A 4G-LTE network currently being built by LightSquared will interfere with the operation of GPS receivers, or so critics maintain. But provisions in a a defense spending bill signed by President Obama at the end of 2011 now require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to resolve all concerns before approving the service, according to this analysis by eWEEK's Wayne Rash.

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ZiiLabs says it is sampling a quad-core Cortex-A9 SoC (system-on-chip) designed for Android 4.0 tablets. Clocked at 1.5GHz, the ZMS-40 processor is equipped with 96 “StemCell” media processing cores supporting 3840 x 1080 resolution for 1080p 3D stereo video, features 200-megapixel/sec image processing, and supports the new HEVC (H.265) video compression standard, the company says.

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Roku announced a tiny dongle version of its Linux-based streaming player device, designed to plug directly into a TV's HDMI port. Due to ship in the fall, the “Roku Streaming Stick” will send its signals to — and accept power from — Mobile High Definition Link-enabled televisions, including some of Best Buy's Insignia models.

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Intrinsyc announced a hardware/software development platform for Freescale's Cortex-A9-based, dual-core i.MX 6 processor, offering support for Android 4.0 and Windows Mobile 6.5. The Open-6 Design and Production Platform combines a development kit, a wireless telephony stack, and a reference platform with a capacitive multitouch display, cameras, sensors, and wireless radios.

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Advantech announced several modules and single board computers (SBCs) equipped with Intel's new dual-core “Cedar Trail” Atom processors. The tiny COM Express Mini SOM-7565 module offers the 1.6GHz Atom N2600; the larger COM Express Compact SOM-6765 also supports the 2.13GHz D2700; and the 3.5-inch MIO-5250 SBC and AIMB-214 Mini-ITX board add the 1.86GHz N2800.

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Following Intel's announcement of its 32nm “Cedar Trail” N-Series Atoms, Acer, Asus, Lenovo, and MSI have all tipped netbook models equipped with the processors. Aiming to revive interest in netbooks via lower power consumption and better graphics, the Acer Aspire One D270, Asus Eee PC Flare, Lenovo Ideapad S110, and MSI Wind U180 all employ Intel's dual-core 1.6GHz Atom N2600 or 1.86GHz N2800 processors.

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The holiday shopping season appears to have been very good indeed for Android, with Google claiming that 3.7 million Android devices were activated during the period. Meanwhile, Flurry Analytics reported that Android and iOS activations on Christmas Day soared to 6.8 million, and ComScore announced yet another boost for Android in its Nov. 2011 U.S. smartphone report.

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Intel announced the availability of its 32nm “Cedar Trail” Atom processors, due to appear in products starting in early 2012 — although Digitimes claims the chips have met with tepid demand. The dual-core Atom N2600 (1.6GHz, 3.5 Watt TDP) and N2800 (1.86GHz, 6.5 Watts) target netbooks, while the dual-core Atom D2500 and D2700 clock to 1.86GHz and 2.13GHz, respectively, and aim for entry-level desktops.

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