Archive for January, 2010
Intel Shows Off LG Smartphone That Runs on Atom Chip
January 7th, 2010 by admin in LG
Intel Corp. Chief Executive Officer Paul Otellini showed off a smartphone based on a new version of the Atom chip, part of the semiconductor maker’s strategy to break into the wireless-phone market.
The GW900 phone from LG Electronics Inc. runs on a chip called Moorestown that will go on sale in the first half of the year, Otellini said today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Devices based on the chip will debut in the second half, he said.
Otellini offered the LG phone as evidence that Intel, the world’s biggest chipmaker, is making inroads into the wireless- handset business. Intel, based in Santa Clara, California, is working to fend off challenges by Qualcomm Inc. and other phone- chip makers, which are pushing their products into portable computers — until now the exclusive domain of Atom.
Intel is also seeking to tap what chipmakers see as their next area of growth: consumer electronics, cars and industrial equipment with Internet connections. Otellini, 59, demonstrated a television set-top box, tablet computer and another smartphone design, all based on versions of Atom.
Intel fell 20 cents, or 1 percent, to $20.60 at 4 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The shares climbed 39 percent last year.
This week, Qualcomm and other makers of chips for phones have announced partnerships and unveiled designs that encroach on Intel’s turf. San Diego-based Qualcomm said yesterday that it’s working with Hewlett-Packard Co., the world’s biggest personal-computer maker, on a scaled-down notebook computer.
Intel makes more than 80 percent of PC processors — the brains of computers. It aims to use its Atom product, which runs small laptops known as netbooks, to break into chips for wireless devices. That market is estimated to increase 14 percent to more than $46 billion this year, according to researcher IDC, in Framingham, Massachusetts.
The annual Consumer Electronics Show, which began in 1967 in New York, has given rise to the videocassette recorder in 1970, the compact-disc player in 1981, the DVD in 1996 and plasma TV in 2001.
Google to sell Nexus One
January 5th, 2010 by admin in Google
Google Inc. began selling its own mobile phone Tuesday, a much-anticipated move aimed at protecting its online advertising empire as people increasingly surf the Web on handsets instead of personal computers.
The Nexus One joins about 20 other mobile devices that already run on Android, the mobile operating system that Google introduced in 2007 to make it easier to connect to its services and other Web sites away from home or the office.
Google designed the touch-screen phone in partnership with Taiwan’s HTC Corp., which made the first Android-powered phone and will manufacture this one, too. Google will handle all sales online and has no plans to let consumers check out the Nexus One in retail stores.
The Nexus One has been in the hands of Google employees for the past three weeks, triggering media speculation and anticipation for the company’s first attempt to peddle a consumer electronics device.
Given the hype, the Nexus One could be a bit of a letdown because it only takes a few incremental steps beyond what’s already possible on handheld devices. And the Nexus One’s standard sales price of $529 may lessen its appeal in a still-shaky economy.
The move does escalate the budding rivalry between Silicon Valley’s two most valuable companies — Google and Apple Inc., which has sold more than 30 million iPhones in the past 2 1/2 years. Apple announced a deal Tuesday to buy mobile advertising service Quattro Wireless to counter Google’s planned $750 million acquisition of Quattro rival AdMob. Both announcements came ahead of this week’s International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Most of the more than $20 billion in ads that Google sells annually are tied to Internet searches, a market that it dominates. But a proliferation of programs that create more direct routes to mobile applications may lessen the need to conduct searches on wireless phones. In designing and selling its own phone, Google gets yet another way to ensure its services remain within easy reach of people on the go.
Google is billing the Nexus One as the first “super” phone in an effort to position the device as a cut above the iPhone and other smart phones such as Research In Motion Ltd.’s more utilitarian BlackBerry.
It appears to be sleeker than other phones, as thin as a pencil at 11.5 millimeters and as light as a keychain-sized Swiss army knife at just 130 grams. Among other things, the Nexus One will offer more ways to customize the phone’s home page and use voice recognition technology to perform more tasks, including composing e-mails and navigating Google’s mobile mapping products.
“This phone, from a performance perspective, looks a little like your laptop did four or five years ago,” said Andy Rubin, a Google executive who oversees Android.
But most of the features on the Nexus One are already on other Android-powered phones, and it probably will be a long time before it can offer as many different tools as the iPhone, which boasts more than 100,000 applications compared with Android’s 18,000.
The Nexus One’s $529 price tag is more than twice as much as the most powerful iPhone sold in conjunction with a two-year service plan from AT&T Inc. Google is asking consumers to pay more so they can select their own wireless carriers. That’s a departure from the usual sales model in the United States, where mobile phones are typically offered exclusively by specific providers and subsidized by them for customers who agree to service plans that cost $800 to $1,000 annually.
For the first few months at least, the Nexus One will only work on GSM networks — a limitation that means buyers in the U.S. will have to use T-Mobile USA if they want the handset for high-speed Web surfing. Consumers willing to enter into a two-year data plan with T-Mobile will be able to buy the Nexus One for $179, $20 less than the top-of-the-line iPhone with an AT&T subsidy.
The technological barrier also precludes the initial version of Nexus One from working on the U.S. wireless networks of Verizon Wireless and Sprint, though Google plans a version that will work on those carriers’ CDMA technology this spring and Verizon Wireless plans to subsidize that. For AT&T, the phone’s compatible only with its slower wireless network instead of the 3G one used by the iPhone.
The Nexus One should work with many carriers abroad, as GSM is the predominant technology used. Vodafone’s wireless service in Europe also will begin to subsidize the Nexus One in the spring.
Samsung Corby, CorbyPRO and Galaxy Spica Make U.S. Debut at CES 2010
January 5th, 2010 by admin in samsung
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, a leading mobile phone provider, showcases several of its groundbreaking, revolutionary global handsets at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show. These handsets make their U.S. debut at the show and exemplify Samsung’s leadership in innovative technology, including Samsung’s exclusive ultra-brilliant AMOLED displays, 800 MHz processor speeds, as well as their commitment to the Android operating system and design innovation.
Samsung Galaxy Spica™ is a slim and compact Android-powered smartphone that offers seamless connectivity with access to Google mobile services and popular social network sites, such as Facebook and MySpace. Equipped with an 800 MHZ application processor, the Galaxy Spica lets users download a variety of applications from Android Market. The phone provides users an exceptional multimedia experience by supporting DivX to eliminate the hassle of file format conversions. Equipped with DNSe 2.0 for better sound quality and a 3.5 mm ear jack the Galaxy Spica offers the fully comprehensive multimedia feature set. The phone also supports the full suite of Google services including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, and Google Talk letting users enjoy a familiar desktop computer experience while on their phone.
Samsung Corby™ incorporates simple and easy to use Samsung’s Touchwiz™ user interface and haptic feedback system, which gives users the ability to customize their Corby with applications and widgets. The Corby features a substantial library of additional applications by providing access to Samsung’s online widgets store. The “one finger zoom” on the Corby lets users zoom in-and-out with one finger while the “smart unlock” feature allows users to unlock the phone easily by drawing a letter on the screen. Corby users can instantly update their current status and access their friend’s updates and live feeds via Facebook, MySpace and Twitter through a simple Pop-up SNS (Social Networking Service) notification feature. The phone also supports various community sites by integrating leading user-generated content sites such as YouTube, Flickr, Picasa and Photobucket and other popular SNS sites. Photos and videos can be uploaded easily to these sites by using the Corby’s communities solution. The Corby comes with a selection of colored back covers in yellow, white, orange, pink and two additional back covers (called ‘Fashion Jackets’), which feature a unique pattern design cover and a standard black cover. The interchangeable back covers let users change the style of their handset to reflect their personal style.
Samsung CorbyPRO features a full, slide out QWERTY keyboard that lets users send text messages and emails instantly without sacrificing style. The CorbyPRO also meets the needs of business users by offering a variety of entertainment and multimedia capabilities including push e-mail services, conversational SMS and access to Facebook and MySpace. The CorbyPRO packs a 3MP digital camera, Wi-Fi access, 3G/HSDPA and quad band connectivity. Equipped with a 3.5mm ear jack and dedicated music keys, the CorbyPRO offers the ultimate in multimedia and music entertainment.
Samsung Galaxy Spica (SGH-I5700) Specification
Network HSDPA 3.6Mbps (900/2100)
EDGE/GPRS (850/900/1800/1900)
OS Android (ver. Android 1.5)
Display 3.2” HVGA(320×480) TFT
Camera 3MP Camera (Auto Focus)
Video / Audio Video: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV,DivX
Audio: MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA
Value Added
Features
Full Web Browser, Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail,
YouTube, Google Talk, Android Market, 3.5mm Ear jack, GPS
Connectivity Bluetooth® 2.1, USB 2.0, MicroUSB, WiFi
Memory Internal memory: 180MB
External memory: Micro SD (Up to 32GB)
Battery 1500 mAh
Size 115 x 57 x 13.2mm
* Android, Google, Android Market, Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk are trademarks of Google Inc.
Samsung Corby (SGH-S3650) Specification
Network EDGE/GPRS, Quad Band (850/900/1800/1900MHz)
Display 2.8” QVGA 262K TFT-LCD Full touch screen
Camera 2 Megapixel CMOS
Video H.263, MPEG4, WMV
Audio FM Radio with RDS
Poly 64, SP-Midi, i-melody, MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA
Value-added Features Fashion Jacket (changeable battery cover)
Pop-Up SNS
Cartoon UI
One Finger Zoom, Dictionary, Smart Unlock
Connectivity USB 2.0, BT 2.1/ EDR
Memory 50MB + microSD (up to 8GB)
Size 103 x 56.5 x 12.0 mm
Weight 93g
Battery 960mAh
Samsung CorbyPRO (SGH-B5310) Specification
Network HSDPA 7.2Mbps, 900/2100
EDGE/GPRS, Quad Band (850/900/1800/1900MHz)
Display 2.8” TFT 16M QVGA Full touch screen
Camera 3 Megapixel FF, CMOS
Video H.263, MPEG4, WMV, WAV, DivX,
Audio FM Radio with RDS
Poly 64, SP-Midi, i-melody, MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA
Value-added
Features Fashion Jackets (Changeable battery cover)
Cartoon UI, One Finger Zoom, Smart Unlock
Connectivity WiFi, BT 2.1. USB 2.0, microUSB, 3.5mm earjack
Memory 100MB + microSD (up to 16GB)
Size 105 x 56.8 x 15.68 mm
Weight 135g
Battery 960mAh
Motorola Devour smart phone on Android 2.1 OS
January 3rd, 2010 by admin in Google, Motorola
Motorola’s new upcoming Android based smartphone, christened Devour, has made a sneak peek into the tech crowd with some specs on detail. The latest revelation is that the Android phone will come in a silver casing too, apart from the black hued model that we got to know about a few days ago.
The Devour, which was formerly called the Calgary, is to hop on to Verizon Wireless, making it the carrier’s third phone that runs Google’s Android OS. The Devour is expected to run the Android 2.1 version, which makes it significant owing to the fact that only Google’s Nexus One is tipped now to have this version of the operating system. Motorola’s Devour will also boast of Motoblur, Motorola’s Android user interface that lets the handset connect with social networking, emails and RSS feeds.
It seems like the phone maker has made it only for Verizon, as it sports all that needs to have for a Verizon connection, including Wi-Fi, GPS et al. But then a SIM card slot has been given the miss cementing the fact that it is not a global device. The phone will work on Verizon, having support for Verizon’s own EV-DO mobile broadband network.
The power department will be managed by the 1420mAh battery, while other specs include a slider QWERTY keypad, optical trackpad, a 3.2MP camera, 3.5 mm headset jack, a GPS receiver, and a microSD memory card slot.
LG Develops Cell Phone for US Mobile DTV Standard
January 2nd, 2010 by admin in LG
LG Electronics has developed handheld terminals compatible with the U.S. mobile digital TV format and will show them at next week’s International Consumer Electronics Show, it said Thursday.
The products include the DP570MH, a portable DVD player, and several cell phones. Detailed specifications of the products were not released but LG did issue images showing the products. The cell phone appears to be a modified version of its Lotus smartphone that has a 2.4-inch widescreen display and QWERTY keyboard.
The DVD player has a 7-inch widescreen display with WQVGA (480 pixels by 234 pixels) resolution and two earphone sockets so TV shows and DVDs can be shared with a fellow traveler. Battery life is about 2.5 hours when watching TV and 4.5 hours for DVD playback. It can also be powered from an AC socket.
It will be launched later this year and will cost US$249.
All will be compatible with the ATSC-M/H standard, to which LG Electronics contributed technical knowledge. The service is expected to be mainly used for free-to-air broadcasts of local TV stations with widespread availability across the U.S. beginning during 2010.
To coincide with the launch of services many electronics makers are likely to roll out compatible products and some are expected to be on show at CES.
The International Consumer Electronics Show takes place in Las Vegas from Jan. 7 to 10.