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The Lead
Why Android is beating Apple
November 29, 2012 3:26 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | Comments
It wasn’t so long ago the Apple was the phone to have. Yes, there were the holdouts who took a dislike to the brand’s smartphone monopoly, but for the most part, if you wanted a phone that worked, you took a trip to Steve Jobs land. It seems, however, that the tide is now changing....
Technology forces your teen to stop texting and driving
March 19, 2013 12:19 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Blogs | Comments
Everyone knows texting (or Redditing or Facebooking or Tweeting) while driving is a bad idea,...
Why your car is a better driver than you
February 7, 2013 2:06 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Blogs | Comments
It came to my attention while working on an article about intelligent systems in cars that...
Why Android is beating Apple
November 29, 2012 3:26 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | Comments
It wasn’t so long ago the Apple was the phone to...
What's next for near field communications? Engineers speak out
June 13, 2013 3:23 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor | Blogs | CommentsHere at ECN we're always looking for the "next big thing" and this month we're focusing on near-field communications. NFC only seems to be increasing in popularity and usage across the electronics board, but we want to know what's happening in your labs and on your benches.
PXI embedded controller includes up to 16 GB of 1333 MHz DDR3 memory
June 13, 2013 10:20 am | Adlink Technology | Product Releases | CommentsADLINK Technology announced the introduction of its PXI-3980, ADLINK’s first quad-core PXI embedded controller featuring the high-performance Intel® Core™ i7-2715QE 2.1 GHz processor, with up to 16 GB of 1333 MHz DDR3 memory, for seamless execution in multitasking environments and reduced test times.
Translucent flex antenna enables innovative industrial designs
June 13, 2013 9:53 am | Pulse Electronics | Product Releases | CommentsPulse Electronics Corporation introduces the mLUX Translucent Flex Antenna, which enables more innovative, creative, and impressive design effects for mobile devices. The mLUX is an invisible antenna concept. It allows light and color to shine through the translucent device cover, offering multiple options for industrial design.
Hands-free texting still distracting for drivers
June 12, 2013 11:34 am | by JOAN LOWY, Associated Press | News | CommentsUsing voice commands to send text messages and emails from behind the wheel, which is marketed as a safer alternative for drivers, actually is more distracting and dangerous than simply talking on a cellphone, a new AAA study found. Automakers have been trying to excite new-car buyers, especially younger ones, with dashboard infotainment systems...
Boost regulator offers constant efficiency performance over a 100:1 span in output current
June 11, 2013 12:51 pm | Product Releases | CommentsTouchstone Semiconductor announced the TS3300 boost regulator. The TS3300 uses only 3.5µA of supply current, and the TS3300’s efficiency performance is constant over a 100:1 span in output current. No other low power boost converter offers this level of performance.
Critical RF switch design parameters for space
June 11, 2013 10:29 am | by Greg Horvath, Product Applications Engineer, Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation | Articles | CommentsHarsh environments associated with space applications pose particularly demanding radiation requirements on Radio Frequency (RF) components. The effects of radiation can lead to additional device parameter degradation, performance interruptions or destructive failure modes.
Ethernet media converter transmits data up to 100Km
June 10, 2013 12:56 pm | B & B Electronics | Product Releases | CommentsB&B Electronics Manufacturing Company released its iMcV-Giga FiberLinX-III gigabit intelligent Ethernet media converter. This highly anticipated third generation of the company’s successful FiberLinX family is a 10/100/1000Mbps copper to 1000Mbps fiber device, converting existing copper wiring-based networks to fiber optics.
Addressing the data deluge challenge in mobile networks with intelligent content caching
June 7, 2013 3:31 pm | by Seong Hwan Kim, Ph.D., Technical Marketing Manager, LSI | Articles | CommentsThe most recent IDC Predictions 2013: Competing on the 3RD Platform report forecasts the biggest driver of IT growth to once again be mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, e-readers, etc.), generating around 20 percent of all IT purchases....
Wi-Fi signals enable gesture recognition throughout entire home
June 6, 2013 3:03 pm | by University of Washington | News | CommentsForget to turn off the lights before leaving the apartment? No problem. Just raise your hand, finger-swipe the air, and your lights will power down. Want to change the song playing on your music system in the other room? Move your hand to the right and flip through the songs.
Compact datalogger includes wireless connectivity based on GSM/GPRS module
June 5, 2013 10:34 am | Telit Wireless Solutions | Product Releases | CommentsTelit Wireless Solutions and Danlaw Incorporated announced that Danlaw’s DL750 includes Telit’s ultra-compact GSM/GPRS cellular module, the GE865-QUAD. The product is a self-contained consumer installable data collection device. Danlaw and Telit who cooperated in a number of products before, are
Sensor node enables wireless energy monitoring via any web-connected device
June 5, 2013 9:49 am | Microstrain, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsLORD MicroStrain Sensing Systems introduced Watt-Link, a wireless sensor node positioned to streamline discrete industrial power installations and provide remote energy monitoring and reporting via any web-connected device. Applications include energy management, building automation,
Top 10 must-read posts from May
June 4, 2013 12:04 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor | Blogs | CommentsHere’s a rundown of the most read, most popular, most awesome articles on the web. Take a look at what you missed the first time around or check up on an old favorite to see the conversation in the comments. Keep checking out the Lead at www.ecnmag.com....
LDO offers 25 µVRMS noise, programmable Current limit and diagnostic information
June 4, 2013 10:14 am | Linear Technology Corporation | Product Releases | CommentsLinear Technology Corporation announced the LT3055, a high voltage, low noise, low dropout voltage linear regulator offering precision, programmable current limit and diagnostic capability. The device delivers up to 500 mA output current with a 350-mV dropout voltage at full load. It features
Extreme broadband amplifiers tout desirable noise figure performance
June 3, 2013 5:28 pm | Nxp Semiconductors | Product Releases | CommentsNXP Semiconductors N.V. announced the availability of a new family of extreme-broadband amplifiers, applicable for CATV, broadcast TV, satellite systems and general ISM applications – the BGA3012, BGA3015 and BGA3018. Performance characteristics include
2 to 20 GHz broadband amplifier offers positive bias
May 31, 2013 1:46 pm | Product Releases | CommentsCustom MMIC is offering a new device from their growing MMIC library of standard products. The CMD187 is a wideband GaAs MMIC amplifier die for applications from 2 to 20 GHz. This device delivers greater than 22 dB of flat gain with a corresponding output 1 dB compression point of +14 dBm, and a noise figure of 4.5 dB at 20 GHz.
Miniature PCIe clock generators tout very small footprint, low power
May 28, 2013 11:30 am | Silicon Laboratories Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsSilicon Labs has expanded its PCI Express (PCIe) timing solution portfolio with new one- and two-output PCIe clock generators that are said to offer the smallest footprint and lowest power in the market. Designed to meet the stringent specifications of the PCIe Generation 1/2/3 standards, the Si52111 and
Diode series serves land mobile radio, wireless infrastructure, and test instrument applications
May 28, 2013 10:13 am | M/A-Com Technology Solutions, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsM/A-COM Technology Solutions extended its strong industry position in diodes with a new family of broadband Shunt PIN Diodes for high-power switching applications. The MACOM Shunt PIN Diode series is designed for customers who need a versatile, low cost, ultra-small Shunt PIN diode element for land mobile radio, wireless infrastructure and test instrument applications.
Over-the-air test system enables industry’s first 802.11n WLAN over-the-air measurements
May 23, 2013 3:28 pm | Rohde & Schwarz | Product Releases | CommentsCETECOM has selected Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) to enhance their over-the-air (OTA) testing capabilities with a new test system that includes LTE multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) and 802.11n functionality. The TS8991 test system can perform OTA measurements for LTE MIMO in addition to all cellular 2G, 3G, and 4G technology standards.
Reference design delivers ultra-wideband Doherty amplifiers
May 21, 2013 3:29 pm | Nxp Semiconductors | Product Releases | CommentsNXP Semiconductors N.V. announced the availability of its ultra-wideband Doherty reference design using the BLF884P and BLF884PS – asserted to be the industry’s first wideband Doherty power amplifiers capable of broadband operation (470 MHz to 806 MHz). The new 70-W DVB-T LDMOS designs
Catalog presents detailed specifications on magnetic components for a wide range of applications
May 21, 2013 11:32 am | Coilcraft Critical Products & Services | Product Releases | CommentsThe Coilcraft CPS Short Form Catalog is a comprehensive reference to the company’s four lines of RF and power magnetics for critical applications. This 24-page catalog presents detailed specifications on magnetic components for a wide range of applications, including signal generation and processing, RF, power, impedance matching, LED drivers, timing and much more.
Wireless networks balance military’s defense-in-depth, custom requirements
May 20, 2013 4:44 pm | by Chris Warner, Executive Editor | Ultra Electronics Ems Development Corp. | Articles | CommentsWireless and wired technologies have advanced to the point where automated control systems are routinely networked together. Information can be shared and tasks performed across long distances, via the Internet, linking systems in large industrial spaces, or across remote or rugged areas. Networked control systems (NCS) offer many benefits such as far greater efficiency than manual controls....
RF analyzers include full finger-navigation functions
May 20, 2013 1:31 pm | Kaltman Creations Llc | Product Releases | CommentsKaltman Creations has introduced a new generation of handheld touch tablet RF Analyzers. The new RF-Vue will be introduced under Kaltman’s Invisible Waves brand at the 2013 InfoComm trade show on June 12-14, in Orlando, FL. The RF-Vue is offered in several versions, but the flag ship model is the RF-Vue T10.
The future of Google Glass
May 16, 2013 3:49 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor | Blogs | CommentsThere has been a lot of talk about Google Glass lately, mostly due to the prototype debut, but one interesting aspect of that public viewing is that developers –outside of GoogleLand—can take a crack at coming up with interesting uses for the technology. By allowing new voices into the conversation, the world is seeing even more possibilities for Google Glass.
Transistor series is presented as highest power for radar and communications systems
May 16, 2013 10:08 am | Product Releases | CommentsM/A-COM Technology Solutions introduced a series of GaN in Plastic packaged power transistors for high-performance civilian and military radar and communications systems. The family scales to peak pulse power levels of 100 W, which is asserted to be the
Intelligent sensor hub integrates programmability, precision in a single package
May 15, 2013 3:40 pm | Freescale Semiconductor | Product Releases | CommentsFreescale Semiconductor is introducing a new Xtrinsic intelligent sensor hub that serves as an advanced sensor fusion platform. The Xtrinsic FXLC95000CL sensor hub integrates an on-board accelerometer with capability to manage multiple external sensors. The solution provides
