Mediatek Releases Android SDK with APIs for HotKnot, Video & Image Processing, Multi-SIM, etc…

Mediatek seems motivated in getting involved with maker and open source communities. Thanks to its works on Android One with Google, the company recently released the Linux kernel source for MT6582 processor, and with a separate endeavour, launched Mediatek Labs bringing LinkIt ONE platform for IoT and wearables to market, as well as a preview release of an Android SDK for its mobile processors. Features of the SDK includes: Set of libraries for MediaTek feature APIs with full API documentation. x86 MediaTek emulator based on a reference implementation of an Android 4.4.2 (KitKat) device powered by a MediaTek chip, adding capabilities to test and debug telephony and multi-SIM features, a vibrator indicator and a hot-swappable SD card. Customized version of the DDMS (Dalvik Debug Monitor Server), which adds support for testing telephony features, such as plugging and unplugging a headset, sending telephony commands to test call and SMS features, etc… […]

Qualcomm Unveils Snapdragon 210 LTE SoC for Entry-Level Smartphones

Android smartphones with LTE connectivity are now available for a little over $100, for example with LANDVO L200G powered by Mediatek MT6582 with an external MT6290 LTE modem, but prices may soon even get lower, as Qualcomm has now unveiled their latest Snapdragon 210 processor with integrated LTE modem to bring sub $100 LTE smartphones to market in 2015. For once, they’ve even provided detailed technical specifications for their new mobile application processor: Processor – Quad ARM Cortex A7 up to 1.1GHz GPU – Adreno 304 GPU with OpenGL ES 3.0, OpenCL, DirectX, content security, and decreased power consumption DSP – QDSP6 DSP Memory/Storage – LPDDR2/LPDDR3@533MHz, eMMC 4.5, and SD 3.0 (UHS-I) Display – Up to 720p, with external displays supported Modem Integrated 4G LTE-Advanced World Mode, supporting LTE FDD, LTE TDD, WCDMA (3C-HSDPA, DC-HSUPA), CDMA1x, EV-DO Rev. B, TD-SCDMA and GSM/EDGE 4G LTE CAT4 speeds of up to 150 […]

Samsung Unveils Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge with Curved Display

IFA 2014 tradeshow is just starting today, and will last until the 9th of September, but several companies have made announcements just before the show. One of them is Samsung which announced Gear VR virtual reality kit, Tizen based Gear S smartwatch, as well as two new smarthones, Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge, which will be the subject of this post. Samsung Galaxy Note Edge Galaxy Note Edge is much different from most other phones thanks to its curved display on one side of the phone. Other specifications: SoC – Qualcomm Snapdragon S805 quad core Krait 400 processor @ 2.7 GHz with Adreno 420 GPU System Memory – 3GB RAM Storage – 32 or 64 GB internal memory + micro SD slot (up to 64GB) Display – 5.6″ Quad HD+ Super AMOLED (2560 x 1440 + 160) Cellular Networking: 2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / […]

HTC Desire 510 Smartphone Could Be the First 64-Bit ARM Android Device

We’ve had 64-bit ARM servers for a few months, but the first consumer grade 64-bit ARM products should be smartphones, starting with HTC Desire 510. This entry-level / mid-range phone will feature Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 ARM Cortex A53 processor with 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, and a 4.7″ display with 854 x 480 resolution. HTC Desire 510 technical specifications: SoC – Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 quad core ARM Cortex A53 processor @ 1.2Ghz with Adreno 306 GPU System Memory – 1GB RAM Storage – 8GB + micro SD slot (up to 128GB) Display – 4.7″ FWVGA display (854×480) Cellular Networks 2G/2.5G – GSM/GPRS/EDGE – 850/900/1800/1900 MHz 3G/3.5G – WCDMA – 850/900/2100 MHz with HSPA+ up to 42 Mbps 4G – LTE – B3/B7/B20 micro SIM Connectivity – 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS + GLONASS Camera – 5MP rear camera, 0.3MP front camera USB – micro USB 2.0 port Sensor – Accelerometer, proximity […]

$33 Intex Cloud Fx Firefox OS Smartphone Coming to India

Mozilla promised $25 smartphones running Firefox OS based on a Spreadtrum Cortex A5 application processor earlier this year, mostly for emerging markets. Thanks to Intex Cloud Fx smartphone selling for 1,999 Rs ($33) in India, we’re almost there. Intex Cloud Fx specifications: SoC – Spreadtrum SC6821 @ 1.0 GHz System Memory – 128MB RAM Storage – 256MB, expandable up to 4GB via external memory. Display – 3.5” HVGA (480 x 320) touchscreen display Cellular Network – GSM:900/1800MHz. GPRS/EDGE. Dual SIM support. Connectivity – WiFi, Bluetooth, and FM radio Audio – Loudspeaker, 3.5mm headphone jack. Camera – 2MP rear camera USB – Yes (micro SD port?) Battery – 1250mAh lithium-ion battery (4 hours of talk time, 200 hours standby) Dimensions – 115.9 x 62 x 11.8mm Weight – 104 grams The phone is said to come pre-loaded with Facebook and Twitter apps, some games, Whatsapp is supported via third party app/service, and […]

Samsung Announces Exynos 5430 SoC, Manufactured with 20nm Process

Samsung already have a few octa-core big.LITTLE SoCs part of Exynos 5 Octa family with Exynos 5410, Exynos 5420, and Exynos 5422/5800, all based on 28nm process. The company has just announced a new Exynos 5 Octa processors with Exynos 5430, but this time manufactured using 20nm High-K Metal Gate (HKMG) process technology providing 25% less power consumption compared to 28nm Exynos SoCs. Exynos 5430 SoC will feature four ARM Cortex A15 cores at 1.8 GHz, four Cortex A7 cores at 1.3 GHz, supports WQHD (2560×1440) and WQXGA (2560 x 1600) displays using hibernation display and Mobile Image compression (MIC) in order to lower power consumption. It also said to support HDMI, come with a Multi Format Codec (MFC) supporting HEVC/H.265 decoding, as well as an enhanced dual ISP, and up to 17GB/s of memory bandwidth. That’s about all the information I could get at this point. The CPU core […]

Orvibo Wiwo S20 Wi-Fi Smart Socket Features US, EU, UK, or AU Plug Types

I’ve previously covered several Chinese Wi-Fi smart sockets including Broadlink SP2 also supporting power monitoring, and Kankun KK-SP3, a cheaper, more basic version that can only be turned on and off manually or via timers, and which runs OpenWRT. These plugs have one thing in common: they only come with Australian/Chinese plugs, so if you want to use them in Europe, the US, or United Kingdom, you’ll need an adapter, which may not the the safest things to do, and it’s also inconvenient. Orvibo Wiwo S20 is another model that appears to have the capabilities and a price similar to Broadlink SP2, but available in four flavors with US, EU, UK, and AU plug types. Orvibo Wiwo S20 is made of fireproof ABS, and is significantly smaller than Broadlink SP2, but the rest of the specifications are very similar: Material – ABC 94V-0 (fireproof) Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Security – WEP, […]

ARM and Qualcomm Release a New Guide About 32-bit to 64-bit SoCs

ARM and Qualcomm have been pretty successful with ARMv7 SoCs in the mobile space in recent years, and while 32-bit ARM (Aarch32) processors certainly have a few more years, both companies are now moving to 64-bit ARM (Aarch64 / ARMv8), and they released a document showing what has been achieved with ARMv7, the differences between ARMv7 and ARMv8, and new capabilities that will be attainable with 64-bit processing. The document covers the following: Introduction ARM Business Model The Mobile Computing Revolution (Tablets replacing Laptops) Android on ARMv7-A and ARMv8-A ARMv8-A Architecture Backward Compatibility to ARMv7-A ARM Cortex A-53 and Cortex-A57 ARM big.LITTLE Technology The Transition to the ARMv8-A Architecture (Fast Models, Tools, Linaro…) Qualcomm Technologies: Transitioning to 64-Bit with Integrated Mobile Design Custom and ARM Designed Processors: The Right Technology to Any Market Multiple Foundries, Flexible Production Flexible design practices in action (Performance, price point, development time. Snapdragon 410 vs […]