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  • CES 2013: Huawei Launches Three New Smartphones – Ascend W1, Ascend W2 and Ascend Mate

    Present at CES 2013, Huawei wants to conquer the world by launching a really interesting range of smartphones.

    Huawei Ascend W1

    Huawei takes its first steps into the world of Windows Phone 8 with a quite promising entry-level smartphone. Huawei Ascend W1 could be an interesting choice for those in search of affordable smartphones based on Microsoft's latest mobile OS.

    It comes equipped with a Snapdragon S4 Plus chipset (MSM8230), composed of a dual-core CPU at 1.2 GHz and GPU Adreno 305 + 512 MB RAM.

    The 4-inch display is limited to WVGA resolution, but the matrix with IPS technology promises satisfactory image quality. Next to the screen we have a 0.3 MP webcam for video calls and on the back we find a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash. Photo & video collections are shot in 720p resolution accommodated in the 4 GB of internal memory, expandable up to 32 GB via microSD card.

    In connectivity, we have access to WiFi networks and Internet 3G HSPA+, module for NFC payments, Bluetooth and GPS. Even if has a battery of 1950 mAh only, it should have to cover without too much trouble the energy consumption generated by the chipset and the 4-inch screen.

    Huawei Ascend Mate

    The second smartphone presented in Las Vegas is Huawei Ascend Mate, which is also the smartphone with the largest screen so far. With a 6.1-inch screen, armed with a quad-core chipset and a customized version of Android Jelly Bean, adapted with the interface Huawei Emotion UI, the giant announces to be the star of the fair in terms of smartphones.

    Helped by the technology called Magic Touch, the giant HD screen can be controlled even with gloves on, so using the phone in cold winter days should not pose problems. In terms of software optimization, Ascend Mate enjoys a user interface mode for one-handed use, restricting virtual keyboard and dialpad in the bottom of the screen.

    In the 9.9 mm thick casing lies a 4050 mAh battery, which should cover without too much trouble energy requirements of the 6.1-inch screen with LTPS LCD technology and the Huawei K3V2 chipset clocked at a frequency of 1.5 GHz.

    The configuration also includes 2GB RAM and an 8-megapixel camera that promises to please fans of photography and videos at 1080p resolution.

    Unfortunately, the initial rumors that announced the presence of a Full HD screen and 1.8 GHz chipset were not true, Huawei probably choosing to cut these specifications hoping to obtain a lower price, which could increase its sales.

    Huawei Ascend D2

    Unlike its brother Mate, Ascend D2 presents itself as a more practical and comfortable smartphone, which also offers superior set of specifications. Ascend D2 comes with a 5-inch Full HD display capable of rendering images with unmatched clarity thanks to the LCD matrix with a density of 443 ppi. Huawei Ascend D2 has the same Huawei K3V2 chipset installed, but on the back we find a 13-megapixel camera assisted by an LED flash.

    The silver framed casing of Ascend D2 hides a 3000 mAh battery, sized for approximately two days of running and the operating system delivered is Android Jelly Bean, improved by adding split-screen multi-tasking support (running multiple applications simultaneously on screen) and technology of augmented reality technology.

    Compared to its predecessor Ascend D, the new Huawei Ascend D2 is a step forward on all fronts: screen size and resolution, the performance of the chipset and the design of the casing.

    At this point we don’t have any pricing details.

  • New Samsung Smartphones with One Single Recharge a Day

    Samsung has made some promises this year at CES 2012. Let’s see if they are able to keep them until the end of this year. Many, if not almost all the smartphones of today fail to stay charged even a day-light.

    Since the processors have become dual-core or even quad-core, the amount of memory and the display size have increased as well as internet access speeds, it is increasingly difficult, if not impossible, for a mobile phone to resist even 6-8 hours on a single recharge. How many of you carry in your pocket the battery charger or have at least 2 – one at work and one at home?

    "The company's goal for all smartphones launched this year is to last a whole day on a single recharge for a moderate to extensive use," said Kevin Packingham, Vice President of Samsung on the segment of Innovations, during an interview with CNET at CES 2012. Good news, right? We understand that the new models allow surfing the Internet for 2-3 hours, calls of at least 1-2 hours and probably 1-2 hours of music without getting discharged by the afternoon?

    Packinham said the steps are quite simple; first it will move to a bigger battery for all the models and it will be working on a new way of managing resources when the phone is not used directly by the user. Since the modification time in which the phone goes from WiFi on 3G or how many applications will be open in the background, along with the size of the battery, it is assumed that they will reach a far better average than before. Packingham says that power-users will still have problems with the battery.

  • CES 2012: Intel Sets New Standards in Smartphones and Tablets

    Intel has announced a series of progresses on its entire activity in the smartphones industry, including the signing of a partnership for several years on many devices with Motorola Mobility and provided information on a Lenovo smartphone based on the new platform of the Intel Atom processor. More Intel Atom-based smartphones are to hit the market in 2012.

    Paul Otellini, President and CEO of Intel, made the announcements during this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Also, Intel CEO has offered information on the way Ultrabook is seen by users and has described the way the company develops products and technologies in order to provide high performance to a wide range of computing devices.

    Intel Computing Technologies Integrated into Smartphones and Tablets

    Intel CEO also talked about the Intel Atom Z2460 processor, formerly codenamed “Medfield”, which has been created specifically for smartphones and tablets, which is now offering high performance and greater energy efficiency.

    Sanjay Jha, Chairman and CEO of Motorola Mobility, joined Otellini on stage and they together detailed the strategic relationship between the two companies. The partnership includes the smartphones that Motorola will start to deliver in the second half of this year, terminal that will integrate Intel Atom processors and will run the Android platform. Collaboration, which also covers tablets, combines Intel’s leadership in terms of technology based on silicon and innovations in the computer industry with Motorola’s experience in terms of design for mobile equipments.

    Liu Jun, Lenovo’s Senior Vice President and President of Mobile Internet and Digital Home, also went along with Otellini on stage and presented the smartphone Lenovo K800, based on Intel technology and which uses the Android OS. Liu Jun said that the K800 will be available in China starting from the second quarter and will work on the 21 Mbps network of China Unicom. Lenovo K800 uses the Z2640 Intel Atom processor with Intel Hyper-Threading technology, supports HSPA and features Intel’s XMM 6260 platform. As interface, the model uses Lenovo LeOS.

    Otellini said the development of the best mobile experiences is a priority for Intel. Michael Bell, General Manager of Mobile and Communications Group at Intel, has also joined Otellini on stage and he has presented the Intel Smartphone Reference Design technology, which wants to reduce production time and cost for mobile developers and operators. The two Intel officials presented a smartphone with multiple functions, slim and which has a 4.03” touchscreen as well as two 8-megapixel cameras with advanced capabilities, including the “burst” mode, which allows users to take 15 photos in less than a second.

    By presenting the Angry Birds app on the phone, Bell showed that the smartphone equipped with Intel technology can run lots of applications for Android, but also for other operating systems.

    Otellini said that Intel will set new standards in the Tablet PC segment through the compatibility with millions of applications and devices already on the market. On stage at CES 2012 has been presented for the first time the 32nm Intel Atom processor for Tablet PCs and other hybrid devices running on Windows 8, codenamed "Clover Trail."

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  • Belkin Flywire Delayed, Price Rises


    The launch of Belkin’s FlyWire has once again been delayed – this time until August.

    First announced at CES 2008, the initially promising-sounding wireless device streams 1080p HD content from multiple HDMI inputs to HDTV televisions using the 5GHz band.

    So the Flywire hub can be used to wirelessly connect devices such as Blu-ray players, receivers, video-game consoles, and set-top boxes to HDTVs and projectors.

    The company claims its device offers whole-home range that penetrates walls or windows. An IR backchannel allows users to control AV devices hidden behind cabinet doors or in other rooms.

    Automatic frequency hopping is designed to reduce conflicts with Wi-Fi or other signals.

    Originally due for release in the US in January, this has now shifted back to the end of the summer.

    Along with the release changes, Belkin has raised the price of the FlyWire from USD $1,000 to $1,500.

  • Palm Unveils New Pre smartphone


    Palm finally revealed its new smartphone, the Pre, along with an exclusive partnership with Sprint to distribute it.

    The new touch-screen device and operating system, WebOS, received a positive welcome at CES in Las Vegas.

    Much has been made of the importance of the new device’s success if Palm is to resurrect its fortunes in the highly competitive smartphone market.

    Initial positives for the Pre include its emphasis on fast Web browsing and efficient multitasking.

    The handset will be available in the first half of the year. No pricing information is available as yet.

    The Pre has a sophisticated interface and can be charged on a special platform without the need to attach a cable.

    It comes comes with eight gigabytes of storage, GPS navigational capabilities, Wi-Fi networking and a slide-out keyboard.

    A possible hurdle in Palm’s path to renewed success could be apps for its new device.

    Software developers are now concentrating on RIM’s BlackBerry devices and the iPhone because they represent a large and growing market.

    Apps are seen as crucial to the success of smartphones because of the functions such as games and navigation services that they provide.

  • LG Broadband HDTVs To Stream Netflix Movies


    LG Electronics has announced the first broadband-enabled HDTVs with Netflix streaming software embedded directly in the set.

    The new LCD and plasma “broadband HDTVs” will be able to show Netflix’s library of movies, TV episodes and HD content directly on the set without needing an external device.

    The HDTVs will join the Korean companies LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player, the first high-def format player to stream movies instantly from Netflix.

    LG is also preparing five new models of Blu-ray Disc players and home theater systems for 2009.

    Netflix members pay from USD $8.99 per month for unlimited instant streaming and unlimited DVDs from a catalog of more than 100,000 DVD titles in more than 200 genres.

    LG Electronics and Netflix will demonstrate the broadband HDTVs this week at the CES in Las Vegas.

  • Samsung Promises Thinnest Ever HDTV


    Samsung is to unveil a flat-panel HDTV measuring a waif-like 6.5-millimeters at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

    The TV set is reported to be between 6.5mm and 7mm across its width and has an LED (light emitting diode) backlight.

    There are suggestions that the TV tuner is not actually in Samsung’s set – located instead in a base station.

    That aside, if the dimensions are confirmed it would be the thinnest LCD TV yet demonstrated.

    Currently that accolade is held by Philips, which unveiled an 8mm prototype LCD television at the IFA electronics show in Berlin last year.

    At the same event Sony showed a 9.9mm set that is already available – making it the thinnest LCD TV in retail stores.

    Samsung has a news conference for Wednesday at which the TV set is expected to take centre stage.

  • Palm Gets $100m Lifeline Ahead Of Nova Launch


    Palm has secured a USD $100 million equity lifeline from Elevation Partners just a few weeks before it unveils its new Nova operating system.

    Faced with mounting losses and weak smartphone sales, the success of the new operating system could very well decide the company’s fate.

    The equity investment by Elevation Partners, which already holds a large stake in the handset maker, will help underwrite the cost of launching Nova and the first line of products to run on it.

    Palm has revealed little about the new operating system but reports suggest it will be pitched between RIM’s enterprise-oriented Blackberrys and Apple’s more multi-media iPhones.

    Palm just posted a loss of USD $506 million in its fiscal second quarter and saw both its revenues and the number of smartphones sold drop.

    Earlier this month, Palm announced that Douglas C. Jeffries had been appointed as the company’s Chief Financial Officer.

    Previously chief accounting officer at eBay, Jeffries will join Palm in January as replacement for Andy Brown.

    Roger McNamee, co-founder of Elevation Partners, which also counts rock star Bono among its investment team, was in no doubt about the potential for Palm.

    "We believe that Palm is in a position to transform the cell phone industry, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to make this additional investment in the company," he said.

    There are many who seriously doubt that.