Mobile World Congress 2012, aka the quad-core phone show

Mobile World Congress is less than a month away in Barcelona and the anticipation is quickly building for the gadgets that will be announced. We expect to see all kinds of Android devices from tablets to TVs, but the star of the show will be smartphones. And at this year’s show a particular kind of smartphone will take center stage: the quad-core-powered-beast.

Why do you need quad-core performance in a phone? Some people will say that mobile applications aren’t ready to take advantage of all that horsepower, and for the most part they are right. In our recent interview with NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang he explained the situation by saying, “It’s a little bit of the chicken and the egg. If the applications aren’t ready, you have to build a processor that inspires the applications to be ready.”

NVIDIA has already delivered their quad-core Tegra 3 processor to the OEMS and it must have inspired them to build some awesome devices because the number or rumored phones is starting to add up. Read on for the full list of quad-core phones that we should see at Mobile World Congress.

I still can’t believe I’m typing this, but HTC is rumored to power their 2012 flagship phone with a chip from NVIDIA, instead of Qualcomm. This comes as a shock for many since almost all of HTC’s recent phones have been powered by the Snapdragon processor, and Qualcomm has a minority investment in HTC.

This move was first hinted at last year when Stefan Streit, HTC’s VP of Marekting, said there was no exclusive deal with Qualcomm and “Nvidia or TI-powered smartphones and tablets are possible in the future.” Then rumors of the Tegra 3-powered HTC Edge started appearing in November, and it appears the phone is quite real.

Rumored specs of the HTC Edge include:

Quad-core 1.5 GHz Tegra 3 processorAndroid 4.0 with Sense UI 4.04.7-inch display with 720p resolution1 GB RAMBacklit 8 MP camera with 28-millimeter, f/2.2 lensBeats Audio32 GB internal storageHSPA+ 21 Mbps supportBluetooth 4.0Slightly over 10 mm thickThe high-end specs are nice, but I hope HTC has some surprises up their sleeves to show off what this hardware can do. Based on recent leaks, it appears that HTC’s Sense 4.0 UI really hides the beauty of Android 4.0, but we haven’t really seen everything it can do. Given HTC’s good reputation with the developer community, the Edge has a chance to become the most popular Tegra 3 phone.

Fujitsu also surprised a lot of folks at CES when they were the first company to showcase a Tegra 3 phone. Their prototype Arrows phone was kept under the glass, but they had a working unit that was running the game Riptide GP on the big screen. Fujitsu has traditionally targeted the Japanese market with most of their handsets landing on NTT Docomo, but a company representative told me they plan to enter the U.S. market this year.

Highlights of the device include:

Quad-core 1.2GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 processorAndroid 4.04.6? 1280 X 720 TFT-LCD13.1-megapixel camera capable of ISO 25,600 sensitivity1 GB RAM (prototype had 4 GB RAM)LTE supportWaterproof and dustproofLook for Fujitsu to unveil a slightly redesigned Arrows smartphone at MWC. We expect they could ditch the hardware buttons and go with software buttons we have seen on other Android 4.0 phones.

LG was the first company with a Tegra 2 phone, so we expected them to deliver another device based on the latest Tegra offering. Earlier this month, Evan Blass of PocketNow posted the first report of the LG X3, which he said is likely to debut at MWC.

Highlights of the device include:

Quad-core Tegra processorAndroid 4.04.7-inch 1280×720 display8 megapixel rear camera, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera16GB of expandable storageBluetooth 4.0, NFC, WiFi 802.11b/g/nHSPA+ 21 Mbps support2,000mAh batteryUnder 9mm thin

Everyone else is showing their Tegra 3 phone next month, so we expect LG to join the party.

Huawei impressed us at CES with their Ascend P1 LTE phone, but the company says they have a new Diamond Series coming at MWC that will be their “smartest, fastest and most high-performing smartphone.” The Ascend P1 LTE was using the new dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4, so we expect the Diamond Series could feature Tegra 3. Not much else is known about the Diamond Series, so hopefully we learn more at MWC.

Asus has announced they will unveil a newly redesigned Padfone at Mobile World Congress. Protoype units show at CES were running Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 processor, but there have been conflicting reports that the final design could feature Tegra 3 instead. Asus produced the first quad-core tablet with their Transformer Prime, so it’s possible they could use the same processor in this flagship phone.

The Padfone is sure to impress with its innovative tablet dock that brings the smartphone’s content to a larger display. The tablet dock is also said to work with the ASUS keyboard docking station from their Transformer tablets, so this could be one of the most interesting products we see at MWC.

In addition to all the leaked quad-core phones, we might see a few surprises. Samsung will not be showing their Galaxy S III phone at MWC, but they will be showing several exciting new mobile products that could include some quad-core devices. These products could be powered by Samsung’s own quad-core Exynos 4412 processor or Samsung could use NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 again (like they did with the Galaxy Tab 10.1).

Motorola appears to be firmly aligned with Texas Instruments processors, but they have a history of dual-sourcing their parts. We saw Motorola use Tegra 2 for their Xoom tablet and Atrix smartphone, so it’s always possible they could surprise us with a Tegra 3 device. My gut tells me they will debut a couple products powered by the new dual-core 1.8 GHz OMAP4470, but anything is possible.

Finally, we could see a special appearance by the Meizu MX quad-core phone. Their dual-core model was powered by the Exynos 4210 and their quad-core model is rumored to use the Exynos 4412, but that chip is not official yet so anything is game.

NVIDIA will steal the show at Mobile World Congress when it comes to mobile quad-core processors, but they won’t be the only game in town. Qualcomm will make a strong showing with their dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4, Texas Instruments will impress with their dual-core 1.8 GHz OMAP4470, and Samsung could reveal their dual-core 2.0 GHz Exynos 5250.

Even though Qualcomm, TI, and Samsung may have chips that offer faster performance, it looks like the average consumer already assumes that quad-core is better than dual-core. I believe most of these chips will offer performance numbers in the same ball park, and the average consumer doesn’t care who wins the different benchmark scores. It will come down to which OEM can best take advantage of the hardware they choose and who can deliver new user experiences that will excite the customer.

My prediction? With Samsung holding their Galaxy S III for a separate event later in the year, HTC comes away with the best smartphone of MWC 2012.

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Mobile Privacy Bill Introduced In The House, Would Regulate Carrier IQ-Like Tracking Software

The Carrier IQ controversy has prompted numerous concerns and fears over citizens’ privacy rights. That’s why Congress has gone ahead and taken precautionary steps to ensure this type of situation never happens again by drafted a bill called The Mobile Device Privacy Act in the House of Representatives. The bill’s sponsor, Representative Ed Markey (D-MA) put it best:

“Consumers have the right to know and say no to the presence of software on their mobile devices that can collect and transmit their personal and sensitive information”.

So what are the details of the bill you ask? Basically if the bill were to be achieved and passed, it would require companies to disclose tracking software and detail what information it collects. Furthermore, it would require consumer consent for any data collection or transmission; while companies that want to transmit data to third parties would need to gain approval from the FTC and FCC in order to do so. Read on to see more of the nitty gritty details and what the next steps are before the bill becomes law.

Take a look at what the bill would require:

Monitoring software must be disclosed when a person buys a mobile phone, and also after the sale if any party decides to install monitoring software after the fact.App makers that include monitoring software must also disclose it.All disclosures must say whether the monitoring software has been installed, and detail the type of information collected, where it’s going, and how it will be used.Consumers must give their consent before monitoring or data transfer takes place.Those who receive data must be able to secure it.Data sharing agreements have to be filed with the FTC and FCC.

The Verge reports that the bill has a way’s to go before it becomes a law. As anyone familiar with the lawmaking process would tell you, a bill’s proposal in the House still has to go through further approval— in this case the bill would then have to be presented to the Senate. However, grabbing support from the Senate side shouldn’t be too much of a problem, considering there’s at least one prominent member who is notably outspoken against Carrier IQ. Senator Al Franken told The Verge that ”the default for collecting any kind of personal data should be opt-in consent” and that “we have a fundamental right to know what information is being collected about us and who it is shared with”. We’re sure there are many individuals who share your sentiment Senator Franken.

We’ve seen established Mobile Carriers take immediate action to ensure consumers’ privacy, now we’re seeing the law play its part too. Stay tuned with Talk Android for further updates on the landmark controversy.

source: The Verge
via: Venture Beat

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Categorized as Android Lawsuits, Android News

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Mobile Phones Outlawed in North Korea

For the next 100 days, mobile phone use is punishable by death.

This is the news we’re hearing trickling out of North Korea, where the country is in mourning for the death of Kim Jong-il. This will continue for 100 days out of “respect” for the late dictator. Anyone found to be using a mobile phone during this period will be labeled a war criminal for which the penalty guarantees jail time and in some cases, death.

Though not an explicit reason, it seems likely that this outlawing of mobile phones also has to do with the the events from Spring 2011. In a time without concrete central power, the Korean government surely wants to prevent any sort of uprising that could occur from mobile phone coordination.

The decision is plain surreal to those of us here in the western world. What would you do without your phone for 100 days? While mobile phones aren’t as ubiquitous in North Korea, for the supposed 700,000 who do have and use them, just imagine being in their shoes when you fire up your favorite app.

source: AndroidPit
via: AndroidAuthority

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Symantec reports the largest Malware scare in the Android Market, Lookout Mobile Security says no way

Symantec is reporting they found what they’re saying is the “highest distibution of any malware identified so far this year.” According to them, up to 5 million users are affected, but before everyone gets their panties in a bunch, they list the risk level as “very low,” not to mention this probably isn’t malware.

It’s called Android.Counterclank, and it can be found in the following applicatons:

The malicious code is grafted in a package called com.apperhand, which is found in each of the above apps. Upon installation the com.apperhand package could complete any of the below functions:

Copy bookmarks on the deviceCopy opt out detailsCopy push notificationsCopy shortcutsIdentify the last executed commandModify the browser’s home pageSteal build information (for example: brand, device, manufacturer, model, OS, etc.)

It may also try to connect to a couple of remote locations.

A major competitor, Lookout Mobile Security, a company we support here at TalkAndroid, say that this isn’t malware and is legitimate. The apperhand package is actually an aggressive advertising component, and part of a modified version of the “ChoopCheec” platform or “Plankton” SDK that caused a stir in June 2011. This newer version is cleaner, and Lookout said the following:

It is capable of identifying the user uniquely by their IMEI number, for instance. But unlike some networks, this SDK forward-hashes the IMEI before sending to its server. They’re identifying your device, but they are obfuscating the raw data. (That’s a good thing.)The SDK has the capability to deliver Push Notification ads to the user. We’re not huge fans of push notifications, but we also don’t consider push notification advertising to be malware.The SDK drops a search icon onto the desktop. Again, we consider bad form, though we don’t consider this a smoking gun for malware provided the content that is delivered is safe.  In this case, it is simply a link to a search engine.The SDK also has the capability to push bookmarks to the browser.  In our opinion, this is crosses a line; although we do not believe this is cause to classify the SDK as malware.

And finally Lookout said:

“Of the applications that were originally identified as malicious, a subset of them have subsequently been pulled from the Android Market. However, it’s important to note that this does not include all identified applications, and reasons for removal may also include content, copyright, or other violations of the Android Market’s Terms of Service.”

The story of Android security continues, and it simply creates great press. Is malware and trojans an issue for Android? I won’t say it isn’t, but there really hasn’t been any major catastrophes as some of these articles and posts would like you to believe. It’s the job of the security firms to make money, so putting a little extra fear into the public’s mindset isn’t a bad thing to them, but at the same time we have to educate ourselves by reading beyond the titles.

source: symantec, lookout
via: androidcentral

» See more articles by Robert Nazarian

Categorized as Android Security

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Samsung Galaxy S III rumored to miss Mobile World Congress

Here’s an interesting rumor. Chris Ziegler of The Verge along with several other German sites are reporting that Samsung will not be announcing their flagship Galaxy S III smartphone at the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.

This comes as a surprise because Samsung unveiled their Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab 10.1 last year at their Unpacked event, the day before MWC kicked off. Many were expecting a repeat performance at this year’s MWC show that starts February 27th.

Ziegler speculates that Samsung was “uncomfortable with another long lag between the global launch and US availability” of the Galaxy S III, which is an interesting theory.

The absence of the Galaxy S III from MWC could also support my own speculation that Samsung might delay the device until their next-generation Exynos 5250 is ready. It is widely believed that Samsung System LSI is already manufacturing Apple’s quad-core A6 processor (based on the Cortex-A9 CPU core), so Samsung might try to one up them with the first mobile processor to use ARM’s Cortex-A15 core.

Earlier this month at CES, I saw the Exynos 5250 in action and I believe it could arrive sooner than expected. Most were expecting the first Cortex-A15 parts at the end of 2012 or early 2013 (like OMAP5), but I think Samsung LSI could deliver the part by early Q3 2012.

At this point we have no real clue what the exact specs of the Galaxy S III will end up becoming, which makes it fun to speculate. MWC is only a month away and I’ll be traveling to Barcelona to dig a little deeper, so hopefully we will learn more soon.

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RetailMeNot Announces Mobile Site for Couponing On the Run

If your a fan of saving money then you may want to pay attention. The popular website, RetailmeNot, has just launched a mobile site for use on your mobile device. Now you can find top coupons from the comfort and ease of a simplified page, making shopping from your smartphone a breeze. If you have never used RetailMeNot before, I strongly suggest you check it out. I have found many coupon codes with them before that I’d never hear about elsewhere. Hit the source link below to see what I am talking about because this should be the first place you go before completing any online order. You might be surprised at what you’ll find!

Mobile RetailMeNot

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Mobile World Congress could come and go without a Samsung Galaxy S III announcement

The Verge and BestBoyZ are reporting that Samsung might not unveil the Galaxy S III during next month’s Mobile World Congress. That would be a shocker since everyone is expecting it since we’ve already heard the rumored specs and seen mock ups. The timing seems right because last year they launched it during the same event, and the assumption is they will come out with a new edition each year. So why the change? It could be the fact that the U.S. takes so long to release the devices. Last year, the Galaxy S II was out for nearly six months before anyone could buy one in the U.S. Yes, there will be a Galaxy S III, we just might not see it next month.

So the question is what will we see? I’m sure there will be a newer version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1, and we just might see the next version of the Galaxy Note. One thing for sure is that we will let you know as soon as we hear more.

[via theverge and bestboyz]

» See more articles by Robert Nazarian

Categorized as Android Leaks & Rumours, Android Manufacturers, Android News, Android Phones

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Mobile Threat Tracker app Visualizes on Timeline [Video]

Posted Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 11:05 am by Antonio Wells Comments Watch on Mobile

Lookout, the folks behind one of the leading mobile security apps, released Mobile Threat Tracker, a visualization app that shows users who are affected and protected by mobile vulnerabilities. It does so with cool particle effects on the globe represented over a timeline you can scroll from days past to the present. Furthermore, you can see to threats in the wild and learn more about their symptoms.

You can download this app or their anti-virus app using convenient tools below:

Lookout Mobile Security FreeLookout Mobile Security. Features: AntiVirus; Blocks viruses & malware, Scans memory card to stop viruses from phone to PC, Ad free! Backs ups Contacts, photos, call history, Access data online, Missing Device, Locates phone on map, Activates loud alarm.Share Android App ReviewSource Lookout

Updating...

Awww… we just got Samsunged
http://youtu.be/vOSgfvTC35A Watch on Mobile Check out this chuckle funny spot that preludes Samsung's Super Bowl commercial. Teasing those that religiously ...

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Sony’s new CMOS smartphone sensors will bring HDR video recording to mobile

Sony may not own the biggest slice of the pie when it comes to overall smartphone market share, but smartphone cameras are a different story. Sony’s smartphone sensors can be found in a number of handsets available all across the globe, where they’re constantly pushing the limits of what a smartphone camera can do. Their latest handsets, the Xperia Ion and S, both come with 12 megapixel Exmor CMOS sensors capable of capturing beautiful pictures in a multitude of different scenarios. But they aren’t stopping there.

Sony has just announced a new CMOS sensor the company is currently developing, that will eventually launch with “RGBW Coding” which will enable HDR video capture. By “stacking” the circuits that go into their new backside-illuminated CMOS sensors, Sony is able reduce the size of current senors, along with power consumption. That translates to better cameras, in smaller places, that don’t use as much battery.

Sony has also announced RGBW coding for these new sensors which adds a white pixel to the conventional arrangement of red, green and blue pixels. By utilizing signal processing, RGBW coding will allow for much higher sensitivity in low-light situations, without any added noise or loss of quality. RGBW coding will also allow for HDR video recording for added contrast and clarity in bright light situations.

Look for Sony’s new CMOS sensors to start shipping this spring. An 8 megapixel sensor without RGBW will ship in March, while a 13 megapixel and 8 megapixel sensor with RGBW coding will ship in June and August respectively.

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Huawei’s Diamond series smartphones set to shine at Mobile World Congress

Huawei has yet to make a real impact on the American market with the handsets they’ve released so far, but CES 2012 left us yearning for more. When Huawei unveiled the Ascend P1 S, they made it clear just how badly they want to break out of the prepaid, free-on-contract market in the US, and into the high-end. Unveiling the world’s thinnest smartphone with Android 4.0, a qHD Super AMOLED display, and a dual-core Snapdragon processor is one way to do it, but even that may not be what Huawei considers high-end.

Huawei has scheduled a press event for February 26th, one day before Mobile World Congress kicks off, where they plan to detail their Diamond series high-end Android phones. Tagged as being the “smartest, fastest and most high-performing smartphone(s),” it’s not clear exactly how Huawei would build on the still unreleased Ascend P1 S or P1 LTE.

If Huawei wants to keep up with top manufacturers like Samsung, HTC and Sony, then there’s a good chance their Diamond series devices will feature quad-core processors, HD displays and some sort of advanced imaging technology.

With just over a month until Mobile World Congress kicks off, we’re finally starting to get an idea of what to expect at the show. Everyone from LG and HTC to Epson will have something running Android on display. Is there any particular device you’re really looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below.

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Review: IOGear Mobile Power Station was ultimate CES life-saver

The short battery life that accompanies our Android smartphones can be one of the biggest everyday frustrations. Users have opted to use multiple and extended batteries or plug themselves to a power outlet as often as possible. Another great solution for this issue is to buy a handy portable battery charger. The IOGear GearPower High Capacity Mobile Power Station (Amazon link posted below) happens to be one of the best (and most affordable) options available.

We thought the best test for any portable charger would be CES, since attendees spend most of the time outdoors. Whether it be on the showfloor or at any of the other events, those 4G LTE smartphones are bound to die off in the middle of the day.

After carrying multiple portable charging devices, the IOGEAR Mobile Power Station was definitely the one that stood out from the crowd. Some of the other ones were a bit smaller, but were not even worth carrying around, as they barely tickled our devices’ batteries. Others were simply not as efficient, so I decided to carry this one as my sole alternative charging unit.

Everything went great throughout CES, and I managed to never run out of battery without using a single power outlet at the convention center. This bad boy holds a 6,600 mAh battery and has two ports, which allows you to charge a couple of devices simultaneously. The charging station is also not as large and heavy as some of the competing portable chargers.

It’s definitely not the smallest, but this device does have the advantage of featuring 2 USB charging ports. One of them is a 2.1 amp charging port while the other one charges at 1 amp. The 2.1 A USB port is meant for more power-hungry devices, but you can also use it for the little guys. It simply affects the speed at which the device is being charged.

While its 6,600 mAh battery can charge the average smartphone 3-4 times, it does not perform as well in the real world. This would be the case if the device were turned off while charging, but you usually use a device while plugged to the external battery. I am usually able to charge my HTC Thunderbolt about twice while using it (with 4G LTE).

It is important to note that this charger by no means charges your devices as fast as a power outlet would. It usually takes about 4 hours to fully charge the Thunderbolt when plugged in to the 2.1A port (while using it). I am able to completely charge an iPod Nano within half an hour, though (1A port). It all depends on your device and how much juice it eats up.

This IOGear charger is very straight-forward and simple to use, as are most portable chargers. It has one button, a light indicator, a micro USB port for charging the portable battery, and two USB ports for charging your devices. That’s it. And it’s just as simple to operate.

Simply press the button, and the light indicator will let you know how charged your IOGear power station’s battery is (4 blue lights for full battery and 0 for empty). To charge your devices, plug them in to either of the USB ports and press the button to begin juicing up your device(s). When the portable battery dies, plug your micro USB cable/power charger (two pieces) in to the power outlet, and the light indicator will let you know when the device is fully charged.

There is downside, though. The portable charger cannot charge your devices while it is being charged itself. Adding such a feature would have been great, but this is definitely not a deal breaker. If you’re charging the battery, you’re probably near a power outlet, anyway. But let’s take a look at the good and the bad:

Large battery – 6,600 mAh2 USB ports – 2.1A and 1AEasy to useVery portable, considering its functionality (3.5×4.4×0.6 inches ; 7.2 ounces)Can’t charge portable battery and devices simultaneouslyCharging speed is much slower than a power outlet (but not horrible, either)

The pros definitely overshadow the cons with this product. It’s definitely one of the best portable chargers we’ve seen. And for its price, it’s quite a no-brainer if you’re looking to extend your battery life. This device goes for a mere $42.24 at Amazon, and it ships for free with Super Saver Shipping.

It is small enough to carry around in your bag or in a larger pocket. I usually wear cargo pants/shorts, so I would just stick this charger on one of the lower pockets with a cable coming up to my regular side pocket (where my phone would be). You can easily stick both in a bag or back pack, though, if you’re not into wearing cables.

We would recommend the IOGear Mobile Power Station to anyone in the market for a portable charger. Be sure to take a look at it before making your decision. There are more images, as well as a video, posted below. Go ahead and take a look at it for more details, and long live our batteries!

Would you guys get one of these for a bit over $42? (Amazon link is right below if you are interested). If you currently use another of these devices, do you think it is better? Which one is it?

Amazon link: IOGear GearPower High Capacity Mobile Power Station

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“What’s Hot” & +1 Enhancements Come to Google+ Mobile Site

The Google+ mobile website saw an update today, putting it a step ahead of its app counterpart. Specifically this update included the very popular “What’s Hot” stream and the ability to see who  +1'd a post. With “What’s Hot”, you can now see some of the most interesting content being shared on Google+ with a flick of your thumb. To use it, just swipe to the right of your Circles stream.  To see who +1'd a post in the stream, just click on the +1 count underneath the post. It’s a small improvement that makes it easier to engage with others around content. Google says the app update is in the pipe, so stay tuned.

[via Google+]

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Categorized as Android News

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