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{{Short description|American semiconductor design company}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2012}} {{Infobox company | name = Transmeta Corporation | logo = [[File:Transmeta logo.svg|240px|Transmeta Corporation]] | type = Private | fate = Acquired by [[Novafora]], patent portfolio sold to [[Intellectual Ventures]]. | foundation = {{start date and age|1995}} | defunct = {{end date and age|2009}} | location = [[Santa Clara, California]] | key_people = [[Murray A. Goldman]], [[David Ditzel]], Colin Hunter | num_employees = 24 (2009)<ref name=zenobank>{{cite web |url=http://zenobank.com/index.php?symbol=TMTA&page=quotesearch |title=Company Profile for Transmeta Corp (TMTA) |access-date=October 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202195113/http://zenobank.com/index.php?symbol=TMTA&page=quotesearch |archive-date=December 2, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | parent = Novafora | industry = [[Intellectual property|Intellectual property licensing]] | products = [[Microprocessor]]s, [[Microprocessor]] patents | revenue = {{Increase}} $2.48 million (2007)<ref name="SEC_10K2007"/> | operating_income = {{Decrease}} -$61.121 million (2007)<ref name="SEC_10K2007"/> | net_income = {{Decrease}} -$66.812 million (2007)<ref name="SEC_10K2007"/> }} '''Transmeta Corporation''' was an American [[fabless]] semiconductor company based in [[Santa Clara, California]]. It developed low power [[x86]] compatible microprocessors based on a [[VLIW]] core and a software layer called [[Code Morphing Software]]. Code Morphing Software (CMS) consisted of an [[Interpreter (computing)|interpreter]], a [[runtime system]] and a [[Binary translation#Dynamic binary translation|dynamic binary translator]]. [[x86]] instructions were first interpreted one instruction at a time and profiled, then depending upon the frequency of execution of a code block, CMS would progressively generate more optimized translations.<ref name="Tech_Behind_Crusoe">{{cite web|url=http://www.transmeta.com/crusoe/download/pdf/crusoetechwp.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010119175600/http://www.transmeta.com/crusoe/download/pdf/crusoetechwp.pdf |archive-date=2001-01-19 |title=The Technology Behind Crusoe Processors, Transmeta Corporation |date=January 19, 2001 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Exper_With_DBT">{{cite conference|url=http://amas-bt.ece.utexas.edu/2008proceedings/Ditzel_Experience_with_Dynamic_BT_sm.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203022004/http://amas-bt.ece.utexas.edu/2008proceedings/Ditzel_Experience_with_Dynamic_BT_sm.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 3, 2013|title=Experiences with Dynamic Binary Translation (ISCA AMAS-BT Workshop Keynote)|conference=ISCA 2008|date=June 21, 2008|author=David R. Ditzel}}</ref><ref name="TMTA_Code_Morph_SW">{{cite conference|title=The Transmeta Code Morphing Software: Using Speculation, Recovery, and Adaptive Retranslation to Address Real-Life Challenges|url=http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=776261.776263&coll=DL&dl=GUIDE&CFID=379586314&CFTOKEN=14522525|conference=CGO 2003|date=March 27, 2003|author1=James C. Dehnert|author2=Brian K. Grant|author3=John P. Banning|author4=Richard Johnson|author5=Thomas Kistler|author6=Alexander Klaiber|author7=Jim Mattson}}</ref> The VLIW core implemented features specifically designed to accelerate CMS and translations. Among the features were support for general speculation, detection of memory aliasing and detection of self modifying x86 code.<ref name="Tech_Behind_Crusoe"/><ref name="Exper_With_DBT"/><ref name="TMTA_Code_Morph_SW"/> The combination of CMS and the VLIW core allowed for the achievement of full x86 compatibility while maintaining performance and reducing power consumption.<ref name="Tech_Behind_Crusoe"/><ref name="Exper_With_DBT"/><ref name="TMTA_Code_Morph_SW"/> Transmeta was founded in 1995 by [[Bob Cmelik]], [[Dave Ditzel]], Colin Hunter, Ed Kelly, [[Doug Laird]], [[Malcolm Wing]] and [[Greg Zyner]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Vance |first=Ashlee |author-link=Ashlee Vance |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/21/scc_episode7_david_ditzel/ |title=Semi-Coherent Computing Episode 7 β Podcast β Chip pioneer David Ditzel talks Transmeta, Sun and Bell Labs |publisher=Theregister.co.uk |date=September 21, 2007 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Magic_Show">{{cite journal |last1=Geppert |first1=Linda |last2=Perry |first2=Tekla |date=May 2000 |title=Transmeta's Magic Show |journal=IEEE Spectrum|publisher=IEEE |volume=37|issue=5|pages=26β33|doi=10.1109/6.842131 }}</ref> Its first product, the Crusoe processor, was launched on January 19, 2000. Transmeta went public on November 7, 2000. On October 14, 2003, it launched its second major product, the Efficeon processor. In 2005, Transmeta increased its focus on licensing its portfolio of microprocessor and semiconductor technologies. <ref name="TMTA_Sony">{{cite web|url=http://www.infoworld.com/t/hardware/sony-licenses-transmeta-power-saving-technology-466|title=Sony licenses Transmeta power-saving technology: Chipmaker looks to licensing to reach profitability|date=January 24, 2005}}</ref> After layoffs in 2007, Transmeta made a complete shift away from semiconductor production to IP licensing. <ref name="TMTA_Quits_Proc_Biz">{{cite web |url=http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20070207230938.html |title=Transmeta Quits Microprocessor Business: Transmeta to Focus on IP Licensing |publisher=X-bit labs |date=February 2, 2007 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003164000/http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20070207230938.html |archive-date=October 3, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In January 2009, the company was acquired by [[Novafora]]<ref name="SEC_8K20090128">{{cite web|title=Transmeta Corporation 8-K|publisher=Securities and Exchange Commission|date=January 28, 2009|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1001193/000095013409001305/f51260e8vk.htm}}</ref> and the patent portfolio was sold to [[Intellectual Ventures]]. Novafora ceased operations in August 2009. Intellectual Ventures licenses the Transmeta IP to other companies on a non-exclusive basis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intellectualventures.com/index.php/news/press-releases/intellectual-ventures-acquires-transmeta-patent-portfolio |title=Acquires Transmeta Patent Portfolio |publisher=Intellectual Ventures |date=2009-01-28 |access-date=2014-03-03}}</ref> Transmeta produced two [[x86]] compatible [[CPU architecture]]s: [[#Crusoe|Crusoe]] and [[#Efficeon|Efficeon]] β internal code names were 'Fred' and 'Astro'. These CPUs have appeared in [[subnotebook]]s, [[laptop|notebook]]s, [[desktop computer|desktops]], [[blade server]]s, [[Tablet computer|tablet PC]]s, a personal cluster computer, and a silent desktop, where low power consumption and heat dissipation are of primary importance. Before the 2009 acquisition by Novafora, Transmeta had moderate success licensing its IP. Licensors for Transmeta technology are Intel (with a perpetual, non-exclusive license to all Transmeta patents and patent applications, including any that Transmeta might acquire before December 31, 2017),<ref name="Intel_Settlement"> {{cite web |title = Transmeta Corporation β Transmeta Announces Settlement of Patent Litigation, Technology Transfer and License Agreement with Intel |publisher = Investor.transmeta.com |url = http://investor.transmeta.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=271024 |access-date = November 13, 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120317185049/http://investor.transmeta.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=271024 |archive-date = March 17, 2012 |df = mdy-all }} </ref> Nvidia (with non-exclusive license to Transmeta's ''[[LongRun]]'' and ''LongRun2'' technologies and other intellectual property),<ref name="NVidia_License"> {{cite web | last = Crothers | first = Brooke | title = Transmeta licenses low-power tech to Nvidia | publisher = News.cnet.com | date = August 7, 2008 | url = http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10009604-64.html | access-date = November 13, 2011 }} </ref> Sony (LongRun2 licensee),<ref name="Sony_License"> {{cite web | url = http://www.tomshardware.com/news/transmeta-licences-low,571.html | title = Transmeta licences low-power tech to Sony | date = January 24, 2005 }} </ref> Fujitsu (LongRun2 licensee)<ref name="Fujitsu License"> {{cite web | url = http://www.tomshardware.com/news/fujitsu-licenses-transmetas-longrun-tech,421.html | title = Fujitsu licenses Transmeta's LongRun tech | date = December 2, 2004 }} </ref> and NEC (LongRun2 licensee).<ref name="NEC_License"> {{cite web | url = http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nec-licenses-transmeta-technology,13.html | title = NEC licenses Transmeta technology, takes stake in company | date = March 25, 2004 }} </ref> == History == === Stealth start-up === Founded in 1995, Transmeta began as a [[stealth startup|stealth start-up]]. The company was largely successful in hiding its ambitions until its official company launch on January 19, 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investor.transmeta.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=29602 |title=Transmeta Corporation β Transmeta Breaks the Silence, Unveils Smart Processor to Revolutionize Mobile Internet Computing |publisher=Investor.transmeta.com |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317185038/http://investor.transmeta.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=29602 |archive-date=March 17, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Over 2000 [[non-disclosure agreement]]s (NDAs) were signed during the stealth period.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/technology/2000/0204/tech.internet.html |title=TIME Magazine β Asia Edition β March 31, 2008 Vol. 171, No. 12 |publisher=Asiaweek.com |date=May 9, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> Throughout Transmeta's first few years, little was known about exactly what it would be offering. Its web site went online in mid 1997 and for approximately two and a half years displayed nothing but the text, "This web page is not yet here." On November 12, 1999, a cryptic comment in the HTML appeared:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hardware.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=2501&cid=1530191 |title=Transmeta Details Continue to Unravel |publisher=Hardware.slashdot.org |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> <blockquote> Yes, there is a secret message, and this is it: Transmeta's policy has been to remain silent about its plans until it had something to demonstrate to the world. On January 19, 2000, Transmeta is going to announce and demonstrate what Crusoe processors can do. Simultaneously, all of the details will go up on this Web site for everyone on the Internet to see. Crusoe will be cool hardware and software for mobile applications. Crusoe will be unconventional, which is why we wanted to let you know in advance to come look at the entire Web site in January, so that you can get the full story and have access to all of the real details as soon as they are available. </blockquote> Transmeta attempted to staff the company in secret although speculation online was not uncommon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/1752 |title=A New CPU? β Shacknews β PC Games, PlayStation, Xbox 360 and Wii video game news, previews and downloads |date=September 23, 1999 |publisher=Shacknews |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> Information gradually came out of the company suggesting it was working on a [[very long instruction word]] (VLIW) design that translated x86 code into its own native VLIW code. <!--As [[Intel Corporation|Intel]]'s then-forthcoming [[Itanium|"Merced"]] processor was also a VLIW design which could translate x86 code, speculation arose suggesting that Transmeta's product could have supercomputer-level processing power while actually being cheaper to manufacture than any offering by Intel, [[AMD]] or [[Cyrix]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}--> ===Public launch=== On January 19, 2000, Transmeta held a launch event at [[Villa Montalvo]] in [[Saratoga, California]]<ref name="TMTA_take_on">{{cite web|title=Transmeta CPU takes on Pentium|url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1141033}}</ref> and announced to the world that it had been working on an x86 compatible [[Binary translation#Dynamic binary translation|dynamic binary translation]] processor named Crusoe. It also released an 18-page whitepaper<ref name="Tech_Behind_Crusoe"/> describing the technology. Transmeta marketed their microprocessor technology as extraordinarily innovative and revolutionary in the low-power market segment. They had hoped to be both power and performance leaders in the x86 space but initial reviews of Crusoe indicated the performance fell significantly short of projections.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.vanshardware.com/articles/2003/07/030715_Transmeta/030715_Transmeta.htm |title=VHJ: Tracking Transmeta |publisher=Vanshardware.com |date=July 15, 2003 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> Also, while Crusoe was in development, Intel and AMD significantly ramped up speeds and began to address concerns about power consumption. So Crusoe was rapidly cornered into a low-volume, small form factor (SFF), low-power segment of the market.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}} On November 7, 2000 (US election day), Transmeta had their initial public offering at the price of $21 a share. The value reached a high of $50.26 before settling down to $46 a share on opening day. This made Transmeta the last of the great high tech IPOs of the [[dot-com bubble]]. Their opening day performance would not be surpassed until [[Google]]βs IPO in 2004. The company had its first layoffs in July 2002, reducing the headcount of the company by 40%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-944936.html?tag=fd_top |title=Transmeta to cut 200 as losses deepen - CNET News.com |publisher=News.com.com |date=July 18, 2002 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713061517/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-944936.html |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> On October 14, 2003, Transmeta announced the Efficeon processor which was claimed to have twice the performance of the original Crusoe CPU at the same frequency.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}} However, performance was still weak relative to the competition and the complexity of the chip had increased significantly. The greater size and power consumption may have diluted a key market advantage Transmeta's chips had previously enjoyed over the competition.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}} In January 2005, the company announced its first strategic restructuring away from being a semiconductor product company and began to focus on licensing intellectual property.<ref name="TMTA_Sony"/> In March 2005, Transmeta announced that it was laying off 68 people while retaining 208 employees. [[Sony Corporation|Sony]] was reported to be a key licensee of Transmeta technology and approximately half of the remaining employees were to work on [[LongRun2]] power optimization technology for Sony. On May 31, 2005, Transmeta announced the signing of asset purchase and license agreements with Hong Kongβs Culture.com Technology Limited. The deal fell apart due to delays in obtaining technology export licenses from the [[US Department of Commerce]] and the parties announced the termination of the agreements on February 9, 2006. On August 10, 2005, Transmeta announced its first-ever profitable quarter. This was followed by [[GameSpot]]βs March 20, 2006 report that Transmeta was working on an βunnamedβ [[Microsoft]] project. As it turned out, this was a secure platform under the [[AMD]] brand for Microsoft's [[FlexGo]] program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investor.transmeta.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=199462 |title=AMD To Provide Transmeta Efficeon Microprocessor Supporting Microsoft FlexGo Technology In Emerging Markets |publisher=Investor.transmeta.com |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317185042/http://investor.transmeta.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=199462 |archive-date=March 17, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> On October 11, 2006, Transmeta announced that they had filed a lawsuit against [[Intel Corporation]] for infringement of ten Transmeta U.S. patents covering computer architecture and power efficiency technologies. The complaint charged that Intel had infringed and was infringing Transmeta's patents by making and selling a variety of microprocessor products, including at least Intel's Pentium III, Pentium 4, Pentium M, Core and Core 2 product line. On February 7, 2007, Transmeta shut down its engineering services division terminating 75 employees in the process. This was concurrent with an announcement that the company would no longer develop and sell hardware and would focus on the development and licensing of intellectual property.<ref name="TMTA_Quits_Proc_Biz"/> Subsequently, [[AMD]] invested $7.5 million in Transmeta, planning to use the company's patent portfolio in energy-efficient technologies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/AMD+invests+7.5+million+in+Transmeta/2100-1014_3-6195239.html |title=AMD invests $7.5 million in Transmeta - CNET News.com |publisher=News.com.com |access-date=November 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716001323/http://news.cnet.com/AMD-invests-7.5-million-in-Transmeta/2100-1014_3-6195239.html |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> On October 24, 2007, Transmeta announced an agreement to settle its lawsuit against Intel Corporation. Intel agreed to pay $150 million upfront and $20 million per year for five years to Transmeta in addition to dropping its counterclaims against Transmeta. Transmeta also agreed to license several of its patents and assign a small portfolio of patents to Intel as part of the deal.<ref name="Intel_Settlement"/> Transmeta also agreed to never manufacture x86 compatible processors again. One significant sore point in the Intel litigation was the payout of approximately $34M to three of Transmeta's executives.<ref name="cashingin">{{cite web|title=Angry investor offers to buy Transmeta|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/01/riley_investments_offers_to_buy_transmeta|website=The Register|date=February 1, 2008}}</ref><ref name="SEC_10K2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1001193/000095013408015699/f42595dedef14a.htm|title=Transmeta Corporation Schedule 14A|pages=19β20|date=August 25, 2008|publisher=Securities and Exchange Commission}}</ref> In late 2008, Intel and Transmeta reached a further agreement to transfer the $20 million per year in one lump sum. On August 8, 2008, Transmeta announced that it had licensed its LongRun and low power chip technologies to [[Nvidia]] for a one time license fee of $25 million.<ref name="NVidia_License"/> On November 17, Transmeta announced the signing of a definitive agreement to be acquired by [[Novafora]], a digital video processor company based in [[Santa Clara, California]], for $255.6 million in cash, subject to adjustments dependent on working capital.<ref name="Bought">{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10099126-92.html|title=Transmeta finds a buyer|publisher=cnet.com|author=Ina Fried|date=November 17, 2008}}</ref> The deal was finalized on January 28, 2009, when Novafora announced the completion of its acquisition of Transmeta.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20090128213642_Novafora_Sells_Off_Certain_Transmeta_s_Patents_at_the_Day_of_Completion_of_Acquisition.html|title=Novafora Sells Off Certain Transmeta's Patents at the Day of Completion of Acquisition|publisher=xbitlabs.com|access-date=November 13, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202234734/http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20090128213642_Novafora_Sells_Off_Certain_Transmeta_s_Patents_at_the_Day_of_Completion_of_Acquisition.html|archive-date=December 2, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Intellectual Venture Funding LLC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intellectualventures.com |title=Intellectual Venture Funding LLC |publisher=Intellectualventures.com |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> completed the acquisition of the patent portfolio formerly developed and owned by Transmeta Corporation on February 4, 2009. <ref name="Bought"/> Due to financial troubles and inability to execute, Novafora collapsed in late July, 2009.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4084135/Transmeta-buyer-Novafora-goes-under-says-report |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730054939/http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4084135/Transmeta-buyer-Novafora-goes-under-says-report |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-30 |title=Transmeta buyer Novafora goes under, says report |magazine=EE Times |access-date=2014-03-03 }}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20120731171015/http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000508550&fid=942 globes.co.il] </ref> ==Management and staff== ===Corporate governance=== Transmeta had a succession of 6 different chief executive officers who ran the company over its lifetime. {| class="wikitable" ! CEO ! Years of service |- | David Ditzel | 1995β2001 |- | Mark Allen | 2001β2001 |- | style=white-space:nowrap | Murray Goldman<br/>w/ Hugh Barnes as [[Chief operating officer|COO]] | 2001β2002 |- | Matt R. Perry | 2002β2005 |- | Art Swift | 2005β2007 |- | Lester Crudele | 2007β2009 |} ===Notable employees=== Among its crew of technologists, Transmeta employed some of the industry's more public figures including Linux founder [[Linus Torvalds]], Linux kernel developer [[Hans Peter Anvin]], [[Yacc]] author [[Stephen C. Johnson]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/transmeta-revs-up-own-version-of-linux/ |title=Transmeta revs up own version of Linux |last=Shankland |first=Stephen |date=2002-01-02 |website=www.cnet.com |access-date=2020-11-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110210055/https://www.cnet.com/news/transmeta-revs-up-own-version-of-linux/ |archive-date=2020-11-10 |quote=The method works for all types of computing tasks, said Steve Johnson, leader of the software effort at Transmeta. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.red-gate.com/simple-talk/opinion/geek-of-the-week/stephen-curtis-johnson-geek-of-the-week/ |title=Stephen Curtis Johnson: Geek of the Week |last=Morris |first=Richard |date=2009-10-01 |website=www.red-gate.com |access-date=2020-11-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030024552/https://www.red-gate.com/simple-talk/opinion/geek-of-the-week/stephen-curtis-johnson-geek-of-the-week/ |archive-date=2020-10-30}}</ref> and game developer [[Dave D. Taylor]]. Partially because of the presence of these figures, the industry was constantly abuzz with rumors and '[[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]]' resulting in excellent [[Public relations|press relations]]. ==Financial history== The following charts show the company's revenues, operating expenses, gross profits and net losses from 1996 through 2007.<ref name="SEC_10K2007">{{cite web|title=Transmeta Corporation 10-K|year=2007|publisher=Securities and Exchange Commission|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1001193/000095013408004919/f38968e10vk.htm}}</ref><ref name="SEC_10K2000">{{cite web|title=Transmeta Corporation 10-K|year=2000|publisher=Securities and Exchange Commission|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1001193/000109581101500319/f69935e10-k.txt}}</ref><ref name="SEC_10K2005">{{cite web|title=Transmeta Corporation 10-K|year=2005|publisher=Securities and Exchange Commission|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1001193/000095013406005322/f18553e10vk.htm}}</ref> Numbers are in 1000s as per the 10-K reports. The company was once named as the ''Most important company in Silicon Valley'' in an ''[[Upside (magazine)|Upside]]'' magazine editorial but failed to obtain profitability while it was a chip vendor. [[File:Transmeta Corporation financials, 1996 to 2007.png|thumb|Revenues, expenses, gross profits and losses from 1996 to 2007]] ===Funding=== Transmeta received a total of $969M in funding during its lifetime.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}} {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Quarter ! Amount<br />($ million) ! Notes |- | 1996 | β | 288 | β |- | 2000 | Q2 | 88 | β |- | 2000 | Q4 | 273 | IPO |- | 2003 | Q4 | 83 | Secondary offering |- | 2007 | Q2 | 7.5 | AMD |- | 2007 | Q4 | 150 | Intel settlement |- | 2008 | Q3 | 80 | Intel settlement |} ==Products== ===Crusoe=== {{Main|Transmeta Crusoe}} [[File:Transmeta TM5600.jpg|thumb|A Transmeta CPU from a Fujitsu Lifebook P series laptop]] ''Crusoe'' was the first family of microprocessors from Transmeta, named after the literary character [[Robinson Crusoe]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}} Transmeta lost much credibility and endured significant criticism due to the large discrepancies between projected performance and power consumption and the actual results. Although power consumption was somewhat better than Intel and AMD offerings, the end user experience (i.e. battery life) only showed a marginal overall improvement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=v.d. Weyden |first=Uwe |date=February 15, 2001 |title=Cast away with Crusoe |url=http://www20.tomshardware.com/mobile/20010215/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030622193009/http://www6.tomshardware.com/mobile/20010215/index.html |archive-date=2003-06-22 |website=Tom's Hardware Guide |department=Mobile Devices}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=April 2024|reason=I looked through all of the pages of this article, and didn't find anything that supports this claim.}} First, the ''[[Code Morphing Software]]'' (CMS) combined with cache architecture artificially inflated comparisons between benchmarks and real-world applications. This is due to the repetitive nature of benchmarks and their small footprints. The CMS software overhead may have actually been a key ''cause'' of much lower performance for many real-world applications; the simple VLIW core architecture could not compete on computationally intensive applications; and the [[Southbridge (computing)|southbridge]] interface was limited by its low bandwidth for graphics or other I/O-intensive applications. Some standard benchmarks even failed to run, throwing the claim of full x86 compatibility into doubt.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> ===Efficeon=== {{Main|Transmeta Efficeon}} {{synthesis|date=March 2014}} [[File:Transmeta Efficeon TM8600 1GHz.jpg|thumb|A Transmeta Efficeon processor]] The ''Efficeon'' processor was Transmeta's second-generation [[256-bit]] VLIW processor design. Like the Crusoe (a [[128-bit]] VLIW architecture), Efficeon stressed computational efficiency, low power consumption, and a low thermal footprint. A 2004-model 1.6-GHz Transmeta Efficeon (manufactured using a [[90 nanometer|90 nm]] process) had roughly the same performance and power characteristics as a 1.6-GHz [[Intel Atom]] from 2008 (manufactured using a [[45 nanometer|45 nm]] process).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-fires-atom-processors,1903-6.html |title=Tom's Hardware: Performance estimates: Almost a Pentium M at a fraction of the power |publisher=Tomshardware.com |date=April 1, 2008 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=March 2014}} The Efficeon included an integrated [[Northbridge (computing)|Northbridge]], while the competing Atom required an external Northbridge chip, reducing much of the Atom's power consumption benefits. The [[Transmeta Efficeon]] processor addressed many of Crusoe's shortcomings and showed roughly a 2x real-world improvement over Crusoe. Its die was considerably smaller than Pentium 4 and Pentium M, when compared in the same process technology. Efficeon's die fabricated in 90 nm is 68 mm<sup>2</sup>, which is 60% of the Pentium 4 in 90 nm, at 112 mm<sup>2</sup>, with both processors possessing a 1 MB L2 cache. The notion of selling a product into a specific [[Thermal design power|thermal envelope]] was typically not understood by the mass of reviewers, who tended to compare Efficeon to the gamut of x86 microprocessors, regardless of power consumption or application.{{improper synthesis|date=March 2014}} One such example of this criticism suggests the performance still significantly lagged behind [[Banias (microprocessor)|Intel's Pentium M (Banias)]] and [[Athlon#Mobile Athlon XP|AMD's Mobile Athlon XP]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vanshardware.com/reviews/2004/04/040405_efficeon/040405_efficeon.htm |title=VHJ: Benchmarking Transmeta's efficeon |publisher=Vanshardware.com |date=April 4, 2004 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> ==Implementations== {{Main|Transmeta Crusoe#Products|Transmeta Efficeon#Products}} ==Technology== {{refimprove section|date=March 2014}} Transmeta processors were in-order [[very long instruction word]] (VLIW) cores running a special dynamic binary translation software layer which together implemented compatibility with the x86 architecture. Transmeta trademarked the term "Code Morphing" to describe their technology<ref>[http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-525936.html "Code-morphing: Fresh as a DAISY"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605150435/http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-525936.html |date=June 5, 2008 }} by Mary Foley</ref> and referred to the software layer as Code Morphing Software (CMS). Transmeta used [[reverse body bias]] to reduce power used by a factor of about 2.5. (A similar technology was used in [[XScale]] processors.)<ref name="DietrichHaase2011">{{cite book|author1=Manfred Dietrich|author2=Joachim Haase|title=Process Variations and Probabilistic Integrated Circuit Design|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=43SdFYKJ47gC&pg=PA185|year=2011|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-4419-6621-6|page=185}}</ref> ===Code Morphing Software=== '''Code Morphing Software''' ('''CMS''') is the technology used by Transmeta microprocessors to execute [[x86]] instructions.<ref name="cms">[http://www.ptlsim.org/papers/transmeta-cgo2003.pdf The Transmeta Code Morphing Software: Using Speculation, Recovery, and Adaptive Retranslation to Address Real-Life Challenges] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204122100/http://www.ptlsim.org/papers/transmeta-cgo2003.pdf |date=2008-12-04 }} - Appeared in the Proceedings of the First Annual IEEE/ACM International Symposium on Code Generation and Optimization, 27β29 March 2003, San Francisco, California</ref> <ref name="scopes2003">[http://www.xsim.com/papers/transmeta-scopes-2003.dehnert.pdf Transmeta Crusoe and Efficeon: Embedded VLIW as a CISC Implementation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107230752/http://www.xsim.com/papers/transmeta-scopes-2003.dehnert.pdf |date=2018-01-07}} - Appeared in the proceedings of SCOPES, Vienna, 25 September 2003</ref> In broad view, CMS reads x86 instructions and generates instructions for a proprietary [[VLIW]] processor, in the style of Shade.<ref name="shade">[http://www.cs.washington.edu/research/compiler/papers.d/shade.html Shade]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990429153111/https://www.cs.washington.edu/research/compiler/papers.d/shade.html |date=1999-04-29}}</ref> CMS translation is much more expensive than Shade's, but produces much higher quality code. CMS also contains an interpreter and simulates both user-mode and system mode operation. Code Morphing Software consisted of an [[Interpreter (computing)|interpreter]], a [[runtime system]] and a [[Binary translation#Dynamic binary translation|dynamic binary translator]]. [[x86]] instructions were first interpreted one instruction at a time and profiled, then depending upon the frequency of execution and other [[heuristic (computer science)|heuristics]], CMS would progressively generate more optimized translations.<ref name="Tech_Behind_Crusoe"/><ref name="Exper_With_DBT"/><ref name="TMTA_Code_Morph_SW"/> Similar technologies existed in the 1990s: [[Wabi (software)|Wabi]] for [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]] and [[Linux]], [[FX!32]] for [[DEC Alpha|Alpha]] and [[IA-32 Execution Layer|IA-32 EL]] for [[Itanium]], open-source DAISY,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.research.ibm.com/daisy/ |title=DAISY: Dynamically Architected Instruction Set from Yorktown |publisher=Research.ibm.com |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> the [[Mac 68K emulator]] for the PowerPC.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}} The Transmeta approach set a much higher bar for x86 compatibility due to its ability to execute '''all''' x86 instructions from initial boot up to the latest multimedia instructions. The operation of Transmeta's code morphing software is similar to the final optimization pass of a conventional compiler. Considering a fragment of 32-bit x86 code: add eax,dword ptr [esp] // load data from stack, add to eax add ebx,dword ptr [esp] // ditto, for ebx mov esi,[ebp] // load esi from memory sub ecx,5 // subtract 5 from ecx register This is first converted simplistically into native instructions: ld %r30,[%esp] // load from stack, into temporary add.c %eax,%eax,%r30 // add to %eax, set condition codes. ld %r31,[%esp] add.c %ebx,%ebx,%r31 ld %esi,[%ebp] sub.c %ecx,%ecx,5 The optimizer then eliminates common sub-expressions and unnecessary condition code operations and, potentially, applies other optimizations such as [[loop unwinding|loop unrolling]]: ld %r30,[%esp] // load from stack only once add %eax,%eax,%r30 add %ebx,%ebx,%r30 // reuse data loaded earlier ld %esi,[%ebp] sub.c %ecx,%ecx,5 // only this last condition code needed Finally, the optimizer groups individual instructions ("atoms") into long instruction words ("molecules") for the underlying hardware: ld %r30,[%esp]; sub.c %ecx,%ecx,5 ld %esi,[%ebp]; add %eax,%eax,%r30; add %ebx,%ebx,%r30 These two VLIW molecules could potentially execute in fewer cycles than the original instructions could on an x86 processor.<ref name="Tech_Behind_Crusoe"/> Transmeta claimed several technical benefits to this approach: # As the market leaders [[Intel Corporation|Intel]] and/or [[Advanced Micro Devices|AMD]] would extend the core x86 instruction set, Transmeta could quickly upgrade their product with a software upgrade rather than requiring a respin of their hardware. # Performance and power can be tuned in software to meet market needs. # It would be relatively simple to fix hardware design or manufacturing flaws in the hardware using software [[workaround]]s. # More time could be spent concentrating on enhancing the capabilities of the core or reducing its power consumption without worrying about [[List of Intel microprocessors|33 years of backward compatibility]] to the x86 architecture. # The processor could emulate multiple other architectures, possibly even at the same time. (At its initial Crusoe launch, Transmeta demonstrated [[pico-Java]] and x86 running intermixed on the native hardware.) Prior to Crusoe's release, rumors indicated Transmeta was relying on these benefits to develop a hybrid [[PowerPC]] and x86 processor. But Transmeta would initially concentrate solely on the extremely low-power x86 market. The ability to quickly update products without a hardware respin was demonstrated in 2002 with an in-the-field upgrade (a download) to enhance CPU performance of the [[Transmeta Crusoe|Crusoe]] based [[Compaq TC1000|HP Compaq TC1000]] tablet PC. It was used again in 2004 when [[NX bit]] and [[SSE3]] support were added to the [[Transmeta Efficeon]] product line without requiring hardware changes. In the field upgrades were rare in practice due to system hardware vendors not wanting to incur additional customer support costs or spend additional money on QA for the potential upgrades or bug fixes to shipped products they had already closed the revenue books on. ===VLIW core=== In conjunction with its code-morphing software the Efficeon most closely mirrors the feature set of [[Intel]] [[Pentium 4]] processors, although, like [[AMD]] [[Opteron]] processors, it supports a fully integrated [[memory controller]], a [[HyperTransport]] IO bus, and the [[NX bit]], or no-execute [[x86]] extension to [[Physical Address Extension|PAE mode]]. [[NX bit]] support is available starting with CMS version 6.0.4. Efficeon's computational performance relative to mobile CPUs like the [[Intel]] [[Pentium M]] is thought to be lower, although little appears to be published about the relative performance of these competing processors. Efficeon came in two package types: a 783- and a 592-contact [[ball grid array]]. Its power consumption was moderate (with some consuming as little as 3 watts at 1 GHz and 7 watts at 1.5 GHz), so it could be passively cooled. Two generations of this chip were produced. The first generation (TM8600) was manufactured using a [[TSMC]] 130 nm process and produced at speeds up to 1.1 [[GHz]]. The second generation (TM8800 and TM8820) was manufactured using a Fujitsu 90 nm process and produced at speeds ranging from 1 GHz to 1.7 GHz. Internally, the Efficeon had two [[arithmetic logic unit]]s, two load/store/add units, two execute units, two [[floating-point]]/[[MMX (instruction set)|MMX]]/[[Streaming SIMD Extensions|SSE]]/[[SSE2]] units, one [[branch predictor|branch prediction unit]], one alias unit, and one control unit. The VLIW core could execute a 256-bit VLIW instruction per cycle. A VLIW is called a molecule and has room to store eight 32-bit instructions (called atoms) per cycle. The Efficeon had a 128-KB L1 instruction cache, a 64-KB L1 data cache and a 1-MB L2 cache. All caches were on die. Additionally, Efficeon code morphing software (CMS) reserved a small portion of main memory (typically 32 MB) for its cache of dynamically translated x86 instructions. ===Native compilation=== In principle, it should be possible to optimize x86 code to favor [[Code Morphing Software]], or even for compilers to target the native [[VLIW]] architecture directly. However, writing in 2003, [[Linus Torvalds]] apparently dismissed these approaches as unrealistic:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://marc.info/?l=linux-kernel&m=105606848227636&w=2 |title=Linus Torvalds writing in the linux-kernel mailing list |publisher=Marc.info |date=June 20, 2003 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://marc.info/?l=linux-kernel&m=105612366806449&w=2 |title=Linus Torvalds writing in the linux-kernel mailing list |publisher=Marc.info |date=June 20, 2003 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> {{quote|The native crusoe code β even if it was documented and available β is not very conducive to general-purpose OS stuff. It has no notion of memory protection, and there's no MMU for code accesses, so things like kernel modules simply wouldn't work. The translations are usually better than statically compiled native code (because the whole CPU is designed for speculation, and the static compilers don't know how to do that), and thus going to native mode is not necessarily a performance improvement. So no, it wouldn't really benefit from it, not to mention that it's not even an option since Transmeta has never released enough details to do it anyway. Largely for simple security concerns β if you start giving interfaces for mucking around with the "microcode", you could do some really nasty things. [...I meant...] "you cannot do that". And we won't even tell the details of how you cannot do that. In fact, even inside transmeta you cannot do that, without having a specially blessed version of the flash that allows upgrades. If you ever see a machine with a prominent notice saying "CMS upgraded to development version", then that's a hint that it's a machine that TMTA developers could change.|Linus Torvalds|''linux-kernel mailing list''}} Subsequent [[reverse engineering]], published in 2004, clarifies some details of the native VLIW architecture and associated instruction set, and suggests that there are fundamental limitations that preclude porting an operating system such as Linux to it.<ref name="RealWorldTechnologiesCrusoeExposedI">{{cite web|author=Real World Technologies |url=http://www.realworldtech.com/crusoe-intro/ |title=Real World Technologies β Crusoe Exposed: Reverse Engineering the Transmeta TM5xxx Architecture I |publisher=Realworldtech.com |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref><ref name="RealWorldTechnologiesCrusoeExposedII">{{cite web|author=Real World Technologies |url=http://www.realworldtech.com/crusoe-exposed/ |title=Real World Technologies β Crusoe Exposed: Reverse Engineering the Transmeta TM5xxx Architecture II |publisher=Realworldtech.com |date=January 27, 2004 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> The same work also compares Transmeta's patented technology with prior art published and in some cases patented by IBM, and suggests that some claims might not stand detailed scrutiny.<ref name="RealWorldTechnologiesCrusoeExposedII" /> ==References== {{Reflist|2}} ==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090830184306/http://www.transmeta.com/ Archived company page] {{Dot-com Bubble}} [[Category:1995 establishments in California]] [[Category:2009 disestablishments in California]] [[Category:American companies established in 1995]] [[Category:American companies disestablished in 2009]] [[Category:Computer companies established in 1995]] [[Category:Computer companies disestablished in 2009]] [[Category:Defunct companies based in California]] [[Category:Defunct semiconductor companies of the United States]] [[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States]] [[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]
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