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Google will announce Android 2.4 “Ice Cream” in May, adding fuel to the theory that version 3.0 will fork Android, say reports. Meanwhile, Samsung is rumored to be prepping a “Vibrant 4G” phone for T-Mobile's HSPA+ network featuring 21Mbps downloads, Samsung and IBM are teaming up on mobile R&D, and the Google Goggles app gets a marketing-focused upgrade, says eWEEK.
Congatec announced a COM Express module that includes new Sandy Bridge CPUs from Intel and up to 16GB of DDR3 memory. The Conga-BM67 offers three DisplayPort interfaces, supports RAID, and delivers expansion including six PCI Express lanes, PCI, and eight USB ports, the company says.
Between 51 and 75 tablets appeared at CES, depending on different reports, with most running Android, but few offering the tablet-optimized Android 3.0. Here, we sum up our tablet coverage and survey CES tablet analysis from the blogosphere, which tends to agree on two points: the Motorola Xoom stole the show, and most of the other Android tablets were DOA.
Avalue announced an EPIC form-factor SBC (single board computer) employing Intel's embedded-specific “Sandy Bridge” Core CPUs. The EPI-QM67 includes up to 8GB of RAM, two gigabit Ethernet ports, multiple video outputs, and an optional touchscreen interface, according to the company.
NCR announced two all-in-one POS (point of sale) systems that run Novell's SUSE Linux for Point of Service. The RealPOS 25 and RealPOS 50 include integral touchscreen displays and can be placed on a counter, pole, bracket, or wall.
The Linux Foundation announced its 2011 event schedule, as well as a new conference called LinuxCon Europe, scheduled for October 26-28, 2011 in Prague. Meanwhile, the annual Linux.conf.au conference is still set to go off in Brisbane, Australia on Jan. 24-29 — featuring a keynote from Internet pioneer Vinton Cerf — despite expectations of historic flooding.
Lanner announced a 1U network appliance that supports Intel's “second-generation” Core processors (“Sandy Bridge”) and the Intel Q67 Express chipset. The FW-8770 is equipped with eight gigabit Ethernet ports, plus eight more via an optional module — “amazing port density for a 1U appliance,” according to the company.
Ibase announced a Mini-ITX motherboard that supports Intel's “second-generation” Core i7 and i5 processors, as well as Celeron QC/DC models. The MI956F accepts up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, has Mini PCI Express and PCI Express x16 expansion slots, offers four SATA II ports and two SATA III ports, and sports eight USB 2.0 ports and two USB 3.0 ports, according to the company.
The majority of developers working on embedded systems in North America and Asia Pacific regions are planning to migrate to a different hardware architecture, a new survey claims. Despite what some might have expected, the beneficiary is Intel — being targeted by 29 percent or 34 percent of developers in those respective regions, according to Evans Data Corporation (EDC).
Cisco Systems unveiled a suite of Linux-based “Videoscape” IPTV hardware and software that blends TV and web content a la Google TV. Meanwhile, Verizon Wireless plans to ship 4G LTE versions of Cisco's Android-based, enterprise-focused Cius tablet and Linux-based ISR routers.
At CES last week, MIPS Technologies, demonstrated a number of MIPS-based Android mobile devices, including two smartphones and several tablets. MIPS also announced that Chinese semiconductor firm Ingenic — whose MIPS-based processors power Velocity's Cruz Android tablets, has licensed the MIPS32 architecture to develop one of the new Android smartphones — while an Action Semiconductor MIPS SoC powers the other.
RadiSys announced a Type 6 COM Express module featuring embedded-specific versions of Intel's “second-generation” Core processors. The Procelerant CEQM67 offers up to 16GB of RAM, five video interfaces, four SATA ports, seven PCI Express x1 ports, and a PCI Express x16 interface, the company says.
Wireless chipset maker Broadcom joined the Linux Foundation, suggesting that it will release more open source drivers for Linux. Over the last month, Timesys, Protecode, and Mentor Graphics have also joined the nonprofit Linux advocacy organization.
DT Research announced a seven-inch tablet that runs Linux or Windows on a 1.6GHz Atom Z530 processor. The ruggedized DT372 has up to 2GB of RAM and 64GB of SSD (solid state disk) storage, a resistive touchscreen with 1024 x 600 pixels, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, plus options including an encrypted PIN pad and a three-track MSR (magnetic stripe reader), the company says.
Smartphones running Android surpassed Apple iOS in the U.S., grabbing 26 percent compared to Apple's 25 percent share, according to ComScore. Meanwhile, Google reports strong AdMob ad-viewing numbers from Android and iOS, and Forrester Research projects that Apple's iPad will lead Android in a 2011 tablet market that should hit 24.1 million.