Qualcomm has been showing off a bevy of devices called Smartbooks that the company thinks could be poised to swallow up the netbook market by outmanoeuvring them in their core strengths - the small-and-light and always-on-connectivity arenas.

The model pictured above and below is an Android-equipped device from Taiwanese manufacturers Quanta. It's packing a 1GHz Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm which means that it has smartphone-esque features and connectivity, but the power of a low-end notebook.

Qualcomm is betting on 3G connectivity within netbooks becoming as ubiquitous as Wi-Fi. The resulting smartbooks will be more portable, more connected and cheaper than the traditional netbook, and elbow them out of the market.

The company also demonstrated a wireless charging pad for gadgets, and a C-motech Mangrove tablet computer running Windows Mobile 6.5 on a Snapdragon processor. Pics of those can be found on the images tab above.

Tags: Hardware Smartbooks Qualcomm Quanta Lenovo Snapdragon Android

Qualcomm planning smartbook assault originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:13:38 +0000

If you think the proliferation of app stores among device manufacturers, mobile networks and just about any other company in the world was getting a little silly, you'll likely be alarmed to hear that Qualcomm is launching an initiative that could see any company set one up with the greatest of ease.

The white label service is called "Plaza" and represents an easily customisable app store (or "Mobile widgets" as Qualcomm is putting it) that can be as niche or mainstream as you like. "Any content, any network, any device" is apparently the company's motto for the project.

Qualcomm's EVP president of QIS & Europe told Pocket-lint that he thinks specialist boutique app stores that focus on one topic - sports and fitness, or music, for example - could prove as successful as device-centred app stores that have dominated the marketplace so far.

Qualcomm has an extensive website that details the options that it offers. What do you think - is the proliferation of app stores a good thing that'll create competition and drive down prices? Or will it just confuse consumers? Let us know in the comments.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phone apps Qualcomm Plaza Biz

Qualcomm plans "Plaza" of white-label app stores originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:09:10 +0000

A small startup from Poole has created an app that aims to make it easier to share your digital media collection between your various gadgets. It's called Skifta, and allows you to shift content between a number of devices with just one catch - they have to be DLNA enabled.

If you watch the more-than-a-little-cheesy intro video above, you'll see that it works with anything from televisions to radios to laptops to games consoles to digital photo frames. It turns your computer into a DLNA server, which can then pump pictures, music or video to any device in your home.

But that's not the clever bit. The clever bit is that you can connect that server with another computer anywhere in the world, and then stream from the new device to anything on that network - so if you go to a friend's house and connect then you can instantly stream your vintage Village People live album to his television or speakers. He'll love you for it.

What's more is that there are various "boosters" available for system. A Twitter one was demonstrated, which provides a live Twitter feed to your TV, or a digital photo frame, or other home gadget. You could also build boosters for Last.fm, Flickr, a Gmail checker, an RSS reader, or any other service. In time, third parties will also be able to build boosters.

The platform is live right now at skifta.com, and the team has a Twitter account - @skifta - too. It's free to sign up and use, so give it a go and let us know what you think in the comments.

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Tags: Home Cinema Software Skifta Qualcomm PC software Mac software Linux P2P Music Movies Photos DLNA Video

VIDEO: Skifta offers media sharing app originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:18:16 +0000

From early in the next decade, it'll be mandatory for all cars in the EU to be fitted with a "black box" technology called eCall. This is an in-vehicle emergency call service which is used to contact the authorities in the case of an accident or other adverse situation.

The initiative has come out of the eSafety Forum, a group of car manufacturers, technology companies and representatives of various emergency services bought together by the EU. Qualcomm is responsible for the radio modem that uses existing emergency bands for communicating with the authorities.

If a car crashes, or if anyone in the car manually activates the eCall system, a message is immediately sent to the authorities with info about the time, location and type of vehicle involved in the incident. A voice call can also be initiated with the emergency services that plays over the car's entertainment system and uses an embedded microphone so you can converse with the operator.

It's not entirely clear exactly when the system will become mandatory. The UK, along with a few other countries, haven't signed the necessary legislation yet. Qualcomm predicts a timescale of "around 2012", whereas Wikipedia reckons 2014.

Still, this could prove a useful tool for alerting emergency services to accidents, and getting help to those who need it, as well as for recording more accurate data on road accidents.

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Tags: Car And GPS Car gadgets eCall Qualcomm EU

EU cars getting mandatory emergency system originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:20:50 +0000

Mirasol, the team at Qualcomm responsible for its e-reader division, has been showing off a new set of eBook readers that are built on "interferometric modulation" display technology. In slightly less geeky language, that means that they can do colour, and they can do video - something that e-Reader devices can't currently do.

The tech is based on the natural principle that makes butterfly wings shimmer. Tiny membranes that can be controlled with electric charges are laid onto a mirrored surface. Light coming through the membranes gets refracted and the interference can produce colour. As a result, no backlight is required, and the experience is better - rather than worse - in direct sunlight.

That usage of natural light also extends the battery life of devices. The company says that devices with a regular e-ink display could last 20-40% longer if they were equipped with an interferometric display instead. It's possible to do colour and video on an e-ink display, but it ramps up the refresh rates so much that it slaughters the battery life.

Mirasol reckons that when combined with a touchscreen, interferometric modulation?could be a powerful display tech for the next generation of tablet PCs and mobile phones, as well as e-readers. Scrolling and animation effects are possible, unlike with current e-reader displays. We saw a very small 5cm display in action with video, however the pictures you see above were a static display, "locked" in a lab and?unchangeable.

It'll be interesting to see if Qualcomm can build Mirasol's display tech into something that can be bulk-produced, and then roll it out over a wide range of devices. The company already has a gaming controller prototyped. At the moment the quality of the screen still needs a bit of work, if the prototypes are anything to go by, but early versions of a commercial product of some sort are due on the market by late 2010.

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Tags: Gadgets eBook readers Qualcomm Mirasol

Mirasol shows off colour E-reader displays originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:22:47 +0000

Swallowable pills that contain sensors could be just around the corner. A company called Proteus Biomedical is working with Qualcomm to build both pills and patches that can monitor your vital signs and send them to a mobile device.

The idea is that those with chronic health problems can be kept an eye on - these "smart" pills can tell if you're taking your medication or not, and notify either you or your doctor/nurse. However, the pills and patches can also be used as more of a preventative option - one of the first signs of cardiac arrest is a buildup of body liquid and the sensors embedded inside can detect this.

The sensors contained in the pills and patches can monitor temperature, motion, respiration and your heart rate. The pills have a "wet battery" that's activated when it hits your stomach, and the patch contains an external battery. Both connect wirelessly to an external unit, like a mobile phone, which then uploads your data to a private database on the Web.

The company says that it's seeing interest from healthcare organisations across the world, but that the UK's NHS was yet to bite. Developing countries like China are expected to be the first to try out these new technologies, as they don't have the established infrastructure of more developed nations.

Would you take a "smart pill" that monitors your vitals? Or is that a little too creepy? Tell us in the comments box below.

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Tags: Sports Fitness Health Medical Proteus Qualcomm Wireless

Swallowable e-pill sensors coming soon originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:57:02 +0000

MediaFLO television, which launched in the United States, could be coming to the UK in time for the 2012 Olympic Games. The company's head of business development EMEA, Chem Assayag, dropped several hints to Pocket-lint, saying that 2012 is an "important year", adding that large sporting events are always good timing for broadcast products to launch due to the increased demand for viewing platforms.

The MediaFLO service, which uses a more traditional broadcast system than IPTV services, can be accessed on 10 different mobile phone handsets in the United States, available through Verizon and AT&T. It's also accessible on a recently-released 4GB standalone device, and the company showed us prototypes of dongles and wireless accessories that could connect up to any handset, including an iPhone (pictured above), not just one with Qualcomm's MediaFLO chip in.

In Britain, the company has bought up a suitable chunk of L-band spectrum that would support a mobile broadcast network. Back in May, the company announced it had won an auction for 40MHz of bandwidth to use to "bring a variety of innovative wireless technologies to the UK market".

UK content partners could include Sky, the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV, and it's likely that phone networks like O2, Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile and 3 would also be involved - to provide the handsets to customers. As well as television, MediaFLO can also integrate other apps - we saw proof-of-concept of Twitter and Facebook integration that would allow you to chat with other people watching the same broadcast.

The technology can support up to 30 channels running at 25 to 30fps at QVGA resolution. That's tiny compared to a TV, and even a little on the small side for a laptop, but would suit the small screens of mobile devices very well. MediaFLO is working with LG, Samsung, Motorola and HTC right now, but chips could easily be integrated into any handset, so keep your eyes peeled in the next year or so.

As soon as there's anything more concrete about the launch of MediaFLO in the UK, we'll let you know.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phone TV Qualcomm MediaFLO FLO TV

Mobile TV could be in UK in time for Olympics originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:56:34 +0000

Qualcomm has unveiled a new device called the Lenovo Smartbook that it hopes will marry the smartphone with the netbook, very much like the HTC advantage attempted to do in 2007.

Qualcomm's CEO Paul Jacobs showed off the shiny, red smartbook during the company's annual analyst meeting in New York according to reports online.

The device, which is expected to be officially launched at CES 2010, sports a clamshell design to reveal a keyboard and screen.

It will be powered by a Qualcomm snapdragon chipset and be 3G enabled on AT&T's network in the US Qualcomm's CEO confirmed.

The Snapdragon chipset can already be found in the Acer Liquid, the HTC HD2, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and the Toshiba TG01.

Although no name has yet to be given, Qualcomm has said that it will run with the advertising slogan "The world organized around you" hoping the device would act like a sixth sense.

Tags: Hardware Phones Qualcomm Lenovo Smartbook Lenovo UMPC Snapdragon Netbooks CES2010

Qualcomm Lenovo Smartbook unveiled originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:46:01 +0000

That Apple will launch an iPhone nano, a smaller possibly less-featured version of its popular iPhone is a rumour that has not gone away, but new reports from sources in the Taiwan handset supply chain have recently reignited talk of such a device.

In a nutshell, it seems Apple is busy prepping a 2.8-inch (compared to the current 3.5-inch) version of the iPhone that will boast a new Qualcomm chip that will mean it will work globally on both UMTS 3G and CDMA mobile phone networks.

Said to be due to Verizon in Q3 of 2010, despite the operator's continued iPhone bashing, the iPhone nano is said to be planned for worldwide distribution too - a single handset to all carriers, regardless of the tech of their network.

AppleInsider's source, OTR Global, says that Asustek subsidiary Pegatron will build the new hybrid phone devices for Apple rather than Hon Hai, the iPhone's current manufacturer and that "Verizon and Apple have already hammered out an agreement to sell the new iPhone model within the year".

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Tags: Phones iPhone Apple Rumours Verizon Qualcomm iPhone nano

Apple to launch worldmode 2.8-inch iPhone nano originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:13:03 +0000

Nokia is planning a fresh attack on the US mobile phone market, teaming up with AT&T on a new Symbian phone, a new report suggests.

The device will be developed along with Snapdragon-maker Qualcomm, who has recently joined the Symbian Foundation board.

Although the news that Nokia and Qualcomm had put past differences aside and are planning "advanced mobile devices" was announced officially in February of this year, adding iPhone operator AT&T into the mix is news.

VentureBeat says it "has heard from sources close to Nokia that the company has ... agreed to launch a phone in the US market with AT&T using a Qualcomm chip".

Back in Feb, Nokia and Qualcomm said the Symbian device they were teaming up on would offer "cutting-edge processing performance and ubiquitous mobile broadband capabilities".

Nokia has a low market share in America of around 5%, a big difference from its 38% share globally, and was caught on film recently trying to persuade consumers to opt for unlocked Nokia handsets in an attempt to up its US success.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Nokia Qualcomm AT and T Rumours Symbian Foundation

Nokia and Qualcomm working on new Symbian phone for AT&T originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:24:41 +0000

The much-rumoured gPhone turned out to be "not one, but a thousand gPhones" when Google announced the launch of Android, its mobile phone operating system, but that is about to change.

While it's unclear what has prompted the internet giant to make the switch to offer its own hardware, design sources from within Google have revealed it is to offer an Android smartphone of its own.

"Google is working with a smartphone manufacturer to have a Google-branded phone available this year through retailers and not through telcos, according to Northeast Securities analyst Ashok Kumar, who has talked to Google's design partners about the plan", reports thestreet.com.

By offering the phone direct to consumers, rather than through an operator, it could be suggested Google's reason for a move into manufacturing could be to allow the consumer - and not the operator - to decide on features and apps, such as Google Talk, the VoIP solution.

The report suggests that the phone will use Qualcomm chips and could possibly be manufactured by HTC, a company Google appears to have good relations with that has worked with Android since day one.

The same source also reports that a Google Chrome netbook, again with Qualcomm chips and made by Qunata, will go on sale next summer.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Google Android gPhone HTC Qualcomm Rumours

Google will launch an Android gPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:19:38 +0100

Qualcomm is hoping to change the way we watch television with a new portable TV that doesn't need you to be plugged into an aerial on the top of your house.

Called Flo TV, the technology, which is already available on mobile phones from LG and HTC, has spawned a dedicated portable TV called the Flo TV Personal Television.

The device, previously rumoured and due in time for "the Holidays" and made by HTC, will feature a 3.5-inch screen, built in speakers, a 3.5mm stereo jack, and a kick out stand so you can perch it on a desk or table.

Qualcomm says that it will offer 5 hours of viewing time from a single charge and that you'll be able to get up to 20 channels ranging through news, kids and entertainment.

"Our intent is to make Flo TV available to all", Michael Hirsch from FLO TV told Pocket-lint.

The device will cost $250, although users will have to sign up to a further subscription to access the television channels each month.

Stone says that pricing has yet to be fully finalised, however consumers looking to watch TV on the go can expect to pay from $8.99 a month with monthly and yearly packages available.

Those thinking that a 3.5-inch isn't really big enough should hold their breath. Hirsch confirmed to us that the company was working on more devices.

"We expect to see more devices and different form factors in the future," he said.

Promising national US coverage by the end of 2009, Hirsch was keeping quiet on whether or not the new TV would make it outside of the US and to the UK. Qualcomm already owns the spectrum in the UK to offer the FLO TV service, however as yet hasn't turned it on.

Tags: Home Cinema Televisions Qualcomm FLO TV

FLO TV takes TV on the go once again originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:31:17 +0100