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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

HTCâs Next Android Flagship to Pack a 1.7GHz Quad-Core Processor and 1080p Screen?

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5969336/htcs-next-android-flagship-to-pack-a-17ghz-quad+core-processor-and-1080p-screen

HTCâs Next Android Flagship to Pack a 1.7GHz Quad-Core Processor and 1080p Screen? Some leaked tech specs supposedly tell us what to expect from HTC's flagship Android model for 2013, with the phone maker apparently set to launch a 4.7-inch model with a 1080p display.

The phone, which is currently known under the codename HTC M7, features an enormous 468PPI image density output thanks to the display numbers, which ought to see our beloved old flip clock bursting out of the screen clearer than ever.

Elsewhere, the M7 is said to contain a 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor alongside 2GB of RAM, the required chips to make it compatible with 4G networks, and version 5.0 of HTC's popular Sense user interface stuck over the top of Android 4.2.

There should also be a 13-Megapixel camera inside it, plus a 2-MP front facing secondary cam for looking at your own face with and a 2,300mAh battery to give it a decent desk life. Stick it on the next phone list. And if those numbers are all correct, it ought be close to the top. [Unwired View]

Our newest offspring Gizmodo UK is gobbling up the news in a different timezone, so check them out if you need another Giz fix.

WSJ: Apple, Foursquare in talks to share local data

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/17/wsj-apple-foursquare-in-talks-to-share-local-data/

The battle over localized data continues to heat up, and according to rumor's Apple's next weapon against Google, Nokia and the rest could be a partnership with Foursquare. Last week TechCrunch noted a check-in tweeted by Apple SVP Eddy Cue, coincidentally at the same time Foursquare CEO Dennis Crowley happened to be in the San Francisco area. Now, the Wall Street Journal has followed up with its always-helpful "people familiar with the talks" who indicate that yes, the two are in early discussions about sharing data.

Currently, iOS features deep ties with Yelp, but Apple could swap in Foursquare and its check-in supported database, giving both a leg up on the competition. At the same time, Foursquare's iOS app received an update today, shifting location details like phone number and hours to the top, and bringing bigger photos and info after users have checked in somewhere. Of course, we'll have to wait for an official announcement to see what, if anything may arise from the talks, but with Google's Maps app off to a quick start on the App Store, the folks in Cupertino may not want to wait very long.

Filed under: Software, Mobile, Apple

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Source: TechCrunch, Wall Street Journal

Trustonic: a way for mobile apps to benefit from ARM's hardware-level security

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/18/trustonic-mobile-security/

This here narrative begins back in April, when ARM, Giesecke & Devrient and Gemalto teamed up and gave themselves precisely nine months in which to find the perfect brand name for their newly merged mobile security platform. Today, we're looking at the fruits of their efforts: Trustonic; a word which snappily captures the essence of what's at stake (trust-onic) and which you may soon encounter in connection with your next-gen smartphone, Mastercard payment app or 20th Century Fox DRM'd media.

What does Trustonic do, exactly? Pretty much what Mobicore already does in the Galaxy S III, or what Trusted Foundation does inside a Tegra-powered tablet: it allows certain pieces of software to tap into hardware-level encryption and authentication, courtesy of the TrustZone silicon that many ARM chips already contain, thereby removing many of the risks associated with malware and other intrusions within the mobile OS. As far as we understand it, the key difference with Trustonic is that it won't require direct input from OEMs like Samsung and NVIDIA, but will instead be more readily accessible to any banking, payment or DRM service that is willin! g to pay for a key. In return, the service would get enhanced security and faster logins for its users, who'd only need to enter a short, locally-verified PIN rather than wading through cloud-based steps to prove their identity. Indeed, perhaps that's where the tonic comes into it.

Continue reading Trustonic: a way for mobile apps to benefit from ARM's hardware-level security

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile

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Samsung Galaxy Grand announced: single and dual-SIM versions, multi-window apps, not-so-spectacular 5-inch WVGA screen

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/18/samsung-galaxy-grand-dual-core-wvga-5inch/

After getting a glimpse in an FCC filing (and some certification via China) the Galaxy Grand has now appeared in earnest, with a 5-inch 800 x 480 WVGA display that betrays that glamorous naming. It'll arrive running Android 4.1.2, while the dual-core (unspecified) 1.2GHz apparently enough to handle running two apps on screen with Samsung's Multi Window mode, seen on the flagship Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II. There's an 8-megapixel camera on the back, while a 2-megapixel sensor on the front will offer 720p video for calls. Inside there's a 2,100mAh battery, alongside 8GB of built-in memory and a microSD slot for expansion up to 64GB. Likely due to the bigger screen, the familiar looking Galaxy Grand carries 30g more weight than the Galaxy S III, while connectivity is provided by HSPA+ (up to 21Mbps down, 5.76 up) on 850 / 1900 / 2100 bands, alongside Bluetooth, DLNA and WiFi. Despite those familiar bands, Samsung hasn't revealed where we can expect to see the phone appear for sale, although the appearance of a dual-SIM version suggests appearances in Asia. We plan to catch the Galaxy Grand somewhere within the madness of CES -- and you can expect that we'll test it out then.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung

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Source: Samsung

Monday, December 17, 2012

AMD Radeon HD 8000M-series GPUs revealed, coming to a laptop near you in Q1 2013

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/17/amd-radeon-hd-8000m-series/

Had you been cruising these pages in the early hours of this morning, you'd know that the very first laptop to contain AMD's next generation of discrete graphics chips was quietly put up for sale over in Germany. The chipmaker has now confirmed that this machine -- the Asus Vivobook U38DT -- is indeed shipping, with a Trinity APU and hitherto unknown Radeon HD 8555M GPU on board. At the same, it's made a few promises about what the new discrete graphics components are capable of. These claims include the typically confusing graph above, which at first glance may appear to show an 8000M-series chip trebling the performance of NVIDIA's Geforce 650M (of 15-inch Retina MBP fame), but which actually suggests a 20-70 percent lead over the six-month-old competitor -- and with no information about power consumption to help us make a proper judgment. There are some straightforward factual details too, thank goodness, and you'll find them right after the break.

Gallery: AMD Radeon HD 8000M-series slide deck