The architecture behind the Intel Silvermont system-on-a-chip could help the semiconductor company take on the mobile CPU space currently dominated by ARM processors.
That’s because this 22-nanometer successor to the Saltwell microprocessor is being rebuilt for mobile technology in mind, specifically power-critical devices like smartphones and tablets.
Intel estimates that Silvermont will be able to provide about three times the peak performance as Atom processors like the Z2580.
Alternatively, the new SoC will be able to achieve roughly the same performance as current generation Atom processors at 5 times the lower power.
The first of many
Silvermont, the first Intel chip to employ the next-generation low-power microarchitecture, won’t be the last, according to Dadi Perlmutter, Intel executive vice president and chief product officer.
"Early sampling of our 22nm SoCs, including ‘Bay Trail’ and ‘Avoton’ is already garnering positive feedback from our customers," said Perlmutter in a press release.
“Going forward, we will accelerate future generations of this low-power microarchitecture on a yearly cadence."
Intel’s commitment to yearly refreshes of its mobile-focused technology is already in the planning stages. This includes a 14nm processor codenamed Airmont with a release date expected in 2014.
With Intel Silvermont promising architecture that delivers industry-leading performance-per-watt efficiency, the semiconductor company may finally be able to make headway with its Atom processors.
A previous leak supposedly shows the iPhone 5S's innards (credit: Nowhereelse.fr)
A poorly sourced article today claimed that parts and components for Apple's next iPhone have begun arriving at Chinese manufacturers.
Apple blog Patently Apple cited "a new Chinese report" and claimed that "Apple's noisy supply chain is at it again."
Manufacturers along that supply chain have supposedly begun receiving the parts that will be necessary to build the next iPhone, which Patently Apple refers to as the iPhone 5S.
However, it's unknown what Apple's next smartphone will actually be called, as the Cupertino company could very well skip straight to the iPhone 6 or something else entirely.
An early iPhone release?
Patently Apple claimed that those unnamed Chinese sources believe production on the new iPhone will actually begin in July, as two months between parts arriving and production beginning is reportedly standard.
Further, Foxconn's Apple product production lines are supposedly the manufacturing giant's most efficient facilities, and Foxconn (also known as Hon Hai) has plans to bring the rest of its lines up to speed this year.
The implication in all of this is that Apple has moved up its parts deliveries so that it can launch the next iPhone earlier than the traditional annual September release it's stuck to in the past.
Rumors surrounding the release of the next iPhone involve multiple versions of Apple's new flagship, with a cheaper iPhone possibly launching at some point as well as the requisite iPhone 5S/iPhone 6.
The next Lumia could replace the line's polycarbonate with an aluminum body
Nokia's next Lumia phone, thought to be called the Lumia 925, will be unveiled on May 14, said a report today.
Hot Hardware repeated a claim on an unnamed Chinese-language Windows blog that the Lumia 925 will be revealed during a May 14 event in London.
Nokia previously teased that the event will continue "the Nokia Lumia story."
The Finnish phone maker has not mentioned the Lumia 925 in any official capacity, but whispers of a device codenamed "Catwalk" have been circulating for months. That device is thought to be the Lumia 925, the next successor in Nokia's Lumia line of Windows Phone 8 smartphones and the follow-up to the Lumia 920.
Lumia 925 Catwalk rumors
The last we heard of the Nokia device codenamed Catwalk was a vague rumor early in April that it would be unveiled May 15.
If today's reports are accurate, that rumor will not have been far off the mark.
The Nokia Catwalk first appeared in rumors in January, and even then it was presumed to be a Lumia 920 successor.
That report suggested that the high-end Catwalk would sport a thinner and lighter aluminum body rather than past Lumias' typical polycarbonate chassis.
Today's report on Hot Hardware repeated that claim, though its veracity has yet to be verified.
Other rumored specs for the Lumia 925 include a 4.5-inch 1280 x 768 OLED display, a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of memory, 16GB of storage, a non-detachable battery, and an 8.7-megapixel back camera.
We've asked Nokia to confirm additional details about the planned announcement on May 14, but we haven't heard back yet.
The Home Shopping Network started offering the Nokia Lumia 521 on T-Mobile last week and it’s currently being listed as sold out, although they resupplied the stock once. That’s not surprising as their $149.95 deal certainly makes the Windows Phone 8 handset one of the best budget phones out there. But Walmart has come out with an even sweeter deal.
The 521 is available on the Walmart website with a price tag of $129.88 without contract. But this deal does not seem to involve any free accessories, such as the car charger and screen protector available from HSN. But, unsurprisingly, the device is out of stock almost immediately, although it is available in some of its stores.
Just to remind you, the 4-inch 521 features a 5MP cam, HD video recording, 8GB storage (expandable up to 64GB), 512MB RAM, 1GHz dual-core processor, and it supports 4G (but no LTE).
Those are quite decent specs for the very low price. If you are planning to switch to Windows Phone over a more established iOS or Android, then this is the deal for you. But we are not sure when Walmart will have the handset back in stock again. We will keep you updated, so stay tuned to Mobilemag.
Fans of Blackberry’s QWERTY equipped phones will be interested to hear that a new budget-oriented phone could be making an appearance next week at the Blackberry Live conference.
The news comes in the form of a leaked photo of the R10 along with purported specifications from Chinese website DGtle. According to their sources the Blackberry R10 will feature the same 3.1-inch display and 2GB RAM as the more costly Q10 but with a lower spec 5 mega-pixel camera, 8GB ROM and just an 1800mAh battery.
The R10 will be aimed at the entry-level market but would also make a great replacement for anyone wanting to update their older Curve handset. What’s interesting is that Blackberry has said that they will be focusing mostly on the high-end with BB10, so either they’ve changed their mind or they are simply billing this as their first mid-ranger. What do you think, would you be interested in a cheaper variant of the Q10? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
A Galaxy S4 lookalike for those with smaller pockets and wallets
Samsung has unleashed yet another addition to its Galaxy smartphone range, this time its the low-end Galaxy Core making its bow.
The modest device features a 4.3-inch, 480 x 800 resolution display screen, and runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, with Samsung's TouchWiz UI plastered over the top.
It comes packing a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, has 1GB of RAM and just 8GB of internal storage, which can be boosted with 64GB of space through the microSD card slot.
There's also a 5-megapixel camera with an LED flash, while video recording maxes out 480p. The Galaxy Core also brings a VGA front facing camera.
SIMple SIM-switching
Interestingly, amid the plethora of low-end specs, Samsung has included dual-SIM support on one version of the device, allowing users to access both SIMs simultaneously, without having to reset the device.
Buyers will also get a host of the neat software features Samsung bundled in with the Galaxy S4, such as Smart Stay, S Voice and Smart Alert.
The dual-SIM variant will go on sale this month, while the single-SIM version won't arrive until July, according to Samsung's media release.
No news of pricing or availability just yet, but we'll keep you posted.
Pretty or rugged, we have loads of HTC One phone covers for you
The HTC One is undoubtedly one sleek and desirable Android smartphone being. Whether it's gripping that aluminium body, peering at that vibrant 4.7-inch screen or shooting stellar pics with the innovative Ultrapixel camera, HTC has come up trumps with its latest One series handset.
Making sure those killer features stay box-fresh for longer than a week is a tall order for most, so to help you in the quest to keep your One protected you'll need a decent cover.
Here we've found the best HTC One cases available for you to buy now.
1. Case-Mate Barely There - £18/US$20 (around AU$19.50)
If you're not prepared to give up that slim form factor, this hard shell case snaps onto the back and sides of the handset, providing a thin but impact-resistant polymer shell. The interior lining adds cushioning, with Case-Mate's lay flat design extending the bezel to protect the screen. It's available in a host of brightly coloured shades too, should you need to draw more attention to it.
2. HTC One Double Dip Hard Shell Case - £18 (around AU$27/US$28)
This official case made up of a main body and two end caps that clip onto the the top and bottom of the phone ensures there is a tough exterior to offer all-round protection. There's room left for the Boomsound speakers to amplify your music, and the shell also sits raised to help fend off damage to the big, bright display.
For those who don't want to hide away that shiny aluminium body, this flexible see-through case wraps around your handset, adding a thin but durable layer of protection. A raised bezel will help keep the screen from harm when lying flat, while rubberised button covers should give it a nice sturdy grip in the hand.
4. Otterbox Commuter Series - US$35 (around £22.50/AU$34)
With a durable polycarbonate shell providing a defence at the back, the silicone inner on this case also helps to absorb impact. And a clear screen protector keeps dust, finger smudges and potential scratches away from that beautiful display. There's access to all ports and space for the rear-facing camera to poke out of if you need to take a quick-fire snap.
Offering a dual layer of protection without adding too much extra bulk, the shock absorbent silicone layer and Plextonium brushed aluminium shell aims to fend off scratches and cope with any uncomfortable dropping scenarios. It's been built with materials that will not affect signal reception and will crucially gives you access to ports and that 13-Megapixel snapper.
6. Overboard Pro-Sports Waterproof Arm Pack - £22.50/AU$30/US$36.50
Once you've picked out a fitness app you can go out for a run and have enough room for your smartphone, loose change and house keys. Using Overboard's Slide Seal System and a design that means it can float, there should be no risk of water getting near your smartphone. Plus if you're out at the beach it will keep the sand, dust and dirt away.
Ideal for those who are generally more careful about slinging their smartphone on a table or in the pocket, this polycarbonate case adds a thin layer of durability and a raised front to protect the screen. There's cut outs for quick access to all ports and a space to view the notifications bar so you can still quickly see if someone has mentioned you on Twitter.
If you have a track record of taking your smartphone for a dip, this silicone case will keep your handset sealed and secure, with a clear surface so that the screen is still viewable. Available in a host of trendy colours, it's waterproof up to 1 metre for 30 minutes and has a neck strap if you decide that you want to wear it like a lanyard.
9. HTC One Double Dip Flip Case - £25 (around AU$38/US$39)
Enabling you to watch videos and films hands-free and from a more comfortable viewing angle, the flip-style stand found at the back of this case will hold your handset in place in landscape view. Once it's time to get off the train and stop watching, it'll close up and offer a tough polycarbonate exterior that should give you enough everyday protection.
Offering a low-key and understated home for your HTC One, this faux leather pouch with stitched design holds your larger than life smartphone in place with a pull tab keeping it secure and offering complete protection as it knocks around in your pocket. An aluminium lining also provides a last line of defence against scratches and everyday bumps.
