MediaTek MT6592 unveiled as "world's first true octa-core" mobile processor

MediaTek has launched the MT6592 chipset, which it has been claiming is the world's first true octa-core mobile processor. MediaTek expects the new chipset to be available in devices running Android Jelly Bean by the end of this year, while Android KitKat-based smartphones powered with MT6592 are likely to be released in early 2014.
As per the company, the MT6592 is a heterogeneous computing SOC which comes with scalable multi-core processing for advanced multi-tasking. The MT6592 chipset is built on the 28nm HPM (high-performance process) and includes eight CPU cores, each capable of clock speeds up to 2GHz. MediaTek says the MT6592 chipset can run both low-power consuming and more demanding tasks equally well, by attaching the full capabilities of all eight-cores in any combination. Further, the new chipset comes with an advanced scheduling algorithm that monitors the temperature and power consumption to ensure optimal performance of the smartphone at all times.
The MT6592 features an advanced video playback system supporting Ultra HD 4Kx2K H.264 video playback, and support for new video codecs such as H.265 and VP9. It also supports a 16-megapixel camera and a full-HD display. Some of the other new additions in the MT6592 include full connectivity capability for dual-band 801.11n Wi-Fi, Miracast screen-sharing as well as Bluetooth, GPS and an FM tuner.
In addition, Intex showcased its first true octa-core smartphone prototype at an event on Wednesday. The company announced that the still-to-be-named smartphone powered by the MT6592 chipset will be launched in January 2014 and can be expected to be priced around Rs. 20,000 in India.
Intex also revealed the specifications of the smartphone, which includes a octa-core MediaTek MT6592 processer clocked at 1.7GHz, coupled with 700 MHz Mali 450-MP4 GPU. Other specifications included a 6-inch HD IPS LCD display; 2GB of RAM; 16GB and 32GB inbuilt storage variants. The smartphone is likely to run Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean or 4.4 KitKat.

Microsoft working on 'Threshold' updates for all its platforms, due in 2015: Report

It looks like Microsoft is preparing new updates for Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox One, which would hit the devices in Spring 2015, if a new report is to be believed.

The Redmond giant is working on a set of updates, codenamed, 'Threshold,' that will unify the different device platforms further with more common elements, according to a report by ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley, who cites sources who've access to internal emails that mention the codename related to plans for a unified operating-system engineering group, from Microsoft Executive Vice President Terry Myerson.

As the report notes, the codename Threshold, has been borrowed from the name of the planet around which the first halo ring orbited, in the original Halo game.

According to the report, the Threshold update will not be a single update but a 'wave of operating systems' across Windows Phone handsets, devices and gaming consoles. It will also not be the merged OS platform that has been hinted by a senior executive of the company.

Speaking at a technology conference, Microsoft's head of devices, Julie Larson-Green, had hinted at integrating its three operating systems, which run on different devices, into a single platform.

At the moment, each platform has its limitations with Windows RT or Windows 8/ 8.1 not featuring the capability to natively run Windows Phone apps, or vice versa. However, it's worth pointing out that the OS running on Xbox One, Windows 8.x OS and Windows Phone 8 share a common Windows NT kernel.

The report informs that Threshold will add more common elements across the different platforms and that Microsoft intends to support "the same core set of "high value activities" across platforms." The report notes that these high value activities could include expression/documents such as Office; decision-making and task completion tools; and IT management tools.

It also adds that prior to Threshold, Microsoft is on track to release an update to Windows 8.1, which would be known as Windows 8.1 Update 1 and Windows Phone "Blue" or Windows Phone 8.1, which would be delivered at the same time, in Spring 2014 or Q2 2014, as per the site's sources. Microsoft refused to comment on the matter.