...
2.1932] Nonstop Amy: Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly nonstop across the U.S.A. traveling from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey in just over 19 hours...
3.1954] Commies not welcome: The Communist Control Act virtually outlaws the Communist Party in the United States...
4.1981] Guilty as charged: Mark David Chapman is sentenced to 20 years-to-life for the murder of John Lennon...
5.1989] Banned from baseball: Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti bans Pete Rose permanently for betting on sports, including baseball as manager of the Reds...
6.1992] Andrew slams into Florida: Hurricane Andrew smashes into Florida causing record damage and 55 deaths in Florida, Louisiana and the Bahamas...
7.2004] Terrorism in the sky: Chechen separatists set off bombs aboard two Russian airliners that crash after take off. 90 people are killed...
8.2006] Pluto is downsized: Pluto is no longer a planet after being demoted to a "dwarf planet". Dwarfs protest...
9.2007] NFL lowers the boom on Vick: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is indefinitely suspended without pay for his involvement in dogfighting. Vick landed on his haunches with the Philadelphia Eagles after serving a jail sentence...
10.2009] C.O.D.: The Los Angeles County coroner's preliminary assessment is that Michael Jackson's death was caused by an overdose of the anesthetic propofol...
Music Memories:
•1961] #1 on this date: "Wooden Heart" - Joe Dowell...1973] "Brother Louie" - Stories...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Dave Chappelle (37), Marlee Matlin (45), Craig Kilborn (48), Cal Ripken Jr. (50), Vince McMahon (65), Mason Williams (72) and Kenny (R2-D2) Baker (76)...
Timeline Countdown: 13 days until Labor Day, 16 days until the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 30 days until autumn...
