NVIDIA Tegra Zone officially launched, taking Android to new dual-core heights

It's the first of March, which in NVIDIA land means no longer just talking about Tegra Zone, but actually activating it and letting users see what all the fuss is about. For those who've not yet heard of it, the Tegra Zone is an Android application that curates and highlights content that would most benefit from having the dual-core power of that Tegra 2 chip within your device. At launch, that means a hand-picked selection of games whose makers have gone the extra mile and thrown in additional geometric detail, heavier computation loads, and higher-resolution textures specifically for Tegra 2 smartphones and tablets. The snazzier, more interactive games will still be sourced from the Android Market, the Tegra Zone is no more than a portal unto the vast world of Android content, but it's hoped that its presence will help convey the full value of owning a dual-core mobile device. Even if that value will go down considerably when NVIDIA introduces its quad-core SOC in August -- but, one super chip at a time!

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Motorola Atrix 4G getting the teardown treatment, fourth G nowhere to be found

If our review of the Atrix left you hungering for more, you can now feast your eyes on the guts of Motorola's new Android powerhouse. Thanks to the folks at iFixit, its teardown reveals a familiar range of parts -- 16GB of NAND flash, 960x540 PenTile LCD, 1GB DDR2 RAM and that beast of a NVIDIA Tegra 2 CPU. What's more, is that the teardown brings to light some enticing news -- the glass panel isnot glued to the LCD. This allows for the clumsy to not have to spend the extra dough if they crack the glass (which is usually affixed to the display). Hit the source link if you've got your Atrix and are ready to dismantle the thing yourself.

P.S. -- There is a Qualcomm MDM6200 HSPA+ chip inside the phone. The title is meant to be a joke in reference to misconceptions about 4G wireless technology. 

Analyst says iPad 3 the one to get 2048x1536 display

The third-generation iPad will be the one to get the rumored 2048x1536 display, Concord Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed on Saturday. The often historically accurate researcher understood from checks that the doubled resolution, fringed-field switching display was both too expensive and not yielding enough to be viable for the current model. He instead told AppleInsider that he understood Apple would use a thinner display with the current resolution but a less reflective surface that renders it better for outdoor reading.

The claim may be borne out by technological developments. While dual-core processors and matching graphics are enough to support 1080p (1920x1080) video smoothly, greater-than-HD resolutions so far haven't been shown in mobile. NVIDIA's Kal-El is one of the first conspicuous examples of a mobile processor and graphics combination that can handle more and combines both a quad-core main chip with 12-core video. Other companies are expected to have quad-core processors and at least quad-core graphics at the same time and could see Apple make such a leap to handle a larger screen.

Kuo also supported claims of a possible mid-size iOS device. While he wouldn't be drawn into confirming it as a six-inch device, he was told a slate was "undergoing evaluation" for a possible launch in the second half of the year. He wasn't certain whether it would be cast as a miniature iPad or an upsized iPod touch. Speculation is now that Apple might simply use it as a larger iPod and sidestep a level of self-contradiction after having attacked seven-inch tablets.

Both devices are very much unconfirmed and, even if real, might not necessarily ship as described or at all. Apple is known to develop hardware either for pure experimentation or to cancel a device fully intended for production if it's no longer believed to be practical, even just weeks before it would have been made public. The company is regardless under pressure to at least keep up with and possibly shut out competitors, many of which are stepping up their plans for tablets and for new, crossover media players like the Galaxy Wi-Fi 5.0.

Samsung's Galaxy S II having a Tegra 2 version?

Just as we lay to rest the ghost of a phantom Tegra 2 chip inside the LG Revolution, here comes the specter of another unconfirmed appearance for NVIDIA's dual-core application processor, this time inside Samsung's Galaxy S II. If you'll recall, we were initially informed by Samsung's PR crew that their new Android flagship would run on NVIDIA's hardware, however a subsequent correction informed us that the processor inside would in fact be Samsung's own Exynos. Now, it turns out, both might be true.AnandTech have come across some benchmark results showing a GT-i9103 with Tegra 2 listed as its grunt provider, while Pocket-lint and others have noted that Samsung's own spec sheet for the Galaxy S II states that the dual-core Exynos "may not be applicable in some regions." The likeliest scenario here is that Samsung hasn't yet reached sufficient volumes with its own processor production and will rely on NVIDIA's Tegra 2 for handsets outside its critical markets -- much in the same vein as it replaced Super AMOLED with Super Clear LCD screens in Russia and some other territories. Don't fret too much, though, performance disparities between the two aren't likely to be overly significant.

Droid X 2 Specs And Photos Leaking

The Droid X 2 might be nearing its official announcement. The successor to Moto’s first supersize phone is at least alive and well according to a forum post at The MobiZone where a bunch of pics and specs were posted. The post has since been pulled, but thanks to the wonders of the cache, the info survived for your enjoyment.

Cached version of The MobiZone

• NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core 1GHz processor
• 1GB RAM
• QHD LCD Display – 540 x 960 Resolution (Same as Motorola Bionic)
• 3G Only – No LTE/4G
• 8MP Rear Facing Camera (No Front Cam)
• Froyo (Android 2.2) – Could get Gingerbread (Adnroid 2.3) before launch
• New Moto Blur (Same as Droid Bionic)
• FM Radio
• Locked/Encrypted BootLoader
• Launch in Q2 of 2011
• No Hardware Camera button

Sounds great, right? The dual-core CPU, high-res screen and the same UI as the Droid Bionic. Well, Engadget apprently dug up slightly different specs that puts the Droid X 2 at a slightly lower tier with a 1.2GHz single-core CPU, 768MB of RAM and 4.3-inch WVGA (854 x 480) display. Either way, it seems the Bionic is set to live as Motorola’s top VZW offering with the Droid X 2 hitting slightly below it.

LG Revolution now using 1GHz Snapdragon MSM8655, not NVIDIA's Tegra 2

Consider it a mystery solved. Throughout the week here in Barcelona, we've spent an inordinate amount of time chasing down suits from LG, Qualcomm, NVIDIA and Verizon Wireless to answer one simple question: "What's up with the processor in the Revolution?" If you'll recall, NVIDIA actually sent one of its own to Verizon's LTE press event at CES 2011, specifically to bust out a Revolution and gloat about the Tegra 2 chip within (video's after the break if you don't believe us). As it stood, it seemed as if the Thunderbolt and Revolution would be butting heads from a CPU standpoint, with the former definitively sporting a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8655. And then, came the confusion. We showed up at Qualcomm's booth here at Mobile World Congress to see which phone it was using to demonstrate the recently unveiled Netflix-on-Android support -- lo and behold, LG's Revolution was the handset of choice. Obviously, there had to be a new Snapdragon processor within, as only the newest of the new will have the necessary DRM libraries at a hardware level that are necessary to pass muster with the MPAA. 

After venturing over to LG's booth, we were also able to confirm that the only Revolution it knew of was boasting a Qualcomm CPU, and the shot above (which was sourced from there) proves it. We also confirmed with Verizon Wireless' paperwork that the version it's expecting in the next month or so will ship with Qualcomm inside. Finally, NVIDIA refused to comment on the matter, simply suggesting that we contact LG for more details. Put all of that together, and we're able to come to two main conclusions. First off, it seems as if LG yanked support for the Tegra 2 at some point between CES and MWC -- right around four weeks. Hard to say if there were reliability issues, an unsatisfactory amount of power drain, or just irreconcilable differences between the two CEOs (joking, of course). Secondly, it's reasonablysafe to assume that Verizon's Revolution will be the first Android handset on Big Red to stream Netflix directly, which may please those who were planning on buying one but weren't looking forward to going without Netflix thanks to the Tegra 2 that was (presumably) slated for inclusion. Qualcomm 1, NVIDIA 0. 

Update: NVIDIA finally saw fit to drop us a line and clarify a bit. Turns out, the confirmation in the video below was a gaff to begin with, as the Revolution was never going to be outfitted with NVIDIA innards. Go figure, right?

Vlad Savov contributed to this report. 

LG Optimus 3D's OMAP 4 benchmarked, pulling ahead of Exynos and Tegra 2

Which dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 system-on-a-chip rules the roost? It's probably too early to tell, but if you're looking for a preliminary verdict, AnandTech has benchmarked all three of them now. Texas Instruments' OMAP 4430, NVIDIA's Tegra 2 and Samsung's Exynos 4210 went head to head in a gauntlet of browser and graphical benchmarks, and it looks like the LG Optimus 3D's OMAP 4 came out on top, boasting minor but significant improvements practically across the board. Good news for the BlackBerry PlayBook, no? Oh, and if you're wondering why the iPhone 4 and Atrix 4G fall behind their older brethren in the image above, remember that they both have to render images at a higher screen resolution. More graphs at our source link below.

Snapdragon Bites Back: Qualcomm Announces A Quad-Core 2.5Ghz Chipset For Mobile Device

I’ve been writing about the mobile industry for a few years now, and there’s one thing that still blows my mind each and every day: the rate at which these companies are able to make new feel old. Everytime something comes along and rocks our world, someone else in the industry responds with “Oh yeah? Well our new thing is twice is fast! And twice as efficient! Oh, and ours is completely powered by the laughter of unicorns! Beat that!”

And then someone does.

Just 3 weeks ago, NVIDIA announced the Tegra 3, a 1.5 GHz, Quad-Core chipset for smart phones and tablets. Madness, right? Texas Instruments responded with their own quad-core chipset — except theirs clocked in at 2 Ghz.

Now it’s Qualcomm’s turn. Their rebuttal? 4 cores, each running at a theoretical maximum of2.5 GHz. Punch it, Chewie!

Later this morning at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Qualcomm will be announcing the next-generation of their Snapdragon chipset line. Based on a brand spankin’ new micro-architecture that Qualcomm calls “Krait” (which, we’ve learned from the vast Internets, is the name of a genus of snakes from India who’s bite will straight wreck your day), the new APQ8064 chipset is faster, runs cooler, and gobbles up less battery than any Snapdragon before it.

Here’s what you should know:

• Four cores, each capable of running at 2.5GHz
• Qualcomm promises that this new CPU is 12x faster than the first-gen Snapdragons, while still using 75% less power.
• LG’s Optimus 3D may be the first smartphone to do the whole recording-in-3D thing, but that seems pretty likely to become a trend. This chipset can do it out of the box, recording simultaneous 1080p video feeds from two cameras at once.
• As with past Snapdragon chipsets, it’s more than just a CPU: it’s also got WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, FM radio, and support for NFC (for mobile contact-based payments) built-in.
• Last but absolutely not least, this new chipset also comes packed with Qualcomm’s brand new quad-core graphics processor, the Adreno 320. They’re staying a bit light on the details regarding the new Adreno, but add that its performance is “fifteen times greater” that of the original Adreno.

But of course, there’s a catch: as chipset manufacturers tend to do, Qualcomm’s talking this thing up long before it’s actually available. Samples of this chipset won’t even start reaching manufacturers until early next year, so expect it to be a pretty long while before we actually see this new chipset sneak into any devices. By that point, I’m sure we’ll be getting all worked up over a deca-core 10GHz processor that ManufacturerX will be promising to install in our heads by 2015.

Motorola Atrix 4G Review and Information - By ShoppingKoo

Motorola Atrix 4G

Description

When functioning on its own, the Motorola Atrix 4G will have a tablet shape and a qHD (960 x 540) touchscreen. It is going to run Android OS 2.2 on a 1 GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor, and have 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, and a microSD/HC memory card slot.

When it is placed into either a laptop or desktop dock, it will switch to a version of Linux that offers a full desktop version of the Firefox web browser.

The laptop dock will offer an 11-inch display and keyboard, while the desktop dock will have three USB ports for a keyboard and mouse, as well as an HD video-out port.

Quick Specs

Operating System: Google Android OS 2.2
Processor: 1 GHz Dual-Core NVIDIA Tegra 2
Memory: 16 GB of Internal Storage
Screen Resolution: 960 x 540 (qHD )
Screen Size: 4 inch
Keyboard Type: On-screen
Communications: Bluetooth, GPRS, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, HSUPA
Meda Type: microSD
Camera Resolution: 5.0 megapixels
GPS: Yes
Dimensions: 4.6 x 2.5 x 0.4 inches
Weight: 4.8 ounces
Battery Type: 1930 mAh
Battery: 1930 mAh
Release Date: 3/1/2011