Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Sony buys back Toshiba's Cell plant for 50 billion yen, makes a killing and plans a CMOS fab

Looks like Toshiba's Cell processor ambitions didn't quite pan out -- Japanese news sources are reporting that the company's selling its Nagasaki manufacturing plant back to Sony for 50 billion yen, or roughly $597 million in US money. Considering that Toshiba originally purchased the semiconductor facility for ~~100~~ 90 billion yen (then $835 million) back in 2008, it seems like Sony's making out like a bandit here -- and it may have just found the perfect place to build more CMOS chips for its high-end camera lineup, too. Sony reportedly told the Nikkei Business Daily that it may repurpose the facility to produce HD image sensors for cameras and smartphones. What will happen to the chip that launched 40 million PS3s and a graphics co-processor or two? With any luck, we'll find out at CES 2011 quite soon.

Sony buys back Tos! hiba's C ell plant for 50 billion yen, makes a killing and plans a CMOS fab originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

Andriasang, Reuters | source

NHK, Nikkei Shimbun | Email this | Comments

Acer's Android tablet (and its gyroscope) previewed on video

While Acer wasn't willing to let us power on its forthcoming Android tablets at its press event last month, it looks like the company just doesn't have the same kind of control over its partners or employees. Three videos of what appears to be Acer's 10-inch Android tablet have popped up on YouTube, and not only is the slate powered on, but the footage provides a pretty clear look at some of Acer's custom Android apps. The entire UI looks like it's still in a beta stage and the video itself looks like it is some sort of internal test demo -- don't forget Acer is planning to ship these with Honeycomb in April -- but the company seems to be messing around with gyroscope-based page turns and some unique zoom gestures within the photo / e-reader application. We're assuming the tablet is running Froyo as there's a quick peek at the homescreen and app drawer in the first video, but other than that we're really at a loss for details here. Hit the break for the trio of videos and to see it all for yourself. Oh, and Acer, if you send us one, we promise to go easier on the screen (see 0:12 of video three) than this lady... just sayin'!

Continue reading Acer's Android tablet (and its gyroscope) previewed on video

Acer's Android tablet (and its gyroscope) previewed on video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:06:00 EDT. Please see ! our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

Engadget Chinese | Email this | Comments

Here's HTC's 4G LTE Phone for Verizon [Incredible Hd]

Well, this is more interesting than that whole cache of shots that were sprayed all over the internet yesterday: A close up of what's—presumably—the Incredible HD, clearly showing Four Gees of El Tee Eze for Verizon. [Thanks tipster!]

Samsung Epic 4G getting post-Christmas Froyo treat?

We're horrible at getting gifts and cards to their recipients on time, usually showing up in mailboxes at least a day late. Samsung, it seems, is in a similar boat with its Epic 4G. According to Phone Arena, Android 2.2.1 (you know, Froyo) will begin rolling out to the handset on December 26. For real this time. Like, really real. Given all that history we're a little bit skeptical about this happening on that date, but don't let that stop you from setting some milk and cookies next to your charging stand on the 26th. Worst case: morning cookies for you on the 27th!

Samsung Epic 4G getting post-Christmas Froyo treat? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 08:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

Android Sony | source

Phone Arena | Email this | Comments

Elliptic Labs set to save your iPad from smudges with 3D gesture-sensing dock (video)

The dream of kitchen computing still isn't here, with many chefs forced to read from archaic paper-based recipe lists or, worse yet, memorize the things. Maybe all we need is a way to interact with our gadgets without getting them all messy, and maybe Elliptic Labs can get us there. Finally. The company has been teasing us with its 3D gesture interface for years now and it looks set to finally show off an actual product, a motion-sensing iPad dock prototype making its debut at CES in a few weeks. The idea is you perch this sucker in your kitchen and it gives you full control whether you're kneading sourdough or mixing meatballs, keeping your tablet streak-free -- and hygienic. That seems like somewhat limited usefulness to us, but check out the video of an earlier prototype below and see if it doesn't make you want to bake some cookies. And, if it does, feel free to bring us some.

Continue reading Elliptic Labs set to save your iPad from smudges with 3D gesture-sensing dock (video)

Elliptic Labs set to save your iPad from smudges with 3D gesture-sensing dock (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 09:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

Mobile Magazine | source

Elliptic Labs | Email this | Comments