It appears that Nvidia Corp.'s products will be featured by the renowned next-generation iPod and, in the same time, Broadcom Corp. seems to loose ground day by day, informs EE Times.

Because of this rumor, Nvidia shares have been transferred from a 'hold ranking' to a "buy invitation". "We are upgrading [Nvidia] because of 1) the next generation vPod win; 2) the G80 graphics chip is on schedule to be released in CY Q3, 3) Sony PS3 royalties will kick in during the October quarter, and finally, 4) valuation is inexpensive."

"Apple's current video iPod line is said to use an MP3 processor from PortalPlayer Inc. and a multimedia chip from Broadcom. The chip designs have been up for grabs for the next-generation video iPod, which has been delayed and due out in the first half of 2007," writes EE Times.

"Based on our analysis, we believe Nvidia is designed into the next-generation vPod socket at the expense of Broadcom," said Satya Chillara, an analyst with American Technology Research Inc. (Greenwich, Conn.), in a new report. "We believe the Nvidia chip adds 3D graphics functionality in addition to all of the existing features (such as H.264) that Broadcom supported with the existing vPod."

The analyst also lowered Broadcom from a "buy" to a "hold." Broadcom "has lost the socket in the next-generation vPod to Nvidia," he said. "We view this development as negative as the vPod program contributes revenue of (about $50-to-70 million per quarter)."

If you remember, the ONFI Working Group, which includes IT & C leaders such as Intel Corp. Hynix Semiconductor, Micron Technology, Phison Electronics Corp. and Sony Corp., has announced at the beginning of May that the alliance intends to configure the open NAND flash interface. And this step has been taken for one main reason - Apple and its renowned iPod, which is the most significant NAND client.

Samsung has not yet announced it will join the group, maybe because the revenues would be greater if it came out to be the sole flash memory provider (for iPod of course).

However, Apple has signed an agreement with most of ONFI members (Hynix Semiconductor, Intel Corp., Micron), but also with other most likely future ONFI companies - Samsung Electronics and Toshiba.

"Establishing a standard interface technology will help companies accelerate time to market and enable new products to use NAND-based memory," declared Celeste Crystal, senior research analyst for IDC. "Working together to establish an industry standard, such as ONFI, will help simplify the integration of NAND flash memory into PCs and consumer electronics".

The interface will enable NAND devices to self-describe their capabilities to the host, including memory layout and enhanced features. The specification is scheduled to be completed by the ONFI working group in the second half of 2006.

So iPod created another battle in the technology segment, every leader trying to get the first inside the Great Britain's Queen favorite player, and also our dear and most beloved iPod signed, in a moment of genius inspiration, by Apple.