CES: Intel chief gears up to launch Intel Atom Medfield smartphone and Clover Trail tablet

LAS VEGAS: Paul Otellini, Intel chief executive, is expected to unveil an Intel Atom-based prototype smartphone, as well as a tablet running the Clover Trail processor, at his keynote at 4:30pm(PST) – 12:30am(GMT) – today.

V3 got a sneak peak at the Intel stand this morning and got some hands-on time with the "reference smartphone", which Intel has built from scratch.

The smartphone is powered by a 32nm Intel Atom Medfield 1.6GHz single core processor and packs a 4.03in display. The device was running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, but the chipset is compatible with Android Ice Cream Sandwich. Other features include an 8-megapixel rear camera with 1080p recording capabiltities and a 1-megapixel front facing camera.

Intel has also built in micro-USB and HDMI connections, which are likely to seen in any final product.

An Intel spokesperson confirmed that the Medfield processor is compatible with all existing applications in the Android marketplace, but said apps will need to be tweaked to take advantage of the NFC and wireless display built-in features.

At the tablet stand, Intel showed off a Lenovo tablet that features the same Medfield processor. The 10in tablet was running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Intel claims the device is capable of providing an all-day battery life.

There was also another device that had a large cloth draped over it and an Intel spokesperson confirmed it was indeed a tablet with an Intel Clover Trail processor inside. Further details on the tablet are expected to be announced by Paul Otellini.

V3 will post hands-on review and video demos of the Intel devices soon.