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NVIDIA officially brands Tegra 3′s five-core quad-core architecture as 4-PLUS-1

Sean Buckley — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:54:00 +0000

NVIDIA's cooked up a few ways to describe the Tegra 3's quad-core-with-a-spare architecture, usually by giving the extra Cortex A9 a cute nickname like "ninja," or "companion." Until now, the proper description was "Variable Symmetrical Multiprocessing," or, vSMP for short. Despite how much fun (and technically accurate) some of these descriptions may have been, however, they just aren't marketable. "Our customers wanted a name for it that's unique and descriptive," writes mobile business unit general manager Michael Rayfield, "A name they could put on a box or a store sign that immediately represents its value." That official name is the 4-PLUS-1 quad-core architecture, he says, and you'll probably see it pop up a few times in Barcelona next week if LG's latest offering is any indication. It lacks something in pizzaz, to be sure, but we'll admit that it is at least descriptive of the Tegra 3's technical chops. In related news, NVIDIA promises the Tegra will be less fickle about its new moniker than the symbol formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince.

NVIDIA officially brands Tegra 3's five-core quad-core architecture as 4-PLUS-1 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZTE to unleash eight new phones at MWC, hopes multi-core chipsets and LTE push them into third place

Sean Buckley — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:05:00 +0000

If the trio of slabs ZTE announced earlier this week weren't enough for you, sit tight, the outfit just announced it's bringing a total of eight new phones to Barcelona next week. The new handsets will reportedly flaunt multi-core processors, LTE radios and the latest versions of the Android and Windows Phone platforms. This announcement both echos and one-ups the recently announced Mimosa X, which gets its dual-core chops from an NVIDIA Tegra 2, but boasts only HSPA+, rather than the promised LTE. ZTE says it hopes the new devices will help it become one of the world's top three handset providers by the year 2015. Seem far off? Don't worry, at least the phones will be here by Monday. Read on for ZTE's official press statement.

Continue reading ZTE to unleash eight new phones at MWC, hopes multi-core chipsets and LTE push them into third place

ZTE to unleash eight new phones at MWC, hopes multi-core chipsets and LTE push them into third place originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Optimus 4X HD unveiled: Quad-core Tegra 3, Ice Cream Sandwich, 4.7-inch display

Richard Lawler — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:10:00 +0000

If LG failed to impress so far with the Android 2.3 phones it's shown off in the run up to MWC 2012, perhaps the Optimus 4X HD can turn things around. This 4.7-inch beast will hit Europe in the second quarter and is its first to feature a 1.5GHz quad-core Tegra 3 as its benchmark destroying CPU, a 4.7-inch True HD IPS LCD (1280x720) plus what appears to be a lightly customized version of Ice Cream Sandwich. Perhaps the only logical followup to its Optimus 2X that kicked off all the dual-core madness, it also includes a 2,150mAh battery, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. Despite that huge screen, at a depth of 8.9mm it's only slightly thicker than the superwide 4x3 Optimus Vu. Just like the Fujitsu prototype we spent some time with at CES, the Tegra 3 features a 4+1 "Companion Core" design, with a fifth low power unit available to take care of more mundane tasks without draining the battery. This is all pretty close to the leaked "X3" specs we'd heard, however there's no mention of NFC or HSPA+ just yet, only DLNA and MHL. Check out the machine translated Korean press release after the break for a few more specs.

Continue reading LG Optimus 4X HD unveiled: Quad-core Tegra 3, Ice Cream Sandwich, 4.7-inch display

LG Optimus 4X HD unveiled: Quad-core Tegra 3, Ice Cream Sandwich, 4.7-inch display originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook PS Vita app hits US PlayStation Store

Joe Pollicino — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:43:00 +0000

Although the PlayStation Vita's official US launch brought with it the pleasures of LiveTweeting, WiFi-only Netflix access and Flickr's photo-based networking, its Facebook and Foursquare apps were curiously absent. Today that's partially changed, however, as Sony's announced that the service that Zuckerberg built is now available as a free 12MB download from the PlayStation Store (on the wall of its PlayStation Facebook profile no less). We've gained access to the social network without a hitch, so be sure to let us know how it goes on your side of the screen in the comments. Hopefully it's more pleasing than AR table soccer.

Gallery: PS Vita Facebook app screenshots (US)

[Thanks, Mauricio]

Facebook PS Vita app hits US PlayStation Store originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix locks up Academy Award nominated exclusives from The Weinstein Company

Richard Lawler — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:26:00 +0000

If you're looking for more content to watch on Netflix's Watch Instantly streaming service -- especially since all those Starz movies are exiting stage left at month's end -- we have good news, as it just announced a multi-year exclusive deal with The Weinstein Company. The agreement covers foreign language, documentary and "certain other movies" that will be watchable in their pay-TV window only on Netflix, and not HBO or Showtime. That includes such high profile selections as The Artist, which is nominated for 17 Academy Awards this weekend and Best Documentary nominated Undefeated, as well as other flicks like Coriolanus and The Intouchables. Of course, this is still Netflix so while fans of subtitles and exposés may be sated, The Weinstein Company's more mainstream flicks and Dimension Films releases like Scream 4 aren't included, as they're still Showtime exclusives due to the deal it signed with the channel back in '08. Either way, more movies is more movies and you can check out all the details in the press release after the break, hopefully this deal works out better than HD DVD's exclusive Weinstein pact did back in the day.

Continue reading Netflix locks up Academy Award nominated exclusives from The Weinstein Company

Netflix locks up Academy Award nominated exclusives from The Weinstein Company originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Street View now sending snapshots from Russia, with love

Billy Steele — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:42:00 +0000

We've lived vicariously through Google Maps a few times in the past, including an excursion down the Amazon River. Today, those plans for a trip to Russia can get a lot more detailed as Street View is now virtually pacing the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Points of interest that you'll be able to take a peek at include Red Square, Moscow Kremlin, Peterhof and both Tsaritsino and Kuskovo parks. Hit the source links below to get that sightseeing adventure started -- sans backpack, of course.

Google Street View now sending snapshots from Russia, with love originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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M3 Android NFC Communicator mixes something old, something new for prepaid subs

Joseph Volpe — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:16:00 +0000

Malaysia may not be on the tip of anyone's tongue when wireless comes to mind, but that's not stopping local outfit DMD Mobile from attempting to make its mark. Set for an official unveiling at next week's Mobile World Congress, the M3 Android NFC Communicator is the outfit's clumsily titled stab at the prepaid market in South Asia and the Middle East. The touchscreen handset, to be available in both 2.6-inch portrait QWERTY and 3.2-inch candybar form factors, comes loaded up with a surprising mix of last- and current-gen specs: 650Mhz single-core CPU running a skinned version of Gingerbread 2.3.5, support for dual-band HSPA+ (850 / 2100MHz) and quadband GSM, VGA front-facing / 3MP rear cameras, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi and NFC. Sure, it's not the most thrilling of forward-looking devices to surface this year, but priced at RM500 (that's about US$165), it's certainly more of a great deal than it is bargain bin entry. Hit up the source below for additional info on this low-hanging mobile fruit.

M3 Android NFC Communicator mixes something old, something new for prepaid subs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SanDisk makes 128-gigabit flash chip, crams three bits per cell, takes afternoon off

James Trew — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:37:00 +0000

SanDisk has developed a chip that earns it membership in the exclusive 128-gigabit club. Not content with simply matching the Micron / Intel effort, SanDisk and its partner Toshiba claim their new memory uses 19- rather than 20-nanometer cells in the production process. Shrinking the size is one thing, but SanDisk's new chips also use its X3 / three-bit technology. Most memory stores just two bits per cell; cramming in another means fewer cells, less silicon, more savings, cheaper memory, happier geeks. Analyst Jim Handy estimates that the price per gigabyte for the tri-bit breed of flash could be as low as 28 cents, compared to 35 for the Micron / Intel equivalent. Full details in the not-so-compact press release after the break.

Continue reading SanDisk makes 128-gigabit flash chip, crams three bits per cell, takes afternoon off

SanDisk makes 128-gigabit flash chip, crams three bits per cell, takes afternoon off originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adafruit’s Internet of Things Printer combines your love of information, receipts

Brian Heater — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:01:00 +0000

Love staying connected and using excess paper? Adafruit's got your back with its latest project. The Internet of Things (IoT) printer goes online via an Ethernet jack, printing up data on 2.5 inch wide receipt paper. You can print things like Twitter feeds, news briefs or sports scores using its open source software. Putting the box together requires some soldering and an Arduino, but once you're done, you'll finally be able to live out your fantasies of becoming an old timey stock broker. Video of the printer with a slightly grating Twitter song soundtrack after the break.

Continue reading Adafruit's Internet of Things Printer combines your love of information, receipts

Adafruit's Internet of Things Printer combines your love of information, receipts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OnLive Desktop launches ‘Plus’ subscriptions, puts IE in your iPad

Sean Buckley — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:42:00 +0000

OnLive has already given Microsoft loving iPad owners a hefty, gratis helping of Windows 7, but that doesn't mean they haven't been building a paywall. What's behind the freshly dried brick and mortar? OnLive Desktop Plus, an optional, subscription based upgrade that touts new features for users who are willing to pay a fee. Five dollars a month buys you a cloud-accelerated web browser (that would be Internet Explorer 9, complete with fully functioning Adobe Flash and Acrobat plug-ins) and priority access to the OnLive Desktop service -- freeloading "standard" subscribers can only access the service on an as-available basis. OnLive says that the cloud powered browser's full Windows experience finally gives the iPad full Flash compatibility, giving you the chance to feed your nostalgic need to watch cartoons check their email. We got an early look at the app, read on for a quick hands-on and OnLive's official press release.

Continue reading OnLive Desktop launches 'Plus' subscriptions, puts IE in your iPad

OnLive Desktop launches 'Plus' subscriptions, puts IE in your iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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