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Saturday, February 25, 2012

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Engadget Mobile Podcast 127 - 02.24.2012

Posted: 25 Feb 2012 10:00 AM PST

We are pretty excited for MWC. If you don't believe us, walk with us down this 127th Engadget Mobile Podcast path. It will make a believer out of you.

Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen, Joseph Volpe
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International)

00:07:58 - LG Optimus 4X HD unveiled: Quad-core Tegra 3, Ice Cream Sandwich, 4.7-inch display


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DIY'er makes his own conductive ink, teaches you how to do the same

Posted: 25 Feb 2012 09:13 AM PST

There are DIY projects that you should do at your own risk, and then there are DIY projects that you should do at your own risk. This conductive ink concocted by Jordan Bunker falls into the latter category, but it should be relatively straightforward for those who know what they're doing (or those with proper supervision), and it results in a product that's markedly cheaper than existing off-the-shelf alternatives (Jordan spent around $150 for a decent-sized batch). That can then be used for any number of electronics projects, of which you'll have to discern your own degree of danger. Jordan's promising a video soon, but you can find the complete instructions for making your own at the source link below in the meantime.

We're live from Mobile World Congress 2012!

Posted: 25 Feb 2012 08:00 AM PST

It may be the dead of winter, but you wouldn't know that in Barcelona. The sun's shining bright on Fira, the Spanish city's main exhibition center, as construction crews work furiously (read: gather on staircases for seemingly day-long lunch breaks) to prepare for Mobile World Congress. We've arrived in the Catalonian capital to bring you the latest and greatest from el mundo de la telefonia movil, beginning with tomorrow's manufacturer previews. For now, grab a glass of sangria and enjoy el fin de semana -- the fun begins at dawn.

Protip: Use our "mwc2012" tag to see all of this week's Mobile World Congress news and hand-ons!
We're live from Mobile World Congress 2012!

Moxi whole-home six tuner DVR on its way to WOW! customers

Posted: 25 Feb 2012 07:29 AM PST

Just because Arris found limited success with its Moxi DVR in the consumer space, that doesn't mean it won't continue to seek success providing hardware to cable companies. Ultra TV is what the number 15 TV provider (432k subscribers) in the US, WOW!, will be calling the 6 tuner, 500GB multi-room DVR, with MoCA, VOIP and WiFi -- a deal that seems to be a bit better than the one TiVo offers for the number 16 provider in the US, RCN. The Moxi user interface in the video below looks like the Moxi we know, but we assume the DVR gateway and players will resemble the Shaw counterparts rather than the retail ones. A comment on the WOW Buzz blog indicates that a gateway and two players will set you back $25 a month, while another indicates that installs are already being scheduled.

Show full PR text
WOW! Launches ARRIS Whole Home Solution
SUWANEE, Ga., Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ARRIS Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARRS) announced today that top 20 cable provider WOW! Internet, Cable and Phone has launched the ARRIS Whole Home Solution, which consists of the Moxi® Gateway, a multi-services platform providing integrated multimedia entertainment to the entire home, and Moxi Players, which connect to each television to enable individual service delivery.

The service will be marketed as WOW! ULTRA TV. It will use the Moxi User Interface branded for WOW! and will offer the full functionality of the ARRIS Whole Home Solution, including 6 tuner HD DVR, DOCSIS® 3.0 data service, VoIP, media sharing ability, MoCA connectivity and optional in-home WiFi routing.

"As we continue to innovate our products and services to meet customers' changing needs, we look for technology collaborators that can bring expertise and flexible solutions to fit our unique architectural, financial and customer goals. We are pleased to have found such a relationship in ARRIS and look forward to delighting our customers with our new WOW! ULTRA TV," said Cash Hagen, Chief Technology Officer at WOW!.

"We're very pleased to help WOW! offer its customers a unique, new whole home multimedia entertainment system," said Debbie Stackis, ARRIS VP & GM, Video CPE. "Our strategic investment in the Moxi solution is bearing fruit as more and more cable service providers deploy the platform across North America."

Is your Android app on BlackBerry App World without you knowing?

Posted: 25 Feb 2012 06:01 AM PST

In our review of PlayBook 2.0, we were eager to check out how well Android apps worked on the platform, and one of the first we reached for was the Dolphin HD browser. Curiously enough, it turns out Dolphin's makers MoboTap had no idea their app was available via BlackBerry's App World. The discovery came after we were notified by developer Steve Troughton-Smith that Dolphin HD had been submitted to App World by white label store Handster (owned by Opera). We reached out to MoboTap who confirmed they didn't authorize any submission by Handster, with a spokesperson telling us "We do not condone Handster submitting our Dolphin Browser app to BlackBerry's App World for us and are currently working to take it down and assure Handster will not submit our app for us again. We will assess developing for BlackBerry when the time is right." Dolphin HD may be a free app, but the question remains: why is Handster submitting it without permission? Has your app been submitted to App World without your knowing?

Update: We have contacted Handster's press department for comment, but no response at this time.

Tesla to owners: Plug it in

Posted: 25 Feb 2012 03:02 AM PST

EV maker Tesla has come under fire for allegations that its vehicles can be "bricked" when their batteries are completely discharged. Such instances require that the cells be replaced to the tune of $40,000, which doesn't sit well with folks who already forked over six figures to buy a Roadster in the first place. Tesla doesn't deny the charge (pardon the pun), but it does offer a common sense suggestion to avoid the problem: simply plug the car in. Tesla implies this danger is only likely for early adopters, and says it's also made strides to idiot-proof later vehicles with advanced warning systems -- Tesla 2.0 Roadsters can phone home to Tesla headquarters with a low juice alert, for example. Tesla documents safe battery charging practices in the owner's documentation, though, so here's an idea: if you're going to spend $109,000 on an electric sports car, maybe it's a good idea to RTFM (read the freaking manual).

Pub owner Karen Murphy wins appeal in TV-decoder battle against Sky

Posted: 25 Feb 2012 12:07 AM PST

It's been a few months since we last heard about the legal kerfuffle between Sky and pub owner Karen Murphy. In case you've been out of the loop, it all started when the UK broadcasting giant went after Murphy for using what was deemed to be an illegal method for screening FA Premier League matches at her, or any, bar. The Greece Nova decoder, which is considered a legal bit in the privacy of your own home, was helping Murphy bypass Sky's £480 ($740) required monthly fees for bar owners and saving her over £350 ($555) in the process. Now, over $260,000 in legal fees later, Mrs. Murphy's conviction has been overturned by the relentless High Court. The ruling allows her to keep using the troubled Greek gadget to screen any EPL game without facing any troubles -- except the occasional drunken fracas. So, now you know where to go the next time you're in Portsmouth and want to catch a good ol' footy match.

Pinball pioneer Steve Kordek dies at 100

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 09:38 PM PST

Believe it or not, pinball (that most beloved of nerd pastimes) hasn't always looked this way -- a familiar field of bumpers with a pair of forward facing flippers at the bottom. That particular design originated with the 1948 title Triple Action, the work of Steve Kordek who died this week at the age of 100. Kordek is credited with a number of innovations to the analog arcade games, including multi-ball mode and drop targets. All told, the pioneer designed well over 100 different machines for Genco, Bally and Williams -- some of the biggest names in the pinball pantheon -- over the course of his roughly 60 year career. So, it is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to a man that provided us with hours of entertainment and cost us plenty of quarters.

Google Drive SDK, Gmail integration hinted at in Google Docs source code

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 07:50 PM PST

Still wondering if Mountain View's Google Drive service will launch as a Google Docs rebranding? The folks at the Google Operating System blog have some code you might want to peek at, then. Apparently the Docs' source code mentions an SDK connected to the upcoming Google Drive, opening the door for third party app support. The code hints at deeper Gmail integration too, "Say goodbye to email attachments and hello to real time collaboration," it says, "Drag anything shared with you to My Drive for easy access." If Drive turns out to be more than a hefty Docs update, at the very least it seems clear that the new service will play nice with El Goog's other web apps -- after all, isn't that what that consolidated privacy policy is supposed to be about?

Telus confirms March 2nd launch for Nokia Lumia 800

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 06:29 PM PST

Canadians may still have to wait a bit longer for some official word of the Lumia 900's possible debut in the country (the latest rumors suggest it may be heading to Rogers), but there's now at least a firm date for the launch of its slightly smaller counterpart. Telus confirmed today that the Nokia Lumia 800 will be available on March 2nd (in your choice of black, cyan or magenta), although it's unfortunately still not providing a price. As you may recall, Nokia's other new Windows Phone, the Lumia 710, made its Canadian debut on Rogers earlier this month, where it can be had for as little as $50 on-contract or just over $250 off-contract.

Dyson's DC39 stateside-bound, couples canister footprint with 'Ball'-functionality come March

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 05:09 PM PST

Lest you thought its previous 'City' endeavors were the pinnacle of diminutive bag-less suction, here comes Dyson with the DC39. Previously available elsewhere, the British company's latest canister will soon sashay into the US for a cool $499. That's a sizable wad of cash, yet that investment nets you access to a diminutive vacuum stuffed with the company's 'Ball' technology -- enabling a teensy unit already capable of a lot of suck to be infinitely more maneuverable. That's apparently no small feat, as it took seventy engineers more than three years to stuff over a hundred components into that spherical derriere. Those interested can look for it mid-March -- for the rest of us, PR and a cutaway of its insides await after the break.

Show full PR text
No more awkward moves: the first Dyson Ball™ canister
Latest technology sits on a ball for smooth steering

Engineered to follow faithfully, DC39 is Dyson's first canister vacuum with Ball™ technology for stable maneuvering around the tightest corners.

Canister cleaners are often awkward to steer and can topple. They lurch into furniture, veer off at tangents and may be difficult to pull. Like an errant shopping cart, their crude casters drift across hard floors and get buried in carpets – more force is needed to keep them on track. And reliant on bags – they can lose suction, too.

Sitting on a ball, DC39 has a lower center of gravity and is easier to pull without snagging on corners or the carpet pile. Coupled with a unique central steering system, it uses an articulating chassis and central pivot point for negotiating tight turns and circumnavigating sofas. And equipped with Dyson's Radial Root Cyclone™ technology, it captures more microscopic dust than any other.

James Dyson:
"We thrive on engineering challenges, and our first Dyson Ball™ canister posed quite a few. Cramming over 100 components into the ball itself. Compressing the airways, concealing the motor and ducting and devising a new steering mechanism. We've miniaturized the technology to deliver our most maneuverable canister vacuum yet."

Radial Root Cyclone™ technology
Other vacuum cleaners still rely on bags, losing suction over time. Dyson has been continually refining vacuum cyclone technology since inventing it more than 20 years ago. Every angle of each airway is honed to ensure microscopic particles – as tiny as .5 microns or 1/5,000th of a pin head - are spun out of the airflow and captured in the bin.

Acoustical engineering
With airflow inside the inner cyclones generating in excess of 100,000 G – Dyson's acoustics team were challenged to minimize the sound and vibration of high speed dirt. Testing in Dyson's semi anechoic chamber resulted in a redesigned motor casing and vents to fine tune airflow.

DC39 Multi floor and DC39 Animal will be available at www.dyson.com and most major retailers from mid-March, 2012, and costs $449.99 and $499.99 respectively.

Midway Arcade brings Joust, Defender, Spy Hunter to iOS without the associated coin-loss

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 04:18 PM PST

Warner Bros. has busted out an iOS flavored compilation of Midway's classic arcade games. For 99 cents you can re-live the experience of pumping coin after coin in the cabinets of your childhood. The app comes with emulated versions of Spy Hunter, Rampage, Joust, Root Beer Tapper, Defender, Arch Rivals, Air Hockey, Arcade Basketball, Pool and Roll Ball. Once you've finished reacquiring your square-eyes from all that gaming action, two expansions are available as an in-app purchase. One includes NARC, Total Carnage and APB, whilst the other packs both Gauntlet games and Wizard of War. All the company needs to do now is make sure it works in perfect harmony with the iCade and we may never leave the house again.
Show full PR text
NO TOKENS REQUIRED: Midway Arcade App Now Available for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Releases Compilation of Classic Titles Including Spy Hunter, Joust, Rampage on the App Store

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announces its Midway Arcade App for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch – a collection of 10 classic arcade titles – is now available on the App Store for $0.99.

"Longtime arcade fans can reconnect with their early favorites, and new players can fall in love with these groundbreaking arcade classics."

Midway Arcade provides the ultimate arcade experience with a virtual showroom equipped with 10 classic arcade games, tickets and virtual prizes. The app allows players to take their favorite arcade games, such as Spy Hunter, Joust, Rampage and more, along with four skill-based games, including Pool, Air Hockey, Roll Ball and Basketball, with them on the go.

Players also have the option to purchase additional Midway classics through In-App Purchase. The extra fun in the Fantasy Game Pack includes Gauntlet I, Gauntlet II and Wizard of Wor, while the Action Game Pack unlocks APB, NARC and Total Carnage. Players compete against their friends, earn achievements and dominate online leaderboards.

"The games featured in Midway Arcade helped define the arcade gaming space and the App Store is the perfect platform to deliver these legacy games to the current generation of gamers," said Greg Ballard, Senior Vice President, Digital Games, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "Longtime arcade fans can reconnect with their early favorites, and new players can fall in love with these groundbreaking arcade classics."

The complete Midway Arcade virtual showroom includes the following titles:

Spy Hunter: Race down a freeway in an armed sports car and destroy enemies while protecting civilian vehicles;
Rampage: Reduce the city to rubble as gigantic monsters George (a King-Kong-like gorilla), Lizzie (a Godzilla-like dinosaur/lizard), and Ralph (a giant werewolf);
Defender: Defeat waves of invading aliens while protecting astronauts in this 2D shooting game;
Joust: While riding a flying ostrich, fight to defeat enemy knights riding buzzards;
Root Beer Tapper: As the bartender, serve beer and collect empty mugs and tips without letting the thirsty patrons' patience expire;
Arch Rivals: In this Basket Brawl, outscore opponents as a crowd pleaser, rebound king, a defensive giant and more;
Skill-Based Games: Beat your friends' top scores in Pool, Air Hockey, Roll Ball and Basketball.

The two additional game packs, available through In-App Purchase, include:

Fantasy Game Pack

Gauntlet I: Hack and slash through monsters as they try to exit the dungeon maze;
Gauntlet 2: The monsters return in this acclaimed sequel, with all new levels, and challenges;
Wizard of Wor: "Worriors" must make their way through monster-infested dungeons to destroy the Wizard of Wor.

Action Game Pack

APB: Playing as Officer Bob, a rookie police officer, pursue law-breakers, cite and arrest criminals – and pick up donuts along the way;
NARC: Arrest and kill drug offenders, confiscate their money and drugs, to defeat Mr. Big;
Total Carnage: As a member of the Doomsday Squad, invade evil dictator's General Akhboob's base and destroy mutants, rescue hostages and capture Akhboob.

The Midway Arcade App is available for $0.99 from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore. The Fantasy Game Pack and Action Game Packs are available for $0.99 each through In-App Purchase.

For more information on Midway Arcade, please visit us on Facebook at http://Facebook.com/MidwayArcade or follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/MidwayArcade.

There's literally no app for this: KIRF iPhone-branded gas stoves seized by Chinese authorities

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 03:11 PM PST

Ordinarily, if you use your iPhone to fry eggs, it's time to check when your warranty expires. Not so for these KIRF iPhones, which can't make calls or download apps (let alone use Siri) but can fry your bacon rather well. 681 of these bafflingly branded gas stoves were seized by police in Wuhan, each bearing the legend "Apple China Limited." Apparently the units did not come with flame-out protection and only ran iOS 4.1, leading to the swoop. We should probably take that as solid confirmation that the iPhone 6's killer feature is going to involve making brunch on the go.

Nova Launcher hits Android Market, custom grid and scrolling effects in tow

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 02:09 PM PST

We know how much you love tweaking that Android handset, so we figured we'd let you know about a fresh 4.0-friendly UI customizer. The Nova Launcher, which has dubbed itself "everyone's favorite Ice Cream Sandwich launcher," just hit the Android Market in free and paid flavors. Those looking to take the freeloadin' road will get tidbits like a customizable homescreen grid, scrolling effects (pictured above), as well as custom folders and icons. If you do, however, decide to unleash the four bucks for premium status, you'll get extra features, including personalized gestures and dock "swipe-actions." Tickle your fancy enough to take it for a spin on that shiny new G-Nex? Both variants are up for grabs from the source links below.

PlayStation Vita Facebook app pulled for repairs, Sony blames house of Zuckerberg

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 01:56 PM PST

After a short, two day stint on Sony's next generation portable, Facebook's Vita app has been pulled from the PSN store. According to a post on the official PlayStation Forums (EU), users were encountering an error code while trying to log into the popular social network, forcing them to close the application. Community team leader PadPoet says the error is a "Facebook specific issue (on their side)," and that the two outfits are working on a solution. "We will announce further details when ready," a Sony rep told Joystiq. Hopefully the app will make a triumphant return shortly, though it's absence doesn't make cripple the handheld's social aspiration's completely -- after all, there's always Twitter.

Sprint almost bought MetroPCS for $8 billion, Hesse said yes, but the board said no (update)

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 01:28 PM PST

Well, well, it looks like AT&T wasn't the only one looking to acquire a competitor in the wireless business last year. According to CNBC's David Faber, the Now Network was knee-deep in negotiations to acquire MetroPCS for $8 billion dollars before its board nixed the deal. Apparently, Sprint had been trying to make the merger happen for months and the coupling was even endorsed by CEO Dan Hesse, but for reasons unknown the board shot it down. We're still digging for details, so stay tuned for more as we have it.

Update: The Wall Street Journal reports that Sprint backed away from the deal earlier this week because the "timing wasn't right," and that there's no hard feelings between Mr. Hesse and the board for doing so.

Mobile World Congress 2012 preview: what will we see?

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 01:00 PM PST

Without hesitation, February always seems to be the most hectic time of the year for the mobile industry, thanks primarily to the annual Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain. The show has long been considered the proper venue for phone and tablet vendors to show off their latest and greatest innovations. Naturally, the internet is been set ablaze with plenty of rumors and even a few official product announcements from companies hoping to benefit from some solid pre-show buzz.

In this guide we'll take you on a tour and walk through the hardware we already know will be shown off at MWC, as well as what we should likely expect to see and the things we'd really love to hear more about but probably won't. Join us after the break, won't you?

LG

Certainly the eager beaver of the group, LG didn't waste any time announcing a flood of various handsets it plans to show off at MWC. We've counted a grand total of six smartphones already made official by the vendor, and it's quite possible we'll have a few other surprises in store for us.

Optimus 4X

LG decided to save the best for last. Having unveiled a litany of dual-core Gingerbread smartphones over the course of the week, the company waited to out its new flagship device, the long-rumored Optimus 4X. Previously known as the X3, it features quad-core goodness, a 4.7-inch HD display and -- tada -- Ice Cream Sandwich.

Known specs: 1.5GHz quad-core Tegra 3, 4.7-inch 1,280 x 720 IPS display, 1GB RAM, 8.9mm thick, 2,150mAh battery, 8MP rear BSI sensor and 1.3MP front-facing camera, 16GB internal storage

OS: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich



Optimus Vu

If you liked the style of the Pantech Pocket and enjoy the size of the Samsung Galaxy Note, you're going to love the LG Optimus Vu, since it's essentially a combination of the two. Offering a 5-inch display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, the Vu will have one of two possible outcomes: it will be either the show stealer or the laughingstock. We can't wait to find out.

Known specs: 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 5-inch IPS LCD display, 1,024 x 768 resolution, 8MP rear camera, 2,080mAh battery, 8.5mm thick

OS: Android 2.3 (ICS upgradeable)

Optimus 3D Max (Cube)

It's hard to be terribly excited about a sequel to the Optimus 3D (aka the Thrill 4G in the US), but it's here either way. With a slightly faster CPU, speedier HSPA+ and inclusion of NFC, it's a moderate bump in specs. Perhaps that's all it needs to be a success, but we're not betting on it.

Known specs: 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, 4.3-inch 3D WVGA display, Gorilla Glass 2, NFC (LG Tag+), 5MP stereoscopic rear camera, 1,520mAh, MHL, 21Mbps HSPA+

OS: Android 2.3 (ICS upgradeable)


Optimus LTE Tag

The original Optimus LTE plus NFC minus the gorgeous display equals the Optimus LTE Tag. Its main draw is the introduction of LG Tag+, a new feature that takes advantage of special NFC tags which will, when swiped, automatically change your phone's settings to your own programmed mode. Tag+ aside, it appears to be a midrange offering with a subpar display.

Known specs: 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, 4.3-inch WVGA IPS display, 5MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera, NFC (LG Tag+), MHL, 1,700mAh battery

OS: Android 2.3 (ICS upgradeable)

L-series

What, no Optimus this time? Indeed, it appears that LG's ushering in a new phone series focused on style and design, with the first three devices coming in the first half of the year. The press release didn't give us many details, but we expect the trio to be less fancy on the specs due to its focus on its looks and materials.

Known specs:

L3: 3.2-inch display, coming March 2012
L5: 4-inch display, Android 4.0, coming H1 2012
L7: 4.3-inch display, Android 4.0, coming H1 2012


Miracle

Android, Android, Android... Windows Phone! Yes, LG will likely have one of those as well, judging by the gazillions of leaks we've seen of the device. Rumored to be called the Miracle or Fantasy, it appears to be your run-of-the-mill Mango phone, but it's hard to tell -- if we're so lucky, perhaps we'll get a glimpse of Tango running on it, but we don't count on that happening.

OS: Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango)

HTC


If any manufacturer were to get a prize for the most leaks ahead of a trade show, it'd be HTC. We've heard a lot of specs, a lot of name changes, and while it seems as though the rumors have this one nailed on the head, we have a feeling that whatever the manufacturer has in store for MWC goes a lot deeper than just a couple smartphones. Here are some of the specs and rumors we've compiled so far.
HTC Endeavor

It's definitely not a well-kept secret: the Endeavor is poised to be HTC's flagship, and it appears to have some great components. We still haven't seen an official announcement yet, but it probably doesn't matter -- if the top-end specs listed below are accurate, the Endeavor may very well win first prize at this year's show.

Rumored specs: 4.7-inch 720p HD display, Tegra 3 quad-core CPU, 8MP camera, 1080p HD video capture, 32GB internal storage, 1,800mAh battery

OS: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

(image credit: PocketNow)

HTC Ville

The Riker to HTC's Picard, the Ville has been earning rumors nearly as long as the Endeavor. And according to word on the street, it's poised to be a decent mid-range offering in the MWC lineup.

Rumored specs: 4.3-inch qHD display, 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 8MP rear camera, 1080p HD video capture, 1,650mAh battery

OS: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

(image credit: PocketNow)

Samsung

We haven't even arrived in Barcelona yet and Samsung's already lost the race. How so? It's all because of one single number: three. More specifically, the Galaxy S III. Sammy has a two-year history of taking to the MWC stage to announce its flagship Galaxy S device, but that all ends this year as the manufacturer's explicitly stated that the next in line will not arrive in time to be shown off at the show. Not only that, no press conference will be held at all. We can still expect to see the highly anticipated handset unveiled within the first half of the year, but that's all we really know at this point.

With that said, Samsung isn't showing up to BCN empty-handed. In fact, we've already seen four devices announced ahead of next week's mobile bonanza. Here's what we know so far.
Galaxy Ace 2

Announced as the logically named successor to the Ace, the sequel is a decently-specced device that will arrive in the UK this April before rolling out globally.

Known specs: 3.8-inch WVGA TFT display, 800MHz dual-core CPU, 768MB RAM, 1,500mAh battery, 5MP AF camera with LED flash, 720p video recording, 4GB internal storage, HSDPA 14Mbps

OS: Android 2.3 (No confirm on ICS yet)

Galaxy Mini 2

Another sequel, the Mini 2 will be targeted strictly at the low-end, making its way to France in March and spreading across the globe after. It certainly won't be stealing your breath away, but at least its likely budget-friendly cost won't be robbing your wallet.

Known specs: 3.27-inch HVGA display, 800MHz single-core CPU, 512 MB RAM, 3MP fixed-focus camera, HSDPA 7.2Mbps, 1,300mAh battery

OS: Android 2.3 (No confirm on ICS yet)


Galaxy S Blaze 4G

This is both a blast from the past and the future. Likely meant to be a successor to T-Mobile's Galaxy S 4G, this device -- also branded as the Galaxy S -- gets a respectable bump in processing power and also has the ability to connect to T-Mobile's fastest speeds. It's 2010 meets 2011, and will arrive at T-Mobile stores the end of March for $150.

Known specs: 4-inch Super AMOLED, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3 CPU, 5MP rear camera, 1.3MP front-facing cam, 720p video capture, HSPA+ 42Mbps

OS: Android 2.3 (No confirm on ICS yet)

Galaxy Note 10.1

Okay, this may be the wildest rumor of the bunch, and certainly came out of the blue. However, since we've seen the instance of the Galaxy Note 10.1 on more than one occasion, there may be some amount of truth to it. First, the device surfaced on a Samsung Developer site when it announced the devices that would be highlighted at MWC, and then popped back up in an ad seeking actors for a commercial being shot this month. Could it be a typo? It's quite possible. But then again, is it so difficult to imagine Sammy springing a whole new series of Note devices -- featuring the company's fancy S Pen -- to life? With the sudden success of the 5.3-inch version, it's likely Samsung is ready to invest a whole lot more time and money into turning the Note into a franchise. We're not betting money on seeing this one show up next week, but we wouldn't be one bit shocked either.

(image on right is Galaxy Tab 10.1)

Nokia


In a way, it seems so difficult to comprehend the fact that it's been a full year since Nokia made the gutsy decision to offer its promise ring to Microsoft's mobile OS. But here we are, one MWC later, and the Lumia family sure is growing like a weed. Espoo already has two Windows Phones for sale with a third on the way in the very near future, but we expect to see at least a couple more additions to the genealogy chart -- and if we're so lucky, perhaps even a sneak peek at Tango, the next rumored update to the platform. In addition, we're expecting to see a tantalizing Symbian-running camera flagship as well as more Asha devices equipped with Series 40.
Lumia 910

The odds of seeing a worldwide version of AT&T's Lumia 900 are pretty high: we first heard whispers from Eldar Murtazin about its existence, followed up by Reuter's recent confirmations of the device's impending announcement alongside the Lumia 610. As the rumor goes, we could be seeing the 910 officially on sale sometime in May.

Lumia 610

Could this be the long-rumored Champagne? This particular device, whatever it is, has done a good job of eluding leaks, but Reuters spilled the beans earlier this week as to this device's existence. What the report didn't dive into, however, was any specifics: we have a strong hunch that this particular Windows Phone will be a low-end model that runs Tango, Microsoft's upcoming update, and should be targeted at emerging markets. Anything beyond that is anybody's guess at this point.


Nokia 808 PureView

Nokia has an established history of pumping out Symbian-running flagship phones with mind-blowing cameras, and we're likely going to see Stephen Elop & Co. use MWC as a launchpad for the next one in line. We've seen it teased in a brief 20 second video that shows off a series of masterful images and ends with the tag line "get ready to capture a pure view." The device, rumored to be called the Nokia 808 PureView, probably won't look anything like our depiction to the left, but it's said to offer no less than a 12MP rear camera, 1.4GHz CPU, a 4-inch ClearBlack AMOLED display and Symbian Belle. Will this be the Symbian swan song, or the first in a brand new series of PureView phones?

White Lumia 900

There's not much to say about this one: we may get a glimpse of AT&T's upcoming Lumia device in white during the show. It seems to be pretty much a done deal -- as close as a phone can get to official without an announcement, anyway. Having seen press shots of the device pop up on an official blog post and Facebook page, it's tough to deny its existence. What we're not sure of yet is when, where and how much.
Sony


Sony won our hearts with a strong showing at last month's CES, but we're pretty sure we didn't witness everything the company has up its sleeve. The new Sony Mobile Communications is among the vendors keeping their lips zipped shut, but doesn't stop the rumors from coming in at full speed. So, what have we gathered so far?
Xperia U

According to leaks, the Xperia U (Kumquat) seems destined to be considered the Xperia S's little brother. Armed with roughly the same look but in a smaller 3.5-inch package, it doesn't seem to be a show stealer by any stretch.

Rumored specs: 3.5-inch FWVGA 854 x 480 Reality Display, 1GHz dual-core CPU, Exmor R sensor with 720p video, 1,290mAh battery

OS: Android 2.3.7 (ICS upgradeable)

(image credit: it168)

Xperia P (Nypon)

To be honest, the rumors are all over the place on this one. Again, the tale is as old as time here, but its story may finally be told as early as April, according to roadmaps leaked last month. If this is true, it certainly puts the timeline right in line with a MWC announcement.

Rumored specs: 4-inch qHD Reality Display, 1GHz dual-core CPU, 8MP EXMOR R sensor

OS: Android (unknown version)

(image credit: Xperia Blog)


Pepper (MT27i)

Another phone that's been in the lexicon for what seems like forever, the Pepper may very well be destined to get officially unveiled at MWC. It's rumored to be the neo V's successor with modest specs.

Rumored specs: 1GHz dual-core CPU, 3.7-inch display with 854 x 480 resolution, 5MP rear cam

OS: Android (version unknown)

(image credit: Xperia Blog)



ZTE

The Chinese manufacturer is such a tease, as it gives just enough information to whet our appetite, but then leaves the biggest stuff for later. Quick to unveil three smartphones, the company then sent out an announcement telling us that it has plenty more in store. In all, ZTE plans to release a grand total of eight new devices at the show, and we have a feeling it'll be hard to keep up.
Mimosa X

We don't foresee the Mimosa X as the highlight of the show for ZTE, but the fact that there are five devices left to reveal leaves us wishing for a quad-core unit to show up and delight. Regardless, the Mimosa's specs, now considered mid-range, will surely be a decent offering -- if the price is right.

Known specs: 4.3-inch qHD display, dual-core Tegra 2 CPU, 5MP camera, 4GB internal storage

OS: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

PF200

ZTE's also announced a pair of LTE-capable mid-range smartphones running on ICS. First up is the PF200, which seems to pack in a similar set of components to the Mimosa, though with the obvious LTE and a better pair of sensors.

Known specs: 4.3-inch qHD display, 8MP / 2MP rear and front cameras, 1.2GHz CPU, LTE, MHL

OS: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)



N910

The N910 offers an interesting set of specs unique from what the PF200 claims. It has a faster processor, lower-grade rear camera, and also features CDMA / EVDO connectivity in addition to LTE FDD.

Known specs: 1.5GHz CPU, WVGA display (unknown size), LTE FDD, 5MP / 2MP rear and front cameras

OS: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

Huawei

Talk about a quiet riot. Huawei's got something big up its sleeves, but by golly, nobody gets to know... yet. Naturally, the Chinese manufacturer's invite talks the talk, we just hope it can walk the walk. We know it has the capability: the company is well aware of its reputation as a "budget brand" and is hard at work trying to pump out new lines of higher-end phones and tablets -- the Ascend and MediPad, specifically -- in an attempt to change its image. So what could Huawei possibly surprise and delight us with this weekend?
Ascend D1 Q

We're expecting to see the Ascend D1 Q rise up as one of the shining quad-core stars of the show, but the only leaked photos of the device don't even show off the entire glorious thing. In fact, very few rumors are floating around about the handset at all -- that level of secrecy is quite an accomplishment these days, to say the least, and we're hoping it's worth the surprise.

(image credit: iMobile.com.cn)

MediaPad 10

This particular tablet is giving us the same blind treatment as the D1 Q, with only portions of the slate having been peeked. We've heard a few more details about this rumored device, but still not much: it should come bearing an 8MP camera and ICS.

(image credit: hi-tech@mail.ru)

The rest

The companies listed above will certainly not be the only ones at the show -- with the exhibitor list featuring hundreds of businesses all focused on the mobile industry, we're bound to come away from Barcelona having seen a few surprises. Here are a few more players that we're expecting to see some big news from.

ASUS


ASUS decided to get the MWC party started much earlier than normal by talking up its long-awaited Padfone all the way back at CES. A device that was announced nearly nine months ago, Jonney promised us the phablet phone / tablet hybrid -- in other words, a 4.3-inch smartphone with a 10.1-inch tablet dock -- would ship this quarter with ICS, and we're going to hold him to that.

That's not the only thing ASUS will be showing up with, however. The vendor has released a teaser video titled "Twice the Detail, Twice the Fun," which naturally leads us to believe we'll be seeing a dedicated tablet with a high-res display.

Acer

The first smartphone revealed by Acer won a prize for its design, which would've been great news for the manufacturer if it didn't let the cat out of the bag at the same time. The CloudMobile was outed three weeks prior to MWC for receiving an iF Product Design award, and inadvertedly became the second major product announcement for the show (behind the Padfone's CES reveal). Acer played it off like a boss, but we have a feeling it would've preferred to wait just a little bit before the general public knew of its existence. It appears that it won't arrive until Q3, but at least the device will sport a 4.3-inch HD display and ICS when it comes.

Additionally, Acer also added the glossy Liquid Glow to its MWC plate, which appears to be a mid-range device featuring a 3.7-inch WVGA display, 1GHz CPU and 5MP rear camera. It also promises that ICS will be available when the handset launches.


Viewsonic

Viewsonic had a few things to show off at CES last month, but it's not done making large additions to its tablet and smartphone repertoire. First up, the slates: the "super-light, super-thin" G70 will run ICS and feature 1GB of RAM, 4GB internal storage and a 2MP rear shooter with 0.3MP front-facing cam to accompany it. Next in line is the ViewPad E100, a 9.7-incher that brings a 1,024 x 768 IPS display and a 1GHz chip into the fold. Last but not least is the ViewPad P100, a Windows 7 that delivers a 10-inch 1,280 × 800 IPS display and a dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Atom N2600. Pricing and availability -- as well as a few crucial missing specs -- have not yet been announced.

Moving over to the smartphone side, the vendor's introducing a new trio of dual-SIM ViewPhone handsets. We have the 4s, which will bedazzle us with its 3.5-inch 960 x 640 Super Clear IPS LCD -- a breath of fresh air when compared to the OEM's CES phones -- as well as a five-megapixel camera, a VGA front-facing imager and a 1GHz chip. The 4e, however, seems to be a much lower-end choice, packing a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 LCD, a slower processor at 650MHz and a three-megapixel camera. Third on the list is the the 5e, a 5-inch WVGA device that's slim on any other details at the moment.

Panasonic


Panasonic has only announced one device so far, but has far-reaching possibilities. The Eluga -- short for "ELegant, User-orientated GatewAy" -- is geared to mark the company's return to the European market with Android 2.3.5, a 1GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4430 CPU, 8MP camera, NFC and 8GB of internal storage. It's also 7.8mm thick. It's definitely not going to be at the high end, but is a stunning device nonetheless, and we can't wait to get one in our hands.



NEC

The Japanese firm has so far brought three devices into the spotlight: a Cloud UX device that uses two 4.3-inch displays that open and close like a book, a 5-inch "large screen in one hand" model, and a 4.3-inch "stylish" device. Needless to say, we're definitely looking forward to playing with the first two options. As for any other models, the company hasn't yet specified.



Fujitsu


At CES we were able to sneak a peek at Fujitsu's Arrows Mu, a Tegra 3-wielding prototype smartphone, albeit from behind a glass box. The manufacturer now appears ready to show it off and, y'know, let us actually hold it. The model being shown off will have a 4.6-inch display, 1.5GHz quad-core Tegra 3 chipset, Ice Cream Sandwich, a 13.1MP rear camera and a fingerprint sensor.




Motorola

Without a press conference or any significant rumors to call its own, Moto seems destined to play a rather low-key role in this year's MWC. We've heard the rumors that suggest we'll behold a Medfield-powered handset, but naturally Motorola's not making a peep about such an idea. We're also hoping to see more European versions of US-based phones, such as the Droid 4 or Droid RAZR Maxx. And even though we're not banking on it, we'd still love to have some personal hands-on time with Blur's ICS upgrade.

RIM

RIM appears to be putting its primary MWC efforts on its software, as the BlackBerry maker is said to be making preparations to exhibit its newest QNX-based OS, BlackBerry 10. We're not expecting the upgrade to actually arrive on devices until this fall, but it's quite likely that Research in Motion wants its new OS to generate some early buzz to help the company ride through the lengthy waiting period.

Google tests the 'do not track' waters with a Chrome extension (Update)

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 12:41 PM PST

Well, that didn't take long. One day after agreeing to implement a do not track button as part of a new consumer bill of rights, Google has given the people what they want... sort of. Keep My Opt-Outs is a Chrome extension, developed by the Mountain View team, that will prevent advertisers from using your browsing history against you. Presumably, this function will get built straight into the browser one day but, for now, you have to go dig it up in the Chrome Web Store -- far from an ideal solution. Still, a tepid step into the shallow end is better than no step at all. You can install the extension yourself at the source.

Update: As a few of you have noted, this extension has actually been available for quite some time, since Google originally announced the ad cookie blocker back in 2011. Check out the details in the team's original Public Policy blog post and combine it with a dose of web history cleaning to keep your activities to yourself.

Growing up Geek: Nicole Scott

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 12:00 PM PST

Welcome to Growing Up Geek, an ongoing feature where we take a look back at our youth and tell stories of growing up to be the nerds that we are. Today, we have a special guest: tech journalist and co-founder of Netbooknews, Nicole Scott.


Snow Day set it all off. Seventh grade, and already I knew. In Canada everything shuts down when the snow is deep, especially school. But I was determined to go. They had a better computer than we had at home. I was going to get my allotted half hour, no matter what. I made my poor parents drive me to school anyway, and after all that, we were promptly sent away. And so my disastrous love affair with technology began.

I used my Erector Set to make my Barbie her dream car and of course she deserved an elevator and roller coaster in her dream home as well. I'm sure that all girls who really loved Barbie took the time to pimp out her stuff, right?

I remember winters helping my father build model airplanes, and spending months playing Oregon Trail. I was enthralled when the internet began in the early nineties. I knew with that raw potency -- a feeling some people call love -- it was going to change our entire world. And most of all, change me.

After a brief stint with bio-mechanics in the physics department at the University of Waterloo I decided 18 was just too young to know what I wanted to do with my life. So I left Canada and ended up in Sydney, Australia, running a small café, of all things.

But the world of tech came calling for me. Through text messaging, in fact. Australia was way ahead of Canada and the US in that regard. Pay-as-you-go phones were cheap, and non-invasive SMS was the standard way of keeping in touch.

When I returned to Canada, I felt stunted. How was it that we couldn't even send cross-carrier text messages? It wasn't until 2003 that asking your friend which carrier they were on came to and end and we could message anyone we wanted! I was shocked! How could we be so behind?

So it began, me with my backpack across two-dozen countries. Everywhere I went I paid attention to how people used and adopted their technology. I started seeking it out. Espionage that eventually blossomed into evangelism.


In India I had a Sony Discman that was just one millimeter thicker than a CD case. Somewhere along the border of Tibet I remember trading my precious lifeline of a guidebook for an MP3 player that held an incredible 150 songs! So shockingly high-tech for 2000. I ended up trading that MP3 player for my freedom later on in my travels, but that's perhaps a story to be enjoyed some other time over a pint.

In my mother's native land, the Philippines, an event took place that kicked off my obsession with how technology was changing the basic structures of human communication. In 2001 a "smart mob" toppled the Estrada government. A simple text message motivated 1 million people to gather in a single day, ultimately causing a revolution. Being connected came to represent potential for me. Potential for massive social change. And massive personal life changes.

I ended up dancing my way through Spain and even after asking my dad to sell my car, I was virtually penniless. So I got on a boat and headed over to Morocco, which to this day remains one of my favorite countries. I'm not sure if it was the steam baths that cleared my mind, but things came together for me. I had just finished installing a slammin' sound system in a restaurant to lure the tourists. I had become a nomad. Gypsy. Freelance tech mercenary. I had been traveling for a few years and realized it was time to take this all seriously. Time to go back to school and figure out how I was going to turn tech into a serious career.

At York University, back in Toronto, I met a professor, Darren Wershler-Henry. He wrote Free As In Speech and Beer. It was a fundamental work for me. Suddenly I was thrust into the debate about open source, peer-to-peer and the economics of this online revolution. I began to see how the future was going to be shaped almost exclusively by the online exchange of information. How large companies were beginning to arrogantly implement Digital Rights Management and how forces were already moving to constrict this new freedom. How terrifying it was to discover people were generally clueless about losing their digital rights.

Lucky for me, York was chock-full of professors that allowed me to look at mobile through the glasses of their courses. I was able to turn my degree into something uniquely tailored to my interests, perhaps the advantage to going back to school a little later, is that professors are willing to help people who are genuinely excited and engaged. My double major in communications was spent studying mobile. The rest of my time, the sensual versus sexual in relation to the real and unreal in East Asian Studies. Hey, technology is sexy. Let's not forget that.

After that everything accelerated. I got a job as a mobile technology reporter for bnetTV, then met Sascha Pallenberg who was running NetbookNews.de. He asked me to start NetbookNews.com and happened to be moving to Taipei. I was about to be a tech nomad again! Asia was calling my name. So I sold yet another car, gave my bearded dragon Jubjub to my dad and hopped on a plane. I've never looked back.

You can read Nicole's latest work at Netbooknews and follow her on Twitter (@nicole_scooter).

Galaxy Nexus landscape dock comes to the US

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 11:39 AM PST

Officially branded Galaxy Nexus accessories have been a dream of ours for a while. So imagine our surprise, caution and then surprise again when the landscape dock for the ICS super-phone arrived on these shores. Cradling the device horizontally, it'll let you charge the phone via the side-mounted pogo pins, so you can continue to watch that movie when low on power. It's available right now for $90 at our source link, we'd advise not to delay, otherwise Samsung might change its mind and take our toys away.

Ubuntu for Android: more details and prototype hands-on (video)

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 11:03 AM PST

Canonical's announcement of Ubuntu for Android kicked up quite a stir, but it also left us with a few unknowns. The idea is that your phone becomes a mobile PC, switching from Android into full desktop Ubuntu mode when you dock it to a bigger display, keyboard and mouse. But just how well does it perform? When is it coming? How is it coming? And will tinkerers be able to install it for themselves? Canonical let us into its London office today to try out the software and pepper one of its engineers with questions. First, the good news: Ubuntu for Android is everything it's been claimed to be. It's a functional desktop OS that sits alongside Android, shares the same kernel and has full read / write access to everything on your phone (the connectivity hardware itself plus contacts, emails, videos, apps and pretty much everything else.). It's also ready for ARM-compatible Ubuntu apps, potentially expanding the range of things your phone can do.

The bad news? It needs to be faster -- a lot faster. The prototype we saw was running on a TI OMAP 4430-powered Motorola Atrix 2 that had primarily been chosen for its ready-made docking accessory. The software hadn't been customized for that handset and neither Motorola nor TI have so far been involved in the project. Despite this, some tasks ran surprisingly well, like watching a video or adjusting a photo. However, surfing on the Chromium desktop browser suffered too much hanging and it was also clear that multi-tasking would be a serious burden. According to Canonical, better performance will come when manufacturers tailor the software to their newest handsets and offer it pre-installed. The company is doing everything it can to make that happen -- meeting with big players at MWC next week and trying to persuade them that it's not too late to offer Ubuntu on models scheduled for launch this year. We asked if Canonical would make the OS available to us ordinary folk sooner than that, so we can play with it and give our feedback, but that just isn't part of the company's game plan right now -- everything hinges on manufacturers seeing the 'differentiation' value and climbing aboard. To tide you over in the meantime, click past the break for a hands-on video.

Chrome for Android updates: recognizes app links, boosts speed

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 10:37 AM PST

Google slipped a bit of an upgrade into the Android Market today. The mobile version of Chrome received a seemingly minor version bump and, much to our chagrin, left no changelog behind for us to peruse. Most of the tweaks are under the hood and, in our unscientific testing, pages appeared to load much faster and the interface was more responsive. Our immediate impressions were backed up by benchmarks -- the updated version of Chrome scored a 1,846.8 on SunSpider. The most welcome addition, though, was the ability to recognize links associated with applications. For example, the initial release never offered us the opportunity to open search results in the Google Maps app, it went straight to the mobile site. That quirk hasn't been fixed completely, as YouTube vids still stream inline with no immediately apparent option to launch them in the app. Still, it's nice to see Google improving integration with the OS and working towards making Chrome an acceptable replacement for the default browser.

Update: Some of you out there are reporting that the upgrade has broken the browser for rooted devices and custom ROMs. While that limitation doesn't appear to be affecting our Nexus, we've gotten enough response to believe this is a legitimate issue. So, update at your own peril.

Update 2: Alas, a changelog is here! You'll find it at the more coverage link. One new feature we missed was support for Android Beam, but, with no other Nexuses around, we haven't been able to test it.

Samsung partners with FeliCa for Japanese NFC solutions, unveils 2012 Olympics' mobile payment app with Visa

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 10:24 AM PST

Across the globe today, Samsung is bringing a number of pushes to broaden NFC adoption. On the island of Japan, the company's sealed a partnership with FeliCa Networks to implement its NFC-Secure Application Module chips in its mobile devices. Notably, the solution is ensures compatibility between Japan's long established Osaifu-Keitai contactless payment services and the newer breed of NFC Types A and B which normally don't play nice together. The chips are touted has having "advanced security" to keep your funds in check, and are expect to hit "commercial deployment" set for 2013. Flying over to London, Samsung and Visa have unveiled the official NFC payment app for the 2012 Olympics, in their continued preparation for the event. Despite the unveil, the application (based on Visa's PayWave) will officially debut for display at Mobile World Congress next week. This comes nearly ten months after the duo announced their plans to further establish NFC-based payment options for London and the event itself. Hit up the two press releases after the break for the full details on the announcements.
Show full PR text
Visa and Samsung Reveal Mobile Payments Application for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Latest step forward in bringing mobile payments to London 2012 Olympic Games
Mobile World Congress 2012

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Visa (NYSE: V) and Samsung today revealed the official mobile payments application of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Samsung and Visa will debut the mobile payment application at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain from February 27th to March 1st. The application will be demonstrated at Visa stand (Hall 1, Stand 1B19) and Samsung stand (Hall 8, Stand 8B169). This marks the first step to realising the partnership between the two Olympic and Paralympic Games sponsors to bring mobile contactless payments to London as part of their support of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

"We are also working with a number of partners to put live mobile payment technology into consumer hands. We've recently announced the certification of a number of major manufacturer handsets for NFC payments, which brings mainstream commercial mobile payments a step closer to reality."

The application is based on Visa's payWave technology that enables contactless payments at the Point of Sale. To make payments, customers simply hold the phone in front of a contactless reader at the point of purchase. Purchases above 15 pounds require a passcode. The application also lets customers check their transaction history and view their up to date account balance. Backed by the multi-layered security and reliability of Visa's processing platform, mobile contactless payments are protected by the same standard terms and conditions that apply to Visa cards.

"London 2012 is a unique opportunity to show the future of payments coming to life and leave a lasting legacy post-2012. The new mobile payment application is central to this showcase," said Sandra Alzetta, Head of Innovation at Visa Europe. "We are also working with a number of partners to put live mobile payment technology into consumer hands. We've recently announced the certification of a number of major manufacturer handsets for NFC payments, which brings mainstream commercial mobile payments a step closer to reality."

"Samsung is extremely thrilled to work with Visa to launch mobile payment services for the London 2012 Olympic Games. We believe that this showcase will motivate people to experience and adopt easy and safe payment through mobile devices. As a long-time Olympic partner and a mobile technology leader, Samsung is fully committed to providing our customers with reliable and convenient mobile experiences during the Olympic Games through our partnership with Visa," said DJ Lee, executive vice president and head of Sales and Marketing team of Samsung's Mobile Communications Business.

As a Worldwide Sponsor of the Olympic Games for more than 25 years and the Paralympic Games since 2002, Visa implements and manages the entire payment system infrastructure and network throughout all Games' venues. For London 2012, there will be more than 3,000 contactless terminals installed across the Olympic and Paralympic venues showcasing prepaid, contactless payments, mobile technologies, and other innovations.

Samsung and FeliCa Networks Partner on Mobile NFC Solution

SEOUL, Korea and TOKYO, Japan- February 24, 2012- (Virtual Press Office) – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a world leader in advanced semiconductor solutions, and FeliCa Networks, Inc., a leading technology and solution provider of NFC service platform, today announced a partnership to support the full-fledged adoption of near field communication (NFC)-based mobile wallet in Japan. As a strategic partner, Samsung will develop NFC compatible FeliCa™ IC solutions for reliable and efficient wallet function on mobile devices. The Samsung/FeliCa Networks NFC-SAM (Secure Application Module) chips will offer consumers an enhanced secure mobile wallet through a variety of applications including prepaid money, credit cards and transportation tickets among others.

"We are pleased to work with FeliCa Networks to provide NFC-SAM IC solution based on our deep expertise in advanced RF sensitivity and data encryption technologies," said Taehoon Kim, vice president of System LSI sales & marketing, Device Solutions, Samsung Electronics. "The collaborative efforts combining FeliCa Networks' excellent operation of the FeliCa platform and Samsung's world-class semiconductor design and process technology will generate greater value for the mobile payment market."

"We are delighted to collaborate with Samsung, a leading semiconductor company, to introduce new NFC-SAM IC solution based on our expertise and experience in development of mobile contactless technology and platform operation since 2004," said Hirotaka Sugiyama, President of FeliCa Networks. "Integration of both technologies will contribute to further development of mobile NFC business across the globe in the near future. We intend to introduce a variety of NFC solutions in addition to NFC-SAM IC chips to contribute to bringing up consumers' convenience in the world."

Samsung's contribution to the partnership will include both the NFC controller complying with international standard ISO/IEC 14443/18092 (Type A/B and FeliCa™) and the FeliCa™ SAM chip with advanced security capabilities. FeliCa Networks will contribute by providing the key technologies to Samsung. The technologies enable interoperability in the world's largest mobile contactless infrastructure established in Japan, which consists of FeliCa™ (NFC-F) readers and Osaifu-Keitai® (mobile wallet) phones. By combining both contributions, the NFC-SAM chips will not only have higher capabilities but also full interoperability with existing infrastructures and services delivered on Osaifu-Keitai®. The NFC controller can also be applied to NFC readers and services around the world.

The commercial deployment of the new NFC-SAM chips is targeted for 2013.
at 11:26 AM

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