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Why The iPad Needs a File System
Mozilla.org Unleashing New Firefox Mobile OS - No Need For Gatekeepers
Why Apple Should Welcome The Firefox OS
FixYa Report: Smartphone by Manufacturer
iDroid: Run Android on iOS Hardware
Android Regains Lead Among U.S. Smartphone OS Sales
Clearly Protected from OtterBox, a Complete Collection of Premium Screen Protection
SmartTruckRoute Truck Routing App Now Available for iPhone, iPad, Android
Lenovo Announces New Android Tablets
Intel Accelerates Mobile Computing Push
Why The iPad Needs a File System
Tech.pinions contributor Steve Wildstrom riffs on former senior Apple executive and founder of Be Inc. Jean-Louis Gasseé's recent essay (http://goo.gl/Rrnht) "iPad Pro: The Missing Workflow, in which he writes about how the lack of a true user-accessible file system is holding back more intensive use of the iPad as a creation tool. Wildstrom says he couldn't agree with Gasseé more, and neither could your editor.
Wildstrom says his creative process, and he expects that of many others (certainly mine - Ed.), consists of creating documents by writing original text combined with bits and pieces from a variety of sources, including web pages, image files, Word documents, PDF files, email messages, tweets, and who knows what else. He notes that on a Mac or a Windows PC, that's very easy to do by opening multiple windows and cutting and pasting between them, but the lack of multiple windows can't easily be overcome on a tablet, since at best, you could manage two small windows on the limited display real estate (I'll still take that happily! - Ed)
But he contends that Apple makes this even harder than it need to be by imposing tight restrictions on communications between iOS apps and by denying users access to any sort of listing of files available on the system. Wildstrom says he loves traveling without a laptop, but even writing a simple blog post on an iPad is a lot more challenging that it ought to be because of Apple's arbitrarily-imposed limitations, but he's not optimistic about reform.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://goo.gl/g7lc5
Mozilla.org Unleashing New Firefox Mobile OS - No Need For Gatekeepers
Mozilla rolled out its Firefox OS that will power the world's first Open Web Devices at the Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona this week. The first wave of Firefox OS devices will be available to consumers in Brazil, Colombia, Hungary, Mexico, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia, Spain and Venezuela. Additional markets will be announced soon.
Mozilla say they are working with manufacturers Alcatel (TCL), Huawei, LG and ZTE to build the first Firefox OS devices, all powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset.
Firefox OS is touted as offering offers the performance, personalization and price you want in a smartphone and a beautiful, clean, intuitive, personalized and easy-to-use experience, and including all the things people need from a smartphone out of the box - calls, messaging, email, camera and more - as well as things you wish a smartphone offered, like built-in cost controls, social features with Facebook and Twitter, location-based services, the Firefox Web browser, new ability to discover one-time use and downloadable apps, Firefox Marketplace and more.
Firefox OS also features deep contextual search that will take you to the exact content you want instead of just generic apps in the same category, allowing far more sophisticated and deeper search capabilities as you can search both within apps and on the Web at the same time, which is not possible with native apps. For example, search for your favorite music artist and get results to buy your favorite song, concert tickets or even listen to your favorite song instantly.
With Firefox OS, you can simply enter any search term and instantly create a one-time use or downloadable app. Creating and consuming these apps on demand puts you in complete control of your app and smartphone experience and will make it possible for you to get the exact content you want, when you want it.
Firefox Marketplace will offer apps in categories like games, news and media, business and productivity. These apps are tied to you and your online identity to take across devices and platforms. Leading mobile apps and Web developers around the globe will leverage the power of the Web unlocked by Mozilla to release apps in the Firefox Marketplace.
With Firefox Marketplace, Web developers can easily create and distribute HTML5 apps so you can find an app for whatever you want - even local, niche and emerging topics. Firefox Marketplace will include popular apps such as AccuWeather, Airbnb, Box, Cut the Rope, Disney Mobile Games, EA games, Facebook, Nokia HERE, MTV Brasil, Pulse News, SoundCloud, SporTV, Terra, Time Out and Twitter as well as personally-tailored and local apps that are relevant to users in their respective regions.
Most mobile apps are built with Web technologies at the core and then wrapped in a proprietary technology to distribute the app on a specific platform. Mozilla is unlocking the Web as a mobile development platform with Firefox Marketplace and unwrapping mobile apps to enable more opportunity and control for developers and consumers.
Firefox Marketplace's open Web platform and these new Web APIs also enable developers to distribute apps directly, with no need for gatekeepers, true to the Mozilla mission of creating choice, innovation and opportunity on the Web.
Firefox Marketplace can be previewed on Firefox for Android Aurora and will be offered with the first Firefox OS phones to launch later this year.
For more information, visit:
http://blog.mozilla.org/
Why Apple Should Welcome The Firefox OS
Computerworld's Jonny Evans says Apple fans should applaud Firefox's new Open Web mobile OS contender, noting that Apple'sstrictly controlled model, while he personally prefers it, isn't the ideal choice for everyone.
Evans says Google spouts the word choice, but in a field of two horses it doesn't truly deliver any choice other than not being Apple, noting that BlackBerry and Microsoft offer alternative systems, but neither pretend to be open, and neither have achieved the kind of industry traction the industry requires to avoid it becoming defined as nothing more than a two-horse race. Cosequently, he says any fan of true operating system choice and diversity - particularly those who also prefer truly open platforms - should welcome Firefox' arrival on the market, which he thinks should help innovate mobile development at the low end, provide an alternative to Android, giving users -- and carriers -- real choices in what they want to use if they don't want to use an Apple, leaving Apple in position to continue to focus on serving the needs of high-end customers who currently seem to comprise of around 10 percent of users.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://goo.gl/VxNLU
FixYa Report: Smartphone by Manufacturer
Online tech support specialists FixYa say that its recent stock slide notwithstanding, Apple has been the top dog in the smartphone market since the company revolutionized the realm by introducing the world s first touchscreen smartphone in 2007, and that with the iPhone's sleek design and dead simple user interface, Apple dominated its competitors until recent investor concerns and lower than expected sales figures raised a few red flags.
However, despite recent angst surrounding Apple and its lack of exciting new products or revolutionary foresight, the iPhone is still the most popular single smartphone model.
They notge that FixYa users laud the reliability of the iPhone, stating that it is almost always working as intended with regards to core features and never hits a constant roadblock with one feature. This isn't to say there were no complaints about the product, but rather an indication that the issues weren't showstoppers and rarely continued to crop up consistently on a weekly basis.
For the full report in PDF format, click here:
http://goo.gl/Jz0TT
iDroid: Run Android on iOS Hardware
Low End Mac's Simon Royal reports that a few months ago he stumbled across iDroid, a project that ports Android - Google's mobile operating system - to the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, and first generation iPod touch. Your iDevice will need to be jailbroken first with Redsn0w, PwnageTool, Blackra1n, or whited00r.
Royal notes that iDroid works well, but without severe tweaking it is going to suffer on the original iPhone and iPhone 3G, which share the same processor. To be fair, both of these devices are quite sluggish even with official Apple firmware. Put it on a 3GS or even a 4, and it could be a useable device. But why would you?
For the full report visit here:
http://goo.gl/qa4pY
Android Regains Lead Among U.S. Smartphone OS Sales
Android regained the top spot as the best selling smartphone platform in the 3 months ending January 2013, according to data released todMonday by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. With 49.4% of smartphone sales, Android realized 6.4% growth compared to the same period last year.
iOS was second during the period with 45.9% of smartphone sales, down 4.7% versus last year. Windows continues to make gains, up to 3.2% of smartphone sales.
Top carrier rankings have also shifted with Verizon regaining its top spot with 35.2% smartphones sold in the 3 months ending January 2013. AT&T falls to second with 28.2% of smartphone sales. Sprint maintains third position with 14.2% share.
The data is derived from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech USA's consumer panel, which is the largest continuous consumer research mobile phone panel of its kind in the world, conducting more than 240,000 interviews per year in the U.S. alone. ComTech tracks mobile phone behavior and the customer journey, including purchasing of phones, mobile phone bills/airtime, and source of purchase and phone usage. This data is exclusively focused on the sales within this 3 month period rather than market share figures. Sales shares exemplify more forward focused trends and should represent the market share for these brands in future.
Kantar Worldpanel ComTech analyst Mary-Ann Parlato says: "Part of Android's increase in the latest period can be attributed to its large gain in share within Sprint's smartphone sales. In the three month period ending October 2012, sales on Sprint were divided almost 50/50 between Android and iOS. However, in the latest period, Android's share of Sprint sales increased by 22.6% points from 49.3% to 71.9%.
Average prices paid for Android smartphones on Sprint have also declined over the latest period.
"The 50/50 split we saw in the period ending October 2012 was a result of both iOS and Android sharing similar levels of average price paid (iOS at $130 and Android at $127).Yet this latest period saw a significant price drop to $95 for Android, while iOS increased slightly to $146," continuessays Ms. Parlato.
One particular phone that led to Android's gains at Sprint was the Samsung Galaxy SIII, Samsung's flagship model launched in mid-2012. While this model only captured 14% of smartphones sold at Sprint in the October period, a price drop from $199 to $99 over the holiday season led to the SIII gaining 39% of smartphone sales on Sprint. On T-Mobile, the only other major carrier where Android consistently is the top selling platform, the SIII represented just 18% of smartphone sales in the latest period.
Samsung smartphones represented 60.3% of smartphones sold on Sprint in the January period. Unfortunately for Sprint, the gains made by Android and Samsung did not translate into a large sales growth for Sprint, gaining only 0.8% year on year.
Discover more about Kantar Worldpanel ComTech here:
http://www.kantarworldpanel.com/global/Sectors/Telecoms
Clearly Protected from OtterBox, a Complete Collection of Premium Screen Protection
Following the OtterBox acquisition of Wrapsol, based in Canton, Mass., in November 2012, OtterBox now offers a complete collection of premium screen protectors for mobile technology. Introducing OtterBox Clearly Protected, available at:
http://www.otterbox.com/clearly-protected
Clearly Protected is a unique lineup of premium dry application screen protectors from OtterBox that fit a variety of smartphone and tablet devices. Clearly Protected products utilize a dry application process that eliminates the possibility of liquid damage to the device during installation and provides a fast and simple application process.
Four product offerings are now available including 360, Vibrant, Clean and Privacy.
- 360 intended as a stand-alone product; covers the screen, back and sides of the iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S III with a glossy finish
- Vibrant - preserves display clarity and sharpness; available for iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5, iPad(*), iPad mini and Samsung Galaxy S III
- Clean - matte-finished screen protector for iPhone 5 and iPad, reduces the appearance of smudges and fingerprints this self-healing material reduces glare
- Privacy made of premium quadlaminar polyester prevents viewing from all four sides to help keep information confidential; accommodates the iPhone 5 and iPad(*)
Vibrant, Clean and Privacy are all optimized to be used with most OtterBox cases to create the ultimate protective solution.
Clearly Protected provides a variety of high-quality accessories with long-term value, OtterBox President and CEO Brian Thomas said. Were excited to offer an expanded range of impressive protective solutions that will take the industry by storm.
Clearly Protected products range from $19.95 to $39.95 and are available from OtterBox.com. For more information, visit: http://www.otterbox.com/clearly-protected
Note:
Compatibility:
- New iPad with Retina display (4th generation) 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
- New iPad (3rd generation) 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
- iPad 2nd generation (iPad 2) 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
- Not compatible with iPad 1st generation
Full case compatibility recommendations can be found at: http://www.otterbox.com/clearly-protected
For more information, visit:
http://www.otterbox.com
SmartTruckRoute Truck Routing App Now Available for iPhone, iPad, Android
The SmartTruckRoute app connects to in-house truck routing servers located in Boston, Massachusetts to allow commercial drivers to use the built-in GPS of the phone or tablet to create truck specific routes with the added benefits of live map updates. The software takes into account commercial truck restrictions as well as the vehicle height and weight. SmartTruckRoute helps drivers avoid costly tickets and provides additional safety. Allows Hands-free Turn by turn visual and voice instructions.
Recognizing the specialized navigation needs of truck drivers, TeleType pioneered the use of portable GPS for truck navigation beginning in 2008. The company also offered the first cloud based truck routing app for the Android operating system and has now released the SmartTruckRoute app for iPhone and iPad. The SmartTruckRoute app connects to in-house truck routing servers located in Boston, Massachusetts to allow commercial drivers to use the built-in GPS of the phone or tablet to create truck specific routes with the added benefits of live map updates. The software takes into account commercial truck restrictions as well as the vehicle height and weight. SmartTruckRoute helps drivers avoid costly tickets and provides additional safety. Turn by turn visual and voice instructions allow the driver to use the handset hands free when navigating.
According to Marleen Winer, Vice-President, TeleType, "Drivers have indicated their preference for using their phones and tablets as primary tools of the trade and appreciate the cloud based efficiency for providing a convenient, cost effective way to obtain instant truck specific routes for navigation."
SmartTruckRoute Key Features and Benefits:
• Maps, routing, and restrictions updated daily, pro-active database update for temporary restrictions as well as driver feedback loop.
• Quick method of validating a truck route with the convenience of using smartphones or tablets.
• Use built-in GPS for turn by turn navigation.
• Instant activation without the need for lengthy map downloads, offers immediate truck specific routing upon purchase, no waiting time.
• Fast routing, even long routes take less than two seconds to complete.
• Highly efficient routing service offers up to the minute maps.
• Routing considerations include low bridge heights and clearances, load limits, one-way road designations, sharp turns, and allowances.
• Visual and Voice turn-by-turn instructions.
• Navigation panel offers large type for critical information such as Distance to Turn, Distance to Go, Time to Destination, and Street names.
• Dynamic routing based on size and weight of vehicle, user definable truck specifications.
• Supports Hazmat restrictions by class to avoid tunnels and other restricted areas as appropriate.
• Displays hybrid, street mode and aerial views at no additional charge.
• Use built-in speakerphone to speak the destination address or business name for safe and convenient hands free operation.
• Navigation does not interrupt other functions of the phone therefore the driver can talk simultaneously while SmartTruckRoute is in use.
• Maps are automatically cached to conserve data usage.
SmartTruckRoute is available for Android and Apple iOS. Apple plans begin as low as $9.99. Contact TeleType for corporate licensing and route integration applications.
For more information, visit:
http://www.teletype.com
1-800-717-4478
SmartTruckRoute app brochure for Android and iPhone.
Filename: SmartTruckRouteGPSSmartphoneA.pdf:
http://goo.gl/p9MlN
Lenovo Announces New Android Tablets
Lenovo has announced a line-up of new Android tablets, offering configurations and form factors to match consumer needs for both ultra-portable tablets and multimedia performers. The portfolio, which also boasts unique connectivity features, will be available starting in the second quarter 2013.
The range starts with two new A-series tablets, seven-inch devices, designed for optimal mobility while still packing a performance punch. The A1000 is ideal for first-time tablet buyers and features enhanced audio, while the A3000 offers quad-core processing for speedy performance whether for gaming or web-browsing. Alongside these models, Lenovo also announced the new 10-inch S6000, which offers extended I/O options, a large, vibrant screen and a super-slim profile that looks sophisticated and elegant, whether the user is web-surfing in the coffee shop or enjoying movies and games at home.
"Lenovo's latest Android tablet family is designed to meet the demands of a wide range of customers, particularly young, active users who are always on the go, and have adopted the seven-inch form factor as their own. With these latest additions to our tablet portfolio, weve created devices that address these customers needs, as well as devices for more demanding gamers and multimedia users," says Chen Wenhui, vice president Lenovo and GM Mobile BU, "We believe that our Android family of tablets will appeal to customers across the world as weve built our products to be highly accessible and flexible to serve multiple needs and budgets."
S6000, Mobile Home Entertainment Center
As tablets have continued their march into the mainstream, increasing demands with regard to larger screen devices have raised the bar for tablet makers. Lenovo has responded with the S6000, a sleek and powerful option for customers looking for a device that switches seamlessly from entertainment to social media and beyond. Powered by the MTK 8389/8125 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, the S6000 shines as a multimedia and gaming tablet fronted by a 10.1-inch IPS 1280X800 display with a wide, 178-degree viewing angle, micro HDMI port and digital microphone.
The S6000 also offers a number of additions to optimize its performance as a connectivity tool for social networkers including optional HSPA+ and a substantial battery that allows for more than 8 hours of continuous WiFi web browsing. Even with these specifications though, the S6000 does not lose track of style and convenience; it is all tied together in a super slim (8.6mm) and light (560g) frame that feels good and helps users look good.
A3000, Full Performance in a Compact Package
In today's connected world, devices must be mobile, without skimping on performance. The A3000 bristles with specifications typically found in much larger devices, all packed into a seven-inch form factor that is thin and light. Powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core, MTK processor, the A3000 optimizes the user experience for games, video, photo-sharing and web-browsing, offering seamlessly fluid navigation and highly responsive performance. The benefits of the seven-inch form factor are not ignored on the A3000 either. The tablet, which sports an IPS 1024x600 screen, weighs in at less than 340g and is only 11mm thick, but can still hold a wealth of content with an extensive memory, which can be extended to 64GB with the external micro-SD card. Optional 3G HSPA+ support ensures users stay connected on the go with Lenovos ultra-portable tablet.
A1000, Pocket Studio with Dolby
The A1000 is claimed to deliver an audio experience normally reserved for more expensive tablets in a seven-inch device. With Dolby Digital Plus integrated into the device and large, front-facing speakers that ensure the sound is directed at the users ears rather than the floor, the A1000 is perfect for music lovers and those seeking a pocket studio for either music or movies. The A1000 runs Android Jelly Bean 4.1 on a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and has on-board storage of up to 16GB, extendable to 32GB with a micro-SD slot, so users can load content up and take it to the gym, the office or anywhere else they want to experience high-quality sights and sounds. It also comes in either black or white, allowing users to customize their Lenovo pocket studio to their lifestyle.
Lenovo Mobile Access
All the new Android tablets come with Lenovo Mobile Access, a unique service that allows users to connect instantly out of the box. When customers first power up their Lenovo device, they will see an icon indicating Lenovo as their access provider. Without having to set up a special data plan, they can immediately start browsing web pages, accessing their email and sharing content with friends using HSPA+ 3G access or through WiFi according to their specific configuration. When the initial Lenovo Mobile Access service expires users will be prompted with the option to easily renew their plan or select an alternative service.
The newest Android tablets will be available worldwide from Q2, 2013. Although pricing varies according to market, configuration and model, each tablet in the range is competitively priced to ensure maximum accessibility to a premium user experience for all customers.
For more information, see:
http://www.lenovo.com
Intel Accelerates Mobile Computing Push
Intel Corporation Monday announced a range of new products, ecosystem and enabling efforts that will further accelerate the companys presence in mobile and help usher in new devices and richer experiences with Intel Inside.
The announcements include a new dual-core Atom SoC ("Clover Trail+") platform for smartphones and Android(*) tablets, and the companys first global, multimode-multiband LTE solution that will ship in the first half of this year. Other disclosures included Bay Trail momentum, mobile device enabling efforts, and continued smartphone momentum in emerging markets with the Intel Atom Z2420 processor-based platform.
"Today's announcements build on Intels growing device portfolio across a range of mobile market segments, says Hermann Eul, Intel vice president and co-general manager of the Mobile and Communications Group. "In less than a year's time we have worked closely with our customers to bring Intel-based smartphones to market in more than 20 countries around the world, and have also delivered an industry-leading low-power Atom SoC tablet solution running Windows 8, and shipping with leading OEM customers today. Looking forward, we will build upon this foundation and work closely with our ecosystem partners, across operating systems, to deliver the best mobile products and experiences for consumers with Intel Inside."
New, Efficient Atom SoC Platform
Intel's new Atom processor platform ("Clover Trail+") and smartphone reference design delivers industry-leading performance with low-power and long battery life that rivals today's most popular Android phones. The product brings Intels classic product strengths, including high performance that lets you enjoy smooth Web browsing, vibrant, glitch-free, full HD movies, and an Android(*) applications experience that launches fast and runs great.
The platforms' 32nm dual core Intel Atom Processors - Z2580, Z2560, Z2520 - are available in speeds up to 2.0 GHz, 1.6 GHz and 1.2GHz, respectively. The processor also features support for Intel Hyper-Threading Technology, supporting four simultaneous application threads and further enhancing the overall efficiency of the Atom cores.
The integrated platform also includes an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator engine with a graphics core supporting up to 533MHz with boost mode, and delivering up to three times the graphics performance1 for rich 3-D visuals, lifelike gaming and smooth, full 1080P hardware-accelerated video encode and decode at 30fps.
"Our second-generation product delivers double the compute performance and up to three times the graphics capabilities1, all while maintaining competitive low power," Eul says. "As we transition to 22nm Atom SoCs later this year, we will take full advantage of the broad spectrum of capabilities enabled by our design, architecture, 22nm tri-gate transistor technology, and leading-edge manufacturing to further accelerate our position."
The new Atom platform also brings advanced imaging capabilities, including support for two cameras, with a primary camera sensor up to 16 megapixels. The imaging system also enables panorama capture, a 15 frame-per-second burst mode for 8 megapixel photos, real-time facial detection and recognition, and mobile HDR image capture with de-ghosting for clearer pictures in flight.
The platform is also equipped with Intel Identity Protection Technology (Intel IPT), helping to enable strong, two-factor authentication for protecting cloud services such as remote banking, e-commerce, online gaming and social networking from unauthorized access. Since Intel IPT is embedded at chip-level, unlike hardware or phone-based tokens, it can enable more secure, yet user-friendly cloud access protection. Intel is working with partners including Feitian(*), Garanti Bank, MasterCard, McAfee, SecureKey Technologies Inc., Symantec, Vasco Data Security International Inc. and Visa Inc. to incorporate this technology into their services.
With WUXGA display support of 1900x1200, the platform will also enable larger-screen Android(*) tablet designs. It also includes support for Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), Intel Wireless Display Technology, HSPA+ at 42Mbps with the Intel XMM 6360 slim modem solution, and the new industry-standard UltraVioletTM Common File Format.
Customers announcing support for "Clover Trail+" platform for phones and tablets include ASUS, Lenovo, and ZTE.
Debuting at CES last month, the Lenovo IdeaPhone K900 is based on the Intel Atom processor Z2580 and delivers rich video, graphics and Web content at hgh speed. The IdeaPhone is 6.9mm thin and also features the world's first 5.5-inch full high-definition 400+ PPI screen for increased clarity of text and images. The K900 will be the first product to market based on the Atom processor Z2580. Lenovo plans to introduce the smartphone in the second quarter of 2013 in China, followed soon by select international markets.
Building on the Atom processor platform ("Clover Trail+"), Intel also highlighted its forthcoming 22nm smartphone Atom SoC ("Merrifield"). The product is based on Intel's leading-edge 22nm process and an entirely new Atom microarchitecture that will help enable increased smartphone performance, power efficiency and battery life.
Long-Term Evolution (4G LTE)
Intel's strategy is to deliver a leading low-power, global modem solution that works across multiple bands, modes, regions and devices.
The Intel XMM 7160 is one of the world's smallest2 and lowest-power multimode-multiband LTE solutions (LTE / DC-HSPA+ / EDGE), supporting multiple devices including smartphones, tablets and Ultrabooks. The 7160 global modem supports 15 LTE bands simultaneously, more than any other in-market solution. It also includes a highly configurable RF architecture running real time algorithms for envelope tracking and antenna tuning that enables cost-efficient multiband configurations, extended battery life, and global roaming in a single SKU.
"The 7160 is a well-timed and highly competitive 4G LTE solution that we expect will meet the growing needs of the emerging global 4G market," Eul says. "Independent analysts have shown our solution to be world class and I'm confident that our offerings will lead Intel into new multi-comm solutions. With LTE connections projected to double over the next 12 months to more than 120 million connections, we believe our solution will give developers and service providers a single competitive offering while delivering to consumers the best global 4G experience. Building on this, Intel will also accelerate the delivery of new advanced features to be timed with future advanced 4G network deployments."
Intel is currently shipping its single mode 4G LTE data solution and will begin multimode shipments later in the first half of this year. The company is also optimizing its LTE solutions concurrently with its SoC roadmap to ensure the delivery of leading-edge low-power combined solutions to the marketplace.
Intel Atom Platform Z2420
As Intel expands its geographic presence, the company sees tremendous opportunity in delivering rich Intel-based mobile experiences to consumers across emerging markets.
As part of its strategy to take advantage of the fast growing market for value smartphones in emerging markets, which some analysts expect to reach 500 million units by 2015, Intel highlighted continuing momentum with the Intel Atom Processor Z2420 platform (formerly "Lexington"). Since it was first announced at CES, Acer(*) (Thailand, Malaysia), Lava (India) and Safaricom (Kenya) have all announced new handsets.
Etisalat Misr, a leading telco operator based in Egypt and a subsidiary of Etisalat group UAE, in collaboration with Intel today announced plans for the Etisalat E-20 Smartphone with Intel Inside. Set to debut in Egypt in April, the Intel-based handset will be the first in the Middle East and North Africa region, and the second introduction in Africa to-date, building on the recent launch of Safaricom in Kenya.
Demonstrating the flexibility of the Atom SoC platform to accommodate a range of device and market segment needs, ASUS(*) later today will announce a new Android tablet based on the Intel Atom Processor Z2420.
Tablets with Intel Inside
Building on the device momentum and industry-leading power-efficiency of the award-winning Atom processor Z2760, Intels first quad-core Atom SoC ("Bay Trail"), will be the most powerful Atom processor to-date -- doubling the computing performance of Intels current- generation tablet offering and providing the ecosystem with a strong technology foundation and feature set from which to innovate. The "Bay Trail" platform, scheduled to be available for holiday 2013, is already up and running on Windows and Android and will help enable new experiences in designs as thin as 8mm that have all-day battery life and weeks of standby.
Intel is currently working with Compal, ECS, Pegatron, Quanta and Wistron to accelerate "Bay Trail" tablets to the market. Intel is also extending its work with leading OEM partners globally, building on the strong foundation of Intel Atom processor Z2760-based tablet designs in market from Acer, ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, LG Electronics and Samsung.
Notes:
1 Compared to the Intel Atom Processor Z2460 platform; Graphics clock will vary based on SKU: Z2580, Z2560, Z2520. 2 Compared with competitive solutions shipping in market today.
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