Raspberry Pi New Low Cost Credit Card Sized Linux PC Review

It has been a long time coming, but the Raspberry Pi has finally gone up for sale, albeit in a slightly different way than previously thought and it was expected that the Raspberry Pi Foundation would be handling sales and distribution all on its own, but that has been rethought. The product is a bare board with a 700MHz ARM11 CPU and 256MB of RAM and it's roughly the size of a deck of playing cards and has a powerful GPU that is reportedly competitive with that of modern smartphones. Developer prototypes of the product have been shown running impressive graphics demos and decoding high-definition video and the Raspberry Pi foundation originally began developing the computer with the aim of producing a low-cost system that could be used to teach computer programming to young students. Built on a Broadcom BCM2835 700MHz ARM11 processor, they're intended as a cheap computing option that require only a keyboard and RCA or HDMI-connected display to give a full desktop experience including gaming and HD video playback, also the team announced it has secured manufacturing and distribution agreements that should guarantee a steady supply, without the previous limitation of 10,000 at a time batches.



RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the world's leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products announced that the revolutionary credit card sized single-board computer from the Raspberry Pi Foundation is now available to pre-order from RS websites around the world. Created for educators, programmers, developers and IT enthusiasts, the kits can be pre-ordered at rswww.com. "Raspberry Pi provides a revolutionary low cost platform, which opens up programming to a whole new audience. We are very honoured to have been chosen to work with the Foundation as a distribution partner at the launch of this exciting new tool." The Raspberry Pi Foundation is a charity established to promote the development of computer development skills in education across the globe. Its vision is for Raspberry Pi to provide budding IT developers and programmers with a base platform to exploit the full power and potential of computing within the Linux environment, at a remarkably low cost. As such, Raspberry Pi computers act as an enabler for the next generation of programmers to enter the IT industry. RS was selected as a distribution partner for Raspberry Pi because, in the eyes of the Foundation, it connects with engineers across the globe throughout their careers.

As such, the company is well positioned to provide Raspberry Pi adopters with support, advice and access to additional resources as they embark on new development activities. It was particularly impressed with the DesignSpark community and resources provided for new developers working on Open Source designs. "RS has always been a trusted and reliable partner for engineers across the globe. The RS DesignSpark community and their free PCB design software connects with engineers throughout their career, and is being adopted by many universities around the world," said Eben Upton, founder and trustee of Raspberry Pi. "This ethos of providing resources for engineers, along with the company's support for open source design, makes RS the ideal distribution partner for Raspberry Pi." Glenn Jarrett, Head of Marketing, Electronics, at RS Components, added, "Raspberry Pi provides a revolutionary low cost platform, which opens up programming to a whole new audience. We are very honoured to have been chosen to work with the Foundation as a distribution partner at the launch of this exciting new tool." Further information on the Raspberry Pi Foundation can be found at www.raspberrypi.org. For more details on the RS DesignSpark community please visit www.designspark.com. Raspberry Pi can be pre-ordered from the RS website at rswww.com.

Video Review:

Texas Instrument OMAP 5 Platform Review

This week Texas Instruments has announced the first big collaboration with OMAP 5, their next-level processor and in their newest technologies for a multi-core experience that brings their products to the forefront not just for the excellence of their products themselves, but because the Texas Instruments OMAP 5 platform has proven itself capable of handling their robots and in-vehicle systems the best. The new OMAP 5 system-on-chip was revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show in January but TI has brought it back to MWC to let everyone in on a few more details and there's the latest PowerVR graphics processing (GPU) technology with a dual core SGX544 GPU to churn out flashy apps, multimedia and games, while a dedicated 2D hardware accelerated engine handles your run-of-the-mill stuff seamlessly and without touching memory outside the chip itself, this gives a smoother overall experience and more power efficiency.



Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) turned the spotlight on the OMAP 5 platform, illustrating through live demonstrations the unprecedented performance capabilities of the highly anticipated addition to the OMAP processor family. Poised to service smartphones and numerous other markets-from automotive to smart home-the OMAP 5 platform uniquely enables leading digital hubs to deliver premium content while consumers capture, edit, store and share their own content across numerous end equipments. The result is a multimedia-rich, multitasking-intense visual experience without compromise. TI's OMAP platform has long harnessed a balanced system identified as the smart multicore architecture to deliver the highest applications processing performance at the lowest possible power. The evolution of this architecture, that today comprises the OMAP 5 platform, changes what's possible in mobile computing, and delivers a superior user experience leveraging TI's mobile-optimized 28nm process. Mobile applications benefit from the distribution of interdependent activities across multiple processors to create fluid performance and fast responsiveness. However, in reality most of these applications today are single-threaded or have a dominant single-threaded task or process, and are thereby unable to partition across large numbers of CPU cores within a platform. In light of this market reality, the OMAP5430 processor includes two ARM Cortex-A15 cores that provide the highest single-thread performance of any ARM CPU. Unique to the OMAP 5 smart multicore architecture is the use of two ARM Cortex-M4 cores to complement the two ARM Cortex-A15 cores. The M-class cores are appropriately assigned real-time control processing of multimedia tasks, like video encoding and decoding, freeing the main CPU cores to manage high level operating system tasks. In addition to minimizing the Cortex-A15 cores' interrupt rate, this off-loading function delivers an invaluable power savings-as much as 10 percent of the system power when encoding and decoding high definition H.264 content, for example.


In a market driven largely by graphics performance, the ability to raise the bar without increasing power consumption is a competitive advantage benefitting any application's performance. The OMAP 5 platform represents several upgrades to preceding OMAP processor families, including the introduction of a second GPU. Through the use of dual-core PowerVR SGX544 GPUs from Imagination Technologies, the OMAP5430 processor outperforms the competition by up to 4x across common industry graphics benchmarks. Imagination Technologies differentiates its SGX544 cores through the use of a tile-based deferred rendering architecture, which reduces bandwidth usage and minimizes power consumption when compared to competitive solutions. TI harnesses this unprecedented graphics performance by complementing the GPUs with unique OMAP platform capabilities while running the cores at their maximum limit of 532Mhz. "The long term partnership between Imagination and TI has resulted in many market-defining firsts. With the OMAP 5 platform, the application of dual-core, industry-leading PowerVR GPUs running at their top performance is sure to create exceptional user experiences that stand at the forefront of graphics performance," said Hossein Yassaie, CEO, Imagination Technologies. The SGX544 cores are augmented by still another unique OMAP architecture feature-a dedicated 2D hardware-accelerated composition engine – which can support up to 8 layers of high resolution composition without the need to go to external memory. The smart multicore system off-loads compositing to the composition engine, lowering power consumption by as much as 10x what the GPU would expend running the same eight layer composition process. This is done without passing data back to the memory, freeing the memory bandwidth for other multitasking functions. Mobile platforms are constrained to a fixed thermal budget – otherwise a device might feel too hot in a user's hand. If the processor exceeds this budget, it must be throttled. This is a process that can limit the real performance of the device. Expertly navigating this challenge to yield the ultimate performance within the mobile thermal budget, the OMAP 5 platform balances the right performance to deliver under this thermal constraint the highest possible effective MIPS, reaching upwards of 35 percent greater than the latest quad-core market solutions. Under a realistic thermal budget representing the constraints of a hand-held device, the OMAP smart multicore architecture, coupled with TI's 28nm process, delivers performance unachievable by other processors-whether they leverage the same or different numbers and types of CPUs.


Today's users are expecting DSLR-like performance from their mobile devices. The OMAP 5 platform's image signal processor delivers lighting fast capture of 16MP in 0.5s, 24MP at 30fps with zero shutter lag, and enhanced low-light performance. It also enables a device to use four simultaneous camera sensors for new end user applications. For example, users operating OMAP 5 processor-driven devices are also able to capture 1080p 60fps video while simultaneously taking 12MP still images. TI's advanced camera APIs will also support new features like night shot, advanced HDR and digital re-focusing, which allows users to focus an image even after the picture is taken. "We have achieved a superior design in the OMAP 5 platform, setting it in a class all its own," said Remi El-Ouazzane, vice president and general manager, OMAP platform business unit, TI. "The market requires unprecedented performance inside of a sub-two-watt power envelope to meet device and application requirements. The OMAP 5 platform is the industry's only applications processing platform capable of delivering on that need-creating the ultimate, most exciting end user experience possible in the market's current timeframe while setting the stage for what's to come."

Skype For Windows Phone Mango Beta App Review

In order to make the front facing camera in the Lumia 900 worthwhile, apparently,Microsoft decided it needed a really good camera app and that app is a beta version of Skype for Windows Phone which should be available in the Windows Phone Marketplace. Compatible devices include the Nokia Lumia 710, Lumia 800, HTC Titan, Radar, Samsung Focus S and Focus Flash and the final version will be available in April, but so far the beta seems quite stable. Windows Phone has just 2 percent of the mobile operating- system market and lags behind Apple Inc. and Google Inc. in providing apps.



Skype brings voice and video calling to Windows Phone users around the globe and this now makes Skype available on almost all of the leading mobile smartphone operating systems. The gold version of the app will be available in April, but starting today, you will be able to download the beta version to test drive Skype for Windows Phone. Skype for Windows Phone Beta supports the most important Skype features you've come to know and love. And you will be especially thrilled by the clean and simple Skype experience that the Metro user interface delivers on your Windows Phone. It has never before been so easy to connect with the people you care about most. With Skype for Windows Phone Beta you can make free audio and video calls to your Skype contacts over 3G and 4G or WiFi, make affordable calls to landlines and mobiles using Skype Credit, create and hold one-to-one and group chats, and update your profile and account information, among others features. This is only the beginning for Skype for Windows Phone...it's just going to get better and better. You can download the beta version of the Skype for Windows Phone app for free by clicking here directly from your Windows Phone. You will need to have a smartphone running Windows Phone 7.5. You can check what version of Windows Phone your phone is running at Settings > About. You need to have Windows Phone 7.5 on your device and the following have been tested and certified:

• Nokia Lumia 710
• Nokia Lumia 800
• HTC Titan
• HTC Radar
• Samsung Focus S
• Samsung Focus Flash

Video Review:

Malaysia's First 4G Internet Cars Review

Proton Holdings Bhd is making this happen, thanks to its collaboration with YTL Group's Yes, one of the world's most advanced 4G networks, announced a partnership to offer Malaysia's first Internet cars and the national carmaker's customers will enjoy Yes as a new value-added standard feature in new models, beginning with the soon-to-be-launched sedan tentatively called P3-21A. The Proton cars will tap into Yes' 4G high-speed mobile Internet network, which covers more than 65 per cent of the country's populated areas and YTL plans to increase it to 80 per cent soon. The side-defect of connected car is the connected-cars-distracted-drivers problem and some argued that driving is already mentally burdening and the gamut of social streams and infotainment on-board will only add more distractions.



PROTON, Malaysia's national car maker and Yes, one of the most advanced 4G networks in the world announced a collaboration to offer Malaysia's first 4G Internet cars. The two leading brands will collaborate in a partnership utilising each other's strengths in vehicle engineering and mobile internet connectivity to take advantage of new technologies, applications and services that will make high-speed mobile 4G connectivity a standard feature in future new Proton models. In the partnership, Proton customers will enjoy Yes as a new value-added standard feature in new Proton models beginning with the soon-to-be launched sedan, the P3-21A. The Proton cars will tap into the Yes 4G mobile internet network which currently covers over 65% of the country's populated areas. Yes is the only wireless network operator in the country that offers seamless 4G connectivity along the full 960km stretch of the North-South Expressway and a large portion of the East-Coast Expressway. "We would like to applaud PROTON for having the foresight to provide 4G connectivity to its customers. In today's world, high-speed mobile connectivity is just as essential as music players and air conditionings in automobiles. We are very excited to embark on the journey of making this vision a reality with PROTON. " said Dato' Yeoh Seok Hong, Executive Director of YTL Communications Sdn Bhd. "Yes is about bringing positive change and we are fully committed to providing better Internet for all. Our robust 4G network with its wide footprint brings high-speed 4G connectivity to both urban and rural areas serving users across the nation. This strategic partnership with PROTON will bring 4G connectivity to more Malaysians as Proton cars are indeed ubiquitous," added Dato' Yeoh.



Up to five mobile devices can be connected to the car's micro wireless network at any one time providing high-speed internet access to users. In the future, PROTON and Yes aim to enable drivers with smart applications like remote real-time vehicle diagnostics, security and location-based services that will make the driving experience a safer, more convenient and enjoyable one. "The role of the automobile is diversifying and changing rapidly. It is no longer viewed solely for mobility purposes but is evolving into an extension of an individual's social and business circle. A fast wireless 4G connection in the car keeps you connected to this circle whatever your location may be. This initiative has been designed with the intention of offering Proton customers speed, mobility, convenience and greater productivity while on the road," said PROTON Holdings Group Managing Director, Dato' Sri Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir. "It's not just about having the car 4G-empowered. We are now working to embed this technology into future Proton models. And this initiative is certainly in-line with our brand promise of being 'Commited To Be Better, as we are constantly seeking ways to enhance the ownership experience of a Proton car," he added. To mark this strategic collaboration, Yes and PROTON are giving away a one-of-a-kind, special edition Yes 4G internet enabled Proton Inspira worth RM100,000 as the main prize in the 'Win Malaysia's First 4G Internet Car' Facebook contest. This extensively customised Proton Inspira features a special paint job and limited edition 18-inch rims in addition to three units of Apple iPad 2 and a Yes Huddle 4G wireless mobile router, all mounted on specially engineered fixtures in the vehicle. The 'Win Malaysia's First 4G Internet Car' contest opens today and will run till 27 March 2012.

Video:

Qualcomm Atheros 802.11ac Product Ecosystem Review

Qualcomm Atheros flaunts 802.11ac WiFi module for Snapdragon S4, which provide end-to-end, gigabit-capable Wi-Fi performance and employs mobile platform to propagate clients, accelerate adoption of new generation WiFi. Top billing goes to the WCN3680 WiFi/BlueTooth/FM combo module, which plugs into the new Snapdragon S4 (MSM8960) and offers speeds of up to 433Mbps to complement that blistering CPU performance and the S4 already includes built-in b/g/n WiFi (not to mention its 3G/4G/LTE baseband), manufacturers who choose to add the 802.11ac component will achieve full WiFi cross-compatibility. You'll also find similar multilingual abilities in QA's other 5G WiFi modules for PCs, laptops, routers and enterprise.



Qualcomm Atheros Inc., the networking and connectivity subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated announced the launch of its 802.11ac Wi-Fi ecosystem. With the growing number of devices and bandwidth-intensive multimedia applications placing greater demands on wireless networks, 802.11ac, the newest chapter in the Wi-Fi technology evolution expands performance and coverage to enable HD video-grade connectivity across increasingly crowded networks. Qualcomm's portfolio of 802.11ac products target mobile, home and office networking, including smartphones, tablets, PCs, laptops, televisions, home routers, gateways and enterprise access points. Qualcomm is introducing its multi-channel portfolio to enable end-to-end 802.11ac performance benefits to speed adoption of the new Gigabit-capable Wi-Fi networking technology. "Qualcomm Atheros is enabling a client-to-infrastructure 802.11ac ecosystem by combining its Wi-Fi expertise across virtually all segments with Qualcomm's position in mobile channels," said Craig Barratt, president, Qualcomm Atheros. "By enabling client devices, such as smartphones, tablets and notebooks, with easy migration from 802.11n to 802.11ac, Qualcomm Atheros is paving the way for rapid adoption of products based on the new Wi-Fi standard. This should provide for a smooth, full-scale transition to Gigabit-capable Wi-Fi networking within the next two years." A key catalyst driving the ecosystem, the WCN3680 is a mobile 1x1 802.11ac combo Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/FM chip that is the connectivity companion to the Qualcomm 28nm Snapdragon family of processors, and will be integrated with the Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 processor featuring a dual-core Krait CPU and the S4 APQ8064 processor featuring a quad-core Krait CPU.

Targeted at mobile consumer electronic devices like smartphones and tablets, the WCN3680 chip has high throughput for fast data transfer and low power consumption, enabling longer battery life and superior performance for demanding applications. The Snapdragon S4 processor class supports a wide range of leading operating systems, provides data rates up to 433 Mbps, and is pin-compatible with Qualcomm Atheros' 802.11n mobile solution, the WCN3660, to provide customers with a simple upgrade path to 802.11ac performance. "We are thrilled to be the industry's first company with a mobile 802.11ac combo chip. The WCN3680 is an important development for the wireless industry," said Barratt. "Qualcomm Atheros is improving the way new Wi-Fi technologies are propagated and expanding on the strength of Qualcomm's mobile footprint to enable 802.11ac more quickly for everyone." To address the broad and growing array of connectivity needs for computing, Qualcomm is offering a rich family of solutions, including 1-, 2- and 3-stream 802.11ac solutions that can achieve up to 1.3 Gbps wireless data rates:

• WCN3680 1-stream 802.11ac with integrated Bluetooth and FM paired with the Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 offers the benefits of high-performance WAN and LAN connectivity for multimedia and gaming on smartphones, tablets and PCs;
• WCN3680 paired with the Snapdragon S4 APQ8064 for non-WAN, advanced multimedia and gaming on tablets and PCs;
• Standalone QCA9860 (3-stream) and QCA9862 (2-stream) 802.11ac/a/b/g/n and Bluetooth combo chips support up to 1.3 Gbps PHY rates and feature a system-on-chip architecture to optimize CPU utilization for support of three times faster transfer rates and extended battery life versus legacy Wi-Fi.

The Qualcomm Atheros 802.11ac chips for computing are highly integrated to enable the smallest, thinnest notebooks with support for leading operating systems. The chips also support Wi-Fi Direct and Wi-Fi Display for full peer-to-peer functionality. The Qualcomm Atheros 802.11ac solution ecosystem provides consumer electronics customers with 1-, 2- and 3-stream dual-band 802.11ac performance options that can achieve up to 1.3 Gbps wireless data rates. For utilization in televisions, gaming systems and streaming media devices, the Qualcomm Atheros chips for consumer electronics optimize video delivery within the evolving home network. The chips can be paired with the Qualcomm Snapdragon media processor to provide enhanced smart television performance options; standalone options can be paired with optional television system-on-chip/media processors. The high level of integration allows for thin designs, including 4mm OLED panels. The 802.11ac chips for consumer electronics include:

• QCA9860, 3-stream dual-band 802.11ac/a/b/g/n with Bluetooth 4.0/LE
• QCA9862, 2-stream dual-band 802.11ac/a/b/g/n with Bluetooth 4.0/LE

To complete its end-to-end Gigabit wireless ecosystem, Qualcomm Atheros is also launching 2- and 3-stream, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi to PCIe single-chip radios for home and enterprise network access equipment. These new chips achieve up to 1.3 Gbps wireless data rates and target next-generation dual-band, dual-concurrent (DBDC) wireless access points, routers and gateways. A new, highly efficient architecture reduces overall system cost, processing requirements and power consumption, while nearly tripling wireless performance, to enable broad adoption. A high level of integration reduces external components compared to the previous generation of 3x3 802.11n solutions, to enhance reliability and simplify end product design and manufacturing. The Qualcomm Atheros solutions for retail, carrier and enterprise networking customers include:

• QCA9880 3x3 and QCA9882 2x2 chips for 802.11ac/a/b/g/n home networking
• QCA9890 3x3 and QCA9892 2x2 chips for 802.11ac/a/b/g/n enterprise networking, with enhanced in-building location and spectral sensing capabilities

NIKE+ Experience For Basketball And Training Athletes Review

If you've ever played sports, you've always wanted to find a way to measure your athletic ability and the new Nike+ Sports Sensor puts a super smart sensor in your shoe that can measure all that. It doesn't sound wholly unlike Nike's own FuelBand (or the Fitbit Ultra and Jawbone Up), but there's a difference: the Nike+ Training shoes have specific workouts and challenges that are displayed on your phone while you train, like Nike+ Basketball, users are rated on their performance and there's a leaderboard that's designed to push you to train harder when you see a buddy has topped your score. The app features a series of drills and challenges meant to improve speed, agility and strength and your performance can be uploaded to a global leaderboard. The new apps and shoes, including the Hyper Workout+ for Women and the TR 1+ for men will be available on June 29th in the US, UK, Germany, France and China.



NIKE Inc. unveiled Nike+ Basketball and Nike+ Training, two new experiences connecting digitally enabled footwear with interactive mobile applications that together deliver a revolutionary sport experience. First unveiled for running products in 2006, NIKE+ has grown into a community of six million digitally connected athletes and is set to expand with the recent launch of the NIKE+ FuelBand, a wrist-based device designed to track everyday activity. The new Nike+ Basketball experience breaks down the user's game to deliver information and measurement, which in turn provides motivation. Nike+ Basketball measures how high, how hard and how quick players play each game. Nike+ Training transforms a daily workout from a necessity to something fun. The experience fuses the appeal of gaming with high-intensity fitness to create the perfect training companion to a 24/7/365 lifestyle. The technology in both experiences utilizes a new Nike+ Pressure Sensor built into each shoe that collects information about the user's movement and then wirelessly transmits data to their phone. It is then translated into different metrics delivering previously unknown information about either their workout or their game. NIKE, Inc. President & CEO Mark Parker unveiled the new NIKE+ technology at an event in New York attended by U.S. sprinter Allyson Felix, Super Bowl Champion Victor Cruz, and boxing world champion Manny Pacquiao. "NIKE+ allows us to connect the physical world of sport with the social elements of digital to create a better sport experience for every athlete," said Parker. "It's about much more than a shoe. It represents a shift for NIKE from product, to product + experiences." Nike+ Basketball measures how high, how hard and how quick players play the game via the 'Track My Game' mode. The NIKE+ enabled basketball shoes track information on every movement during the game and deliver back information to the user, giving them a basis from which to improve. Messages from Nike Basketball players and coaches provide motivation when goals are reached.



The experience also offers 'Showcase' mode, a feature that allows players to record a dunk and superimpose their live data on the video, which can then be shared with their friends via social media. "I think Nike+ Basketball will change the game," said LeBron James. "Giving every player access to this level of information will have a huge impact on the way players train and play the game." "When you're growing up and playing the game of basketball, your friends are your competition," said James. "Young players will be excited to track their stats to earn bragging rights or showcase their best plays on video. They'll be anxious to get back out on the court to improve their stats." Nike+ Training is designed to turn working out into a game. Featuring insights from some of the world's top athletes including Rafa Nadal, Manny Pacquiao, Allyson Felix and Hope Solo, the Nike+ Training experience makes elite level training available to everyone. The programs consist of a series of short, sharp workouts, designed to help users get fitter, faster and stronger. Each workout is demonstrated on-screen to provide detailed guidance and motivation. During each drill or challenge data and feedback on the workout is delivered to the user's phone via the Nike+ Training mobile app. Daily programs can be created based on how hard the user wants to train, and the app provides a digital community to share each day's workouts and challenges with. Workout statistics can be shared and compared with friends via social networks allowing users to challenge each other and compete to top the Leaderboard. The first NIKE+ enabled Basketball shoe will be the Nike Hyperdunk+ which will be worn by LeBron James this summer. The first NIKE+ enabled Training shoes will be the Lunar Hyper Workout+ for Women and the Lunar TR 1+ for men. All three shoes to feature the new NIKE+ technology are part of the Lunarlon collection, which combines advanced NIKE Flywire technology with a sports specific NIKE Lunarlon cushioning system. All styles of the NIKE+ enabled footwear will be available and at retail June 29, 2012, in the US, UK, France, Germany and Mainland China.

Video Review:

LG Optimus Vu Tablet-Like Viewing With Smartphone Portability Device Review

LG's latest smartphone/tablet, the Optimus Vu, certainly looks familiar. While it has a 5-inch IPS display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, it's outward appearance shares much in common with recently announced Prada phone by LG 3.0 handset and you'll be hard-pressed to tell the difference between both smartphones, but the Optimus Vu's 4:3 display means the handset is wider than the Prada. LG Optimus Vu offer a much clearer look at its 4x3 aspect ratio, 1024x768 res, stylus-friendly 5-inch IPS LCD display, while the official specs confirm rumors it would pack a 1.5GHz dual core CPU, 8MP camera, LTE, 2080mAh battery and Android 2.3 in a slim 8.5mm thick frame, an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich is promised within three months of its launch, currently scheduled for March on Korean carriers SK Telecom and LG+. It looks like LG's Optimus Vu will be a direct competitor to Samsung's Galaxy Note, especially since both devices are about the same size and the Galaxy Note seems to have the LG phone/tablet beat in terms of battery life--it has a 2,500mAh battery while the Optimus Vu can only has 2,080mAh.



LG unveiled one of the most anticipated LTE devices, the Optimus Vu:. Equipped with LG's advanced LTE and IPS display technology, the Optimus Vu: offers a unique combination of tablet-like viewing with smartphone portability. Running on a powerful 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 32GM internal memory and a large 2,080 mAh battery, the Optimus Vu: is a multimedia lover's dream device."The Optimus Vu: was designed to maximize what customers could do with a smart-phone," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. "By offering an optimal 4:3 ratio viewing experience, 5-inch display combined with superfast LTE technology, Optimus Vu: is just one example of what we can achieve when we combine our best technology with customer needs." The large 5-inch display with bright 4:3 aspect ratio makes viewing documents, books, internet and multimedia contents easier and more comfortable. The 4:3 aspect ratio is optimized for viewing to grasp more at a glance and note taking to increase productivity in everyday life. Moreover, IPS display realizes every color in its natural state for the best viewing experience even under bright sunlight. Backed by unparalleled speed and performance from LG's advanced LTE technology, the Optimus Vu: boasts unmatched productivity.




Its unique built-in QuickClip hotkey allows users to conveniently capture screenshots and memos with a single push. Jotting notes is also possible with a finger or with the dedicated Rubberdium pen. Among many productive apps installed in the Optimus Vu:, the included Polaris Office allows users to open any document, spreadsheet or presentation while on the go. At only 8.5mm, the Optimus Vu: is the slimmest among all LTE phones currently on the market and is perfectly suited for a hand and fits comfortably in a jacket pocket. Despite the large 2,080mAh battery, the Optimus Vu: adopts LG's exclusive floating mass technology to appear slimmer than its actual dimensions. In addition to HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) and DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), Optimus Vu: comes with 32GB memory and an 8-megapixel camera. While it will initially launch running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is already in the works. The Optimus Vu: will be introduced in Korea in March. Additional information on the unique Optimus Vu: can be found at the LG Stand (Hall 8) at MWC 2012 from February 27 to March 1.

Key Specifications:

• Chipset: 1.5GHz Dual-Core Processor
• Display: 5-inch (1024x768) IPS Display
• Memory: 32GB eMMC and 1GB DDR2
• Camera: 8MP with AF LED Flash (rear) and 1.3MP (front)
• OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
• Battery: 2,080mAh
• Dimension (L x W x D): 139.6 x 90.4 x 8.5mm

Acer Iconia Tab Line With Android Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) Review

Acer has begun pushing out Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to Iconia Tab A200 owners in the US, the company has confirmed with the OTA upgrade expected to be completed by the end of next week and the 7-inch Acer Iconia Tab A100 and 10-inch Iconia Tab A500 are both on track to be updated to ICS in April. The A100 was the first 7-inch Android tablet to ship with Honeycomb, the first version of Android optimized for tablets and the Acer line of tablets is not the most powerful, but are budget-friendly devices with plenty of features for the money. It is good to see Acer move quickly to get ICS on its tablet line, something other OEMs are being slow to do and the update includes refreshed widget design and improved multitasking, but leaves the manufacturer's own Android addition.



Acer America is now updating its award-winning Acer Iconia Tab line of tablets with the latest version +of Android 4.0 OS (Ice Cream Sandwich). The update is being pushed to Acer Iconia Tab A200 customers over-the-air now in the United States and will be completed over the following week. The Acer Iconia Tab A100 7-inch tablet and Acer Iconia Tab A500 10-inch tablet will both be updated in April. With Android 4.0, the Acer Iconia Tab line will provide new features to give customers more usability and enjoyment from their tablets. Customers will notice the improvements right away – including the faster browser, enhanced app and folder management options, more intuitive navigation, and a completely reimaged design that is more polished with enhanced holographic effects. Plus, customers can more easily customize their Acer tablet and will enjoy improved multitasking and switching between tasks. They will also appreciate improved integration with Gmail's email and calendar functions. "The many enhancements in Android 4.0 OS complement the sleek, powerful and well-designed Acer Iconia Tab tablets to give customers an all-around first-rate experience," said Paul Tayar, Director Product Marketing – Connected Devices, Acer America. "Customers will experience greater entertainment and productivity with the new capabilities and features on their tablets." The new update of Android 4.0 also includes several new features that are unique to Acer tablets. The updated tablets will now feature the highly-customizable Acer Ring, making it incredibly natural and easy to get instant access to favorite apps and features. The Acer Ring can be launched with a single touch and lets customers have quick and easy access to apps, surf the web, capture screen images, post photos and status updates to their social networks, and more. Customers will also enjoy an improved weather widget and will be able to access their favorite apps even when the screen is locked. Acer Iconia Tab customers will be able to do more with their photos and video thanks to the Android 4.0 update, including improved zoom and the ability to take snapshots while recording video. Customers will also be able to capture better still images and do more with them due to greater image stabilization and improved integration with third party apps. Both video clips and photos can be enhanced on the fly, stored and searched for based on various tags, and conveniently stored on Google+.

New Stylish Branded Samsung Advanced SD And microSD Memory Cards Review

Samsung introduces stylish branded memory cards, complete line of SD and microSD cards available up to class 10, 32 GB models and Samsung's new SD cards look too good to hide inside a DSLR. These SD and microSD memory cards will be part of the High Speed Series or the Plus Extreme Speed Series and both of them deliver up to 24MB/sec read speeds , as long as they are of at least 4GB in capacity. Built with Best in Class performance in mind, Samsung’s new range of SD and microSD cards are touted to be beautiful, coming in a brushed metal design and with up to 24MB/sec read speeds, theoretically, you are able to 1GB of images in as little as 42 seconds, they are also waterproof, shockproof, and magnet proof to increase the chances of survival even when your device gets abused (by design or accident, that is another story altogether).



Samsung Electronics America Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics announced that it is now shipping a new line of advanced SD and microSD cards that are ideal for digital imaging and mobile devices. The seven new models of SD and microSD cards are now available as part of either the High Speed Series or the Plus Extreme Speed Series, both of which deliver up to 24MB/sec read speeds on cards with a capacity of 4GB or higher. Styled with a brushed metal design, Samsung's beautiful new line of SD and microSD cards are built with "Best-in-Class" performance. Able to meet the growing demand for high speed and high capacity memory in modern devices, the new cards are ideal for today's digital cameras, camcorders, smartphones and tablets. With (up to) 24MB/sec OR (max) read speeds, users can transfer 1GB of images in as little as 42 seconds. In order to ensure their reliability, Samsung has designed both lines of memory products to be waterproof, shockproof, and magnet proof, allowing them to withstand some of the harshest conditions. All models are guaranteed to survive up to 24 hours in water, withstand the force of a 1.6 ton vehicle (3,200 lbs), and resist up to 10,000 gauss (slightly less than the power of a medical imaging magnet). "It is our goal at Samsung to deliver superior performance, reliability and a stylish design across all of our product lines, including our memory line," explained Reid Sullivan, Senior Vice President, Samsung Electronics America. "Utilizing our 19 years of experience in memory manufacturing, we've built both lines of SD and microSD cards for performance. With read speeds of up to 24 MB/sec and max write speeds of 13 MB/sec (High Speed Line) and 21 MB/sec (Plus Extreme Speed Line), as well as meeting our '3-proof' reliability standard, these cards represent the ultimate in digital imaging and mobile computing storage. As the #1 memory supplier in the world and manufacturer of so many high performance portable devices, we are committed to ensuring consumers realize the best possible experience with those devices."



Details:

SD Card

MODEL NAME	CAPACITY*	SPEED CLASS	READ SPEED	WRITE SPEED	MSRP
MB-SS2GA	2 GB	--	Max 15MB/s	Max 7MB/s	$9.99
MB-SS4GA	4 GB	Class 4	Max 24MB/s	Max 7MB/s	$14.99
MB-SS8GA	8 GB	Class 6	Max 24MB/s	Max 13MB/s	$24.99
MB-SSAGA	16 GB	Class 6	Max 24MB/s	Max 13MB/s	$44.99
MB-SSBGA	32 GB	Class 10	Max 24MB/s	Max 13MB/s	$89.99

microSD Card

MODEL NAME	CAPACITY*	SPEED CLASS	READ SPEED	WRITE SPEED	MSRP
MB-MS2GA	2 GB	--	Max 15MB/s	Max 7MB/s	$9.99
MB-MS4GA	4 GB	Class 4	Max 24MB/s	Max 7MB/s	$14.99
MB-MS8GA	8 GB	Class 6	Max 24MB/s	Max 13MB/s	$24.99
MB-MSAGA	16 GB	Class 6	Max 24MB/s	Max 13MB/s	$44.99
MB-MSBGA	32 GB	Class 10	Max 24MB/s	Max 13MB/s	$89.99

Plus Extreme Speed Series – Specifications
SD Card

MODEL NAME	CAPACITY*	SPEED CLASS	READ SPEED	WRITE SPEED	MSRP
MB-SP8GA	8 GB	Class 10	Max 24MB/s	Max 21MB/s	$29.99
MB-SPAGA	16 GB	Class 10	Max 24MB/s	Max 21MB/s	$54.99

microSD Card

MODEL NAME	CAPACITY*	SPEED CLASS	READ SPEED	WRITE SPEED	MSRP
MB-MP8GA	8 GB	Class 10	Max 24MB/s	Max 21MB/s	$29.99
MB-MPAGA	16 GB	Class 10	Max 24MB/s	Max 21MB/s	$54.99