Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, February 14, 2011

Qualcomm ships dual-mode Gobi3000 WWAN chip, intros LTE / HSPA+ chipsets galore

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/14/qualcomm-ships-dual-mode-gobi3000-wwan-chip-intros-lte-hspa/

Qualcomm just refined the term "blowout" here at Mobile World Congress. It's obviously a critical show for the wireless supplier, and while the 2.5GHz Snapdragon CPU is the undisputed highlight, there's quite a bit of chipset action worth paying attention to if you'd prefer that your next handset / mobile hotspot be capable of handling the world's most advanced network technologies. First off, there's the Gobi3000 modules, which Qualcomm just announced were shipping en masse. Compared to the Gobi2000 that has been infiltrating laptops and MiFi devices for the past year, this one doubles the HSPA downlink speed and enhances the Gobi common application programming interface (API) functionality for enterprise applications. The design supports single-mode (UMTS) and multi-mode designs (CDMA / UMTS), and should be popping up soon in devices from Huawei, Novatel Wireless, Option, Sierra Wireless and ZTE.

Next up are the MDM9625 and MDM9225 chipsets, which are designed to support LTE data rates as high as 150Mbps within mobile broadband devices. These guys are fabricated using the 28nm technology node, and are backwards compatible with previous generations of LTE and other wireless broadband standards, giving consumers using USB modems powered by the MDM9625 or MDM9225 chipsets an uninterrupted broadband data connection on nearly any network around the world. These are being launched alongside the MDM9615 and MDM8215, which are similar chips designed to support multi-mode LTE and dual-carrier HSPA+, respectively. As for the MDM8225? That's being released today to support HSPA+ Release 9 (the latest version, obviously), which will support 84Mbps on the downslope (not to mention dual-carrier HSUPA operation) and should fit into at least a couple of T-Mobile USA devices by 2012. Finally, Qualcomm has nailed down a deal that'll enable all future Snapdragon-powered Android devices to "have access to instant streaming of TV shows and movies from Netflix." Just sounds like a pre-loaded installation to us, but hey, we'll take all the optimization we can get when it comes to streaming video on the mobile.

Qualcomm ships dual-mode Gobi3000 WWAN chip, intros LTE / HSPA+ chipsets galore originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 07:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SmartQ announces Ten, an Android tablet packing IPS display with piezoelectric touchscreen

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/14/smartq-announces-ten-an-android-tablet-packing-ips-display-with/

OK, before y'all haters state the obvious in the comments below, there's actually something noteworthy about this familiar-looking Chinese slate. What we have here is the SmartQ Ten (or T10, as referenced above), a forthcoming Froyo tablet that'll feature a juicy Cortex-A9 chip plus a Mali 400 GPU, as well as 512MB RAM and a 9.7-inch 1024 x 768 IPS display. This wouldn't be the first Android device to get the IPS goodness, though, as its predecessor R10 -- launched with Android 2.1 and a 720MHz processor back in December -- also has the same LCD panel within a seemingly identical form factor. In fact, we stumbled upon an R10 earlier today, and the prettiness of the screen did surprise us.

But what really sells the Ten is its piezoelectric touchscreen, which supports multitouch input even with non-conductive objects like the old school styli. This means said tablet can achieve light transmittance similar to its capacitive touchscreen counterparts but using cheaper parts, as well as having point-input precision similar to those with resistive touchscreens but with better screen clarity. Alas, no date or price has been announced for the Ten just yet, nor do we know if it'll get Honeycomb in the future, but price it right and it might still get some love.

SmartQ announces Ten, an Android tablet packing IPS display with piezoelectric touchscreen originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 07:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Chinese | source

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CHART OF THE DAY: A Break Down Of The $2 Billion Virtual Goods Industry

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-virtual-goods-2011-2

In Mary Meeker's latest huge presentation on the future of technology, she includes a slide projecting the virtual goods industry to total $2 billion in the US for 2011.

In case you're wondering how the $2 billion market breaks down, she helpfully included another slide breaking down the industry. As you can see, in-game currency is the most popular way to spend real dollars on fake goods, with maps/levels the least popular.

Click here to see the rest of her presentation which is loaded with interesting charts like this.

chart of the day, virtual goods spending, feb 2011

Follow the Chart Of The Day on Twitter: @chartoftheday

Join the conversation about this story »

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Samsung Reboots with Super-Thin, Super Sharp Galaxy S II [Smartphones]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5759220/samsung-reboots-with-super+thin-super-sharp-galaxy-s-ii

Samsung Reboots with Super-Thin, Super Sharp Galaxy S II Not that this is any surprise given the massive leak of photos and impressions that preceeded today's big Mobile World Congress event, but Samsung has officially pulled the trigger on an impressive reboot of the Galaxy S.

The unsurprisingly named Galaxy S II arrives in a thinner form factor than its predecessor at about 8.49mm thick. The thin shell hosts a large, crisp AMOLED Plus display, measuring 4.27 inches (800x480).

As for the insides, earlier reports that Samsung had opted for an NVIDIA Tegra 2 core turned out to be incorrect. Instead, they're reportedly going with their own Exynos chip, which is slated to go into production next month.

Software-wise you'll be seeing Samsung's preferred TouchWiz 4.0 stacked on top of Gingerbread. A download option using a new Game Hub feature will purportedly allow users to bypass the Android Marketplace's app size-restrictions, although that has yet to be confirmed or denied.

Expect more information on this smartphone, Samsung tablet news and a full hands-on as our own Kat Hannaford reports from the MWC throughout the day. [Engadget, Image: BGR]

10-Inch Galaxy Tab 10.1 Takes Aim at Burgeoning Tablet Market [Tablets]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5759276/10+inch-galaxy-tab-101-takes-aim-at-burgeoning-tablet-market

Aesthetic comparisons to the well-established iPad will be inevitable as the tablet market gets ever more saturated, so where the now official 10-inch Galaxy Tab 10.1 hopes to compete is on the inside. Let's take a peek.

First of all, forget "Galaxy Tab 2." Doesn't exist! The name's Galaxy Tab 10.1. So sterile! So accurate, given this guy's dimensions.

Although the Tab 10.1 is in fact a quarter pound lighter than its Apple competitor at 1.25-lbs., what's going on inside marks the biggest difference. Android's made-for-tablets Honeycomb OS and a Tegra 2 processor make this dual-core tablet go go go, while everything is presented to the user via a 10.1" WXGA TFT LCD display with 1280 x 800 resolution.

Nitty gritty specs from Samsung follow. Samsung told us in their release that they are not final and could change without warning, like New England weather or a loved one's mood on Valentine's Day:

Network HSPA+ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100
EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900
OS Android 3.0 (Honeycomb)
Display 10.1" 1280 x 800 (WXGA) TFT
Processor 1GHz Dual Core application processor
Camera Main(Rear): 8.0-Mega Pixel Camera AF with LED Flash
Front: 2.0-Mega Pixel Camera
Video Format :MPEG4/H263/H264
Playback : 1080p FullHD Video @ 30fps
Recording : 1080p FullHD Video @ 24fps

Audio MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, OGG, MIDI, AMR-NB/WB
3.5mm Ear Jack, Stereo Speaker
Value-added Features Android Market™ for more applications and contents
Android UI / Android Browser
Google Mobile Service : Google™ Talk Video Chat, Google™ Maps, etc
Connectivity Bluetooth® technology v 2.1 + EDR
USB 2.0
WiFi 802.11 (a/b/g/n)
Sensor Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity
Memory 16GB/32GB
Size 246.2 x 170.4 x 10.9mm (599g)
Battery 6860mAh

Samsung Series 9 slides its rail-thin body through the FCC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/12/samsung-series-9-slides-its-rail-thin-body-through-the-fcc/

Remember the Samsung 9 Series laptop from CES? Of course you do, it was the seriously thin, duralumin 13-inch laptop with a new Sandy Bridge Core i5 processor and 128GB SSD. Well, as you can see from the label shot above, the .68-inch system just passed through the FCC, which means the skinny sucker should be on track to hit its February release. (Our Samsung contact told us we should be expecting a unit later in the month so we're assuming it will hit retailers around then.) The FCC filing doesn't reveal much -- it was actually submitted by Broadcom -- but the label clearly shows its 900X3A model number and the drop-down port latches on the edges. We'll be keeping our eyes peeled for more on this beauty, but it can never hurt to watch our hands-on video from CES to remember just what we're lusting after here. Video after the break!

Continue reading Samsung Series 9 slides its rail-thin body through the FCC

Samsung Series 9 slides its rail-thin body through the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Feb 2011 18:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wireless Goodness | source

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LG Optimus 3D has dual-core 1GHz OMAP 4 CPU, video codecs up the wazoo

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/12/lg-optimus-3d-has-dual-core-1ghz-omap4-cpu-video-codecs-up-the/

LG's been mighty stingy with details about its 3D smartphone, but some very promising ones have just trickled out of Barcelona ahead of Mobile World Congress -- in keeping with the company's theme of doubling everything, the LG Optimus 3D will ship with a dual-core 1GHz TI OMAP 4 chip. Considering that we've seen that particular SOC drive three screens, we're guessing that a single 4.3-inch stereo display (yes, 4.3-inch is confirmed) will be old hat, and we've certainly seen the included PowerVR SGX540 graphics throw around some weight in many a Galaxy S. Raw specs aside, though, the Optimus 3D has a feature that we've been waiting on in Android for a while: LG says it will have "four times more video decoders than competing designs." Admittedly, that probably means it will still only recognize about eight video formats in total, but as long as we can play the vast majority of our anime music video library without re-encoding the lot, we'll promise to only grumble occasionally. Deal? PR after the break.

Gallery: LG Optimus 3D has dual-core 1GHz OMAP 4 CPU, video codecs up the wazoo

Continue reading LG Optimus 3D has dual-core 1GHz OMAP 4 CPU, video codecs up the wazoo

LG Optimus 3D has dual-core 1GHz OMAP 4 CPU, video codecs up the wazoo originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Feb 2011 22:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab II and Galaxy S II pics leak out ahead of Barcelona event (update: new pic!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/12/samsung-galaxy-tab-ii-pictures-leak-out-ahead-of-barcelona-event/

There are still twelve hours to go before Samsung unveils its new products at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but somehow there are already a series of pictures allegedly "from the event." We're not complaining, though, because four of them show off the new 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab II. We discovered yesterday that Sammy's slate will run Android 3.0 Honeycomb at 1280 x 800 resolution and on a 1GHz processor, and heard rumors it'd have an 8 megapixel camera with HD video recording as well, but this is the first time we've laid eyes on a decent image of the tablet, and we imagine you're in the same boat. Join us on a journey over to Samsung Hub to see the full set (and more shots of the Samsung Galaxy S II), or if you're too busy priming your touchscreen-smudging thumbs, simply hit the break to see a render of what the unit's back might look like.

[Thanks, Dell P.]

Update: We've gotten another apparent shot of the Galaxy S II in all its glossy, rendered, press-shot-quality glory -- and you can see it after the break.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab II and Galaxy S II pics leak out ahead of Barcelona event (update: new pic!)

Samsung Galaxy Tab II and Galaxy S II pics leak out ahead of Barcelona event (update: new pic!) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Feb 2011 23:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Atrix 4G pre-orders begin at AT&T

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/13/motorola-atrix-4g-pre-orders-begin-at-atandt/

March 6th is the official street date, but you can lay down your money for Motorola's modular smartphone right now, as the Atrix 4G and its suite of incredible Webtop docks are now available for pre-order. $200 buys you the biometric HSPA+ smartphone on a two-year contract, and it'll cost you an additional $300 to turn it into a portable netbook of sorts -- though as we feared, you'll need to pay $45 a month for the DataPro 4GB + Tethering data plan (on top of your phone bill) to actually use it on the go. Another bummer is that the HD Multimedia Dock (enabling desktop-like functionality) will run $130, a good bit more than we thought we'd see it for. All in all, the Atrix is looking like quite an investment, so perhaps you'd be best served waiting for our full review. But don't let us tell you what to do with your hard-earned dough!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Motorola Atrix 4G pre-orders begin at AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel promises, teases MeeGo smartphone and tablet for MWC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/13/intel-promises-teases-meego-smartphone-and-tablet-for-mwc/

Lookie here. Intel may have been the jilted bride left at the altar by Nokia, but it's not giving up on MeeGo just yet. The above poster has been hung up here in Barcelona, in the area us humble journalists still aren't in allowed yet, and shows a smartphone and tablet running Intel's Linux variant as their OS. There are plenty of details to pore over, such as the multiplicity of home screen items on the tablet that includes Big Buck Bunny -- a favorite for testing HD video playback -- in its top right corner; the handset, meanwhile, could very well be that Aava Mobile device we've been hearing about lately. MWC is opening its doors tomorrow, so even if Intel doesn't announce these devices in full, we'll snoop its booth out and find out for ourselves.

Intel promises, teases MeeGo smartphone and tablet for MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 09:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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@meetmeego (Twitter) | source

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 official: Tegra 2, Honeycomb, dual cameras (hands-on with video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/13/samsung-galaxy-tab-10-1-official-tegra-2-honeycomb-dual-camer/

Geez, it's been a long weekend of almost incessant Galaxy Tab II teasing, but the time has come: Samsung's finally releasing the official details of its 10.1-inch, Android Honeycomb tablet to the world. Contrary to the leaks, the tablet is called the Galaxy Tab 10.1 -- grabbing its moniker from the screen size, obviously -- and like the rest of the upcoming Android 3.0 tablets it's powered by a dual-core Tegra 2 processor, will be available with 16GB or 32GB of storage, and has a front-facing 2 megapixel camera as well as a 8 megapixel imager around back. That's just the tip of the iceberg, but we've got the nitty-gritty too -- find specs, full impressions and even some video of the slate in action after the break! Oh, and don't forget to stop by the galleries below to see the new Tab 10.1 up close and then face off with Sammy's original Tab, not to mention the Apple iPad.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 hands-on

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy Tab uno, and iPad compared

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 official: Tegra 2, Honeycomb, dual cameras (hands-on with video)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 official: Tegra 2, Honeycomb, dual cameras (hands-on with video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 12:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WSJ corroborates the mini-iPhone, says Apple may make MobileMe free (update: 'edge-to-edge' screen)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/13/wsj-corroborates-the-mini-iphone-says-apple-may-make-mobileme-f/

The Wall Street Journal has weighed in on rumors of Apple's smaller iPhone, and citing "people familiar with the matter" the publication says that the rumors are likely true. One such familiar person reportedly saw a device half the size of the iPhone 4, bearing the codename "N97," and said that the handset will be only about half the size of the original, and at only around half the price too. Amazingly, those anonymous sources continued to divulge information, expressing the idea that Apple could finally make its MobileMe cloud service suite free, and that it just might be the platform from which Apple could finally launch a streaming music platform and lessen the need for all those gigabytes of flash storage in your pocket. We'll let you know if or when any of that happens, okay?

Update: The WSJ's source proved even more talkative after getting an eyeful of the Samsung and Sony announcements this morn; the publication's article has been updated to read that the device is "signifcantly lighter" than the iPhone 4, has an "edge-to-edge" touchscreen, and "voice-based navigation" of some sort.

WSJ corroborates the mini-iPhone, says Apple may make MobileMe free (update: 'edge-to-edge' screen) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 18:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is why big brands should not hire search firms without knowing more about what they are buying/doing - http://ping.fm/JwY5V

Friday, February 11, 2011

Via NFC: Japanese Social Network Mixi First To Let Users âShareâ Real-World Items

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/11/via-nfc-japanese-social-network-mixi-first-to-let-users-like-real-world-items/

Japan has always been the land of mobile. As such, it’s no big surprise that the country’s biggest social network, Mixi (JP, 23 million members), sees 25 of its 29 billion monthly page views coming from cell phones. And according to Mixi, it’s now the first social network that lets users share information with friends through NFC technology on Android handsets.

Last year already, Mixi added two functions to its mobile site, which NFC is supposed to boost:

Mixi Check In (which works much like Facebook Places)
Mixi Check (essentially the same as Facebook’s Share function)

The NFC-powered versions are named “Mixi Real Check In” and “Mixi Real Check”. NFC (Near Field Communication) technology makes it possible to exchange data between devices in close proximity to each other.

Mixi Real Check In allows you to check in to places by tapping their Android phone on an NFC tag in the real world to share your location with your Mixi friends in real-time. These tags, which cost a few cents and can contain any kind of information (i.e. a URL or Twitter handle), can be attached to a wall or poster in a store or restaurant, for example.

As Mixi Real Check In is based on NFC, a GPS signal (which can be weak in certain areas, like underground) isn’t necessary. The tags can also contain information on where exactly the user is located (for example, to broadcast to your friends in which section of a department store the tag was scanned).

Mixi engineer Kyosuke Inoue demonstrates Mixi Real Check In in the company’s HQ in Tokyo:

Mixi Real Check is potentially more interesting: this function allows users not only to share websites with friends but any object in the real world that has an NFC tag attached to it. Tapping or waving the phone near NFC stickers found on i.e. books or posters is enough to share the information on Mixi, in real-time. This could be anything from further information on the products to details on promotion campaigns a brand wants to run on Mixi.

Bringing social functionalities to the real world is a great idea for a social network, but there are two downsides at this point: Mixi users interested in these new functions must own a Nexus S (the only Android device with the necessary hardware for NFC so far) and have Taglet (a special NFC app for Android) installed. The Nexus S isn’t even officially available in Japan currently, which means almost all Mixi users still must wait for the future.