MICROSOCKETS.COM: Embedding the Network

We received word that the long awaited Professional version of HI-TECH C for the PIC 10/12/16 has been delayed.  The new release date is scheduled for Jan/Feb of 2008, which gives another solid month after the holidays for HI-TECH to wrangle the remaining bugs.

Here’s the announcement from HI-TECH:

“As is the case from time to time, we experience some extraordinary product development challenges. The release phase for HI-TECH C PRO for the PIC10/12/16 MCU Family (PICC PRO) has been no exception. As a result of these challenges the Beta Testing period of the HI-TECH C PRO for the PIC10/12/16 MCU Family has been extended; with the final release scheduled for the end of January/ early February 2008.

“We realize this delay may not fit with your timelines. Please be assured that if there is any way we can get the product to you earlier, we will.”

For those who are not familiar, the Pro version of the popular HI-TECH C Pro compiler adds Omniscient Code Generation™ which provides aggressive cross-module optimizations that can produce significant code size and performance improvements.

 The beta program has been extended and you can still sign up on the HI-TECH site at this link.

We’ve heard promises of big news coming from Microchip in November with confirmation of impending announcements from company field reps.  Unfortunately, what exactly is coming down the pipeline is a big mystery and we are left to pure speculation.

MASTERS 2007 was surprisingly quiet with a keynote speech from Steve Sanghi devoid of new product information.  FAEs and sales reps have been tight-lipped but enthusiastic about the impending announcement.

So we are left with big expectations for filling the holes in Microchip offerings.

The Obvious Choice – PIC32

The cost differential between 8-bit and 32-bit single chip microcontrollers is rapidly evaporating.  Low cost single chip microcontrollers such as the ARM Cortex parts are creeping down to very competitive levels.  New embedded applications are increasingly requiring USB, onboard Ethernet, wireless and LCD features.  While current Microchip offerings support these features, they need a solution that supports the connectivity features and the embedded application on a single chip.

The Q2 2008 conference call featured the direct question regarding when will there be a 32-bit offering and received a well orchestrated non-response from the management team.

Filling in the Gaps – Microchip C8

Microchip has long focused on development tool shipments to predict future market growth and product adoption.  Fewer and fewer developers are opting to kick out assembly code no matter the size of the processor.  When CCS is the best selling C compiler for your chip, its time to look at taking control of the user experience.

Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but a low-cost C compiler that is designed to plug into MPLAB is just what the doctor ordered to fight off Atmel’s juiced-up 8051 variants, Freescale’s Black Widow HC908s and TI’s onslaught of MSP430s.

Not Likely – MICROMIPS

With MIPS entering the 32-bit MCU market, who is going to adopt their IP?  Other than Freescale, which seems to collect 32-bit architectures like they stick to their shoes, who is going to bring MIPS to the masses? As in the 8-bit market, everybody wants to be Microchip,  in the 32-bit market everybody wants to be ARM.  While they would make strange bedfellows, Microchip can deliver the customers if MIPS can deliver the cores.

Again, not likely.  Not Microchip’s style.  Not the kind of partner MIPS is looking for.  But, with long-term double-digit annual growth projected for 32-bit MCUs and ARM sitting comfortably atop the design IP market, strange things are bound to happen.

What have you heard?

Let us know what you’ve heard or what you think is coming.  And let’s hope that it is something big.