Sony Xperia 'Mint' leaked 4.3-inch HD screen, 13MP camera, 1.5GHz S4 processor

 

 

Sony is planning to unveil some new handsets on August 29th before IFA kicks off in Berlin, and it looks like one of those has been detailed well ahead of the event. M.Review has gotten its hands on the Sony LT30p, aka the Mint. In addition to the full specs, there are a bevy of pictures of the device from every angle, plus lots of screenshots of Sony’s user interface on top of Ice Cream Sandwich, which includes some new software tweaks.

The Sony Sony LT30p features a 4.3-inch screen with a 720p resolution, a 1.5Ghz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, microSD card slot, microUSB capable of MHL output, microSIM slot, NFC, and a sealed internal battery. The star of the show is the 13-megapixel camera, also capable of 1080p video recording. A front-facing camera capable of 720p can also be found on the device.
Mobile-Review notes that the hardware is smaller than the Xperia S, allowing for easier one-handed usage, but the most important change is that the phone uses the Ice Cream Sandwich onscreen navigation keys and ditches the physical buttons of the NXT range altogether. Still, other hardware buttons have been placed in a strange place: the power, volume rocker, and camera shutter buttons are all located on the bottom right hand side of the phone.

Software changes, meanwhile, include Small apps allowing you quick access to certain application from your homescreens. Mobile-Review provides screenshots of one example, a recording application that can be activated with just one tap. Other apps will reportedly be available for download from the Play Store, but as the phone hasn’t launched yet there aren’t any additional Small Apps. The site has also benchmarked the phone against heavyweights such as the HTC One S and Galaxy S III. It comes up a little short despite running the same Snapdragon S4 processor, but the software most likely hasn’t been finalized yet.
Check out more screen shots below..

Microsoft launching Windows 8 on October 26th for new and upgrade customers

 

Today Microsoft announced that Windows 8 will become generally available on October 26th. This date matches prior market estimates. Users will be able to buy the operating system, or upgrade to it on that date. Previously, Microsoft promised that Windows 8 would be released at some point in October.
Recently, Microsoft has announced more and more of the coming version of Windows, doubling down on its hybrid interface. Windows 8 is a radical redesign of Windows that takes into account a mobile and touch-centric future.

This release date will give consumers ample time to purchase systems running the code for the holiday season, something that has surely not escaped Microsoft’s mind. Windows 8 is coming – whether it will help Microsoft push into the future, or push Windows over the shark remains to be seen. All big bets are uncertain until the final die stops rolling. For now, all we can do is play with its Release Preview (Release Candidate equivalent) and mentally calculate.

Coming next should be release dates for Office 2013, Windows Phone 8, and the next version of Windows Server. It’s going to be a busy end of the year for the Redmond-based software firm.

            Prestigio MultiPad 9.7 Ultra

 

 

Prestigio’s latest MultliPad 9.7 Ultra (PMP5197D) is the second 9.7 inch model in the family of MultiPads. Just like its best-selling predecessor MultiPad 9.7 PRO, the MultiPad 9.7 Ultra is features a high quality IPS 9.7-inch LED-Backlit IPS display with high 1024*768 resolution and a wide 178 degree viewing angle, providing vivid and brilliant visual experience of games, photos, books, magazines, movies or web pages.

The device is based on a high performing ARM Cortex-A8 CPU, packed with multi-format HD video codec and 3D graphic accelerator. The fine work of the CPU is backed up by 1GB DDR3 RAM memory and 16GB of internal flash memory which can be expanded with an SD card giving you up to 32GB extra!

MultiPad 9.7 Ultra comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and many carefully selected apps, including games, video player, mail program, $10 worth Office Suite Pro and a high end ereading app, the eReader Prestigio, offering plenty of options to personalize the eReading experience and access to more than 230,000 free and paid eBooks in 20 languages. Of course Google Play is preinstalled as well.

All updates come OTA (over-the-air) via the integrated high-speed WIFI module (802.11 b|g|n). And for maximized mobility, the Lithium Polymer battery with a capacity of 7,000 mAh is controlled by an advanced Power Management Unit.

The device naturally supports most of the audio and video formats and thanks to the HDMI port everything can be displayed on a external monitor or TV. The new MultiPad features web cameras on the front and back side, both with 2.0 Mpx resolution. The Multipad 9.7 Ultra features a slim and very light design with excellent build quality and comes in two color versions: charcoal gray and black with wine red frame. The device comes with an elegant leather pouch and 2 years of international warranty.

The recommended retail price is 249 Euro (310 USD) and the MultiPad 9.7 Ultra is available as of today at PrestigioPlaza eshop.

Acer Liquid `Gallant Duo` Phones That Deliver

Ice Cream Sandwich. 1GHz  Processor 1GB RAM. 4GB Internal Storage. 4.3" QHD Display. 5 Megapixel Camera with LED Flash. Oh, and Dual SIM. Available in white and black.  for £150? Admit it, you wouldnt have thought this would be a Acer phone..Would You.

The specs above belong to the Acer Liquid Gallant Duo, which is not only the worst named phone in the history of the world, but also an interesting new take on the low end market from the disappointing-of-late Acer.Ive had the pleasure of seeing this phone and was impressed after been told of the Retail price .

The full specs...

• CPU speed: 1GHz, MTK 6575
• Platform: Android Ice Cream Sandwich
• Network: HSPA/WCDMA 900/2100 MHz / Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz / (Band frequency, HSPA availability, and data speed are operator dependent)
• Dual SIM
• Memory: Internal phone storage: 4GB / RAM: 1GB / microSD slot (up to 32GB)
• Display: 4.3-inch touch screen with qHD resolution
• GPS: Internal GPS antenna
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Digital compass, Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor
• Connectivity : Bluetooth® 3.0 + EDR / Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11b/g/n / 3.5 mm stereo audio jack / Standard micro-USB
• Camera:5 megapixel camera, LED flash
• Battery:Lion Battery 1500 mah
• Weight: 145 grams with battery
• Dimensions: (LxWxT): 129 x 65,9 x 9,9 mm

While their recent releases have been underwhelming, I do have fond memories of my original Acer Liquid, despite it's more-flexible-than-a-rubber-band construction.

The big unknown on the spec sheet is the 'MTK 6575', not a CPU i'm familiar with, has been shipping out on all sorts of cheap Chinese devices (you know the ones I mean) already.

The ALGD (as it shall now be known) is slated for release 8th August 2012, in both black and white, via Expansys priced at only £148.99 and these seems a very decent Price indeed

       Buffalo`s New Website Is Like The Company..
                    Quality,Simplicity,Reliability                     

If your a Serious Outdoor nut,in any shape or form you must of heard of Buffalo they are a legend not just in the U.K but around the world for the Jackets and Functional outdoor gear.
Beloved by Emergency services to the quality of there products have only increased since there beginning's back in the 70`s and a few of the team here have Buffalo products over many years..These Jackets last for YEARS ,I've had mine for nearly 11 years and only because its fading does it need a replacement.

There New website shows of Buffalo's products with some perfection..indeed it shows how if you build a site carefully around your product and aim it with there Best values,Strength's and a relationship with your customers your sure to have a winner.
Where glad to see Buffalo shows its Products with Such simplicity and integrity that right away you know this is the site for Buffalo products it mirrors them so well.
We will catch up with this great Company later in the year when we launch our New Outdoor/Travel/Adventure website.

 http://www.buffalosystems.co.uk/

Archos 97 Carbon A Tablet Youll Want a Date With

Those worried that Archos hasn't bought out a New Tablet for a While will be Happy that the company has just bringing the first of its New `Elements` Tablets to market.

 

 the Ice Cream Sandwich slate does sport a 9.7-inch IPS display, a 1GHz processor, HDMI out and a full-sized USB port. Also on-board are two cameras, 16GB of storage and a microSD slot, packed into a 0.45-inch thick aluminum body. The 97 Carbon runs $230 to $250. Archos is promising more entries in the "entry-level" Elements lineup, measuring seven, eight and 9.7 inches.

ARCHOS Releases New ELEMENTS Line; Introduces First in the Series, the 97 Carbon
ARCHOS, an award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, is pleased to introduce the ARCHOS 97 carbon, the first of its new tablet range called "ELEMENTS", an entry-level line up of 7, 8, and 9.7 inch tablets that combine ARCHOS design and engineering with full access to Google PlayTM and a full suite of Google apps at an affordable price.
Equipped with the latest mobile technology and an elegant aluminum finish, the ARCHOS 97 Carbon is only 21.8 ounces and 0.45" thick. Its sharp and clear IPS multi-touch screen delivers amazing vivid colors and impressive wide viewing angles. For the smoothest interface experience, ARCHOS has powered this tablet with a fast 1GHz processor, 1GB of RAM while running AndroidTM 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich".
Combining very high performance hardware, intuitive software and affordability, this Google PlayTM supported device will be available starting in July 2012 for $229.99 - $249.99 SRP.
"We wanted to introduce a new series that not only combines affordability with a new slim design, but features the best that Google has to offer," says Henri Crohas, ARCHOS Founder and CEO. "With the ELEMENTS series we have done just that. It's the perfect balance of hardware, software optimization and content through the Google PlayTM ecosystem."

 Thx:Archos

      Google Nexus 7 The Tablet You Must Own...

We have played and fell in love with the Nexus 7..we love it for jelly bean,fantastic quality in terms of build and Screen.If you have never bought a Tablet before and if you all ready have consider the Nexus 7..which definitely puts value as its first redeeming character the reasons are many,lets try and convince you below:

When Google took to the stage last week for the first keynote of theGoogle IO Confrence everyone wanted to know more about Jellybean…but it was the anticipation of hardware announcements that was more exciting to a great number of Android fans.

Everyone had anticipated that Google would announce a Nexus-branded tablet during the show, and they did just that with the unveiling of theNexus 7. But Google surprised a lot of folks by announcing a new Android-based media-streaming device, the Nexus Q, hot on the heels of the tablet. I’ll talk more about the Nexus Q in an upcoming entry.

While it was a pretty poorly-guarded secret that Google was going to be releasing its own Android tablet in collaboration with hardware-maker Asus, people were eager to find out just what form the tablet would take. Even though the predicted $199 US price point was bang on, the hardware configuration checked in with a slight more robust spec than expected.

The Nexus 7 tablet is named for its 7-inch screen, sporting a widescreen resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels. That’s not quite as impressive as the Retina Display on the new iPads, but completely suitable for a 7-inch handheld device.

Under the hood, the Nexus 7 has a bit of oomph: it comes with the Tegra 3 chipset teamed up with a quad core CPU and 12-core GPU. That means it should be able to deliver a fair amount of performance, whether it’s general number-crunching or graphics-heavy gaming.

What may be problematic for some, however, is the storage: armed with either 8GB (£150) or 16GB (£199), the Nexus 7 feels a bit light. And while other Android tablets come with a mini-SD expansion slot, the Nexus 7 seems to be lacking any hardware-based expansion options.

What does that mean? To put it bluntly: after installing a few apps or loading up a few videos, many users will be frustrated at the lack of space…especially those who tried to save money by choosing the 8GB model.

In some ways, this isn’t overly surprising, with Google doing its best to steer users to the cloud. During the keynote, Google stressed that the Nexus 7 would be “optimized for`google Play`in fact, when you fire up the tablet, your media will be front and center. The presumption, then, is that much of your content would stream directly to the tablet, instead of living on it permanently, obviating the need for higher storage capacities. Nice thought, but unfortunately it’s not how a lot of users actually work.

Now that said, the Nexus 7 does have a few other hardware goodies designed to impress. That includes a 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera, and the inclusion of Near Field Communications, for quick and easy transfer of data with other NFC-equipped devices. The Nexus 7 also features both WiFi and Bluetooth, but as expected at this price point, there are no cellular data options.

The Nexus 7 will also have the distinction of being the first device shipped with Jelly Bean already onboard, so if you order the tablet, you’ll be among the first to get your hands on this new version of Android. You can pre-order now at play.google.com, but orders won’t go out until mid-July in the US and Canada.

Here in the U.K there are a number of deals Apparing like at Ebuyer,expect many more across Europe to as we expect the price to be competative even with high demand.

We give this tablet our Gold Star for Value,Quality and pushing the Price Benchmark
to New  Heights Google/Asus `Lucky` Tablet gets more than a seven from us it gets 9/10.

Useful Links For Nexus 7 Owners:


The Nexus 7 Guidebook is available over in Google Play for free.
The 84-page long book is an instruction manual for the new 7-incher from Google and Asus, but what should draw your attention most is the section dedicated to Jelly Bean. You’ll get a better understanding of all the new features in Android 4.1, so as to be fully prepared when the time comes to play with Google’s latest toy.
The OS’ resizable widgets, Google Now voice assistant, and expandable notifications are just some of the functions and features thoroughly explained in the Nexus 7 Guidebook, but there are also loads of very useful tips on how to make the most out of your Jelly Bean experience.
Standard Android usage is also pretty thoroughly covered in the new guidebook, and, while experienced tech users will probably browse right through most of those sections of the book, newbies might actually have a lot to learn.
Although this is a pretty “thick” piece of literature, the writing style and the formatting should make the Nexus 7 Guidebook a fun reading material. Worst case scenario, you’ll still catch a few glimpses of what the new 7-incher will bring to the table and you’ll at least make the waiting a bit less painful.
Unfortunately, as you might already know, Google Play still has some country restrictions for e-books, so the Nexus 7 Guidebook is not available globally. Our advice? If you can download it, just do it and don’t think twice about it!

Few Workarounds for Lack of MicroSD etc..
battery replacement video for when the battery gets old http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZL1mly7rZ0&feature=player_embedded no screw driver or soldering required!

airdroid may be useful for wireless transfer of files http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfNnQxpw7Uw&list=PLF2E689203EE62F20&index=47&feature=plpp_video

how to save offiline google maps http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc7S5Etupi4&list=PLF2E689203EE62F20&index=82&feature=plpp_video

regarding lack of microsd slot, there are work around options .... i will always carry my android phone with me and that has microsd slot and OTG capability and wifi direct facility and can load any external memory on android phones capable of OTG / microsd card / wifi direct and wirelessly (wifi direct) pair that with this tablet and transfer extra media on to it. see wifi direct video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCEawDprnOQ&list=PLF2E689203EE62F20&index=14&feature=plpp_video

or use android beam to transfer files http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCw1ilMzCH4

or use the more advanced version of android beam on the samsung galaxy s3 calles s beam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wNAnSE51BE

            

   ACTA rejected by European Union vote

 

ACTA has been rejected by the European Parliament, which voted on Wednesday to put the final nail in the copyright enforcement treaty's coffin — at least as far as Europe is concerned.
The Parliament voted by 478 to 39 to reject the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, a move that means it cannot come into force anywhere within the EU. In doing so, it followed the advice given to it by five parliamentary comitteees and heeded the massive public protests that were sparked by the treaty earlier this year.

The EU and most of its member states did sign ACTA in January. However, with such agreements, signatures have to be followed by parliamentary ratification if they are to mean anything. In the EU, both the European Parliament and every single member state had to ratify for it to come into force. Not a single member state has ratified ACTA, and the Parliament has now joined Poland and other states in flatly rejecting such ratification.
Whether or not ACTA survives at all now likely depends on whether or not the US ratifies it — there is some debate as to whether Congress or President Obama gets to do this. Obama has previously endorsed the treaty, but now finds himself in an election year where the memory of the SOPA/PIPA defeat is still fresh in many activists' minds...

 

 

Sony `Xperia P` Lands at MWC

Sony has just announced two new handsets to their NXT series of Android Handsets the Xperia P and the Xperia U, but if you were interested in a Sony Android phone whose features are closer to that of the Xperia S, then perhaps the Sony Xperia P could be the handset you are looking for.
Keeping in line with the rest of Sony’s NXT handsets, the Sony Xperia P will sport a minimalist design with a precision crafted aluminum body. It will sport a 4″ display that is powered by Sony’s “WhiteMagic” technology, which will help with displaying images under bright sunlight, but will also provide twice the level of brightness when compared to other smartphones or so Sony claims.
Under the hood, the Xperia P will be powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor under the hood with 16GB of internal storage, and it will also sport an 8MP camera with Sony’s Exmor R sensor, a “fast capture” feature which company boasts will allow the user to go from lock to camera in a second, and the ability to capture Full HD 1080p quality videos. The Xperia P will also come with a Smart Dock accessory, therefore turning your device into a multimedia center. This isn’t exactly new technology, but it will be interesting to see how Sony plans to differentiate themselves from the competition.
Last but not least, the Xperia P will include NFC support that is compatible with Xperia SmartTags, accessories which when used together with the phone’s NFC function will launch a series of actions at once. In the example used by Sony, imagine if you were to go for a run but instead of launching an app one by one, tapping the Xperia P against the SmartTag will launch all your preset apps at once. A handy feature, we have to admit, and in a way they could thought of as macros.
The Sony Xperia P will come with Android 2.3 Gingerbread preinstalled, but fret not as the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update has been planned for the device. The phone will be available in three different brushed aluminum finishes and is expected to roll out in Q2 of 2012. No specific dates were mentioned nor pricing, but we expect those details to be made available further down the line, so check back with us then if you think that the Sony Xperia P is the phone for you.

Huawei Ascend D quad promises to be 'the world's fastest smartphone'

Huawei is the company that kicked off today’s series of Mobile World Congress 2012 conferences and the WaVe@4 was there to provide some details. First of all, we’ve found out the specs for 3 brand new handsets from the Huawei Diamond series. I’m talking about the Huawei Ascend D Quad, Ascend D Quad XL and the Ascend D1.

The Huawei Ascend D Quad is a 4.5 inch handset with an IPS screen supporting a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. This device relies on a Huawei J3V2 quad core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB storage, plus it runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It also comes with 5.1 surround sound technology (Dolby Mobile 3.0 Plus) and an 8 megapixel camera with BSI, AF and 1080p video capture. The same camera offers a dual LED flash and HDR. The battery on board is a 1800 mAh unit and on the connectivity side we get 3G with speeds of up to 21Mbps, plus Bluetooth 3.0 and WiFi b/g/n.

Huawei Ascend D Quad XL only brings a CPU bump to the previous model, to 1.5GHz and a better battery , at 2.500 mAh. The rest of the specs is exactly the same as the ones of the Ascend D Quad. Finally, there’s also a dual core phone in the new Diamond series, the Huawei Ascend D1 model, with a dual core 1.5GHz CPU, Android 4.0, an IPS 4.5 inch HD display, 8MP shooter with 1080p capture and a 1.670 mAh battery. It’s strange that we didn’t see the Huawei MediaPad 10 tablet, that was leaked on the web over the past week.
Huawei also said that they expect to sell 60 million units this year (outside China) and that they know networks better than anyone and can increase the functioning time of batteries through faster network reception. No info about the prices of these handsets just yet, but what we know is that we’re supposed to expect a launch before summer. The Asian company also announced that they came up with a more compact display design thatn their rivals.

Sony XPERIA S Shows its Beauty at WMC

The Sony Xperia S does seem to be the go-getter kind ofsmartphone, having been spotted inbench mark tests that churned out some rather impressive figures – not to mention having it sport an anti-stain shell as well as a fast chare capability Late last month, the XPERIA S was also spotted over at the FCC, and we also went ahead with a demo of it at CES in Las Vegas this January. Here is a refresher
Sony has packed in some pretty impressive hardware into the XPERIA S, so here is a quick refresher course – we are looking at a 4.3” display with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich as the operating system of choice right out of the box, in addition to a 1280 × 720 “Reality Display” that sports “Mobile Bravia Engine” for superior images. Sony also threw in a Fastest Capture feature that boots up a “ready to shoot” camera app in a mere 1.5 seconds, now what do you think of that? Expect the XPERIA S to arrive in black or white shades later this year (Q2 is most likely).

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is a reality

Prior to MWC, there were rumors suggesting that Samsung would be coming up with a larger version of the Galaxy Note, the Galaxy Note 10.1 to be exact, and for those who were hoping to see a 10.1” tablet with S-Pen support, you’re in luck as Samsung has officially taken the wraps off the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. Users out there who have enjoyed the Samsung Galaxy Note, but who would prefer a larger display to write/draw will probably want to check it out. 

In terms of hardware, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 will be powered by a dual-core processor under its hood that has been clocked at 1.4GHz. It will sport 1GB of RAM and will come in storage capacities of 16/32/64GB, and can be further expanded by an additional 32GB via microSD. It will also feature a 10.1” 1280×800 PLS TFT display with a 3MP rear-facing camera and a 2MP front-facing camera.
To showcase the support for the S-Pen, Samsung has include features such as S Note and S Planner, with the S Note allowing users to create their own content by joining notes and sketches together with content from the web, all of which can be done within the app itself without the need to switch screens. The device will feature a variety of connectivity options, such as WiFi, HSPA+ 21Mbps, Bluetooth 3.0 and USB.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 will be launched with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on board, but unfortunately no word on pricing or availability just yet.

Huawei MediaPad 10 Tablet has Jaw-Dropping Resolution

We knew that 2012 would be the year of the high resolution tablet. It's only logical that current tablets, most of which cap out at 1280x800 pixels, would be succeeded by devices with full 1080p 1920x1080 resolution. But to go beyond that is impressive. Notwithstanding the rumors about the iPad 3 having a 2048x1536 pixel display, the Huawei MediaPad, with its 1920x1200 resolution, will take the crown as the highest resolution tablet yet. My monitor at work, a full 14" larger than the MediaPad 10, has that same 1920x1200 resolution.

The MediaPad 10 was sort of on display at MWC, that is, they had a hand-built prototype, which gives us a sense at how close to shipping the MediaPad 10 is. It'll be a quad-core tablet that manages to be remarkably thin at under 9mm. No word on pricing, but look for it to ship in the Q2.

HTC One X, One S Launch at Mobile World Congress

As was widely expected, HTC announced its two halo devices for the first half of the year at M.W.C today, the quad-core HTC One X and slim, dual-core HTC One S. First revealed as the HTC Edge and HTC Ville, respectively, the two handsets are both powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and skinned with HTC Sense 4.0.

The One X, pictured up top (and better known by its final codename of Endeavor), features a Tegra 3 "4+1" quad core processor, 4.7-inch, 720p HD display, and 1GB of RAM / 32GB ROM. It's got a 1080p-capable eight-megapixel main camera with the new HTC ImageSense technology, along with a 1.3-megapixel front-facing webcam. Like the One S, and most high-end HTC devices of late, the X brings Beats Audio enhancements to music playback.

While the S (pictured above) shares many of the same specs as the X, it is highlighted by its 7.9-millimeter profile. The processor is a more traditional dual-core Snapdragon from Qualcomm, while the display is 4.3 inches at qHD resolution. RAM is the same 1GB as the One S, but built-in storage is only 16GB. The two phones share the same camera, as well as a Bluetooth 3.0 radio, Wi-Fi b/g/n, and the usual complement of sensors.

Look for these two flagships to begin rolling out globally in late March and early April, each with 25GB of free Dropdrop storage in tow. As of now, the One S has been tipped for US release on T-Mobile, with further carrier commitments to follow.

Onkyo Redefines “Entry Level” with 4 Heavy-Hitting AVRs

Onkyo has announced the first four new AV receivers for its 2012 line, including three with network capability, including one with THX certification. All have USB connections and additional HDMI® inputs. The line also includes the world’s first AV receivers to employ Silicon Image’s InstaPrevue™ and Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) technologies. Furthermore, the three network capable models are the world’s first AVRs to include music ‘cloud server’ access via MP3tunes™.
The four new models are the Onkyo TX-NR616 THX-Certified 7.2-Channel Network Receiver, TX-NR515 7.2-Channel Network Receiver, TX-NR414 5.1-Channel Network Receiver, and TX-SR313 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver.

Onkyo’s powerful WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) is now implemented throughout the line. This low negative-feedback topology reduces signal noise and guarantees superb performance with minimal distortion. Even the entry model TX-SR313, Onkyo now uses this discrete-component output stage rather than lower cost integrated circuit amplifiers.
The TX-NR616 is most powerful model in this release, and it is backed by a THX® Select2 Plus™ guarantee of cinema-quality sound. Achieving this demanding certification standard for audio quality is made possible partly by the use of Onkyo’s three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry.
The TX-NR616, along with the TX-NR515 and TX-NR414 are the world’s first to include InstaPrevue, which provides on-screen video thumbnails to show the content currently available on HDMI-connected components making input source selection easy. The TX-NR616 and TX-NR515 are also the first to include MHL, an interface protocol that facilitates the playback of 1080p video and stills with 7.1 channels of surround sound over HDMI from MHL compatible smartphones and other portable devices.

The front-panel USB port on all four receivers also provides a direct digital connection of an iPod®/iPhone® or flash-memory device. The TX-NR515 and TX-NR616 have an additional USB port on the rear panel that can be used for the optional UWF-1 adapter leaving the front-side USB free for iPod and iPhone.

The TX-NR616 and TX-NR515 also offer superior video performance thanks to on-board Qdeo™ processing technology by Marvell. This provides analog video upscaling to 1080p, and up to 4K (4096 x 2160 pixels) scaling when used with a compatible 4K display.
When it comes to home theater audio, these two 7.2 channel models feature Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz expansion to incorporate Front Height channels, and to convert stereo sources to surround sound. The TX-NR616 also includes Audyssey DSX expansion for additional Front Wide or Height channels. Both systems provide a more realistic movie or gaming experience. Users can also connect two subwoofers via parallel pre-outs in a 7.2-channel set-up. Naturally, Audyssey 2EQ room acoustic correction ensures the best possible performance in any listening space.
All models have connections for legacy analog and digital audio technology. Additionally, the TX-NR515 offers distributed audio with Powered Zone 2, while the TX-NR616 adds Powered Zone 2 and a Zone 3 line-out.

Later this year, Onkyo plans to release the UBT-1 USB Bluetooth Adaptor which will allow even better integration between electronic devices and Onkyo network receivers.
The TX-NR616 will be available in April with a suggested retail price of $699; the TX-NR515, TX-NR414 and TX-SR313 will all be available in March at suggested retail prices of $599, $499 and $299, respectively.

LG announces the Optimus 4X HD ahead of MWC

LG is still on top of things and announced today its Optimus 4X HD a new Quad Core Smartphone! Available later this year, the Optimus 4X HD comes pre-loaded with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwiches and will offer you all the bell and whistles that comes with an 1.5Ghz Tegra 3 CPU (Quad Core). Screen-wise the Optimus 4X HD comes with a rather nice little 4.7” True HD IPS screen (1280×720) alongside 16GB of internal memory and 1GB of RAM and a 8Mpix rear camera.

Press Release:


LG Electronics, a quad-core smartphone “Optimus (Optimus) 4X HD ‘to be held in Barcelona, ​​Spain, the 27th Mobile World Congress (Mobile World Congress) 2012′ presents for the first time.

The world’s first dual-core smartphone ’11 ‘Optimus 2X’ dual-core era of smart phones with LG Electronics to open further to a quad-core technology is planning to reorganize the smartphone market. “Optimus 4X HD ‘, starting with Europe in the second quarter will be sold.

This product NVIDIA (NVIDIA) 社’s latest mobile processor, the ‘Tegra (TEGRA) 3′ 1.5 gigahertz (GHz) quad core processor was mounted.

‘Tegra 3′ of the central processing unit (CPU) core operations hit by Chapter 4 cores (Core), as well as for low-power drive ‘companion cores (Companion Core)’ plus the world’s only ’4-PLUS-1 ‘mobile stand processes. The four core games, HD video playback, multi-tasking, etc. are responsible for high-performance work, ‘a companion core “minimal power alone calls, emails, to handle simple tasks, such as music playback.

This high battery efficiency, high-performance professional and gaming devices (game consoles) will implement a level of gaming experience. Window pops up Internet is faster, simultaneous multi-task in the group does not have.

“Optimus 4X HD ‘close to the natural color gamut, high resolution to support the’ True HD IPS ‘display, and Google’s Android 4.0 (ice cream sandwiches) has adopted the latest technologies, such as the operating system.

Despite the large screen 4.7 inches thick 8.9mm, thin screen border, the curve is closed due to get my hands grip and comfort.

In addition to mobile technology, high-quality connection MHL (Mobile High Definition Link) and electromagnetic features of the period, one of the wireless network, DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) support features excellent compatibility between devices equipped another.

LG Electronics, Jong – Seok MC (Mobile Communications) Portfolio Management, “high-performance quad-core as well as the core technology of smartphones, LG’s innovative technology and design capability, focusing on the global smartphone market will leap forward,” he said.

‘Optimus 4X HD’ Specifications

CPU: NVIDIA Tegra 3 1.5GHz quad-core processor
Display: 4.7 inches True HD IPS (resolution 1280 X 720)
Operating System: Android 4.0 ice cream sandwiches
Memory: 16GB internal, 1GB LP DDR2 memory
Camera: (rear) 800 pixels (AF LED Flash support), (front), 1.3-megapixel
Battery: 2,150 mAh
Others: MHL, DLNA, etc.

Fujitsu to unveil the Courtyard CY15 at MWC a new Android 4 Quad Core Smartphone

Fujitsu announced today that it will unleash a new “monster” at MWC with the Courtyard CY15 concept that will comes with the following specs

• CPU: NVIDIA Tegra 3 (Maximum 1.5Ghz Quad Core + Companion Core) + 12GPU
• Screen size: 4.6 inches
• Camera resolution: 13.1 megapixels
• Water-resistant and dust-resistant
• Equipped with fingerprint sensor
• OS: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

So far we do not have a clear picture of what the handset will look like beside the above tiny little picture, but after that Ubuntu announcement  today I will definitively give a closer look to these new Quad Core Smartphones.

  Thx Fujitsu