Technology Updates

Apple is reportedly ready to release a new iPhone next week. As with its competitors do not want to lose it, Samsung and Google was ready to launch new smartphones: Nexus Prime. As quoted from the pages of TechCrunch, Samsung has spread event invitations to be held next October 11 in San Diego, United States. The news comes after there is a video that lasted more than two minutes on the Ice Cream Sandwich.

Topic of the show is not written in the invitation, but the invitation was to write: “what’s new from Android”. Rumors are circulating for the last few months called the Nexus Prime will be the first device that uses the new Android operating system, Ice Cream Sandwiches. Reportedly, the launch will be held in San Diego 11 October at 11 noon local time. This latest Android will combine the ability that has been owned by Honeycomb and Gingerbread. Nexus Prime has a model number GT-I9250 and equipped with ARM11 processor, which is the architecture of the OMAP 4460.

Nexus Prime is expected to have a specification that has the Texas Instrument OMAP dual-core 1.5 GHz processor. This latest Nexus series will have the ability to be used in 4G networks. For the display, the Nexus Prime is referred to have a touch screen display measuring 4.5 or 4.65 inch. While according to TechRadar page, it will use the Super AMOLED display with HD resolution of 1280×720.

TechRadar also mention, Nexus Prime is expected to be priced at the same price as the Samsung Nexus Galaxy S II or S. With the release of almost the same with the iPhone 5, it seems Google and Samsung will further heat up the rivalry with Apple. Interesting awaited for market response to the emergence of the iPhone 5 and Nexus Prime.

Amazon announced Kindle Fire tablets measuring 7″ which is aimed at readers of E-Book that also has multimedia functions and online.

Kindle Fire is an Android tablet with a large-scale customization wrapped with the application, skins, browser, and the Android application market made by Amazon. The customization did not even leave a trace that these tablets are Android OS, where all associated with Google was changed or eliminated. Kindle Fire physically looks very similar to BlackBerry Playbook, both of sizes and designs and materials. The similarity occurs because both are produced by the same company, Quanta.

In terms of specifications, there is nothing special about this Amazon tablet; no camera, only Wifi connectivity; and multimedia capabilities, processor and battery life on average. But that makes it superior and noteworthy is the sale price. The price of Kindle Fire according to Amazon official site is $199, where the price is much cheaper when compared to iPad (U.S. $ 499-899), Playbook (U.S. $ 499-699) or other Android tablets.

Kindle Fire lowest price obtained from the specifications that are not prominent, and the taking of profit margin which is not great for every device sold. Then where Amazon gets the profit? Since Amazon is selling E-Book content (online book), then they choose to lose in Kindle Fire sales with a compensation benefit from the sale of E-Book and the presence of the ads that appear on each.

Indeed Kindle Fire tablet is not a competitor or iPad killer, but considering the price is very cheap, Kindle Fire will certainly attract customer segments that need affordable tablet to read E-Book without the frills of other features that are not too important.

Kindle Fire Specifications

Previously the future OS MeeGo after abandoned by Nokia who prefer Windows Phone looks very bleak. But now not anymore, because MeeGo will be reborn in the hands of the Linux Foundation which is the shaft in the development of open-source OS based on Linux, named Tizen. As we know, MeeGo is a Linux-based open source mobile operating system project. Their primarily targeted at mobile devices and information appliances in the consumer electronics market.

In February 2011, Nokia announced a partnership with Microsoft for mobile handsets and the departure of Nokia’s MeeGo team manager Alberto Torres, leading to speculation as to Nokia’s future participation in MeeGo development or using Windows Phone by Nokia. In September 2011, Nokia has begun shipments the first Nokia N9 MeeGo smartphone model, ahead of the Windows Phone 7 launch expected later this year. First MeeGo based tablet WeTab was launched in 2010 by Neofonie.

Intel and Samsung are also included in the project of Tizen, where they will be act as Lead Developer. Intel will support Tizen with Intel AppUp program developer and also the program developer with HTML5 and the WAC-based standards. There is also the LiMo Foundation who joined, this company is a telecommunications consortium comprising ACCESS, Panasonic Mobile, Casio NEC, NTT DoCoMo, Samsung, SK Telecom, Telefonica, and Vodafone.

“The Linux Foundation is pleased to host the Tizen platform,” said Jim Zemlin, Executive Director of The Linux Foundation. “Open source platforms such as Tizen are good for Linux as they further its adoption across device categories. We look forward to collaborating with the LiMo Foundation and its members on this project.”

Just like MeeGo, Tizen will support a variety of devices such as Tablet, Notebook, mobile phones, SmartTV, and other device. Tizen is scheduled to be released in first quarter of 2012, where the first product based on Tizen OS will be out in mid 2012.