| News Archive (1999-2012) | | | 2013-current at LinuxGizmos | | | Current Tech News Portal | | | About |
Bsquare announced a new version of its test automation suite, now with improved intelligent text recognition and language capabilities. TestQuest 10 supports Android, BlackBerry, and Windows CE target devices; integrates into Visual Studio Professional 2010; and runs under 32- and 64-bit Windows 7 environments, the company says.
Cricket Communications announced its most powerful Android smartphone, a four-inch Android 2.3 handset with a 1.4GHz processor and an eight-megapixel camera. Priced at $250 without contract and $55 per month in fees, the Huawei Mercury is the first U.S.-destined variant of the Huawei Honor, being released this month in a variety of global markets.
Panasonic, Samsung, Sandisk, Sony, and Toshiba announced they'll collaborate on a content-protection scheme targeting SD cards and other flash memory devices. The “Next Generation Secure Memory Initiative” will involve PKI (public key infrastructure) and will be robust enough to protect HD video content, according to the companies.
Adobe launched Flash Player 11.1 — its final mobile browser plug-in for Android smartphones and tablets — along with AIR 3.1. While it's set to give way to HTML5, Flash 11.1 adds support for Android 4.0 plus a variety of performance, stability, and device update enhancements, according to the company.
Motorola Mobility's Droid Xyboard 10.1 tablet brings the iPad some solid competition thanks to its Android 3.2 Honeycomb operating system, thin profile, HD display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and compatiblity with Verizon's 4G LTE network. Yet, Motorola should take the hardware button design and new stylus option back to the drawing board, this eWEEK review adds.
Adlink Technology announced a new line of all-in-one panel PCs, including one ARM-based model measuring just 0.65 inches (16.5mm) thick. The eight-inch SP-860 runs on a Texas Instruments AM3517 ARM Cortex-A8 processor, while the SP803 adopts the Atom N455, and the 15.6-inch SP-15W03 comes with a dual-core Atom D525 and an optional Nvidia Ion 2 GPU.
Aaeon announced an ATX motherboard with an Intel Q67 chipset, supporting Intel's Core i7/i5/i3 processors. The IMBA-967 supports up to 32GB of DDR3 memory, offers dual display support with available VGA, DVI-D, and HDMI outputs, provides a variety of PCI and PCI Express slots, and offers I/O including gigabit Ethernet, SATA, USB 2.0, and serial ports, says the company.
Axiomtek announced the upcoming availability of a 3.93 x 2.83-inch Pico-ITX single board computer (SBC) powered by either a single-core AMD G-Series T40R or dual-core T40E, each clocked at 1GHz. The Pico100 supports up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, features dual displays via an LVDS interface and either DisplayPort or VGA, and offers SATA, gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0, and serial connectivity.
Dell has discontinued making consumer netbooks, and appears to be ready to phase out its Latitude business netbooks in favor of larger ultrabooks, says an industry report. The netbook shutdown follows the discontinuance of Dell's Streak 7 Android tablet earlier this month.
Via Technologies demonstrated Android 2.2 on an Em-ITX single board computer (SBC) equipped with a 1.2GHz dual-core Nano X2 E processor. Running Android on an x86 platform offers increased I/O, performance, and cost-saving advantages for embedded applications such as in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) and interactive kiosks, Via claims.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is apparently mulling over licensing ARM architecture for forthcoming mobile-oriented processors. “Making sure that you're able to be ambidextrous is definitely a winning hand,” recently appointed CEO Rory Read has been quoted as saying with regard to the move.
The newly independent Qt Project announced a new release of its Linux-ready cross-platform development framework. Qt 4.8 adds Qt Platform Abstraction for easier porting of Qt to different windowing systems, threaded OpenGL support, multithreaded HTTP, optimized file system access, and a browser update to QtWebKit 2.2.1, says the project.
The Linux Foundation's CE Linux Forum (CELF) workgroup announced a call for participation (CFP) for this year's Embedded Linux Conference (ELC), to be held Feb. 15-17, 2012, in Redwood Shores, California, with submissions due Jan. 6. O'Reilly Media, meanwhile, issued its own CFP, due Jan. 12, for its Open Source Convention (OSCON) 2012, scheduled for July 16-20, 2012 in Portland, Oregon.
Verizon Wireless began selling Samsung's Galaxy Nexus smartphone for $300 on contract Dec. 15, allowing those awaiting the coveted gadget to exhale. The Galaxy Nexus offers a dual-core, 1.2GHz processor, 4.65-inch Super AMOLED display, 32GB of storage, dual cameras, and an NFC (near field communication) chip — but Verizon won't let the latter support the Google Wallet payment service.
Intel is ramping up its efforts to move into the tablet and smartphone spaces via a reorganization that is bringing together four divisions to create a mobile and communications unit. It will be headed by Mike Bell, an Intel executive who worked on iPhone development while at Apple, according to reports.