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Android phone offers Bang and Olufsen audio and universal remote functionality

Oct 22, 2010 — by Eric Brown — from the LinuxDevices Archive — 3 views

Copenhagen, Denmark-based Lumigon offered new details on its upcoming Android smartphone, including the inclusion of a Bang & Olufsen ICEpower audio system. The Lumigon T1 incorporates Freescale's 1GHz i.MX51 system-on-chip (SoC), and it offers a 3.5-inch glass capacitive touchscreen and a “self-learning” universal remote function, says the company.

Lumigon originally unveiled the T1 in February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. At the time, Lumigon said the T1 would ship in the second quarter, and a smaller slider-keypad version called the S1 would follow later that quarter. An E1 version was expected after that, offering "a unique navigation system and a shape never experienced in mobile phones."

This week, the company offered the formal launch of the T1 (pictured) at a "ball" in Copenhagen, and offered some new details on the phone including the fact that it offers a 3.5-inch, 800 x 480 touchscreen and features a Bang & Olufsen ICEpower receiver, speaker, and headphone amplifiers.

The T1 won't ship in volume until the first quarter of 2011, and the S2 won't be available until 3Q 2011, the company now says. There was no word on the E1.

The phones appear to be the first to offer Freescale Semiconductor's ARM Cortex-A8-based 1GHz i.MX515 system-on-chip (SoC). which has been used in other devices, including tablets.

Previously, Lumigon said the T1 would run Android 2.1 ("Eclaire"), but now lists no confectionery flavor, noting only it will be "the latest" Android. As noted before, the phone also offers the company's own Lumigon P-GUI layer, although no details were offered on what features the skin supplies.

Other previously announced features include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, A-GPS, and a five-megapixel autofocus camera with flash. The phone also provides a 3.5 mm audio jack, 720P HDMI out, an accelerometer, an FM receiver, and an FM transmitter, says the company. The phone also ships with a docking station, says the company.

The 3.5-inch, 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen is made of glass with a surrounding metal frame, Lumigon now says. Another newly touted feature, in addition to the Bang & Olufsen audio, is an optional HSDPA 3G modem with a Qualcomm chipset. Presumably, then, the phone will be sold unlocked in both Wi-Fi only and 3G-enabled versions, although the company offers no details.

As before, the T1 is touted for its ability to double as a universal remote control for home appliances. Remote-control applications might include an HDMI desk-station that enables the phone to be used as a source for HDTV or a regular television, or as a browser device. The remote function offers built-in learning capabilities and can memorize any command from virtually any device, says the company.

Earlier prototypes of Lumigon's S1 (left) and T1 (right)

Lumigon has yet to supply detailed specs, including dimensions, memory, and the like. The company has also contributed its basic smartphone reference design to Ulysse Nardin's luxury Chairman Android handset.

Stated Lars Gravesen, CEO and founder, "T1 is built on Scandinavian craftsmanship and design, coupled with the finest materials such as steel, aluminum and scratch-free glass. These uniquely designed phones are also packed with features not seen in mobile phones earlier."

Availability

The T1 is expected to reach distribution outlets in selected markets by the end of the year, with "major volumes" arriving during Q1 2011, says Lumigon. The keypad-enabled S1 is expected to ship in Q3 2011, says the company. A bit more information may be found here.


This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.



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