(Credit:
Crave Asia)
Polymer Vision is a company spun off from Philips. Its claim to fame is the Readius, an e-book reader which is also a mobile phone. Though it has been around for more than a year, there's renewed interest in it because it will finally be shipping in 2008. We tracked down the company's booth at the GSMA Mobile World Congress to learn more about this device.
The primary purpose of the Readius is to act as an e-book reader. Even though the display resolution is pedestrian at 320x240 pixels, the fact that it can be rolled up allows it to be much larger than regular mobile phone displays. The 5-inch gray scale display uses power only when it is drawing an image, which means once your page is loaded, your battery won't be sapped as you are reading what's on the screen. We found the display to be very sharp and easy on the eyes, just like real paper with no uncomfortable glare that LCDs can sometimes give.
The main menu is divided into six rows on the screen, each one selectable using the touch-sensitive buttons found on the unit's body. The main categories are RSS feeds, e-books, messages and emails--all text-heavy items. The row of touch-sensitive buttons also acts as navigation control. Depending on whether you slide your finger upward or downward, you can move between pages. From what we observed, there is no smooth scrolling, so you can't read a page like you do on a computer text window where you can pull a navigation bar on the right. We also found that the pages take a while to refresh, which could explain why it's more efficient for whole pages to load at one time instead of allowing smooth scrolling.
As a mobile phone, the Readius may not be able to meet everyone's expectations. While it does have the latest connectivity features like HSDPA and Bluetooth, the form factor of this handset makes it a little hard to use. For example, you can't really have a decent voice conversation with the Readius without using a headset. You can synch your contacts into the device, but if you want to punch in numbers, you'll need to use a virtual keypad.
Another thing: What could potentially be a deal-breaker is that you can't conveniently reply to emails and text messages because there is no easy way to enter text. This could, we reckon, be solved by using a separate Bluetooth QWERTY thumbpad. But that's one more thing to carry, a proposition that won't go down well for many. A representative from Polymer Vision also told us the company is developing speech-to-text software for text input, but this was not available for a test run at MWC.
The Readius has a battery that is not user-replaceable. A microSD slot is onboard for memory expansion. As of now, Telecom Italia is the only operator that has a publicly announced deal to carry this handset later in the year. We understand that Polymer Vision is in talks with some companies in Asia. These are in countries with established 3G networks, although the representative could not be more specific as discussions are still ongoing.
As an e-book/newspaper/RSS reader, the Readius is an excellent proposition, thanks to its compact form factor and ability to sync with feed providers over the air using its cellular capabilities. As a mobile phone, we think it still needs a bit of work. The unit we saw was far from final, and Polymer Vision still has half a year to make changes before shipping. Hopefully, we will see a much improved version when it gets into the hands of consumers later this year.
(Source: Crave Asia)
(Credit:
Crave UK)
Love them or loathe them, touch-screen phones are here to stay. And LG has unveiled a whole bunch at this year's GSMA Mobile World Congress, including this curious looking phone, the LG KF600.
Why have one screen when you can have two? That seems to be the reasoning behind the KF600's design. The top screen acts as a normal display, where you can view all of your phone's content, and the bottom one serves as a navigation pad.
Unlike a normal navigation pad that stays static, though, the KF600's changes depending on what you're using on the phone. If you're in the menu, then navigation keys pop up. If you're using the music player, then--you guessed it--music keys appear. Click here to see more.
(Source: Crave UK)
AMD is doing something Intel can't do: compete in the massive mobile phone market. AMD processors and mobile graphics technology were disclosed at the 2008 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Tuesday.
AMD Imageon chip and concept device
(Credit: AMD)The Imageon A250 applications processor is used for video recording/playback and photo imaging, among other applications, and can be programmed for multimedia and high-level graphics, referred to as vector graphics.
The Imageon D160 mobile TV solution is a hardware and software package that allows mobile phone makers to receive over-the-air broadcast TV signals in a USB-powered device. The chipmaker also introduced the Imageon M210 audio processor for high-definition audio.
AMD is also offering graphics technology separately. The company's Z460 3D graphics taps into the same patented AMD Unified Shader Architecture that provides a graphics platform for the Microsoft Xbox 360 video game system, AMD said. Shaders are used for rendering 3D objects. AMD Z180 graphics technology is targeted at navigational systems and portable devices designed to handle animation, mapping, and Flash-style content. The Z180 features a native hardware-accelerated vector graphics solution, designed to render graphics between 20 and 40 times faster than software-based solutions.
The Imageon technology announced in Barcelona is a refresh of technology announced about a year ago, said AMD spokesperson Jo Albers, and came to AMD when it purchased ATI Technology back in 2006. AMD's strategy in this respect has differed dramatically from Intel's. The latter offloaded its handheld processor business to Marvell Technology around the same time that AMD purchased ATI. Intel is now trying to get back into the ultramobile game with Silverthorne (due later this year) but that processor, though small and relatively power efficient, is too power-hungry for compact mobile phones (though conceivably Silverthorne could be used in iPhone-like devices).
Imageon chips are currently used in over 50 mobile phones and devices from companies like Motorola, LG, Panasonic, and Samsung. And AMD offers graphics technology to Freescale Semiconductor, Qualcomm, and STMicroelectronics, among others.
The new chips, however, won't appear in products until the end of this year or next year because of the length of the design cycles, AMD said.
In related news, STMicroelectronics is using AMD technology in its application processors. The STMicroelectronics Nomadik STn8820 multimedia application processor is based on an ARM 1176 core and can achieve speeds as fast as 528 MHz. The processor integrates AMD's graphics technology for 2D and 3D applications, STMicro said. More here.
Having floated a spinoff trial balloon for its struggling mobile phone business, has Motorola reconsidered?
Motorola sent a ripple through the mobile phone industry a few weeks ago when it released a statement saying it was "exploring the structural and strategic realignment of its businesses" that "may include the separation of Mobile Devices from its other businesses." The company has lost significant market share in the mobile phone business after failing to come up with an Act 2 following the success of the Razr.
Motorola CEO Greg Brown
(Credit: Motorola)But in Barcelona on Monday for the World Mobile Congress, new Motorola CEO Greg Brown told Reuters that the company is "fully committed" to its mobile device business. "I don't want there to be any confusion," he said, as he caused confusion.
At first glance, it sounds like Brown has made his peace with keeping the mobile phone business in-house, despite the demands of investor Carl Icahn that Motorola separate phones from the rest of its activities. "Motorola is fully committed to the mobile devices business and I am fully committed to mobile devices," he told Reuters.
But an analyst interviewed by Reuters noted that Motorola would have to be committed to the business in order to sell it. Most executives aren't going to just casually mention on-the-record to a reporter at a cocktail party, "Yeah, I'm looking to unload this thing the first chance I get. Do you know anybody?"
It's hard to imagine why Motorola would dump the mobile phone business because, despite its struggles, it still has pretty good brand recognition. And given the speed at which the phone industry moves, the company could be back firing on all cylinders just as quickly as its downfall led to the departure of former CEO Ed Zander.
But spinning off the unit could give investors a nice return from both the spinoff itself and the remaining company, which would be profitable. Few consumers realize that Motorola makes a host of wireless gear for businesses, as well as set-top boxes, but investors are familiar with those businesses.
BARCELONA, Spain--Prototypes of the first mobile handsets using Google's Android software debuted at the GSMA's Mobile World Congress here on Monday, and I got a sneak peek at a demonstration.
Google launched Android, an open development platform in November. Phones sporting the Android software are expected out later this year. Google also announced the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 34 handset manufacturers, carriers and chipmakers that have said they plan to support Android products and services.
I was one of several journalists to get a private demonstration of Android at the ARM Holdings booth here at the show. CNET News.com reported last week that ARM was planning to show off a prototype.
ARM's technology is found at the heart of almost every mobile phone on the planet. The company designs the processor cores that companies like Texas Instruments, Samsung, and Marvell manufacture into chips that run cell phones and smartphones.
A look at Android at the ARM booth here at MWC in Barcelona.
(Credit: Marguerite Reardon/CNET News.com)ARM has the Android software running on a prototype device using the ARM9 processor technology, which is already two generations old. The mocked-up handset resembled a full QWERTY keyboard smartphone, like Research in Motion's BlackBerry. But Bob Morris, director of platform solutions for ARM, said the ARM9 technology used on the demonstration prototype is actually used on lower-end handsets sold to the mass market, which means the functionality being demonstrated could be done on most phones sold today.
For the most part, the "welcome" screen on the Android prototype looked no different to me from that of a Windows Mobile phone or many other feature phones I've seen. There were icons on the bottom of the screen, indicating a browser or map tool. And the icons could be clicked to launch the applications.
My initial thought was, "What's the big deal? Android doesn't look like it enables anything different from what everyone else offers."
But James Bruce, North American mobile manager for marketing at ARM, said that it's not so much what Android allows cell phone users to do, but rather what it doesn't require handset chip and device makers to do.
"Android provides a complete application framework, which can be put on chipsets with a lot less work," he said.
In a nutshell, Android should simplify the process of getting a new phone and new applications to market. Today, the cell phone market is extremely fragmented. Every manufacturer has its own operating system for phones. And very often even different models of handsets are developed using proprietary software. This makes it difficult for handset components makers, application developers, and the handset makers themselves to develop new products and services quickly because they have to design functionality for each software iteration. Even the most basic functions like SMS could require different programming from one brand of handset to another.
Android is supposed to alleviate this problem, because it provides a common operating system and development platform that has all the basic functionality baked in. But the software, which is based on a version of Linux, is also open enough to allow application developers to design new applications and services for the device.
While this sounds like mobile phone nirvana, there's one snag. Android isn't the only mobile platform out there. Microsoft's Windows Mobile offers all the same functionality. And so does Symbian, which is used by Nokia and Sony Ericsson. Together these companies account for nearly half the entire cell phone market. And to complicate matters even more, there are several Linux groups also developing open platforms for mobile phones.
One such platform developed by the Limo Group, claims to be gaining traction among the Linux community and says it will soon become the unifying Mobile Linux platform.
So with that in mind, there are at least four distinct operating systems for mobile devices. While this is a huge improvement over the hundreds or even thousands of software operating systems running on phones today, four still sounds like too many to me.
Bruce conceded I might be right. But he said ultimately the market will decide how many operating systems it can bare. And he believes the mobile pie is big enough to support several competitors.
"The mobile phone market is huge," he said. "Over a billion phones are shipped worldwide every year. So even if a company can capture five or 10 percent, they can still do well."
We're here
(Credit: Kent German/CNET Networks)We told you that were going to the GSMA World Congress (formerly known as 3GSM), and now we have arrived. After a long flight from San Francisco, and a layover somewhere in Germany, I landed in Barcelona ready for a long sleep. After recharging myself, and my gadgets (good thing I remembered those electrical adapters), I took off for a walk to see the sights. Though GSMA doesn't begin until Monday, the city is already buzzing with thousands of visitors. As the largest mobile show in the world, GSMA has completely taken over the city. Indeed, when I checked into the apartment I rented, the landlord told me that every hotel room in the city was booked. On the streets, it feels as if it is the height of the tourist season in August.
Samsung bares its soul
(Credit: Kent German/CNET Networks)I walked to the Fira de Barcelona, where the show will take place. Set on the Plaça d'Espana at the foot of Montjuic, GSMA covers eight separate buildings with outdoor space in between. At first glance, it doesn't seem quite as massive as the Las Vegas Convention Center during CES, but when I passed through they were still setting up. Come Monday, I may say differently. Yet, no matter how chaotic it is, it's a thousand times prettier than Las Vegas. Though none of the buildings are designed by Gaudi, the various pavilions climb up Mountjuic toward the Olympic Stadium, and the Museu Nacional d'Art Catalunya. The food at the show looks better too...I'll gladly choose a tapas bar over a Sparro pizza stand.
Venetian-style towers mark the entrance to the show
(Credit: Kent German/CNET Networks)I couldn't get a look inside, so I can't give you any sneak peeks at the moment. But anyone who is anyone in the cell phone world will here. I'm certain that the news will come fast and furious. Of course, there won't be a CDMA phone to be found, but that hasn't stopped Samsung and LG from showing up in force. They've plastered posters all over town, from the airport to Las Ramblas. Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, LG, and Microsoft are holding news conferences starting tomorrow, so we know they'll be lots to show you in words, pictures, and video. Be sure to check back during the week to see what we'll have to offer.
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