Qualcomm grows Snapdragon 200 family with six new chips, targets emerging markets

Qualcomm grows Snapdragon 200 family with six new chips, targets emerging markets

Just because Qualcomm’s gone to plaid (aka. reached ludicrous speed) with its Snapdragon 800 flagship doesn’t mean the company’s been standing still at the other end of the market. The Snapdragon 200 family just received a major boost with the introduction of six new chips geared at China and other emerging markets. Available with dual- and quad-core CPUs, the processors are manufactured using a 28nm process and incorporate HSPA+ (21Mbps) and TD-SCDMA radios. The new SoCs are optimized to provide good multimedia performance and long battery life, with support for dual cameras (up to 8MP rear and 5MP front), multiple SIMs (dual standby, dual active and tri standby), iZat location tech and Quick Charge 1.0. Qualcomm’s Adreno 302 GPU rounds up the spec list, making these chips well suited for devices running Android, Windows Phone and Firefox OS. The company’s expected to begin shipping these new processors (8×10 and 8×12) in late 2013. Full PR after the break.

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Hands-on with Maxwest’s $65 7-inch dual-core Jelly Bean tablet at CTIA 2013

Handson with Maxwest's $65 7inch dualcore ICS tablet at CTIA 2013

It’s true that cheap affordable Android tablets are a dime a dozen at most trade shows these days, but here at CTIA 2013 we stumbled upon something that caught our eye — a 7-inch dual-core tablet running Jelly Bean that costs just $65. The Maxwest TAB-7155DC aka. Ippo Y88 measures 182 x 122 x 10mm (7.16 x 4.8 x 0.39inch), weighs 187g (6.6oz) and comes in several hues (black, white, silver, red, blue and pink).

It features a 7-inch 1024 x 600-pixel capacitive multitouch LCD, an Infotmic IMAPx820 SoC (1GHz dual-core Cortex A5 CPU with Mali 400 GPU), 512MB of RAM, 4GB of built-in storage, dual VGA cameras (front and back), WiFi b/g/n and a 2800mAh battery. The screen isn’t covered in glass and there’s no sign of any Bluetooth or GPS radios, but then again, what do you expect for $65? You”ll find a power / lock key, DC socket, micro-USB port (with on-the-go support) and mini-HDMI output on the top edge, plus a 3.5mm headphone jack, volume rocker and microSD card slot on the right side. A microphone and speaker round things up in back.

The tablet runs a mostly stock version of Jelly Bean (Android 4.1.1, to be specific) and includes the usual assortment of Google apps along with access to the Play Store. Performance is adequate — not buttery smooth but perfectly usable. Build quality and materials are surprisingly decent for the price (the plastic is color-through), but the display leaves a lot to be desired (viewing angle are poor and the acrylic covering the screen is scratch-prone). Then again, it’s only $65, right? Check out the gallery below for our rose-colored hands-on with this inexpensive tablet.

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MediaTek dual-core processor MT6572 aims for new world market

This week the hardware manufacturer MediaTek has shown the MT6572, a system-on-chip they suggest will be the first to bring both a dual-core CPU and “4-in-1″ technology. What that means is that this particular dual-core processor will be working with integrated Wifi, FM radio, GPS, and Bluetooth, the final product aimed not at the top-tier smartphones as previous multi-core mobile processors have been, but at the entry segment of the market. This means that inexpensive smart devices – not just subsidized models – will have multi-core power for users everyday lives.

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This release puts a dual-core Cortex-A7 CPU sub-system in place clocked at up to 1.2GHz on 28nm process technology. Where late 2012 was a time when it made sense for MediaTek to reveal its so-called “world’s first quad-core Cortex-A7 SoC”, here in the spring of 2012, that MT6589 SoC becomes ever-so-slightly less important than the markets this new MT6572 will be able to address. Emerging markets are the markets of choice here, places where smartphones have only just started to appear.

This processor build is made for Android (at first) and works with MediaTek’s own multi-mode Rel. 8 HSPA+/TD-SCDMA modem as well as support for up to qHD (960 x 540) pixel displays. This SoC is able to work with 3D Graphics, support for 5 megapixel cameras, and support for HD 720p video playback (and 720p video record). Jeffrey Ju, MediaTek smartphone business unit GM, commented this week on the release:

“As smartphones move to a baseline of dual-core processing and with worldwide operators looking to reduce device subsidies, enabling highperformance, multi-core platforms with easy-to-adopt reference designs will be key to enable our customers to rapidly address the fast-moving mobile market opportunity.” – Jeffrey Ju

This hardware will begin to be available in smartphones starting in June of this year. At the moment, no specific hardware manufacturers have been named in MediaTek’s push for the baseline market.


MediaTek dual-core processor MT6572 aims for new world market is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

LG Optimus F5 Makes its Global Debut

LG F5 Makes its Global Debut

Following its successful unveiling at the 2013 Mobile World Congress, the Optimus F5 — the first device from LG’s newest Optimus F Series — will make its world debut starting in Europe on April 29. Launching initially in France, LG will roll out the Optimus F5 in South and Central America, Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) over the next several weeks.

The Optimus F Series is a new family of Android smartphones for consumers who are ready to experience the blazing speeds of 4G LTE without the high costs that normally go with such a device. As a key component of LG’s strategy to make 4G smartphones as ubiquitous as they are fast, the Optimus F5 features LG’s advanced LTE technology and enhanced user experience (UX) features.

As display size and battery life become increasingly important among smartphone consumers, the 1.2GHz Qualcomm Dual-Core Optimus F5 addresses user demands by featuring a 4.3-inch IPS display and a largest-in-class 2,150mAh battery. LG engineers
designed the Optimus F5 to deliver longer battery life without creating a larger battery. And the 4.3-inch IPS display offers clear, lifelike images for a superior viewing experience.

The Optimus F5 includes the latest Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 operating system and the best of LG’s innovative and exclusive UX features:

• QSlide allows users to open multiple apps at the same time in full screen mode with the ability to change the size, position and transparency of the windows.
• Live Zooming lets users zoom in on videos so they can get a closer, detailed look at any specific area.
• Video Wiz lets users play movie director by giving them the power to edit videos and enhance them with sound and music right on the phone itself.
• QTranslator function instantly translates not only words, but also entire sentences and phrases by simply using the camera to scan the text. QTranslator accepts 44 different languages and can translate them into any one of 64 languages.

Key Specifications:

  • OS: Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2
  • Processor: Qualcomm 1.2 GHz Dual-Core
  • Display: 4.3-inch IPS (256 ppi)
  • Battery: 2,150mAh
  • Size: 126.04 x 64.46 x 9.30mm
  • Memory: 8 GB / 1 GB RAM / microSD (up to 32GB)
  • Camera: 5.0 MP AF Front / 1.3 MP Rear

Sony Mobile adds two new Xperia smartphones to its Spring line up with the SP and L

Sony today announced in Europe two new Xperia smartphone models to join its 2013 line up – the Xperia SP and Xperia L. The Xperia SP delivers 4G LTE performance and an exceptional viewing experience, with a razor sharp HD screen housed in a beautiful design. The Xperia L provides class leading camera technology with HDR for both photos and videos complemented by a high quality screen.

Xperia SP – High Definition brilliance in a premium design
The Xperia SP utilises expertise from Sony’s BRAVIA …

BlackBerry Z10 official: 4.2-inch 1,280 x 768 display, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus, LTE, BB 10 for $200

BlackBerry Z10 official

After months of rumors, speculation and official teases, RIM’s BlackBerry’s first full-touch BlackBerry 10 device — the Z10 — is finally official. Look familiar? It should. Thanks to an incessant stream of leaks, the handset you see in black and white above had become something of an open secret. But now we can confirm that candybar slab does indeed pack specs quite similar to that of the Dev Alpha unit that preceded it.

Bucking the bigger is better trend we’ve seen in the mobile industry as of late, the Z10 comes outfitted with a palm-friendly 4.2-inch 1,280 x 768 display — amounting to a pixel density of 356 dpi — and measures in at 5.13 (130mm) x 2.6 (66mm) x 0.37 (9.3mm) inches, making it significantly bulkier than, say, the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III. So, it’s not the thinnest device we’ve seen as of late, but at 138 grams, the Z10 certainly won’t be weighing down your hand. Beneath its mixture of aluminum and hard, textured plastic lies a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus buffered by 2GB RAM, a removable 1,800mAh battery, slots for microSD (up to 32GB supported) and micro SIM, as well as radios for Bluetooth 4.0, NFC (integrated into the backplate) and WiFi a/b/g/n.

Because no 2013-era smartphone launch could go without it, the Z10 will ship LTE-ready for AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, with carrier-branded models across the top four US operators. Long time BlackBerry fans will be glad to note that the Z10 does, indeed, sport that familiar red notification LED, in addition to ports for micro-USB, micro-HDMI and a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the imaging front, the handset packs a 2-megapixel front facer (720p video) and 8-megapixel rear shooter capable of 1080p recording — both perfect for using Sclalado’s Time Shift camera software. Of course, it nearly goes without saying that the Z10 is RIM’s showcase entry point for its BB 10 OS. Verizon is the first to confirm that it’ll charge $199.99 for the handset on a two-year deal when the hardware arrives in March, and has also called shotgun on the white version as exclusive to Big Red.

You can read along at our liveblog!

Daniel Cooper contributed to this report.

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Fuhu nabi Jr sub-$99 kids tablet brings back the Tegra 2

This week the folks at Fuhu have released information about their next proposed hit for the kids market in tablets – a Tegra 2 dual-core processor-toting children’s tablet made to replace the original. This machine has a 5-inch display, bumpers around all the sides and some connection squares on the back (see why in our full review of the Fuhu nabi 2 to see what they’re all about). This machine takes out the greater specifications of the nabi 2 (including a Tegra 3) to drive down costs – and drive them they have!

This machine comes in two flavors, the first being the $99 4GB version – that’s 4GB of internal storage space, mind you, so watch out if you plan on adding a bunch of 3rd party videos to this beast. The other version will cost you $129 and has an internal storage space of 16GB. The display size is, again, 5-inches, with 800×480 pixel resolution – not the best, but certainly not the worst.

This device also offers a really strange – and awesome – rotating camera that your kids will be able to snap away with all day long. You’ll be working with Fuhu’s own kid-friendly app market where they can download at will. You’ll also have access through the parent-secured profile on the nabi Jr to the Amazon Appstore – side-loading apps like a pro!

Again take a peek at our review of the nabi 2 to get an idea of the direction this smaller tablet is coming from. The folks at Fuhu are not messing around when it comes to presenting a kid-centric experience for your family, and this new smaller (and less expensive) version of their nabi universe might be just what the doctor ordered for your tech-friendly toddler. Check it out!


Fuhu nabi Jr sub-$99 kids tablet brings back the Tegra 2 is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Sony Xperia TL review: the company’s second US flagship is much improved, but still imperfect

Sony Xperia TL review the company's second US flagship is muchimproved, but not quite perfect

As Sony’s second stab at the US mobile market, the Xperia TL arrives with a major corporate synergistic push: a 007 movie franchise tie-in. But an awkward distinction as the official Bond phone and a smattering of pre-loaded “Skyfall” multimedia content alone won’t drive consumer adoption; the specs and pricing will. Following in the footsteps of the company’s first stateside flagship, the Ion, this AT&T 4G LTE exclusive is priced aggressively at $99 on two-year contract, packing a 4.6-inch HD Reality display (1,280 x 720) powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine, a dual-core Snapdragon S4 clocked at 1.5GHz, 16GB of storage (expandable up to 32GB via microSD), 1GB RAM, NFC, dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, as well as an integrated 1,850mAh battery.

With Ice Cream Sandwich running the show and a planned upgrade to Jelly Bean in the works, it has all the makings of a current-gen high-end offering. So will the Xperia TL help Sony build much-needed buzz for its mobile division here in the states? Can a sub-$100 price tag effectively lure consumers away from the bigger, faster and flashier Android phones AT&T has to offer? Or is this mainly one for Sony loyalists? Find out after the break as we put the TL through its paces.

Continue reading Sony Xperia TL review: the company’s second US flagship is much improved, but still imperfect

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Sony Xperia TL review: the company’s second US flagship is much improved, but still imperfect originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC 8X review: Windows Phone 8’s compact flagship

HTC 8X Review Windows Phone 8's compact flagship

It feels like forever since Microsoft announced Windows Phone 8 back in June, but the mobile OS is finally here and with it comes the inaugural volley of compatible handsets. The first one to cross our desks is the global, unlocked version of HTC’s Windows Phone 8X, a device we first saw in September. Unlike other current flagships, this phone breaks the bigger-is-better trend by providing a full set of high-end specs in a relatively compact package — combining a 4.3-inch 720p Super LCD 2 display, Qualcomm dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and NFC in a sleek and colorful package. Does the 8X have what it takes to carry the Windows Phone 8 torch? Is this a bona fide flagship despite its reduced footprint? Has HTC designed a better handset than its existing Android superphone, the One X? Find out in our review after the break.

Continue reading HTC 8X review: Windows Phone 8’s compact flagship

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HTC 8X review: Windows Phone 8’s compact flagship originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple announces all new 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro

We had a feeling this was coming, but this afternoon Apple has just confirmed the all new 13-inch MacBook Pro complete with a 2650 x 1600 Retina Display. The 13-inch Pro is Apple’s most popular MacBook Pro to date, and today it’s getting completely improved. It’s thinner, lighter, faster, and of course has that Retina Display.

Earlier this month we mentioned the 13-inch model was on track for this year, but now it’s official. While the news is just dropping we have a few quick specs to share with everyone. This 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro comes with a 13-inch 2560 x 1600 truly impressive HD display. Being the second highest resolution laptop available. Apple’s 15-inch being the first.

Compared to the previous 13-inch MBP, the Retina MBP is just .75-inches thick, 20% thinner than the previous generation. It’s an entire pound lighter than last years, being just 3.75 lbs. You’ll get USB 20, USB 3.0, HDMI out, Magsafe, SD card reader, and 7 hours of battery life. All while being thinner, lighter, but way more pixels.

Apple’s going over all the details as we speak but options include Intel’s new dual-core i5 or i7, HD 4000 for graphics, WiFi, BT, 8GB Memory, and all models come with SSD flash storage. No old-school slow hard drives here. Stay tuned for more details. Oh and these are shipping TODAY starting at $1699.

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Apple announces all new 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is written by Cory Gunther & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.