According to this article, NEC has started shipping samples of their new CE131, not to be confused with the AP131, wonder chip for ¥4,000 each with mass production scheduled for October this year. The LSI has an interface for a 512 Mbit external memory, double the capacity used in the existing model, allowing the processing of 8 megapixel image data.
Toshiba has announced a new series of embedded NAND Flash memories for mobile phones offering both a configurable single-level cell (SLC) memory area and a multi-level cell (MLC) memory area, allowing applications and data to be stored on the same chip. The five memories in the mobileLBA-NAND series range in capacity from 2- to 32-gigabits(1) (Gb). The 2Gb, 4Gb and 8Gb versions can be allocated as SLC up to their full capacity, while the 16Gb and 32Gb versions can support up to 8Gb of SLC, offering manufacturers greater flexibility in allocating memory in their products. Samples of mobileLBA-NAND packaged in MCPs will be available from August 2007.
Microsoft Unveiled Windows Mobile 6 in Japan this week during the Mobile and Embedded DevCon event. The latest update of the OS includes mobile versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Live Messenger. Windows Mobile 6 also offers a security feature that has the capability to remotely wipe all data from a device should it be lost or stolen. Full details from MS Here.
The Next-Generation of UI’s hit the street here recently on DoCoMo 3G handsets produced by Sharp and NEC. The Vivid UI by Tokyo-based Acrodea “integrates various types of multimedia content including 3D graphics, Flash animation and full-screen movie backgrounds which enable handsets to be easily personalized with graphically enhanced menus and dynamic standby screens.”
As more developers get their hands on the content creation tool, and as brand owners begin to realize this is a natural vehicle to connect with their markets, we fully expect this style of user interface to become a common standard in the near future.. and not just in Japan. Meanwhile, remember you saw it first here on WWJ!
This article via IHT, related to using the cameraphone as a diet device, is getting some major attention around the web this week. The product and service offering described there sounds very much like LifeWatcher from Mobile Healthcare Inc. which we first covered here on WWJ back in Aug. of 2003 including a video interview with the company CEO James Nakagawa.
Sharp has announced the upcoming availability of their new VA3B5EZ915 dual-mode tuner module, which is capable of receiving both DVB-H and T-DMB terrestrial digital tv broadcasts, a world first. The module also claims to be the smallest in size (8.0 x 8.0 x 1.25 mm) while operating at the lowest power consumption (43 mW). Samples, priced at ¥20,000, start shipping in July with a target production capacity of 300,000 units per month.
