Archos has released a new version of Appslib 2.0

Archos has just released a new version of AppsLib, the Android marketplace for tablets to be used with its Archos Android tablet including Archos 70 and Archos 101. The new version is Appslib 2.0 (Build 58): Faster, easier to use, multilingual, new icons, new category “adult content” and more to enjoy the thousands of apps available on AppsLib. The file is Appslib_2.apk. You can download it directly on your Archos device and install it there. You can also install it via your PC as follows: Click on the AppsLib icon on above to download the latest version of Appslib. Save the.apk file onto your PC’s hard drive. If the file extension is NOT “apk”, but is instead “zip”, change it to “apk”. Transfer the .apk file to a folder folder on your device. Unplug your device. Open the File Manager or AppInstaller on your tablet (note these names may be […]

Resources for Atmel AT91SAM9: SAM926X, SAM9GXX, SAM9M1X, SAM9XE…

Atmel AT91SAM9 – or simply Atmel SAM9 – series are versatile microcontrollers and embedded microprocessors used in variety of products such as internet radios, embedded p2p downloaders, smart grid in-home displays, and much more. Atmel SAM9 series are divided into five subsets: The original SAM9 MCU based on ARM926EJ-S running at between 210 and 240 Mhz, namely AT91SAM9260, AT91SAM9261, AT91SAM9261S and AT91SAM9263 SAM9G eMPU (Embedded MPU) based on ARM926EJ-S, a new generation based on SAM9 MCU architecture but running at between 266 and 400Mhz: AT91SAM9G10, AT91SAM9G20, AT91SAM9G45 and AT91SAM9G46. SAM9M eMPU based on ARM926EJ-S clocked at 400Mhz and with a video decoder: AT91SAM9M10 and AT91SAM9M11 SAM9R MCU based on ARM926EJ-S running at 210 Mhz with similar characteristic as the original SAM9 MCU, except it does not support USB Host but can be used as a High Speed USB device: AT91SAM9R64 and AT91SAM9RL64 SAM9XE MCU are also based on ARM926EJ-S running […]

Nufront ARM Cortex-A9 Laptop running Ubuntu at CES 2011

Nufront (新岸线) showcased their minipc based on Nusmart 2816 at Techcon 2010, they are now back at CES 2011 to show off their laptop reference designs. They provide two laptop designs with 10″ and a 14″ displays. The mother board is the same for both devices, only the casing changes to accommodate the display. The laptops runs Ubuntu and Android 2.2. They will also support some undisclosed operating system(s) later on (It should be Windows 8 and/or Chrome OS).  The processor is a dual core Cortex A9 running at 2GHz, so I suppose this is the Nusmart 2816. The laptop will have 1 or 2 GB RAM depending on the configuration. Nufront said those laptops should be available within 6 months. No indication of price has been given. Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and […]

Samsung Super Amoled Plus Displays

Samsung further improved their Super AMOLED technology and designed “Super AMOLED Plus” screens with the following characteristics: Easier Reading: Improved screen image (50% more sub-pixels (8 to 12)) Save Power Consumption: Real Black (i.e no energy is used to display black) Slimmer: Reduced panel depth by 14% This new technology will improve contrast and outdoor visibility. Samsung will release 2 smartphones (Samsung Infuse 4G – i997)  using that technology later this year (Q2 2011) with 4.3″ and 4.5″ screens, using 1.2 GHz single core hummingbird processor and running Android 2.3 (gingerbread). Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011. www.cnx-software.com

Third Generation OLPC XO Laptop powered by ARM Marvell Armada 610

OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) was also at CES 2011 in Marvell stand with their third generation OLPC XO laptop named OLPC XO-1.75, after the first generation using AMD and the second Via Technologies. Charbax interviewed Ed NcNierney, Chief Technology Office at OLPC. They only changed the PCB in this version, i.e. the casing, keyboard, monitor is the same as the previous generations.The processor used in OLPC XO-1.75 is the ARM based Marvell Armada 610 (single core) running at 1GHz with 1GB RAM and 4GB Flash. The laptop can be recharged with a hand crane for 1 minute, then the laptop can be used for 10 minutes (color) and about 12 minutes (black and white). With the third generation, the price is only marginally cheaper than the previous generation (<200 USD), but the power consumption is now 2 Watt (instead of 4 Watt) and it is the most important part, […]

3D Capable Android Tablet: iStation Zood (Z3D)

iStation, a south korean company, announced the iStation Zood (codenamed Z3D) one the first (if not the first) stereoscopic 3D capable Android Tablet. You’ll need 3D content and wear polarised 3D glasses to take advantage of it. It features a 7″ multi-touch capacitive touchscreen and is powered by a Telechips ARM11 core processor (TCC8900?) running Android 2.1. The performance does not seem that great, but it’s still usable and being based on Telechips the price should be relatively low. Here are the Zood specifications on iStation website: Real 3D panel 7″ TFT-LCD (WVGA, 800×480) Capacitive touchscreen 16/32 Nand flash Acceleration sensor Wifi 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR FM Radio USB 2.0 Host and Slave SDHC card reader HDMI output Android 2.1 In the video below (but not in the specs?), they say this tablet also supports digital terrestrial television (DTT), now only supporting T-DMB, the standard used in south […]

Dvico Tvix XROID A1 Video Preview at CES 2011

Dvico should start shipping the Tvix Xroid A1, its latest Android media player based on Sigma Designs SMP8656 in March 2011 so it will be available for end users in Q2 2011. Dvico is now at CES 2011 to promote their media player TViX HD XROID A1. Here are the main characteristics: Full native web browser App-secure: Favorite application downloadable and installable Multitasking feature support with apps Video Formats: H.264, MKV, MPG, ISO, IFO, TS, TP, etc… Lossless audio files playback (FLAC, Wave Pack) Innovative Web remote (via smartphone) Wifi 802.11n network (via optional USB dongle) UPnP & NAS, Samba client, NFS, Netshare, FTP Video outputs: HDMI (Video 24-bit), composite, component Maximum resolution up to 1920x1080p (1080p) USB 3.0, e-Sata, SD SDHD and MS card reader Support for 3.5: Internal SATA harddisk Here’s a video with a demo of TViX HD XROID A1 web browser and multimedia functions (video/music). Currently […]

Rockchip RK29xx Processors at CES 2011

Rockchip (瑞芯微电子), a Fuzhou (China) based company, showcased its new RK29XX processors at CES 2011. The processors are aimed at smartphones, mid, tablet and internet tv (smart tv) and compete directly with the like of Qualcomm snapdragon or Samsung Hummingbird. Here are the specs for the RK29XX series: 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex A8 core with Neon and 512KB L2 cache High performance 2D and 3D processors supporting OpenGL ES 2.0 and Open VG. The GPU can deliver up to 60 MT/s. 1080p video decoding for H.264, VP8, RV, WMV, AVS, H.263, MPE-4…. 1080p H.264 video encoding Supports DDRIII, DDRII, Mobile DDR memory 24-bit HW ECC for MLC Nand, support e-MMC boot 3 USB ports for device, host, 3G module 2 SD  ports for SD card and WiFi Sensor interface for front and rear camera, up to 5M Standard TFT/EPD controller for variable panels 8 channel I2S and SPDIF TS port […]

EmbeddedTS embedded systems design