2011 and 2012, by Chris Rowen of Tensilica.

In 2011:

Android became real as an alternative to Apple.

“4G” became a must-have brand.

ARM emerged as an alternative to x86 as an applications CPU across tablets and ultra-books to servers, but functional and energy specifications for ARM and x86-based designs are converging.

Semiconductor design ibecame ncreasingly is a “sport of kings” – with the the fabless chip start-up faces increasingly visible barriers to success.

And the four big trends for 2012.

High-bandwidth and low cost help LTE wireless make it a strategic alternative outside of traditional cellular networks – to DSL, cable and broadcast for living room platforms, for home/business femtocells, and for machine-to-machine networking, for example in smart meters.

Larger semiconductor companies get significantly more agile in system-on-chip design. Their design economies of scale and foundry connections allow them to pump out an exploding number of mobile and living room design variants.

Smartphone consumers move from consciousness to obsession with battery life, pushing recognition that a further 10x reduction in apps processor energy is both possible and necessary. Application off-load is recognised as an essential power reduction method.

Widespread experimentation with new mobile device form-factors – from wearables to mini-tablets to voice-centric assistants.