MIPS-based processors don’t get a lot of love these days, but there are a handful of Android tablets on the market with these low power chips. That includes the Ainol Novo 7 and the Skytex Primer Pocket.

Unfortunately, they can’t run all Android apps, because apps written using the current native developer kit for Android don’t support MIPS architecture. But it looks like MIPS-based Android devices could get a shot in the arm soon.

Ainol Novo 7

EE Times reports that Google will release a new native developers’ kit soon with a compiler for MIPS. Future versions of the Android operating system will also include better support for MIPS.

There’s no guarantee that existing app developers will rush to update their software to run on MIPS, but it sounds like Google is serious about ensuring that future apps are compatible with MIPS-based tablets as well as machines with ARM and x86-based processors.

According to EE Times there may already be as many as 1.8 million MIPS-based tablets in the wild, which helps explain why Google is starting to take the platform more seriously, even if most of those devices are cheap Chinese tablets.

via The Verge

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2 replies on “Better MIPS processor support coming to Android”

  1. I really hope they support more MIPS devices. I go onto the Play store to look for apps that SHOULD work on my tablet, but they don’t show up, even though I know that they will work. Games and apps should show up but with a warning that they weren’t designed for your particular system. Its annoying that the top downloadable games available to me on my tablet are things like crossword puzzle apps. I’ve got freaking Ice Cream Sandwich! X(

  2. “According to EE Times there may already be as many as 1.8 million
    MIPS-based tablets in the wild, which helps explain why Google is
    starting to take the platform more seriously, ESPECIALLY if most of those devices are cheap Chinese tablets.”

    Google is is making a play for the low end disruption of Apple. I suspect that the profit on a $55 tablet for Google is on par with that of a $500 tablet. On the other hand Apple’s business model is built around the $500+ yield on each iDevice.  If $50-100 devices crowd out the iPad Apple either has to slash margins or accept being a boutique brand again. If they go the boutique route they lose leverage over content and app distribution. Either way they end up slitting their wrists if tablets become cheap.

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