11/19, 3:10pm
Qualcomm mirasol e-reader doubles as game console
The recently highlighted Qualcomm Mirasol e-reader prototype may be the first to offer the capability to play action games, thanks to a gaming controller accessory revealed on Thursday. The mirasol display technology is capable of reproducing colors and can play back video and the company behind it is seeing a potential as a gaming platform for its device. The plug-in controller has two control sticks, like many popular gaming consoles.
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11/18, 9:15am
Google's own Android phone custom-made
Google's rumored self-developed Android phone is real but has been pushed back, a scoop claimed on late Tuesday. The handset would be built by a third party, most likely LG or Samsung rather than the previously preferred HTC, but would carry only Google's branding and is said by TechCrunch to be designed almost exclusively according to Google's design. It would launch in early 2010 after a delay but would receive heavy marketing as soon as January.
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11/17, 4:05pm
Acer Liquid A1 smartphone due in UK this month
Acer's first Android-powered smartphone, the Liquid A1, will be out in the UK in late November, according to UK electronics retailer Clove. The phone will, as previously reported, run on a detuned, 768MHz version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon instead of the full-blown 1GHz CPU.
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11/12, 3:50pm
New image supports Toshiba TG01 at Verizon
Another indication that the 1GHz Qualcomm CPU-powered Toshiba TG01 smartphone may be soon coming to Verizon surfaced on Thursday. This comes in the form of an image of a Cellebrite device screen showing a handset called TG01CV. The Cellebrite machine is used to transfer database content between handsets and implies Verizon is readying its system to accept the new phone in its system.
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11/12, 12:25pm
Possible Verizon iPhone candidates?
Qualcomm today updated its MDM family of cellular chipsets with some of the first anywhere to support dual, advanced 3G and 4G formats. The MSM7630 supports GSM, HSPA and HSPA+ standards but will also work on CDMA phone networks and support up to EVDO Revision B for 3G on those services. The addition would let a phone work on a CDMA carrier like Sprint or Verizon but still work with AT&T or T-Mobile and roam at speeds of up to 21Mbps on networks from Rogers, other international carriers, and eventually T-Mobile USA.
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11/10, 12:20pm
Softbank announces new winter, spring handsets
Japanese telecoms provider Softbank on Tuesday announced an upcoming lineup of handsets, including revealing that it will launch an Android-powered smartphone by the spring of 2010. The device will use a 3.7-inch OLED and be powered by Qualcomm's 1GHz Snapdragon CPU but has received few other details. Otherwise, Snapdragon is already found or to be found in a number of other smartphones from various manufacturers.
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11/04, 9:55am
HTC HD2 likely for T-Mobile USA
HTC today began shipping the HD2 to Europe and Taiwan but also confirmed plans to bring the phone to the US. The Windows Mobile 6.5 handset is due to ship to America through a "major carrier" in early 2010. While unnamed by HTC, it's expected the phone will be available through T-Mobile USA and will support the provider's 1,700MHz 3G network.
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11/03, 12:55am
Android-based device features new "UX" platform
Sony Ericsson has unveiled its latest flagship handset, the XPERIA X10, which had been previously referred to by the codename Rachael. The smartphone is promised to be the first of many devices built upon the company's Android-based UX "Open OS" platform. The X10 is the highest-end Android phone to date and features a fast 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, a 4-inch capacitive touchscreen with a 480x854 resolution, and an 8.1 megapixel camera with LED flash and autofocus.
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11/02, 4:45pm
Acer's Liquid Android smartphone specs confirmed
The specifications for Acer's upcoming Liquid smarpthone have been revealed at a conference in France, Revioo reported on Monday. Despite an earlier report, the phone's Qualcomm SnapDragon processor will not be rated at its full, 1GHz clock speed but instead be limited to 768MHz.
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10/30, 8:40am
ASUS chief confirms sub-$200 Android PC
ASUS chief Jerry Shen at an investor conference late yesterday said his company should have an Android-based smartbook on shelves by early 2010. Reversing earlier doubts about a market for such a system, Shen says a portable based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon chip and the Google mobile OS should be the first "secret weapon" for the company and will likely cost just $185. The price is roughly half what most builders charge for an Atom-running netbook.
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10/16, 5:55pm
Photo, detailed specs show for Sony Ericsson X3
Sony Ericsson's first known Android phone, the XPERIA X3, has finally been spotted and been given more detail. The phone is now thought to have a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon inside and would tie the Acer Liquid for the title of fastest Android phone. It should also have a slightly sharper than expected 4-inch, 852x480 touchscreen, GSMArena says.
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10/16, 4:05pm
Acer Liquid caught on video, new specs revealed
Specs and a video of the recently introduced Acer Liquid smartphone have been leaked, thanks to GPSandCo. The Android-powered device will be Acer's first with the Google-developed OS, and also its most powerful application, as the handset sports Qualcomm's 1GHz Snapdragon CPU. The video reveals the Liquid will be available in black, red or white and that it sports a 5-megapixel camera.
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10/14, 10:20pm
Developer has yet to receive response from Apple
HTC's upcoming HD2 smartphone has been spotted on T-Mobile internal documents, according to TmoNews. The recently announced handset, marking HTC's latest flagship, will ship with Windows Mobile 6.5 and a capacitive 800x480 touchscreen. Internally, the device sports a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 448MB of RAM, and 7.2Mb/s HSPA connectivity.
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10/14, 8:50am
Acer Liquid carries Android 1.6
Acer on Wednesday made a new claim to the fastest smartphone available with the Liquid. The company's first Android phone, it's one of the first to ship with Android 1.6 but is also the first Android phone to ship with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Using the 1GHz chip makes it faster than the 800MHz Samsung Moment and helps drive the 800x480 touchscreen as well as speed up 3D and Android's already accurate web browser.
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10/05, 7:55am
Adobe unveils Flash 10.1 without iPhone
Adobe at its MAX show launched Flash 10.1, a major update to its plugin that promises video on devices that normally haven't been capable. The release adds hardware graphics acceleration on computers and should make HD Flash video possible on netbooks and ultraportables and standard definition possible on smartphones. NVIDIA already promises that its GeForce, Ion and Tegra chipsets will speed up the Flash update when available.
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09/29, 4:10pm
C-motech shows Snapdragon-powered, WM 6.5 MID
Korea-based C-motech has shown off a new mobile Internet device (MID), the Mangrove. Unlike conventional MIDs, the 7-inch device uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and Windows Mobile 6.5. The Mangrove should be quick as it centers on Qualcomm's Snapdragon CPU, which also powers smartphones like Toshiba's TG01. In this case it builds both 3G and CDMA into the chipset to give the MID data without needing a separate chipset.
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09/21, 12:45pm
Devices break 1GHz barrier
Two upcoming smartphones from Acer and HTC have been identified as using Qualcomm's 1GHz Snapdragon processor, according to industry sources. The first, the Acer F1, is expected to launch on October 6th in tandem with the release of Windows Mobile 6.5. It is believed to use a 3.8-inch touchscreen, and incorporate features like GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 and a five-megapixel camera. Unlocked pricing is said to be $555.
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09/18, 2:55pm
HTC Leo capacitive touch evident
A new demo on Friday supported notions that the HTC Leo will have the first-ever capacitive touchscreen and multi-touch input on a Windows Mobile device. The leak from ai.rs proves this by showing the phone responding to gestures that would either require active pressure on a normal Windows Mobile phone or wouldn't have worked at all, such as quickly flicking through HTC's TouchFLO interface or pinching to zoom into and out of photos.
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09/18, 8:40am
HTC Imagio and Predator due in October
HTC is rumored to be stepping up its smartphone presence with two rare smartphones meant primarily for Verizon as well as a possible significant processor boost. The Imagio is believed by BGR to be the final version of the Whitestone and, unlike with past claims, should be a more original design that may launch first on Verizon's network. It should have a 3.6-inch 800x480 touchscreen and usual features like 3G, GPS and Wi-Fi, but it should come preloaded with Windows Mobile 6.5 and support GSM for world roaming.
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09/16, 4:25pm
HTC Leo to support multi-touch despite WM 6.5?
A leaked video reveals that the upcoming HTC Leo handset may sport a 4.3-inch multi-touch capacitive touchscreen. The news would theoretically make it the first Windows Mobile device to support multi-touch as all Windows Mobile releases to date, including the upcoming 6.5, only officially support resistive (pressure-based) touchscreens that aren't capable of the feature. A few glimpses of the interface in the video reveal that the Leo does indeed have Windows Mobile 6.5 with HTC's TouchFLO interface on top.
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09/01, 10:00am
Win Mobile 6.5 Ships Oct 6
Microsoft today committed to a ship date for Windows Mobile 6.5, its last significant update to the current generation of its smartphone OS. The first devices to use the new platform should reach shops on October 6th. It's not said which evices will be the first, but HP, HTC, LG, Samsung and unusually Toshiba will be the first to have 6.5-equipped smartphones in North America. AT&T, Sprint and Verizon will be the first in the US, while Bell and Telus should do the same in Canada.
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08/10, 2:15pm
Sony Ericsson Smartbook
Sony Ericsson may be entering the smartbook field with a model of its own, based on a rumor today. A purported Taiwan-area source says the company is developing one of the mini notebooks. Most details aren't available to NetbookNews, including the choices of processor or operating system; The smartbook concept usually centers around a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor fast enough to rival a netbook and either Android or another Linux variant, but any ARM processor and a suitable operating system are candidates.
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08/03, 4:55pm
Snapdragon
A variety of smartbooks and netbooks integrating ARM-based Snapdragon and Tegra processors are scheduled to ship later this year, according to a DigiTimes report. The devices are being produced by several companies such as Acer, Foxconn, Pegatron, Compal and Inventec.
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07/22, 5:10pm
HTC Leo gets touchscreen
Following up earlier rumors of an HTC handset, the Leo, the latest leak shows the device's specs and reveals that what was actually known as Firestone will become the Leo, as the specs reveal no QWERTY keyboard. Instead, the Leo will apparently have a fast 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen with a 480x800 resolution and 320MB of RAM, according to one source. Otherwise, the dual-band HSDPA handset will have quad-band GSM/EDGE network support and should run Windows Mobile 6.5.
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07/21, 4:25pm
TG01 passes FCC testing
The Toshiba TG01 smartphone, notable for its use of a high-powered 1GHz Snapdragon CPU from Qualcomm, has appeared on the FCC website. Unlike the usual FCC listings, the TG01 tested in this case is a production-ready device with support for CDMA networks and not a prototype, indicating it will very soon launch at either Sprint or Verizon, and perhaps eventually on both wireless providers.
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07/20, 11:40am
Nokia C X and Booklet
Nokia is registering a number of trademarks that suggest a major effort to expand and relabel its phone lineup, as well as to introduce new types of devices. The company has filed for trademarks on the names Cseries and Xseries that imply two new phone lines. At present, its phones are divided into the Nseries media and Eseries work smartphones as well as its four-digit numerical devices like the 5800 XpressMusic.
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07/09, 1:40pm
TG01 is Orange exclusive
UK wireless provider Orange on Thursday officially confirmed at an expected event that it will be the exclusive provider of the Toshiba TG01 touchscreen smartphone. The 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered device will ship to stores on Friday.
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07/04, 1:30pm
Sony Ericsson Rachel Leak
Sony Ericsson's first Android smartphone will be a very high-end touchscreen device most likely taking the iPhone head on, a Danish scoop shows. Codenamed the "Rachel," the phone would fit into the XPERIA line occupied only by the X1 but would emphasize speed, according to Mobil. Like the Windows Mobile-based Toshiba TG01, it would have a very high-end 1GHZ Qualcomm Snapdragon processor at its heart; it may also compete against the iPhone 3GS through "great" 3D graphics capabilities.
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07/02, 3:50pm
Toshiba TG-01 at Orange UK
While it was reported just yesterday that Toshiba's first full touchscreen smartphone, the TG01, will be officially unveiled at a launch event in London on July 9th, it is now known the handset will make its debut in the UK at provider Orange on the same date. The wireless provider already has a product page up for the device; pricing is unknown but may be unveiled at the July 9th launch event.
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07/01, 11:55am
Toshiba TG01 Next Week
Toshiba today at last said it will hold a launch event for its TG01 smartphone. The July 9th gathering in London is expected by SlashGear to mark the formal start of sales for the Windows Mobile handset in Europe; it's already on sale in Japan as the NTT DoCoMo PRO T-01A and should be available not just in the UK but Germany, Spain and possibly other countries.
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06/24, 10:30am
Nokia Atom Netbook Soon
The first fruits of the Intel-Nokia partnership could come within a matter of weeks, the Taiwan-area Commercial Times newspaper claimed today. Stating the rumor as fact, it insists that reports of Nokia netbooks are true and that a portable based on Intel Atom chips could come as soon as this summer. Its details aren't known, but Quanta would be contracted to build the computer.
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06/23, 7:45am
Nokia May Use Intel Chips
A last-minute leak this past evening would have Nokia use Intel processors for the first time in some of its devices. One unnamed source for Bloomberg claims that an announcement could come as early as this morning from Intel senior mobility VP Anand Chandrasekher that it has landed a deal to supply chips to Nokia. What this would entail isn't evident, though it would almost certainly involve a variant of the Atom processor and likely wouldn't be a complete replacement of Nokia's line.
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06/22, 6:35pm
Qualcomm netbook due in 09
Qualcomm has confirmed its Snapdragon-based smartphone and Smartbook netbook will launch in its home market of Korea later this year, according to a Monday Telecoms Korea report. The company is apparently engaged in talks with the country's local mobile operators to launch the products. The Smartbook will become available in the fall from Taiwanese companies, while the Snapdragon handset will come from a Korean phone maker late this year or early next year, said Qualcomm marketing director Jordan Lim.
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06/03, 12:15pm
Acer F1, L1 at Computex
Acer has been showing two of its Tempo-series handsets, codenamed F1 and L1, first shown at CES in January, at the Computex show in Taiwan. The display model for the F1 revealed some of the smartphone's specs, including a particularly quick 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU and Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional for its operating system. It also centers on a large 3.8-inch, 800x480 touchscreen.
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06/01, 11:25am
Qualcomm Snapdragon 1 3GHz
Qualcomm upped its stake in the mobile space today with an upgrade to the Snapdragon line of mobile processors. The QSD8650A jumps from the previous 1GHz to a new 1.3GHz but is also Qualcomm's first 45 nanometer processor; it's about 30 percent faster than its predecessor but simultaneously uses 30 percent less average power than earlier parts. Video performance in 3D and elsewhere has also been given a boost, the company says.
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05/28, 5:55pm
Qualcomm smartbook plans
Qualcomm on Thursday outlined its vision for mobile computing, specifically an ARM-based series of smartbooks that combine attributes of both smartphones and netbooks, according to GigaOM. The smartbook would be powered by the company's Snapdragon technology, a powerful mobile processor and chipset platform first introduced late in 2007. The devices could integrate cellular connectivity and Wi-Fi, with a small form-factor, displays measuring between 10-12 inches and a full keyboard.
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04/06, 8:05am
Android tablet and T-Mo G2
T-Mobile intends to use Google's Android not just as a phone OS for its upcoming G2 but also in general computing devices, according to multiple sources. The New York Times this morning claims to have obtained documents which show both a home phone and a tablet computer in line for early 2010. It's not specified which companies would make either device, though the home phone would have a dock and a second charge-plus-sync peripheral.
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03/26, 5:00pm
Wistron Firstbook netbook
Taiwan's Wistron has shown off its Firstbook, an ultraportable netbook about the size of Sony's VAIO P, powered by the same 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset used in the Toshiba TG01 smartphone. The Linux-based PC is the first such netbook with an integrated 3G mobile broadband module. Snapdragon is a chipset made for upcoming mobile devices, incorporating a 1GHz processor core, DSP and 3G radio.
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03/13, 5:30pm
ARM-based netbooks coming
Qualcomm and Freescale, who build ARM-based platforms, are expected to demonstrate netbooks using their products at the Computex Taipei expo in June, DigiTimes reported on Thursday, citing sources at netbook makers. The show will reportedly see the debut of a Pegatron netbook running on Freescale's i.MX51 CPU on ARM's Coretex A8 mainboard as well as a Wistron model with a Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU.
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03/05, 3:30pm
Eee PCs to get Qualcomm
ASUS is considering using a Qualcomm platform for its future Eee PC models, the company's general Eee PC manager, Samson Hu, said recently. Although the company has no current mass production plans and will not abandon the current Intel Atom-based notebooks anytime soon, it's likely to use the semiconductor firm's Snapdragon chipset, which has integrated 3G data network capabilities, a GPS sensor and HD video playback in addition to a notebook-class processor.
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02/27, 4:20pm
Nokia Netbook Leak
Notebook builders in the Taiwan area have reportedly said on Friday that Nokia is in the early stages of assembling partners for a possible entry into netbooks. The Finnish company is believed to be considering either Compal or Foxconn, both well-known contractors for notebooks, as likely manufacturing partners; it's also still debating whether it should use Intel's familiar Atom processor for the computer or else use the ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon, which would have 1080p video support that Atom currently lacks.
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02/20, 9:15am
Acer Phones Free in US
Acer's second wave of smartphones will use cost as a key strategy to infiltrating the US, the company tells PCMag. Although considered high-end in features, at least some of the company's Windows Mobile devices should be heavily subsidized and will land on either AT&T or T-Mobile free with an appropriate service plan. The discount is said possible by Acer smartphone head Aymar de Lencquesaing both through the company's size as well as its previous deal for subsidized netbooks through AT&T, which gives it familiarity with carriers.
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02/05, 4:45pm
HTC Snapdragon handsets
Taiwan's HTC will launch mobile phones in the second quarter of the year based on the ultra-fast 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, say market sources in the home country in a Thursday DigiTimes report. This news comes on the heels of Toshiba's announcement of its TG01 handset, also running the Snapdragon platform, which is said to begin shipping this summer in some European countries.
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11/13, 3:05pm
Qualcomm Snapdragon 2-core
Qualcomm today unveiled its first dual-core chip in the Snapdragon family and a potential breakthrough in cellphone performance. The plainly-titled QSD8672 both adds the second core and ups the clock speed to 1.5GHz, lifting the speed to where it can be used for netbooks rather than the cellphones of the past. The multitasking performance gives enough headroom to both encode and decode 1080p video as well as render 3D and output images up to 1440x900.
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06/16, 3:35pm
HTC Atom Based MIDs
HTC is gearing up to produce mobile Internet devices (MIDs) based on Intel's Atom processor as well as Qualcomm's Snapdragon mobile chipset, say reports from those in the industry. The reports would have the creator of the HTC Shift and other crossover computers produce the systems with the faster, more power-efficient chips as early as the second half of this year in a bid to improve HTC's standing in ultra-mobile PCs, which have been hurt by mini notebooks like the ASUS Eee PC.
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