ARM buys graphics company Geomerics to improve gaming on its mobile chips

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/13/arm-acquires-geomerics-gaming-graphics/

ARM has just purchased a gaming graphics technology outfit called Geomerics -- a name which may not ring a bell unless you're a particularly inquisitive gamer. Geomerics' so-called global illumination engine, Enlighten, has been used to create real-time, photo-realistic lighting for triple-A games like Battlefield 4 and Need for Speed: The Run. ARM hasn't specified exactly how the tech will be used, but did say that "it'll help bring the next generation of graphics experiences to mobile platforms." That could mean the acquisition will eventually improve gaming realism on its in-house Mali GPUs, or even help fine-tune the chips themselves for better gaming performance. Regardless, ARM has also said that it'll let Geomerics run independently and continue to service existing customers like EA, which gave the deal a hearty seal of approval.

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Samsung promises 'differentiated' smartphones based on its camera expertise

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/13/samsung-moves-digital-imaging-into-mobile-division/

Samsung has instigated a small corporate reshuffle that could potentially have big implications for its future smartphones. The company has shunted its digital imaging unit sideways so that it sits under the giant umbrella of the mobile division, in the hope of combining "technical know-how" in these two areas and ultimately "differentiating" its smartphones with better camera technology. At the same time, Samsung expects expertise to flow in the opposite direction, allowing its engineers to create cameras with better wireless connectivity. It's a move that makes plenty of sense given the recent spate of Galaxy-branded hybridized products, such as the slightly awkward Galaxy S 4 Zoom and hugely over-priced Galaxy NX mirrorless shooter. It also suggests that Samsung has paid attention to what Nokia has achieved by re-thinking mobile camera technology for its PureView phones, instead of using standard off-the-shelf parts.

Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Mobile, Samsung

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Via: GforGames, The Verge

Source: Yonhap News, ET News

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Mirror app for Android can record your screen or stream it to Apple TV (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/12/mirror-android-beta-airplay-mirroring/

CyanogenMod developer Koushik Dutta has followed up his CM 11 Screencast display recording app with one for a wider range of Android users with an extra feature. Mirror for Android can not only record whatever's happening on your tablet or phone's screen, but it can also display it wirelessly, AirPlay- or Miracast-style, on an Apple TV. Currently it requires Android 4.4.2 and root access, but Dutta says there is a non-root solution on the way. If you'd like to try it out and have the appropriate hardware, just click here to join the Google+ community, click here to join the beta and then download the app from Google Play. That may not be possible for individuals without a Nexus device and / or CyanogenMod 11 nightly build, so if you just want to see what it's like, check out a quick video demo embedded after the break.

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile, Apple, Google

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Source: Koushik Dutta (Google+), Google Play

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Dell unveils education-focused Chromebook 11, arriving in January for under $300

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/11/dell-chromebook-11/

As promised, Dell has taken the wraps off its first Chrome OS device, the Chromebook 11. The 11.6-inch, 2.9-pound laptop is built with the classroom in mind, and it should ship in tandem with a Wyse PocketCloud app that should make it easy for students and teachers to share their work online. Its 1.4GHz Celeron processor and 16GB solid-state drive are no great shakes, although the system could be the Chrome OS longevity champion -- Dell estimates a 10-hour battery life that could beat out Acer's long-lived C720. Educators who want the Chromebook 11 will have to be patient, though. A version with 4GB of RAM will ship to the US and UK in January. There will also be a 2GB model for cost-conscious schools, but Dell is only promising that it will launch sometime in the first quarter of 2014. Dell expects to sell at least one model under $300.

Filed under: Laptops, Dell

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Source: Dell

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LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play edition hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/11/lg-gpad-83-google-play-edition/

If you've been eyeing the LG G Pad 8.3, your decision just became more difficult. Yesterday Google announced -- and began shipping -- a Google Play edition of the tablet for $350 in the US, which makes it the very first slate to receive the stock Android treatment. What does this mean, exactly? Google Play editions come with Android 4.4 KitKat without any manufacturer or carrier customizations, so it looks precisely the way Google intends it. This can be good or bad, because there are a couple tradeoffs you need to consider: The good news is that these types of devices typically get upgrades to the newest version of Android far earlier than the vast majority of smartphones and tablets, but you also need to give up a few features that were unique to their skinned counterparts.

In the case of the G Pad 8.3, this means you won't be able to enjoy the Knock On (aka, "double-knock") feature, nor will you have Slide Aside or access to a litany of LG's Q-branded functions like QPair, QRemote or QSlide. None of these missing services are crucial to the functionality of the G Pad, although we must admit that we've grown rather fond of Knock On. The camera interface is also quite different, but the only thing that might frustrate you is the lack of manual settings; if you only rely on automatic mode to make the photo magic for you, this likely won't be an issue of concern. Just like we saw on the Z Ultra Google Play edition, the G Pad also doesn't come with the native Android gallery app, as it appears that the Google+ Photos app has taken its place as the default. You'll also have the stock camera UI to deal with, rather than LG's, so you won't be able to make many manual adjustments. Of course, this probably isn't a huge concern for a lot of tablet users who may only use their camera for basic needs.

Aside from software changes, you're not going to see anything different on the outside. The dimensions are all the same as the original model, as are the actual hardware components. It's only available in black (the back strip is fitted with brushed metal, with black plastic ends), but it's offered for the same price as the model we reviewed last month. We've got a bunch of images for you to behold below.

Filed under: Tablets, Google, LG

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