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Google announced that AT&T will begin selling the Google-branded Samsung Nexus S smartphone for $100 on contract through Best Buy July 24. Meanwhile, a Samsung executive revealed to the press that the much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone — which, like the Nexus S runs Android 2.3 — will launch in the U.S. in August.
Axiomtek announced a fanless DIN-rail computer designed to tolerate temperatures from -40 to 158 deg. F. The rBOX204 provides five 10/100 Ethernet ports — four of which supply power — along with an AMD LX800 processor, up to 1GB of RAM, CompactFlash storage, and redundant power inputs, according to the company.
Android tablets took a 30 percent share of global tablet shipments in the second quarter, compared to 61 percent for Apple, as part of a 331 percent growth in total sales since Q2 2010, says Strategy Analytics. According to a Good Technology study, however, Android tablets still trail the iPad significantly in the enterprise — where Apple represented 95 percent of second-quarter sales.
Reporting results for the second quarter of its financial year, Intel said Atom processor revenues have dropped by 15 percent, and lowered its forecast for 2011 PC sales to around nine percent. But revenue and net income were respectively up 22 percent and 10 percent year-over-year, marking a “fifth consecutive quarter of record revenue,” officials added.
Via Technologies announced a Mini-ITX motherboard that includes a dual-core Nano X2 E-Series processor and, with an optional S3-based graphics module, can support four displays, The VB8004 offers up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, includes HDMI, LVDS, and DVI ports, and provides a special 90-pin I/O connector.
Gumstix announced a controller board designed to integrate its Cortex-A8-based, 1GHz Overo computer-on-module (COM) into robots, for Linux-based planning and other higher-end functions. The RoboVero board includes NXP's Cortex-M3-based LPC1769 processor clocked to 120MHz plus buttons, LEDs, sensors, 3-axis controls, and interfaces ranging from CAN to I2C.
Roku announced three new versions of its Linux-based, Netflix-ready streaming IP media player, all running on less than two Watts and adding support for casual gaming. The Roku 2 HD ($60) supports 720p playback; the Roku 2 XD($80) moves up to 1080p; and the Roku 2 XS ($100) adds USB and Ethernet ports, as well as a motion-control remote and Angry Birds.
McObject announced a clustering version of its Linux-compatible, in-memory ExtremeDB database management system, said to support distributed embedded as well as real-time enterprise applications. ExtremeDB Cluster manages data stores across multiple hardware nodes, thereby increasing net processing power for data management, reducing expansion costs, and increasing scalability for data-intensive real-time applications, the company claims.
Intel plans to refresh its entry-level Celeron processor line using the same 32nm manufacturing and “Sandy Bridge” architecture as its latest Core CPUs. Expected in September are the dual-core G5xx and single-core G4xx for desktops, plus the dual-core B8xx and the single-core B7xx for laptops, according to a DigiTimes report.
Aewin announced a gaming computer equipped with a choice of AMD G-Series processors: either the dual-core 1.6GHz T56N or the single-core 1.2GHz T44R. The SGA-2200 is available with one or two gigabit Ethernet ports, six or 10 COM ports, four USB ports, specialized security features, and gaming-specific digital I/O aplenty.
Lenovo announced two Android 3.1 tablets: a consumer-oriented IdeaPad Tablet K1 claimed to be the first tablet to offer Netflix, and a business-focused ThinkPad Tablet. Each tablet follows the Honeycomb script by offering an Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, a 10.1-inch WXGA display, and dual cameras, but the ThinkPad also features pen support and a standard-size USB port and SD reader.
Oracle released a new version of its free virtualization software, now offering an easy way to clone virtual machines (VMs). VirtualBox 4.1 also includes a memory limit increase to 1TB for 64-bit hosts, guest support for Windows Aero, a new UDP networking tunnel for interconnecting VMs, and support for SATA hard disk hotplugging, among other cited new features.
Motorola's Droid 3 is a nice addition to the Android smartphone family Verizon Wireless began selling in October 2009, according to this eWEEK review. With a new keyboard, an eight megapixel camera, and Android 2.3 (“Gingerbread”), this device is “the best of the Droids yet.”
Patent concerns are apparently pushing Chinese phone vendors away from Google's Android operating system and toward Windows Phone 7. Huawei and ZTE plan to adopt Microsoft's smartphone operating system when the forthcoming “Mango” upgrade is released, according to a DigiTimes report.
[Updated: 3:30PM] — Open source hacker community Gizmo For You is developing a Linux-based controller and separate receiver device to remotely control a model airplane or other vehicle. Starting at $670, the battery-operated Open Source RC (OSRC) runs Linux on a Gumstix Overo SBC and includes a 4.8-inch display, a smaller monochrome status display, a 2.4GHz RF radio, GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth for external thumbstick control.