Nvidia has launched their Tegra Zone website to complement its Tegra Zone Android app. The website now makes it easier for consumers to learn about the platform, Tegra-optimized games and enable Tegra device owners to purchase content. The site in short, brings all the Tegra Zone app goodness on the computer, plus allowing to interact with other members in the forums and a chance to win Tegra devices via regular sweepstakes.

To celebrate the launch of the website, Nvidia is also giving away five Acer Iconia Tab A100 tablets for the first month.

Tegra Zone Website

Nvidia just acknowledged the acquisition of England-based Icera who specializes in baseband and RF processors for smartphones and tablets. Nvidia already makes Tegra application processors but with the new acquisition, which cost Nvidia $367 million in cash, will help the company to double its revenue opportunity and also enable its OEM customers reduce the time-to-market for the devices.

Icera innovates with multi-protocol wireless baseband processors with RF components that helps manufacturers support 2G to 4G networks since the baseband is software-based.

If you’re concerned of getting a Sony Ericsson Android phone just to enjoy PlayStation games, Nvidia has confirmed that their Tegra-based Android devices will be able to do the same as well. Later this year, Tegra-based phones and tablet will get PlayStation Suite that will allow users to play original PlayStation games on their devices, irrespective of the device being Sony Ericsson or not.

Meanwhile, Sony has started PlayStation Certified licensing program offering companies development support to optimize PlayStation games better with the hardware.

[Via Slashgear]

Galaxy S II’s unveiling at the Mobile World Congress confirmed that Samsung’s latest Android device will sport their in-house Exynos 4210 or Orion dual-core applications processor. However, a test upload on GLBenchmark’s database reveals a new Samsung device is under development running Tegra 2.

The phone goes by the model number GT-I9103, which in all likeliness could be an alternative of Galaxy S II with Tegra. This could be the reason why Samsung has listed Galaxy S II AP on the specification page as “May not be available in some regions.”

So which one will you prefer? Galaxy S II with Exynos 4210 or Nvidia Tegra 2?

[Via Samsung Hub]

Tegra 2-powered devices may rule this year’s Mobile World Congress but the day isn’t far enough where this dual-core baby will be obsolete. At the MWC, Nvidia showcased its next-generation Tegra platform which is dubbed as Project Kal-El. The chip will be the world’s first quad-core mobile processor and was demonstrated in an Android tablet that was able to browse the web, run games and even stream HD videos.

Some interesting facts about the new SoC are that it will take the resolution support beyond full HD (2560×1600 pixels, 1440p), increase the display DPI to up to 300 and features 12 GeForce GPU cores to handle intensive graphics. In short, Kal-El-based Tegra will be 5 times superior to current breed of Tegra processors. New Tegra SoC is currently being sampled and production is slated for August.

Additionally, Nvidia also threw some light on its Tegra roadmap and according to it, Nvidia will follow a yearly-release schedule for new Tegra chips. Wayne, Logan and Stark are expected in 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively with Stark touting to be 75x better than Tegra 2.

[Via Nvidia]

Nvidia’s small partnership to bring GPU to the cars last year has taken a giant leap in 2011 as BMW and Tesla Motors have announced their association with Nvidia to integrate the Nvidia technology.

Termed as the Ultimate Driving Machine the integration of Nvidia’s GPU will allow BMW’s iDrive to bring topnotch in-car navigation and information to all the BMW cars including the 7-Series, 5-Series, 3-Series, Mini Cooper line and X-Series.

All the details will be displayed on a screen supporting a resolution of up to 1280×600 pixels, will have a very little response time and will be visually rich with a next-gen UI.

Nvidia has also teamed up with Tesla Motors who’ve confirmed to fit Tesla’s Model S electric sedan with Nvidia Tegra-powered 17-inch touchscreen console. The processor will also power the car’s connected display and climate-control systems along with Tesla S’ 12.3-inch LCD screen used for 3D digital instrument cluster.

Nvidia will be showing off the tech at the CES and we promise to check back once the showfloor opens on Jan 6.

Nvidia Blog

Looks like LG is gearing up for the ultimate battle in the smartphone arena. Engadget has received few pictures of the new LG device that looks to be the most power packed phone we’ve seen till date. The phone codenamed as Star will sell under the Optimus line and feature some meaty specs like a 4-inch screen, an 8MP snapper with full HD (1080p) video recording, a dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, microSD card slot, front-facing camera and 1500mAh battery.

The Google branding at the back suggests that the phone will come with a stock Android OS, although it is not clear which Android version will be loaded onto the device.

The phone is expected to be unveiled in early 2011 and if our guess is correct, it should be at MWC.

Nvidia has been touting its Tegra-based tablets since the beginning of the year but we’re yet to see a real competitor that will take on the likes of iPad or Galaxy Tab. However, at the earnings call today, Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang confirmed that things are going to change soon and are working hard with Google to build a “magical product.”

We’re not sure how magical the tablets would be but Huang assures that some of their products will “really surprise people and delight consumers.”

Huang also acknowledged that although they’ve taken longer than expected, they want to make sure they build a quality product and not a tablet with a piece of glass and an operating system on top.

[Via ZDNet]

While we’re yet to see Tegra 2-equipped devices make an impact in the market, Nvidia’s CEO has spilled some meaty info on its successors. At the Nvidia GPU Technology Conference, CEO Jen-Hsun Huang confirmed that they’re done with the development of Tegra 3 SoC and Tegra 4 is on the way. What’s more is that Nvidia will launch a new Tegra processor every year.

Nvidia’s Tegra platform has shown some promise on the performance front but has failed to lure device makers.

Microsoft’s Zune HD, Kin and Samsung YP-M1 are few of the gadgets powered by the Tegra platform.

[Via Engadget]

What we’ve been hearing for so long has been confirmed by Asus’ chairman himself. Jerry Shen, Asus Chairman has confirmed to unveil its iPad competitor at the Computex in June. The tablet PC will be called as Eee Pad and will be powered by Tegra 2 and run Android OS. Other things that Asus will reportedly add are USB support, integrated webcam and Adobe Flash, all of which iPad lacks.

The Eee Pad is expected to retail around NT$15,000-16,000 (US$479-510).

[Via Digitimes]