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Intel launches Atom-powered Compute Stick!

By Koh Wanzi - on 22 May 2015, 4:40pm

Intel launches Atom-powered Compute Stick at Intelligent Generations showcase in Malaysia

Image Source: Intel

Remember Intel’s computer on a stick that turned any HDMI-equipped display into a computer? Intel has now launched the Compute Stick in Malaysia at its Intelligent Generations showcase in Penang, which means that you could be holding one in your hands soon.

Conceived and developed at Intel's Malaysia Design Center, the Compute Stick advances the tide of mobile computing, enabling anyone to literally carry a computer around in their pocket. The diminutive 4-inch plug-and-play device enables any display with an HDMI port to be used like a full-fledged computer, complete with a keyboard and mouse.

As part of its product showcase, Intel demonstrated the capabilities of the Compute Stick on a wall-mounted television by having it run daily computing tasks and programs that you would run on any other computer.

The Intel Compute Stick can turn a full-sized TV into a bona fide computer.

It is powered by the quad-core Intel Atom Z3735F processor, which has a base frequency of 1.33GHz and a burst frequency of up to 1.83GHz. According to Intel, the Compute Stick is intended to be able to handle multi-tasking, and the demo set was put through its paces by switching between video playback, Microsoft Office and even Minecraft.

While the Atom processor might do fine with basic productivity tasks, the onboard Intel HD Graphics, which has a base frequency of 311MHz and burst frequency of 646MHz, is probably not the best fit for games. Games rendered fine, but it was a bit on the choppy side.

Like a fully functioning computer, the Compute Stick can run Minecraft.

Intel also showed a product demo of its Compute Stick running software aimed at managing a network of smart, connected devices. The Internet of Things is growing and Cisco has estimated that there will be 50 billion connected devices by 2020. There could soon be a very real demand for convenient systems to manage the multitude of devices, and the Compute Stick could serve as one such solution. 

The Compute Stick can serve as an IoT management system for smart homes.

The Compute Stick is available with either Windows (eligible for a free Windows 10 upgrade) or Ubuntu installed, and both variants sport slightly different hardware specifications. The Windows 8.1 version will have 2GB of 1333MHz DDR3L memory while the Ubuntu has just 1GB. In addition, the Windows version features 32GB of eMMC flash memory. This has been pared down to 8GB on the Ubuntu version.

Internet connectivity is handled by an onboard 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi module, and support for Bluetooth 4.0 means that you can hook up Bluetooth-compatible peripherals.

And like the mini-PC that it is, the Compute Stick comes with a power button, USB 2.0 port and micro-USB charging port on one side.

The Compute Stick has a dedicated power button, USB 2.0 port and microUSB charging port.

A microSD card slot is located on the other side, so you have the option to add more storage (up to 128GB) if you wish.

The other side of the device features a microSD card slot that will take cards up to 128GB.

The Compute Stick could see potential applications in a wide range of industries and applications, ranging from embedded systems to schools and the living room. The possibilities are endless and Intel hopes that the Compute Stick will open up a new world of flexible, mobile computing in areas as diverse as home entertainment,  digital signage, on-the-go productivity and thin client solutions.

The Intel Compute Stick could see uses as a home entertainment, digital signage, on-the-go productivity and thin client device.

The Compute Stick is a first-generation device in a new product category in the mobile computing space, and Intel hopes that consumers and business will continue to discover new and innovative ways of using it. Intel has said that it expects similarly functional and portable devices to emerge based on its design.

The Windows version of the Compute Stick will retail for RM599. There’s no word yet on when the Compute Stick will make its way across the Causeway or how much it will cost, although Intel did say that it will be very soon. We’ll update this space when we know more so stay tuned.

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