Gearlog readers tend to get a little googly eyed when new technology arrives. We love you for that. So, we're watching for stuff as soon as it comes out. If you're really sensitive to what's going on--and we try to be, you can sometimes even get ahead of the curve.

Broadcom is making it tough. For instance Monday Broadcom issued eight press releases. Sorry Broadcom. As of today you've been cut back to three a day max. If you cure cancer, maybe four.

Where was I?

So Broadcom puts out this slew of pr fodder and buried inside is a tantalizing release on a new chip. It's labeled BCM4329 and this chip is pretty hot with 802.11n, FM transmit/receive and Bluetooth. Sure, your phone or other portable device already has most of these features, but not on a single chip. Single chip means a smaller footprint, easier integration and lower power consumption. Power consumption, or battery life, is arguably the toughest place to improve cell service at the moment.

"By combining several proven wireless technologies onto a single silicon die, the BCM4329 enables mobile devices to support today's toughest media applications -- without impacting device size or battery life. - Broadcom"

There's a lot good here, but a little 'hidden between the lines' compromising too. Read carefully:

"Since handheld devices lack the space, battery power and processing power to support 802.11n implementations with multiple antennas, the BCM4329 uses single-stream 802.11n to transmit and receive data. This significantly reduces the system's footprint and power consumption when compared to multi-stream solutions. Despite the use of a single antenna, the BCM4329 provides faster and more reliable wireless connections than current 802.11g products."

The comparison is to 802.11g not 802.11n speeds. It is likely this chipset will not be as fast as other 802.11n devices. Today that might not be incredibly important on something you carry in your pocket. On the other hand, how long ago was it you used floppies to hold data and programs? Your expectations and needs change with time--often rapidly.

The FM transmit/receive capability is interesting because there are two entirely different purposes depending on whether the FM signal is inbound or outbound. The most likely use of an FM signal "out" is to send music or video to a car radio and home theater system, sans cables! FM "in" has a whole other slew of applications, like listening to over-the-air stations plus receiving traffic or other digital data currently multiplexed inside standard FM broadcasts

Broadcom says the BCM4329 is nearing production. We get it next. We're hoping good things really do come in mall packages.