Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2013 AOL Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Broadcom introduces low-power WiFi and Bluetooth chips for the Internet of things]]> http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/30/broadcom-introduces-low-power-wifi-and-bluetooth-chips/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/30/broadcom-introduces-low-power-wifi-and-bluetooth-chips/ http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/30/broadcom-introduces-low-power-wifi-and-bluetooth-chips/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Broadcom introduces low-power WiFi and Bluetooth chips for the Internet of things

The Internet of things -- that nebulous term usually associated with interconnecting everyday objects in a meaningful way -- is in the news again. Yesterday, Broadcom announced that it's launching a couple cost-effective, power-efficient wireless chips geared towards appliances, home automation and wearable devices. The first SoC, BCM4390, incorporates a highly-efficient WiFi radio for embedded use in products such as weight scales, thermostats and security cameras. It fits into the company's range of Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices (WICED) chips. The second SoC, BCM20732, features an ultra low-power Bluetooth transceiver and targets devices like heart rate monitors, pedometers and door locks. Broadcom's also contributing its Bluetooth software stack to the Android Open Source Project with support for both standard and Bluetooth Smart hardware. Does this mean our long-awaited smart toaster's just around the corner? We sure hope so. Follow the source links below for more info.

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Source: Broadcom (1), (2)

]]> Android Open Source ProjectAndroidOpenSourceProjectAOSPBluetoothBluetooth SmartBluetoothSmartBroadcomcontestembeddedInternet of thingsInternetOfThingslow costlow powerLowCostLowPowerWICEDWiFi Thu, 30 May 2013 09:32:00 -0400 21|20588619 <![CDATA[Acer unveils space-saving ME mini tower and XC desktops for (low) power users]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/18/acer-me-xc/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/18/acer-me-xc/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/18/acer-me-xc/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Acer refreshes

The arrival of Windows 8 is a good excuse for the PC industry to flood the market with so much hardware, consumers will be blinded by so much choice. Acer's jabbing its digits into your eyes with its new lineup of low-end desktops for the casual user. The ME micro towers will take an Intel Core i5 or I7, 2TB HDDs and up to 16GB of RAM. If you don't have anywhere else to stash your smartphone, the chassis comes with a recess desk on top with a USB port for easy charging. Those looking for something a little less demanding can pick up an XC desktop, a space-saving unit that will take an Intel Core i3, a 1TB HDD and up to 6GB of RAM. Prices for the ME begin at $700, while the cheaper XCs will set you back a much more modest $400.

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]]> acerAcer MEAcer XCAcer XC DesktopAcerMeAcerXcAcerXcDesktopCore i3Core i5Core i7CoreI3CoreI5CoreI7IntelIvy BridgeIvyBridgeLow PowerLowPowerME Micro-TowerMeMicro-towerMicro TowerMicrosoftMicroTowerPCPCsSmallWindowsWindows 8Windows8XC DesktopXcDesktop Thu, 18 Oct 2012 08:00:00 -0400 21|20348381 <![CDATA[Facebook to backup its servers with low-power storage devices at 'Sub-Zero' data center]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/18/facebook-backup-servers-sub-zero-low-power-data-center/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/18/facebook-backup-servers-sub-zero-low-power-data-center/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/18/facebook-backup-servers-sub-zero-low-power-data-center/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Facebook to backup its servers with low-power storage devices at 'Sub-Zero' data center

Data backups come in all shapes and sizes. For some, they take the form of external hard drives or a slice of the amorphous cloud. As for Facebook, its upcoming solution is low-power deep-storage hardware contained within a 62,000 square-foot building in Prineville, Oregon near its existing Beaver State data center. Unofficially referred to as "Sub-Zero," the facility will store a copy of the social network's data in case its primary servers need to be restored in an emergency. Rather than continuously power HDDs that are only occasionally used, the new setup can conserve energy by lighting-up drives just when they're needed. One of the company's existing server racks eats up around 4.5 kilowatts, while those at Sub-Zero are each expected to consume approximately 1.5 kilowatts once they're up and running. Tom Furlong, Facebook's vice president of site operations, told Wired that there are hopes to create a similar structure alongside the firm's North Carolina data center. Since the Prineville project is still being planned, Zuckerberg & Co. have roughly six to nine months to suss out all the details before your photos are backed up at the new digs.

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]]> back-upback-upsbackupbackupsdata centerDataCenteremergency backupEmergencyBackupenergyenergy efficiencyenergy efficientEnergyEfficiencyEnergyEfficientFacebookhddhddslow powerlow-powerLowPoweroregonPrinevillePrineville OregonPrinevilleOregonserverserver rackserver racksServerRackServerRacksserverssocial networksocial networkingsocial networksSocialNetworkSocialNetworkingSocialNetworksstorageSub Zerosub-zeroSubZero Sat, 18 Aug 2012 20:23:00 -0400 21|20303887 <![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Best sub-$310 power-efficient HTPC for a caravan?]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/07/ask-engadget-best-sub-310-power-efficient-htpc-for-a-caravan/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/07/ask-engadget-best-sub-310-power-efficient-htpc-for-a-caravan/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/07/ask-engadget-best-sub-310-power-efficient-htpc-for-a-caravan/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Ask Engadget: Best sub-$310 power-efficient HTPC for a caravan?

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Is from Martin, who is looking for a hyper-efficient media streamer for his retro caravan. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"My partner and I are renovating a small '70s caravan and would like a power-efficient media center/PC purely to watch our library of movies and TV shows. We're in Australia, so getting hold of kit like the Raspberry Pi would be difficult, we're looking for something that's equally power efficient, even up to $300 AUD (around $310 USD). Cheers!""

That's this week's challenge, Engadgeteers -- do you feel up for it? Can you help our southern hemisphere friends find a power-efficient HTPC for under $310 that won't drain a retro-caravan's batteries? Can we help these people turn the temporary home into a rockin' media-streamin' paradise? Hit us up in the comments if you've got some expertise to share.

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]]> AEAskAsk EngadgetAskEngadgetAustraliaHome Theater PCHomeTheaterPcHTPCLow PowerLowPowerMedia CenterMedia Center PCMediaCenterMediaCenterPcPowerPower-Efficient Sat, 07 Jul 2012 22:59:00 -0400 21|20271954 <![CDATA[Samsung mass-produces 4-gigabit LPDDR2 memory, aims to make 2GB a common sight in smartphones]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/samsung-mass-produces-4-gigabit-lpddr2-memory/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/samsung-mass-produces-4-gigabit-lpddr2-memory/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/samsung-mass-produces-4-gigabit-lpddr2-memory/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Image

Samsung started making 2GB low-power mobile memory last year, but as the 1GB-equipped phone you likely have in your hand shows, the chips weren't built on a wide-enough scale to get much use. The Korean company is hoping to fix that now that it's mass-producing 20-nanometer, 4-gigabit LPDDR2 RAM. Going to a smaller process than the 30-nanometer chips of old will not just slim the memory down by a fifth, helping your smartphone stay skinny: it should help 2GB of RAM become the "mainstream product" by the end of 2013, if Samsung gets its way. New chips should run at 1,066Mbps without chewing up any more power than the earlier parts, too, so there's no penalty for using the denser parts. It's hard to say whether or not the 20nm design is what's leading to the 2GB of RAM in the Japanese Galaxy S III; we just know that the upgraded NTT DoCoMo phone is now just the start of a rapidly approaching trend for smartphones and tablets.

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]]> 20 nanometer20-nanometer20Nanometer20nm20nm-classcellphonecellphonesgalaxy s 3galaxy s iiiGalaxyS3GalaxySIiilow powerlow power ddr2low-powerlow-power ddr2Low-powerDdr2LowPowerLowPowerDdr2LPDDR2memorymobilepostcrossntt docomoNttDocomoramsamsungsamsung galaxy s 3samsung galaxy s iiiSamsungGalaxyS3SamsungGalaxySIiitablettablet pctablet pcsTabletPcTabletPcstablets Thu, 17 May 2012 12:01:00 -0400 21|20239993 <![CDATA[Panasonic preps samples of next-gen ReRAM devices, NAND preps for early retirement]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/panasonic-low-power-reram/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/panasonic-low-power-reram/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/panasonic-low-power-reram/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Image

The Galaxy S III may rock an impressive battery life, but if Panasonic has its way, even greater benchmarks could be on the horizon. The company is ready to start making samples of a new ReRAM microcontroller, and -- like Sharp and Elpida -- it could start mass production as soon as next year. Here's a little refresher: ReRAM is a new kind of memory with re-write speeds far superior to NAND because it doesn't need power to hold onto information. Panny's chip will initially be used in simple devices like fire alarms, but the tech could eventually find its way into our TVs and even smartphones and tablets. But seriously, are we even capable of living in a NAND-free world?

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]]> cell phonecell phonescellphonecellphonesjapanjapaneselow powerlow-powerLowPowermemorymicrocontrollermicrocontrollersmobilemobile techmobile technologymobilepostcrossMobileTechMobileTechnologynon-volatile memoryNon-volatileMemorynonvolatile memoryNonvolatileMemorypanasonicramreramslatessocstoragetablets Tue, 15 May 2012 13:44:00 -0400 21|20238178 <![CDATA[Series revisits ARM's humble beginnings, BBC Micro and all]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/04/series-revisits-arms-humble-beginnings/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/04/series-revisits-arms-humble-beginnings/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/04/series-revisits-arms-humble-beginnings/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Series revisits ARM's humble beginnings, BBC Micro and all

If you read our interview with ARM co-founder John Biggs, you know the company behind the processor in most smartphones had quite modest beginnings, what with an office in a barn and all. But Biggs is only part of the story, and Reghardware fleshes the rest out with a two-part series on the "unsung heroes of tech": Sophie Wilson, Steve Furber and Herman Hauser, the team behind Acorn Computers, the British PC company that spawned ARM in the mid-80s. We'll let you click through to the source links to take the journey yourself, but here are a few highlights: earning a computer contract with the BBC, happening upon ARM chips' low power consumption by accident and striking gold thanks to a partnership with Apple.

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]]> ARMarm holdingsARM processorArmHoldingsArmProcessorbackstoriesbackstorychipchipslow powerLowPowerprocessorprocessorsseriessystem on a chipSystemOnAChip Fri, 04 May 2012 10:47:00 -0400 21|20230835 <![CDATA[Intel adds to ULV processor line with 1.8GHz Core i7 and i5 options, one of them to star in ASUS UX21]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/intel-adds-to-ulv-processor-line-with-1-8ghz-core-i7-and-i5-opti/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/intel-adds-to-ulv-processor-line-with-1-8ghz-core-i7-and-i5-opti/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/intel-adds-to-ulv-processor-line-with-1-8ghz-core-i7-and-i5-opti/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Intel's so-called Ultrabooks may be a little way off into the distance at the moment, but the company isn't making you wait until its Ivy Bridge rollout to get a taste for ultraslim laptops with some real power inside them. A trio of new ultra-low voltage CPUs, each rated with a TDP of just 17W, has been added to the company's catalog, starting with the top-tier Core i7-2677M, whose pair of cores run at 1.8GHz by default but can be sped up to 2.9GHz when duty calls. Then there's the i7-2637M, which looks to only differ in clock speeds (1.7GHz default, 2.8GHz under Turbo Boost), and the i5-2557M that makes do with a 3MB L3 cache (1MB less than its i7 brethren) and a 1.7GHz / 2.7GHz speed range. All three 64-bit, 32nm processors also integrate a GPU (350MHz base clock, maxes out at 1.2GHz) within their walls, which is what makes their ascetic power consumption all the more impressive. OEMs should soon start splicing these new options into their next generation laptops, and while the obvious speculation centers around a MacBook Air refresh, CNET tells us the Core i5-2557M has already found a home in ASUS' upcoming UX21, a (purportedly) sub-$1,000 11.6-inch featherweight contender.

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]]> 17w32nmcore 2011core i5core i5-2557mcore i7core i7-2637mCore i7-2677MCore2011CoreI5CoreI5-2557mCoreI7CoreI7-2637mCoreI7-2677mcpudual coredual-coreDualCoreefficientintellow powerlow voltageLowPowerLowVoltageprocessorsandy bridgeSandyBridgeshippingulv Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:38:00 -0400 21|19972189 <![CDATA[Battery-less transmitters pave the way for wireless baby sensors]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/battery-less-transimitters-pave-the-way-for-wireless-baby-sensor/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/battery-less-transimitters-pave-the-way-for-wireless-baby-sensor/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/battery-less-transimitters-pave-the-way-for-wireless-baby-sensor/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments The radio waves that saturate the air around us may, or may not, give us headaches and cancer, but we can tell you for certain they're capable of powering tiny wireless chips. Renesas Electronics Corp has created a new ultra-low power wireless transmitter that can push data to both Bluetooth and WiFi receivers without the need for a battery or AC adapter. Instead of the typical tens of milliwatts, the little transmitters require only a few microwatts of power, which can be harvested from environmental radio waves through LC resonance. The creators envision adhesive sensors that send a baby's body temperature to laptops and ads that beam coupons to smartphones over short distances -- you know, the sort of stuff NFC can do, but without the specialized hardware.

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]]> bluetoothelectricitylow powerLowPowerNFCpowerradioradio wavesRadioWavesRenesasRenesas Electronics CorpRenesasElectronicsCorptransmitterultra-low powerUltra-lowPowerwifiwireless Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:10:00 -0400 21|19967680 <![CDATA[Panasonic shrinks WiGig for cellphones, sets our hearts a flutter]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/panasonic-shrinks-wigig-for-cellphones-sets-our-hearts-a-flutte/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/panasonic-shrinks-wigig-for-cellphones-sets-our-hearts-a-flutte/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/panasonic-shrinks-wigig-for-cellphones-sets-our-hearts-a-flutte/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Panasonic Shrinks WiGig Tri-band WiGig in a laptop? Yawnsville. Now, put that 60GHz connection in a high-end smartphone and we're all ears (and sweaty palms). Panasonic is the first out the gate with a 802.11ad compatible chip for mobile devices and, despite its head-spinning multi-gigabit speeds, the company's creation draws less that 1W of power. It'll be sometime before WiGig makes its way into your Droid or iPhone, but when it does you can look forward to wirelessly syncing entire seasons of Good Eats (in 1080p, of course) to your phone in mere minutes. Until then, you'll just have to make do with the tantalizing PR after the break.

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]]> 60GHz802.11adlow powerLowPowermobilenetworkingpanasonicwigigwigig allianceWigigAlliancewireless Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:39:00 -0400 21|19957718 <![CDATA[Samsung entices with electrowetting displays at SID 2011: coming to consumers later this year?]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/samsung-entices-with-elecrowetting-displays-at-sid-2011-coming/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/samsung-entices-with-elecrowetting-displays-at-sid-2011-coming/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/samsung-entices-with-elecrowetting-displays-at-sid-2011-coming/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Liquavista has teased us with the potential of its electrowetting displays for years, but we hadn't gotten to peep its panels post-acquisition until now, at SID 2011. In addition to the several screens we'd seen before, there was a new monochrome model that operates at low frequencies (down to sub-hertz levels) to cut down on current consumption. We also laid eyes on its chromatic displays, but in comparison to Mirasol's tech, electrowetting has a ways to go to match the image quality of IMOD. However, Sammy said that its reflective screens can be constructed with minimal mods to existing LCD manufacturing plants, while making Mirasol requires fresh fab facilities. Such a factory isn't exactly cheap, and Mirasol's large-scale production plant won't be around until 2012. So Samsung might snatch the market if it gets there first, and the rep we spoke with said the company hopes to have products shipping this year. While we wait for their hopes and dreams to come to fruition, view the vid after the break.

Gallery: Samsung's color and low frequency electrowetting displays at SID 2011

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]]> displayelectrowettinghands-onliquavistalow powerLowPowerpanelreflectivereflective displayReflectiveDisplaysamsungscreensidsid 2011Sid2011video Wed, 18 May 2011 17:09:00 -0400 21|19944126 <![CDATA[Samsung starts baking 30nm 4Gb LPDDR2 chips, packaging 2GB mobile RAM in April]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/samsung-starts-baking-30nm-4gb-lpddr2-chips-packaging-2gb-mobil/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/samsung-starts-baking-30nm-4gb-lpddr2-chips-packaging-2gb-mobil/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/samsung-starts-baking-30nm-4gb-lpddr2-chips-packaging-2gb-mobil/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments When it comes to mobile RAM, capacity is often what pops to mind first while we overlook speed and power consumption, but Samsung's latest delivery is worth the extra attention. Earlier this month, said Korean giant started producing 30nm 4Gb 1066Mbps LPDDR2 (or simply Mobile DDR2) chips, in order to phase out its 40nm ones that topped 2Gb at a 800Mbps transmission rate. To put it in perspective, a 40nm 1GB package consists of four 2Gb chips, whereas the new 30nm one will only need two 4Gb chips, thus reducing the package thickness by 20 percent (down to 0.8mm) and power consumption by 25 percent. It's hard to tell when we'll start seeing these bits of silicon entering the consumer market, but Samsung's already stamping out 1GB modules this month, with a 2GB version to follow next month. Oh yes, we're definitely liking the sound of 2GB RAM for mobile phones.

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]]> 30nm4Gbdramfabricationlow powerlow power ddr2LowPowerLowPowerDdr2lpddr2memorymemory fabricationMemoryFabricationmobile ddr2mobile ramMobileDdr2MobileRamramram fabricationram productionRamFabricationRamProductionsamsungsilicon Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:57:00 -0400 21|19891505 <![CDATA[VIA says Eden X2 is world's most power-efficient dual-core processor]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/04/via-says-eden-x2-is-worlds-most-power-efficient-dual-core-proce/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/04/via-says-eden-x2-is-worlds-most-power-efficient-dual-core-proce/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/04/via-says-eden-x2-is-worlds-most-power-efficient-dual-core-proce/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Following close behind the low-power Nano X2 comes the Eden X2, or what VIA is calling "the world's most power-efficient" fanless dual-core processor. While we've yet to see any official numbers, the original Eden did 500MHz on one watt of power, so we should see similarly thrifty specs here. Aside from that, the unit houses two 64-bit cores in a 21 x 21 millimeter package, is compatible with Windows CE and Linux operating systems, and was built using a 40-nanometer manufacturing process. The Eden X2 made its debut at the World Embedded conference this week, and should make it to the real world by the end of Q2. Full PR after the break.

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]]> cpudual coredual core processordual-coredual-core processorDual-coreProcessorDualCoreDualCoreProcessoredeneden x2EdenX2embeddedembedded systemsEmbeddedSystemsenergy efficientEnergyEfficientfanlesslow powerLowPowerpower efficientPowerEfficientprocessorViavia edenvia eden x2via processorvia technologiesViaEdenViaEdenX2ViaProcessorViaTechnologiesx2 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 02:25:00 -0500 21|19867088 <![CDATA[AMD has a 5W Fusion APU to put in your future tablet of choice]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/31/amd-has-a-5w-fusion-apu-to-put-in-your-future-tablet-of-choice/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/31/amd-has-a-5w-fusion-apu-to-put-in-your-future-tablet-of-choice/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/31/amd-has-a-5w-fusion-apu-to-put-in-your-future-tablet-of-choice/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments The same Singapore event that brought us our first look at AMD's humongous Radeon HD 6990 has also served as the stage for the company's first showing of a new, even lower-powered Fusion APU. The regular dual-core Ontario (C-50) variant requires a 9W power budget to operate, but AMD's managed to shrink that down to 5W in a chip designed specifically to be used in tablets. Clock speed remains at 1GHz and the core count hasn't bee touched, but the memory controller has been dumbed down and peripheral ports have been reduced to one of each type. This streamlined C-50 has already found a home in Acer's 10.1-inch Windows 7 tablet and should prove decently popular among manufacturers looking for an x86 alternative to the coming tidal wave of ARM-based devices.

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]]> 5wamdamd c-50amd fusionAmdC-50AmdFusionapubobcatc-50cpuenergy efficientEnergyEfficientfusionfusion apuFusionApugraphicshardwarelow powerLowPowerofficialontarioprocessorsingaporeslateslatestablettablets Mon, 31 Jan 2011 06:26:00 -0500 21|19821572 <![CDATA[Samsung buys Liquavista, dives headfirst into electrowetting displays]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/19/samsung-buys-liquavista-preps-some-snappy-low-power-displays/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/19/samsung-buys-liquavista-preps-some-snappy-low-power-displays/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/19/samsung-buys-liquavista-preps-some-snappy-low-power-displays/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Liquavista displays get flexible, 'unbreakable,' still rather theoretical (video) Samsung's got a reputation for building crazy awesome display technologies, and it just added another one to the stack -- with the buyout of Philips-spinoff Liquavista this December, it's gained quite the foothold in electrowetting. In case you're not familiar, electrowetting has been repeatedly pitched to us as pretty much the Holy Grail of displays: flexible, colorful, unbreakable, outdoor-readable e-paper screens with high refresh rates and low-power consumption that can be manufactured on existing assembly lines. We'll have to see if the theories equate to meaningful products, but we imagine ownership by Samsung can't hurt one bit, especially as the company says it will "expand its leadership in next generation display technologies by pioneering the application of electrowetting in e-Paper and transparent displays." Sounds like a commitment to us. PR after the break.

Update: Seems that The Digital Reader actually figured out about the deal yesterday -- read the original scoop at our more coverage link!

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]]> Displaydisplayselectrowettingflexibleflexible displayFlexibleDisplayliquavistalow powerLowPowerSamsungscreenscreenstransparenttransparent displayTransparentDisplay Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:12:00 -0500 21|19807790 <![CDATA[VIA Nano X2 low power, dual-core chip gets official]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/04/via-nano-x2-low-power-dual-core-chip-gets-official/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/04/via-nano-x2-low-power-dual-core-chip-gets-official/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/04/via-nano-x2-low-power-dual-core-chip-gets-official/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments VIA has officially announced its Nano X2 low power dual-core chip. The chip comprises two of VIA's 64-bit Isaiah architecture cores, found in previous single-core Nano CPUs. The processors come with native 64-bit software support, VIA's PadLock hardware security features, and VT CPU virtualization technology. The new Nano X2 chips are compatible with VIA's previous processors, including the Nano, C7, C7-M, and Eden, facilitating easy upgrades. The VIA Nano X2 processors are already currently available for OEMs, with systems featuring the chips expected in the first quarter of this year. Full press release is after the break

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]]> cesces 2011ces2011chipchipscpudual-coreisaiahlow powerLowPowernanonano x2NanoX2via Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:18:00 -0500 21|19786743 <![CDATA[Elpida and Sharp team up for ReRAM in 2013: 10,000x the speed of current NAND flash chips]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/13/elpida-and-sharp-team-up-for-reram-in-2013-10-000x-the-speed-of/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/13/elpida-and-sharp-team-up-for-reram-in-2013-10-000x-the-speed-of/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/13/elpida-and-sharp-team-up-for-reram-in-2013-10-000x-the-speed-of/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Want to know where the next breakthrough in mobile technology will come from? Well, if Elpida and Sharp have their way, the answer will be the usual suspect of Japan, where they're working away on new memory chips said to be capable of four orders of magnitude faster performance than the ordinary NAND flash storage of today. Dubbed ReRAM, or Resistive Random Access Memory, this project targets a 2013 date for commercialization and counts the University of Tokyo and Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology among its development team. Details on how such blinding speeds will be reached aren't readily available, but the Nikkei reports power consumption will be down to "virtually zero" when the memory's not in use. So with ReRAM and HP's memristors both set for three years from now, can we schedule NAND's funeral for 2014 or what?

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]]> commercializationdevelopmentelpidafuturejapanlow powerlow-powerLowPowermanufacturingmemorynaistNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and TechnologyNationalInstituteOfAdvancedIndustrialScienceAndTechnologypartnershipplansramreramresearchroadmapsharpstorageuniversityuniversity of tokyoUniversityOfTokyo Wed, 13 Oct 2010 04:47:00 -0400 21|19671796 <![CDATA[Pixel Qi turns into ideal 10-inch companion display with wired and Wireless USB, 1.5W power needs]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/28/pixel-qi-turns-into-ideal-10-inch-companion-display-with-both-wi/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/28/pixel-qi-turns-into-ideal-10-inch-companion-display-with-both-wi/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/28/pixel-qi-turns-into-ideal-10-inch-companion-display-with-both-wi/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Pixel Qi has today announced it's taking the next step in its quest for global domination of sunlight-readable displays. Partnering up with German outfit Display Solution AG, the company is about to start selling its 10-inch, 1024 x 600 panels as standalone units, which you'll be able to hook up to your computer or smartphone via USB, either the wired or Wireless version. Power consumption maxes out a measly 1.5W with the LED backlight turned on, meaning that one USB tether will be sufficient to feed it both power and data. We don't know exactly how long we've waited for a secondary screen with this sort of flexibility, but it's sure been a while. Look for Display Solution to start selling these hotcakes next month.

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]]> d-screend-screen-qi10displaydisplay solutionDisplaySolutionlow powerLowPowermonitorportableportable displayPortableDisplaypower efficiencyPowerEfficiencyqi10screensecond screenSecondScreensunlightsunlight-readableusbusb displayUsbDisplayvideowireless usbWirelessUsb Tue, 28 Sep 2010 03:27:00 -0400 21|19651155 <![CDATA[Qualcomm's Peanut challenges ZigBee, Bluetooth for control of your personal area network next year]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/24/qualcomms-peanut-challenges-zigbee-bluetooth-for-control-of-yo/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/24/qualcomms-peanut-challenges-zigbee-bluetooth-for-control-of-yo/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/24/qualcomms-peanut-challenges-zigbee-bluetooth-for-control-of-yo/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Perhaps dissatisfied with the glacial pace of Wibree, Qualcomm's working on an ultra-low-power, short-range wireless transfer tech of its own -- it's called Peanut, and executives claim it only needs "fractions of a milliwatt of power" to push data at several megabits per second. Computerworld got the scoop on the new low-power radio at EmTech@MIT 2010, and reports that Qualcomm's had these goobers in the oven since 2006 and is looking to trump the likes of ZigBee and Bluetooth by this time next year. Assuming, of course, the Peanut standard doesn't require a molasses-like committee of its own to attain formal approval.

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]]> body area networkBodyAreaNetworklow energyLow powerLowEnergyLowPowerpanPeanutpersonal area networkPersonalAreaNetworkQualcommQualcomm PeanutQualcommPeanutradioshort rangeShortRangewireless Fri, 24 Sep 2010 03:22:00 -0400 21|19646909 <![CDATA[Cambridge scientists develop lower-than-low power WORM memory]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/03/cambridge-scientists-develop-lower-than-low-power-worm-memory/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/03/cambridge-scientists-develop-lower-than-low-power-worm-memory/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/03/cambridge-scientists-develop-lower-than-low-power-worm-memory/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Researchers at Cambridge University have recently published a paper on their new type of WORM (write once read many) memory which is even more low powered than the ones that came before it. The new electron-only design of the memory is solution processed, making it low cost as well as it requires no lithography. The device, using ZnO semiconductor nanoparticles to inject electrons into a polymer which is capable of conducting. The electrons are then used to program the memory by permanently lowering the conductivity of the polymer, producing insulation. This result is far lower power densities than previously recorded, by orders of magnitude. The research team believes that it can make further improvements to the device as they continue to work.

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]]> cambridge universityCambridgeUniversityefficiencylow powerLowPowermemorynanoparticlessemiconductorwormwrite once read manyWriteOnceReadMany Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:01:00 -0400 21|19620143 <![CDATA[ViewSonic outs energy efficient, earth-friendly VOT125 nettop -- won't help that there oil spill]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/18/viewsonic-outs-energy-efficient-earth-friendly-vot125-nettop/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/18/viewsonic-outs-energy-efficient-earth-friendly-vot125-nettop/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/18/viewsonic-outs-energy-efficient-earth-friendly-vot125-nettop/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Way back at CES in January, we spied ViewSonic's full offering, and we caught wind then of the VOT125 nettop -- but we didn't really have any details to go on. Well, the company's officially announced the VOT125 PC Mini today, and the slim little guy looks pretty cute. Sold as a space-saving PC with green design, ViewSonic says that the VOT125 uses up to 90 percent less plastic than similar nettops, and consumes up to 90 percent less power, making use of a range of ultra low power Intel ULV CPUs. The VOT125 boasts 2GB of memory, a 250GB hard drive, four USB 2.0 ports, plus DVI / HDMI. You can grab one up starting today, and it's got a starting price of $499. The full PR follows.

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]]> desktopsenvironmentally friendlyEnvironmentallyFriendlygreengreen pcGreenPclow powerLowPowernettopnettopspower consumptionPowerConsumptionulvviewsonicviewsonic vot125ViewsonicVot125VOT125 Tue, 18 May 2010 12:58:00 -0400 21|19481671 <![CDATA[Bluetooth 4.0 with low energy (almost) finally ready to roll]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/21/bluetooth-4-0-with-low-energy-almost-finally-ready-to-roll/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/21/bluetooth-4-0-with-low-energy-almost-finally-ready-to-roll/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/21/bluetooth-4-0-with-low-energy-almost-finally-ready-to-roll/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Molasses, snails and glaciers: none are slower than an organization developing a new wireless standard. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is no exception -- it's been nearly three years since it announced it would roll Wibree into Bluetooth and four months since it made Bluetooth 4.0 official, but still no dice. This week, the SIG says the low-power specification is ready for action, its minutiae finalized. However, fine print in the org's press release disagrees. The main reason for Bluetooth 4.0 was to include lower power devices, but that all-important integration is still pending a "before June 2010" completion date. That means we still won't see Bluetooth-toting cats till the end of the year, and we have no idea what SIG has accomplished in the meanwhile. Press release after the break.

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]]> bluetoothBluetooth 4Bluetooth 4.0bluetooth low energybluetooth SIGBluetooth4Bluetooth4.0BluetoothLowEnergyBluetoothSigBTdelaylow energylow powerLowEnergyLowPowerspecificationspecificationsWibree Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:46:00 -0400 21|19447904 <![CDATA[LED traffic lights don't melt snow, do cause accidents]]> http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/led-traffic-lights-dont-melt-snow-do-cause-accidents/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/led-traffic-lights-dont-melt-snow-do-cause-accidents/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/led-traffic-lights-dont-melt-snow-do-cause-accidents/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments A number of cold weather American states are reporting their dismay at finding out that LED traffic lights are so energy efficient that they do not produce enough excess heat to dissipate any snow that covers them. It turns out, perhaps in an homage to bad engineering everywhere, that the inefficiency of incandescent light bulbs was previously relied upon to keep traffic signals unimpeded. The new LEDs do not achieve the same effect, which has resulted in a few accidents and even a death being blamed on obstructed traffic lights. Feel free to apply palm to face now. It's not all gloomy, though, as the majority of people are said to treat a dysfunctional traffic light as a stop sign (how clever of them), and a tech fix is being worked on as we speak.

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]]> efficiencyenergy efficientEnergyEfficientfacepalmincandescentledled traffic lightsLedTrafficLightslightlight bulbsLightBulbslow powerLowPowerroad safetyRoadSafetysafetysnowtraffictraffic lighttraffic lightsTrafficLightTrafficLights Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:16:00 -0500 21|19284804 <![CDATA[AMD 's new Athlon II processors aim to go easy on the power, your wallet]]> http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/amd-s-new-athlon-ii-processors-aim-to-go-easy-on-the-power-you/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/amd-s-new-athlon-ii-processors-aim-to-go-easy-on-the-power-you/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/amd-s-new-athlon-ii-processors-aim-to-go-easy-on-the-power-you/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments AMD has just outed a selection of new Athlon II procs, which do little to help it reclaim the performance crown, but will be of interest to anyone who likes to keep things minimal -- whether we're talking about prices or temperatures. Starting at $69 per chip (when bought in bulk) with the 2.7GHz dual-core X2 235e and topping out at $143 for the 2.3GHz quad-core X4 605e, AMD's new e-tagged processors operate within a 45W thermal envelope, as opposed to the relatively standard 65W TDP. The Sunnyvale outfit makes some ill-advised claims of "up to 75 percent" better performance versus comparable Intel CPUs -- the small print tells us that number is derived from 3DMark Vantage while testing with different GPUs -- but we suppose until the Thuban six-core shows up, AMD will have to take performance gains from wherever it can get 'em, including its own imagination.

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]]> 3dmark3dmark vantage3dmarkVantageamdamd athlonamd athlon iiAmdAthlonAmdAthlonIiathlonathlon iiathlon ii x2athlon ii x3Athlon ii x4AthlonIiAthlonIiX2AthlonIiX3AthlonIiX4benchmarkbenchmarkscpudesktopdesktop processorDesktopProcessorenergy efficientEnergyEfficientlow energylow powerLowEnergyLowPowerprocessor Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:12:00 -0400 21|19202017 <![CDATA[Texas Instruments CC2540 promises ultra-low energy Bluetooth]]> http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/texas-instruments-cc2540-promises-ultra-low-energy-bluetooth-vi/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/texas-instruments-cc2540-promises-ultra-low-energy-bluetooth-vi/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/texas-instruments-cc2540-promises-ultra-low-energy-bluetooth-vi/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Texas Instruments is pretty chuffed with itself right about now, as it's prepping to demonstrate a swell-sounding new system-on-chip that takes Bluetooth connectivity to the extreme reaches of low energy consumption. About to be shown off in Munich tomorrow, the new CC2540 takes up a measly 6mm-squared of real estate, and is said to be able to operate for more than a year on a single button cell battery. With the reduced physical size and embedded Flash memory, this should be easier to install and update as necessary too. Considering the battery-draining ways of current Bluetooth tech, such claims sound preposterously awesome, but we'll keep our giddy enthusiasm in check until early next year when samples will begin rolling out. For now, you can check out the older video below 'splaining the prospective benefits in more detail.

Read - Texas Instruments press release
Read - Bluetooth low energy webpage
Read - Video explanation of Bluetooth low energy

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]]> bluetoothbluetooth low energyBluetoothLowEnergyCC2540connectivityenergy efficientEnergyEfficientlow energylow powerLowEnergyLowPowerperipheralperipheralssystem-on-chiptexas instrumentsTexasInstrumentstiwireless Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:18:00 -0400 21|19200545