Super secret processor to be unveiled this week

Transmeta, the Silicon Valley start-up that has been working with Linux founder Linus Torvalds on the super-secret "Crusoe Processor" microprocessor, will unveil the much anticipated chip this week. Transmeta, which has received funding from group of powerful companies and venture capitalists, has taken five years to develop the processor, which is reportedly able to mimic just about any other popular microprocessor, so software developed for Intel, PowerPC, Sparc and other platforms can run on the same computer.

Tranmeta is headed by David Ditzel, a former chip designer for AT&T's Bell Labs and Sun Microsystems. Investors include Microsoft-founder Paul Allen and billionaire financier George Soros. "This is going to really raise eyebrows, and yes, the big chip makers - Intel and AMD - should be worried,'' said Drew Peck, a microprocessor analyst who says he is familiar with the project. Until now, Transmeta has refused to reveal any detail about the chip, which the company is hyping as the world's first family of software-based smart microprocessors. "We rethought the microprocessor to create a whole new world of mobility. The Crusoe Processor is cool hardware and software for mobile applications.'' Unlike other microprocessors, the Crusoe combines hardware and software. Until now, however, Transmeta's product and strategy have remained unclear.