Yuandao NX 4G LTE phablet launched

Recently, Yuandao launched a new 4G LTE phablet with 8 inch screen. Model number is Yuandao NX. This tablet adopts the MT8732 quad core processor from Mediatek, that is one 64 bit CPU and frequency is 1.5GHz. It is based on the Cortex A53 framework. Its CPU is ARM Mali-760 MP2, it is one very powerful GPU. As the high performance of CPU and GPU, this unit can handle big 3G games easily.

As a tablet , Yuandao NX is very powerful, as a smart phone, 4G LTE is must. It can support 4G LTE network including TDD-LTE and FDD-LTE network. There are dual SIM card slot, users can load two SIM card and surf network and make calls easily.

This tablet adopts one 8 inch IPS screen. Resolution is 1280*800 pixels. Viewing angle is 178 degree. Thickness of the uni is only 5mm, that is quite slim in market.

Now, most smart phones have GPS navigation function. This Yuandao NX adopts high sensitive GPS module inside. It owns dual cameras, front one is 0.3M pixels, and rear camera is 5M pixels.

There is one HDMI port on the unit. Users can output videos through HDMI to HD TV. In meanwhile, unit can support Miracast and WifiDisplay function.

Imagination launched new GPU in WMC 2015

In the last WMC fair, Imagination launched its series 6XT GPU. In this WMC 2015, Imagination its latest 7XT series GPU which is more powerful than last generation. Especially the PowerVR GT7900 is the most powerful one among the new products.

The low end PowerVR GT7200 and GT7400 is used for smart phones, tablets and TV set. From PowerVR GT7600, its performance will overtake last generation playstation, like Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

Regarding the most powerful PowerVR 7900, Imagination said, its performance will be even better than GeForce GT 730 Graphics.

Imagination said this PowerVR GT7900 is more suitable for laptop PC, micro server etc. This new GPU will be available later this year. As the biggest user of PowerVR, this new GPU may be adopted in new Apple TV.

Mediatek launched first quad core processor based on ARM Cortex A72

At early of last month, ARM launched its new Cortex A72 framework. it is the most powerful framework till now from ARM. And in the WMC 2015, Mediatek launched the first processor for tablets based on Cortex A72 framework, MT8173.

This MT8173 is one quad core processor based on ARM Cortex A72. It includes two Cortex A72 and two Cortex A53. GPU is the PowerVR GX6250. It can support OpenGL ES 3.1 and OpenCL. Frequency is 2..4GHz. Considering the high consumption, this processor is used for tablets.

It adopts the Corepilot 2,0 technology from Mediatek, so it has very good performance on 4K video playback.

As the CEO of Mediatek said, this MT8173 has higher performance than most of processors in market. Its performanceis similar as the laptop PC. Now this processor is already available for sample. As estimation, at 2nd half of this year, we will see tablets with this new processor in market

Tablet market reviews in 2014

Last Monday, Ontablets launched a new report about tablet PC sales in 2014. In the 4th quarter of 2014, the total sales of tablet pc is about 76 million pieces, compared with 2013, it is reduced from nearly 79 million pieces by 3,2%. The total sales of whole 2014 is about 230 million pieces, compared with 220 million pieces in 2013, it is increased by about 4.4%.

iPad is still the NO.1, in 4th quarter of 2014, the sales of iPad is about 21.4 million pieces, takes about 28% market share. But compared with 2013, it is reduced. Sales volume is reduced by 17.8%. Samsung is ranked second. Its sales is about 11 million pieces in 4th quarter, taking about 14.5% market share. Compared with 2013, it is also reduced a lot. Sales volume is reduced by 18.4%, even higher than iPad.

The top five brands are Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, ASUS and Amazon. Except Lenovo, the other 4 brands are reduced in 4th quarter. The sales of Lenovo is about 3.7 million pieces, taking 4.8% market share. Sales volume is increased by 9.1%.

In whole 2014, ASUS is ranked 3rd. iPad is still ranked first. But its sales is reduced by 14.6%. Samsung is increased by 1.1%, Lenovo is increased by 43.5%. Amazon is reduced by 66.4%.

Detail of Allwinner A83T

In last Sept, Suverimax has already disclosed its new processor, A83T, and till last Dec, there were tablets with this chipset available in market. Allwinner A83T adopts the TSMC 28nm process technology, and based on ARM Cortex A7 octa core framework, the max frequency is 2.0GHz. GPU is still from Imagination. Compared with the A80 octa core, the power consumption and cost are reduced a lot.

As information from Allwinner, When playing videos, the power consumption of A83T is only 3500mW, when standing by, it is 8.4mW.

You can see the above picture, left one is a quad core tablet with Cortex A17. When playing video, the voltage is 7.6V, and current is 0.559A. Its power consumption is 4248mW. Right one is A83T octa core tablet, when playing video, its voltage is only 3.79V, and current is 0.884A. Its power consumption is 894mW. The Allwinner A83T octa core tablet is also 3.8V, but current is only 0.0022A. Its power consumption is 8.36mW.3350mW. When standing by, the left tablet is 3.8V, and current is 0.2352A. Its power consumption is 8.36mW.

So why its power consumption is so lower. On one hand, it adopts the Cortex A7 framework, the other hand is it adopts the 28nm process technology. What is more is this process owns one Power Management chipset, AXP813.

Its max frequency is 2.0GHz. GPU is the PowerVR 544, its frequency is 700Mhz when running. Allwinner adopts the new TSMC 28nm HPC process, compared with 28nm HPM process, its running speed is enhanced 10%.

A83T can support 2048*1536 pixels resolution, screen size can be 7 inch to 13 inch. Except that, this chipset can support 4K*2K resolution video playback, and HEVC and H.265 format.

Till now, in market, there are some tablets wit this A83T, for example, the Onda V989 Air, and Onda V975S octa core tablet pc.

Samsung will acquire Blackberry?

A rocking news from suverimax.com, Samsung will pay about 7.5 billion US dollars to acquire Blackberry. So Samsung will own a lot of Blackberry patents.

The initial price Samsung offered is 13.35 to 15.49 US dollars per share, and totally 6 to 7.5 billion US dollars including about 1.25 billiion US dollars convertible debt. Now, Samsung is talking with Blackberry about this acquire.

But soon, Blackberry denied this news, and announced that  the news is not true, and Blackberry will not comment on the news.

In fact, it is not the first time. In last year, Fairfax Financial will acquire Blackberry by 4.7 billion US dollars. And it is failed finally. Apple and Microsoft are also very interesting in Blackberry as well.

Mediatek sales volume is 6.68 billion US dollars in 2014

Report from ontablets.es, as the demand of smart phone is increasing in 2014, the sales volume of Mediatek is 6.68 billion US dollars, that is new record. Mediatek announced that in Dec, 2014, its sales volume is about 535.5 million US dollars, compared with last year, it is increased by 30%. In the forth quarter of 2014, the total sales volume is about 1.74 billion US dollars. Compared with last year, this number is reduced by 3.5%.

In the forth quarter of 2014, the demand from market for Mediatek 4G chipset is very high. In 2014, the smartphone chipset from Mediatek is sold about 350 million pieces. About 30 million pieces of them are 4G chipset. But since the competition, in 2015, the profit of Mediatek in 2015 may be reduced.

In fact, several months ago, CEO of Mediatek has already announced that sales of its 4G chipset will be over 30 million pieces in 2014, and will take about 20% of its total sales volume

Teclast Core M DIY tablet PC

Cube launched its first tablet PC with Intel Core M processor. Following Cube, other tablet pc suppliers are also trying to launch their 2 in 1 tablet pc with Core M. But different with other suppliers, Teclast launched a DIY plan. Users can vote for the configuration of their desired specification for this Teclast first Core M 2 in 1 tablet pc.

Users can vote for the CPU model, RAM, flash memory, screen, and network. Teclast has listed some options. Regarding the CPU, users can choose Intel Core M 5Y71, Core M 5Y51, Core M 5Y10C and Core M 5Y10. RAM has two options, 2GB and 4GB. There are two options for screen as well. One is 11.6 inch IPS with 1920*1080 pixels, and 12.2 inch IPS with 2560*1600 pixels. Network has 3G and 4G LTE, two options.

Users can not vote for the cameras and body material. As estimation, this tablet pc will be about 400 to 450 euros at highest.

Amount of tablet users in 2015 will reach 1 billion

As one report from suverimax.com, in 2015, the tablet sales will keep on reducing, and this situation may not change in following years. As estimation, in 2015, the amount of tablet users will reach 1 billion, and in 2018, this number will be increased to 1.4 billion. In 2014, the total sales of tablet is 236 million pieces, compared with 2013, it is increased by about 8%.

As the demand of tablet in developed countries, like Europe and US, is full, and in new market, the demand is very low. For people in new market, the price of tablet is not so cost effective. More important, the phablet with big screen size affect the sales of tablet as well.

As estimation, 1/3 of tablet users will be from China, about 328 million. India is another big market of tablets.

14nm Intel Cherry Trial

Except the Broadwell chipset, Intel also launched its 14nm Cherry Trial chipset for tablets.All the SOC can support both Android and Windows OS. And from last week, this Cherry Trial will be for sale. It adopts the latest 14nm process technology.

Except the 14nm process technology, there are two updates for this Cherry Trail.

First, the Airmont CPU framework is newer than Silvermont framework adopted by Bay Trail.

Second, GPU performance of Cherry Trail is enhanced. This Cherry Trail does not adopt the Ivy Bridge GPU, but Broadwell GPU.

Cherry Trail adopt the same GPU as Broadwell, but its EU is less than Broadwell. Some news said the Cherry Trail GPU only has 16 EU. As we know, the Intel HD 5500 has 24 EU, and Intel HD6000 has 48 EU.

This Cherry Trail can work with the Intel XMM 726x series LTE modem, so it will allows the devices to surf network. As Intel said, this Cherry Trail will be for sale in the first quarter of 2015.