Monday, July 15, 2013

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8- and 10.1-inch versions to launch worldwide early June

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8- and 10.1-inch versions to launch worldwide early June data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20596260' !== '') ? 'bsd:20596260' : ''; var postID = '20596260'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"tablets",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"jamie-rigg", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-14d",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8- and 10.1-inch versions to launch worldwide early JuneBypostedJun 3rd, 2013 at 4:17 AM 0

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8- and 10.1-inch versions to launch worldwide early June

In addition to the Galaxy Tab 3 with a 7-inch display we've known about for a while, Samsung's announced the slate will come in 8- and 10.1-inch varieties, too -- something rumors and FCC filings have long suggested. The 8-inch model has a TFT display sporting a 1,280 x 800 (WXGA) resolution (189 ppi), a 5-megapixel rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front-facing shooter. It's got vaguely respectable internals: a 1.5GHz dual-core processor (no word on the manufacturer), 1.5GB of RAM and 16 or 32GB storage configurations. A microSD slot is present, supporting up to 64GB cards, and a 4,450mAh battery provides the necessary juice. Android 4.2 is OS of choice -- no surprise there -- and when it arrives, you'll have the choice of WiFi-only (dual-band, a/b/g/n), 3G (HSPA+) and LTE variants.

The 10.1-inch version stretches that same WXGA resolution across its display (149 ppi), and carries a smaller 3-megapixel rear camera and the same 1.3-megapixel front-facer. According to Reuters, the 1.6GHz dual-core CPU in this larger slate is provided by Intel, confirming a previous rumor. Unfortunately, it's saddled with only one gig of RAM, and the storage options are the same as the 8-inch model, with a microSD slot also supporting up to 64GB cards. Also running Android 4.2, the 10.1-inch Tab 3 packs a 6,800mAh battery, and comes in WiFi-only, 3G and LTE variants. Both tablets will be available worldwide at the "beginning of June."Samsung 8- and 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 3 press shots See all photos 9 Photos

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Samsung Introduces New GALAXY Tab 3 Series

June 3, 2013

Next-generation GALAXY tablets integrate intuitive new features
and enhanced performance for all

SEOUL, Korea, June 03, 2013 - Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced the introduction of the GALAXY Tab 3 8-inch and 10.1-inch which will be available globally beginning of June. Offering an expanded range of options along with previously announced 7-inch version, the GALAXY Tab 3 Series provides customers various ways to view, listen, create, and share meaningful events and special content with those who matter most. Whether surfing the web at home or reading during the commute, each device is packed with enhanced content and intuitive design perfect for viewing or sharing content with friends and family, and capturing all of life's spontaneous moments.

Samsung GALAXY Tab 3 8-inch

Exceptional Reading and Entertainment Experience: Designed to be held in one hand, the new GALAXY Tab 3 8-inch is the optimal device for viewing videos, playing enhanced games, and reading e-Books anytime, anywhere. Outstanding slim bezel for effective and maximum screen use makes Samsung's "reading mode" technology which optimizes the display to deliver perfect illumination and tone for comfortable paperlike readability in a variety of lighting conditions work better on its 8-inch screen. Samsung's Sound Alive for Audio and Dolby Surround for Video Play maximize every sound allow users to enjoy clearer dialogue, consistent volume levels, and superior audio to further enhance the overall multimedia experience with the new device. Also, the physical keys on the bezel at bottom give users a comfortable smartphone-like experience in navigating.

Enhanced Smart Usability: Making travel and discovery more effortless, the GALAXY Tab 3 8-inch features S Translator, which provides instant translation through voice recognition and via text on applications including email, text message, and ChatON. This instant translation is possible both from speech-to-text and text-to-speech, ensuring that you can communicate with ease while traveling internationally. Also, S Travel, the Smart Travel Companion, provides real-time local information in need for travel along with user's travel paths. Users can get information and make reservation of the places classified in various categories such as Place, Hotel, Tickets, Food and Forum, and more. In addition, intuitive features such as Story Album and Group Play also allow users more ways to instantly share and enjoy music, photos, documents, and games with those around them.

Samsung GALAXY Tab 3 10.1-inch

Amplified Multimedia Experience: Built to be the leading 10-inch tablet in the market, the GALAXY Tab 3 10.1-inch seamlessly combines sleek design and enhanced multimedia capabilities for home and family use. Stacked with a 1.6 GHz Dual Core processor, the GALAXY Tab 3 10.1-inch is the ideal device for everyday family use and multimedia consumption. Featuring a comprehensive suite of video, music, and photo software, and coupled with the clarity of its display, the GALAXY Tab 3 10.1 takes center stage for portable home entertainment.

A Perfect Tablet for the Entire Family: Equipped with Smart Remote and MHL (TV Out) capabilities, the GALAXY Tab 3 10.1 seamlessly transitions from the perfect gaming device for kids to the ideal home media control device for the parents. Whether streaming movies to the family television or playing games at the highest resolution, the GALAXY Tab 3 10.1-inch smoothly integrates into the household media environment for an experience that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

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ASUS FonePad Note hands-on at Computex 2013 (video)

ASUS FonePad Note hands-on at Computex 2013 (video) data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20596242' !== '') ? 'bsd:20596242' : ''; var postID = '20596242'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"cellphones",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"mat-smith", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-14d",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});ASUS FonePad Note hands-on at Computex 2013 (video) MobileBypostedJun 3rd, 2013 at 3:36 AM 0

ASUS FonePad Note handson at Computex 2013 video

ASUS is joining the big smartphone / tablet / don't call it a phablet fight, and its first salvo is the 6-inch FonePad Note. We don't have to tell you that it's big, and that it stretched the limits of our hands when we briefly played with it. The 1080p display is suitably crisp enough, although this early demo unit was unable to be steered any further than the lock screen. However, that screen should at least look familiar to anyone who's played with the first FonePad. There's also a built-in stylus to use with it, one that's almost half as long as the phone itself, and this can be holstered in the back -- making it awfully like the Galaxy Note in more than just name. It's also worth noting the dual front-facing speakers, although there was no chance to test audio quality. Catch our brief eyes-on video after the break.ASUS FonePad Note hands-on See all photos 7 Photos

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Zach Honig contributed to this report.

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ASUS launches VivoMouse, a wireless optical mouse with a multi-touch trackpad (video)

ASUS VivoMouse and VivoPC Highlight Innovative Design at Computex

Versatile VivoMouse works as a standalone touchpad and wireless remote, while the compact and elegant VivoPC integrates SonicMaster audio and 802.11ac Wi-Fi

Computex Taipei, Taiwan (3 June, 2013) – ASUS today announced two new devices that bring innovative design to home entertainment - the VivoMouse wireless touchpad mouse and the ultra-compact VivoPC. VivoMouse is the world's first wireless mouse with an integrated multi-touch touchpad for full desktop and handheld control. VivoPC is a stylish and compact desktop PC that delivers high quality sound with exclusive SonicMaster audio and high-performance wireless networking thanks to 802.11ac Wi-Fi.

VivoMouse - new device category combines mouse, touchpad, and wireless remote
ASUS VivoMouse is an entirely new kind of pointing device, thanks to its innovative combination of traditional desktop input and a wireless handheld remote for more casual PC control. VivoMouse can be used as a standard optical mouse that fits comfortably in the hand, but its top surface also incorporates a large circular touchpad with full support for Windows 8 multi-touch gestures.

The wide, flat design means VivoMouse can be used interchangeably as a mouse and desktop touchpad, making it ideal for Windows 8 PCs that lack a multi-touch display. However, its wireless PC connectionalso makes VivoMouse ideal for one-handed control away from the desktop, so it's also the perfect peripheral for a living room PC.

VivoPC - small and stylish home entertainment
VivoPC is a compact PC that's ideal for home productivity and entertainment applications. Just 56mm tall and with a footprint smaller than a sheet of A4 paper, VivoPC slips easily into the smallest of spaces, and has a stylish spun metal finish to complement both home offices and living rooms. VivoPC features ASUS SonicMaster audio technology for incredible sound quality with external speakers and high-performance 802.11ac Wi-Fi for smooth HD video streaming and seamless web browsing.

Despite its compact dimensions, VivoPC is also well-equipped when it comes to expandability. A sliding case cover gives quick access to the two internal memory slots and the drive bay can accommodate a 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch SATA 6Gbit/s hard drive.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING
ASUS VivoMouse and VivoPC will be available in Q3 2013. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information. Product images are available for download here.

ASUS AT COMPUTEX 2013
Visit the ASUS Computex 2013 booth in Taipei from 4th to 8th June, located at M0810, Nangang Exhibition Hall, 4F, Taipei World Trade Center.


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Western Digital ships 7mm WD Blue, world's thinnest 1TB hard drive

WD® DELIVERS WORLD'S THINNEST 1 TB HARD DRIVE

New, 7 mm Slim 2.5-inch Hard Drive Delivers Industry's Highest Capacity Storage Giving Customers a High Capacity Option for Thin and Light Mobile Devices

IRVINE, Calif. – June 3, 2013 – WD®, a Western Digital (NASDAQ: WDC) company, today announced it is shipping the world's thinnest 1 TB hard drive with its new 2.5-inch WD Blue™ 7 mm hard drive. Offering OEMs, channel integrators and consumers a unique storage solution for thin and light systems, slimmer notebooks, as well as compatibility with the industry-standard 9.5 mm drive slots of mainstream notebooks, the WD Blue hard drive family, in capacities from 320 GB to 1 TB in the 7 mm height, now provides a singular option of thin design and high capacity storage.

"Users with large portfolios of content no longer need to sacrifice capacity when buying and Ultrabook or upgrading to a thin and light notebook," said Matt Rutledge, Vice President and General Manager for client storage products at WD. "This most compact 1TB hard drive to-date offers manufacturers of systems an upsell path for their customers who will now be able to choose systems offering both sleek design and high capacity.

"Intel is introducing its fourth-generation Intel Core processor family (codenamed Haswell) to deliver faster and more efficient performance to both desktop and notebook platforms, with significant gains benefitting portable systems" said Roger Bradford, Capabilities Marketing Manager at Intel. "The release of the WD Blue 7 mm hard drives offers a new level of storage capacity that further enriches the computing experience for users of Ultrabooks, All-in-Ones and other thin and light PCs."

"With the release of WD's 1 TB capacity in a 7 mm drive height, Acer customers now have the best of both options and no longer have to choose between the lightness of thin, sleekly designed systems or those with high capacity storage," said Tiffany Huang, BG President, PC Global Operations at Acer Incorporated.

"As ASUS develops new super-slim solutions, reliable storage options such as the WD Blue 7 mm 1 TB hard drive provide us with an ideal capacity to offer our customers," said S.Y. Shian, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of NB Business Unit at Asus. "WD has eliminated the capacity limits heretofore endured by thin and light personal computers while keeping the reliability and data-protection of a traditional hard drive."

Features of the WD Blue 7 mm hard drives include:

- Shock Tolerance – WD's ShockGuard™ technology protects the drive mechanics and platter surfaces from shocks.

- Cool and quiet - WD's exclusive WhisperDrive™ technology enables quiet performance.

- StableTrac™ – The motor shaft is secured at both ends to compensate for system-induced vibration and stabilize platters for accurate tracking during read and write operations which enables consistently higher performance.

- Dual Stage Actuators – Leveraged from enterprise-class drives, dual stage actuators utilize two actuators to improve positional accuracy over the data track(s). The primary actuator provides coarse displacement using conventional electromagnetic actuator principles. The secondary actuator uses piezoelectric motion to fine tune the head positioning to a higher degree of accuracy.

- Reliable – WD's SecurePark™ parks the recording heads off the disk surface during spin up, spin down, and when the drive is off. This ensures the recording head never touches the disk surface resulting in improved long term reliability due to less head wear, and improved non-operational shock tolerance.

- Compatibility Tested - WD performs tests on hundreds of systems and a multitude of platforms in its FIT Lab™ and Mobile Compatibility Lab to give customers confidence that drives will work in specific systems.

Price and Availability

Shipping now through select distributors and resellers, the new 1 TB WD Blue 7 mm 2.5-inch mobile hard drive is covered by a two-year limited warranty. MSRP for the 1 TB, model#: (WD10SPCXX) is $139.00 USD. Additional information about WD Blue mobile hard drives and limited warranty terms may be found on the company website at http://www.wd.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=800.


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ASUS Zenbook Infinity official with a Gorilla Glass 3 lid, touchscreen and backlit keyboard (eyes-on video)

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ASUS Zenbook Infinity with Gorilla Glass 3 lid unveiled

Just as promised, ASUS has unveiled its Zenbook Infinity at Computex 2013 in Taipei. Being the first laptop -- let alone an Ultrabook -- to boast a Gorilla Glass 3 lid, it's able to take advantage of three times the scratch resistance than the material's predecessor. This has allowed ASUS to achieve a maximum thickness of just 15.5mm, or about 14 percent thinner than the previous line of Zenbooks. But would the glass survive a drop? According to the product manager, the laptop's passed various drop tests, but only time will tell if it's as good as he promised.

Despite the slimmer body, the Zenbook Infinity surprises us with a built-in touchscreen as well as a backlit keyboard. There's also a USB 3.0 port on each side, along with an SD card slot, micro-HDMI port and a Mini DisplayPort. No word on the other specs or prices just yet as this laptop won't be out until Q4, so stay tuned for future announcements. Check our our eyes-on video after the break.

ASUS Zenbook Infinity eyes-on See all photos 20 Photos

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Zach Honig contributed to this report.

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Mojang's Scrolls launches in open beta today, $20 gets you access

Mojang's Scrolls launches in open beta today, $20 gets you access data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20596406' !== '') ? 'bsd:20596406' : ''; var postID = '20596406'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"gaming",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"jamie-rigg", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-14d",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Mojang's Scrolls launches in open beta today, $20 gets you accessBypostedJun 3rd, 2013 at 9:03 AM 0

Mojang's Scrolls launches in open beta today, $20 gets you access

Mojang's best known for the indie blockbuster Minecraft, but today heralds the launch of the open beta for its new game, Scrolls. It's been a long time coming, and the title itself was the focus of a courtroom squabble, as much as Notch would've liked to hash out the early roadblock in a rocket-filled arena. While it's admittedly not "feature complete," you can test your card-battling skills in casual and ranked online match-ups. The card trading forum is up and running, as is the in-game store for bolstering your deck using gold earned through triumph, and "shards" purchased with real dough. You can tweak your deck using the builder, and 25 trials are available off the bat to school you in strategy. Access to the open beta will cost you $20, £13 or 15 euros, but really, you're buying the full game early, as all future updates will be free to beta adopters. The purchase page isn't live just yet, but it'll be available to download for PC and Mac at some point today. Hit the source link to brush up on the mechanics if you can't wait to attack the trials, or check out the trailer below for a quick fix.

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Broadcom intros a trio of 802.11ac WiFi chips for PCs and set-top boxes

Broadcom Announces New 5G WiFi Chips for the Connected Home

First 2x2 802.11ac Combos and New Retail Dongle Chips Expand 5G WiFi Portfolio

TAIPEI, Taiwan – COMPUTEX 2013 – June 3, 2013

News Highlights:

* 5G WiFi with Bluetooth support improves wireless range and extend integration beyond mobile computing devices
* New combo chips enable OEMs to design faster and more power-efficient products for PCs, tablets and settop-boxes
* Chips with USB 3.0, PCIe and SDIO 3.0 interfaces provide OEMs with options to maximize 5G WiFi performance in a range of product segments

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today announced it has expanded its 5G WiFi portfolio with a line of 2x2 5G WiFi products. The new chips deliver the speed, range and power benefits necessary for connected home devices, including PCs, tablets, set-top-boxes, TVs, and retail routers. New 5G WiFi products will be showcased at COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2013. For more news, visit Broadcom's Newsroom.

Consumers are streaming more high-definition content across more devices in the home. Broadcom's new 5G WiFi chips, including the BCM4350, BCM43556 and BCM43558, enable OEMs to develop a variety of devices in different form factors designed to meet growing consumer demand for speed, reliability and power efficiency.

"Broadcom's new 2x2 combo chips extend our leadership and mark another industry first for 802.11ac technology," said Rahul Patel, Broadcom Vice President, Product Marketing, Wireless Connectivity Combo Group. "By offering multiple design options we are enabling more devices to reap the dramatic benefits of 5G WiFi, significantly improving performance in the connected home."

Key Features:

The new line of 2X2 multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) 5G WiFi solutions from Broadcom support the following features:

o Transmit beamforming and low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes for robust coverage in a
connected home ecosystem, and support for beamformer and beamforming receiver
o 866 Mbps wireless local area network (WLAN) PHY rate for superior speed
o Broadcom proprietary TurboQAM for 33 percent increase in 2.4GHz speed
o Broadcom proprietary Channel Smoothing WLAN PHY to increase receiver sensitivity by an average
of 2 db across 802.11n and 802.11ac rates

BCM4350 is a combo chip designed specifically for PCs, tablets and set-top-boxes, and supports the following:

o PCIe and SDIO3.0 interfaces for high-performance, low-power consumption PCs, tablets and set-topboxes
o Low-power modes to optimize battery life
o Support for Microsoft Windows and Android operating systems
o Integrated Bluetooth 4.0 for set-top-boxes to assist in voice search, audio streaming and gestural remote control for navigation and gaming
o Multiscreen content sharing from mobile platforms directly to TV
o Whole-home DVR functionality, browsing, gaming and Over-The-Top (OTT) content services

BCM43556 (standalone 5G WiFi) and BCM43558 (combo with 5G WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0) are next
generation chips designed for PCs, digital TVs and set-top-boxes and feature the following:

o USB 3.0 support for more than two times data throughput than previous generations, plus power save modes to extend battery life
o Full compatibility with latest PC platforms, including Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows 8
o Seamless interoperability with 5G WiFi-based routers and 5G WiFi-based digital TV platforms

Availability

Broadcom's new 5G WiFi solutions are now sampling with early access customers, with full production expected in the second half of 2013.


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