What is Viiv, really?

[W_Eagle]

http://newsletter.eetimes.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/etKu0Fyxpc0FrK0D6Vz0GC

LONDON — Viiv is a technology platform — but what does that mean?
“Technology platform” is a catch-all phrase, it lacks precision. It usually implies a mix of hardware and software modules but then most things in electronics are these days.

I scanned a series of 12 press releases put out by Intel Corp. to accompany the "launch" of Viiv and none of them said much about what it is — apart from it being a technology platform. Instead Intel describes Viiv in terms of what it would like it to achieve; saying Viiv offers "exciting new entertainment experiences" or support for "both a minimum of 5.1 or higher surround sound and high-definition video," and so on.

[adam]

I did a google search and in about 10 secs I found a press release stating that Vilv is one of Intel's new chip brands. Makes sense considering its Intel, after all.

I presume its just got some built in optimizations to make it more suitable for "entertainment experiences" such as watching high definition formats. It probably just takes some of the load off of the video and sound cards and just packs enough CPU power to guarantee that it can handle those incredibly CPU intensive high def. video formats.

[W_Eagle]

Good for you Adam, you found out what EE (Electronics Engineers) Times editors missed, or did they?

[smearbrick1]

By the name "Viiv" I would assume it is simply a 64 bit dual core Intel processor.

VI = 6
IV = 4

64.

Just a guess though.

[adam]

Ahh clever.

[jagabo]

http://www.intel.com/products/viiv/description.htm

Like Centrino, it's mostly branding to make their hardware look like something special. AMD's equivalent is Live!

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Corporate/VirtualPressRoom/0,,51_104_543~103717,00.html

At least until Creative sues them over trademark issues.

[erik1958]

VIIV includes a variant of DLNA solving some problems but doing that by using Intel specific technology which they control so they will have a lock on you.

DLNA 1.5 is planned to solve the same problems in a Intel competitor friendly way.

[vitualis]

VIIV is basically the same concept as "Centrino". A mix of a particular processor class, chipset, and other hardware (e.g., the specific WiFi hardware for Centrino).

Basically, if you buy a computer this is "VIIV" you can expect it to have certain hardware and be able to have certain abilities.

It's a good idea. I means that Intel can advertise the platform to consumers of being able to do a particular thing (i.e., VIIV computers can do "this"!) without having to promote specific computers made by OEMs.

Regards.

[CaptainVideo]

I thought VIIV was the technology that added hardware DRM used in conjunction with Windows Vista that blocked any unauthorized use of protected works, be it software or entertainment such as video and music.

[painkiller]

CaptainVideo
PostPosted: Jan 15, 2006 08:49
I thought VIIV was the technology that added hardware DRM used in conjunction with Windows Vista that blocked any unauthorized use of protected works, be it software or entertainment such as video and music.

Yes. It is.

[p_l]

Yup, sure looks like it. Viiv=built-in DRM.

Now, Viiv technology-based PCs will use Digital Rights Management helping to ease the concerns reluctant content providers have always had about rights and piracy.

http://www.futureshop.ca/learnmore/ProductReviews/en/intel_viiv.asp?langid=EN&CMP=NLC-email_weekly