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SigmaTel to provide STMP-3600 chipset to Creative
comment: 22 | Wednesday, May 31 (2006) 09:00AM | Posted by Robert Sinke
Finally, SigmaTel scores another big name for their (theoretically) kick-ass STMP-3600 System-on-Chip solution. After Samsung already took the bait and implemented the 3600 into their relatively-successful YP-Z5 (interestingly-enough, Apple is probably switching to Samsung SoCs now considering switching back to SigmaTel for their iPod shuffle range), SigmaTel moves on to Creative. Yeah, that's the company behind the Zen Vision:M, in case you've already forgotten.

Actually, the two parties involved have met a couple of times before already, but it'll still be interesting to see how Creative ends up implementing the 3600 into their own designs. Recapping the SoC's specifications/features:

The STMP3600 provides over 70 hours of battery life and smaller form factor design capabilities through the integration of battery recharge, power management, audio codec, and flash controller on a single chip solution. With support for all major audio formats including MP3, Windows Media Audio, AAC, and OGG Vorbis, the STMP3600 offers industry-leading audio quality (based on tests using Rohde and Schwarz Audio Analyzer technology). In addition to world class audio, the STMP3600 will support MPEG4, H.264 and WMV9 video formats at varying resolutions and bit rates.

Based on the ARM926EJ-S CPU with up to a 200 MHz operating frequency, the STMP3600 has integrated USB2.0 host and device, USB on-the-go, VFIR, and a Digital Radio Interface supporting SigmaTel's FM tuner solution. High capacity flash-based players based on the STMP3600 can be enabled with as little as 2MB of external SDRAM, compared to comparable systems requiring 16-32MB.

A flash-based Zen Vision:M + Ogg Vorbis support with a hint of USB-Host/FM tuner and a 70 hour battery life will do just fine for me, thank you .

Official press release
Comments

Lacene
Location: Standing Here, Confused By Your
Comments: 827
 		May 31 (2006) 09:35AM  

interesting - as highly regarded as the "stump" chip seems to be, I'm surprised they haven't been turning up in more high-profile DAP's before now.

I wonder if these chips will be available in time for the new zen flash players proposed in the fall. If so, the players will have support for just about everything most people have been wishing to be included.



vidas7de7jesus7

Comments: 52
 		May 31 (2006) 09:36AM  

unfortunately, creative and most other mp3 player makers that will/ do use this chip only enable about 1/2 of its features. a player that uses all its features with about 6-10 GB of flash would be the ultimate. unfortunately, it would probably cost about as much as a 60 GB player.



Lacene
Location: Standing Here, Confused By Your
Comments: 827
 		May 31 (2006) 10:03AM  

I agree with you on the first part, vidas7de7jesus7 - the STMP3600 seems like overkill for such a feature-poor DAP as the shuffle, unless the next generation will be entirely different..

However, the second issue: there is the Sandisk Sansa e270 (6GB), going for $270: it has most of the features save a codec or two & no USBTG. That's less than either the 30GB ZVM or 30GB iPod are going for....



Fluidity

Comments: 190
 		May 31 (2006) 10:24AM  

A flash-based Zen Vision:M + Ogg Vorbis support with a hint of USB-Host/FM tuner and a 70 hour battery life will do just fine for me, thank you


I'll second that motion and throw in an extra request of gapless please!



Ricardo Dawkins

Comments: 380
 		May 31 (2006) 11:51AM  

cool...a Vision: M with USB on the GO and I'm sold...!



marxx

Comments: 39
 		May 31 (2006) 12:04PM  

Great to hear this confirmed. Not sure how much creative will utilise this though. Think they are sticking with MTP now though to keep microsoft happy. Should be loads of goodies in the next zen though...



Thebassness
Location: In a crappy little place called duluth,ga
Comments: 168
 		May 31 (2006) 12:22PM  

if creative puts this into their nano competitor(i can hope right?) then it should kick the nanos ass. or just make a new vm with it.



Michael
Location: New York City
Comments: 2786
 		May 31 (2006) 12:23PM  

Well it most likely won't be in the nano competitor since those are already in production, but for it'll be nice to see it in their future players.



Lacene
Location: Standing Here, Confused By Your
Comments: 827
 		May 31 (2006) 12:27PM  

Michael, do you think it's too late to incorporate these chips in the next generation flash DAP's from Creative?? I'm not sure of the proposed release date - late summer/early fall - & maybe the chips might push it to end of 2006/first of 2007....

wasn't the new DAP's going to incorporate the X-FI technology?? How would that interrelate with the STMP3600?



koppite1

Comments: 248
 		May 31 (2006) 12:29PM  

I'd be interested if it wasn't for the fact every Creative DAP has disappointed me one way or another, whether aesthetically or feature wise



Allen
Location: Dub Vee Ooo
Comments: 1511
 		May 31 (2006) 12:31PM  

Ahhh a big player... I wonder how long it will take to get something with this chipset out the door now...



Michael
Location: New York City
Comments: 2786
 		May 31 (2006) 12:51PM  

Lacene their new flash player is due to come out soon so I doubt they'd push it back months. It's already been designed and engineered. Adding these new chips would involve a lot more work, more tests, different specs, packaging, etc.. Not going to happen.

X-Fi and this chip would be an incredible combination. I don't know if the sigmatel chip is being considered for the X-Fi player due out at the end of the year, but let's hope.


Always remember to check epiZENter.net for the latest news on Creative players
[ edited May 31 (2006) 12:52PM ]



Lacene
Location: Standing Here, Confused By Your
Comments: 827
 		May 31 (2006) 01:46PM  

I'm there every day...


timmins

Comments: 270
 		May 31 (2006) 03:43PM  

ssj, you beat me to it, X-FI and sigmatel=mmm mmm good.



zip22

Comments: 1809
 		May 31 (2006) 04:00PM  

i agree with vidas. the samsung player is evidence that the dap companies don't want to use everything the chip has to offer.



Dominic
Location: Ireland.
Comments: 2396
 		May 31 (2006) 05:06PM  

backstards zip



Martinp

Comments: 299
 		May 31 (2006) 05:45PM  

I want Cowon to use this chip ...



ilh

Comments: 168
 		May 31 (2006) 06:13PM  

1 player from 1 company doesn't mean every other company will be the same.



zip22

Comments: 1809
 		May 31 (2006) 06:23PM  

i have never heard of a dap manufacturer using a chip to its full potential. cases in point, the ipod and the vision:m



timmins

Comments: 270
 		May 31 (2006) 11:33PM  

edit:error corrected.
[ edited Jun 01 (2006) 08:00AM ]



marxx

Comments: 39
 		Jun 01 (2006) 06:02AM  

timmins: that was based on the portalplayer chipset though, all the features from that were just coded the crap out of basically. The karma used almost the exact same chip as the 3rd gen ipod (IIRC).

Personally, I reckon only iaudio/iriver would make use of all the features from the 3600, all other companies are much more consumer targetted.



Dominic
Location: Ireland.
Comments: 2396
 		Jun 01 (2006) 07:33PM  

iriver, have you seen their stuff lately? cowon, definately



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