Android is now on 162 million smartphones

IDC just published its numbers on smartphone marketshare and it appears that Android has beaten out all others by orders of magnitude. Google's Android mobile operating system was shipped on over 162.1 million smartphones in the first three months of 2013, giving the open source platform a worldwide market share of 75-percent.

In the same timeframe, Apple managed to squeeze out just 37.4 million (17.3-percent market share) iPhone's, which is four times less than the stellar numbers coveted by Android. Microsoft stumbled into third place with a whopping seven million Windows phones being shipped, which amounts to a mere 3.2-percent market share.

It should be noted that Apple is selling a single model, and there are hundreds of different Android models being sold on the market currently. One could point out that Android is by definition, the dominant smartphone operating system on the market. While some analyst point out that selling 34 million units of a single phone is impressive, it still stands that more people are using Android than iOS.

You can now share 15GB of storage space across Google products

Google has decided to lump all of your free storage into one plan. Instead of having a separate 10GB of data for Gmail and Google+ and 5GB for Drive, users will be presented with 15GB that can be used in any combination. Don't have a lot of e-mail saved? You now have more room for your cloud storage needs.

Conversely, if you don't use Gmail at all, you have just been given an extra 10GB of storage space to use for Google Drive. Google's Drive page now features a visualization of how much space you are using next to available upgrade plans. The changes will roll out to users and Google Apps users over the next few weeks, so don't worry if you don't have the change quite yet.

Corsair Voyager Air 500GB Wireless Storage Device Review

Affiliates Reviews: If you like us to post your site's reviews on our website, please contact us at webmaster@chewontech.com

We first had a peek at the Voyager Air at CES 2013 and at first glance it was easy to tell that Corsair had put their design team to work, making the Air one of the sleekest and stylish wireless storage devices we have ever seen. There are certainly many wireless storage options available in the market, but Corsair has went the extra mile to set themselves apart from the pack by equipping their Voyager Air with USB 3.0, Gigabit LAN and 802.11n.

The Voyager Air was delivered to us in rather attractive packaging. Front and center the packaging features a glamour shot of the Voyager Air, with features of the device listed across the bottom.

Remarkably, Corsair has succeeded once again in going outside the proverbial box and creating a storage solution that is easy to use and quite attractive as well. While the Voyager Air is made entirely out of plastic, they do feel like they could take some punishment without breaking. The switches located on the side of the device are well placed, and the accompanying LEDs maintain the perfect brightness without overdoing it.

As for performance, the Voyager Air had no issues streaming video to our HP Touchpad, even when the device was left on the test bench and I was in my garage. I found this to be rather impressive for a device so small and on limited power. Connecting the Air to our USB 3.0 ports on the Z77 test system, we found the internal drive to more than capable of transferring files quickly, reaching 120/119 MB/s in our ATTO testing.

Pricing of the Voyager Air is rather competitive. At the time of writing we were able to find the 500GB and 1TB drives with high availability for $179.99 and $219.99, respectively. Each of the Voyager Air models come with a three year warranty.

Read more at http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/5472/corsair-voyager-air-500gb-wireless-storage-device-review/index.html#VcVkrw1FjlFUK1fE.99 

Xbox 360 sales on top for 28 consecutive months

Microsoft's Xbox 360 continues to be the number one selling console...for 28 consecutive months! According to data from The NPD Group, as reported by Microsoft, April marked the 28th consecutive month that the Xbox 360 topped the console sales chart selling around 130,000 units in April.

130,000 sales accounts for 42 percent of current-generation console sales. A total of $208 million was spent on Xbox and Xbox-related items (software and accessories) in just the month of April. It will be interesting to see if the Xbox 360 remains on top until the next-gen PlayStation and Xbox are released later this year.

Read more at http://www.tweaktown.com/news/30448/xbox-360-sales-on-top-for-28-consecutive-months/index.html#cdckiUpkikvXREjL.99 

Innodisk Releases DDR4 RDIMM Samples to Server Market

Innodisk is proud to be among the first to supply (DDR4) registered DIMM product samples to key server companies for their next-generation systems. With this announcement, Innodisk, an industry leader in DRAM modules for industrial applications and embedded systems, will continue to offer the most advanced technology to its customers.

The result of almost eight years of development, DDR4 (Double Data Rate 4) technology improves on the previous generation, DDR3, in every way. These new memory products provide users with greater performance, but can still cut costs by saving power and space, and reducing waste heat. 

Performance:

DDR4 offers a giant leap in peak performance over DDR3 technology, with a 3.2 Gbps data transfer rate. In fact, DDR4 could eventually even surpass this already high rate, according to standards organization JEDEC, in the same way that DDR3 surpassed its initial ceiling of 1.6 Gbps. DDR4 memory bus speeds start at 2133MHz, which already offers a huge jump in potential performance from the average bus speed of 1333MHz and 1666MHz offered by DDR3.

Voltage:

DDR4 devices run on significantly lower voltages than devices using DDR3 or DDR2 technology. JEDEC's specifications suggest that DDR4 will operate with a power envelope of 1.2 volts, compared to the 1.5 volts demanded by the more power-hungry DDR3 generation. Lower voltages help extend component lifespans.

Power consumption:

DDR4 modules will reduce power consumption by approximately 40 percent compared to its predecessor DDR3 modules operating at 1.35V. Lower power consumption offers lower operating costs by cutting power bills, as well as a substantial reduction in heat output which helps extend lifetimes of system components, further reducing costs.

Density:

With DDR4, the maximum capacity per chip has now been doubled from 64GB to 128GB. The higher memory densities possible with DDR4 will save space, simplify module construction, and improve internal airflow.

With this head start in DDR4 technology, Innodisk is ready meet the needs of tomorrow's applications. As the IT landscape moves to adopt cloud computing practices, companies are relying more heavily on data centers with powerful server infrastructures. Innodisk offers registered DIMM in capacities of 4GB, 8GB and 16GB, so that Innodisk server customers can always be sure to have the perfect product to suit the exact capacity of each of their system designs.

Production of parts for next iPhone underway

Nikkan is reporting that the displays going into the next iPhone will go into production next month. According to the report, Sharp, LG, and Japan Display will be the companies responsible for producing the displays used in the next-generation iPhone.

It looks as though the device will be similar to the current iPhone 5 in shape and capabilities. If the next iPhone is launched under the S nomenclature, we expect it to come with an upgraded camera, processor, and not much else. We also continue to hear rumors that the device will be available in a multitude of colors.

If display production does start in June, it would line up with a projected launch date in late August to September. Of course, reports are just that: reports. This could prove to be an inaccurate report and the iPhone could launch before or after the projected time frame.

Audiofly AF78 Dual Driver Headphones Review

Affiliates Reviews: If you like us to post your site's reviews on our website, please contact us at webmaster@chewontech.com

Audiofly is an audio company we haven't dealt with before as we have not tested any of their audio products before now - they are also an Australian company, which is rare for audio equipment. So, that means that they are free to impress us greatly with what so happens to be a rather interesting looking pair of ear phones called the AF78, in a market flooded with many different kinds of ear phones promising to deliver all kinds of differing forms of merriment to the user

Initially of interest is that these are dual driver headphones, which means that inside the AF78, you'll find a single 9mm dynamic driver and then a secondary unit referred to as the armature driver, which can be found in the conduit between the tip of the bud that sits in the ear and the large rear housing.

The high-end is impressive through testing and left a great impression with us after we were done. Now this could be due to the setup with two drivers inside the ear phone or it could just be plain good design work. But we really enjoyed the clarity and high-end extension on offer here.

The mid-range was nice and full sounding with plenty of detail to be found. The transition from the high-end to the mid-range is smooth and gentle, and it is clear that much work has being put into making sure that music listeners will be fans of the AF78.

The low-end is on the weaker side in comparison with the above two categories. However, we must mention here, that some of this could be contributed to matching the AF78's with the correct source to allow them to reach full potential.

Audiofly's AF78 sets a high standard in terms of packaging and final execution. Make no mistake, this is a serious product, containing many hours on audio pleasure inside. Testing was an overall happy experience for us with a good level of sound quality to be found, which nicely matches the lovely build quality and generous package. We definitely recommend you take a look at the AF78's before buying that next set of ear phones.

Read more at http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/5456/audiofly-af78-dual-driver-headphones-review/index.html#l3LT96kQeALWiAvU.99 

Samsung's Galaxy S 4 to hit 10 million in sales

According to co-CEO JK Shin, Samsung's Galaxy S 4 will soon hit the 10 million mark in sales, less than a month after its debut. That beats the Galaxy S III's time to that mark by nearly three weeks, making it far and away the company's quickest seller, ever. The model will also get another push thanks to a stock Android 4.2 version that'll be available for $649 at Google Play on June 26th. That's a pretty impressive figure, especially considering its bizarre reveal.

Update: Samsung have just sent out mailers saying that they have hit the 10 million mark in terms of phone sales for the Galaxy S4.

“On behalf of Samsung, I would like to thank the millions of customers around the world who have chosen the Samsung GALAXY S4. At Samsung we’ll continue to pursue innovation inspired by and for people,” said JK Shin, CEO and President of the IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.

Laptop available in all 3 OS flavours

Ubuntu tablets may not be particularly new, but thanks to its liberal build, things can get a bit more interesting when another OS is added to the mix. Ekoore's Python S3 tablet goes a little further, nestling Ubuntu, Android and Windows 8 behind its 11.6-inch screen. Specifications can be customized on the order page, but there's an Intel Celeron processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD for storage, while the 1,366 x 768 resolution was chosen to suit all three operating systems: Windows 8, Android 4.2 and Ubuntu 13.04. There's connectivity through both WiFi and an optional 3G module -- the Win 8 license itself is also a purchasable extra. The device is priced at $770 for the US, while you'll be able to pick up a dockable keyboard add-on (with built-in battery) for around $179. For those of you who still can't decide your favorite tablet OS, you can hedge your bets and place an order at the source.

Galaxy S4 32GB model costs $237 to build

How much does the new flagship Galaxy S4 from Samsung cost to build? According to research firm IHS, just $237. This could be because most of the components sourced for the S4 are from Samsung themselves.

IHS analyst Vincent Leung said: "Samsung's strength is this ability to in-source to itself. They just keep adding to the list of components that they can supply to themselves". The international version of the Galaxy S4, the one that features the eight-core Exynos 5 Octa SoC, costs just $28 per chip. The US version, which features the Qualcomm-made Snapdragon processor, has an estimated cost of $20.

There are at least four versions of the Galaxy S4 being made, with two versions headed to the United States. The two US-bound versions feature a Fujitsu image processor that adds $1.50 to the cost of the phone, with the Korean version having its image processing handled by the on-board Exynos processor. The display and touchscreen are made by Samsung and cost $75, while the 32GB of on-board flash memory costs $28.

Lian Li Announces New Mini-ITX Chassis with a Curve-Shaped Design and Front Acrylic Window – PC-Q30

Lian-Li Industrial Co. Ltd, today announces a new brushed aluminum Mini-ITX chassis – PC-Q30. With its curve-shaped design and large acrylic front window the fully aluminum PC-Q30 allows users to show off their systems, and is sure to be the talking piece of any room.

Whether in the living room, bedroom, or office, the PC-Q30 with its curve-shape and brushed aluminum finish takes visual command without being ostentatious. Additionally, DIY builders can put their stylized internal components and intricate builds on full display – as they should not be hidden from sight.

Thanks to the two expansion slots on the top of the chassis, the PC-Q30 supports graphics cards up to 200mm (7.8”). For storage, up to four 2.5” hard drives or SSDs can be mounted in the removable hard drive cage at the bottom of the chassis.

A 140mm fan in the rear of the chassis expels hot air, while ventilation on the top and side allows for cool air to enter. A small form factor power supply up to 125mm (4.9”) is placed on rubber pads in order to reduce vibrations.

The front of the PC-Q30 is minimalistic in aesthetics and houses the dual LED illuminated power button that glows blue when on and red while loading. The I/O panel with two USB 3.0 ports and HD audio connections is located on the left side of the front of the chassis to not interrupt the elegant aesthetics.

Price and Availability

The PC-Q30 will be available in June in the US and Canada for the suggested retail price of US$149.

Nexus 4 appears in white version at Google IO

A checkerboard-style glitter pattern with a white background? Yes, please. We've always been impressed by the elegant look and feel of LG's Nexus 4, announced alongside Android 4.2 last October, and now Google is making an ivory version of the device available to (hopefully) the masses. The twist: it still hasn't been officially announced, despite the fact that a conference like I/O would be the perfect time and place to do so. While Google chose not to take advantage of the situation to show the unicorn Nexus to the world, real-life units have been discovered floating around Moscone West. Androidandme's Taylor Wimberly happened upon one of them at the show and was gracious enough to give us a brief moment or two with the device.

There isn't any surprise associated with this particular beaut, as it's packing the same design and specs as we've already seen in the original black model (sorry, LTE hopefuls). The pattern on the back actually doesn't stand out as much as it does on the black version, as it happens to blend in with the white a little more. We also noticed the same set of tiny nubs on the bottom that mysteriously appeared on the black version a few months ago. Lastly, the white Nexus is rumored to be the first device with Android 4.3 when it officially launches, but this particular version we saw only sports 4.2.1. There's not much else for us to write about the new color, but let's face it -- you're here for the pictures, which you can gaze upon below.