MediaTek’s new octa-core processor to compete with Qualcomm over the premium LTE smartphone market
MediaTek, a chipset manufacturer based out of Taiwan, has been making some huge moves lately. Just over two months ago, it came out with the “world’s first true octa-core” processor, which consisted of eight Cortex-A7 cores capable of operating simultaneously. Now that ARM has announced Cortex-A17 technology, however, MediaTek is ready to start sampling a new octa-core chip that consists of four 2.2-2.5GHz A17 cores and four 1.7GHz A7s, and comes with a Rogue PowerVR Series6 GPU to take care of any graphical needs you might have.
As an aside, the A17 cores come with a 60 percent improvement in performance over the current-gen A9s, and are primarily designed to make midrange smartphones and tablets even faster. That said, MediaTek tells us that its new chips, known as the MT6595, are actually meant to be featured in premium devices and will square off directly against Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 and 805. And it’s certainly got a few noteworthy features: first, the chip will use ARM’s big.LITTLE architecture and Heterogeneous Multi-Processing, which means you can use all eight cores for the most intense tasks, or you can use just one or two at a time for incredibly basic activities. The company claims that this chip will be faster and more power efficient than the octa-core Exynos options, which feature four A15 cores and four A7s at lower frequencies.
Additionally, the MT6595 claims to be the first octa-core LTE system-on-chip with an H.265 Ultra HD Codec built-in to the platform, which offers 4K2K video recording and playback capabilities. In much the same way that most manufacturers don’t enable all of a chip’s features, however, it’ll be up to each individual company to add it in. The chips will begin sampling to phone makers and carriers in the first half of this year, and it’s expected to arrive in products during the second half. And while it should find its way into smartphones and tablets around the world, MediaTek wants the MT6595 to enjoy a huge presence in the US.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile
TSMC to Use Current Fingerprint Sensor Processing Method for iPhone 6
Last month, a report from Digitimes stated that Apple supplier TSMC was preparing to begin production on fingerprint sensors for the iPhone 6, and was said to be moving to a larger 12-inch fab from the current 8-inch fab to increase production efficiency. However, Digitimes is now reporting that TSMC will once again be utilizing its 8-inch processing for the iPhone 6, as Apple has cited concerns with the yield rate of the 12-inch fab.
Apple previously decided to have TSMC produce fingerprint sensors for its next-generation iPhone at the foundry’s 12-inch facilities using a 65nm process, the sources noted. However, acknowledging risks associated with 12-inch WLP technologies, Apple has finally chosen TSMC’s 8-inch processing which enables mature yield rates for WLP to produce the fingerprint sensors, the sources said.
The report also notes that TSMC will continue to contract the packaging process other firms as a result of moving back to the 8-inch processing. Previously, TSMC was said to be handling the packaging process itself in order to centralize control over the component.
The Touch ID fingerprint sensor was said to be a key factor contributing to the limited supplies of the iPhone 5s at its launch last September, with low yield rates at packaging firm Xintec and iOS 7-sensor integration slowing production. However, with several of those issues ironed out and TSMC now able to utilize a refined process, launch supplies of the next-generation iPhone are likely to be more readily available.
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Android 4.4 Hits the Verizon HTC One. Older Galaxy Phones to Receive KitKat – Device Updates
It is Monday, so we check to see what updates happened in the past week. Android 4.4 finally hit the HTC One, or at least one carrier’s HTC One. Galaxy users with older phones will be happy to know that Samsung is planning on getting some of that KitKat on your device. Hopefully sooner than later.
Device Updates
Android 4.4 for the Verizon HTC One
Older Galaxy devices getting Android 4.4
Android 4.4.2 ready for the T-Mobile Moto X
With ARM’s Cortex-A17 processor, midrange smartphones and tablets will be much faster
We already have a hard time finding fault with processing power in the midrange smartphones and tablets currently on the market, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t be even snappier. That’s the goal of ARM, which has announced the latest Cortex processors, known as Cortex-A17, to address not only mobile devices in the midrange market, but Smart TVs and Over-the-Top devices as well. The 28nm A17 comes with big.LITTLE (the architecture used in Samsung’s latest octa-core Exynos chips) support, and promises a 60 percent boost in performance over Cortex-A9. It’s also paired with a Mali-T720 GPU, which offers OpenGL ES 3.0 support and plenty of optimizations for low-end Android devices. While ARM doesn’t specify an actual timeframe for release, it says that we should expect a huge push for the A17 in 2015; in a separate release, MediaTek also tells us that its newest octa-core processor comes with Cortex-A17 tech inside and will be available in the second half of this year.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Tablets, Wireless, HD, Mobile
Source: ARM
Famed Documentarian Ken Burns Launches iPad App [iOS Blog]
Famed documentarian Ken Burns, who’s directed detailed films about the history of subjects like baseball and the Civil War, has released a new app under his name that houses scenes, extras, and behind-the-scenes footage from all 25 of his films.
In his announcement (via The Hollywood Reporter), Burns noted it was exciting for him to be using an Apple platform for his app as the company has long used the “Ken Burns Effect”, where a camera slowly pans over a still image, in its video editing apps.
“Apple has long used an element of my filmmaking in its programs, which they call the Ken Burns Effect. I’m so excited to now be using Apple’s platforms to create a radically new way to present my work and reach new viewers. Our films are made in a small town in New Hampshire over many years, with images and stories woven together in a way that we hope brings experiences of the past into the present.”
While the app doesn’t include the full Ken Burns’ documentaries, it does house hand-selected scenes by Burns in playlists inspired by six themes: Race, War, Art, Hard Times, Innovation, and Politics. One theme, Innovation, is included free with download but the remaining five themes, which include over three hours of content, must be unlocked via a $9.99 in-app purchase.
Alternatively, users can view the content in a Timeline view, which presents a chronological history of America, and a Film view, which arranges the clips by which Burns’ film they’re from.
Ken Burns for iPad is available in the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
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Virgin Atlantic tries greeting its passengers using wearable tech
Forget tablets in the airplane cabin — Virgin Atlantic thinks wearables are where it’s at for improving your travel experience. The airline has begun trialing a greeting system that uses Google Glass and Sony’s Smartwatch 2 to streamline the airport check-in process for Upper Class passengers. Staff at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 3 are using the technology to greet travelers by name, provide flight updates and translate any foreign language information. The test run will only last six weeks, but Virgin already has dreams of future software that lets staff know what food you like. Let’s just hope that any potential wide-scale rollout accommodates those of us in the cheap seats.
Filed under: Transportation, Wearables, Sony, Google
Source: SITA
Android 4.4.2 Ready for T-Mobile Moto X Users
The Android 4.4.2 update is ready for you T-Mobile Moto X users after a successful soak test. Motorola posted the changelog for the new update, which pretty much confirms that the update will be rolling out in the next week or so. Here is the changelog.
So if you are on T-Mobile and you got yourself a Moto X in your pocket, keep a lookout for that update. We will most likely post when the Android 4.4.2 update starts rolling out.
Source: Droid-Life
Check Out the Flappy Bird Song that Sings How We Feel About the Addicting Game
You guys tired of the Flappy Bird madness yet? If only Dong was actually using all this craziness to market his game, we could all just laugh and say, “that smart SOB.” Sadly, it doesn;t look like it is a marketing scheme, and the game lives on in apk form.
The brilliance of the game is that its got a basic, easy concept, and its frustrating. That is really all you need to grab the attention of mobile gamers out there. A new video just landed on YouTube by YouTuber Jonathan Mann, that really sings all the thoughts we have for the relatively stupid game. It’s pretty funny stuff, so check it out and let us know what you think of it.
Daily Roundup: Panasonic’s Lumix GH4 camera, ‘Fish on Wheels’ and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Flappy Bird is no longer available
Flappy Bird was so young, but alas, all good things must come to an (abrupt) end. Despite its rapid rise to fame, the game’s developer Dong Nguyen had it removed from both the App Store and Google Play earlier today. Click the link for the story.
Sneak peek of Panasonic’s Lumix GH4 camera
Panasonic’s recently unveiled Lumix GH4 4K camera doesn’t have a release date yet, but a few professionals have already taken it for a test run. Click through for some sample photos and footage from the company’s latest shooter
‘Fish on Wheels’ mobile tank
What’s cooler than a regular, stationary fish tank? One on wheels, of course! Thanks to a company called Studio Diip, your aquatic pets can enjoy the mobility of a house on wheels. This clever contraption roams your abode based upon the movements of your fish. Follow the link for more.
HTC promises new, affordable devices
HTC is expecting its next quarter to be the worst yet. The reason? CEO Peter Chou attributes the decline to the company’s lack of mid-tier products, promising that it will bounce back with a new, compelling portfolio of affordable devices. Click on through for details.
Filed under: Misc
The definition of karma: PayPal president’s credit card gets hacked
If you’ve ever lost access to your PayPal holdings through no fault of your own — say, following a shady money transfer — you may be tempted to enjoy a little schadenfreude today. PayPal president David Marcus reports that someone used a skimming device to clone a credit card while he was in the UK, letting the perpetrator make a “ton” of fraudulent purchases. It’s virtually the embodiment of karmic payback, isn’t it? In fairness, the executive is right when he notes that the incident wouldn’t have happened if the merchant accepted PayPal; the company would have masked the card number and rendered the skimmer useless. And we sincerely hope that Marcus’ finances are back in order. All the same, the affair shows just why business leaders should be sympathetic to their customers’ problems — one day, they may be stuck in the same boat.
My card (with EMV chip) got skimmed while in the UK. Ton of fraudulent txns. Wouldn’t have happened if merchant accepted PayPal…
– David Marcus (@davidmarcus) February 10, 2014
Filed under: Internet
Via: USA Today
Source: David Marcus (Twitter 1), (2)
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