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Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL)

Posted by – February 15, 2011

New standard first used in the Samsung Galaxy S2 to output HD and charge at the same time through the Micro-USB connector, it also allows for some data to be sent back from HDTVs such as using the TVs standard remote control to also remote control the device. The MHL 1.0 spec for now does not transmit Gigabit Ethernet or USB 3.0 Host functionality.

Sub-$200 4.3″ capacitive Android Smartphone

Posted by – February 15, 2011

Yuhua Teltech released this Marvell powered Android Smartphone they call the Touchstone. It’s basically like one of those HTC HD, Droid X, except it costs less than $200 instead of the $500+ that the big brands such as HTC and Motorola are selling those form factors for. It runs on the Marvell PXA935 processor (also known as Tavor P65), same as in the Dual SIM clam-shell Dion MID from Shenzhen ACT that I filmed at CES and which Yuhua Teltech is also manufacturing as well. This device has been sold in China, India and some other emerging markets for 6 months already, Yuhua Teltech wants to bring this device to the European and US market, and they are announcing their next generation Gemstone design which will have a faster Marvell processor and dual-sim support.

Malata releases new Tegra2 Tablets

Posted by – February 15, 2011

Their designs are used by ViewSonic, Interpad, HiSense and others. Now they use a better screen with 1280×800 resolution and wider viewing angles. They are also making a version with a new 9.7″ 4:3 aspect ratio.

Honeycomb will work on cheaper tablets!

Posted by – February 14, 2011
Category: Tablets, MWC, Archos, Android

I got this confirmed from a source at Google (to remain anonymous) that Honeycomb will likely work just fine on all the cheaper tablets, such as the ARM Cortex-A8 ones like Archos and even the super cheap ones with Rockchip ARM9 or Telechips ARM11 processors. We’re all set for disruptive Android Tablet future with no need to be member of a “high-end special club” to get Honeycomb and especially to be allowed the Google Marketplace and all Google Apps. Google are to update the compatibility guidelines for devices to be Google Marketplace compatible and they “simply” add more filters to prevent consumer confusion.

I’ll try to get this confirmed and explained on video by some Google representatives during the Mobile World Congress.

Texas Instruments talks OMAP5, OMAP4

Posted by – February 14, 2011

Texas Instruments OMAP Product Line Manager Brian Carlson presents the amazing OMAP5 ARM Cortex-A15 processor, to sample this year, ship in products next year, and OMAP4 devices that are about to ship, what kind of performance can be expected.

Honeycomb on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Posted by – February 14, 2011

Honeycomb is simply awesome. It’s the first OS ever made really designed for tablets. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 runs on the Nvidia Tegra2 processor and has a really cool new design.

Honeycomb Designer Matias Duarte Interview

Posted by – February 14, 2011

Chief Honeycomb designer Matias Duarte explains how Google develops Honeycomb.

Google MWC 2011 Booth Tour

Posted by – February 14, 2011

Smoothies (with taste of Honeycomb, Donut, Gingerbread..), Slides, Pictures taken, 50 Android app demos, 50 Android OEM demos, sofas, lava lamps, free water, free stickers, free candy, where are the Nexus S givaways?

Texas Instruments OMAP4 runs Android and Ubuntu at the same time


Texas Instruments is showcasing that the OMAP4 ARM Cortex-A9 development platform can run full Android on the built-in LCD and Ubuntu on the HDMI output both at the same time, this is awesome. It shows how Texas Instruments OMAP4 can be used to power the upcoming all-in-one ultimate ARM Powered devices that combine Laptop and Media player functionality into the Smartphone.

Chrome OS on the Texas Instruments OMAP4 ARM Cortex-A9 platform

Posted by – February 14, 2011

This is just the Chromium OS based on the open source Chromium OS source code, until manufacturers and Google bring up Chrome OS to real ARM Powered laptops and desktops to be shipped hopefully soon.

Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 5.0

Posted by – February 14, 2011

Samsung is doing a 5″ LCD Hummingbird 1Ghz based WiFi-only Android Tablet! Basically, it does look awesome. To be seen what kind of prices Samsung plans to sell this for, my guess is it won’t be cheap, $300-400 maybe. I like this, it’s not Exynos ARM Cortex-A9, but this pocketable 5″ tablet design is cool.

Mediatek MTK6573 powers $80 3G Android Smartphones

Posted by – February 14, 2011

Cheaper Android phones is key to making Android the absolute most popular smartphone platform of the future, bringing the mobile Internet and apps to potentially billions of people around the world. Mediatek is showing their new ARM11 based SoC platform for sub-$80 Android smartphones at Mobile World Congress, this is one of the areas that I find to be the most fascinating.

LG Optimus 3D

Posted by – February 14, 2011

The product manager on LG Optimus 3D presents what may be the most powerful smart phone ever shown thus far. It uses the Texas Instruments OMAP4 ARM Cortex-A9 Dual-core processor, that is fast enough to record 720p 3D video, it includes even the new LG 4.3″ glasses free 3D screen, where the 3D effect can be turned on or off.

Samsung Galaxy S2

Posted by – February 14, 2011

Awesome. It uses Samsung’s new Exynos Orion ARM Cortex-A9 processor, Multimedia High-definition Link technology, the new 4.3 Samsung Super AMOLED Plus screen with better anti-reflection, better colors, better clarity and more, all of this in a thinner and lighter form factor. To be available around April or so. But Samsung is probably not going to make this cheaper.

Samsung Galaxy Ace

Posted by – February 14, 2011

The form factor on this Android phone is about the same as an iPhone. It has a 3.5″ HVGA capacitive touch screen and a Qualcomm MSM7227 ARM11 processor. But this one is designed to be sold around $200 unlocked or on pre-paid plans. This Android Smartphone is cheap.

Live from the Samsung MWC event!

Posted by – February 14, 2011

Well this is not exactly live, but you get the point. Samsung organized a gigantic event in something that looks like a stadium, huge show, funky music, awesome devices.

Samsung Galaxy Mini

Posted by – February 14, 2011

The cheapest new Samsung Galaxy phone. It uses the Qualcomm MSM7227 ARM11 processor.

Interactive Pico Projectors presented by Texas Instruments

Posted by – February 14, 2011

This area I think could be the most interesting future development with the Pico projectors, it could turn your Smartphone into a 20″ Tablet, by projecting an interactive wall onto any table combined with some kind of gesture recognition (that it detects precisely where you touch the table). No prototypes are shown yet, I think Texas Instruments and their partners should make it a priority to demonstrate that this can be made to work to make this into a leading differentiating hardware feature of future smart phones.

Netflix on OMAP4

Posted by – February 14, 2011

Texas Instruments implements some security features in the new OMAP4 processor which allows for access to DRM sites like Netflix on Android.

Opera Mini on the iPad

Posted by – February 14, 2011

Opera is adapting their web browser for tablets, here is their demonstration of Opera Mini running on the iPad. Will Apple allow this in the Apple App Store? To be seen.