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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Apple’s iPad 5 May Be 15% Thinner And 25% Lighter Than The iPad 4

Thinner, lighter, faster and even more magical! What else will be new when the iPad 5 later this year? According to at least one analyst, Apple will stick to form, relying on its tried and true design playbook for its 2013 full-size tablet revision.

Quoting a leading analyst’s note to investors, MacRumors reports that the iPad will be noticeably skinnier — about 15 percent thinner and 25 percent lighter.

We think the tablet will, at 7.5-8.0mm, be 15% thinner than iPad 4. The new device will likely be about 500 grams, or some 25% lighter than iPad 4, run on an A7X processor, and sport cameras with similar specs to the iPad 4’s (front HD, rear 5MP). The casing shape and color (silver and black) and narrow bezel design will be similar to the iPad mini’s — KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo

A big part of Apple’s iPad 5 diet plan is the use of GF2 touch technology, which is already found in the Keira-Knightley-thin iPad mini. By necessity, the iPad 5′s battery will also be smaller and less powerful (15 to 20 percent fewer electrons than the iPad 4), a significant power management challenge.

That said, it’s also believed that Apple will power the iPad 5 with the A7X system-on-chip (SoC) processor. At least initially, the chip will be supplied by Samsung and manufactured using a 24nm process.

Surprisingly, Ming-Chi Kuo claims that the iPad 5 camera will use a 5MP sensor — various rumors posit the iPhone 5S/6 will offer 12MP resolution — or the same res used in the iPad 4. Of course, Apple could improve camera performance by including a better lens and tweaking the software, but it will nonetheless be disappointing if Cupertino doesn’t pack in more pixels.

What specs do hope/expect the iPad 5 to ship with?

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