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MIPS Creator CI20 Linux dev board for Android debuts

DIY electronics fans will be glad to hear that the MIPS Creator CI20 development board for Linux and Android has arrived. The board has a 1.2GHz MIPS-based dual-core Ingenic apps processor running Debian 7 and Android 4.4 KitKat. The dev board is running Linux right now and the Android support will come soon.



The dev board measures 90.2mm x 95.3mm and has an Ingenic JZ4780 apps processor onboard. That chip is a low power, high performance unit. The MIPS32 dual-core CPU is paired with a PowerVR SGX540 GPU.


The burst architecture supports SIMD and FPU instruction sets with single and double floating point and IEEE 754 compatible formats. Other hardware features of the board include Ethernet connectivity and the CI20 is one of the only boards out there to offer integrated WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0.


Dual USB ports are integrated and a number of peripheral I/Os for GPIO, SPI, I2C, infrared, JTAG and others. A HDMI output is included for connecting to a monitor and it has an external 5V power supply. On board memory is 1GB and the board has 8GB of internal storage. A SD card slot supports directly booting to the OS. The initial release of the board will be limited and exact pricing is unannounced.


SOURCE: Imgtec


Fixd hardware and Android app combo monitors your car’s health

Fixd is a hardware and app combination system that is designed to keep an eye on the health of your car. The hardware portion of the Fixd device plugs into the OBDII port of your car and allows you to get information on the app about check engine lights and track service intervals.



The device works with any car sold in the US since 1996 and connects with a smartphone via Bluetooth. When connected the hardware sends information to the Fixd app running on the smartphone. The app is designed to sort any issues into categories based on severity.


The levels of severity are green, yellow, and red. The app will give people an idea of what might happen to their car if they don’t fix issues and will estimate what it might cost to get the problem fixed. Multiple cars can use the Fixd device and app with each car having its own profile.


A pledge of $50 or more will get you a Fixd vehicle sensor and the app with delivery estimated in November 2014. The project is on Kickstarter seeking $30,000 and has raised $14,178 so far with 17 days to go.


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SOURCE: Kickstarter


Pixavi Impact 2 rugged Android smartphone is intrinsically safe

Normal Android smartphones aren’t ideal for every environment where people work and play. A new smartphone from a firm called Pixavi has been announced and the device is called the Impact X. The Impact X is an intrinsically safe Android device that is designed to be used in explosive and hazardous areas.



The Impact X is certified according to IECEx and ATEX Zone 1 requirements. The phone has 3G connectivity and WiFi built-in and is designed to deliver rich connectivity in hazardous environments. Remote diagnostic, inspection, and maintenance apps are built into the phone.


Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean is the operating system and the chassis of the device is machined from aluminum for durability. The 4.3-inch screen has a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels and is designed to be readable in direct sunlight.


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An IP68 rating for the device means that it can be submerged in water and still work. A 2mm thick sheet of Gorilla glass covers the 4.3-inch screen. Bluetooth 4.0 is integrated and the phone also has GPS and the screen is designed to work while the user is wearing gloves. Power comes from a 3 Ah battery good for 8 hours of talk. The phone measures 150mm x 65mm x 12mm and weighs 200g.


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SOURCE: Pixavi


Asphalt 8: Airborne update adds new location and cars

Fans of racing games on Android devices may be familiar already with the game Asphalt 8: Airborne. The game was updated this week and gained some new features. Most important to fans of the game is that the update brings with it some new cars including the Mercedes Biome concept car and the Nissan GT-R NISMO along with three others.



A new season of 74 events has landed with the update making the 9th season of events since the game launched. A new location was added to the game giving players the chance to race in Dubai in the Middle East.


Asphalt 8: Airborne currently has a 4.5 star rating with over 1.8 million reviews turned in. In all, there are 56 cars to choose from that hail from real carmakers like Lamborghini, Bugatti, Ferrari, and others. There are nine different settings to race and all tracks are available in original and mirror mode.


One of the hallmarks of the game is a damage system that is highly detailed to change the way cars perform in the game if you crash. Asphalt 8: Airborne is a free game to download supported by in-app purchases.


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SOURCE: Google Play





T-Mobile,MetroPCS to get Alcatel OneTouch Fierce 2, Evolve 2

T-Mobile and MetroPCS have announced that they will be getting a pair of new smartphones this fall from Alcatel Onetouch. The new smartphones include the Fierce 2 and the Evolve 2 and they are designed for people looking for devices on a budget. The Fierce 2 will land at T-Mobile on September 10 and will sell for $0 down and $5.25 monthly for 24 months.



This smartphone has 4G connectivity and a 1.2GHz quad-core processor along with a 5-inch qHD screen. The Evolve 2 is aimed at entry-level buyers of smartphones and will hit the store on September 10 for $3.30 monthly for 24 months on the T-Mobile Equipment Installment Plan.


The Evolve 2 smartphone is a 3G device, uses a 4-inch WVGA screen, and has a 5MP rear camera. The operating system for both devices is Android with the Evolve 2 using KitKat. Exactly which Android version the Fierce 2 uses is unknown.


The T-Mobile Equipment Installment Plan is the way that you pay for devices with T-Mobile and keep the carrier from having to provide subsidies. Both of these devices will hit MetroPCS stores later in the fall.


SOURCE: T-Mobile





Jabra Sport Pulse, Sports Life app to enhance your workout

With sports apps and wearable devices getting more involved in our daily workouts (or if you’re still in the planning stage at least), more companies are coming up with digital health-related products to make it more interesting and seamless. The Jabra Sport Pulse Wireless earbuds and its companion Sports Life app wants to help you get to the next level of your fitness routine. It is the first device that has an in-ear biometric heart rate monitor as well as a real-time voice coach that will help you in your workout.



The sports app works together with the earbuds to set out a workout plan, track your progress as you go through it and then evaluate you once you’ve accomplished your goals and fitness plan. It’s like having an actual fitness instructor whispering into your ear and telling you whether you’re on track or you need to step it up a notch (at least you know this instructor won’t scream at you). It will test your fitness level before you start your workout, adjust your heart rate zone depending on the workout you’re doing and help you set the goals you want, whether it’s the distance you have to run, how long your aerobics session should go or how many calories you need to burn.


And since working out is almost always associated with listening to your favourite motivational music, the Jabra earbuds lets you listen to your music with Dolby enhanced sound while still listening to your personalised audio coaching. Since working out should also involve sweating, the earbuds are sweat and storm proof, as all sports-related devices should be.




The Jabra Sport Pulse Wireless earbuds and the Sports Life app will be available at their online store and in selected retail outlets starting this October. The SRP is $199.99, which isn’t really bad if you’re serious about your workout.


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SOURCE: Jabra





Apple can’t stop Samsung from selling infringing devices

Apple may have won its second patent case against Samsung, but Judge Lucy Koh won't allow it to take more. She has denied Cupertino's request for an injunction that would have banned Samsung devices that have been found to be infringing on Apple's patents from being sold in the US.



At the heart of the matter is cause and effect. In essence, Judge Koh claims that Apple was unable to convince the court that Samsung's patent infringement has caused it significant harm, either in loss of sales or injury to Apple's reputation. Since Apple failed to prove that, there was no reason for the court to halt sales of those infringing devices. It is almost tantamount to saying that even if Samsung has been found guilty of copying features, Apple wasn't able to prove those features were significant enough to have cost it a fortune or users.


This latest decision may not be a devastating blow to Apple, but it sure is a slap on the face. Although Samsung isn't exactly getting away scot-free for its crime, it will only be paying damages in the amount of $119.6 million, a measly fraction of the $2.2 billion that Apple was going after. Plus now the court is practically telling Apple that those features that Samsung copied aren't exactly all that. Or rather, they aren't enough to have made a significant negative impact on Apple's part.


It isn't known yet if Apple plans to appeal this decision, that is if it has any other legal recourse left. Could this finally be the end to the patent squabble between Apple and Samsung in the US? The two rivals have agreed to a truce on patent litigation outside the US, but so far there has been no word on their relationship this side of the world. That said, even the international ceasefire between the two isn't exactly legally binding, so there's really no assurance that even that would hold in the long run.


VIA: Apple Insider





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