ARM claims new GPU has desktop-class brains, requests OpenCL certificate to prove it

It's been a while since ARM announced its next generation of Mali GPUs, the T604 and T658, but in the semiconductor business silence should never be confused with inactivity. Behind the scenes, the chip designers have been working with Khronos -- that great keeper of open standards -- to ensure the new graphics processors are fully compliant with OpenCL and are therefore able to use their silicon for general compute tasks (AR, photo manipulation, video rendering etc.) as well as for producing pretty visuals.

Importantly, ARM isn't settling for the Embedded Profile version of OpenCL that has been "relaxed" for mobile devices, but is instead aiming for the same Full Profile OpenCL 1.1 found in compliant laptop and desktop GPUs. A tall order for a low-power processor, perhaps, but we have a strong feeling that Khronos's certification is just a formality at this point, and that today's news is a harbinger of real, commercial T6xx-powered devices coming before the end of the year. Even the souped-up Mali 400 in the European Galaxy S III can only reign for so long.

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Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs

ARM claims new GPU has desktop-class brains, requests OpenCL certificate to prove it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Newport Media claims tiniest, lowest-power 802.11n WiFi chip yet, smartphones get a little less thirsty

Cellular chipsets get all the love these days, but it's WiFi that's still the most ubiquitous -- and often the most consistent drain on the battery. Newport Media might have that last problem solved through its new NMC1000 chip. The part is billed as the lowest-power 802.11n wireless system-on-a-chip you'll find, and potentially a big help to smartphones and other devices that lean heavily on a wire-free existence. At just 2.5mm (0.1 inches) square, the equally record-setting size should also please device makers trying to squeeze wireless into an exceptionally tiny footprint. If you're as excited about the prospect of WiFi everywhere as Newport's Stock Photography Woman above appears to be, you can get more details below and expect full-scale production in the fall.

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Newport Media claims tiniest, lowest-power 802.11n WiFi chip yet, smartphones get a little less thirsty originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 21:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NPR's <em>Planet Money</em> claims the fate of the U.S. auto industry rests on the success of... Lincoln?

Filed under: Etc., Ford, Lincoln

To claim the fate of the U.S. auto industry rests on the success or failure of Lincoln is about as bold a statement as one can make, but that's how far NPR program Planet Money goes in its latest episode (scroll down to listen). The gist of host Alex Blumberg and contributor Sonari Glinton's argument is that a successful luxury brand brings in more profit per unit sold, creates domestic manufacturing jobs and generates innovative technology that eventually trickles down an automaker's entire lineup. All those things contribute to the overall health of an automaker, and if Lincoln (and Cadillac for that matter) were successful competing against the world's top luxury brands, then Ford - and by extension the U.S. auto industry - would be in much better shape.

To make this point, the two hosts draw an analogy between Lincoln and Audi, the latter of which has risen on a wave of methodically executed success for over a decade to become a global leader in automotive luxury with the youngest clientele in the business. To achieve this success, Glinton argues that Audi followed the following three-step plan.

Step 1: Become known.
Step 2: Totally separate yourself from the parent company.
Step 3: Make a really cool car.

There's no argument that Audi has done these things and that they've contributed to the brand's success, but Glint goes on to explain how Lincoln is trying to walk the same path to similar success. To become better known, it will soon launch a new marketing campaign to replace the one starring Roger Sterling from Mad Men. To separate itself from Ford, Lincoln has created its own design center a few miles down the road. And as for the really cool car, that would be the new MKZ. From listening to the episode, one doesn't get the sense that even Blumberg or Glint believes Lincoln will achieve what Audi has for parent company Volkswagen, but they seem to put a lot at stake if it doesn't.

And that's where we differ with Planet Money. While there are countless positives that would result from Lincoln becoming a world-class luxury carmaker, Ford has survived and even thrived in recent years despite not being able to improve the marque's fortunes with consumers. Even if this latest attempt doesn't get Lincoln a mention in Jay-Z's next single (acknowledgment by the rap community appears to be the clearest indicator of luxury brand's success), past experience tells us that Ford - and Lincoln - will just keep trying.

Continue reading NPR's Planet Money claims the fate of the U.S. auto industry rests on the success of... Lincoln?

NPR's Planet Money claims the fate of the U.S. auto industry rests on the success of... Lincoln? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cisco sues TiVo to nullify four DVR patents, claims TiVo's just a big meanie

TiVo is known for being more than a bit aggressive in claiming patent rights for its DVRs, and Cisco has apparently had the last straw. Scientific Atlanta's owner has sued TiVo this week in an attempt to negate four patents that TiVo is allegedly using to bully Cisco and other set-top box makers. As long as those patents are active or usable against others, TiVo will refuse to give a fair license, Cisco says -- leaving competitors with little choice but to either agree to a costly settlement or risk a ban. Before championing Cisco as the underdog, remember that it's likely counting on a large patent library as a Sword of Damocles over TiVo's head that could fall if TiVo decides on a countersuit. Regardless of the strategic maneuvering, there's no doubt that Cisco is hoping to avoid a lawsuit on the scale of the epic-length EchoStar case.

Cisco sues TiVo to nullify four DVR patents, claims TiVo's just a big meanie originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iCache Geode claims title of first shipping iPhone e-wallet, asks 'who needs NFC?'

Apple has been sending mixed signals as to whether or not it will bring NFC to the iPhone for mobile payments, but iCache clearly isn't waiting for the technology to show its face -- the company just started shipping its Geode e-wallet. As we saw just a few weeks ago, the Geode simply rolls existing credit and debit cards into a proxy GeoCard that's scanned at the store to handle transactions. Although it demands a specially-made case with an e-paper screen and fingerprint reader, not to mention an app to manage the attached cards, the choice lets an iPhone owner buy goods at all the usual places instead of having to hunt down special terminals. We like the one-card universe it creates, although it's clear the shopper has to carry a lot of the responsibility for making this digital payment dream a reality: at $200 a pop, the Geode's wallet-slimming effect carries a premium, especially since it won't work with anything besides an iPhone 4 or 4S.

iCache Geode claims title of first shipping iPhone e-wallet, asks 'who needs NFC?' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gigabyte makes 975g X11 official, claims 'world's lightest' 11.6-inch notebook (update: hands-on)

Well hello there again, Gigabyte X11. Hot on the heels of yesterday's leak, Gigabyte's just made its 11.6-inch X11 laptop (or is that an Ultrabook?) official. At 975g (34.4oz) it claims the title of "lightest notebook on earth" -- and weighs even less on Mars. Design-wise, you're looking at a 16.5mm (0.65-inch) to 3mm (0.19-inch) thin Macbook Air-like body made of real carbon fiber (!) with an aluminum hinge. Under the hood you'll find unspecified third generation Intel Core processors (read Ivy Bridge), 4GB of DDR3 RAM, Mobile Intel HM77 Express chipset with Intel HD Graphics 4000, a 128GB SSD, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth v4.0.

Ports include power, USB 2.0 and mini DisplayPort on the left side plus microSD, combo audio and USB 3.0 on the right. While the specs also mention gigabit Ethernet, there's no sign of it anywhere in the press shots. The display is a 1366x768-pixil LED-backlit affair dotted with a 1.3 megapixel webcam. A chicklet keyboard, buttonless trackpad and 4730mAh 7.4V Li-ion polymer battery (likely sealed) complete the package. There's no information on availability, but prices will range from $999 to $1299 with Windows 7 Home Premium and Professional in tow. Expect more information when we get our hands on this sexy beast at Computex next week.

Update: Our colleagues over at Engadget Chinese just got some hands-on time with this svelte black slab.

Gallery: Gigabyte X11 PR shots and specs

In addition, Gigabyte's announcing two 14-inch laptops -- the U2442 and U2440 -- which feature third generation Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce graphics. Unfortunately, we're still busy drooling all over the X11 gallery, so we'll direct you to the full PR after the break for more information.

Continue reading Gigabyte makes 975g X11 official, claims 'world's lightest' 11.6-inch notebook (update: hands-on)

Gigabyte makes 975g X11 official, claims 'world's lightest' 11.6-inch notebook (update: hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 03:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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