Archives for February 2010

Acer Liquid e Android Phone Unveiled

Acer have announced their latest Acer Liquid e phone. The device will run the latest Google [GOOG] OS Android 2.1 (aka Eclair) and be powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm.

The Acer Liquid e Android phone has a 3.5 inch high definition screen that is capacitive touch allowing good quality images and video to be displayed. Plenty of connectivity can be found on the Liquid e with wireless 802.11b/g being supported along with Bluetooth 2.0 and HSDPA, HSUPA and GSM/EDGE.

RAM and ROM on the device is set at 512MB and 256MB respectively. The camera has a 5 megapixel sensor although no flash is mentioned. [Read more…]

4 Port USB 3.0 Hub Launched – Worlds First

We have been noticing occasionally that devices that launch with USB ports, ie, laptops, netbooks, motherboards etc… have started getting USB 3.0 ports included. Buffalo are now about to launch the worlds first 4 port USB 3.0 hub.

The device is called the BSH4A03U3 and comes in either black or white. Compatibility show it can work with several OS variations that includes Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows Vista as well as Mac OS X 10.4.

If you don’t have any USB 3.0 devices just yet then the device is backwards compatible with both USB 1.1 and 2.0 specifications. [Read more…]

ASUS Eee T101MT gets an Intel Atom N450 Processor

The ASUS Eee T101MT has been unveiled and when launched, will come supplied with an Intel Atom N450 processor (AKA – a Pine Trail chip). By using the latest Intel Atom N450 chip it can achieve longer battery life and run a tad quicker too than previous models.

The operating system running on this tablet netbook will either be Windows 7 Starter or Windows 7 Home Premium all depending on which version you want to buy.

The screen on the ASUS T101MT measures 10.1 inches and is backlit by LED. As it’s a tablet device, the screen is also touch based by using resistive touch. The screen has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. [Read more…]

Samsung create a new CMOS HD Imager For Smartphones

Samsung have created two new CMOS image sensors called the S5K4E2 and the S5K5CA that are specifically built for mobile phones.

The new CMOS sensors are built with a smaller form factor than previous models allowing them to be squashed inside smaller phones as they are launched. As well as having a smaller form factor the CMOS sensors also can capture HD video at 720p.

The S5K4E2 imager measures 1/4 inch, 1.4 micron and can capture at 5 megapixels. The sensor can capture images from 15cm away from the lens up to infinity keeping objects in focus. The sensor can capture video up to 15 frames per second at full resolution. [Read more…]

3D Performance tested – iPhone 3G S vs Nexus One

Distinctive Developments have build a 3D animation that displays a few charachters (animated) in a 3D room with the camera moving around the scene to test the iPhone 3G S graphics performance VS that of the Nexus One.

Both the GPU and CPU on each device is tested. The GPU gets it’s stress test from the number of polygons present in the scene while the CPU handles the bone and skinning in the animation. The iPhone 3G S looks to be the superior model here reaching speeds of up to 61 frames per second vs the Nexus One that achieves 30 – 35 frames per second. [Read more…]

Symbian^3 Officially Announced

Symbian^3 has been unveiled today by the Symbian Foundation. The Symbian^3 platform is the first fully open source release since their switch to open source earlier this month.

It is expected that Symbian^3 will be finished by the end of March although it wont start showing up on phones till early 3rd quarter this year. Improvements on this latest platform (S^3) include usability and interface advances, faster networking, 2D and 3D graphics acceleration and HDMI support to name a few things on the list.

Other features of S^3 include better navigation from previous platforms that now includes gesture support. The system has also been tweaked to allow for more applications to be open at the same time. [Read more…]

Samsung Chrome OS Netbook Confirmed

Samsung have confirmed that they are currently working on a Chrome OS based netbook that could launch late this year. The Samsung Chrome OS Netbook won’t be added to their current lineup until late this year which could mean a launch later on this year, but also possibly in to 2011.

Although many of the official specifications are unknown at the moment, we have heard that the Chrome OS netbook will have a 12 hour battery life. For connectivity it will have all the usual built in which includes wireless and 3G connectivity. It’s hard to say what variation of wireless will be installed, but I expect in 10 – 14 months time that we should see 802.11b/g/n as standard to get the best connectivity speeds possible. [Read more…]

HTC HD2 Getting Ready for Launch on T-Mobile?

T-Mobile in the US posted a brief message on Twitter relating to the HTC HD2. The message says… ‘Think you know the HTC HD2? Guess again¦ Stay tuned for more next week.

Although it doesn’t give anything away it certainly indicates something is happening with the HD2 on their network which we have been waiting for recently.

The HTC HD2 is believed to be launching on the network sometime in March, but perhaps this cryptic message means they will be launching it early. [Read more…]

Windows Phone 7 Series – Name for WM7

MWC is about to start in Barcelona and as expected, a number of companies have already set up displays with one of them being Microsoft. Engadget managed to capture a picture of one of the banners that Microsoft [MSFT] have set up which just says Windows Phone with something underneath that is covered with a sticker, which we assume covers the “official name” of WM7.

Thanks to the photoshop skills of someone at Engadget, the image was adjusted to actually reveal what’s behind the sticker and shows what appears to be the official full name of WM7 which is Windows Phone 7 Series.

Although the number 7 is no big surprise at all, it does make you wonder what’s going on with the Series part of the name. Perhaps breakouts in to pro, media, home versions of the software will be seen. [Read more…]

ASUS Eee 1005HA Intel Atom N270 Netbook Discount

Amazon have a good deal on the ASUS Eee 1005HA netbook running Windows 7 Starter. The processor running in this particular Eee 1005HA is the slightly older Intel Atom N270 that was super-ceded about a month ago by the Intel Atom N450 processor, but for doing web browsing and checking emails and such the N270 works very well. If you want an Intel Atom N450 processor then a comparison can be found over here.

The ASUS Eee 1005HA has an 8.5 hour battery capacity which almost provides a day of work under less strenuous usage. The screen measures 10.1 inches and the keyboard measures a decent size compared to a full sized keyboard (usually 92% – 95% on the ASUS models. [Read more…]

Solar Ivy – Solar Panels that Look Like Ivy

Although I like the idea of putting solar panels on the roof of my home, I’m just not sure that they look good. These Solar Ivy panels aim to be a little different though making them more acceptable by making them look like Ivy growing on your house when viewed from a short distance away.

The idea is just concept at the moment although the company who are wanting to develop Solar Ivy are looking to win a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Project grant. The company responsible for the idea are called S.M.I.T which means Sustainably Minded Interactive Technology. [Read more…]

T-Mobile Voice Plus Beta Launching – Brings Visual Voicemail to the G1

T-Mobile have launched a new Beta service for G1 owners called Voice Plus Beta. The Voice Plus software should be launching next week and will allow those who successfully get accepted in to the program to have a call and voicemail management interface on their Android G1 phone.

Features on Voice Plus beta include Call Divert that allows you to specify which numbers automatically get diverted to voice-mail without ringing the phone. Call Defer is a service that lets the calling person know that you are busy but will be available to talk at a later time providing details of when they should call back. This is done by sending the caller a text with the details in. [Read more…]