Intel scores major win in Samsung group's new Galaxy tablet

Intel scores major win in Samsung group's new Galaxy tablet

Samsung group has chosen an Intel Corp processor to power a new version of one of its top-tier Android tablets, a source with knowledge of the plans told Reuters, in a major victory for the US chipmaker, which is struggling to find its footing in the mobile market.

Samsung has chosen Intel's Clover Trail+ mobile chip for at least one version of its Galaxy Tab 3 10.1, which competes with Apple Inc's iPad, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the specifications have not been announced.

Samsung has previously used chips designed with energy-efficient technology from the UK's ARM Holdings for its best-selling mobile devices. It employs Intel processors for its line of Microsoft Windows "ATIV" tablets -- a much smaller market compared with devices based on Google Inc's Android.



Samsung will unveil new ATIV tablets using Intel chips at a June 20 event in London, said the source, as well as an additional person familiar with the event. It was unclear whether the Galaxy Tab would debut at the same event.

The Asian electronics giant's decision to begin using Intel in a marquee Android device counts as a coup for the US chipmaker as it races to establish itself in a mobile market it was slow initially to recognize and invest in.

It was unclear whether the Samsung, the world's largest manufacturer of tablets after Apple, plans other versions of the 10-inch Galaxy Tab carrying its own, or other companies', processors.

A spokeswoman for South Korea-based Samsung declined to comment. An Intel spokesman also declined to comment.

The use of an Intel Clover Trail+ chip in the upcoming tablet was first reported on by VentureBeat and other blogs last week.

Intel has called the shots in the personal computer industry for decades, but was slow to make chips that appealed to makers of smartphones and tablets as the market boomed following Apple's iPhone in 2007 and iPad in 2010.
Samsung Group launches its biggest phablet Galaxy Mega at Rs 31,490

Samsung group launched its biggest phablet, Galaxy Mega, on Tuesday. The phablet is available in two sizes, 5.8 inches and 6.3 inches, priced at Rs 25,100 and Rs 31,490 respectively. The Mega 5.8-inch weighs 182 grams, while its bigger iteration weighs 199 grams, both are fairly light for their sizes.

Samsung says Mega will fit in most pockets and is targeted at users who love watching videos on their phones. Galaxy Mega has an 8-MP rear camera with a 1.9-MP front camera. Samsung's Story Album app helps users organise their albums better.

"Consumers in India prefer large displays in their smartphones owing to the time they spend in extensive multimedia viewing and more," Vineet Taneja, Country Head, Samsung Mobile and Digital Imaging Business said at the launch.

It comes with a variety of Samsung apps such as Group Play (for easy sharing of data), S Memo (notes), S Translator, etc.

Both Galaxy Mega 6.3 inches and 5.8 inches run on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, 16 GB internal memory and a microSD card slot that supports up to 64 GB. Samsung says the Mega has a battery life of around 12 hours on 3G.

The Galaxy Mega has been launched with two operator-specific data offers. Reliance users will get 2 GB data per month free for three months and unlimited access to WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook and BigFlix movies. Vodafone users will get 2 GB 3G data per month free for two months.

Samsung said its smartphone market share is 47.4 per cent, while the same including tablets is 43.4 per cent. These two Mega phablets compete with Nokia Lumia 820, Sony Xperia SP and HTC 8X.

This launch follows Samsung's launch of the cheapest Android phone, Galaxy Star at Rs 5,240.

Samsung group vs Apple Inc: Panel to review split ruling in patent fight

A trade panel that specializes in patent cases will reconsider a split decision made by one of its judges in a long-running patent battle between Apple Inc and Samsung group.

The International Trade Commission said late Tuesday it would take a second look at an ITC judge's decision that Samsung had infringed one Apple patent for a text-selection feature in its smartphones and tablets.

It will also look at the judge's decision, made in March, that the South Korean company, which supplies some Apple chips, did not infringe a second patent which detects if a microphone or other device is plugged into its microphone jack.

A final decision is due on August 1.

The ITC is a popular venue for patent battles because it can ban imported goods from the United States if they are found to infringe patents.

Apple had filed a complaint in mid-2011, accusing Samsung of infringing its patents in making its Galaxy, Transform and Nexus mobile devices, among others.

The case at the International Trade Commission is No. 337-796.