ARM announces Mali-470 GPU, halves power consumption of the Mali-400
Today, ARM has announced its new Mali-470 GPU, which is designed primarily for the wearables and Internet-of-Things markets. The GPU is the successor to the hugely popular Mali-400 GPU found powering a range of entry-level smartphones and smartwatches.
The major advancement with the Mali-470 is that is consumes roughly half the power of the Mali-400, making it an even better fit for scenarios with limited battery capacities and particularly strict thermal limits, such as wearables. Performance remains consistent with the Mali-400, meaning that these extra energy savings are not coming at the expense of raw grunt.
ARM has updated the GPU’s Vertex Processor and Fragment Processor designs to make the energy efficiency savings. Microarchitecture improvements have also been made to make more aggressive use of clock gating and block bypassing. Scaling up to larger core configurations also continues to make use of power gating for advanced thermal and power management.
Just like the Mali-400, the Mali-470 scales up from one to four pixel processors for additional performance. The Mali 450 chip in the range can be scaled up to eight cores, if a product developer need to display content at a higher resolution.
If the Mali-400 range sounds familiar to smartphone users, the Utgard architecture originally powered older Android handsets and can be found in mid-range SoCs such as the octa-core MT6592. It turns out that this graphics technology is pretty well suited to the lower power requirements of wearables. Midgard is ARM’s latest architecture for higher performance Mali GPUs, such as its T-760, found in high-end smartphones like the Galaxy S6, and the recently announced T-880.
As a result of the redesign, the Mali-470 can squeeze into a slightly smaller die area size than the Mali-400 as well, depending on how silicon partners decide to design the chip. ARM envisions the new GPU paired up with its efficient Cortex-A7 or A53 CPU designs for a low-power SoC.
In terms of target products, the Mali-470 is designed for a range of relatively low power applications, including wearables, home electronics and automotive that make use of a graphics user interface. To support this, the Mali-470 works with OpenGL ES 2.0 and 1.1, the minimum requirement for Android Wear. While OpenGL ES 3.0 may be newer, the additional features aren’t worth the extra power requirements that they would place on the GPU’s hardware design, especially as the Mali-470 is aimed primarily for use in GUI oriented situations. OpenGL ES 2.0 is already widely used in these type of products, so swapping a chip into designs should be relatively straight forward.
As with all chip releases, there is some time to wait until the Mali-470 makes it way into consumer products. ARM expects that the first silicon partners could have SoCs using the new GPU ready by the end of 2016, which means that products could begin showing up sometime in the first half of 2017.
Google launches beta testing program for Search app on Android
If you’re the type to sign up for beta testing programs to get first access to upcoming features, then Google wants your help. Mountain View is looking for beta testers for Android’s Google Search app — Droid Life says the company has released a Now card looking for volunteers, but you can also join through the official Play page. Once you’re part of the program, you’ll get notified of new updates, as always, which you can get through Google Play. This time, though, you’re downloading features ahead of most people, some of which might never make it to general release. For first timers, know that a lot of things that go through beta testing are still buggy and unstable, so prepare to use features that still don’t work as intended.
Via: Droid Life
Source: Google Play
Social media users give UK storms the most British names ever
Last month, the Met Office announced it would begin naming the storms that batter the UK and Ireland and asked social media users to put their suggestions in the hat. By giving them a moniker, the weather service hopes that people will track storms when they hit our rainy isles and raise awareness of their impact. That list has now been finalised, and as expected, we’ve done ourselves proud.
Introducing Abigail, Barney, Frank, Gertrude and Nigel. They’re just a handful of names that will be assigned to weather patterns that will potentially cause “medium” or “high” winds across the UK, Ireland or both. It starts with Abigail and will alternate between male and female names as it moves through the alphabet.
The winning names are as follows: Abigail, Barney, Clodagh, Desmond, Eva, Frank, Gertrude, Henry, Imogen, Jake, Katie, Lawrence, Mary, Nigel, Orla, Phil, Rhonda, Steve, Tegan, Vernon and Wendy. Q, U, X, Y and Z have been omitted in order to align with official storm naming in the US.
Tipsters were invited to get involved via Facebook, Twitter and email, although the final decision was made by the Met Office and Irish weather service Met Éireann. To qualify, winds must reach average speeds of between 55 and 63mph — only then will a storm take on the name of one of your friends’ grandparents.
We received thousands of your submissions for storm names. Here’s the final list for this #winter! #nameourstorms pic.twitter.com/DMw9MSwyZM
— Met Office (@metoffice) October 20, 2015
[Image credit: Brian Tomlinson, Flickr]
Source: Met Office (Twitter)
LG’s much-improved G Vista 2 is coming to AT&T
You’d be forgiven if you forgot about LG’s G Vista — the smartphone’s huge size couldn’t make up for the ridiculously low-res display and slow processor. You might just remember its sequel, though. AT&T has unveiled the G Vista 2, and it fixes just about every gripe you had from before. The 5.7-inch screen now touts a much more acceptable 1080p resolution, and the combination of an eight-core processor (unnamed, but likely a Snapdragon 615) with 2GB of RAM should keep up with most tasks. You’ll also get a handy stylus, a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 5-megapixel front cam and 16GB of expandable storage. AT&T hasn’t yet said when the G Vista 2 ships or how much it’ll cost you, but talk of a “revolutionary” price hints that you won’t be paying much of a premium over the phone’s predecessor.
Via: GSMArena
Source: AT&T (YouTube)
NY Times launches VR app with Google Cardboard giveaway
The New York Times is launching a VR app, and will give a million plus subscribers a Google Cardboard VR viewer to use it. It’ll also debut a VR film for the app called The Displaced, which details the struggles of three children caught in the global refugee crisis. Executive Editor Dean Baquet said the NYT “created the first critical, serious piece of journalism using virtual reality, to shed light on one of the most dire humanitarian crises of our lifetime.” The film is best viewed on Cardboard, but will also be available on YouTube and smartphones via a 2D version of the app.
The Times will release a series of VR films for the app, including an existing piece showing how it made the New York Times Magazine “Walking New York“ cover. It said the app also “supports virtual reality playback for Google Cardboard as well as playback of 360-degree video mobile navigation.” Executive VP Meredith Kopit Levien said “the great irony here is that it takes (a 164-year old) print newspaper… and its still remarkable distribution system to deliver one of the most advanced digital storytelling technologies to more than a million people.”
The great irony here is that it takes (a 164-year old) print newspaper… and its still remarkable distribution system to deliver one of the most advanced digital storytelling technologies to more than a million people.
The Times advised subscribers to keep their Cardboards for subsequent releases coming in December and later. (If you’re a subscriber and not sure what we’re talking about, Google’s Cardboard is a fold out device that turns your smartphone into a basic virtual reality viewer, letting you see 3D and 360-degree videos.) The app will arrive on November 7th for Android and iOS, and subscribers will receive Cardboard with their weekend paper starting the same day. Times Insiders and some digital subscribers will instead get a promo code for the viewer, which normally runs about $25.
Source: New York Times
Beddi smartphone alarm dock hooks up to Uber, Spotify and Nest
We’ve seen plenty of smartphone — well, mostly iPhone — alarm docks in our lifetime, but there’s been little development on that end in recent years. OK, there was that one bacon scent alarm from Oscar Mayer, but not much else. That’s why we were pretty stoked when we came across Witti’s neat and affordable solution dubbed Beddi. This $100 minimalistic dock houses an iOS or Android phone in landscape mode on the top, and recharging is done via your own USB cable — you get a 2.1A port and a 1A port on the back. But it’s really all about the companion app: Once paired up over Bluetooth, you can preset Beddi’s three physical buttons to either call an Uber taxi, toggle a Spotify playlist, control the temperature on your Nest or switch on a Philips Hue light. Some of these can even be automated according to your desired schedule. Slideshow-331960
The dock itself also packs some goodies. You get a pair of 3W speakers that actually sound pretty good for the price, and they’ll go nicely with Beddi’s soothing ambient noise function or just the general music playback — via either Bluetooth 4.0 or line-in at the back. For those who still use the old-school FM radio, Beddi has it as well. Thanks to the Google Maps integration, you can also wake up to voice-based weather plus live traffic information to get to work on time. Beddi also comes with two sets of LED lights: The one along the bottom edge serves as a 16-million color mood light, and the one on the back is a warm-white wake-up light to give you an easier start in the morning.
Not bad for a $100 smartphone dock, right? It’s even cheaper on Kickstarter: You can grab a Beddi for just $75 a piece or from just $115 for two, with delivery expected in June next year.
Source: Kickstarter
Polar announces the new A360 smartwatch to track fitness, incoming calls, and more
Polar (not the company Google acquired), a leading company in heart-rate monitors, has just announced a new product, the A360 fitness tracker. The wristband is aimed at taking industry-level heart rate measurements, tracking activities 24/7, steps, calories, and even sleep.
The Polar A360 isn’t just a fitness tracker, though. The wearable also doubles as a true smartwatch by vibrating for incoming calls, messages, calendar events, and even social media notifications. The tracker will also nudge you when you’ve been at a standstill for too long.
It has a lot of added functionality, such as compatibility with many of the company’s other training products, such as the Polar H7 heart rate monitor.
There’re also a variety of band colours you can choose from, including Powder White, Charcoal Black, Neon Green, Sorbet Pink, and Navy Blue. The Polar A360 retails for $199.95USD (€199.90) and will be available this November, just in time for the holidays! Some of these colours will be available won’t be immediately available, but soon after launch.
Fitness trackers have always been a mystery. You really never know if you’re getting accurate information, and the speculation skyrockets if your activity tracker was fairly cheap. However, Polar has a history for creating leading heart rate monitors and more, so the A360 might just be something to try out this winter.
It’ll certainly be interesting to see how it stands up against the Moov Now.
Kempele, Finland – October 20, 2015 – Polar, the leader in heart rate sensors, activity trackers, and wearable sports technology, is taking its fitness trackers to the next level by introducing the colorful Polar A360 with wrist-based heart rate monitoring. Polar A360 features industry-leading heart rate measurement-based training guidance, in addition to 24/7 activity tracking, and all this information is displayed on a high-resolution color touchscreen. The A360 is waterproof and tracks daily activity, steps, calories, workouts, and sleep.
Designed to encompass a 360-degree lifestyle and encourage activity, Polar A360 vibrates to inform users of incoming calls, messages, calendar alerts, and social media notifications, and also to provide gentle reminders when they have been sitting still for too long. The Polar A360 is not only stylish, but also comfortable with small, medium, and large sizes available for the perfect fit. Users can match their personal style with interchangeable and vibrantly colored, soft silicone wristbands, which will be available in Powder White, Charcoal Black, Neon Green, Sorbet Pink and Navy Blue for individual purchase. Fully charged, the Polar A360 will track for two weeks with 24/7 activity tracking, including one hour of training per day. It also works with Polar’s H7 heart rate monitor in case users prefer to train with a chest strap. The Polar A360 will be available in November 2015 for $199.95/€199.90.
“The key to achieving Polar’s well-known accuracy relies on how data is recorded by the sensor, and then how it is interpreted. We developed our own algorithm for optical heart rate monitoring and optimized the hardware design to ensure the A360 meets the same accuracy and quality standards that Polar customers have come to expect,” says Marco Suvilaakso, Global Product Director at Polar. “Polar created the first heart rate monitor, and 38 years later we continue to be the trusted industry standard.”
The latest wearable from Polar goes beyond daily activity tracking to also provide personalized training guidance and motivation to help users meet their fitness goals. The A360 offers the company’s unique Smart Coaching features such as Activity Guide and Activity Benefit, which provide practical daily activity target suggestions and explain how activities affect the user’s health.
Daily activity and heart rate training details can be viewed on the Polar Flow mobile app (available for iOS and Android), which offers an in-depth analysis of daily, weekly, and monthly activity. The Polar Flow web service also offers a window into a person’s fitness and training diary. If training with a coach or personal trainer,Polar Flow for Coach offers additional training support, as users can connect and share workout information via the web service and receive feedback from their coaches. The A360 also works with Polar Club, allowing users to train with club instructors and view live heart rate data during fitness classes.
The Polar A360 will be available in Charcoal Black (size: M, L) and Powder White (size: S) in November in retail stores and online globally for $199.95 / €199.90. Additional colors such as Sorbet Pink (S, M) and Navy Blue (M) will be available soon after launch. Changeable wristbands in Powder White, Charcoal Black, Sorbet Pink, Navy Blue and Neon Green will be available in a variety of sizes and sold separately early next year.
Come comment on this article: Polar announces the new A360 smartwatch to track fitness, incoming calls, and more
Merge VR Goggles now available for pre-order on Amazon, will ship in time for the holidays
Merge VR today announced that the foam Merge VR Goggles is now available to pre-order on Amazon, and it’ll even arrive in time for this holiday season!
The Merge VR Goggles are made with a soft and flexible foam, making them easy to take on the go. There’s no need to worry about breaking them! The headset has dual input buttons, which allows its users to move around and jump while immersed in the world of virtual reality.
Those interested can pre-order the headset on Amazon for $79.99 with a shipping date of November 15. Merge VR will also soon be launching Merge Start to help you find the best virtual reality content on the market so you have, well, something to use your Merge VR Goggles with.
VR content is still in its infancy, so much of it isn’t that great. But hopefully the Merge Start will help curate some of the best of what’s out there to properly showcase what these Goggles can truly do.
Press release below.
SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Merge VR announced today that its soft, foam goggles are available for pre-order through Amazon, and will ship before holidays. The Merge VR Goggles are among the top tech products debuting in the consumer entertainment market this holiday season. Compatible with any iOS or Android smartphone from the last two years, the Merge VR Goggles are available on Amazon.com at a family-friendly consumer pre-order price of $79.
“We’re thrilled to offer our product on Amazon.com to deliver a high-quality, easy to use headset to consumers this year,” said Dan Worden, Executive Vice President. “Virtual reality is here and has a very bright future. There are already so many VR games, 360 videos and other fun experiences available, with more being developed all the time. We are providing consumers with a comfortable, durable and affordable virtual reality headset that works with the mobile phones they’ve already got in their pockets.”
Created with soft, flexible foam, the durable Merge VR Goggles are made to be tossed in a bag, taken on the go, and easily shared among friends. Innovative dual input buttons allow users to explore and interact in ways not possible before; you can run AND jump, or move forward AND backward while fully immersed in virtual reality. Additional features include adjustable custom lenses, anti-fog ventilation channels, audio ports, camera access for augmented reality, and an optional top strap for added comfort.
Merge VR will soon be launching Merge Start, where users can find the latest and greatest in high-quality, curated VR content. The Merge VR Goggles also work with the hundreds of VR apps and 360 videos already available in the iOS App Store and Google Play.
With adjustable lenses, comfortable head straps, and lightweight foam that fits the contours of any phone and any face, Merge VR Goggles makes virtual reality available to anyone, anywhere.
[Amazon]
Come comment on this article: Merge VR Goggles now available for pre-order on Amazon, will ship in time for the holidays
Want to watch HTC’s One A9 event?
If you’ve been tracking the HTC One A9 over the last few months, you know that today is (probably) the day that HTC will officially introduce it. The One A9 event scheduled for today is going to be streamed on YouTube, so everyone can watch as HTC unveils its latest smartphone. The event begins at noon Eastern time (11 a.m. Central), and you can watch the whole thing through the YouTube stream above.
Based on the latest rumors, the One A9 will likely launch with these specs:
- Snapdragon 617 processor
- 2GB of RAM
- 5-inch 1920 x 1080 display
- 16GB of internal storage
- 2150 mAh battery
- MicroSD card slot
- Fingerprint sensor
While these specs aren’t going to kill any flagships on the market, they will make for a nice little phone that’s being released just in time for the holiday season. We haven’t heard any official word on the carriers that will be selling the Aero, although some leaked photos last week indicated that the device is at least working on the AT&T network. We expect all these details and more from HTC’s event today.
Source Phandroid
The post Want to watch HTC’s One A9 event? appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Uber improves its service for disabled passengers in London
After recently seeing off a challenge from the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) at London’s High Court, Uber is wasting no time in its attempt to broaden its appeal across the capital. The company today announced the launch of uberASSIST, a new service that will offer additional assistance to disabled users. It works like this: when a rider requests a car using the ASSISTUK code, a “top rated” Uber driver, who has passed an equality course developed by Transport for All and Inclusion London, will be told that their passenger may require additional assistance and be invited to contact them ahead of their pick-up.
Vehicles are equipped to store folding wheelchairs, walkers and scooters, but Uber hopes to “add additional fully accessible vehicles to the Uber platform” by early next year. The launch comes as Mayor Boris Johnson and Transport for London (TfL) look to impose restrictions on the company’s operations in an attempt to level the playing field for traditional taxis and the private hire industry. Uber has been told it should offer more wheelchair accessible vehicles, while other proposals require drivers to complete a Knowledge-like exam and pass an English-language test in order to operate in the capital.
Uber says that the service will be available from 3pm today for no extra cost and more than a hundred drivers are already on board. It’s a small footprint when compared to the 21,000+ London black cabs that are wheelchair accessible by design, but Uber’s finally doing more to support riders who may need extra assistance when travelling across the city.
AIVAnet 