Mobile Internet device
A mobile Internet device is a multimedia-capable mobile device providing wireless Internet access. They are designed to provide entertainment, information and location-based services for personal or business use. They allow 2-way communication and real-time sharing. They have been described as filling a niche between smartphones and tablet computers.
As all the features of MID started becoming available on smartphones and tablets, the term is now mostly used to refer to both low-end as well as high-end tablets.
Archos Internet tablets
The form factor of mobile Internet tablets from Archos is very similar to the Lenovo image on the right. The class has included multiple operating systems: Windows CE, Windows 7 and Android. The Android tablet uses an ARM Cortex CPU and a touchscreen.Intel MID platforms
Intel announced a prototype MID at the Intel Developer Forum in Spring 2007 in Beijing. A MID development kit by Sophia Systems using Intel Centrino Atom was announced in April 2008.Intel MID platforms are based on an Intel processor and chipset which consume less power than most of the x86 derivatives. A few platforms have been announced as listed below:
McCaslin platform (2007)
Intel's first generation MID platform contains a 90 nm Intel A100/A110 processor which runs at 600–800 MHz.| Centrino | McCaslin platform |
| Mobile chipset | an Intel 945GU Express MCH northbridge with integrated GMA 950 graphics and an ICH7-U southbridge |
| Mobile processor | a 90 nm Intel A100/A110 processor |
| Wireless network | a wireless radio |
Menlow platform (2008)
On 2 March 2008, Intel introduced the Intel Atom processor brand for a new family of low-power processor platforms. The components have thin, small designs and work together to "enable the best mobile computing and Internet experience" on mobile and low-power devices.Intel's second generation MID platform contains a 45 nm Intel Atom processor which can run up to 2.0 GHz and a System Controller Hub which includes Intel HD Audio. This platform was initially branded as Centrino Atom but such practice was discontinued in Q3 2008.
| Centrino | Menlow platform |
| Mobile chipset | an Intel SCH with integrated GMA 500 graphics |
| Mobile processor | a 45 nm Intel Atom processor |
| Wireless network | a wireless radio |
Moorestown platform (2010)
Intel's third generation MID/smartphone platform contains a 45 nm Intel Atom processor and a separate 65 nm Platform Controller Hub. Since the memory controller and graphics controller are all now integrated into the processor, the northbridge has been removed and the processor communicates directly with the southbridge via the DMI bus interface.| Atom | Moorestown platform |
| Mobile chipset | a 65 nm Intel PCH and an MSIC |
| Mobile processor | a 45 nm Intel Atom processor with integrated GMA 600 graphics |
| Wireless network | a wireless radio |
Medfield platform (2012)
Intel's fourth generation MID/smartphone platform contains their first complete Intel Atom SoC, produced on 32 nm.| Atom | Medfield platform |
| Mobile processor | a 32 nm Intel Atom SoC with integrated CPU and graphics |
| Wireless network | a wireless radio |
Clover Trail+ platform (2012)
Intel's MID/smartphone platform based on its Clover Trail tablet platform. It contains a 32 nm Intel Atom SoC.| Atom | Clover Trail+ platform |
| Mobile processor | a 32 nm Intel Atom SoC with integrated CPU and graphics |
| Wireless network | a wireless radio |
Merrifield platform (2013)
Intel's fifth generation MID/smartphone platform contains a 22 nm Intel Atom SoC.| Atom | Merrifield platform |
| Mobile processor | an Intel Atom SoC with integrated CPU and graphics |
| Wireless network | a wireless radio |
Moorefield platform (2014)
Intel's sixth generation MID/smartphone platform contains a nm Intel Atom SoC.| Atom | Moorefield platform |
| Mobile processor | an Intel Atom SoC with integrated CPU and graphics |
| Wireless network | a wireless radio |
Morganfield platform
Intel's seventh generation MID/smartphone platform contains a 14 nm Intel Atom SoC.| Atom | Morganfield platform |
| Mobile processor | an Intel Atom SoC with integrated CPU and graphics |
| Wireless network | a wireless radio |