MediaTek Deca-Core Processor Featured in the Upcoming Elephone P9000

There are a lot of rumors about MediaTek Helio X20 MT6797 going around recently. The most amazing thing is that the chipset will be coming with a 10-core processor which is the first in the industry. Based on this, people are putting a high expectation on the smartphone which will be running on this chipset. Recently, there is confirmation that the 10-core processor chipset will make its initial debut in Elephone P9000.

MediaTek Helio X20 10-core processor is designed in a tri-cluster CPU architecture, 2 core A72 clocked at 2.3GHz, 4 cores A53 clocked at 2GHz as well as 4 cores A53 clocked at 1.4GHz. The structure is aimed to maximize the performance while using the minimum power so the smartphone which equipped with this chipset is expected to be fast as well as power efficient. On top of that, the chipset is expected to support up to 32MP camera with a built-in 3D depth engine, LTE Cat-6 as well as 4K video playback and recording support.

Elephone P9000, on the other hand, will be running on Android 5.1 OS, 4GB RAM, 32GB internal storage which can be expanded to 128GB using external microSD, 20.7MP rear camera and 8MP front camera. The smartphone will have a 5.5-inches Full HD display, dual SIM as well as 3100 mAh battery size. Unfortunately, there is no confirmation whether the smartphone will be using Mali T860 or T880 as the GPU.

Elephone P9000 is expected to be launched in fourth quarter of 2015 with price tagged at $500.

MediaTek Deca-Core Processor Featured in the Upcoming Elephone P9000

Freetel Katana 01 and Katana 02 are the first Windows 10 Mobile phones from Japan

Japan based smartphone manufacturer- Freetel, has announced the country’s first Windows 10 Mobile handsets called as the Katana 01 and the Katana 02. Both the handsets come with the mid-range hardware configuration and fall in the affordable pricing segment. Let’s us take a look at the specs for the device.

The Freetel Katana 01 has got a 4.5inch display with 480 x 854 resolution powered with a quad-core chipset and has a LTE connectivity on-board along with front and rear facing cameras and battery capacity of 1700mAh.

The Katana 02 is a larger model than the Katana 01 which comes with a 5inch display and 720 x 1280 pixel resolution and a quad-core chipset to its core.  Similarly, this model too has a LTE connectivity, with front and rear cameras and a bigger 2600mAh of battery life.

As soon as Microsoft releases the Windows 10 Mobile, expected to come this September, the company will soon release the two handsets. The Katana 01 is priced at just $160 while the Katana 02 is priced for $240.

source: Freetel

Freetel Katana 01 and Katana 02 are the first Windows 10 Mobile phones from Japan

Apple patents for a new metal like looking material that allows wireless reception

Well, many of the users of the Apple iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus have some of the issues with the antenna lines of the handset as they were getting discolored by sliding the handset in and out of the jeans pocket. The company now seems to get rid of the antenna lines issue that are necessary to get the radio signal through the anodized metal used on the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. Taking a step forward in this direction, the Cupertino giant has recently filed an patent with the USPTO for a new metal like material which has the same look and fell as to the one used in the latest iPhone. However, this new material will allow the radio signals to reach the components inside the handset and with the same transparency allow them to let them through.

The patent shows up different ways that Apple could imitate this anodized metal. One of the ways is depositing a non-capacitive layer on the top of a metal oxide layer. Another way is to imitate the metal oxide layer and then cover it non-capacitive layer. Below is what the Apple’s patent application reads.

“Composite structures that have an appearance of an anodized bulk metal but that is non-capacitive and/or radio frequency (RF) transparent are disclosed. The composite structure can be part of an enclosure of an electronic device. The composite structure can give the enclosure a metallic look without interfering with the functioning of some electronic components of the electronic device, such as RF antennas, touch pads and touch screens. Some embodiments involve forming a metal oxide layer and depositing a non-capacitive layer on the metal oxide layer. Some embodiments involve forming an imitation metal oxide layer and depositing a non-capacitive layer on the imitation metal oxide layer.”

However, there is no guarantee of Apple using this filed patent method in their next iteration handset but it certainly gives users the ray of hope to overcome the antenna lines issue.

source: USPTO

via BusinessInsider

Apple patents for a new metal like looking material that allows wireless reception

5G Network Reported to Provide Speeds Up To 20Gbps Will be Ready by 2018 Olympics

Korean Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning has sent out 12 members to an ITU(International Telecommunication Union) meeting in San Diego a few days ago. The agenda is to contribute to the process of defining 5G network and how it should work in the future. 5G network will go by the name of IMT-2020 which has the same naming convention as 3G network (IMT-2000) and 4G (IMT-Advanced). The official name however, will be approved at ITU’s Radio Assembly in Geneva in October.

The union is reported to agree that 5G network should be able to transmit data up to 20gbps with average of more than 100mbps to more than one millions of network devices within 1 square kilometer. This requirement is aligned with the Internet of Things concept. With this kind of speed, there should not be any issue with video content services including the ones which use holographic technology.

The union also decided that 5G network should be ready for commercial purposes by 2020 worldwide.  5G network is planned to be showcased in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games as it is an international event. It is reported that KT telecom is chosen to showcase this technology among other local telecom companies which is also developing 5G network.

For the international spectrum distribution, the union plans to start it in 2019. The Korean ministry said that it will do its best to take the leading role in the spectrum distribution in the upcoming global telecommunication meetings which will be held in July and November.

5G Network Reported to Provide Speeds Up To 20Gbps Will be Ready by 2018 Olympics

BBC Coming Up with Mind-Controlled TV

BBC is coming up with a TV which can be operated based on our mind. This is good news for all the couch potatoes out there! As with this mind controlled TV, they do not need to lift a finger to open an app in the TV or select a program to watch.

The mind controlled TV is now being developed by BBC’s Digital division. According to the Head of business development for the division, Cyrus Saihan, the television is aimed to give preview for program makers, technologists and others of the possibilities that can be made based on this technology. One of these possibilities is for the people with disabilities as well as an opportunity to develop a better user interface. It also can be useful in a scenario whereby the drivers do not need to lift their fingers from the steering wheel when they want to change the radio station in their cars.

The prototype is using a low-cost electroencephalography (EEG) brainwave ready headset which is similar to the technology which is used for Melomind and Muse brain-training apps. The way that it works is that the headset monitors on the electrical activity of the brain which in the end is transmitting signal to the apps to use concentration or meditation as a command to do something. The app then will display something like volume bar on the screen which in the end will carry out certain actions according to the level of the concentration.

The users are presented with five popular BBC shows. When the users want to watch one of them, they will need to concentrate for 10 seconds and the program will start playing.

Well, this sounds good and hopefully, we can get the final version soon!

BBC Coming Up with Mind-Controlled TV

Xiaomi Mi Band 2 render shows it to be having a new touchscreen

Chinese handset manufacturer launched its own fitness tracker Mi Band last year in July and is experiencing a huge response from the user community with nearly 6 million sales. The fitness tracker has gained much popularity because of its very affordable pricing of just $12 USD. Now a new render for the second iteration of the fitness tracker was seen at the Weibo website which shows it to be having a touchscreen on it.

It the newly released render turns out to be true, it means that the fitness tracker will get its own touchscreen. This means that users will not have to rely on their handset screen everytime to read the data and it would be readily available on the user’s wrist. The Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is also expected to be having a built-in NFC chip for connectivity and we can also expect the pricing of the Mi Band 2 to go bit higher.

Its been  year almost after the first Mi Band got launched and it would be no unwise to expect the company coming up with its next Mi Band 2 in next month. We would still wait for an official word from the company for the confirmation on this.

source: leakGK

Xiaomi Mi Band 2 render shows it to be having a new touchscreen

Samsung announces its new Galaxy J7 and Galaxy J5 - the first front-facing LED flash handsets

Samsung has recently announced its two new handsets the Samsung Galaxy J5 and the Galaxy J7 recently in China as the first handset to have front facing LED flash.

Both the handsets are the first to have the front facing LED flash and come with some mid-range specs. The Samsung Galaxy J7 sports a 5.5inch display with 720 x 1280 pixel resolution. To its heart lies a octa-core chipset the Snapdragon 615 supported with 1.5GB of RAM memory. The device also has an 16GB of expandable storage space. To its back lies a 13MP primary camera having f/1.9 aperture while its front has a 5MP secondary camera with LED flash. The handset has got an battery capacity of 3000mAh.

On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy J5 has a 5inch display with 720p resolution. To its heart lies a less powerful 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 chipset. The RAM memory, internal storage and camera configuration is similar to the Galaxy J7. The battery capacity of the Galaxy J5 is 2600mAh.

Both these handsets run the latest Android 5.1 Lollipop and will be available in China in three different color variations of white, black and gold. The J7 will cost 1,798 CNY (around $289), while the J5 will be sold for 1,398 CNY (around $225).

It would be interesting to see if Samsung releases both these handsets in other locations across the globe. Check out the images for the two devices below.

source: Samsung China (Galaxy J7, Galaxy J5)

Samsung announces its new Galaxy J7 and Galaxy J5 - the first front-facing LED flash handsets