Android Authority |
- Tegra 4: the tech specs
- Google resumes Nexus 4 shipments in Canada
- Lenovo to announce the K5 at CES: 5.5″ 1080p display, dual core Intel inside
- Screenshots of what’s supposedly HTC Sense 5 hit the internet; looks classy
- Nvidia introduces Tegra 4, here’s what you should know
- Sony promises something “extraordinary” for its CES 2013 lineup
- Sony Xperia Z spotted on the CES show floor, due to be announced later today
- Nvidia drops first bomb of CES 2013 with new handheld gaming system called Project Shield
- Huawei books a spot for 5-inch Ascend D2 at CES 2013
- We’re live at NVIDIA’s CES 2013 Event!
| Posted: 07 Jan 2013 01:14 AM PST
The new Tegra 4 System on a Chip was just unveiled in Las Vegas, and we have the full rundown here. Along with the new SoC, Nvidia's boss Jen-Hsun Huang also touted the Icera i500 baseband chip, a reprogrammable LTE chip that will run Tegra 4 devices run on a multitude of LTE networks, and the Shield, Nvidia's first gaming handheld. The biggest news of the night is, however, Tegra 4, a name that we are likely to hear a lot in the next year or so. Although Nvidia didn't supply the full spec sheet for the new Tegra 4, we compiled enough information to make a rather complete picture of the powerful new SoC. Tegra 4 specs
CPU
GPU
Memory
Video
Display
Imaging
IO
Related Posts |
| Google resumes Nexus 4 shipments in Canada Posted: 07 Jan 2013 01:01 AM PST
If you're one of the lucky few who managed to order to Nexus 4 when it briefly returned to Google Play in Canada on December 3, you may have been told to wait 6-7 weeks for the handset to arrive. Defying all odds, it looks like Google is able to move up the delivery date. As reported by the folks at Mobile Syrup, shipping notifications have been sent out to Canadian customers who purchased the Nexus 4 back in December, with many confirming that they have received the flagship phone early.
In case you're wondering, the Nexus 4 is still listed as "Sold out" in the Play Store, as is the Nexus 10 slate. Planning to do something about it soon, Google? It's worth checking your inbox for the shipment notification e-mail from the Nexus maker. Let us know if you have some good news to share by leaving your comments below. Related Posts |
| Lenovo to announce the K5 at CES: 5.5″ 1080p display, dual core Intel inside Posted: 07 Jan 2013 12:21 AM PST
Intel has spent the last few years trying to make a chip small enough to fit inside a smartphone. They’re a company that’s used to making chips for full blown computers, so their task wasn’t an easy one. When the single core Atom packing Motorola RAZR i was announced last September, we were impressed with it, but after some extensive testing we found it rather difficult to call a “great” device. According to the Chinese website Zol, 2013 is going to be the year Intel finally shakes up the mobile space. Lenovo is going to announce a flagship phone at CES called the Z5 that’s said to pack a dual core Intel chip, 5.5 inch 1080p display, 13 megapixel camera, 2 GB of RAM, and a 3,500 mAh battery. The Z5 is going to run Android 4.2, but before you ask, no, we have no idea when it’s going to come out and how much it’s going to cost. Truth be told, until Samsung or Apple start using Intel chips in their devices, then Intel isn’t going to have that much of an impact in places like Europe or the United States. Apple makes their own A-series processor, and Samsung has Exynos. The devices that don’t have either of those chips typically use a Qualcomm solution. We want Intel to do their best and compete with the big boys, but let’s be serious, Apple is never going to put a chip in the iPhone that wasn’t designed by them, and Samsung has all these factories that they need to put to good use, hence the Exynos brand. Expect to hear more about the Z5 and Intel’s new dual core chip for smartphones today at 16:00 Eastern Standard Time. That’s when Intel holds their press conference. Here’s hoping Google, via the Motorola handset unit, uses Intel’s chip to be different and deliver something incredible. Related Posts |
| Screenshots of what’s supposedly HTC Sense 5 hit the internet; looks classy Posted: 06 Jan 2013 11:47 PM PST
Different people have different opinions when it comes to Android modifications done by hardware vendors. This writer hates them and will not stop bashing them until they’re banned, but the majority of folks are far less hostile. In fact, most people don’t care since they don’t know any better. They’ve never owned a stock device, so they have no basis for comparison.  But enough philosophy, today’s news has to do with what are allegedly two screenshots showing off HTC Sense 5. One shows the dialer, another shows the QWERTY keyboard. Both look rather muted and far less flashy than the current version of Sense. Anyone who has ever picked up an HTC device recently knows that the Taiwanese company’s color palette of green and black is a bit jarring at first glance. So now for the important question: When are we going to see HTC Sense 5? We’d like to say next month at Mobile World Congress, but we’re not so sure. The version bump from Sense 4+ to Sense 5 makes us think that HTC is holding off this user interface until Google announces the next version of Android. We think that’s going to happen at Google I/O in May, but again, we’re not really sure about that. Will we start recommending HTC devices over Samsung devices if this new version of Sense actually ends up delivering useful features? Maybe, it’s too early to tell at this point. 2011 was all about the Sensation versus the Galaxy S2, and we all know who won that war. 2011 was the One X versus the Galaxy S3, and while the One X was considered by many to be a highly qualified competitor, it was the GS3 that ended up in more people’s hands. What will 2013 look like? We’re waiting to hear more about codename “M7″, which is supposed to be HTC’s Butterfly/DNA on steroids, and of course the GS4. Funny how history repeats itself, right? Related Posts |
| Nvidia introduces Tegra 4, here’s what you should know Posted: 06 Jan 2013 11:31 PM PST
Today in Las Vegas, Nvidia lifted the veil on the latest generation of its Tegra line of systems on a chip. Previously codenamed Wayne (as in Bruce Wayne, the superhero), the new Tegra 4 SoC brings a bevy of improvements over its predecessor, and is according to its maker, the "world's fastest mobile processor". Chip geeks will have time to analyze this claim once the first benchmarks are out, but till then let's focus on the new features that Tegra 4 brings to the mobile SoC table. (For the full tech specs, head over here.) New GPU and quad-core A15 CPUThe engine of any SoC is the CPU. In Tegra 4, Nvidia one-upped competitors like Qualcomm and Samsung by delivering the first quad-core CPU based on ARM's A15 architecture. Some might take issue with this statement, given that Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 Pro chips are marketed as A15-class, but we'll discuss these technical subtleties later. The CPU in Tegra 4 is built on the same 4+1 design we've seen in Tegra 3, with the 5th core being the companion, low-power core used for applications where energy efficiency is more desirable than computational power. Nvidia didn't reveal any clock speeds or even on what process is the new CPU built, but rumors suggest it's a 28nm chip (Tegra 3 was built on 40nm) running at 1.9GHz. The GPU in Tegra 4 is supposedly six times more powerful than the graphics processor in last year's Tegra 3, thanks to the 72 GeForce cores that make it tick. At the launch event, Nvidia showed off a comparison between a Nexus 10 (powered by Samsung's Exynos 5250 chip, a dual-core A15 design) and a tablet equipped with the new Tegra 4. Naturally, Nvidia's chip won hands-down, being the first to load a number of websites.  This screenshot from Real Boxing 2013 shows Tegra 4′s gaming prowess Worldwide LTETegra 3 was seriously hampered by the lack of an integrated LTE baseband chip. So, while the chip did score a number of wins in devices where LTE wasn't essential (international One X, Nexus 7, Surface, etc.), most high-end smartphones destined for the huge North American market came with LTE-enabled Qualcomm processors. Nvidia hopes to change the status quo with the Tegra 4, which comes with an optional LTE chipset, the Icera i500. This 5th generation Icera modem is smaller and more efficient than previous iterations, and Nvidia promises worldwide LTE voice and data compatibility. But the Icera i500 is not integrated in the SoC, meaning that there still could be efficiency issues. We'll have to wait for more details on this. The Icera i500 is a soft modem, meaning that it can be reprogrammed via software to work with different LTE networks. Given the cacophony of often incompatible LTE implementations around the world, the reprogramability of the Tegra 4 should ensure fast, worldwide device rollouts. The modem is capable of 1.2 trillion operations per second.  Die shot: Tegra 4 and Icera i500 modem. You can see the 4+1 cores on the Tegra 4 SoC. Live HDR videoNvidia touted another neat trick in Tegra 4's playbook – the new Computational Photography Architecture, a technology that harnesses the computing power of the CPU and GPU, along with a new dedicated engine, to enable faster, better high dynamic range (HDR) imaging. Nvidia demoed a live video with HDR applied in real time, and boasted that Tegra 4 is able to do HDR rendering even in burst shots and with LED flash. All this HDR prowess is enabled by the new CPA technology, which Nvidia claims is 10 times faster than existing technologies. Devices equipped with Nvidia's Tegra 4 chip will be able to output 4K (ultra HD) video. We can't imagine too many use cases for this trick right now, but I am sure some will disagree. Check out the press release for more details. NVIDIA Introduces World's Fastest Mobile Processor
Tegra 4 Features 72 Custom GPU Cores, Quad-Core Cortex-A15 CPU for Superb Performance and Efficiency; LTE Enabled with Optional Chipset
LAS VEGAS—CES—Jan. 6, 2013—NVIDIA today introduced NVIDIA® Tegra® 4, the world's fastest mobile processor, with record-setting performance and battery life to flawlessly power smartphones and tablets, gaming devices, auto infotainment and navigation systems, and PCs.
Tegra 4 offers exceptional graphics processing, with lightning-fast web browsing, stunning visuals and new camera capabilities through computational photography.
Previously codenamed "Wayne," Tegra 4 features 72 custom NVIDIA GeForce™ GPU cores – or six times the GPU horsepower of Tegra 3 – which deliver more realistic gaming experiences and higher resolution displays. It includes the first quad-core application of ARM's most advanced CPU core, the Cortex-A15, which delivers 2.6x faster web browsing and breakthrough performance for apps.
Tegra 4 also enables worldwide 4G LTE voice and data support through an optional chipset, the fifth-generation NVIDIA Icera® i500 processor. More efficient and 40 percent the size of conventional modems, i500 delivers four times the processing capability of its predecessor.
"Tegra 4 provides enormous processing power and efficiency to power smartphones and tablets, gaming devices, auto systems and PCs," said Phil Carmack, senior vice president of the Tegra business at NVIDIA. "Its new capabilities, particularly in the area of computational photography, will help improve a whole range of existing products and lead to the creation of exciting new ones."
Among the Tegra 4 processor's breakthroughs is its Computational Photography Architecture, which automatically delivers high dynamic range (HDR) photos and video by fusing together the processing power of the GPU, CPU and the camera's image-signal processor.
Its HDR capability captures images, including those taken with a flash, the way they are seen by the human eye – with detail in both bright and dark areas.
Unprecedented Power Efficiency Designed for maximum energy efficiency, Tegra 4 includes a second-generation battery saver core for low power during standard use, and PRISM 2 Display technology to reduce backlight power while delivering superior visuals.
Tegra 4 consumes up to 45 percent less power than its predecessor, Tegra 3, in common use cases. And it enables up to 14 hours of HD video playback on phones.
Tegra 4 Key Features
Useful Links
Tags/Keywords
About NVIDIA Related Posts |
| Sony promises something “extraordinary” for its CES 2013 lineup Posted: 06 Jan 2013 11:09 PM PST
Guess who's planning to bring the house down at CES 2013? It's none other than Sony Mobile, which has sent a teaser e-mail just before the start of the trade show. Given the nature of such invitation, it's to be expected that it doesn't contain all the gory details to get you truly excited. However, we have a pretty good idea of what the Japanese giant is planning to introduce at the annual tech event.
Prepare to meet the Sony Xperia Z and possibly the Xperia ZL as well, two phones that have been lounging around on Sony's website since the start of the New Year. Although press shots of the new Xperias have surfaced online, the super specs haven't been confirmed yet. According to the rumor mill, both the Xperia Z and ZL will sport a 1080p display, a quad-core CPU, Adreno GPU, 2GB of RAM, and a 13MP main camera. The mystery is about to be cracked pretty soon. Stay tuned! Related Posts |
| Sony Xperia Z spotted on the CES show floor, due to be announced later today Posted: 06 Jan 2013 11:04 PM PST
Sony is going to hold a press conference at CES later today, but that’s still not stopping the internet from leaking the company’s devices! According to one of Engadget’s sources who shall remain nameless, what you’re looking at below is the Xperia Z. It’s rumored to have a 5 inch 1080p screen, quad core processor, and all the other goodies you’d come to expect from such a high end device.  We only have two questions about this handset. One, when is it going to hit store shelves? It’s one thing to announce a smartphone, but it’s something completely different to actually ship it. HTC’s 1080p packing Butterfly/DNA is already out, so we know it’s possible to make 1080p devices. And as for the second question, it’s about the price tag. How much will the Xperia Z cost and will it be comparable to the other 1080p devices on the market? Speaking about the other 1080p devices, we’d like to remind you that there’s a rumor floating around that says LG is going to announce their own 5.5 inch 1080p phone at CES. There’s also the Huawei Ascend D2, but knowing Huawei’s track record, it’s going to take at least half a year to be available. Keep you’re eyes peeled, we’re here at CES and will bring you more details as we get them. Related Posts |
| Nvidia drops first bomb of CES 2013 with new handheld gaming system called Project Shield Posted: 06 Jan 2013 10:29 PM PST
Project Shield, otherwise known as the first awesome bomb dropped on CES 2013 this year, is a handheld gaming device powered by the Tegra 4. It will not only play every Android game out there, but it is also capable of playing console games. We’re not talking cheap console games like Magic: The Gathering. We’re talking big titles, like Assassin’s Creed III. The specs for Project Shield include a 5 inch, 720p, multi touch display with a Tegra 4 processor. It also includes a slot for Micro SD expansion. It will run vanilla Android as well, so no annoying or bloated skins to deal with. It’ll come with the Google Play Store and Gmail. Seems pretty awesome, but what makes Project Shield great?The best feature, and the one we’re sure will be most talked about in coming months, is the capacity to stream games from the PC. So you have a game on your PC you want to play, you can play it on Project Shield no problem. Want more? Okay, Project Shield comes with not one, but two ways of bringing that content to your TV. You can stream it from your computer to Project Shield and use the HDMI out port included to put it on your TV. Or, if it supports it, you can also stream to your TV wirelessly. The cherry on top? Nvidia has confirmed that it supports Steam games. So it will be possible to use this to play Steam games on your TV. We know what you’re thinking and we agree. Just take our money, Nvidia! Who’s going to get one of these when they come out? Also, check back here as we add additional video and photos of Project Shield. Related Posts |
| Huawei books a spot for 5-inch Ascend D2 at CES 2013 Posted: 06 Jan 2013 09:30 PM PST
Ever since the Ascend 2 was unveiled in China last October, there's hope that Huawei would bring its 5-inch 1080p flagship phone to America. What better way to introduce the phone than to showcase it at one of the world’s biggest tech shows? We've reported that alongside other 5-inchers from competing phone makers, we'd see the Huawei Ascend D2 at CES 2013. The spotted billboards — at least two of them — confirm that the Ascend D2 will be the main course on Huawei's menu. The Ascend D2 is expected to sport a 5-inch full HD "edge-to-edge" display, a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, a 13MP rear camera, and a 3,000mAh battery. Quite an impressive sheet of specs from a manufacturer that's more known for its low- to mid-end offerings. Hopefully, we'll hear more of the phone's release date and pricing, as well as other juicy details. Don't miss our coverage of the event, where we’ll be reporting live throughout the day! Related Posts |
| We’re live at NVIDIA’s CES 2013 Event! Posted: 06 Jan 2013 07:28 PM PST
Lovers of mobile technology, lend me your ears, your eyes, and your hopes and ambitions for the future of mobile technology. While everyone on the mobile scene knows that Qualcomm really heated things up towards the end of 2012 with their S4 Pro, many are hoping that NVIDIA is going to drop a bomb on everyone that will really shake up the mobile performance race. What does NVIDIA have in store?What does the future hold? What will NVIDIA unveil tonight? You’ll find out starting at 8pm PST! And, as always, we’re here, live in Las Vegas, to offer you an insider’s perspective on what to expect for 2013! Check out our liveblog below! Feel free to ask us any questions, and to let us know what to look for, here at the event, and at CES 2013! Live Blog!Thanks guys! Remember, we do this for you, so let us know what you want us to cover and scour for at CES 2013! Related Posts |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Authority To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment