Hasta La Gadget!

We never used to take the speakers in phones or tablets very seriously. Frankly, we’re not sure manufacturers did either. But the old assumption that tiny = tinny is starting to seem a bit unfair. Last year, Dutch chip-maker NXP released a new type of mobile audio component — the TFA9887 — that allowed a mobile device to monitor its speaker system in real-time in order to max out volume without risking damage to the driver. Although NXP is way too modest to confirm it, we happen to know that this chip made its way into a number of HTC devices, including the new One, One X+ and 8X, where it’s been described as “feedback” speaker technology.

The extra voltage delivered to speakers by this generation of component hasn’t been especially wild — just a couple of volts above the industry norm of around 3V. But what you’re about to hear after the break is the next-gen TFA9890, which is expected to appear in devices around the middle of this year, and which racks things all the way up to 9.5V. This promises to be a much more audible leap relative to traditional no-feedback speaker systems, and you should be able to spot the difference for yourself after the break.

Filed under: Cellphones, Laptops, Tablets, Mobile

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More than a year after NXP Semiconductors worked with Cohda Wireless to hook up cars via 802.11p, the chip maker has decided to invest in its partner with a little help from Uncle Cisco. While the PR is mum on the exact amount, the investment is apparently significant enough that all three companies are set to work together. Cohda’s wireless knowhow, NXP’s semiconductor chops and Cisco’s vast infrastructure would join forces — á la Voltron — to help usher in the era of the connected car. By enabling car-to-car (C2C) and car-to-infrastructure (C2I) communications, drivers could avoid hazards, evade bad traffic and even form “trains” of vehicles on the road like what Volvo’s demonstrated with its SARTRE project. No word on a timeline for when we’ll see this on public roads, but automotive-qualified IEEE 802.11p products are said to be one of the trio’s first goals, so hopefully it’ll be sooner rather than later.

[Image credit: Creativity103, Flickr]

Continue reading Cisco and NXP invest in Cohda, will work together to enable connected car

Filed under: Transportation

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Source: NXP

We’ve seen connected light bulbs before, some more sophisticated than others, but they’re rarely as straightforward as GreenWave Reality’s just-shipping Connected Lighting Solution. Eco-friendly LED bulbs in the lineup include their own WiFi and are immediately controllable from a smartphone or tablet as soon as they’re receiving power. Basics controls like group presets and timed lighting are just the start; if you’re not worried about leaving anyone in the dark, the bulbs can respond to motion sensors and only illuminate the rooms that need attention. And while the intelligence isn’t new in itself, GreenWave would argue that sheer accessibility gives it an edge, with electric utilities in Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden skipping the retail middleman by selling directly. Don’t despair if you live in the US: the linked-up lighting is cleared for eventual use by Americans who’d like to save both energy and a trip to the light switch.

Continue reading GreenWave Reality ships WiFi light bulbs that flick on through motion and smartphones

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GreenWave Reality ships WiFi light bulbs that flick on through motion and smartphones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Let’s face it, the sound quality coming from the tiny speakers on our mobile phones can in no way compare to that of a proper speaker. However there are times when we need those speakers, i.e. calls made on speaker phone, video calls, watching a YouTube video with many people, etc. Well the good news is that NXP has introduced a new audio chip today dubbed the TFA9887 which is supposed to help improve the sound quality on micro speakers which are commonly found on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Featuring the company’s CoolFlux audio DSP, a class-D amplifier with current sensing and a DC-to-DC converter, this should not only help boost the output level by five times, but will reportedly not damage the drivers in the process. The class-D amplifier will also help deliver a strong and clear signal regardless of battery level (this could be a good or bad thing), and the chip will ultimately help produce a louder and richer sound with a tighter bass. However given that these are micro speakers we’re talking about, we’re sure that many probably didn’t expect much to begin with, right? In any case we wouldn’t exactly say no if this chip finds its way into our mobile devices in the future.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: RIM sued by NXP over alleged patent infringement, NXP launches NFC-enabled car keys,