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Samsung Electronics has shown off a Google TV-based Blu-ray player and companion box at CES, due to ship later this year. Meanwhile, Vizio unveiled two HDTVs running the Android- and Intel Atom-based Google TV stack, including a 56-inch model.
Kontron announced a COM Express module sporting one of Intel's new “Sandy Bridge” Core processors along with a USB 3.0 interface. The ETXexpress-SC includes a 2.1GHz, quad-core Core i7-2715QE CPU, up to 16GB of DDR3 memory with ECC support, and either Type 2 or Type 6 pinouts, according to the company.
Verizon Wireless capped off a week of Android-based smartphone introductions with two new 4G LTE-ready, 4.3-inch models: HTC's ThunderBolt and LG's Revolution. The phones will compete on Verizon with Motorola's similarly 4.3-inch Droid Bionic, announced earlier this week, which ups the ante with a dual-core, Nvidia Tegra-2 processor.
The Linux 2.6.37 kernel was released this week with improved symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) scalability and the addition of many new hardware drivers. Other 2.6.37 highlights include security, power management and memory management enhancements, plus an I/O throttling speed boost and an option to disable the Big Kernel Lock.
Ericsson announced an “Xperia Arc” smartphone featuring a 1GHz Qualcomm processor, a 4.2-inch display, and an 8.1-megapixel camera. The Arc nominally runs Android 2.3, but was spotted at CES running Android 2.4, reinforcing the notion of a fork between tablet (3.0) and phone (2.3/2.4) Android versions.
Samsung and Verizon Wireless announced a 4G version of its Galaxy Tab Android tablet for Verizon's LTE network that also boosts the clock rate to 1.2GHz and cranks up the camera to five megapixels. Verizon then pre-announced a 4.3-inch “Samsung 4G LTE” Android smartphone and tipped a 4G LTE version of Novatel Wireless' MiFi hotspot.
Eurotech says it will offer a COM Express module with two of Intel's new “Sandy Bridge” processors. The Adbc8034 will sport the embedded-oriented Core i7-2715QE or Core i5-2515E CPUs, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, four SATA ports, eight USB ports, VGA/SDVO/LVDS video, and “multiple” PCI Express interfaces, according to the company.
Dell announced a seven-inch Android 2.2 tablet called the Streak 7, featuring a dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, dual cameras, and compatibility with T-Mobile's 4G-like HSPA+ network. The company also announced an unlocked, GSM-ready “Dell Venue” smartphone that runs Android 2.2 on a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, with a 4.1-inch AMOLED display and eight-megapixel camera.
LG Electronics announced a four-inch Android 2.2 phone called the Optimus Black — claimed to be the world's slimmest and touted for its high-luminance, low-power “Nova” screen technology. In addition, T-Mobile pre-announced an LG-manufactured, 4G-ready “G-Slate with Google” tablet that will run Android 3.0.
Nvidia announced it has licensed ARM's Cortex-A15 core for future-generation Tegra processors. The company also says it has obtained an ARM architectural license, which it will use to develop a CPU that “fully integrates” a GPU (graphics processing unit).
Motorola Mobility announced its long-awaited Android 3.0 (“Honeycomb”) tablet, featuring a dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor. Destined for Verizon, the Xoom is equipped with a 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 touchscreen, supports 1080p HD video with HDMI output, and, unlike Apple's iPad, offers dual cameras.
Google released a video overview of Android 3.0 (“Honeycomb”), confirming that it is designed for tablets while hinting at exclusivity for tablets. Honeycomb enhancements include a revamped, “virtual and holographic user interface,” improved multitasking, drag and drop widgets, video chat with Google Talk, Google eBooks integration, and tablet-oriented overhauls for the browser, Gmail, and YouTube.
Qualcomm is buying wireless chipset maker Atheros for $3.1 billion, in a move designed to help the company grow beyond its traditional business as a technology supplier for mobile phones and deeper into such areas as smartphones and tablets.
AT&T announced three 4G Android 2.2 smartphones supporting its HSPA+ network, led by Motorola's four-inch Atrix 4G, based on Nvidia's dual-core Tegra 2, which ships with 1GHz RAM and a docking laptop option with an 11.6-inch screen. The other phones are HTC's 4.3-inch, Snapdragon-based Inspire 4G, and a 4.5-inch Samsung Infuse 4G phone.
Lenovo has reannounced a device that is part Windows notebook, part Android-based tablet. The IdeaPad U1 includes the 10.1-inch LePad, a device that has its own 1.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, plus a base unit with an Intel CULV (consumer ultra low voltage) CPU, the company says.