Sharkoon Tactix Keyboard: Program All the Keys!

Broadcom Introduces 5G WiFi Combo Chip for Smartphones and Tablets

Intel, Google Work on Android 4.1 Port for Atom

Google Nexus 7: Good Display, Bad Calibration

Sharkoon Tactix Keyboard: Program All the Keys!

Sharkoon released its new Tactix keyboard first showcased at CeBIT 2012. The novelty has no auxillary keys, but lets you program any of its 107 standard keys with a special utility. Other peculiarities include the shorter Backspace, the longer Space, replaceable and rubberized arrows and WASD.

The keyboard distinguishes up to 18 simultaneous keypresses, which might seem like overkill, given that most of us can only boast of 10 fingers on upper limbs. Anyway, Sharkoon Tactix comes bundled with a detachable wrist rest, is measured 431x136x24 mm, and has a 1.5-meter long USB cable.

Speaking of key programmability, the range of actions is quite wide: from simple browser or music player operations to complex macros for office suites, graphics suites, and games. The keyboard supports up to 10 user profiles.

Sharkoon Tactix has the MSRP of 13 euros.

Source: Sharkoon

Broadcom Introduces 5G WiFi Combo Chip for Smartphones and Tablets

Broadcom introduced the BCM4335, the industry's first 5G WiFi combo chip for smartphones, tablets, ultrabooks, and other mobile devices.

5G WiFi, the 5th generation of Wi-Fi based on the IEEE 802.11ac standard, is an evolutionary step from the existing 802.11a/b/g/n networks.

The new 40-nm BCM4335 integrates a complete, single-stream 5G WiFi system—including the MAC, PHY, and RF—with Bluetooth 4.0, FM radio, and software on a single silicon die. The 'platform-agnostic' design and integration of the MAC, PHY and RF allows the BCM4335 to be added to any smartphone or tablet regardless of the application processor used.

The BCM4335 introduces the newest version of Broadcom's wireless coexistence technology. Handset makers can use this technology on 4G LTE cellular platforms to minimize the possibility of radio interference between Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and LTE, which operate in adjacent radio frequencies. Broadcom's Global Coexistence Interface supports the Bluetooth Special Interest Group's LTE coexistence scheme and can be applied to future Broadcom LTE platforms, as well as 4G cellular platforms from other vendors.

Additional highlights:

• Broadcom's TurboQAM technology implements the highest data-rate 256-QAM mode in 2.4 GHz and enables devices equipped with the BCM4335 to deliver 10% faster throughputs than 802.11n speeds when communicating with other 5G WiFi devices.
• Key high-throughput mobility interfaces, including SDIO 3.0, PCIe and HSIC, make it suitable for smartphone, tablet and computing platforms.
• PHY rates of 433 Mbps.
• Advanced beamforming, Low-Density Parity Check (LDPC) code and Space-Time Block Code (STBC) support for better coverage and more reliable connectivity.
• Built-in media processing to off-load host processor.
• Integrated support for Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint technologies.

The BCM4335 is now sampling to Broadcom's early access customers, with full production expected in Q1 2013. Smartphones and tablets powered by the new BCM4335 are expected to hit the shelves in Q1 2013.

Source: Broadcom

Intel, Google Work on Android 4.1 Port for Atom

According to the source, Intel confirmed they're cooperating with Google to port new Android versions, including Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), to Atom-based smartphones and tablets (the Medfield platform). Actual release dates are yet unknown.

As you might know, Intel-based smartphones occupy only a minor share of the market, still using the old Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). If Intel lingers round the OS updates any longer, they risk losing the entire market segment.

In particular, the list of vendors of Intel-based smartphones with Gingerbread includes Lava International and Orange. Lenovo, in its turn, released a K800 smartphone in China based on Intel Medfield and Android 2.3.7. Motorola is only going to introduce such tablets and smartphones. Perhaps, none other than Motorola, Intel's strategic partner, will have the opportunity to introduce first devices based on Intel Medfield and Android 4.1.

Source: PCWorld

Google Nexus 7: Good Display, Bad Calibration

The quality of Google Nexus 7's touchscreen had stirred up discussions even before the tablet went on sale. Dr. Raymond M. Soneira of DisplayMate Technologies, a company that specializes in monitor tests, spoke well of Google Nexus 7's touchscreen features, but said that standard tests uncovered a several issues. Firstly, the picture is overexposed and dithered when browsing photos and videos (on Android 4.1.1)—a result of bad factory calibration.

You may want to wait for the next batch of devices, because this might be something a simple patch won't fix.

Source: DisplayMate

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