When MediaTek first launched an octa-core mobile processor back in late 2013, many folks — including Qualcomm — called it a gimmick , but said feature has since become quite popular amongst device manufacturers, to the point where Qualcomm eventually had to come up with its very own octa-core offerings. Just to stay one step ahead of others, MediaTek is now prepping the launch of a deca-core aka 10-core chip dubbed the Helio X20, which will succeed the octa-core Helio X10 (MT6795) that’s already powering HTC’s Asia-only One M9+ plus several upcoming Chinese flagship phones. MediaTek is sampling its new chip in Q3, and the first commercial devices to use it will arrive as early as end of this year. While ten cores may seem an overkill, the 20nm Helio X20 is actually more about its “Tri-Cluster” architecture that consists of two 2.5GHz Cortex-A72 cores, four 2GHz Cortex-A53 cores and four 1.4GHz Cortex-A53 cores. So basically, on the CPU side the Helio X20 is very much a Helio X10 with two more Cortex-A72 cores, but with the original eight Cortex-A53 cores running on slightly lower speeds. Finbarr Moynihan, MediaTek’s General Manager of International Corporate Sales, analogized the addition of a third CPU cluster to having an extra gear in a car, in order to improve its fuel efficiency across different terrains. In other words, there’s no longer a sudden jump from the low-power cluster to its high-power counterpart, so you get a better overall curve across the power-performance spectrum. This also allows the low-power cluster to go even lower in terms of power required, and the high-power one to be even more powerful — hence the use of Cortex-A72 instead of yet more Cortex-A53 cores. So here comes the classic question: Can all ten cores run simultaneously? Moynihan says while that’s allowed, the chip’s software will always pick the ideal clusters to handle different threads. For instance, mail apps and simple messaging apps can run on the low-power cluster, whereas casual games and multimedia apps can make do with the middle cluster, thus leaving high-power cluster to heavy games and other heavy duty apps. Statistically speaking, you won’t often see all ten cores operating at the same time. “I think it’s much more likely that it will be a subset of the ten cores but in different configurations, depending on the load that might be on at the same time, ” the exec added. “In theory, the scheduler can turn on all ten [cores] if necessary; of course, subject to any thermal constraints that the device may have.” Compared to its predecessor, the more premium Helio X20 also benefits from the additional integrated Cortex-M4 hub (for low-power sensors and low-power MP3 playback), dual 12-bit camera processors, improved graphics performance yet lower power requirement on that plus the modem, as well as Carrier Aggregation for the faster Cat 6 LTE — a feature that Moynihan admitted the Helio X10 often gets criticized for excluding. “Adding the next-generation modem and the Carrier Aggregation feature specifically, I think, makes this platform relevant on a much more global scale for higher tier and even flagship devices.” Ultimately, we’ll need to see how well can the Helio X20 handle its clusters, as well as how efficient the new integrated modem is in real life. The bad news is we won’t get to do so until early 2016 the soonest, but the good news is MediaTek and device manufacturers have almost half a year to fine tune the chip’s performance, so time will tell. Filed under: Cellphones , Wireless , Mobile Comments

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Yes, 10-core smartphones will be a thing in 2016

Say goodbye to the $8 a month curated news app NYT Now , and say hello to the free, ad-supported news app of the same name. More than a year after launching NYT Now , which was basically a way for the New York Times to test out an inexpensive subscription offering, the paper is changing course. The basic gist of the app is the same: It serves up a hand-picked selection of NYT stories, which are continuously refreshed throughout the day. The paper’s editors are also highlighting even more stories from around the web, which makes NYT Now feel more like a social news app like Feedly or Flipboard. The revamped app is yet another sign that the NYT is trying to be nimble in a time where major newspapers are struggling to hold onto subscribers and stay relevant. While we never got official stats on how many people subscribed to NYT Now, reports pegged the number around 200, 000 — not exactly a success. It’s also unclear how many of those people were existing New York Times subscribers. So what went wrong? At $8 a month, NYT Now was only slightly cheaper than the paper’s other digital offerings, which range from $15 to $35 a month. Sure, it was fairly inexpensive, but it’s tough to get consumers to cough up anything for content these days. By going free, the Times opens up Now to a far larger audience, and it may even end up making more from advertising than it would from a handful of subscriptions. Unfortunately, there’s still no Android version of NYT Now. Bt now that that the paper is no longer relying on subscriptions, there’s a better chance we’ll see the app on other platforms. Filed under: Mobile Comments Source: NYT , NYT Now (iTunes Store)

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NYT Now news app goes free, ending a subscription experiment

Over the years, Nintendo has crafted a diverse roster of beloved video game characters. They’re colorful and instantly recognisable, so inevitably some fans have wondered whether a Disney-style theme park could be built around them. Well, wonder no more. Nintendo announced today that it’s teaming up with Universal to build new rides in some of its theme parks. It’s staying tight-lipped on the details, but says to expect “spectacular, dedicated experiences” based on Nintendo games, characters and worlds. The move is another sign that Nintendo is becoming less protective over its homegrown video game franchises. The company is already working with DeNA to develop new mobile games, and last month the Wall Street Journal reported that a Legend of Zelda TV show was in the works. That rumor was later shot down (at least partly) by Iwata, but it still signalled Nintendo’s willingness to work with others. After all, these sorts of initiatives could help Nintendo to capture the imagination and support of a whole new generation of gamers. Something that’s increasingly important, given the lacklustre sales of the Wii U. So what Nintendo rides would you like to see in Universal’s theme parks? A rollercoaster based on F-Zero , or a haunted house inspired by Luigi’s Mansion ? Of course, there’s always Nintendo Land if you need some inspiration… Filed under: Gaming , Nintendo Comments Source: Nintendo

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Nintendo rides are coming to Universal’s theme parks