Tag: ces

LG And Samsung To Showcase Smartphones With In-display Speakers

Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is one of the largest annual trade shows that is held in the month of January. The show is organised by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) in Las Vegas, United States. During the event, several companies from around the globe showcase the latest innovations and developments. In the past decade, smartphones have taken centre stage at CES and the same is expected from the 2019 event which is scheduled for 8 January-12 January. ETNews, a Korean news agency claims that LG and Samsung will showcase smartphones with an in-display earpiece speaker.

What Is An In-display Speaker?

Conventional speakers on smartphones make use of a diaphragm which is connected to a voice coil. The voice coil, when charged with a magnetic field, causes the diaphragm to vibrate up and down to produce sound. However, smartphones with an in-display earpiece speaker are reported to use a piezo sensor. It is a disc-like component which also produces sound. In comparison to normal speakers, the piezo sensor is very thin and sleek therefore they can easily be mounted behind the surface of a display panel.

Advantages of In-Display Speaker

It is apparent that smartphone manufacturers are trying to pack in as many components as possible in a small form factor smartphone. Hence, the use of an In-Display piezo sensor speaker will allow companies to save up on valuable space inside of a smartphone. This extra space can be utilised for other important components like a larger battery and powerful processor. Furthermore, a smartphone with this technology can significantly reduce the noise that is emitted outside the call. It can be promoted as a feature that is vital for confidential phone calls.

Developments From LG And Samsung

Also Read: Flipkart Mobiles Bonanza Sale: Best Deals On Top Smartphones- Part 1

LG has previously showcased CSO (Crystal Sound OLED) panels for monitors and televisions. As the name suggests, Crystal Sound OLED is a type of display panel that can emit sound waves and this display can be seen on the smartphones at CES 2019. Samsung has also showcased a similar type of SoD technology panel. The Sound on Display (SoD) panel has an under panel sound sensor.

December 27, 2018
LG to Showcase Its K Series Phones at CES

South Korean electronics giant, LG, has decided to launch two smartphones under its new K series. LG K10, and LG K7 will be displayed at CES 2016, in Las Vegas, and will replace the phones from its L series.

The phones, which as claimed by LG, are targeted towards users looking to create or view multimedia content, will come in two versions, LTE and 3g. The LTE baseband version of the K10 will house a 1.2 GHz/1.3 Ghz Quad core or 1.14GHz Octa Core process under the hood, while the 3g version will be powered by 1.3 Ghz processor. RAM amount will range between 1 and 2 GBs, while the internal storage will be either 8 or 16 GB. The device will be available in three colors -white, indigo, and gold.

The K10 will have a 5.3 inch , 720p display and will come with Android 5.1 Lollipop pre-installed. The LTE model will be equipped with a 13 MP rear camera, while the 3g version will have to do with an 8 MP shooter. Powering the K10 will be a 2300 mAh battery.

It’s younger sibling, the K7 will also come in two variants. The LTE variant will have a 1.1 GHz quad-core CPU, while the 3G iteration will sport a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor. The back camera will either be 8 MP or 5 MP, while the RAM will be 1.5 GB or 1 GB, and the built-in storage 8 GB or 16 GB. It will also house a 5-inch 480 x 854 resolution display, and will be driven by a 2125 mAh battery. The color options available for the K7 will be ‘Titan’ hue which will only be available on the LTE version, while the 3G version will be offered in white, black, and gold.

LG has further revealed that both these phones will include the new 2.5D arc glass tech, and other major features aimed at photophiles such as Gesture Shot, and Gesture Shot Interval, will also be available with these phones. Also, both these phones will have LG’s new pebble glass displays, and will use a woven pattern at the back to prevent those expensive out of hand slips.

The wait now is to see how LG prices them at CES, 2016. These K series phones from the stables of LG, if priced right, backed by the decent under the hood specs, and a good firmware support might just prove to be a good options for consumers across the globe.

January 5, 2016
Haier to Showcase Star Wars Inspired Life-Size R2-D2 Refrigerator at CES

While the entire world is gripped by the Star Wars craziness, Haier has not lagged behind. The manufacturer of consumer electronics and appliances has jumped on the bandwagon with its remote controlled refrigerator inspired by everyone’s favourite droid -R2-D2.

Haier will unveil its life-size refrigerator modelled after the Star Wars character at CES. The refrigerator mimics the droid in sound and movement. It will keep your drinks chilled and deliver them to you with its cooling and movement capabilities.

The appliance also has an in-built projector which is fully functional, making this little refrigerator useful for more than just taking care of your drinks. It is developed and produced by Haier Subsidiary Haier Asia in Japan, is made to order and comes with a serial number, and therefore is a collectible item. Take note all serious Star Wars fans.

Source

January 5, 2016
Round Up of Tech Innovations That Made a Mark at CES 2015

The Consumer Electronic Show (CES) has been a podium of futuristic innovations for years. Almost all big tech giants take part in this 3-day long event to showcase their prototypes.

This year’s CES also saw some really amazing gadgets; from Samsung to HTC, from mobiles, TVs to wearables, from devices to concepts, we have summed up the CES 2015 in this list of top 15 gadgets. The below listed technologies gathered the limelight at this year’s CES:

1. Razer Forge TV

The one that tops the list is Forge TV by Razer that has won the People’s Choice Award for Best of CES 2015. It’s an Android-powered console for hardcore gamers. Its compact size brings gaming to your living room. The console is powered by a Snapdragon 805 processor, quad-core Krait 450 CPU, and Adreno 420 GPU. The device has 2 GB of RAM along with 16 GB of internal storage capacity and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop.

2. Saygus V²

This one nearly broke the internet. Saygus took the centre stage at the event with its V². The device has a mammoth storage capacity of 320 GB. It has 64 GB of in-built storage capacity and comes with support to two MicroSD cards that can store 128 GB each. The V²is an Android-based handset with a 5-inch 1080p display, 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801 quadcore processor and 3 GB of RAM. It runs on Android 4.4.4 KitKat with a 21 MP primary camera together with dual LED flash and a 13MP selfie snapper upfront.

3. LG dual-bending display

LG released a smartphone, which can takes a step further from the Galaxy Note Edge. LG’s new phone has a sloping display on both sides of the screen. It flaunts a 6-inch display with 1280x720p resolution and is 0.7 mm thick. It has extra peril on the side screen that will help users navigate their way through the phone without accidental tapping.

4. Intel Chipset

Intel announced a new tiny chipset for wearable devices which is the size of a coat button. It’s a low power 32-bit micro-controller called the Quark SE, which has 384 KB of flash memory and 80 KB SRAM. In addition to that, the chipset comprises a plethora of sensors including accelerometer, gyroscope and Bluetooth LE support. The company claimed that one could build a wearable device out of anything from rings to handbags, pendants and even glasses through this chip.

5. Intel’s Compute Stick

The Compute Stick by Intel is a piece of brilliant innovation. It can turn your regular TV into a computer. It is available in Windows and Linux variants. The stick sports a USB port, micro USB port, and supports Bluetooth 4.0, and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. You can connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and begin your task where ever you go. The Windows version comes with 2 GB RAM and 32 GB Flash storage, while the Linux version comes with 1 GB RAM and 8GB storage. Both the devices are powered by a quad-core Atom CPU. The Linux variant comes at a price of $89.

6. Lenovo ThinkPadStack

Lenovo ThinkPad Stack is yet another useful and compact accessory released at CES. This device is a compilation of many accessories that demand extra space in your laptop bag. It’s best for frequent commuters. The list of peripherals includes a 10,000mAh battery pack, a 1TB USB 3.0 hard drive, a Bluetooth speaker and an LTE data hotspot. The modules are piled one over another and they share power and data.

7. Samsung SSD T1

Samsung has released three new versions of SSD T1. Available in 250GB, 500GB and 1TB variants, the drives measure a mere 71×53.2×9.2 mm, which is smaller than a business card. It supports AES 256-bit encryption, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 along with transfer speeds of up to 450MB/s. The SSD T1 models will be made available later this year.

8. Lenovo VB10 Band

The VB10 Band by Lenovo is a fitness track with good battery life. It sports an E-ink display and its battery can last more than a week on a single charge. The Band features full fitness tracking functions and works with a phone via always-on Bluetooth. It warns you when the phone moves too far away from the Band. The Vibe Band will be available in April 2015 for $89, making it one of the cheaper wearables in the market.

9. HTC Desire 826 and Desire 320

HTC Desire 826 with a 5.5-inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor and 2 GB RAM

HTC Desire 320 with 4.5-inch LCD display and 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek processor.

Both the devices by the company are amazing. While Desire 826 is a selfie-friendly handset, the Desire 320 is a device that’s affordable. The Desire 826 sports a 5.5-inch 1080p display, 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage capacity. Running on Android 5.0 Lollipop, the device has 13MP of rear camera and 4-UltraPixel upfront.

On the other hand, Desire 320 has a 4.5-inch LCD display, 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek processor, Android 4.4 KitKat, 4 GB or 8 GB internal storage and 2,100mAh battery. It has a 5 MP rear camera and 0.3MP secondary shooter.

10. Sony NW-ZX2 Walkman

Sony revived its music player with the launch of NW-ZX2 Walkman. It boasts 128 GB of storage space with up to 60 hours of battery life. The company claims that the device gives better sound output than other conventional smartphones. It supports high-quality audio codecs like DSD, WAV, AIFF, FLAC, Apple Lossless, and more. The Walkman also provides you with a Micro SD slot which lets you extend the storage beyond 128 GB. It also supports Bluetooth and NFC output, making this a full-package entertainment device.

11. Lenovo P90 and Vibe X2 Pro

Lenovo refreshed its smartphone list with two new devices; the Lenovo P90 and Vibe X2 Pro. The first sports a 5.5-inch 1920×1080 IPS display, 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage, 13 MP rear camera with OIS (optical image stabilization), front-facing 5 MP camera and a massive 4,000mAh battery. The latter is a limited edition offering by the company. The X2 Pro comes with a 5.3-inch display, a 64-bit 1.5GHz Snapdragon octa-core processor, a 13MP rear camera with optical image stabilisation along with a matching 13MP front facing camera.

12. LG G Flex 2

LG brought out the next installment in the G Flex series, the LG G Flex 2. It retrieves its original position in seconds compared to the original G Flex which takes around three minutes to heal. The device boasts a 5.5-inch full HD Curved P-OLED 1920×1080p display, a 64-bit Snapdragon 810 Octa-core processor, 2 GB of RAM and Android 5.0 Lollipop. Its camera specs include a 13MP rear shooter along with OIS+ and laser auto focus capacity and a 2.1MP front snapper for your selfie needs.

13. Voice Bridge

SwissVoice came up with a new device called Voice Bridge, through which you can make and receive calls on their mobile devices using their existing fixed line. This doesn’t charge any additional cost. The device has a box-like structure that can connect your landlines to smartphones and tablets. It can connect up to 5 devices to a fixed line. Through this, multiple users can have a conversation in conference mode. The device uses PSTN line and acts like a standard PSTN line, so there’s no need to modify the home setup. There is no need for Wi-Fi pairing or setting up a user account and also, it’s really easy to setup.

14. Asus Zenfone 2 and Zenfone Zoom

The Taiwanese smartphone maker Asus released two new variants at the show. The Zenfone 2 flaunts a 5.5-inch full HD (1920×1080 pixels) IPS display, 64-bit Atom Z3580 quad-core processor clocked at 2.3GHz, 4GB of RAM, Android 5.0 Lollipop and a 3,000mAh battery. It features 13 MP of primary camera, which is said to be the world’s best HDR technology and a 5MP of front snapper.

The Zenfone Zoom packs the same set of specs as of Zenfone 2, but it has a superior camera. The Zoom sports a 13MP camera that has 10-element lens, 3X optical zoom, and Optical Image Stabilisation.

15. FLIR One

FLIR specialises in making thermal image sensors. Now the company has come up with a gadget that works with just about any smartphone. Titled FLIR One, the attachment can be plugged into a lighting port for Apple devices and the micro USB port for the Android devices. The device comes with two cameras and an internal battery. One camera called Lepton camera shoots thermal images while a standard camera shoots a normal image. Both the images are blended together to give a better thermal image output. The FLIR One is expected to come into the market by the mid-2015.

January 10, 2015
CES 2015 : Intel’s Compute Stick is a Windows 8.1 PC on a Stick

In a time when mobile devices are gaining prominence over computer, its time for the good old computers to stand up and fight back. Intel seems to have a solution, and it’s an entire computer that fits in your hands. Meet Intel’s Compute Stick, a device that can turn your regular TV into a computer and costs just $150.

There are at present many devices such as Google’s Chromecast and Amazon Fire Stick that provide streaming services, but the Compute Stick goes a little further. This device plugs into the HDMI port of your television and transforms it into a computer. It is available in Windows and Linux variants. The Linux variant comes at a price of $89.

The Windows version of the Compute Stick comes with 2 GB RAM and 32 GB Flash storage. On the other hand, the Linux version comes with 1 GB RAM and 8GB storage. Both devices are powered by a quad-core Atom CPU.

The stick sports a USB port, micro USB port, and supports Bluetooth 4.0, and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. You can connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and begin your task where ever you go. The company claims that this will help in bringing low-cost computing to schools, institutions and individuals too.

The device will come to market in March and is a good option if you own an HDMI capable TV and are in need of a low-cost computer. You should, though, know that this is no-frills computing and don’t expect to play any high-quality games on it. Intel plans to bring an upgrade to the device that will feature a Core M processor to increase performance. In our view, what it should really provide is storage expansion through a micro SD card, as 32 GB is comparatively less for modern computing needs. Overall, this looks like a great effort by Intel.

January 8, 2015
LiveBlog : Samsung CES 2014

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztsmusDQ9jU”]

For all the Latest CES Coverage on iGyaan : Click Here

January 7, 2014
BenQ Launches W1080ST and W1070 Full-HD Short-Throw Video Projectors

BenQ has introduced their latest creation, the world’s first Full-HD short-throw video projectors, the W1080ST and W1070 launched at the CES 2013 and India simultaneously.

Built to take centre stage in today’s media-rich home entertainment lifestyles, the W1080ST and W1070 support multiple forms of 3D by directly connecting through 2 HDMI 1.4 ports to various devices like Blu-Ray, 3D broadcasting, video games, PC, etc. with NVIDIA 3DTV PC connectivity. Built-in 10W speakers and SmartEco power saving feature also make W1080ST and W1070 a perfect home entertainment projector.

The BenQ W1080ST, which BenQ claims to be the first short-throw Full-HD video projector, is able to project up to 100-inch big screen in just 1.5 metres, and was introduced at CES 2013.

[quote]”It has been our constant endeavor to provide the best technology to our consumers to enjoy the ultimate big screen entertainment in their living rooms, we continue to bring the same excitement in 2013 with the launch of world’s first full HD short-throw video projectors W1080ST & W1070,” said, Rajeev Singh, Country Head & General Manager, BenQ India “Both projectors deliver full HD 1080p quality and are equipped with 3D capabilities through which you can enjoy all the fun of motion sensing and 3D games enhanced in size through the use of a home entertainment projector taking home entertainment & gaming to a whole new level.”.[/quote]

BenQ had also launched the GP10 720P LED projector in October last year. It comes with LED projection technology, 720p HD-ready short-throw projection, 30000 hrs. LED Light Source, 3D-ready, 550 ANSI lumen brightness, optional detachable DVD player, HDMI multimedia connectivity, USB multiple format support for movies, pictures & music, Wireless Display, SD card slot, and two built-in 3W stereo speakers with SRS. GP10 also comes with optional detachable DVD player.

January 14, 2013
Panasonic launches two new Toughpads, FZ-G1 Windows 8 and JT-B1 Ice Cream Sandwich
Panasonic has just launched two new Toughpads at CES 2013, The FZ-G1 is a 10-inch tablet running Windows 8 Pro, while the seven-inch JT-B1 runs Ice Cream Sandwich.

FG-Z1 10-inch Specs
- 1,920 x 1,200 display
- 1.9GHz Ivy Bridge Intel Core i5-3437U vPro CPU
- 128GB SSD (upgradeable to 256GB)
- 8GB of RAM
- eight-hour battery
- optional microSD slot
- USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports
- Bluetooth 4.0
- 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi and 3G
JT-B1 Specs include
- 1,024 x 600 display
- 1.5GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4660
- 16GB storage
- 1GB RAM
- built-in microSD slot
- 13-megapixel rear camera
- 1.3-megapixel forward facing cameras
- 5,720mAh battery.
The FZ-G1 will go on sale in March for $2,900 (or about INR 149,000) the JT-B1 will be available in February and will cost $1,300 (or about INR 71,500). So if you are ready to take your tablet to the extremes, you might want to hold up some spending.

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PANASONIC EXPANDS TOUGHPAD™ ENTERPRISE-GRADE TABLET LINE

Ten-inch Windows 8 Pro-based and Seven-inch Android™-powered Tablets offer Choice to Meet Expanding Business Tablet Expectations

Las Vegas, NV, January 9, 2013 – Panasonic, an industry leader in rugged, reliable mobile computers since 1996, today expanded its Toughpad™ line of enterprise-grade tablets with the introduction of the Toughpad™ FZ-G1, a 10″ tablet featuring Windows® 8 Pro, and the availability of the Toughpad JT-B1, a 7″ Android™-powered unit. Both devices follow the original 10″ Android-powered Toughpad FZ-A1 which became broadly available late last year. With the Toughpad (#Toughpad) family of ruggedized tablets, businesses and government institutions have a single partner delivering a selection of highly reliable and purpose-built devices ideal for numerous operational needs.

“For nearly 20 years, Panasonic has engineered the most reliable mobile computing devices on the market,” said Rance M. Poehler, president, Panasonic System Communications Company of North America. “Because our customers know they can count on our products to deliver performance and return on investment, Panasonic – through its Toughbook brand – holds nearly 80 percent market share in the rugged mobile device space. We believe our engineering acumen, vertical market expertise and reputation for reliability, backed by our world-class service, will result in the Toughpad family being the leading B2B tablet solution in the coming years.”

Hide Harada, Director, IT Products Business Unit added, “The goal for Panasonic is to achieve 50% market share in the ruggedized tablet space by 2015.”

Toughpad tablets are designed for mission-critical and highly mobile workers in fields such as the military, construction, healthcare, public safety, utilities, retail, maintenance, supply chain logistics and insurance. The devices are ideal for a host of usage scenarios, including inventory control, eForms, field sales, field service, route delivery, eCitations, electronic medical records, inspections, mobile point-of-sales and GIS.

Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1: Key Features

Operating System: Windows 8 Pro
Processor: 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i5-3437U vPro™ 1.9GHz up to 2.9GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
Memory: 128-256GB SSD, 4-8GB RAM, optional micro SDXC
Rugged: MIL-STD-810G, 4′ drop, IP65, 14° to 122°F (operational temp range)
Display: 10.1″, sunlight viewable, touch screen and active digitizer, 800nit, WUXGA (1920×1200)
Battery: 8.0 hours (user-replaceable)
Dimensions: 10.6″ x 7.4″ x 0.75″
Weight: 2.43lbs
Wireless: Bluetooth V4.0, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, optional embedded 4G LTE or 3G
I/O: Full size USB 3.0, HDMI, optional micro SDXC, Full size USB 2.0, wired LAN, true serial port or dedicated GPS.

Panasonic Toughpad JT-B1: Key Features

Operating System: Android 4.0
Processor: TI OMAP4460 1.5GHz Dual core
Memory: 16GB ROM, 1GB RAM, micro SDHC
Rugged: MIL-STD-810G, 5′ drop, IP65, 14° to 122°F (operational temp range)
Display: 7″, daylight viewable, 500nit, WSVGA (1024 x 600)
Camera: Front: 1.3Mp fixed focus, Rear: 13.0Mp auto focus w/ LED light
Battery: 8.0 hours – Large 5,720mAh battery (user-replaceable)
Dimensions: 8.7″x 5.1″ x 0.7″
Weight: 1.2lbs
Wireless: Bluetooth V4.0, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, optional embedded 4G LTE + 3G
I/O: Micro USB

Toughpad tablets are MIL-STD-810G tested for drops, fluid ingress and temperature, to assure they deliver reliable performance under circumstances that render typical tablets non-operational. Devices feature daylight viewable screens, user-replaceable or serviceable batteries, a stylus for signature capture and handwriting (on the FZ-G1 and FZ-A1 with 3rd party apps), and multiple options for peripheral connectivity.

“Our Toughpad tablets were designed based on years of input from customers,” continued Poehler. “This customer feedback is a critical part of the development process and will continue to shape Toughbook and Toughpad devices in the future. The wide variety of devices in the Toughbook and Toughpad families is a clear indication that we build products to meet our customers’ needs.”

Enterprise-class mobile computing requires an enhanced level of device security and the Toughpad family is designed with this in mind. Security features like encryption, IPsec VPN, trusted boot, root protection and FIPS compliance are available in various configurations of the Toughpad FZ-A1 and Toughpad JT-B1. Compatibility with world-class Mobile device management (MDM) tools are also available to allow IT managers to manage applications, secure devices from unauthorized use and perform many other tasks.

Toughpad tablets are supported by an ecosystem that includes an enterprise-focused app store, developer tools and deployment support. Panasonic will offer a full set of professional-grade accessories to support the Toughpad line, including cases, mounts, printers, keyboards, magnetic stripe readers, smart card readers and multi-unit storage and charging solutions.

Pricing and Availability
The 10″ Windows 8 Pro-based Toughpad FZ-G1 will be available in March starting at $2,899. The 7″ Android-powered Toughpad JT-B1 will ship in February starting at $1,199. The 10″ Android-powered Toughpad™ FZ-A1 is now shipping, starting at $1,299. All Toughpad tablets can be purchased through authorized Panasonic resellers.

Toughpad FZ-A1 LTE Certification
Powered by Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), the 10″ Toughpad FZ-A1 is now certified on the Verizon Wireless 4G/LTE network.

All products in the Toughpad family come standard with the industry’s most comprehensive 3-year warranty.

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January 9, 2013
Hp Launches Monitors Galore at CES 2013, 20 to 27 inch IPS panels

HP has just flooded the streets with a lineup of monitors they have released at CES 2013. Ranging from 20 inches to 27 inches and US $ 130 to US $ 500 (approx. INR 7000 to 30000).

Envy 27.

The Envy 27 is the flagship monitor by HP for 2013 with an asking price of US $ 499 or INR 27500 The HP Envy 27 has a 1080p IPS panel with wide viewing angles . A anti reflective coating on the glossy display makes looking at the monitor a stunning experience. Edge to Edge disply along with a die-cast aluminum base and built-in Beats Audio.

For ports, there’s VGA, DisplayPort, HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack and optical digital output, allowing you to send audio to wireless speakers]. The monitor will go on sale in February in the US and should hit India side soon after.

Pavilion 20xi, 22xi, 23xi, 25xi and 27xi.

Similar to the flagship above the HP Pavilion line offers full hd 1080p IPS panels in a affordable price bracket. ranging in sizes from 200 to 27 inch. The 20-inch 20xi has a lower 1,600 x 900 resolution, along with VGA and DVI output (but not HDMI). These monitors will go on sale in February in the US and should hit India side soon after with prices ranging from $130 to $340.

ProDisplay P191, P201, P201m and P221.

Designed for Enterprise and businesses these HP monitors range in size from 18.5 to 21 inches. Throughout the line up most of the specs are the same: a 250-nit brightness rating, 1,000:1 contrast ratio and 5ms response time. All can tilt 35 degrees and can rotate up to 90 degrees to offer ergonomic options to the viewer.

the P191 has a pixel count of 1,366 x 768, compared with 1,600 x 900 for the P201 and 1080p for the P221.

These HP monitors will go on sale in February in the US and should hit India side soon after price from $129 to $179, making them the most affordable of these new models.

January 7, 2013
NVIDIA launches Tegra 4: with quad-core Cortex A15 and 72 GPU cores !

At CES 2013, NVIDIA has announced their chipset upgrade of the year, The Tegra 4 platform. Even though the chip retains the same 4-plus-1 arrangement of the Tegra 3 Platform, adds capabilities of an impressive 72 GPU cores. That will improve the GPU capability almost 6 times.

The first test this processor was put to live on stage was between itself in an unnamed tablet and the Google Nexus 10 – loading webpages on the Tegra 4 finished almost 50% quicker than the Nexus 10.

Its also the first quad-core processor with Cortex A15 cores on-board, which offers compatibility with LTE networks. NVIDIA also claims this piece of silicon is the world’s fastest mobile processor. in a comparative chart putting the NVIDIA Tegra 4 ahead of the iPad 4 and then the Nexus 10.

The Tegra 4 also boasts of new Photography computational expertise, which will drastically improve the time between an image clicked, processed and saved. NVIDIA said that it will introduce a new mobile processor architecture each year, with the Tegra 4 however it seems the Tegra 3 chipset has been updated.

January 7, 2013
Huawei Ascend Mate Images Show Up Before Its Official Announcement

Additional shots of Huawei’s upcoming Ascend Mate have leaked out, showing off a neatly curved rear shell and that enormous 6.1-inch screen. The photos obtained by MyDrivers, show what is essentially a big black slab, with on-screen buttons.

There appears to be a slight curve to the back of the device, which should make it a little nicer to hold in the hand. If a 6.1 inch smartphone could ever, truly feel nice in the hand.

The Ascend Mate with is entering the phablet market, currently dominated by Samsung Galaxy Note devices. The rumoured specs of the Ascend Mate have it coming with a 6.1-inch 1080p Full HD display, quad-core 1.8 GHz processor, 2 GB of RAM, 13MP camera, 9.9 mm thin and packing an impressive 4,000 mAh battery.

Huawei intends on unleashing this 6.1-inch titan at next month’s CES.

December 29, 2012
Samsung Releases New Ad, Promises ‘Something New’ at CES 2013

Samsung, the world’s largest maker of both cellphones and smartphones by volume, is gearing up for CES 2013, which runs January 8-11 in Las Vegas and has put together a nice teaser suggesting “something new is coming”.

Could it be the release of the Samsung Galaxy S IV?

Reuters speculated the Galaxy S IV may come with “a breakthrough unbreakable screen” which can be folded. Other rumors have pointed to a 13-megapixel camera, a quad-core chip and a five-inch display likely sporting full HD 1,920-by-1,080 pixel resolution at 441 pixels per inch, a big improvement in pixel density from both the Galaxy S III’s 306 ppi and the iPhone 5?s 326 ppi screen. But we think Samsung might want to release the S IV at one of it’s own events.

Although the show isn’t traditionally a mobile exhibition, major mobile brands have been a growing presence over the last few years, so a new smartphone isn’t out of the question. The timing seems better for a tablet, however, since its last major release in the category was August’s Galaxy Note 10.1.

But considering Samsung’s long CES heritage, the new product is more likely to be from the audio-visual side of the business. And, considering that CES 2012’s big product launch was centred around the ES8000 TV and its face recognition, motion control and upgradability, we wouldn’t be surprised if it was a new television. A commercially available Samsung ultra high-definition TV, anyone?

What do you think Samsung will bring to CES? Let us know!

December 11, 2012
Sony To Release a Flagship Device To “Compete with Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S III”

Japanese handset vendor Sony Mobile is confident that its future devices will get it to the top of the smartphone market, offering users viable options when compared to the Samsung Galaxy S III or the Apple iPhone.

In fact, the company has already confirmed plans to release a new flagship Xperia model, possibly the rumoured quad-core 5-inch 1080p Jelly Bean “Yuga” that’s leaked online, next year that will help it consolidate its position on the mobile segment.

[quote]“We will create in the near future a flagship model that can compete with Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S III,” Dennis van Schie, CVP Sales & Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications, told Financial Times Deutschland.
In fact, the company has already confirmed plans to release a new flagship Xperia model next year that will help it consolidate its position on the mobile segment. [/quote]

The report goes on to say that this flagship model will be revealed in early 2013 at CES in Las Vegas in January and/or Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona in February. Stronger content integration will be a key theme during 2013. By the end of the year, van Schie says that all Sony music and video content will be available with cross-device support.

Sony’s current flagship device is the phone that James Bond uses, the Xperia T. It’s a solid device and comes stacked with a 4.6-inch HD display (1280 x 720), 1.5GHz dual core processor and a 13MP camera that shoots 1080p HD videos.

Moving onto tablets, Dennis van Schie says that it is very difficult to make money on tablets given the fierce competition. However, Sony does plan on releasing more models going forward. “We will bring in addition to the existing Xperia Tablet other Android tablets to the market, but not many,” said Van Schie.

Dennis van Schie also confirmed that they are keeping an eye on Windows Phone, although the main focus is on Android right now. “We have a good relationship with Microsoft and we are watching the development of Windows Phone closely. If it succeeds, we will not be caught off guard”.

November 16, 2012
SteelSeries launches 2 Headsets, 3 Mice and a Controller

SteelSeries has launched a host of goodies today, including the Ion wireless gaming controller that connects to your PC, tablet or phone through Bluetooth. Once charged the controller provides for upto 20 hours of gaming. The company’s also debuting two headsets, the Flux and Siberia v2 Frost. The Flux is more for the mobile gamer, the collapsable headset, features a unique dual jack system, for daisy chaining of headphones, so tat ore than one person can listen in on the action.

SteelSeries’ Siberia v2 Frost headset is an updated version of the Siberia v2 active noise canceling headphones, it also adds some extra blue LEDs that can be set to pulse or dim as per requirement.

The final products released include three gaming mice the Kana, Kinzu v2, and Kinzu v2 Pro. All three mice come with a 3600fps optical sensor. And high speed movements going up from 65 inches per second to 130 inches per second. Price ranges from US $ 39.99 for the Kana and Us $ 49.99 for the Kinzu V2 Pro.

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STEELSERIES INTRODUCES MULTI-DEVICE, TRAVEL-FRIENDLY HEADSET – THE STEELSERIES FLUX
New On-Ear Headset Features a Compact, Customizable and Multi-Use Design for PC, Mac® and Mobile Devices

LAS VEGAS, CES – Jan. 10, 2012 –SteelSeries the leading manufacturer of premium-quality, competitive gaming peripherals, today introduced the SteelSeries Flux headset. Compatible with PC, Mac® and Mobile devices, the Flux features new, on-ear mesh cloth cushions that pump out impressive sound levels via its 40mm driver units. The headset includes cable connections for an in-line, uni-directional microphone with mute controls that connect to PC as well as a connector with a single 3.5mm jack for Mac® and mobile devices. The multi-use headset was designed to be travel-friendly, the headset earcups to fold inward when wearing it around the neck, and collapse at the earcup hangers for quick and compact storage.

The SteelSeries Flux factors in convenience for the user by including 2 input jacks – one on each side, which allows for two user options: to choose which side the microphone cable can be plugged into, and the ability to “daisy chain” or plug in another headset to the Flux which allows for multiple users to listen to the same device. Customization of the SteelSeries Flux headset will provide users with the ability to order various outer plates with different colors and designs as well as various colored cushions all of which will be available in Q2.

“We work with professional gamers that travel often to tournaments and events, but we also cater to users that want headset compatibility for more than just gaming, which is where the design of the Flux began,” said Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries CEO. “This headset is meant to be more about the user, versus just another audio option – we brought together color and plate design options with the versatility of being able to plug in and use the audio and microphone with any device. If you play games on your PC, you most likely also listen to music and make calls, and you want a headset that will allow you adapt.”

The SteelSeries Flux will be available in Q2, which is also when pricing will be released. More details about colors and design options will be released closer to product availability. For more information about the new SteelSeries Flux headset features, please visit http://steelseri.es/flux. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for new product updates as well as a snapshot of all SteelSeries CES product announcements at http://steelseri.es/ces2012.

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STEELSERIES INTRODUCES THE ION – WIRELESS GAMING CONTROLLER
Compact Controller Can Be Used For Games on Your PC and Mobile Devices

LAS VEGAS, CES – Jan. 10, 2012 –SteelSeries the leading manufacturer of premium-quality, competitive gaming peripherals today, introduced the SteelSeries Ion Wireless Controller. Through a licensing partnership with Zeemote Technology Inc., the SteelSeries Ion is designed to work fully with your PC, additionally the controller brings classic control schemes to touch screen devices like tablets and phones. The compact controller connects wirelessly through Bluetooth and can be easily customized and configured through its own application on the device.

“For PC users, the SteelSeries Ion is a convenient alternative, especially if they want something other than their mouse or keyboard as their tool. And for consumers with tablets and Smartphone’s, it really is an ideal accessory” said Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries CEO. “Whether you’re sling shooting birds or playing a word game with friends, there are games that are ideal for touch screen. Those types of games however, are not the only games available; there are a number of first-person shooter and RTS games that aren’t downloaded or played as frequently as they could be, because the touch screen doesn’t provide an optimal experience. The SteelSeries Ion provides the advantage for those types of games.”

Measuring only about the size of a standard deck of cards (approximately 108mm in length, 55.5mm in width and 18mm thick); the lightweight controller can be easily stored and carried. It connects through Bluetooth to your PC and/or your mobile device and includes a white LED light on the controller indicating a connection. The SteelSeries Ion includes a rechargeable, lithium battery that will provide up to 20 hours of wireless use and can be plugged into your device for charge and play use.

The SteelSeries Ion boasts a classic controller design that includes 2 mini-joysticks, a left side Dpad button, 2 trigger buttons one at each shoulder, and a four button layout on the right, similar to familiar Nintendo®, Xbox 360® and PlayStation® controllers. The buttons can be customized through an easy-to-use interface for both PC and mobile devices.
The SteelSeries Ion Wireless Controller will be available in Q3; pricing will be announced closer to its availability. For more information about the new SteelSeries Ion, please visit http://steelseri.es/ion. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for new product updates as well as a snapshot of all SteelSeries CES product announcements at http://steelseri.es/ces2012.

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STEELSERIES INTRODUCES NEW GAMING MOUSE OPTIONS – KANA, KINZU V2 PRO EDITION AND KINZU V2
Consumers Can Choose Between Three New Optical, Ambidextrous Mice Based on Features That Are Important for Their Game – Size, Color, Illumination, Buttons, and Switches

LAS VEGAS, CES – Jan. 10, 2012 – SteelSeries, the leading manufacturer of premium-quality, competitive gaming peripherals, today at the start of the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, introduced a new line-up of gaming peripherals. Kicking off the mouse category for SteelSeries in 2012 is the SteelSeries Kana, also known as the Designed by Gamers mouse; and two editions of the new version of the SteelSeries Kinzu, the SteelSeries Kinzu v2 and SteelSeries Kinzu v2 Pro Edition. The SteelSeries Kana mouse was introduced to SteelSeries fans in the Designed by Gamers Campaign as Mouse 1.1, which gave more than 300,000 gamers the design choice and where 60,000 “Likes” determined the winning Black 1.1 design.

“With the Designed by Gamers campaign, it was the first time we asked our fans and followers to choose a design for us, and we were incredibly proud to see the response from the community – it makes sense that consumers, specifically our consumers want to have a say in what we?re creating, said Kim Rom, SteelSeries CMO. “This new line-up of mice were each designed to fulfill the needs of different types of players, especially those who may not need all of the customization that can be found in the SteelSeries Sensei.”

The SteelSeries Kana, Kinzu v2 and Kinzu v2 Pro Edition are all powered by the SteelSeries Engine. It allows users to customize the mice with the ability for unlimited profiles, program buttons, set the polling rate, create macros, customize CPI settings, optimize your layout by recording movements and viewing a heat map of button usage and more.

The SteelSeries Kana features:

Ambidextrous shape with an optimized 6-button layout

Tournament grade optical sensor 3600 Frames Per Second and supports stable movement speeds at 130 Inches Per Second.

Illuminated scroll wheel with LED intensity options that can be assigned to indicate the
currently active CPI profile.

DCPI is 1600-3200

Two XL-sized side buttons (one on each side) for easy rapid-fire

UPE Teflon mouse feet and a double-braided nylon cord with 2.0 USB connector

Two color and illumination options, White 1.1 and Black 1.1

Available now on the SteelSeries Web Shop and select retailers, the SteelSeries Kana is $49.99 / €49.99 MSRP – http://steelseri.es/kana.

Rom adds that, “The Kinzu v2 and Kinzu v2 Pro Edition are for players who don?t want anything more than minimal buttons and functionality, but that recognize minimal still means quality and precision.”

SteelSeries Kinzu v2 Pro Edition features:
Tournament-grade Omron button switches which are recognized by the industry and the community as reliable, high-end hardware components that deliver “best-in-class? performance and feedback.

Ambidextrous shape with 4-button layout including the CPI toggle

Tournament grade optical sensor operating at 3600 Frames Per Second and supports stable movement speeds at 65 Inches Per Second. UPE Teflon glides and a double-braided nylon cord with 2.0 USB connector Three color options: Glossy Black, Metallic Silver and Red

Available now on the SteelSeries Web Shop and select retailers, the SteelSeries Kinzu v2 Pro Edition is $44.99 / €44.99 MSRP – http://steelseri.es/kinzuv2pro.

SteelSeries Kinzu v2 features:
Identical features as the Kinzu v2 Pro Edition, with the exception of the Tournament- grade Omron button switches.

Four color options including: Rubberized Black, White, Orange, and Yellow

Available now on the SteelSeries Web Shop and select retailers, the SteelSeries Kinzu v2 is $39.99 / €39.99 MSRP – http://steelseri.es.kinzuv2.

For more information about the new SteelSeries mice, as well as all the SteelSeries products launching during CES please visit, http://steelseri.es/ces2012.

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STEELSERIES INTRODUCES THE ILLUMINATED, SIBERIA V2 FROST BLUE HEADSET
Award-Winning Siberia v2 Design with Customizable, Super-Bright Blue LED Lighting with Advanced Customizable Settings

LAS VEGAS, CES – Jan. 10, 2012 – Kicking off CES, SteelSeries the leading manufacturer of premium-quality, competitive gaming peripherals, today introduced the Siberia v2 Frost Blue Headset. The super-bright, blue LED lights glow through the outer mesh grill on each earcup, the Siberia v2 Frost Blue’s lights and soundscape can be customized through SteelSeries Engine software. It has an incredibly lightweight, over-the-head suspension design with an active noise- cancelling microphone and circumaural earcups that feature 50mm driver units, covered by grey leather cushions for a noise-dampening sound.

“The Siberia v2 Frost Blue combine’s incredible sound with a style that is not only recognized, but is an original design that’s been optimized and improved,” said Jacob Wolff-Petersen, SteelSeries Founder. “This headset packs a loud and crisp soundscape with the expected luxury for the user to be able to adjust everything – from illumination options, equalizer settings to creating and assigning profiles for multiple game titles and players, all through the SteelSeries Engine software.”

The headset illumination offers 6 different modes and can be assigned to behavior and game specific profiles through the SteelSeries Engine, including: Active Mode (responsive pulsing to sound effects, music, and/or voice), Slow Pulse, Fast Pulse, High Bright, Low Bright and Off. The Siberia v2 Frost Blue will also features an active noise cancelling, “smart” microphone system that retracts when not in use. The microphones processor reduces the “noise” and focuses on the sound that is closer to the mic, your voice. Its in-line volume and mute controls are found on a durable, double-braided nylon cord with a USB connector.

The SteelSeries Siberia v2 Frost Blue will be available in Q2; pricing will be announced closer to availability. For more information about the new SteelSeries Siberia v2 Frost, please visit http://steelseri.es/frostblue. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for new product updates as well as a snapshot of all SteelSeries CES product announcements at http://steelseri.es/ces2012.

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January 11, 2012
CES 2012: Sony Ericsson Launches Xperia NX and Xperia acro HD for Japan, Xperia S for the World

Sony Ericsson will launch two new phones in Japan, The Xperia acro HD has features like mobile wallet and TV tuner along with a 720p display. All of which is put on a 1.5GHz dual-core processor. The acro HD will come in qua, black, sakura and ceramic colors.

The world will get a Xperia S, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch 1280 x 720 display, 1GB of RAM, and a massive 12 megapixel rear camera, complete with Sony’s Exmor R backlit sensor. The Xperia S will be available in both 16GB and 32GB models, though unfortunately Sony has chosen not to include a microSD slot for expandable storage. The device should come to markets in March 2012

Japan also gets a Xperia NX which is the Japanese version of the Xperia S, in different colors and slightly different specs.

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Introducing four new Xperia smartphones at CES 2012
10 January 2012

Xperia S – the first smartphone in the Xperia NXT series – next generation smartphones from Sony.
Xperia ion – the first LTE smartphone from Sony, exclusive with AT&T in the US
Xperia NX and Xperia acro HD – two smartphones for the Japanese market

9 January, 2012, Las Vegas, Nev. – Sony Ericsson is showing visitors to the 2012 International CES Show a fully connected entertainment world with the first Xperia™ smartphones from Sony®*, including Xperia S, the first smartphone from the Xperia NXT series – next generation smartphones from Sony, and new Xperia smartphones made specifically for the US and Japanese markets, all with access to premium entertainment services and easy connectivity to other screens within the world of Sony.

The new Xperia smartphones announced are:

Xperia ion, first LTE Xperia smartphone from Sony available exclusively with AT&T in the US (above right).
Xperia S, the first smartphone in the Xperia NXT series – next generation smartphones from Sony, with Sony HD for stunning viewing experiences (above left).
Two new smartphones for the Japanese market:
Xperia acro HD, the follow-up to Xperia acro with popular Japan-specific features including infrared port data exchange, mobile wallet and mobile TV.
Xperia NX, a variant of Xperia S for the Japanese market.

Bert Nordberg, CEO for Sony Ericsson commented, “CES marks an important milestone for both Sony Ericsson and Sony with the introduction of the first smartphones from Sony. As the market continues to evolve into a world where we consume content and entertainment across multiple screens, the Xperia portfolio will deliver a mobile experience that is an important cornerstone of Sony’s strategy to provide seamless connectivity and networked entertainment across smartphones, TV, laptops and tablets.”

Sony Ericsson also unveiled a number of Android accessories that enhance the smartphone experience:

Xperia Smart Tags, small NFC enabled tokens that are used to launch pre-configured and personalised settings when you swipe an NFC Android smartphone against them.
Smart Wireless Headset pro, Bluetooth™ stereo headset that also works as a standalone MP3 player and radio when detached from the phone.
SmartWatch, micro display for Android to wirelessly access calls, messages and applications.
SmartDock for Xperia ion, an HDMI dock that turns Xperia ion into a mini-PC by connecting it to a USB keyboard, mouse and big screen TV.

Availability
Xperia S will be available to consumers globally from the first quarter 2012. Xperia ion will be available exclusively in the U.S. from AT&T in the second quarter 2012. Xperia NX and Xperia acro HD will be available in Japan from this spring.
For full details on all products news, please visit the press room www.sonyericsson.com/press and the product blog blogs.sonyericsson.com/products/

*For illustrative purposes only. Not for commercial use or re-sale. Use of “Sony” brand subject to regulatory approval.

Legal
1) Facts and features may vary depending on local variant. 2) Operational times are affected by network preferences, type of SIM card, connected accessories and various activities e.g. playing games. Kit contents and colour options may differ from market to market. The full range of accessories may not be available in every market.

© Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, 2011

The Liquid Identity logo is trademark or registered trademark of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB. Sony, Walkman and Zappin are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Corporation. Ericsson is the trademark or registered trademark of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson. Additional information regarding trademarks may be located on our website at: www.sonyericsson.com/cws/common/legal/disclaimer.

Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved. All terms are subject to change without prior notice.
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, SE-221 88 Lund, Sweden.
Printed in January 2010, R1A

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January 11, 2012