TechInsights TechAlert Service:

Biloop Technologic of Spain has developed an application called the Cry Translator, which “translates” a baby’s crying, reported ITmedia in September 2010.

The application is designed to ease the worries of parents and caregivers, who often need help in determining how to respond to a baby’s crying. It first records 10 seconds of a baby crying, which it analyzes and relates to one of five basic states: hunger, stress, boredom, irritation, and sleepiness.

The application, which is available in 91 countries, is claimed to work regardless of the language or culture of the user. iPhone users in Japan can have it for 1,200 yen ($14.23 @ yen 84.32/$US 1).

According to Biloop’s web site, clinical studies have shown the Cry Translator can decipher the broad meaning of a baby’s crying with 96% accuracy. [M. Robertson, TechInsights]

L-3 Communications Holdings, a leading U.S. defense contractor, filed suit against Sony Corp. of Japan in federal District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, for infringement of two of its patents related to image sensor technology, reported Bloomberg Japan in September 2010.

The image sensors in question are used in video cameras, computers, and surveillance systems. L-3 is requesting a jury trial, unspecified damages, and a permanent injunction on the import of any Sony products that violate those patents.

According to New York Injury News, documents filed in court state that L-3’s “extensive patent portfolio protects L-3’s considerable investment in its research-and-development efforts,” and Sony should pay license fees.

There has been no word from Sony, which does not comment on ongoing litigation. [M. Robertson, TechInsights]

Samsung Electronics, the leading communication device manufacturer of South Korea, is getting ready to unleash the Galaxy Tab through four U.S. carriers this fall, reported Yahoo Japan in September 2010.

First unveiled at the IFA show in Berlin in early September and formally announced on September 16, the Galaxy Tab is an Android 2.2 tablet that’s poised as the best contender to the Apple iPad. In the U.S., the iPad is offered exclusively through AT&T, but the Galaxy Tab will be carried by AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. The Galaxy Tab also features several functions not supported by the iPad: mobile video chat, Adobe Flash Player 10.1, and 1080p video replay capability.

The Galaxy Tab has a 7-in. display and weighs 380 grams (13.4 oz.) compared to the slightly larger and heavier iPad WiFi + 3G model, which has a 9.7 in. display and weighs 730 grams (25.8 oz.). [M. Robertson, TechInsights]

Motorola of the U.S. announced that it had acquired Aloqa GmbH of Germany, a privately-held developer of mobile applications for smartphone platforms, reported Tech-On! in September 2010.

Aloqa has previously offered its location-based service to various platforms, including Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, and Windows Mobile. The deal price was not disclosed.

Aloqa’s service uses a user’s location, identity, and social-networking information to inform them of nearby places, events, bargains, and other opportunities of interest. Motorola is folding Aloqa into its mobile devices and home businesses unit, Motorola Mobility. That unit is scheduled to be spun off from Motorola Inc. in the first quarter of 2011.

Aloqa’s technology will be used in Motorola’s MOTOBLUR software application, which offers social-networking services, e-mail, and other applications. The technology will help Motorola to enhance its location-based functions. [M. Robertson, TechInsights]

During keynote speeches on the second day of the Intel Developer Forum 2010 (Sept. 13-15), many upcoming products were introduced to the scores of designers, engineers, implementers, architects, and, of course, developers who attend the annual gathering to discuss Intel products and the products based around them (Tech-On!, September 2010).

Intel pointed out that many of the netbooks and tablet devices shown are using its Atom series microprocessors. Case in point: Dell showcased a tablet device based on the dual core Atom N550 processor. A company rep wowed the crowd when he opened the tablet and flipped the screen, instantly transforming the device into a clamshell netbook.

The new Inspiron Duo houses a keyboard under its LCD screen, which swivels 180° within its own frame to allow the remarkable conversion from tablet to network. In an obvious swipe at the Apple iPad, Dave Zavelson, the Dell marketing exec conducting the demonstration, noted that “There are times that you have to do work. Tablets are great for entertainment, but they aren’t exactly conducive to productivity."

The new tablet/netbook should be released before the end of 2010. [M. Robertson, TechInsights]

Sharp of Japan announced that it would start shipping touchscreen-equipped 3G smartphones in China in October, reported MSN Sankei News in September 2010.

The company first ventured into China’s mobile phone market in 2008, but this marks the first time that it has rolled a smartphone there. In fact, it’s releasing two models: the SH8128U with a 3.5-in. display and the SH8118U with a 3.2-in. display. They will be priced at 3,000 yuan ($447.06 @ yuan 6.71/$US 1) and 2,200 yuan (298.04), respectively. They will both run a Chinese operating system that’s suited to the content services available in that country and are said to feature “intuitively designed user-friendly interfaces.”

The dual smartphone release is just the first step in the company’s plans to expand its smartphone sales in the huge Chinese market. It also plans to commercialize a 3D model before the end of 2010.

In 2009, Sharp sold over 1 million handsets in China. For 2010, it has an ambitious overall sales goal of 5 million handsets and plans to roll out 30 models in China before year's end. M. Robertson, TechInsights]

KDDI of Japan and Rekoo Media of China will begin offering a visual portal service called Sunshine Kingdom that combines social games with a portal site, reported Impress Watch in September in 2010.

The Sunshine Kingdom will open on October 14, 2010. The site can be accessed via KDDI’s EZweb service, NTT Docomo’s i-mode service, and Yahoo! k-tai. KDDI and Rekoo will begin offering the same service to personal computers and Android smartphones before the end of 2010.

The Sunshine Kingdom is a social game portal in which each user develops his or her own kingdom by laying out buildings and plants in an environmentally friendly manner. For instance, to control the amount of CO2 in the air, users have to consider planting sufficient vegetation. Users will be able to visit the kingdoms of other players for inspiration and to receive help from them. For the most part, the game will be free to play, although some items, like building materials, will be subject to fees.

The Sunshine Kingdom can be synched up with the address book on a KDDI “au” phone, which backs up the address book to a server. Synching in this fashion makes it easier to find friends who are also playing the Sunshine Kingdom. The new portal will also be open to other content providers. [M. Robertson, TechInsights]

Redstar of Japan plans to roll out the E-FON, an e-paper ebook, in October, reported Impress Watch in September 2010.

The company began taking pre-orders for the new ebook this month, which will sell for 19,800 yen ($234.75 @ yen 84.35/$US 1). The E-FON (E601JB) features a 6-in. SVGA (800 x 600) display. It supports the PDF, ePub, TXT, and HTML formats as well as content in three languages: Japanese, English, and Chinese. It also supports MP3, WMA, FLAC, and APE audio files and JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF, and TIF image files. The E-FON can share data with personal computers via a USB connection, but does not support wireless communication.

Other features include 512MB of internal memory and support for a maximum 8GB SDHC card. Its 1500mAh li-ion battery yields a maximum 15 hours of operation. Dimensions of the E-FON are 184 x 130 x 8.5 mm, and it weighs 180 grams. [M. Robertson, TechInsights]