Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus To Get NFC Chip (Rumor)

galaxy s2 plus nfc Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus To Get NFC Chip (Rumor)It seems that there are expectations in the industry that the yet unannounced Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus will be on the receiving end of two different models, that is, the GT-i9105 and the GT-i9105P, with the latter all set to arrive with an NFC chip. This might be the “Plus” version of the original S2 i9100, but you will find that the i9105 is not going to be superior in any way due to the lack of superior specifications.

The processor will be a dual-core 1GHz processor, while carrying 8GB of internal memory. Well, the bright side would be that this Galaxy S2 Plus will have Android 4.1 Jelly Bean running right out of the box, in addition to a 4.3-inch display at 800 x 480 resolution, with an 8-megapixel camera at the back with flash, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and a body which has the dimensions of 125.3mm x 66.1mm x 8.98mm. Will NFC connectivity be a deal breaker for you, or would you decide to settle for something newer?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Nokia Lumia 610 To Get Angry Birds?, First Tizen Device Gets MWC 2013 Debut,

Hyundai concept uses smartphone NFC to lock and unlock vehicle

This week the folks at Hyundai have previewed a concept vehicle system in which you’ll be able to use your smartphone to unlock your vehicle with a physical tap. This system uses NFC tags to make the connection between your smartphone and your vehicle, taking away the need for you to use a key at all, whatsoever. This system is called “Connectivity Concept” quite simply at the moment and is being previewed at the moment only at the manufacturer’s European headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany – but we’re expecting more up close and personal looks here in the USA soon.

fariafaaaaaaa

This concept is being shown on the manufacturer’s New Generation i30, using Near Field Communication to make the connection. Your smartphone makes the vehicle unlock its doors and is then placed in a center console in the vehicle for further use. Once you’re connected within, you’ve got a 7-inch touchscreen to work with up front on the dash where you’re able to access music, phone contacts, radio, and phone settings.

caritself

This system also works with wireless charging, this we must assume being compatible with all of the new devices that are working with said technology including the Nokia Lumia 920 and friends, the HTC DROID DNA (and Butterfly), and the LG Nexus 4. Of course it’s no guarantee, and the device they’re using in the demonstration thus far is none of these, but we can dream!

arhwer

Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Hyundai Motor Europe, noted the following about the system as it stands today:

“Hyundai’s Connectivity Concept showcases the brand’s philosophy of making tomorrow’s technology accessible to a wide range of customers. With this technology, Hyundai is able to harness the all-in-one functionality of existing smartphone technology and integrating it into everyday driving in a seamless fashion. As the technology continually develops there will be capabilities to store driver’s seating positions and exterior mirror settings, providing customers with a comfortable and individual driving environment.” – Rushforth

This system works with MirrorLink technology for wireless connectivity and also makes it known that Hyundai is working in a joint development agreement with Broadcom Corporation to make this all possible. We’ll be seeing more of this action soon!

asgwewe


Hyundai concept uses smartphone NFC to lock and unlock vehicle is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Hyundai Connectivity Concept Gives NFC-enabled Phones Power Over Your Car

 Hyundai Connectivity Concept Gives NFC enabled Phones Power Over Your Car

Last week, we heard about Toyota’s 2013 Avalon being equipped with a Qi wireless charging system, and as cool as that was, Hyundai’s plans for its upcoming vehicles is way cooler.

Hyundai’s Connectivity Concept is scheduled to be included in its 2015 model vehicles and will give its users the power to control their vehicle with their NFC-enabled smartphone rather than the metal keys we’ve been lugging around in our pockets for years.

The concept was previewed on Hyundai’s New Generation i30 at the company’s European HQ in Frankfurt, Germany and allowed users to use their NFC-enabled smartphone to lock and unlock the car by placing their phone over an NFC-tag. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: FCC Asks FAA To Allow The Use Of Electronic Devices During Flights, Australian airline company Qantas adds Passbook support for iPhone check-ins,

LG’s 2013 AV lineup puts NFC into Blu-ray player, 9.1-channel home theater

LG's 2013 home theater line includes NFCequipped 91channel surround system, Bluray player

LG is in the midst of a whirlwind tour of its 2013 CES introductions, and the next stop is its AV catalog. The running theme this year is NFC: both the BH9430PW 9.1-channel home theater and the BP730 Blu-ray player include the short-range wireless format to simplify mirroring content from your Optimus G (and, most likely, other NFC phones). The surround system also packs an iPod dock and a Private Audio Mode that funnels sound to a nearby smartphone when a quiet house is paramount. Beyond these two devices, LG promises the Bluetooth-equipped, 310W NB4530A sound bar, a ND8630 speaker dock with both Android and iOS support (including AirPlay and Bluetooth) and an NP6630 portable speaker that stuffs AirPlay, Bluetooth and NFC into its frame. We’ll know more at CES next month, but those who want LG’s overview can see it for themselves after the break.

Continue reading LG’s 2013 AV lineup puts NFC into Blu-ray player, 9.1-channel home theater

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

LG’s 2013 Speaker Lineup Sounds Pretty Sweet No Matter How You Listen

Not everybody has the available floor space or audiophilic conviction for 9.1 surround sound—sometimes just a sound bar or even headphones may suffice. With the wall of sound-producing devices that LG just unveiled, finding a system to match your situation should be a cinch—even if it is 9.1 surround. More »

Qualcomm announces ultra-low power NFC QCA1990 chip

Qualcomm Atheros has announced its new QCA1990, a low-power NFC chip that holds the title of being the smallest ultra-low system-on-a-chip currently available. This NFC chip is 50-percent the size of its competitors, and aims to solve the current criticism regarding the battery usage of NFC technology. Samples will begin going out in Q1 of 2013.

The QCA1990 is integrated with the Snapdragon S4, and, according to the press release, creates “seamless user experiences” when used with Qualcomm’s WCN3680 wifi/Bluetooth chip. Also, and perhaps one of its best offerings, the QCA1990 supports antennas that are 8 times smaller than current standards.

What does this mean for consumer technology? While NFC has been generating a nice deal of buzz amongst adopters of the latest and greatest gadgets, many devices still lack the feature due to its energy drain, with many critics saying that Bluetooth 4.0 is a better option. This new chip by Qualcomm puts the kibosh on those arguments, however, and is certainly a step in the right direction.

Qualcomm’s Vice President of Product Management David Favreau offered this statement. “Qualcomm Atheros believes NFC will be another key element of an enriched experience for smartphone and tablet consumers. As consumers continue to adopt functions like mobile payments and contactless data exchange, Qualcomm intends to be at the forefront of delivering simple, easy-to-use solutions to OEM partners.”


Qualcomm announces ultra-low power NFC QCA1990 chip is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Qualcomm announces cheap, battery efficient NFC chip, hopes to put it in phones next year

Qualcomm announces cheap, battery efficient NFC chip, hopes to put it in phones next year

Near field communication might be all the rage at the checkout counter, but there are still plenty of devices shirking the technology. Qualcomm subsidiary Qualcomm Atheros hopes to change that, announcing an ultra-low power NFC chip that might help OEMs cut costs. The QCA1990 boasts a footprint half the size of contemporary chips, and claims support for antennas eight times smaller than today’s standards — offering manufacturers, by Qualcomm’s estimation, a large enough savings to make NFC integration viable for more devices. The hardware is built to work seamlessly with the Snapdragon S4, too, and features special polling algorithms designed to minimize battery drain.

There’s no guarantee the chip will make its way into Cupertino’s next handset, but Qualcomm seems optimistic about its place in the market. “Qualcomm intends to be at the forefront of delivering simple, easy-to-use solutions to OEM partners,” states vice president of product management David Favreau, “By enabling client devices, Qualcomm Atheros is paving the way for rapid adoption of products that incorporate NFC technology.” Manufacturer samples ship out early next year, and the final chip should be in consumer devices by Q3. More internal chips, less sticker goop. Sounds good to us.

Continue reading Qualcomm announces cheap, battery efficient NFC chip, hopes to put it in phones next year

Filed under: ,

Comments

Gemalto adds AMEX, Mastercard and Visa certs to its UpTeq NFC SIM

Gemalto adds AMEX, Mastercard and Visa certs to its UpTeq NFC SIM

Gemalto has been in the NFC SIM business for a while now, adding the possibility of mobile payments to any GSM phone that’ll support it. Now it’s become even more legit with the addition of AMEX ExpressPay, MasterCard PayPass and Visa payWave certifications to its UpTeq NFC SIM, which is supposedly the first ever NFC SIM to get all three certs. Already in use in Orange France, the high-end SIM lets carriers tailor their own NFC deployments; for example, Singapore operators will add CEPAS, a local payment system alongside the major credit brands, while other carriers like KDDI in Japan and Rogers in Canada will get customizations to fit local requirements. Services like coupon redemption, loyalty programs and transit cards are potential add-ons depending on the market. Now that most carriers around the globe are slowly getting on board the NFC train, a cash-toting wallet could be a relic of the past sooner than we think. You can get the full Gemalto release after the break.

Continue reading Gemalto adds AMEX, Mastercard and Visa certs to its UpTeq NFC SIM

Filed under: ,

Comments

Source: Gemalto

Flomio NFC reader for iOS reaches Kickstarter funding goal

Earlier this month, a start-up company by the name of Flomio went to Kickstarter to see if they could scrounge up some funding for an NFC dongle for iOS devices. It’s a novel idea, and it seems others agree as well, because the company has announced that they’ve reached their funding goal for what they call the FloJack.

Flomio set a goal of $80,000, and they actually passed it with 423 backers donating a total of $83,637 so far, with just 11 hours to go at the time of this writing. Flomio notes that these last 11 hours will be the last chance to buy a FloJack at a discount price before they eventually charge full price for the dongle. You can get one now for as little as $49.

During the Kickstarter campaign, the company unveiled what they call the FloCase. Thanks to a ton of reader feedback and suggestions, Flomio has now made an iPhone case that has an NFC reader embedded inside. This might be a better option for some users who don’t want to deal with a dongle that might get lost easily, but the case certainly doesn’t win any awards in the design department.

Flomio’s Tim Ronan says that “this is only the beginning” for Flomio. The company will continue to “deliver products that will prompt the NFC ecosystem.” Both the FloJack and FloCase are scheduled to ship sometime in March. You can get a FloCase now for $99, but just like the FloJack, the company will initiate full prices after the Kickstarter campaign is over. It’s yet to be known what these full prices will be.


Flomio NFC reader for iOS reaches Kickstarter funding goal is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Vodafone and Visa announce mobile payments app for Android-toting Aussies

Vodafone and Visa announce mobile payments app for Androidtoting Aussies, Windows Phone on deck

Sometime next year, Vodafone subscribers in Australia can expect to taste the sweet fruit of mobile payments, which comes thanks to the carrier’s partnership with Visa. Computerworld Australia reports that Vodafone SmartPass is currently being tested on Android phones in the land down under, which relies on an NFC-enabled SIM card. It’s also said that the carrier plans to introduce a Windows Phone app, although it has no intention of developing a solution for iOS, which is due to the iPhone’s lack of NFC. While mobile payments still remains a mere pipe dream for many, it’s said that Vodafone will eventually bundle the SmartPass app on all smartphones that support NFC. Unfortunately, the technology may remain cumbersome, as it’ll require users to load currency into a prepaid account for use — something Google has already kicked to the curb. If you’ll recall, Vodafone first announced its initiative with Visa in February of this year, although at the time, it was said that only a few European counties would make the initial cut. To learn more about what Vodafone has in store for its Aussie constituency, feel free to hit up the source link.

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Via: WMPoweruser

Source: Computerworld Australia