Sharp
Hands On with the Coolpad Legacy
Very affordable phones with huge screens have been a relatively popular segment in the US in recent years. ZTE used to address this market well. Now, Coolpad is stepping up to offer their take. The Coolpad Legacy indeed has a massive, sharp display, plus a few nice extras like a huge battery, USB-C, and a fingerprint reader. It also has a design with a little personality, carved from metal and Gorilla Glass. That's pretty good for just $130. But what's it like in person? We checked it out.
Google Expands Enterprise Recommendation Program to More Phones
Google today said more phone makers now part of its Android Enterprise Recommended program. The Android Enterprise Recommended program, which was launched in February of this year, "establishes best practices and common requirements for devices and services, backed by a thorough testing process conducted by Google." In order to qualify, devices have to meet a number of specifications concerning their hardware, deployment, security updates, and user help programs. For example, devices approved must run at least Android 7 Nougat, and receive security updates no later than 90 days from their release from Google. A handful of new phones makers and devices are now recommended by Google, making for a total of 39 devices from nine device makers. New entries include the Sonim XP8; Sharp Aquos SH 10-K; Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact; Motorola Moto G6, Moto G6 Plus, and Z3 Play; Huawei P20 and P20 Pro; BlackBerry KEY2; and HMD Global Nokia 3.1, 5.1, 6, 7 Plus, and 8 Sirocco. Several tablets have been certified for Android Enterprise Recommended, too, including the Huawei M5 8.4 and 10.8. Google says it will continue to update the list of devices recommended for business users as more phone makers commit to the requirements of the Android Enterprise Recommended program.
Instagram Debuts Advanced Portrait Mode
Instagram today announced a new feature that makes it easier to capture artistic selfies or portraits. The tool, called Focus, lets people take pictures or video of people using either the front or rear camera with gently blurred backgrounds. Focus seeks out faces in the viewfinder and locks on to create sharp focus on the face. Once the media is captured, users can then apply stickers or otherwise dress up their portraits or videos before sharing. Focus is available on the iPhone 6S, 6S+, 7, 7+, 8, 8+ and X, and select Android devices. Instagram is also rolling out a new @mention sticker feature for iOS devices. iPhone users can capture pictures or video and then tag friends using the sticker creation tool. Stickers with @mentions can be resized and moved around as users deem fit. Instagram is free to download from the Google Play Store and the iTunes App Store.
Apple Says iOS 11.3 to Add Battery Tool, More Animoji, Better AR
Apple today previewed iOS 11.3, a system update that will give iPhone owners with a significant number of new tools and features. First up, iOS 11.3 provides iPhone users with more control over their handset's battery performance. As promised, people will be able to asses the health of their iPhone's battery, for example, to see whether or not it needs to be replaced. The tool will also allow people to turn off Apple's power management function that is used to prevent battery shutdowns at the expense of speed. iOS 11.3 introduces four new animoji: a bear, lion, dragon, and skull, making for a total of 16. These will only be available to the iPhone X. Apple has updated its augmented reality developer tool, ARKit, to version 1.5. This gives developers even more power to create AR content. iOS 11.3 will improve augmented reality for iPhones by expanding the ability to map surfaces to include horizontal and vertical surfaces. This means AR apps will be able to place virtual objects on walls and doors, in addition to floors and tables. Apple says the iPhone's camera is now able to offer 50% greater resolution when shooting AR, and can take advantage of auto-focus for sharper results. iOS 11.3 adds a new tool to iMessage that will allow iPhone owners to chat with select businesses. Some early adopters include Discover, Hilton, Lowe’s, and Wells Fargo. Through this new business chat feature, people will be able to converse with service representatives, schedule appointments, and make purchases via Apple Pay. Apple didn't say if this tool is powered by bots. iOS 11.3 adds a new Health Records feature that will let health providers share patient health data in an easy-to-digest format. Patients will be able to collect their health records from their various institutions and view them in a single place on the iPhone. The health records support notifications for lab results, medications, conditions, and more. Apple says this data is encrypted and password-protected. Other features headed to iOS 11.3 include the addition of music videos to Apple Music, more video content within Apple News, software authentication for HomeKit devices, and support for Advanced Mobile Location so more accurate location data is made available to emergency services during 911 calls. Apple says iOS 11.3 will be available to developers later today, with the broad rollout expected later the spring.
Google Details Final Release of Android 8.0 Oreo
Google today announced the final release of Android 8.0, and also named this version "Oreo". Members of the Android Beta program will receive an update to the final version today. Nexus and Pixel users will receive the update "rolling out in phases over the next several weeks". Google has been working with all of its partners to enable updates for other phones. In the coming weeks and months, other manufacturers will roll out the update to many recent phones. By the end of the year, phones from Essential, Huawei, HTC, Kyocera, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sharp and Sony will have Android 8.0 Oreo. The update includes some minor new features, such as picture-in-picture and improved auto-fill, plus many important improvements for developers and overall performance.
Foxconn Commits to Building Wisconsin Factory
Foxconn today said it will build a manufacturing facility in Wisconsin, where it will make LCD panels and employ up to 3,000 people. The company previously announced it might invest up to $10 billion in the U.S. Today's news, shared by the White House, demonstrates Foxconn was serious about the investment. The facility will be approximately 20,000 square feet and may eventually employ up to 13,000. Foxconn, based in Taiwan, is chiefly known for manufacturing iPhones for Apple, though it has other consumer electronics customers. Foxconn said Sharp will be first to use the LCD panels made in Wisconsin for its television sets. Foxconn is weighing similar investments in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.
Oppo's 5x Dual Camera Zoom Makes Use of a Periscope
Oppo today announced a new camera module that hides a telephoto lens inside the phone chassis. The main camera makes use of a wide-angle lens. A rotating prism set inside the camera module can divert light 90 degrees through a secondary lens to a second imaging sensor. Oppo claims the arrangement creates lossless images even at 5x optical zoom. The prism is able to rotate in increments of 0.0025 degrees, allowing for precise tuning. Both the prism and the telephoto lens group can move to compensate for vibration in real time to help ensure sharp shots. Opponents didn't provide details on the camera sensor's resolution, nor did it suggest what phone might first include the 5x dual camera zoom. The company has spent more than a year developing the system, which has more than 50 components.
Sharp Shows Off Curved Display Concept
Sharp this week revealed a concept smartphone screen that has actual curved corners and nearly no bezels. The concept panel is called Corner R. Sharp used its Free-Form Display technology in order to shape the panel. Free-Form Display allows Sharp's IGZO LCD panels to be given various non-flat shapes, and it also tucks the display's controllers under the screen itself rather than in the bezels. The Corner R concept measures 5.2 inches and offers full HD resolution. Sharp showed off the concept panel at the CEATEC trade show in Japan. The company did not say if or when screens such as the Corner R might become a real option for smartphones.
Qualcomm Brings 'Clear Sight' Tech to Snapdragons
Qualcomm today announced new camera technology that it says will help generate better photos on devices with the Snapdragon 820 and 821 processors. Qualcomm's Clear Sight relies on two imaging sensors to imitate the cones and rods within the human eye. One sensor captures color images and the other captures black and white images. Qualcomm says its Spectra ISP is able to take the data from both sensors and merge it into a single image. The black and white sensor, in particular, has had the color filter removed entirely, allowing it to capture three times more light. Qualcomm says this dramatically improves low-light imaging, resulting in photos with more contrast, improved sharpness, and less grain. Clear Sight is a single hardware module that contains two cameras and Qualcomm's low-light imaging algorithms that enable the Spectra ISP to take and merge photos instantly. Qualcomm says the Clear Sight module is available to hardware manufacturers.
Sony Xperia XZ Steps Up Camera Tech
Sony today showed off the Xperia XZ smartphone, a high-end follow-up to the Xperia X series devices from earlier this year. For the XZ, Sony said it concentrated on improving the camera and video camera performance, as well as further refining its design language. The XZ features what Sony calls the "loop" design, which relies on a seamless polycarbonate frame, glass display, and metal back plate. The screen measures 5.2 inches with includes 1080p full HD resolution and Gorilla Glass 4. The XZ is powered by a Snapdragon 820 processor with Adreno 510 GPU, 3 GB of RAM, and 32 GB of storage. The main camera has a 23-megapixel Exmor RS sensor with a variety of technologies added to help the phone take better pictures. It uses triple image-sensing and predictive hybrid autofocus to capture sharp images. It relies on electronic image stabilization and delivers 5x digital zoom. The video camera's SteadyShot feature measures 5-axises of movement and captures 4K video. The 13-megapixel selfie camera has an aperture of f/2.0 and a wide-angle 22mm lens. Other specs include CAT9 LTE; 2,900mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 and Qnovo adaptive charging; high-resolution stereo audio capture and playback; and IP68 certification for protection against water and dust. It runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow and will come in forest blue, black, and platinum. The Sony Xperia XZ will be sold to U.S. consumers unlocked beginning October 23. Pricing was not disclosed.
Gorilla Glass 5 from Corning to Better Withstand Drops
Corning today announced Gorilla Glass 5, a new breed of toughened glass made to survive the everyday perils of drops. Gorilla Glass has long been able to handle sharp impacts, but drops from waist height are the most common way to break screens. Corning said it designed Gorilla Glass 5 specifically to handle drops from up to 5.25 feet (1.6m) onto rough surfaces. Corning's lab tests show Gorilla Glass 5 is four times more likely (or up to 80% of the time) than competing glass when dropped face-down from shoulder height onto rough surfaces. Corning is already manufacturing Gorilla Glass and expects it to be sold on commercial devices before the end of the year.
Sharp Accepts Lowered Takeover Bid from Foxconn
Foxconn has agreed to acquire a 66% stake in Sharp for $3.5 billion, said the companies today. The sale price is considerably less than the $5 billion Foxconn offered earlier in the month. Foxconn is a Chinese company known mostly for building Apple products. Sharp, based in Japan, chiefly makes displays. It has suffered from financial problems for years. Foxconn believes adding Sharp's display technology to its own product mix will help it earn more manufacturing business from companies like Apple.
Sharp-Foxconn Deal Imperiled by Hidden Liabilities
Foxconn was on the verge of buying troubled Sharp when the deal met a roadblock at the last minute. Sharp disclosed more than $3.1 billion in liabilities (debt, tax claims, and intellectual property damages) that threw the negotiations into disarray, according to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal. The entire value of the deal was $6.1 billion so the $3.1 billon in liabilities is a significant financial factor for Foxconn to consider. Sharp, however, contradicted the Journal's story and said all liabilities were presented in accordance with proper accounting practices. Either way, the deal is on the brink of collapse. Sharp has seen dwindling fortunes for years. It has accepted cash infusions from Samsung and others to continue operations. News that the sale to Foxconn may be deep-sixed cause a sharp fall in Sharp's stock price during trading Friday. Foxconn said it is committed to making a deal, but now needs more time to consider Sharp's financial position.
Sharp and Foxconn to Settle Takeover Soon
Foxconn expects to seal a takeover deal with Sharp by the end of February. Executives from both companies met on Thursday and agreed on a number of items, but didn't sign any final agreements. Foxconn has been courting Sharp for a while now, and has offered $5.5 billion to buy the company. Sharp is also entertaining an offer from Innovation Network Corp. of Japan, a government-backed fund, but INCJ's offer is much lower than Foxconn's. Foxconn's CEO says the two cleared 90% of the hurdles during Thursday's meeting, but at least one legal issue prevented them from closing the deal. The two CEOs believe they can work out the remaining issues before the end of the month.
Sharp Leaning Toward Foxconn's $5.5B Bid
Sharp is favoring an acquisition offer from Foxconn over a potential rescue from Japanese investors. Sharp has lost market share in the consumer electronics business over the last few years while prices for its display panels have sunk. The two combined have put Sharp in a precarious position; it has already been bailed out once. Innovation Network Corp. of Japan, a government-backed fund, has offered to inject capital into the company to keep it solvent. INCJ's offer, however, is about half that of a $5.5 billion take-over bid from Taiwan's Foxconn. Foxconn is more aggressively pursuing Sharp, says the Wall Street Journal, and is pressing the firm to accept its offer. Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou is traveling to Japan Thursday to meet with Sharp CEO Kozo Takahashi and the company's leadership team. Takahashi said, "The two offers are not equal," and that the company will focus on Foxconn's offer more so than INCJ's. Foxconn is known as one of Apple's primary manufacturing partners.
Foxconn Makes a Play for Sharp
Foxconn has offered to buy Sharp for $5.3 billion, reports the Wall Street Journal. Foxconn's offer arrives just as Sharp is weighing a buyout offer from Innovation Network Corporation of Japan. Sharp, known for its LCD displays and IGZO technology, has required multiple bailouts over the last few years as weak financials plague its ability to compete. The main thrust of INCJ's potential investment is to keep the company based in Japan, where it would be merged with competitor Japan Display. Investors believe combining Sharp and Japan Display would lead to a stronger competitor to rivals Samsung and LG. The INCJ deal has the blessing of Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but at about $2.6 billion is only half that of Foxconn's offer. Analysts cited by the Wall Street Journal and Reuters believe the final decision will be a political, and not a business, one. Foxconn is based in Taiwan.
Sharp May Have Found Buyer for LCD Business
Sharp CEO Kozo Takahashi said the company is in talks with several others concerning a sale of its LCD business unit. "I cannot provide any names, but we are currently in negotiations with multiple companies," said Takahashi. Sharp has struggled in recent years, despite receiving several financial rescue packages. The company said in April of this year that it planned to sell or divest its LCD business. This is the first sign from Sharp that is has been able to drum up interest in the unit. Sharp has developed several unique display technologies and devices over the years, including a 4K IGZO panel and the Sharp Aquos Touch, an Android smartphone with an edge-to-edge screen that was sold by Sprint.
Meizu Puts Ubuntu In Its MX4 Smartphone
Canonical today announced the launch of the MX4 Ubuntu Edition, made by its handset partner Meizu. Ubuntu is Canonical's version of Linux. Its latest build is based on a feature Canonical calls Scopes, which are a new way to interact with music, social, web, and photo apps directly on the home screen. Canonical explains, "The richness and unfragmented experience delivered by Ubuntu Scopes is a world away from burying content and services inside multiple apps in an icon grid." Canonical says there are more than 1,300 Scopes available to handset owners in the Ubuntu Store. The phone itself has a 5.36-inch retina display made by Sharp that is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The MX4 Ubuntu Edition has a 20.7-megapixel main camera with dual LED flash and a 2-megapixel front camera. The device has 16 GB of storage and will be available in silver or gold. The Meizu MX4 Ubuntu Edition will only be sold in Europe, and requires an invitation. The price is approximately $335. Canonical does not yet plan to make the phone available to U.S. buyers.
Sharp Develops 4K Smartphone Display Prototype
Sharp has engineered a 4K (Ultra HD) screen for smartphones. The prototype measures 5.5 inches across the diagonal and includes 3860 x 2160 pixels, giving it a pixel density of 806 pixels per inch. By way of comparison, the iPhone 6 Plus's 5.5-inch screen has 1920 x 1080 pixels, or 401 pixels per inch. The prototype LCD relies on Sharp's IGZO technology, but the company is not sure if the prototype will ever be used. "Currently there are no driver ICs for small 4K panels, so the panel is not ready for mass production at this point," said Sharp spokeswoman Miyuki Nakayama in an email to Computerworld. Some of today's flagship devices (LG G4, Motorola Nexus 6, Samsung Galaxy S6) have jumped from full HD to quad HD, or 2560 x 1440 pixels. The majority of high-end phones still use full HD screens, while mid-range phones have moved to 720p screens. Entry-level phones generally offer 800 x 480 or 960 x 540 resolution displays.
Sharp Looking to Divest LCD Business
Sharp is hoping it will be able to spin off a portion of its LCD panel business. The company wants to unload the piece of its display unit that makes small- and mid-sized displays for devices such as smartphones and tablets. The company hasn't been able to compete with rivals LG Display and Japan Display in the market for small screens. The company hopes to sell off this business to a government-supported investment fund, though it hasn't made any final decisions. Sharp has been struggling for years and is undergoing a larger restructuring that it hopes to present to investors in May. The company sells one smartphone in the U.S., the Aquos Crystal, which has a unique borderless display.
Seniors Wireless Adds Doctor Access to Wireless Plans
Seniors Wireless, a Sprint MVNO, announced a new service that gives subscribers direct phone access to a doctor at all times. TeleMED Assist provides customers with unlimited calls to doctors for emergency, urgent, or non-urgent purposes 24/7. Over-the-phone medical consultations are included in the service, which costs $30 per month for singles or $40 per month for couples. TeleMED Assist is a separate service and does not require a Seniors Wireless telephone account. Seniors Wireless offers a handful of standard service plans ranging from $10 to $30 per month. The company has several handsets, such as the Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, S5 and Note 3, the Sharp Aquos Crystal, the LG Vigor, and the Apple iPhone 4. Seniors Wireless competes with GreatCall, which also offers access to health professionals over the phone. Both target the over 55 set.
Boost and Sprint Announce Sharp Aquos Crystal Availability
Boost, Sprint, and Sprint Prepaid today revealed launch details for the Sharp Aquos Crystal. Boost is selling the Aquos Crystal beginning today for $150. Boost does not require contracts. Sprint will sell the Aquos Crystal beginning October 17 for $0 down and 24 payments of $10 with Sprint Easy Pay, or $240 outright. Last, Sprint Prepaid is selling the Aquos Crystal at Best Buy locations today for $150, and will sell it at RadioShack stores beginning October 21. The Sharp Aquos Crystal features a nearly borderless design, 5-inch display, 8-megapixel camera, and Harmon Kardon music enhancements.
ZTE Offering Nubia 5S Mini LTE via Amazon for $280
ZTE today announced it is bringing the Nubia 5S mini with LTE to the U.S. The 5S mini is a compact handset that's part of ZTE's premium line of Android smartphones. It has a 4.7-inch 720p HD IGZO display from Sharp, and it is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor with an Adreno 305 GPU. The phone is equipped with a 13-megapixel main camera and a bevy of advanced controls for focus, light metering, and white balance. The five-element f/2.2 lens is protected by sapphire, and the camera has three shooting modes: Fun, Auto, and Pro. The 5S mini has a 5-megapixel user-facing camera, too, and can capture 720p HD video. Other hardware features include 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and a memory card slot; Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, and support for AT&T/T-Mobile LTE; and a 2,000mAh battery. ZTE is offering the Nubia 5S mini with LTE directly to consumers via Amazon, where the device costs $280 and ships unlocked. The phone is available for order today, and ships starting August 27.
Hands-On: Sharp Aquos Crystal for Sprint
Sharp debuted its first phone for the U.S. market in years this week. The Aquos Crystal boasts a nearly bezel-less design in a compact form factor. Here are our initial impressions.
Sprint Formally Debuts Sharp Aquos Crystal
Sprint today announced the Sharp Aquos Crystal, a mid-range handset that it will sell later this year. The Sharp Aquos features a nearly bezel-less design, with narrow edges running along the top and sides of the phone. The screen measures 5 inches and offers 720p HD resolution. The device offers a handful of software features developed by Sharp, including Clip Now, which takes screen shots with a swipe and makes them easily sharable via link. Speaktoit Assistant is a natural language assistant that can perform a number of tasks, such as answer questions, open apps, place calls, and send texts. The device comes with Harman Kardon Clari-Fi and LiveStage audio technologies for improved music reproduction, and Direct Wave Receiver technology, which uses the display panel to create sound for phone calls. The device runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat and includes the usual suite of Google services, in addition to OfficeSuite for editing Microsoft documents. Other hardware features include a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor with 1.5GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. The Aquos supports microSD cards up to 128GB. The camera captures 8-megapixel still images and 1080p HD video. It also has a 1.2-megapixel camera for selfies. The Aquos will cost $240 at full retail, or $0 down and 24 monthly payments of $10 with Sprint. Sprint subsidiaries Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA will also sell the device at the price of $150. Virgin and Boost do not require contracts.
SoftBank and Sprint Working with Sharp on Edgeless Phone
SoftBank, which owns Sprint, today said it has chosen Sharp to supply it with low-cost smartphones. The handset deal with Sharp includes Sprint, which will also sell phones made by Sharp. The first such device is a handset called the Sharp Aquos Crystal, which the company revealed today. The Crystal features an edgeless design. SoftBank believes its combined scale with Sprint will allow it to sell the Sharp Aquos Crystal at a low cost. SoftBank's announcement coincides with a Sprint event scheduled for August 19. The event invite reads "Time to take the Edge Off," which could be a reference to the edgeless design of the Aquos Crystal. According to Sharp, the Crystal includes a 5-inch 720p HD screen, Snapdragon 400 processor, and runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat. Sharp has not sold handsets in the U.S. for several years.
Microsoft Joins Qualcomm-Backed AllSeen Alliance
Microsoft has joined the AllSeen Alliance, an effort backed by Qualcomm to provide a standard for connecting the Internet of Things. The alliance already has 50 companies on board, including LG, Panasonic, and Sharp. The group's goal is to make it easy for devices to interact with one another by devising a single standard through which they can communicate. Qualcomm's rivals, however, are prepared to form their own group, according to unnamed sources cited by Reuters. The competing consortium may launch as soon as next week, and will seek to create its own standard for connecting the Internet of Things. Apple has already announced HomeKit, its own protocol for connecting smartphones and tablets to devices around the home. Further, Google recently released an SDK for its Nest thermostat, which will eventually allow smartphones, tablets, and other apps to interact with Nest. Multiple standards may make it more difficult for consumers to find devices that work with one another. Reuters didn't say which companies are going to support the competitor to AllSeen.
Google Reveals Android TV, Improves Chromecast
Google today announced Android TV, a new platform that will bring certain features of the Android operating system to smart TVs. The platform can be embedded in HDTVs, as well as installed in stand-alone boxes. It lets Android smartphones and tablets connect directly to TVs and control them. Android TV supports Play Store content, including games, and third party apps. Some of the initial batch of apps that will work on Android TV include Netflix, Plex, iHeartRadio, TuneIn Radio, and others. Further, Android TV supports casting, which will let Android smartphone and tablet owners push content from their mobile device to Android TV. The Google Play store for television sets will launch in the fall, as will Android TV set top boxes. Television makers such as Sony and Sharp will incorporate Android TV into their 2015 lineup. Google also talked about its Chromecast product. Chromecast is a thumb drive plug-in for HDTVs that can project audio and video content from Android devices to TVs. Until today, Chromecast required users to connect via the same Wi-Fi network. Chromecast is being updated, however, with the ability to cast from separate Wi-Fi networks. This means people can push content to a TV even when they aren't there or even nearby. The tool uses Google's cloud for authentication. Chromecast also adds the ability to exactly mirror what's on the screen of Android smartphones and tablets. The new features for Chromecast will arrive later this year.
Sharp to Reconfigure Plant for Smartphone IGZO Displays
Sharp is prepared to alter one of its manufacturing facilities so that it can make more IGZO displays for smartphones. Sharp uses its Kameyama plant to manufacture television set screens, but will sacrifice TV production in order to produce more screens for mobile devices. The company believes it can cut down costs by making large IGZO sheets that can be cut into multiple displays. To-date, few devices outside of Sharp's home market of Japan include IGZO displays. IGZO, or indium gallium zinc oxide, display screens are thinner and use dramatically less energy than the OLED displays. Earlier this year, Samsung invested $110 million in Sharp's display business. Samsung primarily uses AMOLED displays in its smartphones. Sharp's increased production of smartphone-sized IGZO screens paves the way for Samsung to adopt the technology.
Samsung Invests $110M in Ailing Sharp
Samsung has bought a 3% stake in Sharp, one of its competitors, in order to widen is supply base, reports Reuters. Samsung's $110 million investment follows a $120 million investment made in Sharp by Qualcomm in December. Sharp has struggled in recent years, and needs the influx of cash. Sharp's most promising product is high-resolution indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) display screens, which are thinner and use dramatically less energy than the OLED displays Samsung currently favors in its mobile devices. Qualcomm also wants to work with Sharp to bring its IGZO displays to market, which would be ideal for smartphones and tablets. Last, Sharp is one of Apple's key suppliers, and this investment gives Samsung a stake in the company as Apple winds down its reliance on Samsung for components.
YouTube Expands Android-to-TV Playback Directly to TVs
Google today announced that Android smartphone owners will be able to push YouTube content directly to more TVs beginning this year. In November, Google enabled Android smartphones and tablets to connect to Google TV boxes (via Wi-Fi) and push YouTube videos directly to the Google TV box (and ultimately the attached TV). Moving forward, Android YouTube fans will be able to do the same thing, but without the Google TV box. New television sets from Bang & Olufsen, LG, Panasonic, and Sony, to be announced at the Consumer Electronics Show next week, will ship with support for this YouTube feature built in. Google expects more TVs from Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba, Vizio, and Western Digital to arrive with the same feature later in the year. Android phones and tablets can also act as a remote control for the YouTube video, and control play, pause, fast-forward, and other functions.
Qualcomm Partners with Sharp to Make Mobile Displays
Qualcomm and Sharp have struck an agreement that will see the two companies co-develop LCD panels for smartphones, reports Reuters. Qualcomm is investing approximately $61 million in Sharp's display unit, which will use its indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO) technology to make energy efficient displays for mobile devices. Qualcomm will make a second $61 million investment once Sharp has made "significant progress" with the displays. Qualcomm spent years developing its own low-power Mirasol displays, but they never got any traction in the market. Qualcomm ceased production of Mirasol displays in July of this year. According to Reuters, more details of the Qualcomm-Sharp deal are likely to be provided on Tuesday. Neither company has confirmed Reuters' report.
Sony's PlayStation Mobile Store to Open October 3
Sony recently announced that it will open its PlayStation Mobile Store for Android smartphones on October 3. The store will first be available in the U.S., Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Australia. It will launch with about 30 titles from a handful of genres. More countries and more titles will be added over time. Sony also announced that Sharp and Fujitsu have joined its PlayStation Certified program, which means they will be able to add the PlayStation Mobile Store to their own devices in time. Last, Sony plans to make the PlayStation Mobile SDK available in select countries in November.
Sharp Licenses Smartphone Patents from Microsoft
Microsoft today announced that it has reached a patent-licensing agreement with Sharp. Specifically, Sharp is licensing the Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT) patent held by Microsoft for use in some of its Android smartphones. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Microsoft licenses smartphone patents to most manufacturers of Android smartphones, with Motorola being the most notable exception.
Sharp Intros Thinner, Clearer, More Efficient Displays
Sharp today announced a new display design that promises to bring dramatic improvements to mobile device screens. The company has developed a new indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) semiconductor technology with high crystallinity. This will allow Sharp to create touch displays that have higher resolutions, lower power consumption, narrower bezels, and better performance. Sharp says the cost of altering its production lines to make use of the new material will be minimal, and it expects to update its manufacturing later this year. The new material will be used in LCD displays for mobile devices such as smartphones.
Google Overhauls Maps, Optimizes for High-Rez Screens
Google today announced that it has revised Google Maps to version 6.5. Google says that it has redesigned the Google Maps home page (for devices running Android 4.0) and made it easier to access user favorites by swiping left or right. The new version for all Android variants is optimized to take advantage of the higher resolution screens of select devices, and will render sharper, clearer maps. Google Maps 6.5 for Android also lets users select their preferred methods or routes of travel, such as public transportation. Google Maps for Android is a free download from the Google Play Store.
Sharp Intros 12.1MP CMOS Sensor for Smartphones
Sharp today announced the RJ63YC100, a new back-illuminated CMOS camera sensor for devices such as smartphones that comes in a slim package at 5.7mm thick. The small size will help the sensor fit better into thin devices. The sensor rates 12.1 megapixels, can capture 1080p HD video, includes optical image stabilization and autofocus, and has a lens speed rating of f/2.5. Samples of the camera module will be available starting December 2. The chip will go into production in January.
HTC, ZTE, Sharp Join NFC Forum
Handset makers HTC, ZTE, and Sharp have joined the NFC Forum at various levels of membership, announced The NFC Forum today. In addition to the hardware vendors, Barclaycard and Isis also joined the forum. Isis' membership is notable, as it is the joint venture created by AT&T, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon Wireless to launch mobile payments in the U.S. The NFC Forum a non-profit industry association that advances the use of near field communication (NFC) technology. Isis and others hope to offer tap-and-go mobile payments on cell phones by tying bank accounts to the NFC chips in devices.
LightSquared Signs Sharp to Develop LTE Smartphones
LightSquared today announced that it will collaborate with hardware maker Sharp to bring Long Term Evolution 4G-enabled smartphones, tablets, and other devices to market. The devices can be marketed and/or sold by LightSquared's growing list of wholesale customers, which plan to use LightSquared's forthcoming LTE network to offer their own goods and services. LightSquared has signed more than a dozen such partners, though it is currently still resolving interference issues related to the U.S.'s GPS systems and equipment. The Federal Communications Commission has yet to grant LightSquared definitive permission to operate its LTE network, which will be deployed in L-band spectrum.
Sharp FX Plus Adds Android, For Sale Via Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart has quietly made the Sharp FX Plus handset available from its web site. The FX Plus is a successor to last year's FX, and makes a big leap by graduating from quick-messaging device to full-fledged smartphone with Android 2.2 Froyo on board. The FX Plus features a 3.2-inch touch display, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 3 megapixel camera with video capture, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Other features include a 3.5mm headset jack, support for microSD cards up to 32GB (2GB card included), 3G data speeds up to 7.2Mbps, and GPS. The FX Plus is available exclusively from Wal-Mart for free on contract, or for the full retail price of $349.99.
