Hasta La Gadget!

What’s in a phone? If it’s the BlackBerry Z10, then it’s plenty of Qualcomm gadgets and a surprising mixture of components already seen used in Samsung’s Galaxy S III, with a new teardown of the BlackBerry 10 smartphone suggesting the Canadian firm may well have cribbed some design inspiration from South Korea. UBM TechInsights whipped off the Z10′s covers and dug around the parts bin raiding inside, with Qualcomm apparently ousting one-time BlackBerry best-buddy Texas Instruments for the most part.

Where TI was previously a mainstay for processors and chips in BlackBerry phones, the Z10 instead looks to Qualcomm for its 1.5GHz dualcore processor, 3G/LTE modem, GPU, power management chip, GPS, and more. TI is relegated to providing the WiFi/Bluetooth/FM combo chip, while Samsung donates the flash memory and RAM.

Perhaps more interesting than the origin of the components is the decision process BlackBerry (nee RIM) seemingly made in how they were combined, something which is supposedly strongly reminiscent of Samsung’s assembly strategy with the Galaxy series. Various parts – from the processor that’s also in the LTE Galaxy S III, to the new WCD9310 audio codec in the same phone – seem to indicate that BlackBerry certainly knows who its key rivals are.

“It’s not certain if these decisions the designers made on what semiconductors, ICs and other modules to use were by design or by accident” UBM concludes, “but based on the relative success of the Samsung Galaxy S3, it isn’t a bad model to draw from.”

If you’re more interested in how the BlackBerry Z10 – and BlackBerry 10 as a platform – performs when the phone is in one piece, check out our full review.

[via Gizmodo]

BlackBerry Z10 teardown tips Samsung inspiration is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The number of wireless devices have been growing almost exponentially over the years, and while research has been done to reassure consumers that these wireless devices will not emit harmful waves or energy which has been speculated to cause cancer, one can never be too sure still. After all, it is not as though we have half a century’s worth of data to study and make a definite conclusion, right? So, for folks who want to err on the side of caution, the $49.95 Electromagnetic Shielding Laptop Tray does make plenty of sense, as this lap tray is said to protect laptop users from electromagnetic energy as well as heat emitted by wireless devices.

The Electromagnetic Shielding Laptop Tray will be different from standard laptop trays which merely disperse heat, as it boasts of a lightweight stand that has a metal surface, and will also block 99% of the Wi-Fi radiation emitted by a laptop, helping mitigate what a select bunch of medical researchers believe could very well be a potential health risk. A pair of quiet fans that are powered by connecting the stand’s retractable USB cord to a laptop’s port will make sure your laptop remains nice and cool during use. Thick bottom padding helps cushion the stand against the user’s thighs, and there is an ergonomic wedge design which positions wrists at an angle for comfortable typing.

[ Electromagnetic Shielding Laptop Tray copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Users of the Plex media server and its suite of client apps can expect an all-new app for Android soon, rebuilt two years after its debut for a vastly improved UI and feature set. While musing about the progress of Android as a platform for users and developers alike — a good read if you’d like a peek behind the curtain to find out more about multiplatform coding life — a Plex blog post details everything that’s added in the new version, and one major thing taken away: compatibility with any Android OS before 3.2 (retained to keep working with Google TV.) According to the devs, almost 90 percent of users are on at least Ice Cream Sandwich, and focusing on newer platforms means support for newer features like Cloud Messaging, lock screen music player controls and global search integration.

As revealed in a preview video (embedded after the break) the new “Kepler” build also lets it act as a media server, so any media stored on your Android device can be played back on other Plex clients. The company says it set out to make the “most beautiful Android app, period” — PlexPass subscribers can get a taste of the beta when it launches in Google Play later this week, all others will need to wait until after the test period.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, HD, Mobile

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Source: Plex

If you are a single person living on your own, then you would have realized long ago that you are pretty much able to do whatever you want, without having to worry about someone else out there who have a different viewpoint from you. Well, there is a downside to it all, too, as having someone else journey with you through life makes it all the more colorful and interesting. When it comes to working late into the night, singles would not have an issue with the light turned on, but if you have your partner in bed with you, then things get a little bit more complicated. Lighting issues are one thing, the sound from your keyboard is another. The $149.99 Quiet Pro keyboard from Thinkgeek might help you solve half of your problems, where it has gained the moniker of being the “world’s quietest mechanical keyboard”.

The Quiet Pro keyboard comes with sculpted keys that are laser etched, and lives up to its name, being super quiet and deadly accurate. Not only that, it remains true to the times with a trio of USB ports in addition to audio and media controls thrown into the mix. Those who have won speed typing competitions before would be more than pleased to notice that you will no longer suffer from “ghosting” issues with the Quiet Pro keyboard. With a cable length of 6 feet, the Quiet Pro does seem to be the ideal workplace companion, especially if you love and appreciate peace and quiet in the vicinity.

[ Quiet Pro gets “World’s Quietest Mechanical Keyboard” mention copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

For all the dimensions that Doctor Who has explored on TV, the third has been a rarity — there was an early 3D experiment in 1993 for the series’ 30th anniversary, a 2010 trailer, and that’s that. For the show’s 50th birthday, the company is willing to make a return trip through a two-part 3D special. Most of what’s in store for the unique event is being kept secret, although we imagine we’ll see plenty of Sonic Screwdriver action. We’ll have to see how closely the special’s broadcast date aligns with the official anniversary in November; hopefully, it’s far enough into the future that Whovians can prepare with a little TV shopping.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: BBC (1), (2)