Chip maker Qualcomm has taken the wraps off its next generation mobile processors destined for smartphones and tablets, revealing that its next chip – and likely, your next phone – will happily handle playing back 4K quality TV, movie or gaming content.
The Snapdragon 805 follows less than a year after the Snapdragon 800 was introduced and offers an improved Adreno 420 GPU for a claimed 40 percent increase in graphics processing power, and will support Ultra HD (4K) content either on-device or played back via an UltraHD TV, as well as being capable of capturing UltraHD content using the cameras in the devices, Qualcomm said.
Paired with a Krait CPU, which can be clocked at up to 2.5GHz per core, the Snapdragon 850 also brings support for new camera features like gyro integration to enable image stabilization.
While there are no specific devices to speak of right now, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processor range is frequently chosen by device makers to power devices. As such, we’d expect to see the first 805-based devices to start rolling out in the second half of next year.
➤ Qualcomm [Press release] via CNET
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Microsoft slashes Surface Pro’s price by another $100: 64GB for $699, 128GB for $799, and 256GB for $999
Microsoft has slashed the price of its original Surface Pro by $100. While the tablet has been largely dropped from the broader Surface product line, it’s still available on the Microsoft Store, as a new official deal clearly points out.
The 64GB model will now set you back $699, the 128GB goes for $799, and the elusive 256GB flavor costs $999. We say “elusive” since we only see the first two on the Microsoft Store , but you may have better luck.
Nevertheless, the deal’s details clearly show a price drop across the board:
Back in August , Microsoft dropped the Surface Pro price by $100 as well . Now the company is doing it again, although if you read the fine print above, the deal only applies to the US and Canada..
In July , Microsoft dropped the Surface RT (though the company would rather you just call it Surface now) to $349 for the 32GB model and to $499 for the 64GB model. The former is still available at the same price, but the latter is now also reduced to $399.
In September, when Microsoft announced the Surface 2 and Surface 2 Pro , it said it would be keeping the Surface around, but not the Surface Pro. In fact, here is the full Surface lineup you see when browsing the Microsoft Store:
Nonetheless, Microsoft apparently still has some Surface Pro stock that it needs to clear out. Unless it fails to do so, we’re pretty sure that this is the lowest price the dated device will ever see: Microsoft wants it finished off as soon as possible. Once that’s done, it will likely discontinue the Surface and focus just on its second-generation tablets.
See also – Microsoft Surface 2 review: The tablet that needs to convince the world it deserves to exist and Surface Pro 2 Review: More Convincing as a Laptop than a Tablet
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Samsung announces Galaxy Gear smartwatch with voice control and a 1.9-megapixel camera
Samsung has formally unveiled the Galaxy Gear smartwatch, which connects to Galaxy smartphone via Bluetooth, following a number of leaks running up to the event.
At around the size of a regular watch, it has a 1.63-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, 1.9-megapixel ‘Memographer’ camera on the side of the device for capturing snaps with a tap and Bluetooth on board. As you might expect of a smartwatch, it provides much of the functionality of an Android device without needing to actually touch your phone.
Core to the experience is the voice control, which will allow you to carry out all the usual functions like switching music on, making or receiving calls and sending messages, as well as operating apps.
The Galaxy Gear has also been pre-loaded with Samsung specific apps and is targeting health and fitness fans with the inclusion of support for others like RunKeeper and MyFitnessPal. In total there should be around 70 apps at launch.
As well as this, Samsung has also partnered with other like Glympse and Path for launch to integrate some of the platform’s functionality into the device. This means that users can share photos, leave feedback for friends and family and post their location using Path in just a few seconds, and without touching their phone.
Other third-party apps designed to run on the Gear include Highlight , a location-based app that allows you to connect to other users close by. Several new features, like ‘Handshake Memory’ have been added specifically for the launch of the Gear.
The Galaxy Gear will be available worldwide from September 25 in six colors: Jet Black, Mocha Gray, Wild Orange, Oatmeal Beige, Rose Gold, and Lime Green priced at $299. However, at launch it will only work with the Note 3 and Note 10.1, to be followed later in the year by the Galaxy S4 after it receives a software update to Android 4.3.
While it’s one of the first smartphone brands to bring a smartwatch to market, it’s by no means the only one out there with rivals coming in the form of the Sony Smartwatch 2 (SW2), the Pebble, and numerous others. Apple, too, is rumored to be getting in on the smartwatch action with the iWatch, but hasn’t yet announced, or confirmed, any information regarding it.
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