Concrete Software wasted no time incorporating Google’s new gaming service into their title PBA Bowling Challenge. Multiplayer support was a function users had been requesting for the highly rated game and the new game service enabled Concreate to quickly incorporate that feature into their title. Concrete’s decision to take advantage of the new game service may be a harbinger of how Google’s game service will serve both players and developers. According to Keith Pichelman, CEO of Concrete Software:

“…finding a multiplayer service that would meet our needs proved to be difficult. We were very fortunate that the release of Google Play game services happened to coincide with our plans for the game. We were able to integrate quickly and easily with their services to give our users the ability to bowl in one-on-one, real-time matches against their friends.”

In addition to the multiplayer support that came with yesterday’s update, players also get access to leaderboards, achievements, and daily challenges with a single Google+ login required. PBA Bowling Challenge joins several other games supporting the new framework. The game is free, so check it out using a download link after the full press release.

Concrete Software Releases Multiplayer Update to PBA® Bowling Challenge for Android

(PRLEAP.COM) Minneapolis, MN – May 16, 2013 – Concrete Software, developers of rock solid mobile games, and the Professional Bowlers Association are pleased to announce addition of Multiplayer in PBA Bowling Challenge on Google Play™.

Following an outstanding initial release, leading to over 2.8 million downloads and a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on the Google Play store, a long-awaited multiplayer update to PBA Bowling Challenge has finally arrived.

“Multiplayer was the obvious next step for the title,” said Keith Pichelman, CEO of Concrete Software. “It was by far the most user-requested feature and something we had intended to include from the beginning, but finding a multiplayer service that would meet our needs proved to be difficult. We were very fortunate that the release of Google Play game services happened to coincide with our plans for the game. We were able to integrate quickly and easily with their services to give our users the ability to bowl in one-on-one, real-time matches against their friends.”

In addition to multiplayer functionality, the integration of Google Play game services includes full Leaderboards and Achievement systems all through a single G+ login. Concrete Software plans to take advantage of other features, such as cloud saving, in future updates to PBA Bowling Challenge.

PBA Bowling Challenge is available now on Google Play.

About Concrete Software
Since 2003, Concrete Software has been creating your favorite games across all major mobile platforms, including iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone. Fun, challenging, addictive
– Concrete Software makes rock solid games. Find out how at www.concretesoftware.com.

About the PBA
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) is an organization of more than 3,200 of the best bowlers from 17 countries who compete in PBA Tour, PBA International Tour, PBA Regional and PBA50 Tour events. Nearly one million ESPN viewers watch PBA Tour on Sundays during the tour season and thousands around the world watch PBA activities on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s exclusive video streaming service. PBA sponsors include Brunswick, Ebonite International, GEICO, Jack Link’s, MOTIV, Storm Products and the United States Bowling Congress, among others. For more information, log on to www.pba.com.

Google Play is a trademark of Google, Inc.

Kayla Mueller
Concrete Software

Google Play Download Link

Come comment on this article: PBA Bowling Challenge adds multiplayer support thanks to Google Play’s game service

When Google announced the new Hangouts application yesterday, many people were excited to finally have an integrated, synced messaging service. That excitement was tempered by the realization that SMS was not supported – at least, not yet. The lack of SMS integration was curious since the application’s permissions include the ability to send, receive, and read SMS messages. Some users were also getting messages during the installation or upgrade process that seemed to indicate the app was using SMS for phone number verifications.

A message from Dori Storbeck, community manager with Google indicates “SMS integration is coming soon – it is one of our most requested features!”  Storbeck did post an update later indicating “We actually have nothing to announce at this time.” The pieces seem to be in place for SMS integration and it is clearly a function that users are interested in having. The question remains as to when it will be made available.

source: +Dori Storbeck

Come comment on this article: SMS integration within Google Hangouts on its way

With yesterday’s announcement about the new Google Play games service, Google also started the process of shutting down Google+ Games. Visiting the Google+ Games page yields visitors a new banner announcing Google+ Games will not be available after June 30th. Some developers are already working on replacements or alternatives for players who want to continue to play a particular title. 

If a user had made some payments in the game, Google indicates there are a couple options available. If the developer has an alternative site for the game, the unused balance of payments can be used at the new site. If an alternative is not available, it appears players have until June 30th to use up whatever balance they may still have in their account.

Google’s help page explaining this change also includes a short description of Google’s new game services available through Google Play which provides a framework for cross-platform gaming on Android, iOS, or the web. Since Google wants to see the new game services succeed, it makes sense they would wanted to eliminate competition, even if it is their own platform.

source: Google

Come comment on this article: Game over June 30th for Google+ Games

Japanese telecom giant NTT DoCoMo has revealed their portfolio of devices for the summer months which includes a new Sony Xperia A device. The Japanese version seems to be a bit different from the device carrying the same name that recently slid through the FCC on its way to U.S. carriers. The Japanese version sports a 4.6-inch screen, 1.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro chip, and runs Android 4.1. This seems to put it as more of a mid-tier device whereas the U.S. version mirrors the top-tier Sony Xperia Z, only with a removable battery.

In addition to the Xperia A, NTT DoCoMo is also adding Sharp’s Aquos Phone Zeta and Aquos Pad, two devices that incorporate new, thinner displays. The Zeta device comes with a 4.8-inch full HD screen while the Aquos Pad is a 7-inch tablet that is approaching a full HD display resolution. Other manufacturers got their devices added to the portfolio, like the Panasonic Eluga and the 5.2-inch Fujitsu Arrows NX. All of these devices from Sharp, Panasonic and Fujitsu will come with Android 4.2.

source: NTT DoCoMo
via: phoneArena

Come comment on this article: Japan’s NTT DoCoMo releases summer 2013 device portfolio including Sony Xperia A

Popular social media network Pinterest updated their Android app today adding some new features to help improve interactions between users. Mirroring a change made to their web based site, Pinterest will now alert you via a push notification whenever someone likes, comments, or repins your stuff. The app will also let you “mention” friends in comments, a feature that is popular with other social media networks like Facebook, Google+ and Twitter. The app will also start to provide users with suggestions for search terms as they type in the search box. Hit the break for some screenshots of the new features and download links.

If you are interested in giving Pinterest a try, use the link below to grab it for your Android device.

Google Play Download Link

Come comment on this article: Pinterest app for Android receives update

Yesterday, only a couple days before Google I/O is scheduled to open, a new photo of a white Google Nexus 4 device surfaced. Today, things ratchet up a bit with the discovery of a white Nexus 4 at a Qualcomm booth at The Mobile Show in Dubai. The folks at TechView even took the time to video the device which was presented to them as a demo unit. One thing that is apparent now is that only the back is white with the face still sporting black panels surrounding the screen. Since there is no information on a timeframe for a retail release, or if that will even happen, there is always the possibility the whole thing could end up being white, not just the back. Hit the break to check out the video. Be sure to check back for TalkAndroid’s coverage of Google I/O to see if any formal announcements are made about the white Nexus 4.

Click here to view the embedded video.

source: TechView

Come comment on this article: Video of white Google Nexus 4 surfaces

The on again, off again saga of the Motorola X Phone continues with a new entry today courtesy of graphic benchmarking site GFXBench. Going by the codename “Ghost” a Motorola XT1058 showed up sporting an 1196 x 720 screen resolution and Android 4.2.2. The device lists a MSM8960 chipset, which makes it seem likely it is running a Snapdragon S4 Pro or Snapdragon 600, although the testing results may reveal something more.

Despite the seemingly modest hardware, relative to early rumors and expectations, the XT1058 did post some impressive benchmark scores. The device scored higher than the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S 4 on the T-Rex HD and Egypt HD 3D animations tests. The question then is whether Motorola has figured out a way to squeeze some extra power out of the current line of Snapdragon processors or is there something else in the device helping things along in the graphics department?

Other than helping confirm the existence of a “Ghost” phone from Motorola, the benchmark tests that were published do little to help us peg where this new device will enter the market relative to the competition.

source: GFXBench
via: Android Authority

Come comment on this article: Possible Motorola X Phone benchmark shows up on GFX Bench

During a quarterly earnings call last Thursday, NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang revealed Tegra 4 powered devices should be announced this quarter as several tablets are in development. Two of the devices will be coming from HP including the HP Slate 21 AIO and the HP Slatebook 10 X2. Toshiba also has a tablet device in the works, the Toshiba AT10LE-A, which will be powered by the Tegra 4. Going down in size a bit, sources believe ZTE is working on a “super phone” that will be powered by the Tegra 4 chip. In house, NVIDIA themselves are working on a handheld gaming console Project Shield that will be powered by the new quad-core chip.

The new Tegra 4 chip was announced earlier this year at CES 2013. The Tegra 4 is built on four Cortex-A15 processors and 72 graphic processors capable of driving 3200×2000 LED displays with Ultra HD video. Running at 1.9 GHz, the Tegra 4 is the company’s successor to the Tegra 3. Although slightly less powerful, the Tegra 4i will start to hit the market during the latter half of 2013 with an integrated i500 LTE modem.

Huang sees “these new computing devices becoming like entry-level PCs.” NVIDIA is trying to throw as much power into the devices as possible as they think performance will be a differentiator for buyers in the future.

source: Tom’s Hardware

Come comment on this article: NVIDIA Tegra 4 devices to be announced this quarter

Popular launcher app Nova Launcher released a new update over the weekend that adds much more flexibility and control over app icons to go along with normal optimizations and bug fixes. While many people put their favorite apps on their homescreens, others like to access them using the app drawer. This is where many of Nova Launcher’s recent updates are focused. Users can customize app icons and titles used in the app drawer independent of the theme they currently have selected. Users can also group apps into folders in the app drawer and then drag these folders to the homescreen. This essentially means folders can be created from the homescreen or the app drawer.

The app also added its own method to add new apps to pages when a user installs a new app. This includes the ability to specify which page new apps are placed on. Users do need to change a setting in the Google Play Store though so Nova can handle the process.

If you want to check out Nova Launcher, use the links below to access the free version or the $4.00 Prime version.

Google Play Download Link (Nova Launcher)

Google Play Download Link (Nova Launcher Prime)

Come comment on this article: Nova Launcher update improves app icon handling

If you recently got your hands on one of the latest and greatest smartphones to hit the market, like the Samsung Galaxy S 4 or the HTC One, you were probably wondering how great it would be to slap the Facebook Home launcher on it. Not really, but it does seem Facebook is hoping owners of those devices might give their Home launcher a try despite the generally poor reception it has received since hitting the market. Although the Facebook Home app still shows its last update as being April 22, 2013, some users have discovered a new screen popping up on their devices asking if they would like to “Use Home Anyway” when they hit the unsupported device screen when launching the app. This appears to be true on both the Galaxy S 4 and the Sony Xperia ZL. Meanwhile, owners of the HTC One don’t even get the unsupported device screen, instead going straight into the launcher.

The changes appear to have surfaced after Facebook held a press conference to announce an update to the main Facebook app and to claim they have 1 million Facebook Home installations. They did not reveal how many of those installations were used for about five minutes before being shut down. The Facebook app supposedly adds a new persistent notification. The changelog in the Google Play Store lists the ability to send stickers, deletion of unwanted comments on your posts, and the ability to get directions, check in or call businesses when on a Facebook Page.

You can use the download links below to access both the Facebook Home launcher or the Facebook app if you want to grab the update.

Google Play Download Link (Facebook Home)

Google Play Download Link (Facebook)

source: Android Central

Come comment on this article: Facebook Home support appears for Samsung Galaxy S 4, HTC One, Sony Xperia ZL

Sources in a WSJ article indicate Amazon has several hardware projects in the works that are collectively referred to as the Alphabet Projects. Perhaps most intriguing among them is a smartphone that reportedly will have a screen that can produce 3D images without the use of special glasses. Combined with complex eye-tracking software, the phone’s screen will produce the 3D images at almost any angle, producing a holographic image effect with items seeming to float above the screen. Another benefit of the technology will be the ability for users to navigate content on their phone using just their eyes. The high-end phone is just one of several devices that may signal a new strategy for Amazon in getting content into the hands of consumers.

Joining the high end phone is another smartphone device that is a step or more down from being a top-tier phone, a set-top box for streaming content, and an audio-only device. The set-top box would be similar to units from Roku or even the Xbox 360, both of which enable users to stream content from Amazon’s library. If Amazon can expand its footprint in the living room with a device that heavily favors its own content, it would help the company compete with Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming video services.

Meanwhile, the audio-only device would provide another entry point for people to access the content in Amazon’s music library. This could open the door to Amazon competing with subscription services like Pandora or Spotify, but with a device users could hook into their home audio systems instead of tying up their smartphone for that purpose.

Although the mobile device landscape is largely dominated by Apple and Google, Amazon continues to hang in as a solid performer. To succeed in improving its position relative to top performers, Amazon will have to battle with incumbents on several different fronts. Still, Amazon has built up a considerable portfolio of digital content from books to music to movies and television. Much like Google sees hardware running its Android operation system as a means to an end, the end being more people accessing their services, Amazon may be poised to do the same thing. This would be consistent to some extent with the model Amazon already uses for its Kindle devices, where the hardware is sold at cost and Amazon makes its money on the content sales.

source: WSJ

Come comment on this article: Amazon’s Alphabet Projects, including 3D smartphone screen, could be sign of major hardware push

BlueStacks, which readers probably know mostly for their application that lets users run Android apps on their computers, announced some surprising news today. The company is jumping into the gaming console market with a new device dubbed the GamePop. The hardware itself, which consists of the console and a game controller, will be free to users who pre-order during May as part of a $6.99 per month subscription service. To help potential buyers feel comfortable that they are really getting something for their subscription fee, BlueStacks also announced deals for content with some of the top game developers like Blu Mobile, Halfbrick, and OutFit7.

BlueStacks is seen as a proven solution in the microconsole space thanks to the success of their App Player according to Shainiel Deo, the CEO of Halfbrick. That helps increase the comfort level for developers that the GamePop platform will be successful. Helping the situation is the fact that BlueStacks will not take a cut of any in-app purchases made by players running games on the GamePop.  BlueStacks has also promised to share 50% of the subscription revenue back with developers based on usage. GamePop’s subscription service is described as an “all-you-can-eat” model which will give users access to all games available instead of paying per game.

Check out the video below for more information about the GamePop and how it will bring Android gaming to your big screen TV. If you are interested in placing an order, head on over to GamePop.tv.

Click here to view the embedded video.

BlueStacks Announces GamePop, Brings Famous Mobile Games to TV

Mobile gaming comes to the living room via new product, service; several top developers on board

Palo Alto, CA  May 9, 2013 – Mobile company BlueStacks today announced a new gaming console and subscription service called GamePop. The system includes a custom console and gaming controller free as part of the $6.99 per month service for May pre-orders only. This marks the first time a gaming console has been offered free with a subscription. The company recently passed 10 million users of its App Player software, which allows mobile games to be played on Mac or PC.

BlueStacks has also announced content deals today with several top game developers for the new platform, including Glu Mobile, Halfbrick, and OutFit7 – makers of the popular Talking Tom series.

“BlueStacks has credibility in the microconsole space that others just don’t have,” said Shainiel Deo, CEO of Halfbrick. “We’ve been a featured partner in App Player since early on and they’ve delivered on every promise in terms of distribution. GamePop is a great incremental channel for us.”

Other Google app-makers with the coveted “Top Developer” badge coming on the platform include the #1 kids app-maker Intellijoy, as well as Deemedya, Chinese wunderkind Droidhen and many more yet to be announced. “Mobile gaming has been taking off the past few years. BlueStacks’ vision is to bring that same experience to bigger screens,” said BlueStacks CEO, Rosen Sharma. The all-you-can-eat pricing model for GamePop lets users enjoy a much broader range of games, just as you can watch more movies with Netflix versus the pay-as-you-go model Blockbuster employed.”

“Mobile gamers continue to show higher levels of engagement and longer play sessions on larger form factors,” said Glu CEO, Niccolo de Masi. “BlueStacks and GamePop offer developers like Glu an opportunity to potentially reach a new audience of gamers with great 3D, high-production value content. We see significant potential in BlueStacks’ approach to the console gaming market.” Developers keep all of the in-app purchases that run through their apps with GamePop – BlueStacks does not take any share. Additionally, 50% of GamePop subscription revenue will be shared back with developers, apportioned by usage.

BlueStacks plans to market GamePop subscriptions directly from GamePop.tv, which went live today. Their main site, BlueStacks.com the company announced for the first time today clocks 1.6 million unique visitors every month and growing. GamePop will also be featured on BlueStacks’ Facebook page, where they maintain a community of 1.2 million fans.

ABOUT BLUESTACKS
BlueStacks was founded in 2009 to bring the energy and creativity of the mobile app world to every type of device. The company is funded with 15M from Intel, Andreessen-Horowitz, Radar Partners, Redpoint, Ignition Partners and Qualcomm. The company’s App Player software has over 10 million users. Join their more than 1.2 million Facebook fans at Facebook.com/BlueStacksinc, or on Twitter at @BlueStacksinc

Come comment on this article: BlueStacks jumps into gaming console market with GamePop device

With the demise of Google’s Reader bearing down on news readers, Flipboard has released a new update to their app that adds some interesting new features. Foremost among the changes is the ability to create your own “magazine” on Flipboard with the simple press of a big “+” button in the app and naming the magazine. This essentially gives users the ability to create their own curated sources of news with the option to make the “magazine” public or private. Along with adding content to a magazine as you read within the Flipboard app, users can also add items from their Android device like photos or they can add an article directly from the Flipboard widget or even from social networks.

Extending the magazine creation capability beyond mobile devices, Flipboard has established a new Flipboard editor for desktop browsers along with a “bookmark” button to ease the content addition process. The new app is also more integrated with Android so that content can be easily shared via social networks or by other means like email.

While many users are looking to apps like feedly or Digg as a replacement for their Google Reader news aggregator, it looks like Flipboard has decided to take a slightly different tack in attracting users to give their solution a try.

Check out the video below showing the new features of Flipboard. If you are interested in trying out Flipboard, just use one of the download links below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Google Play Download Link

Come comment on this article: Flipboard updates app to enable user created magazines, interaction with desktop web version

T-Mobile US released highlights of their 2013 first quarter financial results showing positive growth in their customer base. For the first time since 2009, the carrier experienced positive customer net additions. This was a result of continued strength in prepaid net additions, the seventh consecutive quarter of growth, combined with a significant improvement in postpaid losses. Those losses were down to 199,000, a 61% improvement compared to the prior year when that number was in the 500,000+ range. Overall, T-Mobile added 579,000 customers and now claims 34 million customers. The growth in customers was attributed mainly to the introduction of their new “Simple Choice” Un-carrier plans and the addition of the iPhone to their portfolio.

Thanks to the improvement in the customer base, T-Mobile ended the quarter with earnings of $1.2 billion and a margin of 29%. That was 12% higher compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. This performance was achieved even though total revenue was down 7.1% year to year. T-Mobile President and CEO John Legere said, “Our first quarter operating metrics and financial results are showing positive impact from the changes we began making in the fourth quarter. Branded customer net additions turned positive for the first time since the first quarter of 2009 and our postpaid business has demonstrated significant improvement…We ended the quarter with strong operational momentum, which is continuing into the second quarter, driven by the successful launch of our Un-carrier ‘Simple Choice’ service plan and the introduction of the iPhone into our device line-up. Things only get more exciting from here, having brought T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS together to create the wireless industry’s value leader and premier challenger.”

T-Mobile reported capital expenditures of $1.1 billion for the first quarter as they continue the buildout of their 4G LTE network. Seven metropolitan locations were announced on March 26th and T-Mobile expects they will cover 200 million people by the end of 2013. Thus far 16,000 cell sites have been upgraded and modernized as part of T-Mobile’s Network Modernization program.

source: T-Mobile US

Come comment on this article: T-Mobile revenues dip, but customer base growing

One of our top music streaming apps, Spotify, released an update today that adds some very useful new features and fixes some others that make the app much more user friendly. Headlining the changes is the ability to filter and sort playlists and tracks. This will help users find just the tune they are looking for that much faster. Spotify also fixed a couple features related to your listening history. First, when returning to the playlist view the app will take you back to the same position you were in when you left that view. Second, if you leave the app entirely, when you log back in you will go right back to what you were listening to. Spotify also addressed an issue with special characters in usernames. As for the trousers option, that is a fictitious addition in this version which states the “app looks great in trousers.”

If you want to try out Spotify, hit one of the download links below. Just note that while the app is free, full functionality requires a Spotify Premium subscription.

Google Play Download Link

Come comment on this article: Spotify update adds new features, trousers option

Ready for a different spin, at least visually, on a boxing game? If so, you might want to check out Monkey Boxing from Crescent Moon Games, which was released in the Google Play Store today. The title is no play on words or anything like that. Gameplay is monkeys boxing against each other. Crescent Moon claims there are 269 billion combinations of monkeys, colors and props available to the player to choose from when customizing your monkey boxer.

In between matches, the game provides training opportunities so players can hone their skills in pressing the punch and block buttons in just the right combination and with the right timing to launch increasingly powerful attacks and defenses. Once you step into the ring against an opponent, your monkey launches a career that begins with the challenge of defeating 50 opponents to win the WMB Cup. If you achieve that distinction, you can continue indefinitely to take on new challengers. If you want to spice things up a bit, the game supports a two-player mode over WiFi.

Check out the video and screen shots below for a little better idea of how monkeys may box if monkeys boxed. If you want to give Monkey Boxing a try, use one of the Google Play download links to grab the $2.99 game.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Google Play Download Link

Come comment on this article: Monkey Boxing takes a shot at Google Play Store

You may have noticed a big trend lately that involves pushing mobile computing onto wearable devices like Google Glass. RunKeeper is hoping to cash in on the growing popularity of wearable devices by releasing an app that runs on Pebble’s Smart Watch devices. The new app will let users control RunKeeper from their Pebble device instead of having to fish their smartphone out of their pocket during a workout. Users can access pace, mileage, workout start and workout stop functions via the Pebble Smart Watch and RunKeeper says other functions will be available.

RunKeeper CEO Jason Jacobs says, “Pebble is such an exciting partner for RunKeeper; it is a great device and a powerful showcase of how your runs, walks and bike rides with RunKeeper can be enhanced by wearable device integration. We look forward to integrating with more wearable devices in the future.” RunKeeper indicates they will be announcing more partnerships in the coming months to help users with their fitness tracking.

The Pebble Smart Watch is currently shipping to Kickstarter backers and pre-orders are now being accepted at getpebble.com. Check out the full press release after the break.

Introducing RunKeeper for Pebble Smart Watch

Kickstarter Phenomenon Is First of Many RunKeeper Wearable Integration Partnerships

Come comment on this article: RunKeeper releases app for Pebble Smart Watch

A new filing with the Bluetooth Special Interest Group for a new LG device may point the way to the successor to the LG Optimus G. The new device carries the model name LS980, which seems to be consistent with LG devices headed for the Sprint network. Some digging on the Sprint site yielded a build.prop info page for the LS980 indicating the device will run Android 4.2.2 and has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974 chipset. The Snapdragon 800 is not scheduled to be available until later this year, so the release of this device may be timed to hit the holiday shopping season.

The Sprint page also reveals the LS980 will have a 1920×1080 screen, so it will likely be capable of displaying full 1080p HD video. The device will have 2GB of RAM and carries 32GB of onboard memory. However, it does not look like it will support an external microSD card for additional memory. A rear-facing camera is listed at 13MP and capable of recording full 1080p HD video. All of these specs are consistent with earlier information discovered in some AnTuTu benchmark scores for a new LG device.

source: Bluetooth SIG, Sprint
via: Android Police

Come comment on this article: Sprint variant of successor to LG Optimus G discovered?

Intel announced today their new Silvermont microarchitecture, a new design for 22nm Tri-Gate SoC chips. The architecture will offer three times the performance of current generation Atom processors while using five times less power. The new chips may help Intel get their chips into top-tier phones that seem to be dominated by Qualcomm chips. Besides making use of the 22nm SoC process, the chips also “revolutionary” 3-D Tri-Gate transistors. Intel says the architecture will also offer:

• A new out-of-order execution engine enables best-in-class, single-threaded performance.
  

• A new multi-core and system fabric architecture scalable up to eight cores and enabling greater performance for higher bandwidth, lower latency and more efficient out-of-order support for a more balanced and responsive system.

• New IA instructions and technologies bringing enhanced performance, virtualization and security management capabilities to support a wide range of products. These instructions build on Intel’s existing support for 64-bit and the breadth of the IA software installed base.

• Enhanced power management capabilities including a new intelligent burst technology, low- power C states and a wider dynamic range of operation taking advantage of Intel’s 3-D transistors. Intel® Burst Technology 2.0 support for single- and multi-core offers great responsiveness scaled for power efficiency.

Building on the Silvermont architecture, Intel is planning to produce quad-core Bay Trail processors to be used in tablet devices by the end of 2013. The chips may also be used in some entry-level laptops or desktops using non-traditional form factors. For smartphones, Intel is working on the Merrifield version of the chips, which are also slated to be ready before 2013 draws to a close.

Intel has had some success getting their high end chips into devices from Lenovo and ZTE. The question remains as to whether they can break through into a market largely controlled by Qualcomm, Samsung and NVIDIA.

source: Intel

Come comment on this article: Intel announces new Silvermont architecture for low-power, high-performance applications

BlueStacks, the software that lets you run Android apps on a desktop computer, is celebrating just over a year of availability in beta status with news of hitting the 10 million download mark. Rosen Sharma, CEO of BlueStacks, indicated in a recent interview that the team had made predictions on where they would be in one year and “no one said 10 million.” No one was even close as the most optimistic was just in the few hundred thousand range.

BlueStacks’ senior VP for marketing notes that downloads do not necessarily equal users running the software on a regular basis. However, the number is described as being “spooky high,” which is a good sign that there is interest out there on the part of users trying to access Android apps on non-Android hardware.

One issue the BlueStacks team is working on is trying to update the version of Android the app player uses with a Jelly Bean compatible version in the works. This effort is no doubt helped by the partnerships BlueStacks continues to work on, like the recently announced effort with Lenovo to install BlueStacks on Windows 8 PCs.

source: AllThingsD

Come comment on this article: BlueStacks hits 10 million downloads in one year