Broadcom claims that all of that hardware and functionality found in high-end devices smartphones like the the Galaxy Nexus can be had for half of the cost. On Monday at Mobile World Congress it’s unveiling the silicon component of that low-cost equation. Read more »
Benchmark results of a quad-core Android smartphone appeared on the web, and the handset tests twice as fast as recent smartphones, such as the Galaxy Nexus. But there’s an important aspect to remember here: software is still catching up to hardware, so set your expectations accordingly. Read more »
Asus is showing off the first Nvidia-powered quad-core tablet, which may intially run Google Android Honeycomb. I welcome advances in computer chips, but the time of “most powerful hardware” being best are long over. Today, top devices also require great apps and a solid user experience. Read more »
Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon S4 chips are expected next year and will be the first to support all of the major 2G, 3G and 4G networks with a single integrated modem. It’s smaller, more powerful and should improve battery life on 4G smartphones, tablets and other devices. Read more »
AT&T will make the Samsung Galaxy S II available Sunday, October 2 for $199 after contract, but there’s no need to wait until then to see it. I’ve used a review unit of this Google Android smartphone for several days and have a brief video overview. Read more »
Verizon’s newest LTE phone, the Droid Bionic, launches on Thursday for $299 with contract. Will Android enthusiasts pay the steep price? They might, based on the dual-core processor, high-resolution display, large amount of memory and 4G network support in addition to the laptop docking station. Read more »
Netflix certified more Android devices for its software, adding support for a number of handsets and tablets powered by Nvidia’s Tegra 2 processor. That brings the total number of Netflix-capable smartphones and tablets up to 22. Good, because consumers don’t care whose chip powers their device. Read more »
High consumer expectations for the mobile web aren’t yet being met, with 71 percent expecting sites to load on smartphones as quickly as they load on desktop computers. Dual-core smartphones and 4G networks will help, but businesses have to find ways to optimize their sites. Read more »
Verizon’s latest smartphone launch coincides with a move away from unlimited data plans, which goes into effect on Thursday. The Motorola Droid 3 is available for ordering online now and is in stores on July 14 for $199 with a 2-year contract or $459 with no contract. Read more »
Mobile virtualization is hot topic today for businesses and consumers alike as enterprise employers keep their eye on security while employees just want a device that works for them, rather than one device for business and another for personal use. Read more »
More capable smartphones and tablets, combined with a growing number of online video services are heavily increasing mobile media consumption: Limelight’s data shows a 600-percent jump from the past year and that’s a bad sign for those hoping unlimited data plans will stick around. Read more »
Why do we need dual-core in smartphones? These peppy processors bring new functions when paired with smart software. One app helps take the perfect group picture, ensuring that nobody blinks, by taking multiple shots in succession and then stitching in the best face captures for each. Read more »
T-Mobile will start selling the HTC Sensation 4G on June 15, but we scored an early review unit. The phone has impressed so far, and so did Nvidia when it unveiled a quad-core chip this week, while ViewSonic proves that Honeycomb runs on small slates. Read more »
Texas Instruments has ceded much of the mobile chip market to Qualcomm and Nvidia, but is ready to challenge with a new OMAP 4 chip. The dual-core processor paired with a PowerVR graphics core can power smartphones, tablets and even notebook computers running Linux or Windows. Read more »
After weeks of anticipation, the HTC Sensation arrives in T-Mobile stores on June 15 for $199 after rebate and with a contract. The dual-core handset boasts a large 960×540 display, 1080p video capture and the newest version of HTC Sense with a time-saving active lockscreen feature. Read more »
The first dual-core Android tablets only arrived in February, but Nvidia is already showing off an improved quad-core chip it expects in tablets by August. A video demo of the chip, codenamed “Kal-El,” shows impressive performance: enough that some consumers may wait to buy a tablet. Read more »
Mobile hardware is progressing at a blistering pace, but to deliver the type of user experiences enabled by awesome hardware software must keep pace. This goes beyond the need for innovations in OSes and applications, to the underlying software that ties everything together. Read more »
Motorola’s Droid X2 lands on Verizon Wireless next week for $199 after contract, but you’d be hard-pressed to see the difference between it and last year’s model. Two hardware upgrades make for an uninspiring new handset at a time when Motorola’s peers are pushing the envelope. Read more »
All thoughts will be on Android at tomorrow’s Google I/O developer event, as Android smartphones are outselling all other platforms while tablets haven’t yet found their legs. Here’s what to expect from one of Google’s keynote sessions that will focus entirely on the Android platform. Read more »
After a few days of using the T-Mobile G2x, I’m generally impressed. It’s the first dual-core handset on T-Mobile and simply flies for most activities. Here’s a video overview of the hardware, along with demos of the browser, 1080p video playback and high-quality gaming. Read more »
The brains inside your smartphone are getting more power with the latest version of application processors having two processing cores to help speed up the delivery of web site load times and mobile gameplay. That’s awesome, but startup Adapteva, wants to take that number higher. Read more »
A recent poll indicates that 62 percent of U.S. consumers feel their smartphone is or will be obsolete before their cellular contract ends. Yet only 19% will pay $100 more up-front for a shorter contract. The technology cycle and cellular contract terms are out of whack. Read more »
Intel plans to power Google Android tablets in the future, which might be the chip-maker’s last, best shot at the fast-growing mobile market. But this isn’t the safest bet in town. For the moment, hardware has outpaced the capabilities of Google’s Honeycomb operating system. Read more »
Robert Scoble spent time interviewing Otavio Good about Word Lens, the app that visually translates foreign languages in real time without a data connection. But Word Lens and other “magical” apps will benefit from the next smartphone hardware cycle, as explained by Good in this video. Read more »
Nvidia’s CES press event is underway, and while much of the Tegra 2 news is similar to that of last year’s show, there’s one huge difference: Many mobile products are using Nvidia’s chip. Today, LG officially adds the Optimus 2X handset running Google Android. Read more »
LG unveiled the Optimus Black for the North American market, a dual-core Android smartphone the company says can “be a home theater in your pocket” thanks to playback and recording support of 1080p video. A new display technology is the brightest yet while still sipping power. Read more »
The wildest week in consumer electronics gets underway this week with the Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, in Las Vegas. Sure there will be tablets and 3-D TVs galore, but I expect several other products to make a splash on the mobile world this week. Read more »
Although smartphones and tablets with dual-core CPUs are on tap for next year, LG will offer one this year. The company announced the Optimus 2X with Nvidia’s Tegra 2 chip, which will boost overall performance, bring faster webpage loads and offer 1080p video recording and playback. Read more »
A number of different tidbits of information are pointing towards Apple shifting its chip design in-house, including the acquisition of P.A. Semi and the hiring of Mark Papermaster, but ARM clearly wants to give it every reason not to try to go it completely alone. It’s […] Read more »
