Via announced a quad-core version of its Nano processor, boasting a TDP of just 27.5 Watts. Simply named the “QuadCore,” the CPU features adaptive overclocking, 4MB of L2 cache, the PadLock cryptography engine, and pin-to-pin compatibility with earlier Via CPUs, the company says.

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AT&T announced it will offer Cisco Systems' seven-inch Android-based Cius tablet this fall, tuned to its 4G HSPA+ network as part of a new billion dollar plan by the carrier to offer “next-generation services for businesses.” Meanwhile, struggling Cisco announced fiscal 3Q earnings showing a 17.6 percent loss in net income, and warned of more job cuts to come.

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Google's Android Market, which recently passed the 200,000-application milestone, received new features geared toward improving the user experience. New features include top new free, top new paid, and top grossing lists, an editors' choice section, a top developers list, and an improved related apps function that suggests recommendations based on other buyers' choices.

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Ximea GmbH announced Linux-compatible “smart cameras” that include Intel Atom processors and color image sensors ranging from WVGA (752 x 480 pixels) to five megapixels. The Currera-R devices offer 1GB to 4GB of flash storage, microSD slots, VGA and Ethernet ports, and isolated digital I/O, the company says.

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ZiiLabs announced dual- and quad-core Cortex-A9 SoCs (systems-on-chip) clocked at 1.5GHz and aimed squarely at the Android tablet market. The dual-core ZMS-20 and the quad-core ZMS-40 also supply 48 or 96 Stemcell media processing cores, respectively, supporting 1080p video playback, HD video calling, and OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics, plus DDR3, LPDDR2, HDMI 1.4, and OpenCL technology, says the company.

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Samsung and Acer will start selling the first Google Chrome OS notebooks starting June 15, priced from $349 to $499 but also available as part of monthly business/school subscriptions. The 12.1-inch Samsung Chromebook Series 5 and the 11.6-inch Acer Chromebook offer dual-core 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 processors, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, a 16GB solid state disk, memory card reader, a webcam, USB, Wi-Fi, and optional 3G.

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Intel's new “Tri-Gate” 3-D transistors will give Intel what it needs to fight off ARM Holdings and its licensees in the PC space, predicts IHS iSuppli. The power-saving technology will also provide the chip giant “the … ammunition it needs to assault the tablet and smart phone semiconductor market,” the research firm adds.

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Timesys announced LinuxLink support for PMC-Sierra's MIPS-based WinPath3-SuperLite networking system on chip (SoC), a scaled-down version of the WinPath3. The company also announced a free Timesys University embedded Linux training series, starting with classes focusing on home automation with the Freescale i.MX51, medical devices employing the i.MX53, and internet radios using the Texas Instruments AM3517.

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Rhomobile announced a new version of its cross-platform smartphone app development framework, adding support for near field communication (NFC). Rhodes 3.0, which continues to support Android, BlackBerry, iOS, and WebOS, now adds Windows Phone 7 and Windows CE support, the company says.

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Wyse introduced a mobile thin client using AMD's dual-core G-Series T56N processor, with integral Radeon HD6310 graphics, and soon to be available with SUSE Linux. The X90m7 offers a 14-inch display with 1366 x 768 pixels, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g/n wireless networking, 2GB of RAM and 4GB of flash storage, plus a “2G/4G capable” ExpressCard slot and optional smart card reader, the company says.

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Sealevel Systems is shipping a ruggedized, 8.4-inch touch-enabled flat-panel computer aimed at HMI (human machine interface) and control applications. The SeaPAC R9-8.4 runs Linux or Windows CE on a 180MHz, ARM9-based Atmel AT91SAM9263 processor, provides Ethernet, USB, CAN, RS232, and RS485 connectivity — the latter connecting to optional modules — and offers a temperature range of -22 to 158 deg. F, says Sealevel.

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Google has taken the wraps off its “Music Beta by Google” streaming music service, the search engine's bid to challenge Apple's iTunes and Amazon.com music services. Users will be able to upload their personal music collections to Google's servers, which will stream it to computers, Android tablets, and smartphones, the company says.

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[Updated: May 11] — At the Google I/O conference, Google announced Android 3.1, an update that fixes bugs, tweaks the UI, improves USB support, and adds an Arduino-based Android Open Accessory gadget control platform. Briefly tipping an upcoming “Ice Cream Sandwich” release that will integrate Android 2.x and 3.x, Google also announced Android Market movie rentals, an 18-month Android upgrade program, and an [email protected] home-automation framework.

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[Updated: May 12] — Tilera unveiled a roadmap for its Linux-ready Tile-Gx multicore system on chips (SoCs): 16, 36, 64, and 100-core versions of a networking-focused Tile-Gx 8000 series; an upcoming, multimedia-focused Tile-Gx 5000 series; and a Tile-Gx 3000 series aimed at cloud server applications. Tilera also announced Wind River Linux support for its TilePro and Tile-Gx SoCs.

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Wind River announced a partnership with GoAhead Software whereby the two companies will become “preferred integration partners,” selling GoAhead's OpenSAFfire middleware to embedded Linux customers. The company also announced a “Wind River OpenSAF Quickstart” professional services and technical support package for its OpenSAF customers.

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