Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[TSMC ramps 28nm ARM Cortex-A9 chip to 3.1GHz, gives your desktop jitters]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/tsmc-ramps-28nm-arm-cortex-a9-chip-to-3-1ghz/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/tsmc-ramps-28nm-arm-cortex-a9-chip-to-3-1ghz/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/tsmc-ramps-28nm-arm-cortex-a9-chip-to-3-1ghz/#comments Image

We know TSMC's energy-miser 28-nanometer manufacturing process has a lot of headroom, but the company just ratcheted expectations up by a few notches. Lab workers at Taiwan's semiconductor giant have successfully run a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor at 3.1GHz under normal conditions. That's a 55 percent higher clock speed than the 2GHz maximum that TSMC normally offers, folks, and about twice as fast as a 40nm chip under the same workload. Don't expect that kind of clock speed from your next smartphone or tablet, though: expect processors of this caliber to find "high-performance uses," which takes us that much closer to NVIDIA's Project Denver as well as other ARM-based desktops, notebooks and servers that should give x86 chips a run for their money.

TSMC ramps 28nm ARM Cortex-A9 chip to 3.1GHz, gives your desktop jitters originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A9ARMARM Cortex A9arm cortex-a9ARM Cortex-A9 MPCoreARM processorArmCortex-a9ArmCortex-a9MpcoreArmCortexA9ArmProcessorchipchipsclock speedClockSpeedcortexCortex A9cortex-a9CortexA9nvidiaprocessorprocessorsproject denverProjectDenvertaiwan semiconductorTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing CompanyTaiwanSemiconductorTaiwanSemiconductorManufacturingCompanytsmcThu, 03 May 2012 09:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Fuzhou Rockchip announces RK30 for the budget tablets of today]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/fuzhou-rockchip-announces-rk30-for-the-budget-tablets-of-today/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/fuzhou-rockchip-announces-rk30-for-the-budget-tablets-of-today/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/fuzhou-rockchip-announces-rk30-for-the-budget-tablets-of-today/#comments
Budget ARM licensee Rockchip has been bawling out its wares on the streets of Barcelona as the company announces its newest RK30xx platform. Rockchip provide the internals for a variety of low-cost android tablets, often based on last year's technology. The newest system will be based on ARM's dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU, Mali-400 GPU and Artisan Physical IP Process Optimization Pack (nope, us neither). The chips will clock to 1.4GHz and be able to decode 1080p video and even support 3D displays. The whole package will ship as a "turnkey" solution, i.e. one any manufacturer can buy in bulk and shove inside a tablet, meaning that plenty of the budget slates released in the second half of the year will have identical internals. First engineering samples arrive in March and if you're interested in starting your own tablet business, head on past the break to get the details.

Continue reading Fuzhou Rockchip announces RK30 for the budget tablets of today

Fuzhou Rockchip announces RK30 for the budget tablets of today originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidAndroid TabletsAndroidTabletsARM Cortex A9ARM Mali 400ARM SoCArmCortexA9ArmMali400ArmSocArtisan Physical IP Process Optimization PackArtisanPhysicalIpProcessOptimizationPackCortex A9CortexA9Fuzhou RockchipFuzhouRockchipGingerbreadHoneycombIce Cream SandwichIceCreamSandwichMali 400Mali400mobilepostcrossMWCMWC 2012Mwc2012RockchipSoCTabletsTurnkeyTue, 28 Feb 2012 15:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Broadcom releases new Ice Cream Sandwich-optimized chipsets at MWC]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/broadcom-ics-chipsets-mwc/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/broadcom-ics-chipsets-mwc/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/broadcom-ics-chipsets-mwc/#comments Broadcom's taken the chance to bust out some killer new internals for Android phones here at MWC. The new range of SoCs are optimized for Ice Cream Sandwich, based on single or dual-core 40-nanometer ARM Cortex A9s. The BCM21654G has a 1GHz CPU, integrated HSPA modem and VGA video support, it's likely we'll see this popping up in budget phones. The romantically named BCM28145 and BCM28155 are dual-core chips with HSPA+ modems and can handle 720p and 1080p video respectively. All dual-core chips will come with a "videocore," a third low-power chip to handle video playback without occupying the main CPU and draining power as well as an Image Signal Processor chip that can support cameras up to 42-megapixels (glances across to the Nokia 808). Other options you'll find appearing in the cellphones of tomorrow include hybrid GPS / Glonass units, low-power NFC and active dual-SIM capability. If you're a garage-based cellphone manufacturer and want to grab some of these for your own business, head on past the break for some PR.

Continue reading Broadcom releases new Ice Cream Sandwich-optimized chipsets at MWC

Broadcom releases new Ice Cream Sandwich-optimized chipsets at MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ARM Cortex A9ArmCortexA9BCM28145BCM28155BroadcomBroadcom BCM21654GBroadcom VideocoreBroadcomBcm21654gBroadcomVideocoreCortex A9CortexA9GlonassGPSHSPAHSPA+mobilepostcrossvideocoreMon, 27 Feb 2012 05:33:00 EST<![CDATA[MediaTek sees no reason cheap phones can't have Ice Cream Sandwich too]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/mediatek-sees-no-reason-cheap-phones-cant-have-ice-cream-sandwi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/mediatek-sees-no-reason-cheap-phones-cant-have-ice-cream-sandwi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/mediatek-sees-no-reason-cheap-phones-cant-have-ice-cream-sandwi/#comments Ice Cream SandwichIf you don't want to drop $300 on a phone we don't blame you -- honestly, the idea makes us feel a bit dirty too. MediaTek doesn't seen any reason for it either. The company has been working its way in to the mobile chipset business for a little while now, and its latest is aimed squarely at the lower end of the handset spectrum but still promises to deliver the latest in dessert-themed operating systems. The MT6575 is a single core Cortex-A9 solution with an unidentified 5-series PowerVR GPU on board and an HSPA modem. The 1GHz core probably won't win and benchmark competitions, but it's enough to push Android 4.0 to a qHD screen, power through 720p video and capture shots with an 8 megapixel sensor. It even is capable of supporting 3D displays and DTV broadcasts -- not too bad for something destined to wind up in $50 smartphones. Checkout the complete PR after the break.

Continue reading MediaTek sees no reason cheap phones can't have Ice Cream Sandwich too

MediaTek sees no reason cheap phones can't have Ice Cream Sandwich too originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 4.0Android4.0ARMchipsetchipsetsCortex A9CortexA9HSPAice cream sandwichIceCreamSandwichicsmediatekmediatek MT6575MediatekMt6575mobilepostcrossMT6575powervrMon, 13 Feb 2012 21:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Taking next-gen augmented reality for an ARM-powered walk around the block]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/03/next-gen-augmented-reality-from-arm/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/03/next-gen-augmented-reality-from-arm/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/03/next-gen-augmented-reality-from-arm/#comments We know what you're thinking, because we initially thought it too, but this isn't your average AR. With the help of chip designer ARM, a number of developers are building a new type of augmented reality that is altogether more powerful than the usual sprite-on-a-surface routine. Instead of requiring well-lit, artificial and often indoor surfaces and markers, this new technology sucks every ounce of juice from a smartphone's processor in order to recognize, track and augment real-world 3D objects like people and buildings. It's still at an early stage and far from being practical, but the exclusive videos after the break ought to prove that this approach has potential. In fact, it's probably what augmented reality ought to have been in the first place. Read on for more.

Continue reading Taking next-gen augmented reality for an ARM-powered walk around the block

Taking next-gen augmented reality for an ARM-powered walk around the block originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ARARMaugmented cityaugmented realityAugmentedCityAugmentedRealitycortex a9cortex-a9CortexA9diamondiamond ringDiamondRingEON SkyEonSkyexclusiveExynosface recognitionFaceRecognitionGPUhands-onHolitionMaliMali 400mali t604Mali400MaliT604metaiomobilemobile processormobilepostcrossMobileProcessorolaworksprocessorsamsung exynosSamsungExynostatlervideoFri, 03 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[FXI's Cotton Candy gets a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich and Ubuntu, we go hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/fxis-cotton-candy-gets-a-taste-of-ubuntu-we-go-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/fxis-cotton-candy-gets-a-taste-of-ubuntu-we-go-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/fxis-cotton-candy-gets-a-taste-of-ubuntu-we-go-hands-on/#comments This petite stick of USB-HDMI actually houses a ARM Cortex A9 dual-core processor and is capable of running its own OS. But then, you knew that already, right? So what's new? Well, it's now capable of running both Android Ice Cream Sandwich and we've got Ubuntu running on the show floor. The dongle can connect to these operating systems through the USB connection and while Cotton Candy itself has no internal memory, it can all be stored on micro-SD. There's still the Ubuntu hiccups that are to be expected, but the prototype device still deals out a Firefox browser and the usual Ubuntu niceties. Marvel at Gingerbread-powered Angry Birds on a MacBook, or widescreen Ubuntu and ICS. They're all in our gallery after the break.

Gallery: FXI's Cotton Candy runs Ubuntu hands-on

FXI's Cotton Candy gets a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich and Ubuntu, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidARMARM Cortex A9ARM Cortex-A9ARM MaliArmCortex-a9ArmCortexA9ArmMaliCESCES 2012Ces2012Cortex A9CortexA9Cotton CandyCottonCandyFalanxFXIhands-onMaliUbuntuTue, 10 Jan 2012 21:23:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS Eee Pad MeMO ME171, ME370T and high-end Transformer Prime TF700T revealed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/asus-eee-pad-memo-me171-me370t-and-high-end-transformer-prime-t/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/asus-eee-pad-memo-me171-me370t-and-high-end-transformer-prime-t/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/asus-eee-pad-memo-me171-me370t-and-high-end-transformer-prime-t/#comments Flustered with the original Transformer Prime you just purchased? We'd advise you to have a seat. ASUS just took the wraps off an all new Transformer Prime (the TF700T) here at CES, which is presumably designed to rival Acer's newly-announced Iconia Tab A700. Notably, this guy won't be an outright replacement for the existing TF201 model; it's simply an upmarket alternative for those tired of the same specs over and over again. Speaking of, let's dive under the hood of this one, shall we? It's a 10.1-incher with NVIDIA's Tegra 3 within (1.3GHz quad-core Cortex A9), a Super IPS+ / Gorilla Glass 10.1-inch display with a downright silly 1,920 x 1,200 resolution (watch out, Lenovo!) and 32GB or 64GB of internal storage space. There's also an 8 megapixel rear camera / 2 megapixel front-facing cam, support for 1080p playback, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, a micro-HDMI port, microSD card reader, a 25WHr Lithium-Polymer battery and a chassis that weighs just over a pound. It'll ship with Android 4.0.1 onboard (yeah, that's Ice Cream Sandwich), and will be compatible with the exact same keyboard dock as the existing Prime. Needless to say, ASUS is aiming for the stars with a build sheet like this, and the $599 to $699 retail price points enable you to know it. It'll land next quarter here in North America, and no, there's no GPS functionality listed on the spec sheet after the break; though we've been informed that this new Prime will come with a new back panel design (pictured after the break) that should enhance WiFi, BT and GPS performance.

Moving onto more diminutive offerings, the Eee Pad MeMO (ME171) that we saw months ago is getting a formal reveal here in Las Vegas, boasting a 7-inch WXGA (1,280 x 800) IPS capacitive touchpanel, a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm 8260 processor, a gigabyte of memory, 16GB / 32GB of storage, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, a 1.2 megapixel front / 5 megapixel rear camera (with 1080p recording), an A-GPS sensor, gyroscope, proximity sensor and a micro-USB port. There's a 4,400mAh Li-polymer battery reportedly good for some 8.5 hours of video playback, and it'll be Android 4.0.1 running the show. The unit checks in with dimensions of 7.8- x 4.6- x 0.50-inches (and a weight of 14.2 ounces), and while mum's the word on price (sadly), it'll supposedly ship in Q2 to North American adobes.

Gallery: ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF700T hands-on


Gallery: Asus Eee Pad MeMO 171


Gallery: Asus Eee Pad MeMO 370T

Continue reading ASUS Eee Pad MeMO ME171, ME370T and high-end Transformer Prime TF700T revealed

ASUS Eee Pad MeMO ME171, ME370T and high-end Transformer Prime TF700T revealed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10.1-inch1080p171androidandroid tabletAndroidTabletasusASUS Eee Pad MeMO ME370TAsusEeePadMemoMe370tcesces 2012Ces2012cortex a9CortexA9eeeeee padeee pad memoEeePadEeePadMemogorilla glassGorillaGlasshands-onME171memonvidia ionnvidia tegranvidia tegra 3NvidiaIonNvidiaTegraNvidiaTegra3slatesuper ips plussuper ips+SuperIps+SuperIpsPlustablettegra 3Tegra3TF201TF700Ttransformertransformer primeTransformer Prime TF700TTransformerPrimeTransformerPrimeTf700tMon, 09 Jan 2012 12:44:00 EST<![CDATA[FXI's Cotton Candy could turn every screen you own into a cloud client]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/fxis-cotton-candy-could-turn-every-screen-you-own-into-a-cloud/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/fxis-cotton-candy-could-turn-every-screen-you-own-into-a-cloud/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/fxis-cotton-candy-could-turn-every-screen-you-own-into-a-cloud/#comments
It's a truth universally acknowledged, that a user in possession of a good number of devices must be in want of a unified way to use them all. As it stands, that mythical interface doesn't exist; but hopefully that's set to change soon. Norway's FXI is heralding a device codenamed Cotton Candy; a USB/ HDMI stick that can connect to nearly anything that's packing a display. Inside the stick is a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 and quad-core ARM Mali-400MP GPU that can handle 1080p video, 802.11 b/g/n WIFi, Bluetooth v2.1 and microSD card storage, expandable up to 64GB. Plug it into a laptop or desktop and you'll be able to use a thin-layer client to access your personal cloud, or via HDMI into a HDTV to be controlled using Bluetooth peripherals, smartphones and tablets. Being able to open "your" desktop on any device means you can conduct presentations, access media content and surf the web without ties. FXI is a new player in the market, but the founder was previously the brains behind Falanx, which created the technology that powers ARM's Mali GPUs. It's working with various manufacturers with the aim of partnering up to get the devices into stores in the second half of next year, the expected cost being under $200 -- although we'd pay more if they threw in a bag of the real, teeth-destroying stuff.

Continue reading FXI's Cotton Candy could turn every screen you own into a cloud client

FXI's Cotton Candy could turn every screen you own into a cloud client originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidARMARM Cortex A9ARM Cortex-A9ARM MaliArmCortex-a9ArmCortexA9ArmMaliCortex A9CortexA9Cotton CandyCottonCandyFalanxFXIMaliUbuntuThu, 17 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ARMv8 detailed: 64-bit architecture, AppliedMicro first in line]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/armv8-detailed-64-bit-architecture-appliedmicro-first-in-line/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/armv8-detailed-64-bit-architecture-appliedmicro-first-in-line/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/armv8-detailed-64-bit-architecture-appliedmicro-first-in-line/#commentsThought Windows on ARM was snazzy? Have a gander at this. The outfit's forthcoming ARMv8 architecture, the first ARM architecture to include a 64-bit instruction set, has just been detailed, with a goal to expand the reach of ARM processor-based solutions "into consumer and enterprise applications where extended virtual addressing and 64-bit data processing are required." The ARMv8 architecture consists of two main execution states -- AArch64 and AArch32 -- and we're apt to see the real benefits hit high-end servers first. The ARMv8 architecture specifications are available now to partners under license, with the company planning to disclose processors based on ARMv8 during 2012, with consumer and enterprise prototype systems expected in 2014. Head on past the break for ARM's take, or meander to the source links for AppliedMicro's gloating.

Continue reading ARMv8 detailed: 64-bit architecture, AppliedMicro first in line

ARMv8 detailed: 64-bit architecture, AppliedMicro first in line originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>64-bita8a9AArch32AArch64appliedmicroarmARMv7ARMv8chipcortexcortex a8cortex a9CortexA8CortexA9cpuenterpriseprocessorserverserversTSMCFri, 28 Oct 2011 17:01:00 EST<![CDATA[ZiiLabs unleashes Jaguar3 super slim slate reference design]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/14/ziilabs-unleashes-jaguar3-super-slim-slate-reference-design/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/14/ziilabs-unleashes-jaguar3-super-slim-slate-reference-design/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/14/ziilabs-unleashes-jaguar3-super-slim-slate-reference-design/#comments ZiiLabs' first foray into the tablet market, the ZiiO series, didn't exactly get our gadget senses tingling, but that hasn't stopped the company from churning out reference designs for OEMs looking to cash in on the tablet craze. The latest in its line of Jaguar designs is the Jaguar3, a 10.1-inch tablet packing the company's 1.5GHz dual-core ZMS-20 or quad-core ZMS-40 SoC and both front (of unknown resolution) and rear facing cameras (up to 12 megapixels). Sporting a magnesium case with a svelte 8.1mm or 7.4mm-thin profile depending on your preference and pocketbook, it packs a 1200 x 800 capacitive multitouch display running Android 3.2. In addition to the menu of hardware options, ZiiLabs is offering audio upgrades courtesy of Creative's Sound Blaster technology, plus custom software for HDR support and panoramic picture-taking. That's quite an impressive menu of options for you OEMs to choose from, now let's get some of these things to market, shall we? PR's after the break.

Continue reading ZiiLabs unleashes Jaguar3 super slim slate reference design

ZiiLabs unleashes Jaguar3 super slim slate reference design originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 06:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 3.2Android3.2armCortex A9CortexA9honeycombjaguar3oemreference designReferenceDesignziilabsziilabs jaguarziilabs jaguar3ZiilabsJaguarZiilabsJaguar3zms-20zms-40Wed, 14 Sep 2011 06:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Pandigital unveils Nova, Planet and Star Android tablets, 'flagship' device coming next month]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/pandigital-unveils-nova-planet-and-star-android-tablets-flags/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/pandigital-unveils-nova-planet-and-star-android-tablets-flags/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/pandigital-unveils-nova-planet-and-star-android-tablets-flags/#comments It's shaping up to be a busy month for Pandigital. Two days after we spotted the Nova at Best Buy, the astronomically-inclined company has decided to officially unveil the Android tablet alongside the Planet and Star, with a fourth "flagship" device slated for release in September. Each of the three slates is powered by an A9 Cortex processor, and boasts a seven-inch touchscreen display (800x600 resolution on the Planet and Nova and 800x480 on the Star, pictured above). As far as storage goes, both the Planet and the Star offer 2GB of onboard memory, with the Nova packing 4GB, and all three offer WiFi and HDMI connectivity. The slabs also come preloaded with Barnes & Noble's eBookstore app and provide access to GetJar's app download store, rather than the Android Market. Honeycomb enthusiasts, however, should probably look elsewhere, as both the Planet and the Star run Android 2.2 Froyo, while the Nova ships with Gingerbread. But considering their prices, that shortcoming may be easy to overlook. The Planet, available now, will run you $189, as will the Nova, scheduled to ship later this week (though, again, you can also find it on Best Buy, for $170). The Star, meanwhile, will hit stores in mid-August, for a paltry $159. Rocket past the break for some photos of the Nova and Planet, along with more details, in the full press release.

Continue reading Pandigital unveils Nova, Planet and Star Android tablets, 'flagship' device coming next month

Pandigital unveils Nova, Planet and Star Android tablets, 'flagship' device coming next month originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7-inch800x480800x600A9androidandroid 2.2android 2.3Android2.2Android2.3appavailabilitybarnes and noblebarnes and noble appBarnesAndNobleBarnesAndNobleAppcortexCortex A9CortexA9displayfroyogingerbreadhdmihoneycombnovapandigitalpandigital novaPandigital Planetpandigital starPandigitalNovaPandigitalPlanetPandigitalStarplanetpriceresolutionseven inchSevenInchstartabletwifiThu, 04 Aug 2011 04:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget Primed: are multi-core chips worth the investment?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/29/engadget-primed-are-multi-core-chips-worth-the-investment/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/29/engadget-primed-are-multi-core-chips-worth-the-investment/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/29/engadget-primed-are-multi-core-chips-worth-the-investment/#commentsPrimed goes in-depth on the technobabble you hear on Engadget every day -- we dig deep into each topic's history and how it benefits our lives. Looking to suggest a piece of technology for us to break down? Drop us a line at primed *at* engadget *dawt* com.

My, how times have changed over the last eight months. At CES 2011, we ecstatically witnessed the introduction of mobile devices with dual-core CPUs and drooled over the possibilities we'd soon have at our fingertips. Now, we look down at anything that doesn't have more than one core -- regardless of its performance. Not only are these new chips quickly becoming mainstream, Moore's Law is in full effect with our handheld devices since tri-core and quad-core systems are just over the horizon. We can't even fathom what's in the pipeline for the year 2015 and beyond (we don't think we're too far away from that 3D shark seen in Back to the Future 2).

Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves here, however. After all, we first need to wrap our puny human minds around the idea of what this newfound power can do, and why it's changing the entire landscape of smartphones and tablets. In this edition of Primed, we'll focus on why multicore technology makes such a difference in the way we use our handheld devices, whether we should even consider purchasing a handset with a single-core chip inside, and why one-core tech is so 2010. Check out the whole enchilada after the break.

Continue reading Engadget Primed: are multi-core chips worth the investment?

Engadget Primed: are multi-core chips worth the investment? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ARMarm cortexarm cortex a9ArmCortexArmCortexA9cortex a15cortex a9CortexA15CortexA9cpudual coredual-coreDualCoreengadget primedEngadgetPrimedintelintel medfieldintel oak trailIntelMedfieldIntelOakTrailkal-elmedfieldmulti coremulti-coreMultiCorenvidiaoak trailOakTrailphone cpuPhoneCpuprimedprocessorquad corequad-coreQuadCorequalcommsamsungsnapdragontablet cpuTabletCputegra 2tegra 3Tegra2Tegra3videoFri, 29 Jul 2011 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Archos G9 tablets priced: $300 and up, ship in September]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/18/archos-g9-tablets-priced-300-and-up-ship-in-september/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/18/archos-g9-tablets-priced-300-and-up-ship-in-september/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/18/archos-g9-tablets-priced-300-and-up-ship-in-september/#comments If you're still waiting to pull the trigger on an Android 3.1 tab, decision day may be coming soon. Back in June, Archos revealed two G9 models: the 8-inch 80 and the 10-inch 101. Well... in case you needed time to save up a little extra dough from your paper route, pricing has been revealed ahead of the September release. The smaller of the two tablets will start out at $299.99 and the more stout of the pair at $369.99 (both 8GB base models), a cool Jackson more than originally reported. Just as a quick refresher, keep in mind that beastly 250GB options are available for both, boasting Seagate's 7mm Momentus Thin HDD technology. You know, if you're wanting to carry around your entire Metallica bootleg discography on one of these bad boys.

[Thanks, Elliott]

Archos G9 tablets priced: $300 and up, ship in September originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 06:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 3.1Android3.1archosarchos 101archos 101 G9archos 80archos 80 G9Archos101Archos101G9Archos80Archos80G9cortex A9CortexA9G9 3G stickG93gStickhoneycombmomentus thinMomentusThinseagateSeagate Momentus ThinSeagateMomentusThintablettablet pcTabletPcMon, 18 Jul 2011 06:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Archos intros 80 G9 and 101 G9 Android 3.1 tablets: 1.5GHz CPU, 250GB HDD, 3G-ready (hands-on)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/archos-intros-80-gb-and-101-g9-android-3-1-tablets-1-5ghz-cpu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/archos-intros-80-gb-and-101-g9-android-3-1-tablets-1-5ghz-cpu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/archos-intros-80-gb-and-101-g9-android-3-1-tablets-1-5ghz-cpu/#comments Angling for a new Android 3.1 tablet, are ya? If so, Archos has a new pair emerging from Paris today, the 80 G9 and 101 G9. Predictably, the biggest differentiator between the two is the screen size, with the former offering an 8-inch panel with a 1024 x 768 screen resolution and the latter stepping up to a 10.1-incher (1280 x 800). Both of 'em are proudly using Seagate's 7mm Momentus Thin in order to scale to 250GB, but of course, only time will tell how a power-hungry HDD will do in tablet form factor.

Under the hood, you'll find a dual-core OMAP 4 processor (1.5GHz ARM Cortex A9), support for Flash, access to the Android Market and a full-size USB port -- one that's good for accepting the outfit's new G9 3G WWAN stick ($49). You'll also get an HDMI output, support for 1080p playback and a pay-as-you-go option with the aforesaid 3G dongle. The duo is scheduled to go on sale at the end of September (you know, just a month or two before Ice Cream Sandwich makes Honeycomb look like old hat), with the 80 G9 going for $279 and the 101 G9 for $349. Don't ever say Archos' accountants didn't look out for you.

Update: We snagged a gallery's worth of hands-on shots from Archos' reveal today in Paris. We're running back for more as we type, so hang tight!

Update 2: A reader over at Engadget Spanish noticed that the ES specifications link for the new G9 tablets mentions a 16GB + microSD arrangement for those who aren't feeling a 250GB HDD. Interesting!

Gallery: Archos 80 G9 and Archos 101 G9 press images


Gallery: Archos G9 series tablet hands-on gallery!

Continue reading Archos intros 80 G9 and 101 G9 Android 3.1 tablets: 1.5GHz CPU, 250GB HDD, 3G-ready (hands-on)

Archos intros 80 G9 and 101 G9 Android 3.1 tablets: 1.5GHz CPU, 250GB HDD, 3G-ready (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3g stick3gStickandroid 3.1Android3.1archosarchos 101ARCHOS 101 G9archos 80archos 80 g9archos 90archos g9Archos101Archos101G9Archos80Archos80G9Archos90ArchosG9armbreaking newscortex a9CortexA9g9g9 3g stickG93gStickhands-onhoneycombomapomap 4Omap4slatetablettablet pcTabletPctexas instrumentsTexasInstrumentstiwwanThu, 23 Jun 2011 12:46:00 EST<![CDATA[ZiiLabs unveils Jaguar family of Honeycomb tablets for OEMs to devour]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/27/ziilabs-unveils-jaguar-family-of-honeycomb-tablets-for-oems-to-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/27/ziilabs-unveils-jaguar-family-of-honeycomb-tablets-for-oems-to-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/27/ziilabs-unveils-jaguar-family-of-honeycomb-tablets-for-oems-to-d/#comments Just a few weeks after unveiling its ZMS-20 and ZMS-40 StemCell processors, ZiiLabs has now designed a new family of slates to house them. Developed with the OEM market in mind, the company's new Jaguar Honeycomb tablets come in two breeds -- one with a seven-inch, 1024x600 LCD and another with a ten-inch 1280x800 display. Unlike their ZiiO predecessors, these 64GB siamese twins call for both capacitive and resistive touchscreen capabilities, support OpenGL ES 2.0 3D graphics and, as you can see in the image above, feature front- and rear-facing five-megapixel cameras. And, of course, there's a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 ZMS-20 or quad-core ZMS-40 helping them purr right along, both clocking in at 1.5 GHz. The two Jaguars will be uncaged at next week's Computex tradeshow in Taiwan, but you can find more information in the PR that awaits you after the break.

Continue reading ZiiLabs unveils Jaguar family of Honeycomb tablets for OEMs to devour

ZiiLabs unveils Jaguar family of Honeycomb tablets for OEMs to devour originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 May 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-inch1024x6001280x8002GB64-bit64GB7-inchandroidAndroid 3.0Android3.0ARMARM Cortex-A9ArmCortex-a9capacitivecapacitive touchscreenCapacitiveTouchscreencomputexcomputex 2011Computex2011Cortex A9CortexA9designhoneycombhoneycomb tabletHoneycombTabletLCDmodular tabletModularTabletOEMOpenGL ES 2.0OpenglEs2.0processorreferenceresistiveresistive touchscreenResistiveTouchscreenseven-inchtabletten-inchtouchscreenziizii labsziilabsziilabs jaguarziilabs jaguar tabletZiilabsJaguarZiilabsJaguarTabletzms-20zms-40Fri, 27 May 2011 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Ainol Honeycomb tablet surfaces with Cortex A9 processor, buttons aplenty]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/ainol-honeycomb-tablet-surfaces-with-cortex-a9-processor-button/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/ainol-honeycomb-tablet-surfaces-with-cortex-a9-processor-button/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/ainol-honeycomb-tablet-surfaces-with-cortex-a9-processor-button/#comments It's been quite a while since Ainol last popped up on our radar, but it looks like the company is now busy preparing a Honeycomb tablet that might actually stand out from the pack -- for better or worse. According to a couple of teasers that have cropped up in recent days, the tablet will apparently pack an ARM Cortex A9 processor, a 1,280 x 800 IPS display of unspecified size, WiFi and 3G connectivity, a microSD card slot, HDMI out and, most noticeably, a full suite of buttons that adorn what appears to be a somewhat chunky design. Still no indication of a price, but the tablet is apparently due out sometime next month.

Ainol Honeycomb tablet surfaces with Cortex A9 processor, buttons aplenty originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 02:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ainolandroidandroid 3.0android tabletAndroid3.0AndroidTabletcortex a9CortexA9honeycombhoneycomb tabletHoneycombTablettabletteaserMon, 28 Mar 2011 02:44:00 EST<![CDATA[iPad 2 specs discerned, 900MHz dual-core ARM CPU and PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU blow away graphical benchmarks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/12/ipad-2-specs-discerned-900mhz-arm-cortex-a9-and-powervr-sgx543m/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/12/ipad-2-specs-discerned-900mhz-arm-cortex-a9-and-powervr-sgx543m/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/12/ipad-2-specs-discerned-900mhz-arm-cortex-a9-and-powervr-sgx543m/#comments iFixit may have physically uncovered Apple's latest silicon, but it's the processor gurus that have discovered what's truly inside -- using software benchmarks, they've unearthed the speeds and feeds of the Apple A5. As you'll no doubt be aware having read our headline above, there actually isn't a 1GHz CPU at the helm, as AnandTech and IOSnoops report the dual-core ARM chip is dynamically clocked around 900MHz, likely in search of reduced power consumption. Perhaps more interestingly for all you gamers in the audience, the iPad 2 reports that it has a dual-core PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU on the die as originally foretold -- and, spoiler alert -- it mops the floor with both the original iPad and the Motorola Xoom. Though the new chip didn't quite demonstrate 9X the graphical prowess of its predecessor, it rendered 57.6 frames per second in a GLBenchmark test where the (admittedly higher-res) Tegra 2 tablet managed only 26.7fps, and last year's iPad pulled only 17.6fps. That's some serious Tai Chi. Hit up our source links to see the difference it can make in games like Infinity Blade.

Update: Though it sure sounds like there's a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 in there, that's not yet a proven fact -- we only know that it's a dual-core ARM v7 chip which performs relatively similarly in non-graphical tests. [Thanks, Jim]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iPad 2 specs discerned, 900MHz dual-core ARM CPU and PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU blow away graphical benchmarks originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>900MHzA5AppleApple A5AppleA5ARM Cortex A9ArmCortexA9benchmarkbenchmarkedbenchmarksCortex A9CortexA9CPUdual-coreglbenchmarkGPUImagination TechnologiesImaginationTechnologiesiPadiPad 2Ipad2Motorola XoomMotorolaXoomPowerVRPowerVR SGX543MP2PowervrSgx543mp2processorSGX543siliconXoomSat, 12 Mar 2011 20:01:00 EST<![CDATA[LG Optimus 3D's OMAP 4 benchmarked, pulls ahead of Exynos and Tegra 2]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/15/lg-optimus-3ds-omap-4-benchmarked-pulls-ahead-of-exynos-and-te/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/15/lg-optimus-3ds-omap-4-benchmarked-pulls-ahead-of-exynos-and-te/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/15/lg-optimus-3ds-omap-4-benchmarked-pulls-ahead-of-exynos-and-te/#comments Which dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 system-on-a-chip rules the roost? It's probably too early to tell, but if you're looking for a preliminary verdict, AnandTech has benchmarked all three of them now. Texas Instruments' OMAP 4430, NVIDIA's Tegra 2 and Samsung's Exynos 4210 went head to head in a gauntlet of browser and graphical benchmarks, and it looks like the LG Optimus 3D's OMAP 4 came out on top, boasting minor but significant improvements practically across the board. Good news for the BlackBerry PlayBook, no? Oh, and if you're wondering why the iPhone 4 and Atrix 4G fall behind their older brethren in the image above, remember that they both have to render images at a higher screen resolution. More graphs at our source link below.

LG Optimus 3D's OMAP 4 benchmarked, pulls ahead of Exynos and Tegra 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anandtechbenchedbenchmarkbenchmarkedCortex A9CortexA9CPUdual-coreExynosExynos 4210Exynos4210Galaxy S IIGalaxySIiLGLG Optimus 3DLgOptimus3dMali 400Mali-400Mali400NVIDIAOMAPOMAP 4OMAP 4430Omap4Omap4430Optimus 2XOptimus2xPowerVR SGX 540PowervrSgx540SamsungSamsung Galaxy S IISamsungGalaxySIiSOCTegraTegra 2Tegra2Texas InstrumentsTexasInstrumentsTITue, 15 Feb 2011 21:29:00 EST<![CDATA[SmartQ announces Ten, an Android tablet packing IPS display with piezoelectric touchscreen]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/14/smartq-announces-ten-an-android-tablet-packing-ips-display-with/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/14/smartq-announces-ten-an-android-tablet-packing-ips-display-with/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/14/smartq-announces-ten-an-android-tablet-packing-ips-display-with/#comments OK, before y'all haters state the obvious in the comments below, there's actually something noteworthy about this familiar-looking Chinese slate. What we have here is the SmartQ Ten (or T10, as referenced above), a forthcoming Froyo tablet that'll feature a juicy Cortex-A9 chip plus a Mali 400 GPU, as well as 512MB RAM and a 9.7-inch 1024 x 768 IPS display. This wouldn't be the first Android device to get the IPS goodness, though, as its predecessor R10 -- launched with Android 2.1 and a 720MHz processor back in December -- also has the same LCD panel within a seemingly identical form factor. In fact, we stumbled upon an R10 earlier today, and the prettiness of the screen did surprise us.

But what really sells the Ten is its piezoelectric touchscreen, which supports multitouch input even with non-conductive objects like the old school styli. This means said tablet can achieve light transmittance similar to its capacitive touchscreen counterparts but using cheaper parts, as well as having point-input precision similar to those with resistive touchscreens but with better screen clarity. Alas, no date or price has been announced for the Ten just yet, nor do we know if it'll get Honeycomb in the future, but price it right and it might still get some love.

SmartQ announces Ten, an Android tablet packing IPS display with piezoelectric touchscreen originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.2Android2.2chinacortex a9cortex-a9CortexA9froyoipsMali 400Mali400piezoelectricpiezoelectric touchscreenPiezoelectricTouchscreensmartqsmartq t10smartq tenSmartqT10SmartqTent10tablettentouchscreenMon, 14 Feb 2011 07:58:00 EST<![CDATA[LG Optimus 2X review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/07/lg-optimus-2x-review/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/07/lg-optimus-2x-review/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/07/lg-optimus-2x-review/#comments The world cried out for a dual-core smartphone and LG and NVIDIA answered the call. Actually, the world only ever dreamt about multicore mobile architectures up until late last year, but sometimes that's all it takes to get those zany engineers engineering. So here we are, in early February 2011, beholding the world's first smartphone built around a dual-core processor, the Optimus 2X. This is a landmark handset in more ways than one, however, as its presence on the market signals LG's first sincere foray into the Android high end. Although the company delivered two thoroughly competent devices for the platform with the Optimus S and T in 2010, they were the very definition of mid-range smartphones and the truth is that Samsung, HTC and Motorola were left to fight among themselves for the most demanding Android users' hard-earned rubles. So now that LG's joined their ranks, was the wait worth it?

Gallery: LG Optimus 2X review

Continue reading LG Optimus 2X review

LG Optimus 2X review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080p1ghz2x4-inchandroidandroid 2.2Android2.2cortex a9cortex-a9CortexA9dual coredual-coreDualCorefroyofull hdFullHdgeforcehdmihdmi mirroringHdmiMirroringlglg+optimus+2xlgoptimus2xmulticorenvidianvidia tegra 2NvidiaTegra2optimusoptimus 2xOptimus2xreviewsuper phoneSuperPhonetegrategra 2tegra zoneTegra2TegraZoneulpvideowith googleWithGooglewvgaMon, 07 Feb 2011 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia's leaked MeeGo device resembles dual-core ST-Ericsson U8500 reference platform]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/25/nokias-leaked-meego-device-resembles-dual-core-st-ericsson-u850/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/25/nokias-leaked-meego-device-resembles-dual-core-st-ericsson-u850/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/25/nokias-leaked-meego-device-resembles-dual-core-st-ericsson-u850/#comments Yesterday's leaked image of a purported Nokia tablet device seems to have been more informative than we initially believed it to be. An eagle-eyed forum member over on mobile-review has spotted the similarity between it and a reference platform for ST-Ericsson's U8500 system-on-chip. Last we heard, that little powerhouse was running a pair of 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 cores, so excuse us if we find the prospect of it driving Nokia's next flagship a rather exciting one. You can see video of the reference device in question after the break -- it ends on the delicious and unequivocal assertion from the ST-Ericsson rep that Nokia has signed up to deliver the U8500 in an upcoming device. Bear in mind, however, that the video is from November of last year and we still don't know for sure that the Nokia slate above is its MeeGo progenitor or just a prototype. Either way, the U8500 is expected in smartphones at some point in the first half of this year, which kind of fits Nokia's roadmap, no?

[Image credit: Cor72z]

Continue reading Nokia's leaked MeeGo device resembles dual-core ST-Ericsson U8500 reference platform

Nokia's leaked MeeGo device resembles dual-core ST-Ericsson U8500 reference platform originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a9armcomponentscortexcortex a9cortex-a9CortexA9dual-corehardwaremeegon9nokiaprocessorslatesmartphonesocspeculationst-ericssonst-ericsson u8500St-ericssonU8500tabletu8500videoTue, 25 Jan 2011 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[NVIDIA Tegra 3, equipped with 1.5GHz quad-core madness, teased by a familiar slide]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/nvidia-tegra-3-equipped-with-1-5ghz-quad-core-madness-teased-b/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/nvidia-tegra-3-equipped-with-1-5ghz-quad-core-madness-teased-b/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/nvidia-tegra-3-equipped-with-1-5ghz-quad-core-madness-teased-b/#comments How aggressive can NVIDIA get? That's the question puzzling our brainboxes right now as we gaze upon the complete version of the slide that let us know about a potential Tegra 2 3D chip over the weekend. It's not every day you hear of a 1.5GHz quad-core mobile SOC, but our discovery of corroborating evidence for the T25 module sitting alongside it makes us more willing to credit the possibility of a Blu-ray-crunching, 13,800 MIPS-capable, multicore Cortex-A9 Tegra 3. Moreover, the roadmap of production samples in Q4 of 2010 fits perfectly with NVIDIA's claim that Tegra 3 was "almost done" in September of that year. The ULP designation on this listing stands for Ultra Low Power in NVIDIA parlance, which would indicate an aggressively tuned power management system -- the only way we can envision a quad-core anything operating within a tablet. Fall 2011 is when we should know for sure.

NVIDIA Tegra 3, equipped with 1.5GHz quad-core madness, teased by a familiar slide originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 07:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a9armarm cortexArmCortexcortexcortex a9cortex-a9CortexA9hardwareleakmulticorenvidianvidia tegra 3NvidiaTegra3plansprocessorquad-coreroadmaprumorschedulesocspeculationt30tegra 3Tegra3Mon, 24 Jan 2011 07:06:00 EST<![CDATA[RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook using a 1GHz OMAP 4430 processor]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/08/rims-blackberry-playbook-purportedly-using-a-1ghz-omap-4430-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/08/rims-blackberry-playbook-purportedly-using-a-1ghz-omap-4430-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/08/rims-blackberry-playbook-purportedly-using-a-1ghz-omap-4430-pro/#comments We already confirmed that RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook was deadly fast in use, but up until now, we've still been left to wonder what kind of silicon was powering it. According to a RIM representative that spoke to us just now on the CES show floor, a dual-core OMAP chip from Texas Instruments is doing the honors -- more specifically, it's the blisteringly fast 1GHz OMAP 4430. And now, you know.

RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook using a 1GHz OMAP 4430 processor originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4430armblackberryBlackBerry PlayBookBlackberryPlaybookcesces 2011ces2011cortexcortex a9CortexA9cpudual coreDualCoreLeo LaporteLeoLaporteomapomap 4430OMAP 4440Omap4430OMAP4440playbookprocessorRIMrumorrumorsslatetablettexas instrmentsTexasInstrmentsTISat, 08 Jan 2011 18:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Honeycomb to require dual-core processor, initially tablet-only?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/03/honeycomb-to-require-dual-core-processor-initially-tablet-only/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/03/honeycomb-to-require-dual-core-processor-initially-tablet-only/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/03/honeycomb-to-require-dual-core-processor-initially-tablet-only/#comments Often when you hear minimum spec doom and gloom, it proves to be wildly inaccurate, or only part of the picture. This time, however, it's worth a closer look. PC Magazine's Sascha Segan is confidently citing the director of Enspert, a Korean consumer electronics company (which recently announced its own Android tablet), who claims that Honeycomb will require a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor. He's also confident that Motorola's tablet will be the first device to market with the new version of Android, and his other minimum specs line up with the idea of Honeycomb being initially a tablet-only release. Apparently 1280 x 720 is going to be the minimum resolution, with screen sizes "as small as" 7-inches, though it sounds like 10-inches could be the default. These specs seem to clearly leave out Galaxy Tab, along with anything else on the market or soon to arrive that doesn't have a Tegra 2 chip. It also makes sense that the Galaxy Tab 2 is going to be using Tegra 2 -- Samsung clearly won't be deterred.

And how about phones for Honeycomb? The picture is decidedly murkier, other than the fact that we could see a temporary splintering of the platform while tablets show off their new Honeycomb digs, with enough battery to back up that dual-core proc. Of course, dual-core handsets are right around the corner, so we doubt handsets will be without Honeycomb for long -- Google should know which side its bread is buttered on. There's also the possibility that this Enspert source is only talking tablets, and phones (which are required to push way fewer pixels, and have much stricter battery requirements) will get a pass on the dual-core requirement altogether. No matter what, you should settle in for a year of entertainment as Google continues to iterate its wildly successful operating system, and manufacturers strain to keep up.

[Thanks, Jason]

Honeycomb to require dual-core processor, initially tablet-only? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-inch7-inchandroidarm cortex a9ArmCortexA9cortex a9cortex-a9CortexA9googlegoogle honey combGoogleHoneyCombhoney combhoneycombminimum specsMinimumSpecsmotorolatablettegra 2Tegra2Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Hannspree's HSG1164 10.1-inch Froyo tablet drops by the FCC]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/hannsprees-hsg1164-10-1-inch-froyo-tablet-drops-by-the-fcc/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/hannsprees-hsg1164-10-1-inch-froyo-tablet-drops-by-the-fcc/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/hannsprees-hsg1164-10-1-inch-froyo-tablet-drops-by-the-fcc/#comments You know what they say about a trip to the FCC's database, right? Why, it's much like the step just prior to achieving manhood -- one more leap from here, and you'll be ripe for the pickin'. Just a few months after Hannspree teased us with a formal introduction of its (then unnamed) 10.1-inch multitouch Froyo tablet, it looks as if that very device has now found a moniker. The 1.6-pound HSG1164 will eventually bring a fairly impressive build of materials to light, offering a 1GHz Tegra 2 chip, 16GB of internal storage, 512MB of NAND Flash, a microSD slot, Android 2.2, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, mini USB / HDMI connector, an inbuilt light sensor, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a Li-ion battery of unspecified size. There's obviously no direct mention of a ship date in the documentation here, but we're putting our money on an early 2011 release. Care to wager, too?

Hannspree's HSG1164 10.1-inch Froyo tablet drops by the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080p2.2a9accelerometerandroidandroid 2.2android osandroid tabletAndroid2.2AndroidOsAndroidTabletarmcapacitivecortex a9cortex-a9CortexA9dual-corefccflashflash 10.1Flash10.1froyohannspreehanspreehdmiHSG1164light sensorLightSensormultitouchnvidianvidia tegra 2NvidiaTegra2slatetablettablet pcTabletPctegrategra 2Tegra2touchscreenThu, 16 Dec 2010 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Orion dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 chip spotted in the wild]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/11/samsung-orion-dual-core-arm-cortex-a9-chip-spotted-in-the-wild/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/11/samsung-orion-dual-core-arm-cortex-a9-chip-spotted-in-the-wild/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/11/samsung-orion-dual-core-arm-cortex-a9-chip-spotted-in-the-wild/#comments We know it's a little tough to get excited about a chip, even if that chip is the hotly anticipated Samsung Orion. Still, bear with us, because this isn't your average slab of cellphone silicon -- the Orion's got a dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 CPU and a quad-core Mali 400 GPU on board. We spotted it at the ARM Technology Conference this week where it was pimping "Linaro" Linux middleware, as well as some stock Android 2.2. Unfortunately, the development boards still have a few kinks, so representatives couldn't show it pumping all those pixels to nearby HDTVs -- though we did get a butter-smooth demo of Futuremark's old Cyber Samurai benchmark running on the smaller screen. There are still rumors of this chip hitting some products late this year, but next year is much more likely. Either way, we're expecting some pretty impressive benchmarks from this thing when it inevitably winds up in the next Galaxy Tab or a flagship phone of some sort.

Gallery: Samsung Orion 1GHz SoC with Mali 400 GPU

Samsung Orion dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 chip spotted in the wild originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 23:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidarmARM Technology ConferenceARM Technology Conference 2010ArmTechnologyConferenceArmTechnologyConference2010chipcortexcortex a9cortex-a9CortexA9linaroMaliMali 400Mali400orionprocessorsamsungsamsung orionSamsungOrionsocsystem on a chipSystemOnAChipvideoThu, 11 Nov 2010 23:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Trident and ARM get together to make smarter STBs, bring more of the web to your tube]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/15/trident-and-arm-get-together-to-make-smarter-stbs-bring-more-of/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/15/trident-and-arm-get-together-to-make-smarter-stbs-bring-more-of/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/15/trident-and-arm-get-together-to-make-smarter-stbs-bring-more-of/#commentsTrident and ARM get together to make smarter STBs, bring more of the web to your tubeWhile you're surely familiar with ARM and its suite of processors powering many a spicy mobile device, Trident is something of a more silent entity -- having a presence in half of the TVs sold worldwide but hardly making a mark when it comes to consumer perception. That could change with a new line of web-enabled set top boxes that will be powered by the ARM Cortex-A9 processor, which, even in its earliest incarnations, does a fine job of handling web duties and even decoding HD video. The goal is to deliver "the most advanced multimedia experiences into the home," and while we think that's perhaps a bit optimistic, the right players are involved here, with an "extensive ecosystem" being developed including Flash, Android, and Qt user elements. It remains to be seen whether this device will actually run Android, perhaps joining Google TV on the STB front, but there is talk of pushing content to mobile devices and matching a consistent user experience whether you're couch or coach-bound. When will all this come to pass? We think it's a bit too early to be troubled by such details.

Continue reading Trident and ARM get together to make smarter STBs, bring more of the web to your tube

Trident and ARM get together to make smarter STBs, bring more of the web to your tube originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a9armcortexcortex a9CortexA9partnershipset top boxSetTopBoxstbtridenttrident microsystemsTridentMicrosystemsWed, 15 Sep 2010 23:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Colombia pumps out 10-inch Android and Windows 7 tablets (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/08/columbia-pumps-out-10-inch-android-and-windows-7-tablets-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/08/columbia-pumps-out-10-inch-android-and-windows-7-tablets-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/08/columbia-pumps-out-10-inch-android-and-windows-7-tablets-video/#comments Sure, popular belief equates Colombian exports with tons of coffee beans, but two Bogota-based companies presently have 10-inch tablet computers on the brain. Compumax has got an Android-powered Tegra 2 device on tap with a dual-core 1GHz Cortex A9, 512MB of RAM and a 32GB hard drive, and Smart PC's looking at a netbook-specced Windows 7 slate with an Atom N450 processor, a DVD burner, up to 2GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive, a folding stand and a pair of peripheral-friendly USB ports alongside what looks like a fairly responsive multitouch screen. Intriguingly enough, the companies claim the devices aren't rebrands and are actually built in Colombia from foreign parts -- the "Hyper" Android slate is reportedly already on sale for COP 700,000 (about $387), and you can expect the "Smart Touch" Windows machine to debut for COP 1,099,000 (about $608) when it debuts in Peru next month. See the latter machine in action right after the break.

Update: We often make light of stereotypes at Engadget, hoping to expose them as such, but the one formerly posted here was not in the best of taste. We've replaced it, and would like to apologize to any offended by our original choice of words.

Continue reading Colombia pumps out 10-inch Android and Windows 7 tablets (video)

Colombia pumps out 10-inch Android and Windows 7 tablets (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidAndroid 2.1android tabletAndroid2.1AndroidTabletAtom N450AtomN450colombiaCompumaxCortex A9CortexA9Smart TouchSmartPCSmartTouchtablettabletsTegra 2Tegra2videowin 7win7WindowsWindows 7windows 7 tabletWindows7Windows7TabletWed, 08 Sep 2010 06:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's Orion is the 1GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 we've all been waiting for]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/07/samsungs-orion-is-the-1ghz-dual-core-arm-cortex-a9-weve-all-be/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/07/samsungs-orion-is-the-1ghz-dual-core-arm-cortex-a9-weve-all-be/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/07/samsungs-orion-is-the-1ghz-dual-core-arm-cortex-a9-weve-all-be/#comments We still consider Samsung's Hummingbird application processor to be among the very best for mobile computers, but this morning Sammy itself is stepping up the charge to make it look real old real fast. The freshly announced dual-core Orion promises to whip us all into a frenzy of geek lust with "5 times the 3D graphics performance over the previous processor generation from Samsung," 1080p video encoding and decoding at 30fps, embedded GPS, a native triple display controller, and on-chip HDMI 1.3a interface. Those last two bits mean you can drive two displays on your mobile device while feeding a third, such as a HDTV, all thanks to the one all-powerful chip inside. Availability for "select customers" is coming late this year, with mass production set for the first half of 2011. To say we're looking forward to it would be a massive understatement.

Continue reading Samsung's Orion is the 1GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 we've all been waiting for

Samsung's Orion is the 1GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 we've all been waiting for originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1ghz45nmapplication processorApplicationProcessorarmarm cortexarm cortex a9arm cortex-a9ArmCortexArmCortex-a9ArmCortexA9breaking newsBreakingNewscortex a9cortex-a9CortexA9dual-coregpshdmihdmi 1.3aHdmi1.3aorionprocessorsamsungsamsung orionSamsungOrionTue, 07 Sep 2010 02:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Hannspree pairs Android 2.2 with Tegra 2 for a 10.1-inch multitouch tablet]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/31/hannspree-pairs-android-2-2-with-tegra-2-for-a-10-1-inch-multito/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/31/hannspree-pairs-android-2-2-with-tegra-2-for-a-10-1-inch-multito/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/31/hannspree-pairs-android-2-2-with-tegra-2-for-a-10-1-inch-multito/#comments Yearning for a bit of dual-core action on the move? Who isn't. Hannspree will soon try to quell that 1080p-sized hunger in all of us with its freshly announced €399 ($507) Froyo tablet. There's no lack of spec sheet ambition here: a 1GHz Tegra 2 SOC is surrounded by 16GB of internal storage (expandable via MicroSD), an accelerometer, WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, a 1,024 x 600-pixel capacitive touchscreen, and mini versions of HDMI and USB ports. Flash 10.1 is also proudly supported, while the 3,500mAh battery is said to last up to 8 hours when playing 1080p movies. We'd be getting real excited right about now, but we've learnt to be cautious with such lofty promises -- remember the Gemini?

Continue reading Hannspree pairs Android 2.2 with Tegra 2 for a 10.1-inch multitouch tablet

Hannspree pairs Android 2.2 with Tegra 2 for a 10.1-inch multitouch tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080p2.2a9accelerometerandroidandroid 2.2android osAndroid2.2AndroidOsarmcapacitivecortex a9cortex-a9CortexA9dual-coreflashflash 10.1Flash10.1froyohannspreehdmilight sensorLightSensormultitouchnvidianvidia tegra 2NvidiaTegra2slatetablettegrategra 2Tegra2touchscreenTue, 31 Aug 2010 08:13:00 EST<![CDATA[7-inch iPad tattle churns through Taiwanese rumor mills]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/17/7-inch-ipad-rumors-heat-up-in-taiwanese-rumor-mills/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/17/7-inch-ipad-rumors-heat-up-in-taiwanese-rumor-mills/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/17/7-inch-ipad-rumors-heat-up-in-taiwanese-rumor-mills/#comments The 7-inch iPad rumors are suddenly hot and heavy. In the last few weeks, we've seen a series of reports claiming that Apple was working on a smaller iPad (or bigger iPod touch?) set for release between the end of 2010 or early 2011. A DigiTimes piece, sourcing its own "analyst," claimed that the device would be making a jump to the Cortex A9 processor core, 512MB of RAM like the iPhone 4, and a 1,024 x 768 pixel IPS panel -- the same resolution as the 9.7-inch iPad giving the new model a better pixel density. Now we've got Taiwan's Economic Daily News saying that Chi Mei will join LG in supplying the new 7-inch IPS panels with AUO joining Sintek to provide the digitizer. EDN also claims that either Compal or Pegatron may join Foxconn in the assembly. Remember, even with hints of a new iPad model in Apple's own code this is all just rumor for now. Besides, we're still waiting for those Xbox 360 Blu-ray drives that the Economic Daily News assured us were coming in Q3 of 2008.

7-inch iPad tattle churns through Taiwanese rumor mills originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 07:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7 inch7 inch ipad7-inch7Inch7InchIpadappleauochi meichi mei optoelectronicsChiMeiChiMeiOptoelectronicsCompalcortex a9CortexA9digitimesEconomic Daily NewsEconomicDailyNewsednfoxconniloungeipadipad 2Ipad2ipod touchIpodTouchipslgpegatronrumorSintekSintekPhotronictablettaiwanTue, 17 Aug 2010 07:04:00 EST<![CDATA[TI picks up first license for ARM's Eagle CPU core, mass market devices still a couple of years off]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/10/ti-picks-up-first-license-for-arms-eagle-cpu-core-mass-market/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/10/ti-picks-up-first-license-for-arms-eagle-cpu-core-mass-market/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/10/ti-picks-up-first-license-for-arms-eagle-cpu-core-mass-market/#comments The mythical next generation of ARM's Cortex-A series, the Eagle, has made a reappearance in the news this week, but much of the mystery remains. Texas Instruments has now revealed itself as the first licensee of the new core, while also waxing poetic about its deep involvement and collaboration with ARM on its design and particular specifications. No, nobody was kind enough to let us in on what those specs might yet be, but since -- technically speaking -- the Eagle CPU hasn't even been announced yet, that's probably fair enough. For its part, TI expects to be first to market with its OMAP systems-on-chip integrating the latest Cortex core, but that won't be happening for a good while yet, as most projections peg the Eagle's landing to be no sooner than 2012. Guess we'll just have to make do with some dual-core Snapdragons until then.

Continue reading TI picks up first license for ARM's Eagle CPU core, mass market devices still a couple of years off

TI picks up first license for ARM's Eagle CPU core, mass market devices still a couple of years off originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 02:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armarm eagleArmEaglecollaborationcorecortex a9cortex-a9CortexA9cpueaglehardwarelicensedlicensingmobile hardwareMobileHardwareomapomap 4Omap4processorsmart reflexSmartReflexsoctexas instrumentsTexasInstrumentstiTue, 10 Aug 2010 02:54:00 EST<![CDATA[ARM and TSMC team up for tinier 20nm Cortex SOCs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/arm-and-tsmc-team-up-for-tinier-20nm-cortex-socs/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/arm-and-tsmc-team-up-for-tinier-20nm-cortex-socs/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/arm-and-tsmc-team-up-for-tinier-20nm-cortex-socs/#commentsIt's no secret that ARM ideas are powering much of the mobile revolution these days, but the company doesn't print its own systems-on-a-chip, that duty gets outsourced to silicon foundries -- like TSMC, who just got all buddy-buddy with the firm to transition future smartphone chips to the 28nm and obscenely tiny 20nm high-k metal gate processes. (We're not sure what this means for GlobalFoundries, who had a similar deal earlier this year.) As per usual with a die size reduction, ARM chips will see higher speed and have decreased power consumption, but since 20nm is (relatively) unexplored territory it could be years before chips hit the market. PR after the break, or hit the more coverage link for further explanation by an ARM VP of Marketing.

Continue reading ARM and TSMC team up for tinier 20nm Cortex SOCs

ARM and TSMC team up for tinier 20nm Cortex SOCs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20 nanometer20Nanometer20nm28 nanometer28Nanometer28nmARMARM CortexARM Cortex A9ArmCortexArmCortexA9CortexCortex A9CortexA9foundriesfoundryhi-khigh-k metal gateHigh-kMetalGateSemiconductorsemiconductorssiliconSoCsystem on a chipSystemOnAChipTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing CompanyTaiwanSemiconductorManufacturingCompanyTSMCWed, 21 Jul 2010 05:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba's AC100 8-hour Android smartbook plays 1080p video on a 1GHz Tegra 250 processor (update: video!)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/toshibas-ac100-8-hour-smartbook-runs-android-2-1-on-a-1ghz-tegr/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/toshibas-ac100-8-hour-smartbook-runs-android-2-1-on-a-1ghz-tegr/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/toshibas-ac100-8-hour-smartbook-runs-android-2-1-on-a-1ghz-tegr/#comments We wouldn't fault you for thinking that's a first generation ASUS Eee PC what with that iconic fingertip pose and all. But Toshiba's AC100 is a very modern take on the ol' Atom-based netbook idea. For starters, this super slim smartbook runs Android 2.1 on a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 250 SoC (built around a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore processor) capable of about 8 hours of browsing and video playback (and 7 days standby) before needing a recharge. It's also packing a 32GB SSD, 512MB of DDR2 memory, 802.11n WiFi, optional 3G data, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, and an HDMI jack beneath that 10.1-inch 1,024 x 600 pixel display. As for software, the AC100 ships with Documents to Go for editing MS Office docs, an email client with POP3, IMAP, and Exchange support, an Opera Mobile browser, and a Tosh media player which should support HD 1080p video playback if it's taking full advantage of that Tegra 2 silicon. Too bad Toshiba is being quiet about the pricing and availability 'cause this little guy has us intrigued.

Update: Netbooked got its hands on with the Japanese Dynabook AZ twin and received confirmation that it'll ship in Japan in August for between ¥40,000 and ¥50,000 (about $438 to $548). Video after the break.

Gallery: Toshiba's AC100 8-hour smartbook runs Android 2.1 on a 1GHz Tegra 250 processor

Continue reading Toshiba's AC100 8-hour Android smartbook plays 1080p video on a 1GHz Tegra 250 processor (update: video!)

Toshiba's AC100 8-hour Android smartbook plays 1080p video on a 1GHz Tegra 250 processor (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1ghz250a9ac100androidandroid 2.1Android2.1armazcore a9 mpcoreCoreA9Mpcorecortex a9cortex-a9cortex-a9 mpcoreCortex-a9MpcoreCortexA9documents to goDocumentsToGodynabookdynabook azDynabookAzgooglempcorenetbooknvidiaopera mobileOperaMobilesmartbooktegrategra 250Tegra250toshibavideoMon, 21 Jun 2010 05:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's ARM roadmap lays coordinates through 2013: Aquila, Venus, and Draco (oh my)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/samsungs-arm-roadmap-lays-coordinates-through-2013-aquila-ven/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/samsungs-arm-roadmap-lays-coordinates-through-2013-aquila-ven/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/samsungs-arm-roadmap-lays-coordinates-through-2013-aquila-ven/#comments Ah, leaked company presentation slides, they have a clarity only Mr. Blurrycam would despise. EETimes got a batch of them from Samsung dated November 2009 making the rounds, but more important than revealing its equal love for both Roman and Greek mythology, we get a glimpse at its then-planned ARM chip roadmap (yeah, another one) through 2013. In a nutshell, for the Cortex A9 crowd we've got the 800MHz dual core "Orion" due for mass production in Q1 2011, a 1GHz single core "Pegasus" for Q4 2011, a 1GHz dual core "Hercules" for Q1 2012, and for sometime in 2012 / 2013, a 1.2GHz dual core "Draco" and quad core "Aquila." Fear not, Cortex A5 fanatics, you've got gifts as well, in the form of 600MHz single core "Mercury" and dual core "Venus" chips, slated for 2010 / 2011 and 2012 / 2013, respectively. We don't expect the nomenclature to extend beyond internal usage, but frankly, who cares -- it's the devices that count, and unfortunately all we can do is doodle our future gadget hopes and dreams onto scraps of paper while we wait.

Samsung's ARM roadmap lays coordinates through 2013: Aquila, Venus, and Draco (oh my) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.2gz1ghz600mhza9aquilaarmchipchipscortexcortex a5cortex a9cortex-19cortex-a5cortex-a9CortexA5CortexA9cpucpusdracodual coreDualCoreherculesleakleaksmercuryorionpegasusprocessorprocessorsquad coreQuadCoreroad mapRoadMapsamsungsamsung armSamsungArmsingle coreSingleCorevenusFri, 23 Apr 2010 16:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Notion Ink Adam still alive, working on Flash compatibility]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/07/notion-ink-adam-still-alive-working-on-flash-compatibility/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/07/notion-ink-adam-still-alive-working-on-flash-compatibility/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/07/notion-ink-adam-still-alive-working-on-flash-compatibility/#comments It was three months ago, in the midst of the most tablet-centric CES in recent memory, that we first laid our hands on Notion Ink's impressive Adam prototype. Since then, we've been on the lookout for signs that the small Indian startup will actually deliver on the tablet's lofty promises, and while that still seems to be on track, the latest update from the company's founder is casting doubt on the originally planned June release date. Stressing the need to agree subsidization deals with telecoms for the 3G-equipped device, Rohan Shravan explains that "some want to give you Adam for Thanksgiving, some for summer holidays." Add in his resolute commitment to only going ahead with the tablet when it's fully capable of running Flash (seriously Adobe, the thing can do 1080p video, but Flash makes it wince?), and you have a significantly more elastic release window than we were originally led to believe. All the same, Rohan couldn't leave us without some titillation, and he also promises "amazing freedom" on the email front and a number of content collaborations that he's not yet allowed to announce. If you ask us, we just want something -- anything -- with a Pixel Qi display; we'll make up our own content, just give us the hardware already.

[Thanks, Srikanth]

Notion Ink Adam still alive, working on Flash compatibility originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 04:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adamandroidandroid osAndroidOsarmcortex a9cortex-a9CortexA9dual-coreflashindianotion inknotion ink adamNotionInkNotionInkAdamnvidia tegranvidia tegra 2NvidiaTegraNvidiaTegra2pixel qiPixelQislatetablettegrategra 2Tegra2Wed, 07 Apr 2010 04:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple's A4 system-on-chip gets decoupled from iPad, investigated with the help of an X-ray]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/06/apples-a4-system-on-chip-gets-decoupled-from-ipad-investigated/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/06/apples-a4-system-on-chip-gets-decoupled-from-ipad-investigated/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/06/apples-a4-system-on-chip-gets-decoupled-from-ipad-investigated/#comments Ever so gently, we're starting to peel away the layers of mystery surrounding the A4 system-on-chip that powers Apple's fancy new slate device. iFixit, helped by reverse engineering firm Chipworks, have gone to the trouble of both dissecting and X-raying the iPad's central processing hub in their quest to lift the veil of ignorance. Their findings confirmed that the A4 is built using a "package on package" method, meaning that the 256MB of Samsung-provided SDRAM is stacked immediately atop the CPU, which is noted as being reductive to both latency and energy use. With a single core processor inside, the iFixit team concluded the iPad had to be running on a Cortex A8 -- which is very much the likeliest choice at this point -- but their assertion that it couldn't be a Cortex A9 MPCore inside is inaccurate, as those chips also come in single-core options. Either way, it'll be interesting to see how it stacks up against Samsung's Hummingbird chip, which was designed by Intrinsity, the same company Apple is being rumored to have recently acquired. Finally, the visual inspection of the iPad's mobo puts a model number to the already known PowerVR GPU, narrowing it down to the SGX 535, while also naming and picturing a number of other exciting components, such as the always popular capacitive touchscreen controller. Hit the source link below for all the lurid images.

Apple's A4 system-on-chip gets decoupled from iPad, investigated with the help of an X-ray originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 05:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a4appleapple a4apple ipadAppleA4AppleIpadarmchipworkscortex a8cortex a9CortexA8CortexA9dissectionhardwareifixitipadpackage on packagePackageOnPackagepowervrpowervr sgx 535PowervrSgx535processorsocsystem-on-chipteardownx-rayTue, 06 Apr 2010 05:04:00 EST<![CDATA[EAFT Magic Tile and Compal tablets shown in India, Tegra 2 and Android in tow]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/21/eaft-magic-tile-and-compal-tablets-shown-in-india-tegra-2-and-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/21/eaft-magic-tile-and-compal-tablets-shown-in-india-tegra-2-and-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/21/eaft-magic-tile-and-compal-tablets-shown-in-india-tegra-2-and-a/#comments We heard earlier this month that half a hundred ARM-based tablets would be launching this year, and it's pretty safe to say that these will be two of 'em. Shown off recently in Mumbai, India's own EAFT spurred interest with its Magic Tile, a presumably Billy Mays-endorsed Tegra 2-based tablet that runs on Android. We're told that it's equipped with a 7-inch touch panel (1,024 x 600 resolution), a front-mounted 1.3 megapixel webcam for video chats, 1080p video encoding / decoding abilities, optional 3G, a battery good for 8 hours of usage, inbuilt accelerometer, Bluetooth, HDMI output and a USB socket to round things out. All told, it's a pretty well-specced machine, though we're certainly hoping that the design gets a little TLC before it's launched in Q3 for an undisclosed rate. In related news, a Compal tablet was also on display, boasting a similar 7-inch layout, a Tegra 2 chip within, 512MB of DDR2 RAM, a 3 megapixel camera and a complete lack of WiFi (gasp!). Head on past the break for a hands-on vid.

Update: We thought this thing looked familiar. If you had the same feeling, it's probably because the Magic Tile is actually that ICD Ultra tablet we played with a little while back. Still, "Magic Tile" has a catchy ring to it.

[Thanks, Sriram]

Continue reading EAFT Magic Tile and Compal tablets shown in India, Tegra 2 and Android in tow

EAFT Magic Tile and Compal tablets shown in India, Tegra 2 and Android in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a9androidarmcompalcortexcortex a9CortexA9EAFTeaft magic tileEAFT TechnologiesEaftMagicTileEaftTechnologiesgooglehands-onmagic tileMagicTilenvidiaslateslate pcSlatePctablettablet pcTabletPctegrategra 2tegra 250Tegra2Tegra250videoSun, 21 Mar 2010 17:41:00 EST<![CDATA[ST-Ericsson's U8500 brings dual-core 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 to the Android world]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/15/st-ericssons-u8500-brings-dual-core-1-2ghz-arm-cortex-a9-to-the/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/15/st-ericssons-u8500-brings-dual-core-1-2ghz-arm-cortex-a9-to-the/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/15/st-ericssons-u8500-brings-dual-core-1-2ghz-arm-cortex-a9-to-the/#commentsCan't get enough of hearing about implementations of ARM's Cortex-A9 MPCore processors? Good. ST-Ericsson's powerhouse U8500 system-on-chip has come a major step closer to appearing in mainstream devices with today's newly announced support for the Android operating system. Having optimized the OS to take advantage of Symmetric Multi Processing -- a method for extending battery life by sharing the load between the two processing cores and underclocking when necessary -- the partner company is now ready to start dropping these 1.2GHz dual-core beasts inside the next generation of smartphones. The claim is that you'll get all that additional power while sacrificing nothing, as devices based on the U8500 would maintain "the cost and power consumption characteristics of a traditional feature phone." We're promised built-in HDMI-out support, 1080p video recording, and 120 hours of audio playback or 12 hours of Full HD video off a 1,000mAh battery -- pledges we'd very much like to see fulfilled.

ST-Ericsson's U8500 brings dual-core 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 to the Android world originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080parmarm cortexarm cortex-a9ArmCortexArmCortex-a9cortex a9cortex-a9cortex-a9 mpcoreCortex-a9MpcoreCortexA9cpudual coreDualCoreericssonfull hdFullHdhardwarehdmimulticoremwcmwc 2010Mwc2010processorsmartphonessocst-ericssonst-ericsson u8500St-ericssonU8500symmetric multi processingSymmetricMultiProcessingsystem-on-a-chipsystem-on-chipMon, 15 Feb 2010 08:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Texas Instruments introduces ARM-based OMAP 4 SOC, Blaze development platform]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/15/texas-instruments-introduces-arm-based-omap-4-soc-blaze-develop/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/15/texas-instruments-introduces-arm-based-omap-4-soc-blaze-develop/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/15/texas-instruments-introduces-arm-based-omap-4-soc-blaze-develop/#comments Texas Instruments has just made its OMAP 4 system-on-chip official, and garnished the announcement with the first development platform for it, aggressively titled Blaze. We already caught a glimpse of it in prototype form earlier this month, and the thing is quite a whopper -- you can see it on video after the break and we doubt you'll accuse TI of placing form before function with this one. The company's focus will be on promoting innovative new modes of interaction, with touchless gesturing (or "in the air" gesture recognition) figuring strongly in its vision of the future. Looking at the SOC diagram (available after the break), you'll find that its grunt will be provided by the same ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore class of CPU that powers the iPad, though TI claims it will be the only mobile platform capable of outputting stereoscopic 720p video at 30fps per channel. Perhaps its uniqueness will come from the fact that nobody else cares for the overkill that is 3D-HD on a mobile phone, whether it requires glasses or not. It'll still be fascinating to see if anybody picks up the chunky Blaze idea and tries to produce a viable mobile device out of it -- we could be convinced we need multiple displays while on the move, we're just not particularly hot on the 90s style bezel overflow.

Continue reading Texas Instruments introduces ARM-based OMAP 4 SOC, Blaze development platform

Texas Instruments introduces ARM-based OMAP 4 SOC, Blaze development platform originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d hd3dHdarmarm coretx a9ArmCoretxA9blazeblaze development platformBlazeDevelopmentPlatformcortex a9cortex-a9CortexA9cpugesture recognitionGestureRecognitiongestureshardwarehdmulticoremwcmwc 2010Mwc2010omapomap 4omap 4 platformOmap4Omap4Platformprocessorsmartphonessystem-on-chiptexas instrumentsTexasInstrumentstiMon, 15 Feb 2010 08:09:00 EST