$99 quad-core ARM-based PC running Ubuntu

That box you see above? It's a quad-core ARM-based PC running Ubuntu called Utilite. The desktop system, made by Compulab, will be available next month starting at $99. While there are plenty of Android dongles built on ARM SoCs out there, few (if any) can truly offer a PC-like experience. The company -- best known for its Trim Slice, Fit-PC and MintBox products -- wants to change this.

Utilite packs a single-, dual- or quad-core Freescale i.MX6 Cortex-A9 MPCoreprocessor (up to 1.2 GHz), up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM (1066MHz), an mSATA SSD (up to 512GB), WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, HDMI and DVI-D outputs, two Gigabit Ethernet sockets, four USB 2.0 ports, one micro-USB OTG connector, audio jacks (analog and S/PDIF), a micro-SD XD slot and two ultra-mini RS232 interfaces -- phew!

Rounding things up is support for OpenGL ES, OpenVG and OpenCL EP plus multi-stream 1080p H.264 on-chip decoding. All this fits in just 5.3 x 3.9 x 0.8 inches (135 x 100 x 21mm) and only consumes 3-8W using a 10-16V supply (unregulated). Those are impressive specs for the price, and the system sure looks positioned to compete favorably with some of the x86 boxes out there.

HTC One Mini tipped for July; One Max phablet readies direct Note III attack

HTC’s next variants on the HTC One could begin launching within the next two weeks, leaks suggest, with the HTC One Mini due imminently and a larger model shortly after. The HTC One Mini – expected to have a 4.3-inch display, versus the One’s 4.7-inch panel – will be launched before July is out,MobileGeeks sources in Taiwan claim, while the HTC One Max is supposedly due before the end of Q3 2013.

The One Mini is tipped to be HTC’s attempt to distill down what makes the original One special, into a more affordable and compact device. While leaked images indicate it will share the same aluminum unibody styling of the One, the specifications are generally more humble: the 4.3-inch LCD display runs at 720p, for instance, rather than 1080p, and there’s a mere Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 1.4GHz dualcore at the helm.

RAM, too, is believed to have been halved versus the original One, and there’s 16GB of internal memory though no expectation of a microSD card slot. Leaks earlier this month indicated a launch by the end of Q3 was on the cards, in silver and black, but these new rumors suggest HTC is working hard to get the One Mini out even more promptly, likely motivated by the company’s appalling Q2 financial results.

Far more interesting, though, from a tech-lover’s-perspective is the HTC One Max, the company’s first attempt at the “phablet” segment. Believed to pack a 6-inch, 1080p Super LCD 3 display and Qualcomm’s 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 chipset, the Max would enlarge the One experience for those who might ordinarily opt for Samsung’s Galaxy Note series.

The One Max is expected to have 2GB of RAM and a choice of either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, along with a 3,200 mAh battery: a fair step up from the 2,300 mAh in the original One. According to MobileGeeks’ source, HTC intends to launch the phablet in early September, which should put it up against Samsung’s Galaxy Note III.

It’s a direct challenge to Samsung we’ve seen HTC attempt before. What remains to be proved is whether HTC can muster its supply-chain to actually deliver it: the HTC One, for instance, was meant to have launched in around 80 countries before the Galaxy S 4 was announced, but production issues – particularly around the UltraPixel camera, which is expected to be carried over to these new One variations – meant many locations only got the phone after Samsung had revealed its attention-consuming flagship.

Apple’s iPhone 6S could have a Samsung A9 heart

Apple is said to be using Samsung to build the A9 mobile chips for the iPhone and iPad in 2015, another sign that the firm’s attempts to extricate itself from its rival’s production expertise are struggling. Although Apple had switched to TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) for its A-series chip production starting in 2014, according to The Korea Economic Daily it’s Samsung’s expertise in 14nm manufacturing that has won back Apple’s business.

According to the Korean site, Samsung and Apple inked an agreement on July 14, specifically for the Apple A9 chipset expected to be in 2015′s iPhone. The chip will use 14nm “FinFET” technology, it’s said; if Apple’s “S” nomenclature pattern continues, by that point we’ll likely be seeing the iPhone 6S, though the Korean report suggests it will be the iPhone 7.

Apple and Samsung have had a tumultuous relationship over the past few years, spending as much time in the courtroom attempting to extract huge damages payments and have their rival’s devices banned from sale, as they have negotiating components. Samsung has always been a significant supplier for Apple – as well as processors, it supplies flash memory and other components – but since the legal escalations Apple has attempted to broaden its supply chain and avoid giving quite so much money to its Korean foe.

Chipsets had been a bottleneck, despite the ongoing efforts of TSMC, but news of a deal over the upcoming Apple A8 had been seen as a sign that Samsung was being pushed out of its privileged position.

Instead, Samsung’s work on 14nm manufacturing has paid dividends, offering something TSMC reportedly cannot. 14nm chips are expected to offer performance improvements as well as a reduction in power consumption, with a central silicon “fin” running the length of the transistor.

The first devices to use the A9 processors aren’t expected to show up for some time yet, and their specifications haven’t been confirmed. The current iPhone 5 runs Apple’s A6 chip, though the upcoming refreshed version – expected to be the iPhone 5S – is likely to use the newer version, the A6X. That’s currently used in the fourth-gen full-sized iPad, though could be modified for the lower-power requirements of the new iPhone.

VIA MacRumors

HTC One Android 4.2.2 update hits

HTC has begun pushing out Android 4.2.2 for the HTC One in the UK, bringing the company’s flagship up to date with the latest version of Google’s OS. The update had initially been spotted elsewhere in Europeearlier this month, with HTC promising a progressive roll-out to other markets; now, the company confirmed this morning, it’s the UK’s turn.

As well as the core Android changes in the new version, there are several tweaks and fixes exclusive to HTC. On Google’s side, there’s support for Photosphere panoramic images as well as Daydream screensavers, together with lockscreen widgets or the option to put news or weather headlines there instead.

However, it’s the HTC changes that are probably most welcome. The annoying menu button, which took up a full slice across the display, has been addressed, remapping the Home button so that a long-press pulls up the context menu. Since that would regularly start Google Now, that’s been changed to swiping up from Home, as on Google’s own Nexus 4.

The “Power Saving” option has been removed from the pull-down notifications bar, too, clearing up more room for notifications themselves, and there are now quick-toggles for things like WiFi and Bluetooth. It’s also possible to show the battery level as a percentage in the status bar.

Over in the camera are where some of the biggest changes are made, however. There are six new themes for the Zoe highlight reels, complete with new music, effects, and transitions, while the Zoe file format has been changed so as to address user complaints of a frustrating number of near-identical files.

The update itself measures in at 416.46MB, so it’s best to head to a WiFi connection to grab it. You’ll need a preliminary 1.47MB update to pave the way, however. You can trigger a firmware check for the new software by headed to the Settings and choosing “Software Updates” from the “About” menu.

Xbox One Family Sharing could return despite online backtrack

Microsoft could restore the the Xbox One‘s Family Sharing feature, the company has teased, having removed it as part of its backtrack on 24-hour DRM check-ins for the next-gen console. The feature, which would have allowed up to ten people designated as “family” to play games registered to a single account, no matter where they were located, was a casualty of Microsoft’s concessions to angry gamersleft furious by the Xbox One’s online demands. However, according to Xbox One CPO Marc Whitten, Family Sharing could make a reappearance if enough gamers want it.

The initial indication is that those gamers really do, too. Speaking to IGN, Whitten commented on a petition started by would-be Xbox One owners demanding that Microsoft restore the functionality originally outlined at E3, rather than conceding to “consumers uncertainty”, and conceded that the company had failed to communicate the system – and its advantages – fully.

“What it tells me is we need to do more work to talk about what we’re doing because I think that we did something different than maybe how people are perceiving it,” Whitten admitted. That led to the compromise on having the Xbox One connected at least once every 24 hours.

According to Whitten, “while Xbox One is built to be digital native, to have this amazing online experience, we realized people wanted some choice.” According to the chief product officer, gamers wanted a halfway-house of functionality, perhaps to ease them into Microsoft’s vision for the console. “They wanted what I like to call a bridge, sort of how they think about the world today using more digital stuff,” he explained. “What we did, we added to what the console can do by providing physical and offline modes in the console. It isn’t about moving away from what that digital vision is for the platform. It’s about adding that choice.”

As for Family Sharing, that could mean that the functionality might eventually appear on the Xbox One, only not as part of the original feature-set. “If it’s something that people are really excited about and want, we’re going to make sure that we find the right way to bring it back” Whitten promised, describing its absence as “more of an engineering reality time frame type-thing” than it being a functional impossibility.

For Whitten, even though the response was vitriolic from some quarters, it was still welcome for the Xbox team. The first Xbox One event – criticized at the time for being too TV-centric leaving little time to walk through the more advanced gaming features – did a poor job of explaining things, the Microsoft exec admits. “One of the things I think we learned was that we didn’t talk enough,” he says, “and we were incomplete in a lot of how using the system would work.”

VIA OXM

Microsoft smartwatch tipped to clad tweaked-Windows in transparent metal

Microsoft’s Surface team has taken on development of the company’s upcoming smartwatch, it’s reported, with the wrist-worn gadget supposedly running a modified version of Windows 8. The Surface smartwatch is being built on an original design by the Xbox team, The Verge‘s sources claim, which had been tinkering with a “Joule” heart-rate monitor prototype for the Xbox 360.

Speculation as to the capabilities of the watch have varied, though Microsoft is believed to be making its wearable more functional than some of the existing designs we’ve seen. A modified version of Windows 8 is an ambitious strategy, where existing alternatives like Pebble are more accurately remote displays for the user’s phone.

According to the leaks, the Surface smartwatch is intended to be integrated with other Windows-powered devices, which presumably means both Windows 8 on desktops, notebooks, and tablets, and Windows Phone on handsets. Already suggested is a 1.5-inch display, making the watch bigger than Pebble and other options.

Meanwhile, there’s also talk of customization support with different colored watchbands. AmongTechclaimed last week that Microsoft would offer red, blue, yellow, black, white, and grey straps, something The Verge says it has independently confirmed.

Still in the air are other suggestions from the site’s sources, which include a casing made of Oxynitride Aluminum that, as well as being tougher than glass, is also transparent, and both 6GB of storage and integrated LTE. The latter seems a tall order, given the power consumption of 4G radios and the minimal space for batteries in smartwatches, though it’s said to be part of Microsoft’s attempt to integrate the Surface watch with its various cloud services.

One workaround to the power issue is Microsoft making the smartwatch particularly easy to recharge, something implied by rumors back in April that it would use the magnetic Surface connector already used on the detachable keyboards.

Microsoft isn’t the only company believed to be working on a smartwatch. Intel has confirmed it has a design in R&D, while Dell too has said it is investing in wearables.

Most frequently rumored, however, is the Apple iWatch, which is believed to be the Cupertino firm’s attempt to bring iOS to the wrist. That, however, isn’t expected to launch until sometime in 2014.

Samsung ATIV Book 9 Lite gets priced and dated for imminent US launch

Samsung‘s ATIV Book 9 Lite will hit US stores on July 28, Samsung has confirmed, with the new touchscreen Windows 8 ultraportable up for preorder today. Announced at Samsung’s Premiere eventlast month, the 13.3-inch notebook is priced from $799.99 with AMD’s quadcore 1.4GHz A6 chipset inside, and a 10-finger multitouch display.

There are also AMD Radeon graphics and 4GB of DDR3 memory, while storage is courtesy of a 128GB SSD. Connectivity includes WiFi, micro HDMI, mini VGA, two USB ports (one 2.0, the other 3.0), an SDXC card reader, and a headset socket.

Samsung is claiming the 1366 x 768 ultraportable will run for up to 5.5hrs on a single charge, which is short of what Apple is offering from the Intel Haswell powered 2013 MacBook Air. The 13-inch Air we recently tested ran for more than double that, though it’s worth noting that it’s at least $300 more than the Samsung.

The 12.76 x 8.82 x 0.69 inch, 3.48 pound chassis is made of plastic – you’ll need to step up to the Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus if you want metal – though from our hands-on with the notebook we know it feels sturdy and well put together. Samsung will offer it in white or black finishes.

It also plays nicely with your smartphone, assuming you have a Samsung Android device. Hooked up via USB, Samsung SideSync makes it possible to send messages; browse maps, photos, and other multimedia; and edit files stored on the Galaxy handset from the ATIV Book 9 Lite’s keyboard and touchpad. Dragging and dropping files between the two is also supported.

Samsung SM-P600 and SM-P900 tablets in the works

Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, Tab 3 8.0 and Tab 3 10.1. Those are the names of the Samsung tablets released so far this year. And that’s not counting the Windows-powered ATIV Q and ATIV Tab 3, which have been announced recently but are yet to go on sale.

You’d think that would be enough to quench Sammy’s thirst for novelty in the tablet market, especially since, let’s face it, the sales numbers are pretty weak. But that doesn’t appear to be the case. Not even close.

Instead, there are at least two new Sammy slates in the pipeline. User Agent Profiles have been found for the tabs, so their existence is all but confirmed. Then again, your guess is as good as ours in relation to their exact identities.

Numbered SM-P600 and SM-P900 (with SM-P601, SM-P605, SM-P901 and SM-P905 derivatives), these will come with Wi-Fi, 3G and LTE connectivity, plus high-res 2,560 x 1,600 (aka WQXGA) displays and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

A very promising start for the duo’s spec sheets, but that’s also where we’re forced to abruptly wrap things up for today. There’s literally no word on anything else about the Samsung tabs, so we’re left playing the guessing game.

The safest assumption to make is the SM-P900 is the high-end version of the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1, likely called GTab 3 Plus and rumored before. A Nexus 10 follow-up could be in the cards as well, though it seems like a long shot, while the SM-P600 is really an unbreakable vault. Could it be some sort of a top-notch 8-incher? One can dream, but it’s virtually impossible to cram that many pixels into such a tiny panel. Any better guesses anyone?

Via [Ameblo]

Is Microsoft preparing a futuristic 'translucent aluminum' smartwatch

Microsoft is prototyping a smartwatch and that development has now gone under the Surface team as the company transitions to a more unified structure, according to inside sources speaking for The Verge.

This move allegedly shows how serious Microsoft is about the smartwatch form factor and that it is moving it towards completion. Earlier, the smartwatch was developed by the Xbox accessory team along with the Joule heart rate monitor.

We have previously heard that Microsoft has placed orders for 1.5-inch displays and will be using the Surface magnetic connector in the possible upcoming smartwatch.

The Microsoft smartwatch will come with removable wrist bands and color options for them will include blue, red, yellow, black, white, and grey colors. What’s most interesting is that the actual watches are made out of Oxynitride Aluminum, an expensive material described as "translucent aluminum" that is also three times harder than glass.

Right now, reports claim the Microsoft smartwatch is using a modified Windows 8 and features 6 gigs of internal storage and LTE connectivity to connect it to the cloud. The watch is said to also serve notifications and allow access to music controls.

source: The Verge, AmongTech

You can pre-order Nokia's Lumia 1020 unlocked now

The Nokia Lumia 1020 is first coming to the United States on July 26th, and you can start pre-ordering it tomorrow, but now you can also pre-order it fully unlocked with no carrier ties. Online retailer Negri Electronics has added the 41-megapixel camera superphone to its catalog and you can reserve yours now.

The price for the Lumia 1020 is set at $735.50 and all three color versions (black, yellow and white) are available. The price is that high because it is not subsidized and in exchange you get to use the phone with no contract and on different compatible carriers.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 offers a revolutionary camera that has a large ⅔” sensor, Xenon and LED flash, optical image stabilization and all of that packed into a relatively slim body.

source: Negri Electronics