Samsung Electronics has introduced the industry's first quad-core application processor built on the HKMG low-power process technology. With performance capabilities exceeding 1.4GHz based on the ARM Cortex A9 quad-core, the Exynos 4 Quad allows system-level architects to integrate maximized power efficiencies into smartphones and tablets which enables double the processing power at a 20% lower power bill over its predecessor, the 45nm process-based Exynos 4 Dual. Due to its 32nm HKMG low-power process and power-saving design, the Exynos 4 Quad has two-times the processing capability over the 45nm process based Exynos 4 Dual while consuming 20% less power. To improve power efficiency, Samsung adopted hot-plug functionality to support on-off switching for each core as well as the per-core dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS), which offers a dramatic reduction in power consumption by adapting different levels of voltage and frequency when changing workloads. Having identical form factor measurement (12X12X1.37mm), the Exynos 4 Quad is pin-to-pin compatible with the 32nm process based Exynos 4 Dual, allowing mobile device designers to immediately adopt the new solution without additional cost, engineering or design efforts. Already in production, the Exynos 4 Quad is scheduled to be adopted first into Samsung's next Galaxy smartphone that will officially be announced in May. Samsung's Exynos 4 Quad is also sampling to other major handset makers.

Akustica has announced the expansion of its microphone product portfolio with the addition of a new analog MEMS microphone. Designed specifically to meet the requirements of mobile handset manufacturers, the AKU340 is a high-performance analog microphone that utilizes established surface-micromachining MEMS technology developed by Bosch. The solution measures 2.5x3.35x1.0mm, and offers acoustic performance with 63dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and low frequency recording with a reduction in sensitivity of less than 5dB at 50Hz. With its tight sensitivity matching of just +/-2dB between microphones, the AKU340 is for use in microphone array applications where more uniform microphones lead to increased performance of noise suppression algorithms. The AKU340 is sampling to lead customers now and will be ramping to mass production in the third quarter of 2012. The AKU340 is available at US$1.34 per unit in 1K-unit quantities.