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Qualcomm to target sub-$150 phones with its new chipset – MSM7227

Qualcomm has announced its new chipset, MSM7227 which is targets cheap phones. Do not underestimate it with its price, it features a 600 MHz applications processor with a floating point unit, a 320 MHz application DSP, a 400 MHz modem processor, hardware-accelerated 3D graphics, integrated Bluetooth 2.1 and GPS, 8-megapixel camera and 30 fps WVGA video encode and decode and display support.

Phones having this chipset are expected to launched later this year. The best part about it is that tt is not restricted to be used on Windows Mobile, but also can be used on Android, Symbian S60, and BREW Mobile Platforms.

[via digitimes]

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Lenovo IdeaPad S20 – a 12-inch netbook in the works by Lenovo

Lenovo is planning to launch Ideapad S20, which is going to be a 12-inch netbook. By breaking the Intel’s 10-inch for netbooks, Lenovo will be deprived of the special price of the Intel Atom N280 processor. However, it would not make much of a difference as the Lenovo will have to pay a whopping $10 more than what they normally pay for 10-inch or less netbooks.

Together with the latest Atom N280 processor, it will also comes with GN40 chipset and will be priced at around $586. Personally, I am still not able to figure out the need of the 12-inch netbooks. The netbooks are meant to be highly portable devices. Manufactures like Dell and Lenovo are giving a new name and dimension to the netbook market. So, what is next? 14 and 17 inch netbooks anyone?

[via digitimes]

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HTC S740 hardware tour [by PDA.pl] [Windows Mobile]

The HTC S740 is nice Windows Mobile smartphone, which looks like a brother of the HTC DIAMOND. It uses Qualcomm processor clocked at 528Mhz, which makes it the strongest Windows Mobile standard device. Most of the Windows Mobile Standard(non-touch screen) devices come with TI OMAP 200Mhz processor. HTC has put a lot power in the S740 together and with breathtaking looks, HTC sure has a winner in their hands.

PDA.pl has done a hardware tour of it. Although the review is in polish, but you pretty much get the idea how the device looks and works.

[related article at PDA.pl]

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HTC releases HTC DIAMOND 2 – potential MID? [Windows Mobile]

No rumors, no leaked images, but we knew something would be unleashed at Mobile World Congress by HTC. HTC has released successors to the HTC DIAMOND and HTC TOUCH PRO: DIAMOND 2 and TOUCH PRO 2 respectively.

Let’s see what changes have been done when compared to the original Diamond:

  • Increased RAM: From 192MB to 288MB. This should give you a free memory bump from 55MB to 110MB+. This will make the web experience even better as one would be able to browse heavy sites with Opera Mobile.
  • Better Battery: The battery has increased to 1100mAh. This is nice news as the 900mAh battery of the original Diamond was just not enough. Although, it is hard to make out, how much the battery life will increase since the number of pixels have also increased (see next point)
  • WVGA resolution: Is not this the resolution the enter level netbooks used to have? It is actually becoming standard in the Windows Mobile devices, which let them provide the user better web-experience. The original Diamond had a nice 2.8-inch VGA display. The Diamond 2 has even better 3.2-inch WVGA display
  • micro-SD slot: The Diamond 2 looses the 4GB internal storage that was there in the original HTC DIAMOND, but it adds micro-SD slot, which can give you upto 32GB storage.

The new Diamond 2 weighs at mere 117gm, which is just 7gm heavier than the original Diamond.

What is still missing?

  • 3.5mm earphone jack
  • IE mobile 6
  • Camera flash

[HTC Diamond 2 official webpage]

TWO Videos after the bump:
Continue reading “HTC releases HTC DIAMOND 2 – potential MID? [Windows Mobile]”

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OQO Model 2+ supports decoding HD 1080p videos [UMPC]

The OQO Model 2+ has built-in hardware accelerated decoding (Poulsbo chipset using Intel GMA500 integrated graphics with the PowerVR core), which fully supports both 720p and 1080p HD content. Although, for full HD resolution, connect the OQO to an external 720p/1080p display using HDMI.

The OQO model 2+ support HDMI monitors up to 1920×1200 resolution. However, there is one hiccup. It does not send voice over it. Anyway, I hope to see more UMPC and Netbooks coming with HDMI ports so that people can connect their devices to the external displays that support hi-def and can enjoy HD content in all its glory.

[via oqotalk forum]

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Prices of EEE PCs going to increase?

According to the ASUS CEO, we are going to see a price increase in the ASUS EEE PC begining March 1,2009. He futher added that the price increase can be upto 20% of the current price. The reason behind it? Well, he says that 9-inch netbook market has shifted to the 10-inch netbook market. This shift will increase the production cost.

But he also said that the price rise is not going to be very significant due to the stiff competition from their competitors.

[via crunchgear]

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Can the Microsoft fight back in the mobile market?

It is not a hidden truth that Windows Mobile is facing a lot of criticism these days. This is due to two reasons:

  • increased competition
  • increased expectations

The competitions has increased a great deal since the last two years when the first iPhone was released. Also, companies like Blackberry used aggressive marketing to gain even more share than ever. The Blackberry sales have been doubled over the past year and they have been able to sell nearly 22.5 million units. On the other hand, Windows Mobile experienced a drop of 11% with 18 million units sold. Now, with the Palm Pre’s new webOS in the horizon, the competition is going to get a little more tougher for the Windows Mobile

Not to forget about Google, who has been giving free licences to the OEMs. Microsoft charges OEMs for the licences of Windows Mobile.

[cellularnews] [via Solsie]

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Skyfire Web browser now available for all [Windows Mobile]

Skyfire has made the BETA available to the public for testing and that too for free. Also, it supports almost all the Windows Mobile devices

Here is what is new in this new version:

  • New Super Bar that combines search and URL entry into one bar
  • Skyfire can now be set as the default browser
  • New search bar on the Homescreen
  • New start page redesign
  • Faster start-up and page loading times
  • Share a link via SMS
  • Invite friends to download Skyfire via SMS
  • Save an image
  • Download files

So, what is missing? The most obvious is its inability to import bookmarks from IE Mobile/Opera Mobile. Other than that the interface is as feature rich as one would find on the Opera Mobile. Also, you will have to wait for the download to finish because you cannot use skyfire when it is downloading.

Skyfire 0.9 Beta can be downloaded now at get.skyfire.com on a Windows Mobile or Symbian S60 smartphone.

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Dell Mini 9 for just $249 [Netbook]

Dell has reduced the price of the entry level Mini 9 to provide it an edge over the rest of the competition. It is powered by an Intel Atom N270 processor running at 1.6GHz clock speed. It also comes with:

  • Ubuntu
  • 4GB SSD
  • 8.9-inch display
  • 1024 x 600 resolution
  • 512MB RAM

May be Dell is clearing up the stock for the upcoming release of Dell Mini 10?

Click here to visit Dell Mini 9 webpage

[via mydellmini]