Hasta La Gadget!

The DockPort standard is only just getting off the ground with support in AMD’s Elite Performance processors. TI could soon make the technology fly, however: its new (if awkwardly named) HD3SS2521 controller handles all the tasks of DockPort on a single chip. The hardware is both simpler and cheaper than past multi-chip designs, and makes it easier for laptops and tablets to deliver DisplayPort video, USB 3.0 and power through a single cable. Whether or not we see more DockPort-equipped mobile gadgets is another matter. While the TI chip is available today, device builders still have to choose DockPort over a more established standard like Intel’s Thunderbolt.

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets

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Source: Texas Instruments

Yesterday Texas Instruments introduced a couple of new chipsets (fuel gauge an charger ICs) designed to improve the charging speed and life expectancy of single-cell Li-ion batteries. The technology, called MaxLife, is expected to provide an improvement of up to 30 percent in battery service life and faster charging times. Cell impedance is carefully monitored by the fuel gauge chip while the charger IC uses a model of battery degradation to charge the cell in the most effective way. Both chips are connected via an I2C bus to form an autonomous battery management system which, according to the company, is safer and more thermally efficient than existing solutions. The two chipsets (2.5A and 4.5A) are now available along with a development kit, so it’s only a matter of time until this technology lands into handsets and other devices that use single-cell Li-ion batteries. Check out the details after the break.

Filed under: Cellphones, Misc, Mobile

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“Hi, I’m Richard Lai from Engadget. You guys probably hate us but…”

“No no, I don’t hate you,” Vertu’s 52-year-old President and CEO interjected with a charming smile. He then laid a hand on my shoulder and explained our in-joke to the other chuckling diners, “These guys, they read the specs and they only judge by the specs.”

Of course, it was just a light-hearted banter the night before our interview, but having been with the luxury phone maker since June 2009 as President, Perry Oosting obviously knew of everyone’s ongoing jokes about the rationale of his super expensive phones. Even before Vertu, the Dutchman would’ve faced a similar problem when he held senior positions at the likes of Bulgari, Prada, Gucci and Escada, except these brands have been around for a lot longer; and for us mere mortals, their existence is already widely accepted. Not so much for the luxury gadgets, though.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Admittedly, many of us here at Engadget have never really had the opportunity to touch a Vertu phone (KIRFs don’t count, of course), as the pressure of stepping into a posh Vertu store without the cash can be rather unnerving. That said, over the weekend Vertu launched its Android-powered TI in Hong Kong, and the British company was gracious enough to let us get up close and personal with all four flavors of its latest luxury device. Verdict? Well, please kindly ask your butler to read on after the break.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Texas Instruments has announced that it has built its high-end graphing calculator technology into some applications designed to run on the Apple iPad. The company has announced the launch of two new applications including the TI-Nspire App for iPad and the TI-Nspire CAS App for iPad. These apps are specifically designed for the iPad and were refined in collaboration with researchers and classroom teachers.

The apps were designed to meet curriculum needs for students ranging from seventh grade through college. The apps are able to offer all-in-one functionality for performing calculations in proper math notation. The apps also offer graphing and exporting functions, equations and inequalities, and the ability to construct and explore geometric figures.

The apps have a on screen keyboard that can toggle between math notation and QWERTY configurations allowing students to put notes beside equations. The applications also offer dynamically linked multiple representations of problems encouraging students to make personal connections by observing how the equations change as the student interacts with the shapes, graphs, and objects on the tablet screen.

The apps also have the ability to create and save documents and share them using e-mail, iTunes, and other sharing options. The app also takes advantage of the integrated camera of the iPad allowing students to take photos and import them into the app and overlay graphs and equations on those photographs to illustrate math principles using real world examples. The apps are available to download right now from the App Store for $29.99 each. Teachers can get a free one-year license to both apps with the purchase of one of the apps via the App Store.

[via TI]

TI unveils new TI-Nspire iPad applications is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
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