The world of processing units is altering. With the ARM architecture entering the market of servers and the Power architecture available for licensing by third parties, a lot is going to change within the next five years. Thanks to the fact that similar processing technologies will be available from different …
Read More »Amazon unveils Fire smartphone: an ultimate tool to sell you things
Amazon on Wednesday unveiled its long-awaited smartphone. The device is called Fire and it comes with free cloud storage for photos, an auto stereoscopic 3D screen, the Dynamic Perspective software that allows to control the smartphone without touching it as well as the Firefly application that recognizes everything the owner …
Read More »Nokia X2 smartphone may feature two operating systems
It is not a secret that Microsoft Mobile is working on the second-generation Nokia X smartphone that was originally expected to be based on the heavily modified Google Android operating system and was projected to be sold mostly in developing countries. Apparently, the new Nokia X2 smartphone will not be …
Read More »Microsoft Mobile working on new Android-powered X smartphones
Microsoft Corp. does not have plans to discontinue Nokia X-branded smartphones that are based on the heavily-modified Google Android operating system. Furthermore, a media report claims that a team at Microsoft Mobile is already working on the next-generation X handsets featuring the same OS and some improvements. The Nokia X …
Read More »TSMC extends 28nm chip lead time to 16 weeks, puts chip designers at risk
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has extended lead time for production of chips using 28nm process technology from ten to 16 weeks recently, a media report reads. The company reportedly claimed that the demand for 28nm manufacturing process is very high and therefore orders placed in May would take more time …
Read More »Amazon Web Services reportedly begins to develop its own chips
Amazon Web Services, a service arm of Amazon and one of the world’s largest providers of cloud services, recently established silicon optimization engineering team (SOET) with the aim to create custom server platforms and microprocessors. The company has already begun to hire specialists to develop highly-tailored server platforms. Nowadays companies …
Read More »Sales of Nokia Lumia drop for second consecutive quarter
Nokia Corp. this week announced financial results for the first quarter of 2014. While the company did not provide a lot of information regarding performance of its handset businesses, it clearly stated that there was a major decline. Apparently, as Nokia transits its devices and services division to Microsoft Corp., …
Read More »Sales of Microsoft Surface grow, but losses deepen too
Microsoft Corp. said last week that sales of its Surface media and business tablets grew significantly year-over-year in the third quarter of its fiscal 2014. While this is generally a good for the company, since the growing amount of consumers chose Surface over rivals, this also meant that the company …
Read More »Microsoft has no plans to keep Nokia brand on smartphones
As it appears, the Nokia brand-name will disappear from smartphones and mobile phones produced by the former devices and services division of Nokia Corp. that now belongs to Microsoft rather sooner than later. Microsoft Corp. is already working on consistent brand for its new devices. “The Nokia brand is available …
Read More »First photo of Microsoft Surface Mini published by case maker
A smaller version of Microsoft Corp.’s Surface media tablet has been discussed ever since the launch of the original Surface back in 2012, but the software giant has never confirmed plans to release such a product. Nonetheless, in many cases rumours do materialise and the so-called Surface Mini tablet is …
Read More »64-bit Google Android devices will only emerge by Christmas
Although Intel Corp. already offers 64-bit microprocessors for ultra-mobile devices that are compatible with Google Android operating systems and a number of ARM partners plan to reveal their 64-bit system-on-chips featuring ARMv8 architecture in the coming months, actual 64-bit Android-based devices will only emerge by end of 2014. “We have …
Read More »TSMC reveals new 16nm FinFET+ process, vows to start 10nm production in Q4 2015
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. this week unveiled an improved version of its 16nm FinFET process technology that will hit volume production in 2015. In addition, the company revealed some details regarding its 10nm FinFET fabrication process and said that it would start risk production using the technology in Q4 2015, …
Read More »Nokia halts sales of tablet due to charger fault, advises not to use it
Nokia Corp. on Thursday halted sales of its Lumia 2520 media tablet and asked current owners to stop using the charger supplied with the device. The company said that at least some of the AC-300 chargers supplied with the slate are dangerous and can pose a hazard of an electric …
Read More »MSI readies Intel Z97 mainboards: images and details unveiled
MicroStar International is working on a new family of mainboards based on Intel Corp.’s upcoming Z97 core-logic that will support the forthcoming microprocessors for enthusiasts code-named Devil’s Canyon as well as future chips based on the Broadwell micro-architecture. All mainboards will be aimed primarily at gamers, but who said that …
Read More »Qualcomm looking forward to triple Wi-Fi speeds
Qualcomm has announced its new family of Wi-Fi chips that could improve performance of wireless local area networks by several times. The new Qualcomm Atheros Vive chips (and select Snapdragon application processors) for routers, gateways as well as client devices support multi-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi with multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) technology that …
Read More »Qualcomm unveils next-gen Snapdragon processors: 64-bit, 4K video, LTE-A
Qualcomm on Monday announced two new high-end application processors for smartphones and tablets. The new chips integrate 64-bit general-purpose cores, new-generation Adreno graphics engines, 2K/4K video processing as well as 4G/LTE Advanced modem that supports 3*20MHz carrier aggregation, enabling speeds of up to 300Mb/s. The new Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 and …
Read More »Qualcomm confirms plans to support Microsoft DirectX 12
Although Qualcomm took part in the announcement of Microsoft Corp.’s DirectX 12 application programming interface, the company’s plans regarding support of the new API were not completely clear. Last week an executive of Qualcomm confirmed that the future Adreno graphics cores will fully support DirectX 12. The current Snapdragon 800 …
Read More »New hardware will be needed to take fully advantage of DirectX 12
Although Microsoft Corp.’s DirectX 12 application programming interface will significantly improve performance of currently available hardware and most likely will enable new level of graphics quality, to fully benefit from the potential of the new API, new hardware will be needed, according to an Nvidia Corp.’s representative. Tony Tamasi, senior …
Read More »Native DirectX 12 games to emerge in late 2015 – reports
While Microsoft Corp. revealed yesterday that it will release preview version of its DirectX 12 application programming interface this year, its press materials did not disclose when to expect the final version of the API and games that take complete advantage of it. According to various media reports, it looks …
Read More »Microsoft unwraps DirectX 12 for PCs, tablets, smartphones and Xbox
Microsoft Corp. on Thursday unveiled DirectX 12, the latest incarnation of one of the world’s most popular application programming interfaces. The new API can not only greatly improve rendering performance, but to also bring top-notch quality graphics to all Microsoft platforms, including personal computers, tablets/smartphones and even Xbox One. One …
Read More »Qualcomm unveils world’s first 20nm 4G/LTE A chip for cars
Qualcomm this week introduced the Qualcomm Gobi 9×30 platform, which supports 4G/LTE Advanced Category 6 with up to 300Mb/s downlink data rates. The platform is aimed at automotive solutions and is one of the world’s first chips to be made using 20nm process technology. The Gobi 9×30 will improve vehicle …
Read More »Qualcomm Snapdragon 610, 615: 64-bit, 4G/LTE, advanced graphics
Qualcomm this week introduced its new performance-mainstream Snapdragon 600-series system-on-chips for smartphones and tablets. The new SoCs feature ARMv8 64-bit processing technology, 4G/LTE connectivity as well as new-generation Adreno graphics. The new chips will be used inside devices due late this year. Qualcomm Snapdragon 610, 615 application processors integrate four …
Read More »Microsoft announces new Windows Phone hardware partners
Microsoft has made a fair few announcements at the Mobile World Congress over the weekend, one of the biggest ones being the company's new Windows Phone hardware partners. Microsoft has now welcomed LG, Lenovo and ZTE in to the fold along with a few Indian companies such as Xolo, Karbonn and Lava. …
Read More »Qualcomm cancels Snapdragon 802 system-on-chip for UHD TVs
Less than two months after formal announcement, Qualcomm said it would not release its Snapdragon 802 application processor for ultra-high-definition smart TVs on the market because of lower than expected demand. It is unknown whether the company has not managed to win a particular contract with a TV maker, or …
Read More »Specs and images of Samsung Galaxy S5 leak to the Internet
Samsung Galaxy S5 is expected to be announced in about three weeks from now, but its pictures and main specs have already been published by various leakers. As expected, the novelty will feature an extraordinary display, a new application processor and new cameras. It is unknown whether the device will …
Read More »Qualcomm developing eight-core 64-bit app processor – rumour
Qualcomm, the world’s largest developer of application processors for mobile devices, will not be the first chip designer to reveal a 64-bit ARM application processor, but what it reportedly plans to offer (if the unofficial information is accurate) will probably outshine everything that has been introduced so far. Qualcomm is …
Read More »Qualcomm thinks that 4K smartphones will be the next big thing
Smartphones went from 720p to 1080p very quickly and now, according to chipset manufacturer, Qualcomm, we are due to up the resolution on our phones once again. Tim McDonough, Qualcomm’s Vice President of Marketing, in an interview with Trusted Reviews said that 4K is is one of the primary focuses …
Read More »Qualcomm acquires mobile software-related patents from HP
Qualcomm and Hewlett-Packard on Thursday said that the former acquired a massive patent portfolio from the latter. The deal includes over a thousand of granted patents and patent applications related to various technologies used in mobile operating systems. The portfolio covers numerous innovations that HP got along with acquisitions of …
Read More »Qualcomm rolls-out Snapdragon 802 chip for ultra HD TVs
Qualcomm this week introduced its first system-on-chip for new-generation smart TVs, smart set-top boxes and smart digital media adapters at the Consumer Electronics Show. The new Snapdragon 802 chip features high-performance Krait general-purpose cores, powerful Adreno 330 graphics engine as well as advanced video engines and necessary input/output interfaces. Qualcomm …
Read More »Qualcomm outs Snapdragon 600 and 800 SoCs
Qualcomm's system on chip solutions today find themselves at home in literally thousands of different products and in 2013 Qualcomm are looking to further establish their position. For 2013 Qualcomm is introducing new branding for its Snapdragon range. The new family consists of the Snapdragon 800, Snapdragon 600, Snapdragon 400 …
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