$100 quad core Android phones, all Mediatek based, could be found back in 2013, and included 1GB RAM, 4GB flash, and a 4.5″ display with 854×480 resolution. Technology gets cheaper overtime, and in early 2015, you can now purchase an Octa-core smartphone for $90 with 1GB RAM, 8GB flash, the same 4.5″ display size, but a slightly higher resolution of 960×540 pixels thanks to products like Ulefone Be X. Ulefone Be X specifications: SoC – Mediatek MT6592M Octa Core Cortex A7 up to 1.4GHz with ARM MALI-450MP4 GPU System Memory – 1GB RAM Storage – 8GB flash + micro SD card slot (up to 64GB) Display – 4.5″ IPS OGS display with capacitive touchscreen. Resolution: 960×540 (qHD) Audio – 3.5mm audio jack, built-in microphone, and speaker. Network – 2G: GSM850/900/1800/1900MHz 3G: WCDMA 850/1900/2100MHz. One SIM card slot + one micro SIM slot. Dual SIM, Dual Standby support. Connectivity – WiFi 802.11 […]
Jolla Opens Sailfish OS 2.0 for Licensing, Unveils Sailfish Secure, Plans Atom x3 Support
As the Jolla Tablet running Sailfish OS 2.0 is about to ship to Kickstarter backers (Q2 2015), the company has issues a press release announcing Sailfish OS 2.0 is now ready for licensing to OEMs and other partners, and OS porting is being done to the newly announced Intel Atom x3 processors. Sailfish OS 2.0 has been designed for both smartphones and tablets with the following key changes and improvements: Stronger technical OS core and improved Android application compatibility Support for Intel architecture, including the Intel Atom x3 processor Best multitasking on the market for both smartphones and tablets Improved user experience with an enhanced, even richer user interface Strong privacy and personalization features Many new UI/UX features, like enhanced notifications and events views, and even simpler swipe access to main functions Sailfish 2.0 is designed to provide premium visibility in the UI for leading digital content providers and to […]
Xiaomi Yi Full HD Action Camera Sells for $64
Xiaomi has decided to enter the sports camera market with an inexpensive 1080p action camera called Xiaomi Yi that will sell for 399 CNY ($64) in China, and outspecs the $135 entry-level Go Pro Hero camera. Specifications of the Yi camera: SoC – Ambarella A7LS ARM1136 SoC System Memory – N/A Storage – Some internal storage for firmware, plus a micro SD slot for pictures/videos (up to 64GB) Camera 16MP Sony Exmor R BSI Back-illuminated CMOS Image Sensor Aspheric HD Optical Glass Lens / F2.8 Large Aperture 155° Ultra Wide Angle 1080p 60/48/30/24fps, up to 960p60, 720p120, 480p240 video recording Multiple photo shooting modes: Single shot, Self-Timer, Time-lapse, Burst Shot Display – None Video Output – micro HDMI port Audio – Dual-channel 96 KHz sampling rate, 92 dBa SNR Connectivity – WiFi & Bluetooth 4.0 (Broadcom) for connection with Android / iOS devices Sensors – ST High Performance 3-Axis G-sensor […]
Intel Provides Details for Atom x3, x5 and x7 Processors
Intel had already announced their plan to change Intel Atom branding to use x3/x5/x7 nomenclature in order to make it easier for consumers to navigate their product offerings, but the company has now provided much more details during their press conference at Mobile World Congress 2015. Intel Atom x3 (previously known as SoFIA) will be entry and ultra-low cost processor up with 3G or LTE connectivity found in products up to around $150, while Atom x5 and x7 (previously known as Cherry Trail) will be found in tablets between about $200 to $400, with the top performing devices going with Intel Core M processors. Intel Atom x3 are very interesting because they mix Intel 64-bit cores with ARM GPUs (to keep the cost down), and parts with RK suffix are made by Rockchip. Three x3 processors are currently available: Intel Atom x3-C3130 – Dual-core processor up to 1.0 GHz with […]
$35 Bluetooth Blood Pressure Monitor Works with Android and iOS
People with hypertension or other heart conditions may want to monitor their blood pressure daily, and since I was asked recently, I studied blood pressure monitors available on the market from Chinese websites. The simplest ones that simply display the results on an LCD are quite inexpensive since they cost about $15 shipped, unless you buy brands like Omron. You’d then need to enter the data in a spreadsheet or on paper after each measurements, so you’d rather have the process more streamlined, you could consider a Bluetooth version that will automatically keep measurements stored in your Android or iOS smartphone, such as the model below that sells for around $35 on Aliexpress and Ebay. Key features for this unnamed digital blood pressure monitor Display – 70 x 55mm; 3x 3 Digits lines for systolic and diastolic pressures, and heart rate; Memory/Heartbeat/Low battery indication Measurements: Oscillometric method Pressure Range- 0 […]
Add Network Connectivity to 2.5″ SATA Drives With Wi-Fi & Ethernet Enclosures
One person asked if there were solution to add Wi-Fi or Ethernet to hard drives similar to what Zsun Wifi Card Reader does with micro SD card. Provided solution include buying a low cost router with USB such as TP-Link WR703N, and the Pogoplugs which are pretty good, especially since you can install Debian or Arch Linux ARM, but are only available at low cost if you live in North America. But I’ve now been made aware of 2.5″ SATA HDD enclosures selling for around $40 that also come with Wi-Fi and Ethernet, and provide a compact way to add networking to hard drives. Specifications for the aforelinked Wi-Fi HDD Enclosure: Connectivity 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. Modes: AP + Client; AP + WAN Bridge; AP + WAN router Ethernet 3G possible via USB port HDD – Supports up to 2TB HDD USB – 1x micro USB port for charging, 1x USB […]
Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge Octa-core Smartphones Support Two Wireless Charging Protocols and UFS 2.0 Flash
Samsung Electronics announced Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge smartphones at Mobile World Congress 2015 during their “Unpacked” event. Both features Exynos 7420 octa-core SoC with 64-bit ARM cores, and 5.1″ display, bit the Galaxy S6 Edge display is curved on both sides. Galaxy S6 & S6 Edge specifications: SoC – Samsung Exynos 7 Octa (Exynos 7420) octa core processor with four Cortex A57 core @ 2.1GHz + four Cortex A53 cores @ 1.5Ghz, and Mali-T760 MP8 GPU, manufactured using 14nm process. System Memory – 3GB LPDDR4 Storage – 32, 64 or 128GB UFS 2.0 flash. Display Galaxy S6 – 5.1’’ Quad HD(2560×1440) 577ppi, Super AMOLED. Gorilla Glass 4. Galaxy S6 Edge – 5.1’’ Quad HD(2560×1440) 577ppi, Super AMOLED, Dual edge. Gorilla Glass 4. Camera 16MP OIS(rear), 5MP (front). Features: Quick Launch (0.7s by pressing the home button twice), Tracking AF, Auto Real-time HDR(Front & Rear) , F1.9, Low Light Video(Front […]
Huawei Watch May Be the Best Looking Android Wear Smartwatch So Far
If you think Motorola Moto 360 looks good, but find the black zone at the bottom of the display ruins it all, Huawei Watch may be what you’ve been looking for, with a similar rounded shape design, Android Wear, and when it is in watch mode it really looks like a standard watch without obstructions. Let’s go through the specifications first: SoC – Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (APQ8026) quad core Cortex A7 @ 1.2GHz with Adreno 305 GPU System Memory – 512MB RAM Storage – 4GB ROM Display – 1.4″ full circle AMOLED display; 400×400, 286ppi; Sapphire crystal Audio – Built-in MIC Connectivity – Bluetooth 4.0/4.1 Sensors – Gyroscope + Accelerometer, PPG (photoplethysmogram – for heart rate), Barometer, Vibration Motor Misc – Watch button at 2 o’clock Battery – 300mAh Material – Watch: 316L Stainless Steel; Watchband: stainless steel or leather Dimension – 42mm diameter by 11.3mm thickness Weight – […]