Although the MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) standard has been around for a while and implemented in phones like Samsung’s Galaxy SII. it hasn’t made much a name for itself. Basically MHL lets you connect your mobile device (phone or tablet) to your TV’s HML supported HDMI port and along with sending video signals, charges your device at the same time. Now, Silicon Images has announced the next next generation of MHL which adds faster charging and and 60Hz video vs the original’s 30Hz.

Press Release: Silicon Image Introduces Low Power Dual-Mode Transmitter IP Core Supporting Both HDMI® and MHL™ Connectivity Standards

SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 22, 2012 – Silicon Image (NASDAQ: SIMG), a leading provider of wireless and wired HD connectivity solutions, today announced the availability of a low power dual-mode transmitter intellectual property (IP) core that supports both the HDMI® (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) 1.4b and MHL™ (Mobile High-Definition Link) 2.0 standards. Silicon Image’s dual-mode HDMI/MHL transmitter IP core architecture reduces semiconductor development and manufacturing cost by sharing die area for both HDMI and MHL functionalities-offering mobile device application processor vendors the flexibility to design a single-chip solution that is configurable for both HDMI and MHL mobile devices.

MHL technology delivers 1080p 60Hz uncompressed video with up to eight channels of digital audio while charging the mobile device-enabling consumers to enhance their mobile experience by displaying content including HD video entertainment, photos, applications, and games on the big screen.

“With the explosive growth of MHL-enabled products in 2011 and 2012, mobile phone and tablet manufacturers are now adding MHL functionality to their new device platforms, allowing consumers to ‘plug and play’ their HD content from the small to big screen,” said Ron Richter, senior director of worldwide IP core licensing at Silicon Image. “Silicon Image’s dual-mode HDMI/MHL transmitter IP core allows SoC providers to quickly integrate MHL technology into their next-generation mobile devices, enabling a single SoC to support both HDMI and MHL technology without adding significant die area or pin count.”

Key features of Silicon Image’s dual-mode HDMI/MHL transmitter IP core include:
Single digital and analog design supporting both HDMI Version 1.4b & MHL 2.0
Low power design (1080p/60fps @ 30mW)
Configurable IP core design, with MHL implementation saving up to 10 pins in SoC package

With MHL technology, manufacturers can deliver next-generation products that:
Support 1080p 60Hz full HD video
Use established connectors for mobile and CE products, such as micro USB and HDMI
Enable faster charging of the latest smartphones and tablets when connected to MHL-enabled DTVs or monitors
Control the mobile device using the DTV’s remote control

Over 50 million MHL-enabled products shipped during 2011, and a steady release of new products continues to expand the MHL ecosystem, which already includes smartphones, tablets, DTVs, monitors, home theater products and accessories.

Silicon Image’s family of IP cores includes a broad range of HDMI and MHL technology solutions, image signal processor (ISP) camera cores, H.264, MPEG-1/2 and VC-1 video decoders up to 4Kx2K resolution, Serial ATA (SATA) storage and RAID controllers.

For more information about Silicon Image’s complete IP core product offering, visit our website at http://www.siliconimage.com/iplicensing/index.aspx.

Silicon Image Unveils Next-Generation MHL™ Products

MHL Transmitter and MHL-to-HDMI® Bridge ICs Provide 1080p60Hz Full HD Resolution for Mobile Products, DTVs, and Monitors

SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 15, 2012 – Silicon Image (NASDAQ: SIMG), a leading provider of wireless and wired HD connectivity solutions, today announced its next-generation MHL™ products, the SiI8240 MHL transmitter for mobile devices and the SiI9617 MHL-to-HDMI® bridge for DTVs and PC displays, which are also MHL 2.0 compliant. Both semiconductor products support 1080p60Hz full HD and the latest MHL specification features that include native 3D formats, alpha-numeric key codes for advanced remote control functions, and increased power charging from the display to enable faster charging of the latest smartphones and tablets.

Mobile devices continue to integrate higher performance processors and higher resolution HD displays. Silicon Image’s SiI8240 is the first MHL transmitter to output 1080p60Hz full HD, enabling mobile devices to drive today’s high-resolution DTVs and monitors at 60 frames per second. To enable Silicon Image’s MHL customers to seamlessly and quickly upgrade their MHL-enabled products to deliver higher resolutions, faster frame rates, and enhanced features, the SiI8240 has been designed to be pin compatible to the currently shipping SiI9244 MHL transmitter.

Today’s smartphones and tablets are increasingly transforming from traditional communication devices to mobile set-top-boxes, gaming consoles, and PCs. With this transformation, consumers are more often connecting their smartphone to a larger display to enjoy new interactive applications-from digital entertainment and office productivity to gaming. With the SiI9617 MHL-to-HDMI bridge, consumer electronics (CE) manufacturers can design their latest 1080p60Hz DTVs and monitors to seamlessly include the latest MHL capabilities. When a consumer connects an MHL-enabled mobile device to an MHL display, that display will charge and provide control for the mobile device, while showing video, productivity applications and games in 1080p60Hz full HD quality. With MHL 2.0 compliant products, the latest smartphones and tablets will charge up to twice as fast when connected to an MHL 2.0-enabled display.

“Silicon Image’s new products offer an end-to-end MHL 1080p60Hz connectivity solution for our global mobile, CE, and PC customers,” said Tim Vehling, vice president of product marketing at Silicon Image, Inc. “With these latest products from Silicon Image – including a drop-in pin-compatible version – manufacturers can quickly develop and roll-out their next-generation MHL 2.0-enabled products.”

MHL technology continues to gain broad industry adoption with over 50 million MHL-enabled products shipped globally during 2011. Silicon Image anticipates that MHL-enabled product shipments worldwide will more than double in 2012. The growing ecosystem of MHL devices includes smartphones, tablets, DTVs, monitors, home theater products and accessories.

Silicon Image offers a comprehensive portfolio of production-proven MHL semiconductor and IP solutions for mobile, DTV and home theater applications. For more information about Silicon Image’s MHL product portfolio, please visit: www.siliconimage.com.

BenQ today launched the LM100, its first waterproof camera model in the Middle Eastern region. The 14-megapixel LM100, from the LM series, provides a 4-way protection against water, freeze, shock and dust. It is also equipped with a 4x optical zoom and a large 2.7” LCD display.

“We at BenQ always ensure that our products cater to the needs of our customers and the LM100 is an ideal camera that suits to any adventures on land, on water or on snow. It is also especially designed to capture quality photos during activities involving extreme cold weather conditions such as skiing, snowboarding and mountain climbing, as it is freezeproof up to -10°C,” said Manish Bakshi, Managing Director of BenQ for the Middle East and Africa.

The LM100 can be used underwater to a depth of up 5 metres for 2-hour duration. The featured “Underwater Mode” further enhances the underwater images by adding depth and bringing true-to-life colours. The LM100 is resistant to falls from up to 1.5 meters, but we’ll let you decide if you really want to test this out.

BenQ’s new rugged waterproof* digital camera, LM100, comes in three vibrant colours: Aquatic Blue, Sunset Orange and Fiery Red and, is available in the UAE and the Middle Eastern region through leading retail and channel partners.

Research In Motion is set to lay off at least 2,000 staff worldwide as part of an aggressive plan to revitalize the company. The layoffs will encompass various departments, from HR, finance, sales, as well as other senior positions in the company.

It’s been a while coming, but RIM CEO Thorstein Heins looks to finally be coming to his senses and realizes that a company-wide shake up is what RIM really needs. But it remains to be seen if the company will be able to compete with the likes of Apple and Android devices which are currently dominating the market. While the company is putting everything into the launch of its Blackberry 10 OS and devices, some argue that it might not be enough to make an impression on consumers.

(source)

If their “man in the know” is correct, then according to Pocket-lint Facebook may be close to acquiring the company behind the Opera web browser. Already available on mobile platforms in addition to desktop variants, Opera supposedly has 200 million users worldwide across all platforms.

The recent IPO of Facebook, chaotic as it was, certainly has given them enough cash to simply buyout the Norwegian developer. And with the recent misgivings on their business model, Facebook shareholders should be happy in that a browser could mean a lot more for Facebook, even if people are not browsing the website itself.

So far both Facebook Inc. and Opera Software ASA have refused to comment on the rumor, which could only mean that the deal may well go through within the coming weeks.

Google’s Project Glass has received plenty of interest as well as being the subject of several parody videos. But despite everything, Google is committed to seeing the project through to the end.

A video was recently uploaded to Google+ which was shot using the special glasses, and simply shows someone bouncing on a trampoline (with a few Cirque du Soleil flips). While I could possibly achieve the same thing with a tripod strapped to my head, it’s still quite cool to watch the short video and wonder just what kind of photos and videos can be captured using Google’s new glasses.

Until we can see more of Google’s Project Glass in detail, you’ll have to enjoy this fifteen second vertigo-inducing video:

Instagrammers beware! Facebook today debuted its own photo-sharing app on iOS, which allows users to capture, edit, filter, and upload multiple photos directly to Facebook.

Users can also flip through photos that their friends are sharing, and comment or ‘like’ them directly from the app.

Facebook Camera is currently available in the Apple Store, and rumors are Facebook will be looking at other mobile platforms to launch the app.

It has been a while since we have been waiting for an untethered Jailbreak for iOS 5.1 but it’s been done. Go ahead and download Absinthe 2.0 to allow installation of Cydia to your iPhone 4S or iPhone 4. Make sure you use TinyUmbrella to backup you SHSH blobs in case of disaster.

Jailbreaking your device is as easy as plugging it in and running Absinthe 2.0 and hitting the Jailbreak button. It took about six minutes for my iPhone 4S to complete the process as well as a reboot but it progressed pretty smoothly. As always, do this on your own risk and backup your iPhone through iTunes or iCloud before progressing.

The Samsung S III may be the most talked about phone after the rumored iPhone 5. It’s sleek, classy, packs a lot of performance, and just makes you quiver at the knees. And while the device is already available here a whole week before it officially launches, there might be those amongst us who haven’t been saving up for an eternity to buy this new gem.

Well if you currently own a Samsung S II, you can be really cheeky and fool people into thinking you have an S III. Okay technically you might not fool a lot of people, but at least you get to experience the awesome interface and launcher of the S III. Thanks to the folks at the xda developers forums, a port is available of the S III launcher which you can install on your S II as long as you’re running the default Samsung ROM. Bear in mind that the port is just a visual overlay, so don’t expect anything else to run fast or as great as it would on the S III.

Check out details on how to make the magic happen here.

While RIM struggles to get back on its feet amidst poor sales of its devices, it’s just been dealt another blow.

Patrick Spence, Head of Global Sales based in the company’s London office, decided to leave the company after a 14 year stint with them. Spence originally joined the company back in 1998, but was only in his current position of SVP and MD of global sales and regional marketing for the past 10 months. “Patrick will be taking on a leadership position in a different industry,” a RIM spokeswoman commented in an email. “The sales function will report directly into Kristian Tear, our newly appointed COO when he starts this summer. In the interim, the sales function will report to [CEO] Thorsten Heins.”

Spence’s departure comes at a time where RIM continues to lose market share against other mobile players such as Apple and Samsung. While the company has looked to international stores as a way to boost its dwindling sales, the company’s internal structure is preventing it from making any true progress. The recent reveal of the Blackberry 10 OS, the company’s next update to its smartphone OS shows promise, however it will be a while before it’s ready to hit the market.

(via WSJ)

Once Facebook shares started tumbling down immediately after launch, many shareholders questioned the reason behind one of the most troubled IPO launches in history. The main reasons being pointed out are the technical glitches by NASDAQ themselves wherein Facebook shares could not be traded for some time on the day of launch. Then came the inflated price from a previous $28 to $34 per share to the actual launch price of $38. Last but not least, investors soon questioned the actual value of Facebook Inc. being $100 billion because of how poorly their current business profits from their massive user base.

Source: Bloomberg

Yesterday a class-action lawsuit was filed in the US District Court of Manhattan against Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Barclays Plc and Goldman Sachs Group for hiding ”a severe and pronounced reduction” in forecast revenue. Furthermore bank underwriters were told to ”materially lower” their forecasts for Facebook after a May 9th prospectus told investors that most of their user base is moving to mobile platforms, where they earn a very small revenue stream.

“The main underwriters in the middle of the road show reduced their estimates and didn’t tell everyone,” said Samuel Rudman, a partner at Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, which brought the lawsuit on Wednesday. “I don’t think any investor in Facebook wouldn’t have wanted to know that information,” he told Reuters.

“If Facebook told analysts to materially lower their forecasts, it should have told the entire market,” said Antony Page, a professor at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. “We need to know what exactly was said to the analysts, and determine how different Facebook’s public story was from its private story.”

The handling of Facebook’s IPO is being looked into by the US Securities & Exchange Commission, the US Senate Banking Committee and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Andrew Noyes, a Facebook spokesman, said: “We believe the lawsuit is without merit and will defend ourselves vigorously.”