1. A processor for a portable handheld device including a card reader, the processor comprising on a shared wafer: a card reader interface for receiving an instruction script from a data card inserted in the card reader; a CPU for processing the instruction script; and a multi-core processor for processing an image, the multi-core processor having a plurality of processing units each including a microcode RAM, wherein the CPU loads each microcode RAM with a microcode program to effect execution of the instruction script.