Marvell's Silicon and Software Solutions on Display at CES 2014

If you walked by Booth 3304 in the Venetian Hotel at CES 2014, then you probably noticed a sign that said "Marvell." You may have even done a double-take to look around for one of your favorite superheroes.

Marvell doesn't have anything to do with Iron Man or Captain America, but they are superheroes of a sort when it comes to silicon design. This week, Marvell showcased solutions for what it calls today's "Digital Connected Lifestyle" by showing off its silicon in combination with cloud services powers Google Chromecast, Smart TV with Google Services and the new Kinoma application platform.

For example, Marvell literally sent an ARMADA to power China Mobile's 4G LTE mobile hotspot. Marvell's ARMADA Mobile PXA1802 multi-mode 4G platform powers the CM408 4G LTE mobile hotspot to deliver mobile broadband connectivity to laptop computers, tablets and legacy handsets for China Mobile's 760 million customers.

Another technological “marvell” is the company's ARMADA 1500 PRO quad-core platform, which is designed to support Google Services for Smart TV and deliver Verimatrix hybrid-IP security. The ARMADA 1500 line powers HD content, including both media and gaming, with real-time 1080p video encode capabilities for better graphics performance.

Kinoma Connect, Marvell's new home streaming media app and application development, delivers open-source software for consumer electronics and Internet-of-Things (IoT) products. Developers can create applications that move between a JavaScript application layer and C compact native runtime code so that applications are easier to test, maintain and evolve.

Finally, Marvell showcased its Wi-Fi on a chip product, Avastar 88W8887, which is designed for smartphones, tablets and other wireless devices. Avastar 88W8887 combines 802.11ac 1x1 Very High Throughput, WLAN, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC and even an FM receiver on a single silicon chip.

Avastar 88W8887 also uses RF Switch, Low Noise Amplifier and Power Amplifier to provide a high level of RF integration. This integration simplifies the design of the chip, makes it more cost effective and gives it a smaller footprint.

Increasing consumer demand for media and broadband connectivity means that tomorrow's devices will have to deliver maximum processing power. By creating innovative silicon designs to power a wide range of devices, Marvell may become a household name as we all embrace the "Digital Connected Lifestyle."