CES 2013: AMD Radeon HD 8000M GPUs Naming Scheme “Solar System”

We've known about the next-generation desktop PC graphics processing units from Advanced Micro Devices for some time, but there hasn't been as much information on the mobile series.

This has now changed, thanks to a report made by Expreview. The mobile line of next-generation entry-level and mid-range GPUs will be called Solar System. The marketing scheme will offer them under the name of Radeon HD 8000M. “Mars” and “Venus” are two of the approaching chips. Like the existing Radeon chips, the Solar System units will be designed on the 28nm manufacturing process technology.

More information will be released by AMD at the 2013 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show, in January (CES 2013). The event is also when we will learn if the HD 8550M in the ASUS VivoBook Ultrabook  is an HD 7000 rebrand or not.

AMD Radeon Graphics logo
Image credits to AMD

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Windows Phone 7.8 Rolling Out Now to Nokia Lumia 800

As expected, Nokia and Microsoft have started the rollout of the Windows Phone 7.8 update. The first smartphone to receive the upgrade is the Lumia 800, but other Lumia handsets might be eligible for Windows Phone 7.8 as well.

The folks over at WP7.nl report Windows Phone 7.8 is now available for download via Zune desktop software, so Lumia 800 owners might want to connect their smartphones to a PC and chack for the update. It appears that the major upgrade has been split into four smaller updates, 7.10.8773, 7.10.8779.8, 7.10.8783 and 7.10.8858.136, which will be downloaded and installed on the Lumia 800 in this order.

For the time being, the Lumia 800 is the only one receiving the Windows Phone 7.8 upgrade, but those who own other WP7.5-powered devices will surely get it as well within the next few days.

Zune desktop software (screenshot)
Image credits to wp7.nl

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WhatsApp Confirmed, We Have No Plans to Support BlackBerry 10

The most popular messaging application for mobile platforms, WhatsApp Messenger will not make it to BlackBerry 10.

The folks at CrackBerry have reached out to WhatsApp to find out if their messenger will be available for download for BlackBerry 10 devices at launch. Sadly, creators of the software claim they have no plans to support the upcoming operating system, which is set to become official in late January 2013: “We have no plans to support BlackBerry 10 at the moment, sorry.”

However, that doesn't mean BlackBerry 10 users will never be able to take advantage of WhatsApp's features in the future. Developers confirmed they don't have any plans to support BlackBerry 10 “at the moment,” but there's a slight chance that WhatsApp Messenger will be available at a later date. Stay tuned for more updates on the matter.

WhatsApp Messenger
Image credits to WhatsApp

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D-Link Wireless Cloud Routers and SharePort Mobile Companion

It wasn't long ago that D-Link released a Wi-Fi Signal Extender, two routers and the Cloud Storage 4000 16 TB network device, and yet the company isn't slowing down one bit.

The three products that D-Link is now selling, in the US at least, are called Cloud Router 2500 (DIR-836L), Cloud Router 1100 (DIR-626L) and SharePort Mobile Companion (DIR-505L). The first two have high-power amplifiers that not only provide Wi-Fi connection to various devices, but they make sure the range is longer than usual, even in areas that are hard to reach. The N750 Dual-Band Gigabit Cloud Router 2500 provides wireless transmissions of 750 Mbps, good for online video streaming, online gaming, fats downloads, etc. The 2.4 GHz band provides 300 Mbps, while the 5 GHz band adds the remaining 450 Mbps. The Cloud Router 1100 is basically the 2500 without the 5 GHz band support. That means a top speed of 300 Mbps, which is still good enough for web browsing, email, online chats and, though some may disagree, online games as well.

That leaves the Sharepoint Mobile Companion. This is an all-in-one wireless networking solution for when people are traveling. It can behave as a Wi-Fi hotspot, a router, an access point or a repeater. Owners should even be allowed to set up a secure hotspot or wireless network, wherever they are. A single switch changes the setting. As a bonus feature, the Mobile Companion has a USB port that enables a USB flash drive for instant mobile storage. Recharging phones and tablets through it is possible too. "D-Link is committed to expanding the features available to users for the ultimate convenience and performance anywhere, anytime," said Ken Loyd , director of product marketing, D-Link Systems, Inc.

"D-Link's latest Cloud Routers deliver increased range and wireless speeds for seamless video streaming and web-browsing anywhere in the home. In addition, the next generation SharePort Mobile Companion (DIR-505L) now offers charging for a smartphone or tablet device." The three wireless products are available in the US. The D-Link Cloud Router 2500 is priced at $99.99 / €99.99, the Cloud Router 1100 at $39.99 / €39.99 and the SharePort Mobile Companion at $59.99 / €59.99.

D-Link SharePoint Mobile Companion (DIR-50S)
Image credits to D-Link

D-Link wireless router
Image credits to D-Link

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BlackBerry 10 Keyboard Explained [Video]

Less than two months from today, Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion will make its next-generation BlackBerry 10 operating system official, along with the first devices to arrive on shelves with this platform loaded on them.

Before that, however, the company appears set to provide users with some info on what the new operating system will be able to offer to them. Today, the company published a new video online, this time detailing some of the features that BlackBerry 10’s keyboard will arrive on shelves with. The clip can be seen at the bottom of this article. The video features Vivek Bhardwaj, RIM’s head of Software Portfolio, who shows why BlackBerry 10 will be able to provide users with an unmatched typing experience on their devices. “He explained that we not only wanted to design the keyboard to be BlackBerry visually, but also to show the thought we’ve put into innovations in touch screen typing,” a post on the Inside BlackBerry blog reads. “At BlackBerry Jam Americas he told me that his favorite feature was the ability to switch between languages. Now, he’s got a new favorite – the spacebar.”

According to RIM, the keyboard in BB10 was designed to automatically add spaces between words even if the user forgot to press the space key. Thus, users will continue typing the text they wanted to write, without having to interrupt, go back and add the spaces. The overall experience should be much smoother this way, RIM says. Furthermore, the company reminded us that it also plans on bringing to the market a series of BlackBerry 10 smartphones that will sport physical QWERTY keyboards, just as most of the existing models from the company do. “And for those of you who love a physical keyboard, we’ll have both full touch and QWERTY models for BlackBerry 10,” the aforementioned blog post continues. What other features and capabilities the upcoming BB10 smartphones will have to offer, it remains to be seen. Just sit tight and wait for the official announcement.

BlackBerry 10's keyboard
Image credits to Youtube

The keyboard for BlackBerry 10 is designed to be fast and intuitive. It's built with innovative  technology that makes typing on BlackBerry 10 easy -- even with one hand. Vivek Bhardwaj demos in key word prediction, multi-language support and his new favorite feature a space bar that can automatically correct misses.
Video credits to BlackBerry

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