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Jolla's Sailfish OS promises multitasking, personalization and 'effortless interaction' (updated)
The date we were promised an introduction to Sailfish is here, and it turns out Jolla's not just targeting smartphones with its MeeGo-based OS, but tablets, smart TVs and other devices, too. Jolla has kept its OS under wraps until now, but it wants Sailfish to be an open-source affair which "will be built through community involvement and participation." The SDK will be available soon, and we should get a look at the UI during a presentation occurring shortly. We're assured superb multitasking capabilities, as well as deep personalization and "fast and effortless interaction." Jolla has said Sailfish will be available for use with "multiple chipset technologies," and is already supported on ST-Ericsson's NovaThor platforms. It's also reported that it's partnering with Finnish carrier DNA to promote and sell Sailfish smartphones on home turf. The full reveal is coming shortly, so we'll let you know more as soon as we do. Update: The Jolla team took to the stage with touchscreen hardware in hand (we also spotted a Raspberry Pi), keen to express how they've been working all hours to boot Sailfish on anything they can find. The company called its creation the first truly "open ecosystem," and said that development will be fully transparent from the outset. While there will be Jolla-branded phones launching, Sailfish is also being offered to handset manufacturers to use on their own hardware. The UI tour wasn't as in depth as we'd have liked, but "true multitasking" was the main focus. Active programs can be pinned to the homescreen as tiles (in a layout that looks something like BlackBerry 10), which offer some control of the app without it hogging the screen. They also showed off a feature called "Ambiance," which uses colors from a picture you select to tint the UI. We wish we had more info to share, but right now, we're all just left wanting more.
Samsung Galaxy S III mini confirmed using ST-Ericsson's NovaThor ModAp chip
Samsung was shy about saying just what processor lurked inside the Galaxy S III mini, which only really told us that there wasn't an Exynos inside. The chip's creator isn't content to leave the origins a secret, however: that's an ST-Ericsson NovaThor ModAp sitting inside. The combo includes both the dual-core 1GHz processor and the cellular modem on the same chip die, helping Samsung fulfill the "mini" side of the equation while keeping the costs down. We're certainly no strangers to the NovaThor line after experiencing it in Sony's equally tiny Xperia P and Xperia U. Knowing what's inside might not allay concerns that Samsung is straining to milk the Galaxy S III brand name for all it's worth, but at least you'll know what to expect for performance if you don't go full-size.
Sony Xperia U goes on sale at Three UK
We've been twiddling our thumbs waiting patiently for the littlest of Sony's new-look smartphone lineup, the Xperia U, to arrive in earnest. It's a bit of a relief then to see the Android 2.3 phone go on sale at Three UK. You'll be getting what we saw back in Barcelona, including Sony's Timescape interface and the trick color light-up strip. We're guessing that most will see the cheap-as-chips price as the real selling point: the Xperia U costs £170 ($269) without a plan, and it's free as in beer on a two-year contract for £23 ($36) per month. O2, Orange and T-Mobile will expand UK carrier choices soon, but if you're looking for a fresh entry point into Android, Three can take care of you today.
VIA Technologies Leo U8500 hands-on (video)
When stopping by the ST-Ericsson booth at CES Unveiled tonight, we weren't expecting to stumble upon a phone we'd never seen before. Fortunately we were treated to a splendid surprise, as a new device designed by VIA Technologies was hanging out on the desk like a villain. The handset is designated as the "Leo U8500" and is touted as one of the first phones containing a full ST-Ericsson chipset. The yet-to-be-branded Gingerbread device sports the NovaThor U8500 smartphone platform, which rocks a 1GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 CPU, Mali 400 GPU and 14.4Mbps HSPA+ radio. Its chipset supports cameras with up to 20MP sensors and 1080p HD video capture. While the phone is production-ready, it appears that VIA is still shopping for potential suitors, and it's most likely China-bound when all is said and done. A few images and a video can be found below. Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
ST-Ericsson's NovaThor to power Nokia's Windows Phone devices, loosens Qualcomm's grip
Earlier this year, as you may recall, we learned that at least some of Nokia's Windows Phone devices would be powered by a dual-core chip from ST-Ericsson. At the time, this report came as something of a surprise, considering the fact that Qualcomm had long enjoyed hegemony over the Windows Phone market. Today, however, it becomes official, as Nokia has now selected ST-Ericsson's NovaThor platform as its Windows Phone supplier. There is no sign, however, that this deal will be exclusive, so it's likely that the manufacturer will continue to use Qualcomm silicon in addition to ST-Ericsson's ARM-based line of U9500, U8500, and U5500 dual-core CPUs. We also have yet to hear any confirmation on the specific devices that these chips will power, or when they'll go into production, though we'll be sure to let you know as soon as we get word. Skip past the break for a really short press release.
HTC Sensation Z710t becomes first smartphone to offer ST-Ericsson's NovaThor SoC
There's a new Sensation on the block that'll be making its way to China Mobile, but rather than rehashing more of the same, this release marks the first smartphone to place ST-Ericsson's NovaThor SoC under the hood. Unlike offerings from Qualcomm, the chip inside the Sensation Z710t offers a dual-core A9 processor along with connectivity to the carrier's TD-SCDMA infrastructure. Other specs are expected to remain the same, which includes a 4.3-inch qHD display and 8 megapixel camera. Unfortunately, press photos weren't released, which suggests its design hasn't changed. You'll find the full PR after the break, heralding this latest Sensation among the top-tier of China Mobile's offerings. While pricing or a release date have yet to be announced, we're inclined to agree.
