Author Topic: Android on a USB stick  (Read 3514 times)

Brad

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Android on a USB stick
« on: November 19, 2011, 08:28:17 PM »
Tiny USB Stick Brings Android to PCs, TVs | Gadget Lab | Wired.com http://bit.ly/uUfrPQ

You can run Android on any USB device. Kinda neat.

littleman

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Re: Android on a USB stick
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2011, 12:05:59 AM »
I could see that being handy for development.

Zwart

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Re: Android on a USB stick
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2011, 08:11:45 AM »
One for my santa wishlist, Brad :P

ergophobe

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Re: Android on a USB stick
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2011, 06:29:43 PM »
Amazing - looking at the specs and writeup, I think that USB key is more powerful than the original Cray supercomputer (which was less powerful than a second-gen iPhone from what I've read). This USB key is = to a supercomputer of circa 1980. Makes you wonder what will happen in the next 31 years. Damn! the curiousity makes me want to live to 120 (the next 72 years).

Zwart

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Re: Android on a USB stick
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2011, 09:31:33 PM »
I don't care if it glows red hot and fries my pc's power unit - I still want  one 8)

ergophobe

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Re: Android on a USB stick
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2011, 06:05:52 PM »
There is no way the .5 mw, 5v that is delivered over USB can power those processor, GPU etc specs

I wouldn't be so sure.

I think you're mixing Watts and Amps. In USB2 it's 500mA per device max without external power or a double port. In USB3 that's up to 900mA.

So you get 4.5W in USB3

In the "power optimized" config, a dual-core ARM A-9 draws .5W, or up to 1.9W in the high-performance mode (http://www.arm.com/products/processors/cortex-a/cortex-a9.php).

I couldn't find specs on the Mali GPU, but it's running in the Samsung Galaxy phone, so it's not as if it's drawing line current.

And then you have to run the memory. So in low-power mode for the A-9 on a fully powered USB3 port, you have 4W for the GPU and then memory.


BTW... read an article recently that arrays of super-efficient phone chips are the future of supercomputing.  I can't find the original article, but roughly... current TOP10 machines draw 1.32MW. Power consumption goes up dramatically with each generation of supercomputer and it's expected that the exaflops machines due to come online around 2018 to 2020 will require 120MW. Maybe more. So a Spanish group is building a supercomputer out of ARM chips like the one in this stick.

TOP 10:  http://www.top500.org/lists/2008/06/highlights/power
120MW: http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/emerging-tech/2010/09/23/is-power-hungry-supercomputing-ok-now-40090137/
Spanish: http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2011/11/spain-builds-supercomputer-with-cellphone-chips/

littleman

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Re: Android on a USB stick
« Reply #6 on: November 21, 2011, 06:11:49 PM »
Sort of related, I use to love running Linux from a USB stick,  it was very convenient for running in a secure environment and its a lot easier than carrying a laptop around all the time.