Samsung announced on Tuesday that it has purchased Grandis, a maker of spin transfer torque random access memory (STT-RAM). Grandis will be wrapped inside Samsung’s existing research and development branch where it will continue to work on memory semiconductor technology. According to its website, Grandis “holds a unique, broad patent portfolio in STT-RAM, including key fundamental and practical implementation patents, and licenses its IP to technology companies that design, develop and manufacture a variety of products incorporating stand-alone and embedded STT-RAM memory,” so we wouldn’t be surprised if Samsung made the purchase in an effort to boost its patent portfolio as part of ongoing legal battles with Apple. Details of the acquisition were not revealed and Samsung said the purchase is effective as of late July. Read on for the full press release.

Samsung Electronics Acquires Grandis, Inc.

SEOUL, South Korea-

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced acquisition of Grandis, Inc. (based in Silicon Valley, California), a leader in spin transfer torque random access memory (STT-RAM). Grandis will be merged into those Samsung’s R&D operations that are focused on developing the next evolution of memory, where new semiconductor materials and structures are reviewed for their long-term commercial value. With its expertise in next-generation memory solutions and strong technical capabilities, Grandis will contribute to Samsung’s continued development of cutting-edge memory semiconductor technologies and become a key part of the company’s global R&D network.

Effective late July, the acquisition includes the full scope of technology, assets and human resources under Grandis, Inc. Further details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Images and specifications of Verizon’s next incredible handset — the HTC DROID Incredible 2 — have made their way onto the Internet. The crew over at AndroidSpin have acquired four images of the device along with a handful of specifications. What can we expect from the DROID Incredible 2? The site’s source asserts that the DI2 will have a 4-inch Super LCD WVGA display, 1GHz Qualcomm MSM 8655 processor, 4GB of on-board storage, 768MB of RAM, 8 megapixel rear-facing camera, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, 1450mAh battery, and Gingerbread (Android 2.3) with the Sense UI experience. The site notes that the handset is currently running Froyo (Android 2.2), but expects the device to ship with the updated operating system. No word on when, exactly, we might see this handset hit store shelves. Follow the jump to view a few more images of the device.

Read

Yesterday, we posted our first impressions of Sprint’s Samsung EPIC 4G. In said article we asked you to communicate to us questions you had about Sprint’s second 3G/4G handset, and you delivered. We’ve compiled a list of 19 questions from the post and have done our best to answer them for you. Hit the jump and we’ll get started.

1. If you could comment on Touchwiz versus HTC Sense that would be very much appreciated. [Link]

So the thing about UI schemas of any kind is that they have to work for you. The question we always ask when evaluating a UI enhancement is: Does this make using the device easier, harder, or better in any way? I think HTC’s Sense adds value to their Android handset line because of how mature it is. It functions as expected, doesn’t seem to slow the phone down, and puts some social networking and handset functions right at your fingertips. Do I love the way HTC Sense looks? Not particularly, but that is totally subjective and doesn’t change the fact that it does not make our experience harder or slow the phone down.

Samsung’s TouchWiz UI doesn’t feel as mature as Sense. This seems blatantly obvious in the Captivate and Vibrant but is much less noticeable in the EPIC 4G. The device feels much faster than the Captivate or Vibrant and having social network integration, power controls, and a host of widgets actually becomes more useful instead of an annoyance.

Whether or not you like Sense and TouchWiz is a question only you can answer. We can say, as far as the EPIC 4G goes, TouchWiz does not seem to detract from the phone’s experience at all.

2. It would be great if you guys could ascertain whether the 1GB ROM is either an internal-SD card (like the Captivate and Vibrant) or much faster NAND. [Link]

We’re assuming the phone uses NAND Flash as the internal memory medium. On the Captivate if you navigate to Settings >SD Card and phones storage you see “External SD Card” and “Internal SD Card” listed. On the EPIC you see “External SD Card” and “Internal Phone storage.” We’ve reached out to Sprint for clarification and will update this article if they respond with a definitive answer.

3. What languages are included?

English and Español are the only two options listed under “Locale” in settings. Far fewer than the Captivate and Vibrant.

4. Please comment on the voice quality and clarity of this phone…both in the phone ear speaker, and also the opinion of those to whom your speaking. [Link]

We’ll cover this in the full review.

5. Daily Briefing widget and the Samsung music player that was in the Vibrant still there or did Sprint have them removed? [Link]

The “Daily Briefing” widget is not included in the EPIC. The EPIC does not use the same Samsung Music Player as the Captivate either.

6. Camera comparisons.

We’ll cover this in the full review.

7. In the phone’s settings, you can change the font or select “Get Fonts Online” to be brought to the Android Market where you can buy many fonts of varying styles – all for only 99 cents. [Link]

This option is not available on the EPIC 4G.

8. Battery life.

Again, we’ll cover this in the full review.

9. How useable is the keyboard. [Link]

We find the keyboard very useable due to the height, clickiness, and spacing of the keys. Your mileage will vary depending on your hand/finger size and what you’re used to typing on. Coming from a software keyboard we had no trouble typing quickly and accurately. We’re huge fans of the full number pad and all the secondary character options that are on the actual keys.

10. On a scale from 1-100, how great is the screen display? Never seen a Super AMOLED screen up-close and want to know how great it really is. [Link]

I would say a solid 95. The iPhone 4 is like 112… we kid, we kid (just trying to get your blood pressure up). The Super AMOLED display is really, really bright and crisp. I would say this display and that of the iPhone 4 are about equal. Black text seems a little sharper on the Retina display, but it’s really splitting hairs. Super AMOLED displays are one of the best, if not the best, displays available in the market today.

11. How is the video calling over 3G? 4G? Does the video calling work well when in call with an EVO or iPhone 4? [Link]

We’ll test this more for the official review.

12. Has the GPS bug that has plagued the other Galxay S phones, been addressed in the Epic 4G? I’ve read two or three reviews elsewhere that said the problem has been fixed, and one review that said it hasn’t. [Link]

Stay tuned on this one. The unit gets us close very quickly (within 20 to 50 meters) but a GPS lock seems to take way longer than it should (as in you can measure the time in minutes). We’ve reached out to Sprint for an official statement on whether or not the GPS functionality of the EPIC has been adjusted and will report back.

13. Would love to know if the device suffers from proximity sensor issues like the Samsung Moment did. If not, this will probably be my replacement for the Moment – which hangs up, or initiates 3 way calls whenever I’m on the phone. [Link]

The proximity sensor has been functioning as expected in our initial testing. If we find anything quirky we’ll be sure to mention it in our review.

14. Is there something up with Sprint Android phones and BGR? [Link]

No, there is no conspiracy theory needed. We should have reviewed the EVO 4G and didn’t. End of story.

15. So I’m dying to know, does the EPIC actually do any kind of video out? [Link]

Yes, via the headphone jack. Only RCA-out though. No HDMI for you! If you have a DLNA enabled device you can output wirelessly to that device that way. Edit: a micro-USB to HMDI cable may get you wired HDMI after all. Waiting for confirmation from Samsung…

16. Did they kill the FM radio on the Epic like on the Captivate & Vibrant? [Link]

There is no FM radio application on the EPIC. We’ve reached out to Sprint to see if the hardware is in the phone (although we doubt it).

17. Can you confirm that the Epic has the same home page and app page customization as the Captivate and Vibrant?  [Link]

You can not remove home screens like you can with the Captivate, you always have seven. Also, your options in the full applications view are “Grid View” or “List View.” There is no “Customizable Grid” like there is on the Captivate.

If you can change the three default icons in the EPIC’s dock (Phone, Contacts, Messaging) we can’t figure out how to do it (we even RTFM that came in the box). The dock icons are referred to as “Primary Shortcuts” in the user guide, so we’re thinking they are not customizable.

18. Does the Epic 4G have a notification light? [Link]

Yes, it is on the top right of the phone between the ear-piece and the front-facing camera. The light is red.

19. Does this awesome phone have a front facing camera? [Link]

It does. It also comes with the Qik application pre-installed.

We weren’t the only ones to get an iPhone 4 early — iFixIt just released one of their famous teardowns, and while nothing is really new, we do have confirmation on some of the bigger points:

• RAM is confirmed to be 512MB compared to 256MB in the iPad and iPhone 3GS
• The two screws on the bottom allow removal of the back glass plate, not the front LCD as with previous models
• The battery, while not user accessible, is easily replaceable — and huge!
• The entire from LCD assembly will require replacement if damaged. On earlier models people would buy either the LCD or digitizer separately and adhere them together, but with Apple’s new manufacturing process, this won’t really be possible
• The integration of cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth radios into the case assembly is “genius”. We agree

So, interested in checking out some more shots of the iPhone 4′s insides? Couple more photos after the jump, and hit iFixIt for the rest!

Read

Toshiba has announced the birth of their 128 GB NAND flash memory module. The new flash storage chip “integrates sixteen 64Gbit NAND chips” onto a minuscule 17 x 22 x 1.4mm chip. Toshiba writes: “Demand continues to grow for large density chips that support high-resolution video and deliver enhanced storage, particularly in the area of embedded memories with a controller function that minimize development requirements and ease integration into system designs.” Let’s hope we see these new 128 GB beasts in slates and smartphones in the very near future. We’ve got the full press release for you after the bump.

[Via Slash Gear]

TOSHIBA LAUNCHES INDUSTRY’S LARGEST EMBEDDED NAND FLASH MEMORY MODULES

eMMC™ Compliant Embedded Memories Combine up to 128GB NAND and a Controller in a Single Package

IRVINE, Calif., June 16, 2010— Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc ., and its parent company Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today announced the launch of a 128-gigabyte (GB)1 embedded NAND flash memory module, the highest capacity yet achieved in the industry. The module is fully compliant with the latest e-MMC™ standard, and is designed for application in a wide range of digital consumer products, including smartphones, tablet PCs and digital video cameras. Samples will be available in September, and mass production will start in the fourth quarter (October to December) of 2010.

The new 128GB embedded device integrates sixteen 64Gbit (equal to 8GB) NAND chips fabricated with Toshiba’s cutting-edge 32nm process technology and a dedicated controller into a small package 17 x 22 x 1.4mm. Toshiba is the first company to succeed in combining sixteen 64Gbit NAND chips, and applied advanced chip thinning and layering technologies to realize individual chips that are only 30 micrometers thick.

Toshiba offers a comprehensive line-up of single-package embedded NAND Flash memories in densities from 2GB to 128GB. They integrate a controller to manage basic control functions for NAND applications, and are compatible with the JEDEC e-MMC™ Version 4.4 and its new features. New samples of 64GB chips will also be available from August.

Demand continues to grow for large density chips that support high-resolution video and deliver enhanced storage, particularly in the area of embedded memories with a controller function that minimize development requirements and ease integration into system designs. Toshiba has established itself as an innovator in this key area, and is now reinforcing its leadership by being first to announce a 128GB generation module.

Key Features: The JEDEC e-MMC™ V4.4 compliant interface handles essential functions, including writing block management, error correction and driver software. It simplifies system development, allowing manufacturers to minimize development costs and speed time to market for new and upgraded products. The 128GB device stacks sixteen 64Gbit chips fabricated with leading-edge 32nm process technology. Application of advanced chip thinning, layering and wire bonding technologies has allowed Toshiba to achieve individual chips only 30 micrometers thick, and to layer and bond them in a small package. The result is an embedded flash memory module with the industry’s highest density.

The new products are sealed in a small FBGA package only 17 x 22 x 1.4mm and has a signal layout compliant with the JEDEC eMMC™ V4.4.

Specifications e-MMC™ Interface JEDEC e-MMC™ V4.4 standard HS-MMC interface

Power Supply Voltage 2.7V to 3.6V (memory core); 1.65V to 1.95V / 2.7V to 3.6V (interface)

Bus width x1, x4, x8

Write Speed* 21MB per sec. (Sequential/Interleave Mode) 21MB per sec.6 (Sequential/No Interleave Mode)*

Read Speed* 46MB per sec. (Sequential Mode/Interleave Mode) 55MB per sec. (Sequential/No Interleave Mode)*

Temperature range -25degrees to +85degees Celsius

Package 153Ball FBGA (+84 support balls)

Additional details on the underlying architecture of Windows phone 7 hit the internet today, courtesy of a leaked document that fell into the hands of tweakers.net. Many of the hardware requirements are already known, but there are quite a few other tidbits which shed some light on the inner workings of Microsoft’s latest smartphone OS. Just keep in mind when you’re reading this that all of the information is tentative and may change once Windows Phone 7 is officially released later this year. Hit the jump when you’re ready!

Windows Phone 7 is a 32-bit OS with a dual layer architecture comprised of a kernel layer and a user layer. Application processes are given up to 1GB of virtual memory with a total of 2GB of memory allocated to processes. 2GB is given to the kernel. Microsoft will supply the 2D graphics and DirectX 10-based Direct3D 11 runtimes while OEMs, not Microsoft, will develop and distribute the drivers for both the 2D and 3D graphics. Support for Bluetooth 2.1 is included, but apparently support for 3.0 and 4.0 is not. Presumably future updates will be able to provide support to further updates to the standard.

Windows Phone 7 OS will use two different file systems: IMGFS for system files, and TexFAT for user files. User files can be stored on memory cards or internal flash memory and have the system treat both locations as the same. Oddly enough, if a memory card containing key files is removed or the files are erased, the phone will be rendered useless and will be available for emergency calls only.

All Windows Phone 7 updates, including carrier updates, will be distributed through the Microsoft update system. Updates will be disseminated OTA or through the Zune Software installed on a PC.

Windows Phone 7 is tightly integrated with Windows Live ID in a manner similar to Gmail is to Android and iTunes is to iPhone OS. A Windows Live ID is the gateway to the Marketplace which just so happens to be the only place one can go to get applications (side-loading is not supported). The Windows Live ID must be entered in order to use the phone and is required for data synchronization to and from Microsoft’s servers. The device must also have a Genuine Windows Phone Certificate which is necessary to authenticate the device.

Changes allowed to the UI are minimal. Providers and manufacturers can add custom tiles to the home screen, but the standard Microsoft tiles can not be removed. The boot screen can be changed by carrier or manufacturer and ringtones and wallpapers can be added. Additionally, Bing is the default search engine for the device, but manufacturers and carriers can change the default search engine found within Internet Explorer. The carrier or the manufacturer can also add custom applications to the ROM of a device (excluding trial apps which are forbidden), but these apps must be first approved by Microsoft. Only 6 applications occupying a maximum of 60MB are allowed. Interesting, no?

Read

For you Canucks who love traveling or sharing your Internet connectivity, or both, we just received word that the Bell MiFi 2372 is going to hit soon. On November 30, you can pick one up for $249.95 or $99.95 if you sign up for a three year contract. The Bell MiFi, like the ones on Verizon and Sprint, can support up to five devices at the same time. It also has a memory card slot capable of storing up to 16GB of data and is compatible with both Windows or Mac operating systems.

Thanks, BrownGuy!

Everyone here at BGR HQ is pretty grumpy this morning as a string of late night press releases issued by Samsung got us too worked up to sleep. Celebrating the sixth Samsung Mobile Solutions Forum in Taipei, Samsung gave a show of force that highlights exactly why the company is a worldwide chipset and components leader for mobile devices. To kick things off, two new 1GHz processors with 512KB L2 cache were announced. Not only do they consume significantly less power versus other processors on the market, but they are also capable of graphically intense 3D gaming and support 1080p output at 30fps using the HDMI 1.3 standard. Couple these with the OneDRAM memory chipset that clocks in at 166MHz and transfers data at speeds of up to 1.3GBps and a 512MB PRAM chip, and you have the potential for one seriously powerful mobile gaming platform.

So now we have the beginnings of the next generation in unstoppable high end handsets, but what else do they need? A screen and a camera, of course. Samsung’s new display technology integrates all of the controls for capacitive touchscreens into the display driver itself. Then with regards to cameras, Samsung combined a 5 megapixel CMOS image sensor with an image signal processor on a single chip, thus creating a system-on-chip (SoC) camera module that is capable of recording 1080p video at 30fps. Those of you who did not already kill your computers from excessive drooling will be pleased to note that all this tech isn’t too far away from the hands of consumers — most of these components are already under limited production and should enter into mass production effective Q1 2010. We can hardly wait.

Read (1Ghz low-power processor)
Read (OneDRAM)
Read (512MB PRAM)
Read (Display driver with capacitive integration)
Read (5 megapixel / 1080p SoC)

Hip hip huzzah! BlackBerry App World has been with us for over three weeks and no doubt a lot of the World’s 25 million BlackBerry users have jumped on the wagon and taken it for a spin or two around the block. But after playing with it for a while, we’re quite sure that there are plenty of people whose puppy-love infatuation quickly turned to irritation. Why? Errors, bugs and high costs aside, it’s likely that App World users discovered the reality that BlackBerrys have a bit of an issue when it comes to dedicated application memory. This, coupled with the infamous memory leaks that sadly seem to be oh so prevalent on every BlackBerry model since the Pearl 8100, make for a device that isn’t anywhere near capable of handing as many apps as competing smartphones. Put simply, the more contacts, phone logs, saved messages and of course installed applications a user has on his or her BlackBerry, the less free memory the device has to dedicate to new apps.

It really doesn’t take much of effort at all to eat away at the 128MB of app memory on both the Bold or the Storm. In fact, we took a peek at one of the Bold’s at BGR HQ that was running OS 4.6.0.247 and found that it had a paltry 4MB of application memory left. After a battery pull it jumped up to 20MB but then quickly started its descent. The saddest thing is that this Bold only had a Twitter app (more on this some other day), Google Maps, Viigo and a few IM clients installed.

So what can be done about this? Well, for starters, RIM could not only bring its devices into the modern age by giving them 512+ MB of application memory, but it could also do something that we’ve been clamoring for for the longest time and allow users to install applications to their memory cards. And no, we don’t buy it for a second when RIM says it can’t do this securely (surely they can encrypt a microSD card).  Other than that, RIM could put some serious work into its aging OS because for the life of us we cannot think of any other platform that has so many updates to fix major bugs and niggles (it seems like for each new device there is a new update, be it a leaked private beta or an official update from a partner carrier, each and every week like clockwork).

Truth be told, we think RIM can be pretty ass-backwards at times, especially considering that it spends a meagre 7-8% on R&D while its competitors spend the 11% industry standard, but it does make a damn fine product nonetheless, one that we couldn’t live without. All in all, it’s just such a shame to think that it can’t do apps right.