xPico: Tiny Embedded Server Smaller Than an SD Card
Lantronix announced the xPico, which the company claims is the world's smallest embedded device server.
With a size of 24mm x 16.5mm,s lightly smaller than an SD memory card, the chip integrates a full IP stack and web server functionality, a DSTni-EX enhanced 16-bit, 48 MHz or 88 MHz x86 processor, 256 KB SRAM and 512 KB flash memory as well as 384 KB storage space for web pages, support for 256-biy AES encryption and serial data rates between 300 bps to 921 Kbps.
Lantronix said that it will be designing the chip into its "entire product offering", which includes networking and IT management products. According to its manufacturer, the chip can be used out of the box without the need of special software development.
The company will be selling the chip for $23 per unit in 1000-unit orders and expects that the xPico will be available in the second half of this year.

I find this article very interesting. However, I am not quite sure what the potential use case is for this device, or its advantage over its larger competitors (other than straight size).
Please elaborate.
I find this article very interesting. However, I am not quite sure what the potential use case is for this device, or its advantage over its larger competitors (other than straight size).
Please elaborate.
...yeah...what he said.
I find this article very interesting. However, I am not quite sure what the potential use case is for this device, or its advantage over its larger competitors (other than straight size).
Please elaborate.
What you have to understand is that by 2020 this device will be able to fit into an area smaller than a grain of rice. Once that happens some very remarkable things will follow.
Elaborate means explain in greater detail, delve into further. The question is what exactly are the advantages of this device (except size) over competing products, not whether or not we can make a smaller one in eight years.
You say remarkable things will follow, but the question is about what those things are more than that they will be remarkable.
For example, will this allow us to make smaller/cheaper routers or at least improve their power efficiency? Can many of these be linked together in very small form factors to allow for greater performance density for servers and the networking devices that inter-connect them?
the server is small and portable, and if its only really text, you can fit allot in small area.
I'm also seeing this as potentially included in your home network for appliances? an inventory of your fridge? medical devices relaying info from your elderly parent to a doctor? coffee machine activating with your alarm clock? Which also passes th traffice report and weather to a screen? Maybe grabbing a recipe off a food show you just liked and dropping it to your file server?
This is all well and good. Is the point of its size supposed to make it a portable device that you plug into another device? How much bigger is the current embedded web server on a typical router?