Samsung has introduced, at CES 201, a new hybrid mobile chipset, Exynos 5 Octa, with 8 cores.
   Similar with the 4-PLUS-1 architecture used by NVIDIA Tegra 3,  Exynos 5 Octa has four Cortex A15 cores  clocked at a maximum frequency of 1.8 or 2 GHz and four Cortex-A7 cores, clocked at a frequency maximum of 1.2 GHz. Data processing work will be divided between the different strength core, low or medium tasks will be executed on Cortex-A7 cores, once the necessary computing power will exceed their limits,  the big.LITTLE architecture will allow execution switching on the more powerful Cortex-A15 cores in about 20 microseconds.
   According to Samsung, the new Exynos 5 Octa mobile processor , which also marks the transition from a 32nm manufacturing process to a 28 nm procces will have a 70% higher energy efficiency than Exynos 5 Dual.
   Samsung hasn't confirmed the type of the GPU, but they said that the new processor will provide a computing power twice higher than that of any rival product currently available on the market. It might be accompanied by ARM's Mali-T658 GPU.
by byetech

   A year ago, at CES 2012, Razer has introduced a gaming tablet with Windows called Project Fiona. After a year and a series of changes, the tablet from Razer has been presented and will be marketed under the name Edge.
   The Razer Edge tablet runs Windows 8 and is based on an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M dedicated graphics, the display has a diagonal of 10.1 "and a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Because it is a product for gaming, Razer has chosen a faster TN panel, instead of an IPS panel with better performances in terms of quality.
   Edge will be available in two configurations, the basic model will have an Intel Core i5, 4GB RAM and 64 GB SSD internal storage , while the Pro version will raise with a Core i7, 8 GB RAM and 128 or 256 GB SSD storage.
   Unlike the monoblock design used by Project Fiona, Edge is a standalone tablet which will be attached to a separate controller with two analog joysticks, 6 buttons, a D-Pad and Force Feedback. This decision was taken to increase the versatility of the product, the tablet can now support other peripherals such as a keyboard and mouse for RPG gamers, a docking station with HDMI 1.4 video output and an extra battery of 40 Wh.
   The features list also includes a USB 2.0 port, a Bluetooth adapter and a Wi-Fi interface, all housed in a case with a thickness of 20 millimeters and a weight of 900 grams.

   Qualcomm has presented today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the new generation of mobile processors, Snapdragon Snapdragon 800 and 600.
   Snapdragon 800 is based on the quad-core Krait 400, clocked at 2.3GHz and  the Adreno 330 GPU, which is, according to the statements from Qualcomm, 50% faster than Adreno 320.
The power of Snapdragon 800 allows it to run content in Ultra HD resolution (4k - 30 fps).
Overall 800 Snapdragon will offer a 75% higher performance than the S4 Pro generation.
The 800 series will be found not just on top smartphones and tablets, but also on the new generation of Smart TVs and digital multimedia devices, according to official Qualcomm announcement.
   Snapdragon 600 is based on the dual core Krait 300, clocked at 1.9 GHz and the Adreno 320 GPU, and will have a speed comparable to that found on the S4 series. The Snapdragon 600 processors are designed for mid-range smartphone.
The new chipsets from Qualcomm are built on 28nm architecture and will become available to the manufacturers in mid, this year.
by byetech
pictures credits gsmarena and Qualcomm

   NVIDIA is one of the producers who didn't wait for the tomorrow official opening of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2013. The most interesting announcement made is the new Tegra 4, which promises a number of major improvements brought to the current generation omnipresent on the Android tablets.
   The rumors about the new chipset have been confirmed.  Tegra 4 has 4+1 Cortex A15 cores, the  auxiliary core has the power consumption and the performance significantly reduced.
Manufactured in a Low Power High-k Metal Gate process on 28-nanometer Tegra 4 will provide cores with frequencies that can go up to 1.9 GHz, the cores are accompanied by a dual channel DDR 3 memory controller. Thanks to these improvements, Tegra 4 will provide 2.6 more raw power than the previous generation.
   The graphics processor GeForce ULP has no less than 72 cores, according to NVIDIA, the new graphics processor offers 6 times more power than that provided by Tegra 3.
   NVIDIA has focused on image processing, with a range of functions grouped under the Computational Photography Architecture  offering better capture speeds or HDR processing with simultaneous capture of two images.
   On the list of facilities offered we have USB 3.0 connectivity, HDMI interface with support for 4K resolution screens, H.264 HP and VP8 video acceleration, up to 1440p resolution.
by byetech

   The oldest partner of the Redmond giant, HTC, might launch several tablets with Windows RT in 2013.
   The rumors say that HTC will launch two tablets with Windows RT, the first will have a 7-inch screen and will also act as a phone, and the second is a device with a 12-inch screen .
    For now HTC and Microsoft have abstained from any comment, refusing to confirm or deny the rumors.

   Nokia has made a big step last year and moved from Symbian to Windows Phone. 2013 might bring a new change for the Finnish company, the entering on the tablet PC market with a product that will run Windows RT.
   The Nokia tablet will have a 10-inch display and will run the poor version of the new Windows generation. It will have a Qualcomm S4 processor and the initial production will be limited to 200,000 units.
   The tablet  will most likely be presented at the Mobile World Congress 2013, held in Barcelona between 25 and 28 February.
by byetech

   Facebook app for Android devices has been updated to the 2.0 version, winning a significant performance increase.
   Available from yesterday through Google Play store, the Facebook 2.0 is a major revision to the famous social network dedicated client.
   Largely rewritten using the native code of the Google Android platform, the new Facebook 2.0 starts significantly faster and promises to double the performance in terms of speed, the displaying of the information from the Timeline and the images uploading.
   Among other things, the upgrade allows us to quickly move from one picture to another, without moving the focus off the main feed of informations.
   The Facebook 2.0 application compatible with Android smartphones and tablets, is available for free download on Google Play store.

   Archos has launched GamePad, a 7-inch screen tablet with a portable gaming console design. It incorporates two analog joysticks, a D-pad and 8 buttons, simplifying the lives of those lucky enough to appreciate the titles that support the redefining of the keys.
   Archos Gamepad  has a 7-inch screen with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor clocked at 1.6 GHz, a quad-core Mali-400 GPU, 8GB internal memory,  microSD card, a mini-HDMI port and runs Android 4.1, Jelly Bean.
   The tablet is already available in Europe through the company's online store at a price of 149 euros.
by byetech

   Toshiba will launch tomorrow a new Android tablet, Toshiba Excite 10 SE. The tablet has a big advantage, it will hit the market at a price of $350.
   Toshiba Excite 10 SE has a 10-inch Autobrite HD screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 CPU, a storage space of 16GB, a  microSD card slot, a 3 megapixel rear-facing camera with auto-focus,  0.4 inches thickness and runs Android 4.1, Jelly Bean.
by byetech

   Microsoft has announced that Windows 8 Pro Surface will arrive in stores in January 2013 and the fact that the tablet will have an autonomy up to 4.5 hours.
   Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 Pro is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and offers a 10.6-inch Full HD display. These two components, consume more energy than the components of the Surface with Windows RT.
   The Windows 8 Pro Surface advantages are the possibility of installation of applications from other sources than the Microsoft Store and there is a big difference between the performance of the two tablet.
   The cheapest Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 Pro will cost $ 899.
 by byetech image from yugatech

   Angry Birds Seasons for Android has received an update, that adds gradually, one per day, until the first day of Christmas, 25 new winter levels with a new ice element.
   Only users with an internet connection enabled, will gain access to each daily level.
   The game can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and works on every device with Android 2.2 or above.
by byetech image credits Rovio

   Google changes the display mode for the comments left on applications from the Play Store , eliminating the ability to leave anonymous posts.
   Now, all users, who wish to leave comments or share opinions about applications listed in the Play Store, will have to login first with the Google+ user profile.
   Once completed this step, all comments will be associated  to the actual name of the user with access to user 's Google+ profile .
   The change is part of the initiatives taken by Google to integrate Google+ social network with many services of the company.
   In this case the measure has also some benefits, such as more credibility for comments and reviews of the applications listed in the Play Store.
by byetech

   Asus's 7 inch tablet under the famous brand Google Nexus is bringing record profits for the  producing company and has a substantial contribution in the promotion of Android.
   If all goes according to plans, by the end of this year will be delivered over 5 million copies of Nexus 7. The achievement is more impressive since we are talking about a tablet launched in July, that has an average of 1 million copies sold every month.
   According to information provided by Asus, Nexus 7 counted, only in the period of October, nearly 1 million copies shipped, a trend that will be preserved during the month of November and is supported by the approaches of the Christmas shopping season.

by byetech

  Toshiba Europe has announced a new model of tablet, AT300SE.
  Toshiba AT300SE has a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, a 10.1-inch multitouch screen that offers a generous viewing angle, a thickness of 10.5 mm, a weight of 625 grams, an autonomy of up to 10 hours and will run Android 4.1, Jelly Bean.
  The new tablet will be soon available in Europe.
by byetech

   Microsoft has almost complete the work of the office suite for iOS and Android, smartphones and tablets. Microsoft Office for Android and iOS will be released early next year, in March.
   The native applications for the mentioned platforms will be initially distributed free through Google Play  and  App Store.To use the Microsoft Office suite, users of non-Windows gadgets will need to have a Microsoft account.
   The applications will be limited in the free version, you can just view the documents. To take advantage of document editing module, users will have to pay a fee through Office 365.
by byetech

   The Budget tablet iPad Mini and the new iPad 4 with Retina Display and the new chip A6X have gathered impressive sales volume, draining almost all initial stocks ready for the launch.
   With the sell of three million tablets in the first weekend of release, with a rate of approximately 1 million tablets per day, Apple has surpassed its own record set in March this year, in the first three days after the iPad 3 launch , has been sold 1.5 million copies of the W-iFi version.
   Apple has not detailed the sales volume, separating iPad Mini from the iPad 4,  so the financial results and popularity enjoyed by the each tablet can not be determined precisely.

by byetech

    Nexus 10 has been launched, same as LG Nexus 4, outside of the New York Event canceled due to weather problems. Google Nexus 10 is impressive and could be the first real rival of the iPad.
   The successor of Google Nexus 7 has arrived with impressive specifications and a price that could change the balance of tablet's market.
   The new Google Nexus 10 has a 10-inch screen with 2560x1600 resolution, dual-core A15 processor, 5MP camera and 1.9 MP front camera, 16GB storage space and front stereo speakers.
   Nexus 10 is the first tablet that uses the new Android 4.2, includes NFC compatibility and promises a high battery autonomy: 9 hours of video viewing or 500 hours standby.
   Google's 10-inch tablet has a starting price of $ 399, with the best price/quality ratio on the segment of Android tablets it can even compete with the latest iPad.


by byetech

   Google Nexus 7 already offers an option outside of Android Jelly Bean. With Ubuntu Desktop Installer, users can install Ubuntu on the tablet.
   The Ubuntu installing operation on Google Nexus 7  involves tablet's Bootloader. After this step, the Nexus tablet can be turned on through fastboot and connected to a PC with Ubuntu, to install the with one click.
   The installation process through Ubuntu Desktop Installer lasts up to 15 minutes, after which the tablet runs the entire Ubuntu 12.10 operating system.
   For now, Canonical has not optimized Ubuntu for tablets, so Unity interface does not include special functionality for Google Nexus 7. The next version of Ubuntu, waited in a year, that will include numerous enhancements for portable gadgets, from battery life optimizing  up to the proper use of sensors.
   You can check the official tutorial  for installation on Ubuntu's dedicated page.

by byetech

      We were delighted at the last year end with the launch of the Grand Theft Auto 3 porting on the Android and iOS platforms. Rockstar has announced that with along with the 10th anniversary of the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, will be available a ported version of this title.
      Launched almost 10 years ago on the PlayStation 2 and on PC a few months later, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City takes over the relay from the third major iteration of the series and creates a fictional universe in 80s America. According to Rockstar, the game will be released this fall on the Android and iOS platforms.
    The product will be based on the original PlayStation 2 version, but will also include a series of original graphic resources. The Tegra 3 optimized version of the Grand Theft Auto 3 game for Android Version has used the PC version resources compared to the one for iOS that satisfied with  the same version of the PlayStation 2, but the company did not mention whether this initiative will be repeated, stating instead that the 10th Anniversary Edition will receive support for high resolution.

   The specifications of the iPad Mini:
-a 7.9" screen with a resolution of 1024 pixels by 768 pixels
- dual-core A5 processor, same as iPod Touch fifth-gen
 - FaceTime HD front-side camera
- 5 megapixel iSight camera on the back
- LTE
- 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi @ 5.2Ghz
- Lightning connector
- prices starting from $329 for the Wi-Fi version with 16GB of storage
     




by byetech -pictures by cnet.com