When the first batch of Windows 8-powered devices arrives in the market, you’ll have the option to choose something that runs on either Intel or ARM. As you may already know, this is in part due to the two different flavors of Windows 8 that will be coming out. First, there is a standard, kind of desktop-like Windows 8 version that is effectively the next level of the x86 platform, and then there’s the ARM-flavored Windows 8 version (called Windows RT) for mobile devices with an emphasis on maximum computing power with the lowest TDP and longest battery life. Today, during during a meeting with investors at their headquarters in Santa Clara, California, Intel CEO Paul Otellini took the time to mention something that’s going to set Intel-powered Windows 8 devices apart from those that are running on ARM: legacy mode.

Legacy mode allows users to switch out of Windows 8′s standard Metro style option and use legacy programs, particularly enterprise apps that have been around for a very long time. “We have the advantage of the incumbency, advantage of the legacy support. Not just in terms of applications but devices,” said Otellini to Intel investors during the meeting. ARM’s lack of support for legacy mode leaves Otellini confident. The Intel CEO was quoted as saying, “I think they have a big uphill fight.”

Currently, there seems to be a lot of interest in upcoming Windows 8 devices, regardless of whether they are running on chips from either Intel or ARM. It would be interesting to see how the market adapts to the availability of two different types of devices which effectively open the door to two separate universes.

Intel via CNET

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Those of you waiting on the official release of the Asus Padfone may need to wait a little while longer in certain regions, as the device is unlikely to make it to the market at the originally scheduled release dates. And no, this time Android 4.0 ICS isn’t the one to blame.

As it turns out, the Asus smartphone/tablet hybrid Padfone is being delayed due to the current lack of availability of Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processors. This is according to a tweet posted on the Asus Indonesia Twitter page. As you can imagine, it will not be possible to release the Padfone without the processor that’s supposed to make it run, so for now it will be delayed until Qualcomm sorts everything out.

Asus can only say that the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 chip shortage is affecting not just them, but in fact all of Qualcomm’s customers. Now, that doesn’t exactly do anything to fix the problem, but at least Asus is honest and it seems it’s not really their fault that the Padfone is being delayed, anyway.

@ASUS_Indonesia via EeePC IT

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Qualcomm is preparing a quad-core version of its Snapdragon S4 chip for thin and light Windows 8 laptops. According to Rob Chandhok, Senior VP at Qualcomm, the S4 chips will go into laptops that are thinner and lighter than Apple’s MacBook Air or Intel’s ultrabooks.

Chandhok further said that the lines between high-end smartphones, where Qualcomm’s chips are normally found, and laptops has started to blur. The S4 chips will enable smaller laptops with high-resolution screens, longer battery life and always-on connectivity, he said.

The chips are based on a core from U.K. chip design company ARM, and include an integrated modem and a graphics core capable of handling 3D graphics. Qualcomm plans to expand out of the smartphone market and into PCs. It has already shipped some prototype Windows 8 PCs with Snapdragon chips to developers.

According to Chandhok , the S4 will be manufactured with a 28-nanometer process, which will improve power efficiency and performance. The company hopes Snapdragon laptops will be differentiated by their 4G connectivity and strong multimedia qualities.

The operating system for the new laptops will be Windows 8 64-bit. ARM has already announced 64-bit support with its upcoming ARMv8 architecture. Aside from makers of x86 chips, Qualcomm will compete with ARM-based chip makers Nvidia and Texas Instruments. Nvidia and TI also supply chips for Windows 8 tablets. To differentiate its product from competitors, Qualcomm will try to develop a software that plays to unique multimedia and cellular connectivity features on Snapdragon.

Source:  PC World

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Qualcomm has announced another e-reader during the recent Taipei International Book Fair. The device is based on Mirasol display technology, the Kobee Jin Yong. This device is named after a popular Chinese author. It comes with a 5.7 inch 1024 x 768 pixel display and powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon S2 processor, plus Android 2.3 Gingerbread in a customized experience.

Mirasol Technology uses some of the advantages of the E-Ink, like better power consumption when pixels change as well as some LCD capabilities, including color and refresh rate. Mirasol is used on higher end eBook readers, but it doesn’t replace LCDs just yet, as it’s not that cost effective right now. This tech was used on small screens as well as on prototypes years ago. Now, it’s evolving into a full fledged technology alternative.

The screens used the interferometric modulator display technology to create different colors through the interference of reflected light. That gives the device they’re on a power consumption of a tenth or less compared to a LCD one.

The pricing is not yet clear for the Kobee Jin Yong, it’s expected to be pretty high. Qualcomm’s Mirasol technology is believed to be the solution to prolong Android device battery span by days.

via tabletnews and gottabemobile

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Kyobo, Korea’s largest book seller, introduced the first eBook reader with a Qualcomm Mirasol display recently. The device has a 5.7 inch, 1024  x 768 pixel low power color screen that can handle books or magazines as well as full-motion video content.

Netbooknews recently had a hands-on with the Kyobo eReader and they have confirmed that the device is running Google Android, has a 1 Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, and support for video. However, it should be noted that the device is primarily an eReader, not a full-fledged Android tablet.

Kyobo will offer 90,000 ebooks, 2,500 video ebooks, and over 800 video lecture series. According to Netbooknews, there is also integration with social networking services and English text-to-speech support. Furthermore, there will also be a searchable dictionary, along with magazines and other content for “downtime” between classes. Video education content is being provided through content partner EBS.

The Mirasol display can display color without a backlight, but colors aren’t as bright and vibrant as you’d find on a backlit LCD display.

Qualcomm Mirasol displays can also be matte so they should be glare-free. Unfortunately, the Kybo eReader appears to have a glossy screen which means that while the device relies on ambient light, some glare is actually noticeable if used in direct sunlight.

The new eBook reader is powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 processor. It is operated by Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread System. If you are in Korea, you can get the device for KRW349,000 ($310). Sign up for Kyobo’s loyalty rewards card you’ll be able to grab it  for KRW299,000 ($265).

Sources:   Netbooknews, Liliputing

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The Korea’s largest book seller, Kyobo Book Centre has declared the availability of Mirasol eReader in most Korean retail electronics stores. To know more about this kind of eReader, you should first have an idea about the Mirasol which is a Qualcomm’s promising color display technology that is combined with some of the best features of e-ink properties and LCD flaunt. Meaning, you can view its screen even in direct sunlight and it’s also very energy-efficient.

The new eBook reader is a 5.7-inch with 1024 x 768-pixel resolution display, powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 processor and sports a touch-screen interface. It is then operated by Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread System and you can surf web pages and purchase eBooks on the net with the Wi-Fi service it offers. The eReader regularly costs about $310 and $265 for Kyobo Platinum Book Club members.

The e ink property is fascinating with Qualcomm’s front-light LED illumination system that draws the bezel- mounted light source to take off direct sunlight on the display. Unlike an ordinary LCD panel that has the tendency to wash out in direct lighting, the Mirasol eReader screen only gets brighter the more light shining on it.

source: CNET

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You might be familiar with the HP TouchPad, but are you aware of a little something from HP called the TouchPad Go? The TouchPad Go is essentially a scaled-down version of the HP TouchPad with much of the same features and was intended to be marketed towards business-oriented individuals. However, the HP TouchPad Go will never make it to market, and as such all we can do now is stand in awe at what it could have been based on the full specs as revealed by PreCentral.

Based on the reported full specs of the HP TouchPad Go, it might as well have been an Amazon Kindle Fire. A much more beefier version, even. The HP TouchPad Go features a 7-inch 1024×768 pixel IPS screen, a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU from Qualcomm, 1GB of on-device RAM, and Qualcomm’s Adreno 220 GPU. Other features include a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, 5-megapixel main camera with built-in LED flash, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, up to 32GB of internal storage, and 3G or 4G wireless configurations.

There’s so much more to love about the cancelled HP TouchPad Go that you have to ask: what did it ever do to HP to deserve getting canned?

Via PreCentral

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Qualcomm presented a concept smartbook at the Mobile World Congress. From the looks of it, it’s more of a mini desktop rather than a smartbook since it has a separate keyboard and will likely be less usable on the go. We did cover a bit of this device last month during CES.

You can store the keyboard behind the device and turn it into a digital photo frame. It also functions like a tablet if the onscreen keyboard is to be believed. The Snaptop runs on Linux and since it’s just a concept, don’t expect that this will be hitting shelves soon.

source Ubergizmo

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While talking about their highly popular and in-demand Snapdragon mobile processor, Mark Frankel, Qualcomm’s VP of product management managed to sneak in a few of his thoughts regarding the Apple iPad and one of its major flaws: the lack of 3G connectivity on the standard model.

Frankel was quoted as saying, “What’s a tablet without [3G] connectivity? What’s the sense in carrying round such a light, thin product if you have to search for the internet hotspots to connect?” I have to say, I agree wholeheartedly with this man’s sentiments.

Going forward in the interview, he hinted that there will be similar products to Apple’s iPad in the future, but will be better, faster and most of all, sport 3G connectivity. Read other highlights of the interview via the link below.

Via Mobile Entertainment

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Qualcomm just showed off a new device called the Snaptop, which is basically a slate tablet with a kickstand and a Bluetooth keyboard. While it’s not anything new, the concept is quite appealing and looks similar to MSI’s Windtop or Asus’ Eee Top at a smaller scale.

The prototype unit has a 9″ resistive screen and runs on Google Android. The keyboard and the main display each have a tiny trackball for mouse control, a nice touch for those who have trouble using the touch display for the pointer.

It’s no netbook though since it’ll be hard to use this on your lap with the separate keyboard. There’s no word when of if this will be in production soon but it certainly looks good.

via LaptopMag

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