As product categories converge, devices in the home are increasingly required to supply more performance and handle an increasing number of tasks. The ARM Cortex-A8 processor with NEON media processing extensions provides a high-performance target with special focus on media applications, enhanced security and such execution environments as Java.


This article describes the architecture and features of the Cortex A-8, including its NEON media processing technology, which offers the flexibility to run an ever-expanding array of media standards efficiently in software; its TrustZone technology, which provides the foundation for personal data and high-value content security; and its Jazelle-RCT technology, which allows for efficient Java execution.

Reprinted in its entirety from ARM IQ Vol. 7, No. 2, 2008