Renesas's 1080p-decoding processor coming soon to a cell phone near you

Plenty of modern cell phones have HD-quality screens on them, but few can manage any sort of high-definition video content at a respectable frame rate. That's set to change with the release of the Renesas SH7370, a chip we first got wind of back in December with its promise to offer 1080p video at 30fps in a package small (and efficient) enough to be included in a handset. The first units are now shipping to manufacturers, and while the size has increased (it's about 1cm square vs. the 6.4 x 6.5mm package previously discussed) it's still impressively small given its functionality: 1080p H.264 video decoding and encoding along with on-chip Dolby Digital 5.1-channel output. Overkill? Maybe for now, but you might change your mind when the first head-mountable satellite speakers with subwoofer seat cushions hit retail.

[jason202 Posted May 5th 2009 8:28AM]

It looks like those chips are about 11 mm square.

[(Unverified) Posted May 5th 2009 9:22AM]

Geez, I would be satisfied if I could just get my Netbook to play HD video. Can we put this chip in netbooks too please? Thanks.

[(Unverified) Posted May 5th 2009 10:54AM]

Looks Like it's headed for the iPhone

[(Unverified) Posted May 5th 2009 11:27AM]

Just one question: WHY?!?!

HD-quality? What cell phone has a resolution of 1280x720, let alone 1920x1080?!?! Did I miss a product release? Good old "marketing speak"...

[(Unverified) Posted May 5th 2009 2:33PM]

You're right. I didn't quite get the comment "Plenty of modern cell phones have HD-quality screens on them" either. AFAIK, the smallest HD screen (and with that I mean full-HD, not HD-ready) in a consumer-level product is a 15.4" lcd (actually 1920x1200). Unless I missed a smaller 1080 display, I think this woul dmake for a rather BIG cell phone ;)

[(Unverified) Posted May 5th 2009 1:16PM]

It might be overkill to fit a 3-5 inch lcd, but is more idea like connect to a projector that display high quality.