NVIDIA, Verizon demonstrate full HD Internet tablet

LAS VEGAS, USA: NVIDIA and the Verizon Wireless LTE Innovation Center said on Thursday that they are demonstrating a full 1080p HD Internet experience on touch-screen tablets.

The demonstration – on an NVIDIA Tegra-powered Ultra tablet, designed by Innovative Converged Devices (ICD) utilizing the ultra-broad bandwidth of a Motorola 4G wireless modem, operating over a pre-commercial Verizon Wireless LTE network – brings to life the vision of high-speed Internet everywhere, said a press release.

The collaboration was fostered at Verizon Wireless’ LTE Innovation Center, which provides an environment for diverse companies to work together in developing innovative products that leverage 4G LTE technology, it added.

NVIDIA Tegra mobile processors enable the users to have full HD web experience, such as streaming YouTube HD, for hours on a single charge.

At Las Vegas CES, Verizon Wireless also announced its plans to build a 4G LTE network in the United States, with 25 to 30 markets rolling out in 2010. The LTE network will be able to support high-quality, high definition web experiences.

Motorola provides the 4G wireless modem and data card to deliver the HD content.

“We know consumers want full Internet access and we are pleased to be working with NVIDIA in our LTE Innovation Center on a solution that can process full HD content with the battery life of a smartphone,” said Brian Higgins, executive director, LTE Ecosystem Development at Verizon Wireless.

“Verizon Wireless’ planned LTE network will deliver what consumers demand - bandwidth for a full HD web experience. This coupled with our Tegra processor will deliver amazing streaming content, all on the go,” Michael Rayfield, GM of Mobile business, NVIDIA.

Nvidia GPUs power Audi

NVIDIA also announced a tie-up with and Audi, under which Nvidia GPUs would power the navigation and entertainment systems in all of Audi 2010 vehicles.

This marriage of Silicon Valley technology and German engineering introduces cutting-edge GPUs to the automotive industry, enabling advanced visual capabilities such as full 3D navigation with advanced driver assistance and safety systems, and a “dual zone” entertainment system that enables two videos to be shown simultaneously on different screens, said a press release.

NVIDIA and Audi also worked with Google to enable Google Earth on future 3G MMI systems powered by NVIDIA GPUs, beginning in the flagship Audi A8 in 2011, the release added. Google Earth is based on a technology developed by Keyhole, a company NVIDIA invested in and Google later acquired.