Inside Microsoft's Kin reveals surprise

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Microsoft recently rolled out Kin, its long-rumored smartphone. The handset is focused on social networking using Microsoft's Zune media player interface and cloud computing services.

The device is manufactured by Japan's Sharp Corp. for Verizon Wireless, according to Canada's Chipworks (Ottawa, Ontario), a reverse engineering and patent infringement analysis firm.

The heart of Kin is Nvidia Corp.'s Tegra APX2600 processor, which ''is part of a four die stack which includes the Numonyx memory. Numonyx chips have Intel-like markings, and inside one, we find the STMicroelectronics flash and two Hynix DRAM dies,'' according to Chipworks.

Inside the Kin, the device also includes Qualcomm Inc.'s QSC6085 CDMA processor, Texas Instruments Inc.'s WL1271A wireless LAN/Bluetooth/FM radio and Sony Corp. IMX046 image sensor, according to the firm. The Sony device was an unexpected win compared to previously reported specifications, according to the firm.

The Kin also uses Texas Instruments' TPS658600 power management for the Li battery, Wolfson's WM8903L stereo codec and Synaptics' 1021A touch screen controller, according to the firm.