AMD has formally announced its second-generation A-Series mobile processor, which you’ll see in notebooks branded as AMD Vision A4, A6, A8 and A10.

As well as traditional notebooks, AMD is also targeting ‘ultrathin’ notebooks with this release – going after Intel’s relatively new Ultrabook target market. AMD was first to announce AMD-powered ultraportables last week, with what it called Sleekbooks.

AMD says that Trinity represents an inflection point in computing, and while that’s little more than PR bluster, there’s no doubt that AMD is a serious option for those who want both performance and DirectX 11 graphics in their mobile devices. However, whether AMD can start to seriously impact on Intel’s dominance is quite another matter.

Trinity follows on from last year’s Llano APU, the first mainstream chip to combine DirectX 11 graphics and processing on a single die. The new 32nm chips deliver double the performance-per-watt of their predecessors.

The all new architecture features dual or quad new Piledriver x86 cores – an evolution of the Bulldozer architecture. AMD claims up to a 29 per cent improvement in productivity performance over the Husky32 cores found in Llano.

Battery life is the battleground

The GPU are HD 7000 Series cores, based on AMD’s Northern Islands architecture – the high-end A10 chip we’ve been testing features integrated AMD Radeon 7600 graphics – AMD is calling the integrated 3D core the Radeon HD 7660G.

Battery life is a big focus of the new chips – AMD claims 11 hours of resting battery life and five hours of video playback. Clever technology (called AMD Turbo Core 3.0) enables automatic bi-directional power management between the x86 and Radeon graphics cores to deliver power and performance where it is needed.

Mobile versions of the APUs are being made available first, with desktop chips at a later, currently unknown, date. The mobile chops will be available in a number of configurations rated at 17W, 25W and 35W thermal design power (TDP).

The memory controller on the 2012 AMD A-Series platform supports up to DDR3-1600 and adds support for low power 1.25V DIMMs. There’s also support for DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort 1.2 for up to four displays.

With CTIA 2012 in the rear-view mirror TechRadar bids a fond farewell to New Orleans. While we were disappointed that some of the major cell phone manufacturers and carriers opted out, we were really pleased to see some awesome handsets like the Droid Incredible 4G LTE and online editor Nic Vargus won’t stop talking about how awesome his brand new HTC Evo 4G LTE is (look for his full review of the device in the next couple of days).

While shows like CES (Consumer Electronics Show) and MWC (Mobile World Conference) also highlight what’s up and coming in the world of mobile technology, CTIA Wireless has a decidedly U.S.-focus.

• CTIA 2012: TechRadar’s complete coverage of the show

An all new mobile OS?

We were pleased to get some hands on time with a device running Boot to Gecko, Mozilla’s web-based mobile platform and Unnecto impressed us with their Android-based dual-sim Quattro.

• Read our hands on Boot to Gekco review
• Read our hands on Unnecto Quattro review

Handset manufacturer ZTE sets its sights on the US market

While many in the States have yet to hear about ZTE, the Asian manufacturer is making a major push to move into the US market. At CTIA 2012, the company made several significant announcements, including new partnership deals and a company executive even singing the praises of the Windows Mobile platform.

• Read our hands on ZTE Nova 4 V8000 review
• Read our hands on ZTE V96 tablet review

Amazon beware, is the new Nook a Kindle killer?

In addition to phones and tablets, Barnes & Noble was present at CTIA 2012 showing off what they hope could be a Kindle Killer: Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight.

• Read our hands review of the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight

Unveiling Verizon’s Droid Incredible at CTIA 2012

Verizon fired the first major shots of CTIA 2012 by giving us a hands on demonstration of this…incredible… handset.

The LTE capable phone will come with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, a 4-inch qHD Super LCD display, a 960×540 resolution, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, an 8MP camera, Ice Cream Sandwich and HTC Sense 4.0.

• Read our hands Droid Incredible 4G LTE review

HTC goes all in at CTIA 2012

Not to be outdone, HTC had a huge presence at CTIA 2012. While their enormous booth on the show floor highlighted such non-technology-related acts like modern dancers and a guy doing tricks with bubbles, the good folks at HTC gave TechRadar a long and extensive hands on demo of their awesome new HTC Evo 4G LTE.

• Read TechRadar’s hands on HTC Evo 4G LTE review

Samsung basks in the glory of the Galaxy S3

Fresh off the heals of the wildly successful launch of the Samsung Galaxy S3, Samsung was on hand giving folks in the U.S. their first look at this promising new device.

Of course, since our brothers across the pond back in the U.K. already did a hands on review of the Samsung Galaxy S3 last week, those of us here in New Orleans could focus on the company’s other offerings.

The Samsung handset that we were most excited to see was the Samsung Focus S2. With nearly all of the bells and whistles as the Nokia Lumia 900. The Samsung Focus S2 is nearly half the price.

• Read our hands on Samsung Focus S2 review

No shows at CTIA 2012? Sony absent; BlackBerry, Motorola low-key

While we expected to see handsets from all of the major manufacturers, there have been some rather conspicuous omissions: Sony, BlackBerry and Motorola informed TechRadar before the start of CTIA 2012 that they will not have a presence at the show.

While that proved to be true for Sony, Motorola it seems was content to let their partners show off their latest devices. Like the Droid Incredible 4G LTE.

We had hoped to get a hands on look at the upcoming BlackBerry 10. When TechRadar spotted a BlackBerry rep they informed us that they didn’t have any devices here in New Orleans, but rather that the devices are currently in the hands of app developers. Oh well, hope it does seem, springs eternal.

Additionally, Sprint also informed TechRadar that they too wil not have a presence on the show floor.

Accessories galore!

While the major handset manufacturers garner the lion’s share of the show’s attention, CTIA 2012 is awash with accessories for each and every mobile device you can think of. Of course, while Apple never attends CTIA, that doesn’t mean that the company’s overwhelming dominance in the mobile space (especially with its iPad) goes ignored.

Aftermarket companies are everywhere here at CTIA 2012 showing off everything from cases for your mobile devices, to headsets and mobile speaker systems.

• Hands on: Monster ClarityHD Micro review
• Hands on: Kingston Wi-Drive 64GB review
• Hands on: The OtterBox Defender for the new iPad and Samsung Galaxy Note review
• Hands on: iWow-U review
• Hands on: Golla Bags review

TechRadar is in New Orleans throughout the week of May 8 to bring you updated news, hands-on reviews and more. So check back to enjoy all of the shiny new goodness that is CTIA 2012.

A published report claims that the first range of Windows 8 tablets will hit store shelves in November.

The tablets will come in at least a dozen varieties, claims the source, with more than half of those being hybrids or convertibles that combine elements of laptops and tablets, often including physical keyboards.

But all the Windows 8 tablets will have two things in common: they’ll run on a version of Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system, and they’ll be powered by Intel’s upcoming Clover Trail dual-core processor.

If this Windows 8 tablet rumor proves accurate then Windows 8 will be released either before or alongside the new devices in November.

That time frame is in line with current rumors regarding Windows 8′s release, which state that Microsoft’s new OS will be released commercially in the second half of this year.

“The schedule is tight,” said CNET’s source.

We got a peek at Windows 8 released in March, and TechRadar deemed it an improvement over the previous Developer Preview but there’s still work to be done on the OS.

Intel-powered Windows 8 tablets packed with features

Previous reports point to the many features Intel’s new line of Windows 8 tablets will pack, including 4G, NFC technology, lightweight designs and great battery life.

Other rumors claim that Microsoft will release as many as 30 Windows 8 tablets by the end of the year in an attempt to whittle down the iPad‘s lion’s share of the tablet market.

The Windows 8 tablets will be powered by Intel’s upcoming Clover Trail Atom chip, their first dual-core Atom processor based on 32-nanometer technology.

Additionally, Intel’s follow-up to the Clover Trail will be called “Bay Trail” and will be built on superior 22-nanometer tech, according to the published report.

Intel confirmed to TechRadar in an email that Bay Trail is indeed the successor to Clover Trail and is slated to arrive in 2013.

TechRadar is currently awaiting comment from Microsoft, so check back for updates.

Apple may introduce Siri for iPad when the company unveils the new iOS 6 software, heavily-tipped to arrive at WWDC next month.

The voice-controlled personal assistant is, at present, only available for the iPhone 4S, but Apple may be about to expand her reach, according to reports.

According to TechCrunch there are whispers that a Siri API will also be launched, which would allow third-party developers to start integrating the service directly with their own apps.

The report follows yesterday’s revelation that the company could finally put an end to the speculation and launch its own 3D mapping service, finally doing away with Google Maps.

Whispers

TechCrunch reckons the Siri rumours are one of only a few whispers regarding what Apple has in store for the latest version of its mobile operating system.

MG Siegler write: “There have been whispers backing up Gruber’s (Daring Fireball editor Jon Gruber) assertion that Siri APIs are another possibility.

“There have also been whispers about Siri for iPad finally coming. Specifically, I’ve been led to believe it’s more of a UI issue than anything else. After all, Apple is using the technology for the Dictation functionality found on the new iPad. They’ve just been working on what Siri for iPad will look like, I’ve been led to believe.”

While the company is yet to confirm whether it will indeed launch iOS 6 at WWDC next month, tradition would suggest it will.

With a new generation of HP Ultrabooks on the way, retailers have already started dropping prices on existing models.

The HP Folio 13 – normally $899 – dropped to $797.77 at Best Buy. The business-focused Ultrabook features a 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, and zippy 128GB SSHD.

The 14-inch HP Envy Spectre also saw a price drop from its standard $1,399 to $1,283, and includes many of the same specs of the Folio 13 with the benefit of a much-improved screen and Beats audio technology.

These drops come right on the heels of HP announcing its new line of Ultrabooks – bafflingly named Sleekbooks, including the new HP Envy Spectre XT.

With the new line ranging in price from $599-$999, Best Buy’s cuts look to push existing stock off of shelves rather than compete with the new arrivals.

The X factor…

Or rather the OS X factor, in the ultrabook market is word of a new Macbook Air launching later this year.

Ultrabooks have been the Windows rivals of Apple’s slim Macbook Air, with a lower price being one of its chief sales draws.

But Apple is looking to disrupt that trend, with speculation suggesting the price of the new base model Macbook Air could be as low as $799.

Of course, when looking at Best Buy’s computer pricing, it’s best to take it with a grain of salt.

The retailer’s laptop prices can frequently fluctuate from week to week. The HP Envy Spectre price is listed as a sale, ensuring that the price drop is temporary though for how long is unknown.

The HP Folio 13, on the other hand, has no such indications that the price change is only temporary.