Tag: Mobile Tech

Nvidia has gone all official with its Tegra 2 “super chip” for mobile phones and tablets. Featuring a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU, 1080p output, and efficient power consumption, the Tegra 2 will take mobile phones to a new level of graphical excellence. Gamers will be interested in the Tegra Zone app, which helps Android users find games that take advantage of the Tegra 2’s power. Here’s a clip from the press release:

It allows consumers to find Tegra-optimized games for their super phone or tablet, along with professional game reviews, high-res screenshots, HD video trailers, gameplay videos, and behind-the-scenes featurettes. Consumers can complete their purchase of Tegra Zone games on the Android Market.

Although I’m excited about the potential of dual-core chips for mobile phones and annoyed that a company is using the term “super chip”, the thing that’s stuck in my head is Tegra Zone. I keep hearing Kenny Loggins singing, “Highway to the Tegra Zone!” and that’s going to be in my head for at least the next two hours.

What do you think of the Tegra 2 and Tegra Zone app? What do you think this will do for mobile game and, more specifically, Android gaming?

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Opera has released a teaser video for an upcoming version of its popular mobile web browser. This particular flavor will be optimized for tablet computers. The video shows the browser running on a Samsung Galaxy Tab (Google Android) tablet. While the stock Android browser is pretty excellent, Opera’s aggressive caching should help people lower their data usage, which will come in handy for people dealing with data caps.

The video doesn’t show a whole lot, but I expect more to be revealed when CES 2011 kicks off in full force.

A lot of you are familiar with Vizio as a company that offers quality televisions at a relatively affordable price. Get ready to know them as an Android phone and tablet company too. Vizio has officially announced the four-inch Via phone and the eight-inch Via tablet. Both products feature Google Android (looks like Honeycomb) and special connectivity with Vizio televisions. Here’s a clip from the press release:

The Vizio Via Phone features a 1 GHz processor, 4? high-resolution capacitive touch screen, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS, a MicroSD card slot for memory expansion and HDMI output with HD video playback. It also features a front-facing camera for video chats and a 5 megapixel rear camera for photos and HD video capture.

The Vizio Via Tablet also features a 1 GHz processor, with an 8? high-resolution capacitive touch screen, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS, a MicroSD card slot for additional memory expansion, HDMI output with HD video playback, and a front-facing camera for video chats. It also boasts a unique three-speaker design for stereo audio in both portrait and landscape modes.

Both devices include HD video playback with HDMI video output, high quality audio processing and built-in universal remote control app that make these the ideal handheld companions to the HD entertainment experience.

There are several interesting things in play here. It’s interesting to see that a consumer electronics company that isn’t known for making portable devices is taking a stab at the phone and tablet market. It will be interesting to see if the Vizio brand and connectivity to its televisions will attract consumers. While I don’t expect many tech geeks to flock to these phones, Vizio has been successful with general consumers at retail outlets like Costco and Sam’s Club; perhaps people that bought Vizio televisions at these stores will be attracted to an Android product (and universal remote) from Vizio too.

What do you think of the Via? Are you surprised that Vizio is getting into this game? Do you think the company’s Android venture will be successful? Or will it be a flash in the pan? Any of you own Vizio TVs? Does an Android phone or tablet that works a universal Vizio remote appeal to you?

Amazon has announced that the latest version of its Kindle e-reader has supplanted Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as its best-selling item ever. With its low $139 price point, the Kindle has been selling like crazy in 2010. Some people believed that the Apple iPad’s versatility and coolness meant doom for the Kindle. Instead, tech geeks have bought both devices, while users solely concerned with reading books — a novel concept, I know — have snatched up the Kindle at its low price. Here’s a snippet from the press release:

“We’re grateful to the millions of customers who have made the all-new Kindle the bestselling product in the history of Amazon — surpassing Harry Potter 7,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. “We’re seeing that many of the people who are buying Kindles also own an LCD tablet. Customers report using their LCD tablets for games, movies, and web browsing and their Kindles for reading sessions. They report preferring Kindle for reading because it weighs less, eliminates battery anxiety with its month-long battery life, and has the advanced paper-like Pearl e-ink display that reduces eye-strain, doesn’t interfere with sleep patterns at bedtime, and works outside in direct sunlight, an important consideration especially for vacation reading. Kindle’s $139 price point is a key factor — it’s low enough that people don’t have to choose.”

I’m a big fan of the Kindle and the iPad. I understand why people would want both. How about you? Are you interested in the Kindle? Does its low price point appeal to you? How about being able to read outdoors (beach, pool, etc.)? Or do you think that the Kindle is a limited device?

P.S. This was my first post written on my Google Chrome Cr-48!

Sorry things have been slow today, boys and girls. I woke up to a very early delivery and was surprised to a find a Google Chrome Cr-48 notebook! Like any tech nerd, I forgot about the rest of the world and played around with my new gadget for several hours. I’m going to put it through its paces and make a video on the Cr-48. For now, please let me know if you have any questions about Google’s Chrome OS reference laptop.