Hasta La Gadget!

Qualcomm has laid out its details of the upcoming S4 SoC, and yes, there’s definitely reason for excitement with this next generation Snapdragon. First, it’ll usher in a new 28nm manufacturing process alongside the company’s Krait CPU and Adreno 225 GPU. The move from 45nm to 28nm promises smaller components, lower power consumption and improved thermal performance, while Krait will introduce a new pipeline architecture that promises a full 60% boost over the current Scorpion lineup with clock speeds ranging between 1.5 and 2.5GHz — along with support for asynchronous multiprocessing and dual-channel memory. As for the GPU, the latest chip flaunts 50% greater performance over the current Adreno 220, where it also provides support for DirectX 9.3 for Windows 8, in addition to OpenGL ES 1.1 and 2.0. Should be quite the gaming experience, eh?

It doesn’t end there, as the S4 MSM8960 promises multi-mode world capabilities with support for all the commonly used frequencies from 700 to 2600MHz — quite a feat, indeed. It handles Cat. 3 LTE (up to 100Mbps) and Cat. 24 HSPA+ (up to 42Mbps), along with EV-DO Rev. B, 1x Advanced and TD-SCDMA, as well as GSM, GPRS and EDGE. Oh, and there’s also simultaneous support for GPS and GLONASS, along with Bluetooth, WiFi, FM radio and NFC. With samples already being sent to manufacturers, we’re quite excited for what 2012 may bring.

Qualcomm outs Snapdragon S4 SoC details, promises improved battery life and true world capability originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 17:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just because next week’s joint Samsung and Google event has been postponed doesn’t mean the leaks have to end. A Sammy handset with the model number I9250, which matches up nicely with the baseband version in the Galaxy Nexus shots that popped up, just made an appearance at the FCC packing a GSM radio compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile’s HSPA networks. It’s also boasting dual-band 802.11n, Bluetooth and NFC. Despite suggestions that the next Nexus device would be a Verizon exclusive, we could be looking at the AT&T version or at least the unlocked GSM model. The fact that it doesn’t support T-Mobile’s 2100MHz band leads us to believe this won’t be popping up in T-Mo shops. It appears that T-Mobile AWS is included. Noticeably missing, however, is any mention of LTE — that particular feature could still be the sole realm of Big Red. Hopefully we won’t have to wait much longer to find out all the details. One more image after the break.

[Thanks, Samer]

Continue reading GSM Nexus Prime passes through the FCC, possibly heading to AT&T?

GSM Nexus Prime passes through the FCC, possibly heading to AT&T? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 12:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, it was fun while it lasted, but Xperia Play users can no longer claim Minecraft Pocket Edition as their own. An updated version of the app has hit the Android Market today, bringing with it support for a range of additional devices running Android 2.1 or higher — although it’s still said to be “Xperia Play optimized.” Same $6.99 price tag as before, but there is a free demo version available if you’re still not sure about the whole Minecraft phenomenon.

Minecraft Pocket Edition rolls out to non-Xperia Play Android devices originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With gaming on tablets, the visual experience is often top-notch, but the controls are unfamiliar at best — even inadequate at times. But adding a traditional joystick is impractical, especially when aesthetics is a key selling point for manufacturers. Chicago-based Knowles Electronics has a fairly practical solution, however, and hopes that some manufacturers will adopt its Mems Joystick. At just 1.6mm tall, the joystick is slim enough for a device to maintain a svelte profile, and the 40 microamps it consumes during normal operation is relatively negligible, according to company reps. Tablets are just the start — Knowles built a series of prototypes to demonstrate a variety of potential applications.

We took the joystick for a spin on a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Motorola Atrix, Nintendo 3DS and a pair of laptops. All of the joystick prototypes connected using Bluetooth or USB, and were designed specifically for this CEATEC demonstration — sadly they won’t be available for purchase, though manufacturers could implement the controller into similar products. It took only a few seconds to get accustomed to the pair of joysticks mounted to the back of the Tab. Controlling gameplay felt natural, and we definitely preferred playing with a clear view of the display. We also navigated through Google Maps, and scrolled a web page — both experiences felt superior to moving around the touchscreen. The 3DS joystick functioned similarly to the native controller included with that device, though Knowles reps noted that it’s significantly smaller, and uses less power — and without compromise, it seems.

Jump past the break for a walkthrough of the devices we saw today, but try not to fall in love — you won’t be able to use the Joystick anytime soon, if manufacturers decide to implement them at all.

Continue reading Knowles Electronics Mems Joystick for Samsung Galaxy Tab, Nintendo 3DS hands-on (video)

Knowles Electronics Mems Joystick for Samsung Galaxy Tab, Nintendo 3DS hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The cost of switching to LTE: Sprint to spend $10 billion over the next two years originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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