rockchip
Latest
ASUS' Raspberry Pi rival can play 4K video
Homebrew-friendly boards like the Raspberry Pi are great for do-it-yourself projects, but they seldom have the oomph needed to handle intensive tasks. That's where ASUS hopes to do better -- it quietly released its own device, the appropriately named Tinker Board. It's almost the same size as the Pi, but its quad-core Rockchip processor has the power to play 4K video and 24-bit audio. This might be your ideal hardware if you're building your own mini media center.
Intel's success in China hinges on budget phones and tablets
"China is the number one market with connected products." That was how Intel's Senior Vice President Kirk Skaugen kicked off his keynote at IDF in Shenzhen, citing China's staggering 30 percent share of worldwide connected-device purchases in 2014. The country gobbled up 40 percent of the 46 million Intel-powered tablets shipped globally. Not bad, but 46 million is hardly anything compared to the 420.7 million smartphones shipped in China alone in the same year -- only a tiny percentage of which packed an Intel chip. Most others relied on Qualcomm, MediaTek and Samsung. Intel's smartphone market share is so small that it never dared to share the stats; it could be as low as 2.81 percent in the Android space, according to benchmark specialist AnTuTu.
ARM's latest processor design puts fast 4K graphics on your phone
You've probably heard no end of hype for 4K video on TVs and computers, and now it's about to invade your phone... at least, so long as ARM has its way. The company just took the wraps off of Cortex-A72, a processor reference design that promises a huge boost to computing power, especially when graphics come into play. Thanks to updates that include optimizations for an efficient 16-nanometer chipmaking process, 30 percent more memory performance and an 80 percent speedier graphics core (the Mali-T880), the A72 is about 3.5 times more powerful than ARM's earlier Cortex-A15. That's beefy enough to record 4K video at an extra-smooth 120 frames per second -- many current smartphones only manage 30FPS at best. You should get "console-class" gaming, too, and there's a promise of Google Now-style natural voice commands that don't depend on a distant server to interpret what you're saying.
Google's modular phone gets cheaper thanks to a new processor
One of the biggest challenges behind Google's modular Project Ara phone platform has been getting processors to play nicely with the technology. How do you let someone swap out the very heart of their device as easily as they would a memory card? By creating a CPU for that very purpose, that's how. Rockchip has started work on a system-on-chip with modular tech built-in; your phone won't need any bridge chips or other special tricks to let you switch processors on a whim. You won't see the hardware in action until a Rockchip-based Ara prototype arrives in early 2015. However, the plans show that Google's vision of a completely upgradable handset is both feasible and potentially inexpensive. Don't be surprised if some of the earliest Ara phones (or rather, their parts) easily fit within your budget.
Lenovo IdeaPad A10 leaks reveal a cheap, convertible Android laptop
If convertible Lenovo PCs like the Yoga 2 Pro are well beyond your price range, we have good news. The company has prematurely uploaded PDF manuals that reveal the IdeaPad A10, a 10.1-inch Android 4.2 laptop with a fold-back display. The device is clearly focused on entry-level users between its quad-core Rockchip processor, 16GB to 32GB of expandable storage and front-facing VGA camera. We don't know the IdeaPad A10's launch details when the company has yet to make an announcement. However, multiple German retail listings suggest that the system could ship within weeks for €250 ($338) -- well below the cost of the cheapest Yoga models. Check out a second image of the A10 after the break.
Fuzhou Rockchip announces RK30 for the budget tablets of today
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.
Fuzhou Rockchip hypes RK2918 chip for bargain ICS phones and tablets
Could Fuzhou Rockchip's new RK2918 be the next go-to processor for a budget Android 4.0 experience? We already spotted this fleck of silicon running in the company's PAD prototype (shown above) and now we're told it'll also power a China-targeted ICS smartphone made by AirTouch, as well as an 'eHome Cloud Solution' that'll somehow make it easier for smartphones, tablets and PCs to share resources over a home network. Rockchip claims it's becoming a "virtual behemoth in North America," but only hands-on time with its latest products will tell whether that means 'big' or just 'monstrous'. Read on for more ambiguous details in the press release.
Fuzhou Rockchip teases Android 4.0 PAD, brings Ice Cream Sandwich to the big screen (video)
A tablet running Ice Cream Sandwich? That's what China's Fuzhou Rockchip has apparently produced with the Android 4.0 PAD, as seen by our brethren over at Engadget China. According to the manufacturer, this slate is the very first to run Android 4.0, having been put together only a couple of weeks after Google released the source code for its latest OS. Rockchip's being rather mum on specifics and release dates for supported devices, though it has revealed that this particular prototype's powered by its 1GHz RK2918 processor. The company's released a teaser video as well -- check it out for yourself after the break, and do also head over to Engadget China for some hands-on shots.
AndyPad Pro review
Picture the scene: you're checking your emails on a shiny new device (worth two months pay) and from nowhere, a greasy-fingered infant is screaming at you to play. Reluctantly, you pass it over, watching your own hands cup the air beneath any potential drop zone, wondering how best to explain the jam-smeared calamity to your insurance company. Then you wonder if there isn't a useful, hard-wearing and cheap device you could let them play on without fear of bankruptcy. That's what prompted Norwich-based bedding magnate Andrew Kerry to conceive the AndyPad, an inexpensive, 7-inch Android tablet he could fling at kids. It wasn't long before jealous adults were demanding their own version, so a tooled-up edition of the device called the AndyPad Pro was born.The tablet is currently UK-only and it retails for a lot less than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 (£280; $345 on Amazon) and Acer Iconia Tab A100 (£273 for the 8GB version; $328 on Amazon), and HTC Flyer (£330; $499 on Amazon). What's more, Verticool, an outfit founded by a man more famous for his Mattressman chain than any interest in technology, believes it can match the competition in a fair fight. Do the electronics giants have something to fear from the bargain-basement tablet or does it promise much and deliver little? Read on to find out.%Gallery-134698%
Archos Arnova 8 and 10 tablets hit the bargain bin (video)
We know, Archos already makes fairly cheap tablets, but believe it or not, the company's going after an even cheaper segment with its new Arnova 8 and 10. The two have been popping up all around the web -- they stopped by the FCC earlier this week and there was an early spec leak from a Russian site -- but now we're finally getting some real details and hands-on impressions courtesy of Charbax, who is quite possibly the biggest Archos fan in the world. The $199 10.1-inch Arnova 10, which we have to say looks a lot like the Archos 101, packs a 600MHz Rockchip RK2818 processor, resistive touchscreen, 8GB of storage, and Android 2.1 -- but before you gag, know that there should also be a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 Rockchip RK 2918 / capacitive touchscreen version coming in April. Meanwhile, the 8-inch Arnova 8 rings up at $150 with the same processor and resistive touchscreen, but only 4GB of storage. If the cut corners don't faze you and you're in the mood for a closer look, we suggest you hit the break for some Charbax video originals.
Rockchip shows off Android-based desk phone, won't sell you one
We unfortunately didn't spot this one ourselves at IFA, but it looks like Rockchip had more than just the usual tablets on display at the show -- it also had this Android-based desk phone tucked away at its booth. Before you get too excited, however (tough, we know), we should point out that Rockchip is apparently just using the phone as a showcase for its own chipset, which it hopes will be used in a whole range of different Android-based devices. The prototype on display was apparently fully functional though, and included both landline and 3G connectivity, and a built-in camera for video calls -- so there may be at least a slight chance that it could wind up as an actual product someday.
Rockchip's Supernova x1 tablet does 3D without glasses or technical specs
You had to know that Nintendo's 3DS wouldn't be the only glasses-free 3D handheld for long. Our Chinese compatriots caught sight of a prototype device from Rockchip called the Supernova x1, performing some similar lenticular trickery to make images appear 3D. Exactly what display tech it uses remains a mystery, but we're told the Disney footage being displayed had to be "processed" in some way to make it appear 3D. Like the 3DS, the 3D effect here can be adjusted or disabled entirely, but that's really all that is known at this point about this mystery tablet/PMP. Sit tight, though: everything should be revealed at IFA in a week's time.
Keepin' it real fake: Nokia's Android N8
Can you believe we've waited on the N8 long enough for (at least) three KIRF versions to beat it to market? This latest one's pretty special too, as it gives us a glimpse into one of the fevered dream of Engadget commenters: a Nokia flagship rocking Android (2.1, in this case). The iZiNN CJ-3 copies the N8's form factor, styling, and 3.5-inch screen, but throws in an upgrade of its own by going with a higher-res 800 x 480 capacitive panel. Yeah, we're shocked too. A 5 megapixel imager, a budget Rockchip CPU, and an HDMI port fill out the rest of the known specs, while a release in China is expected some time later this month. Anyone know why this thing isn't being built and sold by a legitimate manufacturer? [Thanks, Ludger]
Roverpad comes clean with five new tablet PCs, one running Tegra
And here you were thinking this whole "tablet revolution" thing was a myth, huh? Out of seemingly nowhere, Russia's own Rover Computer has just issued not one, not two, but five new tablet PCs for its nine time zones, with one of 'em boasting Windows CE 6.0 and the others running on Google's Android system. Kicking things off is the Air G70, which will boast a 7-inch resistive touchscreen, a 667MHz ARM11 CPU, 256MB of RAM, a 4GB internal flash drive, WiFi, optional 3G and a microSD expansion slot. Next up is the Go G50, Android-powered 5-inch slate that relies on a Marvell PXA303, 128MB of RAM, 2GB of storage as well as 3G, WiFi, a microSD slot and a USB socket. Going even smaller is the aptly-named Air G70, which checks in with a 4-inch display (800 x 480 resolution, though), support for a multitude of file formats and compatibility with navigation software. The Go G72 steps it back up to a 7-inch panel, but also throws in a webcam, Bluetooth, GPS chip and a hint of color around the edges. Finally, the 7-inch TegA W70 will hum along with NVIDIA's Tegra within, and being the flagship that it is, it'll also include HDMI, 4GB of flash storage, 3G, a webcam, 512MB of RAM, a capacitive touchscreen and Android 2.1. Pricing details have yet to be hammered out across the line, but we're told to expect the family on store shelves by October. Update: We've received credible information that Rover may not actually survive as a company long enough to release these. Word has it that the general manager just bolted, and the vast majority of the marketing team was let go. In their words, the company is "practically bankrupt now," and it's unlikely the firm will find the funds to brand these otherwise vanilla ODM designs as its own.
Archos 8 Home Tablet just a 7-inch display according to FCC docs
Get a load of that bezel. With chunk like that we can only be looking at the Archos 8 Home tablet, a device that just lumbered its way through the FCC in a rather unflattering (even for the FCC) photo spread. Archos calls its Model 7800 an Android MID throughout the government docs, but given the bezel-to-display ratio we're guessing it'll pull primary duty as a $199 picture frame with the ability to track down the occasional recipe over WiFi. Other details include the same plodding Rockchip RK2808 SoC found in the Archos 7 Home Tablet and a HSD070IDW1 resistive touchscreen display from Hannstar with 800x480 pixel resolution, 25ms response, 500:1 contrast, 200/300 nits brightness, and poor 140-degree left-right and 110-degree up-down viewing angles -- easy to see where Archos cut out the cost, eh? Oh, and get this, Hannstar says that its display is 7-inches, not 8-inches as Archos claims. Either Archos made a mistake in its FCC submission or the company is hoping to mask reality with that giant plastic border.
Onda's Vi10 Android PMP sports Rockchip internals, 3G wireless
We haven't seen much of Rockchip's 600MHz, RK2808 processor for mobile devices outside of China and, while we're not entirely confident that this particular implementation will ever grace our retail shelves, it is nice to see that this semi-working prototype exists... somewhere. It's the Vi10 from Onda and it sits somewhere between a PMP and a tablet, sporting the same body as the company's earlier VX575, giving it a five-inch screen, but inside has that Rockchip processor powering an Android install. Connectivity is said to come courtesy of WiFi or 3G and, well, that's about all we know at this point -- perhaps, all we're likely to ever know. [Thanks, Shenoy]
Archos 7 Home Tablet sized up by FCC
Now that everyone and their grandpappy's thoroughly caught up in tablet frenzy, it's time for some of the lesser beasts to start coming out of the woodwork. Next up? The Archos 7 Home Tablet, which just garnered the last bit of FCC approval it needs to see a late April release. With a comparatively slow 600 MHz Rockchip RK2808 inside, don't expect the Home Tablet to set speed records like its younger brother, but do look forward to a reasonably competitive price when the video-friendly Android device arrives stateside. See what it looks like with a paintjob (and sans "Ewe" logo) in our video from CeBIT after the break, or peek pics of an government-sponsored teardown at the source link.
Rockchip's prototype RK2808-powered Android smartphone spotted... finally!
The Ramos W7 Android-powered MID has come to pass, but for the last year one question's remained: where is that RK2808-based handset we were promised? Finally Rockchip has provided us with some pictures of its prototype called, of all things, Smart Phone. There is a dearth of specs at the present time, but from what we do know it will have a predictable emphasis on multimedia playback (including H.264, RMVB, MPEG-4, AVS, WMV9, and 720p video). If you're a manufacturer (or would like to be), drop 'em a line -- presumably, you'll be able to get more complete specifications. And then be sure to drop us an email with the info. We'd appreciate it!
Hivision's Android-based PWS700CA netbook gets video review, may sport sub-$100 price tag
Oh, Hivision -- always up for making us chuckle. Just weeks after we spotted the outfit's $149 netbook with a lackluster Cortex A9 processor, along comes this: the PWS700CA. Reportedly, the company is still scouting distributors in order to get this thing out to the masses, but if all goes well, it could be sold to end users for right around a Benjamin. What makes this one marginally interesting, though, is the fact that Android is on board; yeah, it's not like Google's mobile OS is really cut out for netbook use, but it sure beats the browsing experience found in Windows CE. The device you're peering at above will eventually ship with a 600MHz ARM926 processor, 128MB of RAM, a 7-inch display (800 x 480 resolution), 720p video playback support, WiFi, Ethernet and the usual complement of ports. Hop on past the break for a look at how it fared in testing, and feel free to ping Hivision directly if you're feeling all distributor-y.
MSI eagerly supports HD video on its MT-V887 PMP
It's been a couple months since noticing that MSI had a renewed interest in PMPs, and now the outfit is back with yet another media player. The MT-V887 takes the sleek, understated styling of the MT-V656 and ramps the display to a none-too-shabby 4.3-inches (480 x 272). Based on the Rockchip RK2728B, this guy adds the H.264 codec and 720p support to an already insane helping of media formats. In addition to all of that, you can catch the KBBL Morning Zoo Crew on its FM receiver. No words on price or availability, but you'll know as soon as we do. Get a closer look after the break.
