denz Techtronics » Latest Buzz

Sept debut for iPhone 5 and iPad 3 has Arranged

admin_denz — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:12:40 +0000

Quoting the typical industry sources with connections to Apple’s production partners, trade publication DigiTimes reports that Taiwan-based companies included in the supply chain for iPhone 5 and iPad 3 have begun to prepare production materials. Both devices are expected to make their debut this September, the report notes, with end users being able to buy them in October.

A large number of Apple partners are mentioned in the report, including Foxconn Electronics (who will assemble the goods); Simplo Technologies and Dynapack International Technology (battery manufacturing); TPK Holding and Wintek (touch panel modules); Catcher (chassis); and Largan Precision (cameras).

The tech-site goes to note that Simply is responsible for over half of Apple’s total battery demand (65%). Dynapack is handling the remainder (35%). Contrary to recent analyst reports saying that September would see the launch of two iPhones (including one rumored iPhone 4S), the Taiwanese sources specifically noted that Apple only plans to launch one new iPhone model. This device is referred to as the ‘iPhone 5’.

Interestingly, the same sources also said that an iPad 3 has just recently been added to the production schedule. Even so, both the iPhone 5 and the third-generation iPad are to undergo mass production this August, but only in small volumes. Production volume will reportedly start picking up in September, and shipping is estimated for October. It is unclear whether these sources are referring only to the iPhone 5 when they estimate shipping timeframes.

The iPhone, on the other hand, is overdue for a refresh, if Apple wants to keep its annual refresh cycles alive. Still, the sources talking to DigiTimes specifically noted that Apple has made up its mind about supplying the iPad 3 this year, with shipments of the entire iPad series of products (including the iPad 2) expected to go beyond the 15 million mark for the company’s fiscal quarter.

Evolving Reception of Mobile Phones

admin_denz — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:59:19 +0000

The technology in question is known as compact dielectric antenna system and is similar to conventional parabolic antennas only on a much smaller scale. They have larger antennas before, now they had a distinct advantage over their smaller counterparts, this being their ability to track signals across 3 planes – this being horizontal, vertical and diagonal.

The antennas used in mobile devices however, are only able to track horizontal signals, as they move from transmitter to receiver. Using the new technology, antennas with the ability to operate in three dimensions can be installed onto small mobile devices such as mobile phones, PDAs and laptops. Mobile phones are likely to be the main market for the new technology as they are the most susceptible to signal loss.

For instance, anyone who has used a mobile phone inside, or in other cluttered environments knows how difficult it can be to achieve a suitable signal. The quick fix cure for this is to usually go outside or somewhere higher, with this system though – you probably won’t need too.

It is expected that the technology will be easily implemented into the market, as it uses current materials and does not require anything new. For the time being though mobile users who suffer from bad reception will have to make the best of the situation using traditional methods. As mentioned, the easiest of these is to move around; if you are in a so called “dead spot” though, then this isn’t an option.

In such environments a mobile signal booster may help, although there is a great deal of mixed opinions on these products throughout the market. Another option is to consider moving to a different mobile operator or upgrading your handset.

With the wealth of mobile phones currently on the market it’s not difficult to find a good deal. The sheer breadth of mobile phones available can make finding the right one difficult; to simplify this it is recommend you go online to compare mobile phones.

Securing your iPad against theft with iPad Lock

admin_denz — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 02:12:43 +0000

Certainly, Apple’s iPad is one of the hottest pieces of gear to have found their way onto the market in 2010, and for this reason, it could also easily become the target of thieves and robbers, one of the few ways to ensure that the tablet is safe at all times being the iPad Lock.

Developed by the people over at Mac Locks, the iPad Lock is touted as being the the first and only iPad cable lock released on the market to date, and targets mostly those people who plant to use in the tablet from Apple in certain public venues, such as schools, offices, libraries, hospitals and coffee shops.

As the manufacturer informs us, the first component of the patent-pending iPad Lock is a hard, clear plastic case you can leave on for everyday protection. And since the iPad has no security slot, the case has one built in, that way, users being able to lock the security cable to the case, and loop the cable’s other end around a fixed object (like a table). Once the case and cable are locked together, thieves can’t detach the case without damaging the iPad. I’m sure the strong steel cable will discourage any thief.

Gear your iPhone 4 in An All-Chrome Protective Case

admin_denz — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 06:04:47 +0000

Looking for a perfect case for your smartphone companion is quite often a pretty difficult job, especially if you happen to be eyeing for something truly special (perhaps even unique), but rarely have we come across a solution that enables users to turn their iPhone into a solid-looking, all-chrome bar, as is the case with the Chrome Slider Case from Incase. It’s true that many users might not really go for this all-metal look for the iPhone 4, but, then again, there might be plenty who will, especially those people who love this look and material.

It’s interesting to mention that the Chrome Slider Case is made of hardshell plastic with a mirror finish and features a minimal wall thickness of 1 mm. So, unfortunately, you can pretty much forget about embedding your handset into a real chrome coat, guess that the finish should quench your thirst for chrome, though.

Moreover, interior rubber guardrails provide shock absorption in addition to impact and scratch protection and each case features a fluorescent pop lining. As expected (and as pretty much normal in the case of such a product), the Chrome Slider Case offers direct, unimpeded access to all device features, while also including a stand for upright viewing of the widescreen iPhone 4.

BlackBerry Playbook scheduled for Q1 2011

admin_denz — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 15:57:58 +0000

Canadian mobile phone maker Research in Motion is expected to bring to shelves its first tablet PC, the BlackBerry PlayBook sometime during the first quarter of the next year, at least on the North American market. The slate, RIM’s direct response to Apple’s iPad and to an increasing number of Android-based tablet PCs, was unveiled officially a few months ago, and runs under the BlackBerry Tablet OS, based on the software developed by QNX.

The price tag at which RIM plans on making the tablet PC available on the market was set at US$500, Wade announced. Packing a 7-inch, 1024 x 600 pixels, capacitive multitouch display, the slate is powered by a Cortex A9-based, dual-core 1GHz CPU, complemented by 1GB of RAM, and should offer increased performance levels for all users.

The specifications list of the tablet PC also includes WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity options, along with HDMI port and microUSB jack. At the same time, the slate should boast 16GB or 32GB of internal memory, a 5-megapixel photo snapper, and a 3-megapixel front-facing camera for video conferencing. All in all, it appears that the BlackBerry Playbook will be able to offer great value for money, especially when compared to other similar devices on the market, which boast higher price tags, while being able to offer the same or lower hardware specs.

New Palm Pre 2 Photos Appears

admin_denz — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:43:58 +0000

The Sunnyvale-based mobile phone maker reportedly plans to bring Palm Pre 2, the second generation high-end Pre smartphone to the market in the near future, has just made another appearance into the wild, this time in a clearer, higher-quality image. The new mobile phone is expected to land on shelves with the company’s new webOS 2.0 operating system on board, while boasting upgraded hardware components, but no specific info on its actual landing emerged for the time being.

The second generation Pre should come similar looks with the original device (Palm Pre and Palm Pre Plus included), though some visual changes can also be spotted there. For starters, we should note that a thin black bezel can be seen on the front of the new device, running around the touchscreen display, in addition to a matte-black finish that can be seen on the handset’s front.

On the inside, the Pre 2 should pack a 1GHz application processor, complemented by 512 MB of RAM, capable of offering a much better experience than what the original device could offer. However, there is still a wide range of details unknown for the time being, including info on the handset’s internal memory, on its connectivity options, microSD support, photo snapper, multimedia capabilities, and the like.

One thing that should be interesting to watch is whether Palm would plan on making the handset available for purchase in the United States first, just as it did with the original device, or it would bring it to European markets in the beginning, followed by the US after a while.

BlackBerry Tour 9650 may be out in the market by May

The New BlackBerry Tablet

admin_denz — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 17:16:46 +0000

Last Monday handset vendor Research In Motion announced the release of its own tablet PC, the BlackBerry PlayBook, which runs under a new platform, the BlackBerry Tablet OS, based on technology by QNX Software Systems. A closer look at the Tablet OS is offered by Dan Dodge, co-founder and CEO of this company, via an interview posted on BlackBerry Developer’s blog.

First off, we should note that the company’s QNX Neutrino OS is already popular in various applications, offering a series of highly appreciated features, including reliability, scalability, performance, portability. The solution also offers enhanced flexibility, and this should prove to be one of the most important features of the BlackBerry Tablet OS. The slate’s flexibility translates in support for additional runtime frameworks and virtual machines, which enable it, run a virtual machine which would run BlackBerry 6 Java applications.

“Under the hood, we have a 1GHz dual core processor, accelerated 3D graphics, HD video, and a 7? multi-touch widescreen. Think of the potential for applications that can combine all these technologies,” Dodge notes. Another appealing feature of the new tablet PC, powered by the QNX Neutrino architecture, is support for true multitasking on multicore hardware, which would enable multiple apps to run at the same time, while still delivering enhanced performance levels.

HTC HD2 Update: Android 2.2 Froyo and 2.1 Ports

admin_denz — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:59:30 +0000

The first Android builds for the high-end HTC HD2 device emerged into the wild several months ago, and now a new such solution is available for download, enabling a better use of the handset, it seems. The best part is, when it comes to HD2 and the Android platform users can pair the two without having to flash the OS on their mobile phones. Those interested in getting Android on their HD2 units can do so while keeping the Windows Mobile platform intact on the handset, as it enables dual boot on the handset.

A common issue with these ports is that the handset does not function at normal parameters; the author of the build says that, with his solution installed, HD2 should have the following features working:

- Bluetooth: A2DP, streaming audio, answering and ending calls, etc. BT Keyboards don’t work yet.

- Camera w/flash & Camcorder

- 3G & EDGE.

- WiFi: Confirmed working with WEP and WPA.

- GPS.

- SIM contacts are working.

- Automount (a free app) to mount your SD Card. (Simply open Automount, set it to mount, then plug in your USB cable.)

- FM Radio

Moreover, he notes that the latest release of the port comes with a series of enhancements over the previous version, including EVO and Nexus cam interfaces, live wallpapers, voice dialer, and better app/market stability.

Other changes in the new release include:

PPP and RMNET versions will be available without having to patch anything.

More default APN some corrected including TMOUS.

Root file system will allow easier updating in the future.

Switched to kernel from git. No overclocking. You can install any other kernel you wish.

Improved WIFI performance.

This should be my best build yet.

Those interested in downloading and installing the solution should find all the necessary details on it here.

Windows Base Motorola ES400 EDA

admin_denz — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 11:55:21 +0000

Motorola has just announced the launch of a new product running under Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 6.5.3 operating system, namely the ES400 global Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA). According to the company, the fresh device comes to the market with integrated voice and data capabilities that should prove a great option for mobile professionals by enabling them to benefit from the information and interaction they need in their operations.

ES400’s combination of mobile computing with push-to-talk capabilities in a lightweight design should bring various benefits for enterprise managers and workers. The gadget is the smallest and lightest EDA in Motorola’s portfolio, while including a nice range of appealing features, including the Motorola Enterprise User Interface (MEUI), one button push-to-scan, broad WLAN functionality, or enterprise-class security.

The specifications list of the fresh handheld feature a QWERTY keyboard, microSD memory card slot with support for up to 32GB of additional storage space, a 600 MHz, ARM 11 processor, MSM 7627, coupled with 256MB of RAM and 1GB of internal memory, support for 802.11 a/b/g and Bluetooth connectivity, 3-axis accelerometer, Speakerphone, 3.2-megapixel photo snapper with video recording capabilities, a 1540mAh battery that can offer up to 6 hours of talk time or up to 250 hours of standby time. The gadget measures 5.08 x 2.38 x 0.67 inches and weighs in at 5.5 oz/156 g with a standard battery inside.

iOS Update for iPhone Mobile

admin_denz — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:50:12 +0000

According to the latest news Apple Company confirmed that a free software update would be rolled out for all iPhone users. In respond to criticism over the iPhone 4’s reception issues, which Apple continues to label as inexistent. Scheduled to arrive in “a few weeks”, the update will be made available not only for iPhone 4 users, but also for owners of an iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS.

“Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength,” the company said. “For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars,” Apple explained. “Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don’t know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place,” Apple’s theory goes. Some, however, are not convinced the iPhone maker is telling the truth.

“We will issue a free software update within a few weeks that incorporates the corrected formula,” Apple finally discloses (emphasis ours). “Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G,” the letter reveals, adding that “this software update will only make your bars more accurate.”