Google’s upcoming release of Android Ice Cream Sandwich promises to shake-up the foundation of the the Android OS family, merging Honeycomb back with Gingerbread after the platform temporarily split course to address the needs of tablets. We’ve been wondering what hardware will lead the pack of the first devices made from the ground-up for ICS, and growing rumors point squarely to Texas Instruments and its OMAP4 chips.

The TI-created image above leaves little doubt that the company is focused on its future with ICS. Google’s explained in the past how it chooses a semiconductor partner when working on plans for Android’s evolution; could it be aligning with TI this time around?

OMAP4 chips are already available, in devices like the Optimus 3D and Droid 3, so it wouldn’t be difficult to get some into the Nexus 3, due later this year. The OMAP4 lineup includes dual-core options ranging from 1GHz to 1.8GHz (not due until next year, though), giving Google some options; a dual-core 1.5GHz would give the Nexus 3 a nice competitive advantage.

If the OMPA4 does become the reference platform for ICS hardware design, it would be a major windfall for TI, which hasn’t had quite the Android market penetration as have peers like Qualcomm.

Source: CNET

Via: Android and Me, Droid-life