Qualcomm Announces New Snapdragon 400 Chip (PR)

Qualcomm’s announced the new Snapdragon 400, a low-power processor aimed at mid-range smartphones and tablets.

Quaclomm detailed the 8926 Snapdragon 400 processor, a new quad-core chip with integrated multimode 3G/4G LTE. That’s in addition to support for TD-SCDMA, 42Mbps HSPA+ and dual SIMs. Rounding out the 8926′s list of features is QuickCharge 1.0, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, FM radio and compatibility with both Android and Windows Phone 8. The 8926 Snapdragon 400 processor is expected to be available starting in late 2013. You can expect it to launch late this year along with their new, and much more sleek, Reference Design tablet.

Additionally, the chip-maker also announced that it is working with Microsoft in order to bring Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processors to Windows RT 8.1 devices. The chips will support the new platform in addition to integrated multimode 3G/4G LTE modem. The CPU clocks at speeds of up to 2.2 GHz per core and also offer USB 3.0 and support for Windows RT 8.1 features and services. Later this year is when you should expect to see devices powered by the new chip and Microsoft Windows RT 8.1.

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HTC’s “T6″ Phablet Will Be a Galaxy Note 3 Competitor

Earlier this Spring, Business Insider wrote an article titled “Everyone But Apple and Samsung Is In A Sad Race For Third Place.” At the time, it seemed as though LG was in a good position to clinch third base, riding on the success of its Nexus 4 creation with Google. What consumers and the tech world had yet to see introduced was the HTC One.

HTC One sales are healthy, and the momentum HTC has produced with its “quiet brilliance” does not look to slow down anytime soon. The HTC One has placed HTC in a position to go after Apple (seeing that the One is made of aluminum metal, one of the only Android phones that can compete with Apple’s iPhone 5), but HTC is not done. It’s not enough to compete with Apple: for HTC to rise again to prominence, it must compete in its own backyard — with the best of Android, including Samsung and Google.

Samsung is credited with its “phablet” collection, where a smartphone has both voice and tablet capabilities. The Galaxy Note I and II were all considered to be ahead of their time. Since Samsung’s trail blaze, LG has followed suit with its own Optimus G and Optimus G Pro handsets, as well as Sony. HTC’s One is only 4.7 inches; while HTC must prove itself to Android, it has one opponent in mind: Samsung. If Samsung makes a smartphone that has a display larger than 5 inches, HTC will follow suit.

The current HTC “phablet” in the works is codenamed T6, and was leaked by Twitter group @evleaks four days ago. The message said, “The upcoming HTC phablet goes by codename T6,” with no other info provided. Some have suggested that the “6″ in the codename refers to 6 inches, but sites such as Pocket-Lint believe the phone will be above 5 inches but under 6 inches in its display size (perhaps around 5.9 inches). The phablet will be a larger version of the HTC One. In addition to the above specs, the HTC One will have (according to evleaks) a fingerprint scanner and stylus, running Android 5.0 (Key Lime Pie).

The Galaxy Note 3 is rumored to come with 3GB RAM, a 5.99-inch display, as well as a Snapdragon 800 processor. The Snapdragon 800 is the fastest of Qualcomm’s processor chips at the moment, though Samsung could opt instead for the Snapdragon 600. While it has been rumored that Samsung could use a metal case for the G Note 3, it is best to expect the usual plastic case for now. If Apple and Samsung own first and second place, and the other manufacturers are racing for third, HTC got the message — loud and clear.

Categories: Android, design, display, hands on, htc, india, news, phones, review, smartphone

Facebook Home: Your Phone is Now Ruled by Facebook

Facebook Home is pretty neat, but probably the coolest feature in the tweaked Android app is Chat Heads. The unfortunately-named feature is essentially the company’s vision of what messaging on mobile should be, across any platform. Without taking users out of the experience they’re already in, Chat Heads appear above wherever you are on your phone, be it looking at Instagram photos or perusing through your Facebook News Feed. They’re there when you need them, and disappear when you don’t.

The UI of a Chat Head is precisely as it sounds. A bubble portrait of your friend’s face will appear on your screen, which you can tap on to bring up your conversation—this all happens without actually bouncing into a messaging app. The conversation overlay simply opens up over the screen you were looking at last. Neat. You can rearrange Chat Heads and position them however and wherever. Swipe them away and they’re gone.

There are many other aspects of Facebook Home, which we detailed in full before, worth noting. It’s not really an app as much as it is an experience. People, not apps, Zuckerberg said upon unveiling Home. There’s a Cover Feed for all the latest posts from friends, notifications and app launcher, too. If you want an always-on, deep connection with Facebook, Home is what you’ve been waiting for.

It completely supplants the typical Android experience and embeds users right into the growing Facebook universe, almost as if that’s all that matters. For some users it does. Facebook Home comes preloaded on the HTC First, and will also be available as a free download in the Google Play store on April 12 for HTC One X/One X+, Samsung Galaxy S III and Note II handsets.

Categories: Android, hands on, htc, news, phones, review