BeagleBone Black packs 1GHz ARM CPU, 512MB RAM for just $45 (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/beaglebone-black-1ghz-cpu-512mb-ram-45-dollars/

The BeagleBone might be just the piece of kit for the DIY set itching to boot Linux in 10 seconds, but the freshly unveiled BeagleBone Black packs an even greater punch -- and the same speedy start times -- at just half the price of its predecessor. The $45 credit card-sized package totes a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor, 3D graphics accelerator, a pair of PRU 32-bit RISC CPUs, 2GB of built-in storage, a microSD slot and 512MB of RAM. Connectivity-wise, the canine-themed board carries support for USB, Ethernet, micro-HDMI and two 46 pin headers. Those pining for hardware flexibility can make use of the platform's existing "cape" hardware add-ons. Though it ships from Texas Instruments with Angstrom Linux on board, it's also tuned to support Android and Ubuntu, and arrives pre-loaded with the Cloud9 IDE. BeagleBone Black is already up for grabs in limited quantities, but it's expected to ship en masse by the end of May. Hit the second source link to start ordering, or head past the break for a video tour of the pint-sized computer.

Filed under: Misc

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Source: BeagleBoard, Texas Instruments

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Samsung Galaxy S 4 coming to AT&T stores April 27th, pre-orders arrive April 25th

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/samsung-galaxy-s-4-coming-to-atandt-stores-april-27th/

Pre-orders of the Samsung Galaxy S 4 have already begun at AT&T, but the operator has been oddly silent about the actual date customers can expect to purchase one in stores and online. Now that T-Mobile and Sprint have both announced specific launch dates (April 24th and 27th, respectively), the largest GSM carrier in the country has followed up by declaring its intent to sell the flagship Samsung device on the 27th of this month. This is four days earlier than the anticipated pre-order shipment date, which means the HTC One has merely a full week to bask in the spotlight by itself. What's more, if you simply couldn't wait and jumped on those pre-orders, you'll get yours a full 48 hours early (read: April 25th). As expected, the GS 4 will be offered for $200 (16GB) and $250 (32GB) in both black and white.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Samsung, AT&T

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Source: AT&T (Twitter), AT&T

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Ultra Mobile debuts $19 calling plan with unlimited international SMS

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/ultra-mobile-19-dollar-plan/

If you're living on a tight budget but still need to keep in touch with loved ones who live abroad, you'll be glad to know of a new calling plan from Ultra Mobile. The upstart MVNO offers discounted access to T-Mobile's network, and for $19 per month, you'll fetch unlimited text messages to 194 countries, 250 voice minutes (with $1.25 toward international calling), and 50MB of data usage. For comparison, Simple Mobile offers a $25 plan that includes unlimited international texting and domestic calling, but if you let your thumbs do most of the talking, Ultra Mobile brings a lot of value to the table. You can snag its $19 plan starting tomorrow, which might be the perfect match for whatever Nokia has up its sleeve.

Filed under: Wireless, Mobile

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Source: FierceWireless

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Preva Mobile for iOS aims to track your workouts, keep you going to the gym

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/preva-mobile-fitness-tracker-for-ios-keeps-you-going-to-the-gym/

Dragging yourself to the gym in the wee hours of the morning already takes a heaping helping of dedication, but fitness equipment manufacturer Precor is betting that it can provide additional motivation with its new iOS app: Preva Mobile. By wielding the software, users can monitor and set goals for calories burned, distance and duration, and even log their actions outside the gym for activities ranging from rollerblading to skiing. What's more is that the application acts as an extension of the firm's Preva fitness tracking console built into its 880 line of cardio equipment, and keeps data synced between devices and exercise machines through the cloud.

In addition to helping folks keep tabs on their activity, the digital logbook rewards users with points and badges, which they can brag about share on Twitter and Facebook. There's no sign of an Android version just yet, but we doubt your personal trainer will buy that as an excuse to stray from your workout regimen.

Filed under: Software, Mobile

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Source: Preva (iTunes)

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AMD reveals G-Series X embedded chips, drops a little ARM-powered bombshell

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/23/amd-reveals-g-series-x-embedded-chips/

We're no strangers to AMD's embedded processors, designed for specialist applications such as casino gaming and dashboard infotainment systems. But this latest announcement of an updated G-Series processor reveals something totally unexpected. It's not just that the chip contains four Jaguar cores of PlayStation 4 fame, or that it also includes a Radeon 8000 GPU and I/O module on a single piece of silicon -- although that's all interesting enough. The key thing is actually the "X" in the lower right corner of the logo, which signifies that this is an x86 chip of the type we'd normally expect from AMD. The question is this: Why bother even mentioning the "X" when everyone knows AMD is an x86 stalwart already? Read on and we'll explain its true significance.

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, AMD

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