Sony's brand new Xperia Z smartphone has appeared on Amazon.de. The impatient among you can now pre-order the phone for 649 Euro (approximately 867 US Dollar).
For that money, you are getting a phone with 5.0-inch, 1920 x 1080 resolution display, 13.1 megapixel camera, 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm APQ8064 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory wit microSD card slot, LTE support, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and water and dust resistant body.
A new Kickstarter project from Lomography lets photographers use their smartphones to immediately scan and edit film.
It’s no secret that mobile devices have enhanced the way users take, edit and share photos, but a new Kickstarter project may have taken that idea to the next level. The Lomography Smartphone Film Scanner lets photographers scan, edit, and print 35mm film using their smartphone.
The scanner features a direct light panel that illuminates the film strip and is compatible with iOS and some Android devices. It works with a free integrated Lomoscanner App that allows photographers to perform functions such as editing negative scans into positives, stitching panoramic shots, and animating 35mm analogue movie shots via the LomoKino.
The Smartphone Film Scanner isn’t the size of your typical photo scanner – it’s a portable device catered to suit the smartphone it hosts. It may not be able to slide into your pocket, but it can certainly fit in your bag for on-the-go scanning and editing. It also works with different kinds of 35mm film such as color negative, color slide, and black & white.
“We are Lomography and we go completely crazy for all things analog,” reads the project’s Kickstarter page. “The Smartphone Film Scanner was conceived as a way to offer photographers and enthusiasts a quick, easy and portable way to scan 35mm films.”
Using the scanner is relatively simple: just slip the film into the back of the device, switch on the embedded backlight and capture a photo of the negative by using the Lomoscanner app. After the image is digitized, you can perform any of the functions mentioned above or share the photo through social media.
The Smartphone Film Scanner is exclusively available through Kickstarter, and Lomography promises some discounts and deals for early pledgers. The project was just launched on the Internet crowdsourcing platform on Monday and already has 603 backers. Of its $50,000 goal, Lomography has already garnered the majority of its funds at $38,439. That’s a pretty successful start for a company claiming to launch its first Kickstarter project.
No pricing information for the Smartphone Film Scanner has been revealed at this time, but the device is expected to launch in March. Check out the demo video at Lomography’s Kickstarter page to learn more about how the portable scanner works with your smartphone.
Another CES has come and gone, leaving sparkles of Ultra HD in our eyes and visions of Steamboxes in our minds. Now that we've left the neon lights of Las Vegas behind us, it's time to dissect the show over and over again, until CES 2014 rolls around.
We've already told you our favorite new products from the show, and distributed our Best of CES 2013 ribbons to the most worthy candidates. Now allow us to regale you with our 10 favorite moments from the show.
Hopefully it'll be enough to tide you over till next year, or until the World Mobile Congress in February. It really never ends, does it?
1. Bill Clinton for Samsung
As usual, Samsung's CES showing was impressive, but all the stops were truly been pulled out when Former President Bill Clinton took the stage.
After a talk about semiconductors, the Korean tech giant really electrified the crowd by letting Clinton take the stage for a twenty minute closer. A talk from Bill doesn't come cheap either, with the silver haired Democrat's speaking fee being reported to be as high as $500,000 for a single appearance. One of Samsung's 4K televisions seem affordable by comparison.
credit: Mashable
Clinton didn't waste any time, breaking the ice with cracks about his run in the oval office, a time when "cell phones weighed five pounds..." and "there [were] a grand total of fifty websites on the internet."
Clinton steadily moved into serious statesmen mode, lecturing the crowd about the benefits of technology to the developing world. Banking by cell phone in Haiti, social media and the Arab spring and bracing for global warming. Finally, Clinton was met with applause when he mentioned American gun violence, and his support of the assault weapons ban.
By hiring Clinton for its keynote, Samsung brought a human element to its presentation. The former president engaged the crowd like a true raconteur, and gave us something to think about besides the latest spec sheet.
2. Qualcomm's 'Born Mobile' press conference
Very often it's not the products and services that steal the stage but the people (and puppets) who occupy it.
Qualcomm's opening press conference was no exception to this rule – the chipmaker took CES by storm with a quirky, whacked out performance that felt more like a drug-induced dream than a presentation by a major corporation.
Not only did Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer bound onstage to croak about Qualcomm and Microsoft's partnerships, Big Bird was there to demo a Qualcomm-powered app. Or he may have been there to help get the taste of Ballmer out of everyone's mouth, we're not sure.
OK, Qualcomm did announce new high-end mobile-friendly chipsets, including the Snapdragon 800.
Snapdragon 800 is said to deliver 75 percent better battery performance than its S4 Pro line while also supporting Ultra HD 4K video on phones and computers.
Improved motion-less photography, global 4G/LTE (with certain add-ons) multi-channel HD audio and support for higher-res displays are also part of the 800 offering.
Snapdragon 600, said to save 40 percent the battery life of the S4 and aimed at mid-to-high-end mobile devices, was also unveiled during Qualcomm's performance…er….press conference.
When the chips come to fruition, there's an excellent chance we'll see a big bump in what our phones and computers are capable of as well as Smart TVs, tablets and digital media adapters.
However, it's hard to pay attention to chip specs when you have Desmond Tutu, Maroon 5 and an electric Rolls Royce coming at you from every direction.
3. Danny DeVito talks tech
We found ourselves sitting two rows away from one of Hollywood's funniest actors one afternoon during CES.
It was a serendipitous occurrence: a PR acquaintance shuttled us to a seat at Panasonic's stage on the show floor just as one talk was wrapping and Danny DeVito's one-on-one with a CNET editor was about to begin.
Lugging out his own chair, DeVito set the tone for the interview right away: after filling in some background on a film clip and asking if the audience could see him and the screens, he got up to leave 20 seconds later with a wave and a "Thanks very much!"
He sat back down and proceeded to talk about his use of Twitter, his favorite piece of tech (his iPhone) and how he utilizes tools like Final Cut Pro when he's working on a movie for 30 more minutes.
DeVito also showed the audience his de-socked "troll foot," his right foot that he snaps photos of in various locations and then tweets to his followers. Did it have anything to do with technology? Not really. Was it memorable? Absolutely.
He was irreverent, hilarious and did manage to tie in tech with film making while cracking up the audience all the way home, leaving us hoping the CES denizens bring him back next year.
4. Sony gets humble, then gets serious
If it lights up, beeps or boops, you can bet that Sony makes one. The electronics giant has its logo on all manner of products, but at CES this year, it confessed to taking its eye off the ball.
"We used to make people say wow all the time," came the words over loudspeaker at Sony's press conference. "Our unique combination of artists and engineers set out to create a surprise everyday. We forgot the power of that for a while." Humble, and surprisingly wistful.
A refocused Sony is now hoping to recapture the public's wonder, and purchasing power, with a new quad-core smartphone, the Xperia Z. This is after another show of humility in November, when it admitted that its phones can't compete with likes of the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3. The fact that this new phone is waterproof a meter of water might just inspire a few wows.
We'll be trying this with beer next
Elbowing into the top phone tier with Apple and Samsung will be tough work, but we've never seen a more apt attitude than what Sony displayed this year at CES. We look forward to giving the Xperia Z a full review, perhaps while in the bath.
5. Hands-on with the Microsoft Surface Pro
When Microsoft announced it would be entering the hardware market with the Surface, heads turned and mouths were slightly agape. With this tablet that impersonates a laptop, were we seeing Microsoft impersonating Apple by producing both the machine and the software that would run it?
We've already given the Surface RT a review. While its a sleek machine capable of real producivity center, its Windows RT software makes it somewhat limited.
The power users are waiting for the Surface Pro, and went hands-on with it CES this year. While Microsoft wouldn't let us take photographs, or say exactly what chips are powering it, we've got everything we were allowed to know written up in our hands on.
6. Sony and Panasonic both debut the "world's first" 4K OLED TV
At CES, tech manufacturers are always eager to shout FIRST!!!11 over the latest breakthrough. Given that, it's not often that we see almost simultaneous accomplishments from leaders in the same field.
Yet that's what happened at the Sony and Panasonic booths. Both companies are moguls in the world of Ultra HD displays, and both used CES unveil what they called the "world's largest 4K OLED," with Sony even claiming the "world's first."
Unfortunately, no one had a stopwatch running as this mammoth displays came off the assembly line, so it can't really be said who was first.
At CES, the rivalry between both camps seemed jovial. A representative from Sony admitted they had no clue Panasonic would be making a similar debut. Panasonic made news pointing out that it was partnering with Sony to pool resources for mass producing this next generation in HD technology.
Ultimately, its a win for consumers. This partnership is based around brining down the cost of manufacturing these Jumbotrons.
7. Xi3 Corporation and Valve talk Steam-powered Piston
Gaming is usually a sideshow at CES, but it stole major spotlight this year thanks to an announcement by Valve.
Only the corporation behind Half-Life could take people's eyes off 8-foot televisions. The Seattle-based company used its presence at CES to announce the coming off the so-called Steambox, a micro form factor PC for the living room.
While Valve is still being cagey, the plan seems to be this: work with multiple hardware manufacturers to build competing Steamboxes with varying specs. The possibility of Valve producing its own machine internally remains on the table.
The little Steam engine that (hopefully) can
The company chosen to be Valve's first public partner in this venture is the Xi3 Corporation. Xi3 has a CES presence as well. They showed off the Piston, said to be the fruit of their partnership with Valve.
While their representatives wouldn't talk specs or availability, or even refer to the prototype as a Steambox, Xi3 already has powerful and compact systems on the market.
Like the rest of the gaming community, our curiosity was piqued. The possibility of a machine like this bringing PC gaming to the living room, and competing with the upcoming Xbox 720 and PS4 is beyond exciting.
8. Project Shield breaks cover
Project Shield was one of the hot talking topics of CES. Whether on the escalator, around the buffet table or in the press room, someone was talking about Nvidia's handheld gaming offering.
The company seemingly came out of left field with the device's announcement during its Monday press conference.
Calling it "100 percent Android," the 4K controller plus 5-inch multitouch screen also houses the company's new Tegra 4 processor. It really is pure Android – Project Shield runs Jelly Bean 4.2.
No, that's not an S3 taped to an Xbox controller
"Project Shield was created by Nvidia engineers who love to game and imagined a new way to play," said Jen-Hsun Huang during the press conference.
"We imagined a device that would do for games what the iPod and Kindle have done for music and books, letting us play in a cool new way. We hope other gamers love Shield as much as we do."
Its 20-plus hours of playing time and 720p plus 294 dpi retinal screen make it a handy device to play. Of course, it's limited to streaming games in the home, a tether Nvidia is sure to be working on cutting.
With launch games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 and Need for Speed: Most Wanted, plus access to users' PC, Steam, TegraZone and Google Play titles, Project Shield literally has access to the biggest launch lineup for any handheld gaming system ever.
That alone is worth a look for most gamers, and because its designs likely extend far beyond Project Shield, we can't wait to see where Nvidia plans to take gaming.
9. Big and thin - Chinese phones kick down the door
How practical is a 6.1-inch phone? Huawei, for one, wants users to find the answer to that question.
The Chinese phone maker threw down the size gauntlet at CES with the the Ascend Mate, a gargantuan phone with 1,280 x 720p display that takes up most of the face.
The specs of the phone aren't terribly impressive – it owns a 1.4GHz quad-core that lagged and only housed 768 of RAM – though its 4,050mAh battery matches its size.
Although it's not the slugger users might expect of such a massive phone, what impressed us most about Huawei's handset was the company's boldness in presenting it on the tech world's biggest stage.
The Mate can at least serve as a jumping off point for those who want to have the conversation of where phone and tablet begins and ends.
Joining Huawei in the spotlight was compatriot company ZTE, which introduced the Grand S during CES and in doing so brought forth the world's thinnest 5-inch quad-core handset.
With a profile of just 6.9mm, the Grand S is slight yet punchy, and though the UI was lacking, we think ZTE could put the hammer to the anvil and come up with a phone worthy of the title "flagship" by the time it launches.
The Grand S, like the Mate, will debut in China first with other unspecified countries to follow. Though it may be some months yet before consumers will have the choice between either phone or competitors, we were struck by both firms' ability to bring forth something different and something to at least take notice off.
10. Razer Edge cuts through CES clutter
One of the real showstoppers was the Razer Edge, formerly Project Fiona, a gaming tablet/laptop hybrid that's as cool as its name suggests.
Razer created a real head turner in its gamer gadget, and interestingly decided to debut it in Vegas and not during E3 2013.
Possibly the best way to get Dishonored on the go
The Windows 8 hybrid comes 10.1-inch tablet screen that fits into a controller-flanked gamepad or keyboard dock. There's also a Pro version for a higher price and with a more powerful processor, plus some other pumped up specs.
What impressed us more than the promised convenience of anywhere/any type of gaming is the fact that Razer has seemingly reinvented (or at least reimagined) the tools gamers need to do what they enjoy and how they do it.
While there's still kinks to work out, the Edge's arrival is one of the show's best moments for the sheer fact it dared to do something different.
The Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, is one of the largest showcases of new technology in the world.
Hosted by the Consumer Electronics Association in Las Vegas, CES 2013 will open to press and exhibitors from every facet of the electronics industry, and TechRadar is here to deliver the latest news from the show.
We've descended upon the gambling capital of the world for four days to bask in the glow of the latest computers, televisions, cameras, phones and more.
Big data is being consumed by small packages like the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3, according to a study released today, and now smartphone data usage trumped tablets for the first time.
This surprise analysis, by network optimization solutions firm Arieso, flies in the face of the spike in tablets sales, devices that one might assume would be the more data-hungry.
"This is pretty counterintuitive, but it seems the capabilities of the newest smartphones - not tablets - are unleashing even greater user demand," said Arieso Chief Technical Officer Michael Flanagan in a press release.
"Once you move away from raw consumption statistics, the most remarkable finding is the way in which people use smartphones and tablets."
Hungry, hungry hip phones
The iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3 split the top spot when it comes to downloads and uploads, according to the Arieso report that studied 125 devices.
iPhone 5 users downloaded twice as much data as those with an iPhone 4S, and they quadrupled the amount of data consumed by iPhone 3G owners.
However, the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note II generated so many uploads of things like photos and videos, they knocked the iPhone 5 back to third place on uplink data usage chart.
Data pads
Tablets did rank in this study, but placed fourth, fifth and ninth, when the original iPad and iPad 2 had dominated the second and third spots just twelve months ago.
So it's even more surprising to see that data usage among Samsung Tab 2 10.1 users is No. 1, and has outpaced iPad users by as much as 20 percent in the last year.
Big data is being consumed by small packages like the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3, according to a study released today, and now smartphone data usage has trumped tablets for the first time.
This surprise analysis, by network optimization solutions firm Arieso, flies in the face of the spike in tablets sales, devices that one might assume would be the more data-hungry.
“This is pretty counterintuitive, but it seems the capabilities of the newest smartphones – not tablets - are unleashing even greater user demand,” said Arieso Chief Technical Officer Michael Flanagan in a press release.
“Once you move away from raw consumption statistics, the most remarkable finding is the way in which people use smartphones and tablets.”
Hungry, Hungry hip phones
The iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3 split the top spot when it comes to downloads and uploads, according to the Arieso report that studied 125 devices.
iPhone 5 users downloaded twice as much data as those with an iPhone 4S, and they quadrupled the amount of data consumed by iPhone 3G owners.
The Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note II, however, generated so many uploads of things like photos and videos, they knocked the iPhone 5 back to third place on uplink data usage chart.
Data pads
Tablets did rank in this study, but placed fourth, fifth and ninth, when the original iPad and iPad 2 had dominated the second and third spots just twelve months ago.
So it’s even more surprising to see that data usage among Samsung Tab 2 10.1 users is No. 1, and has outpaced iPad users by as much as 20 percent in the last year.
An analyst has estimated that Microsoft may have only sold one million units of its Surface tablet.
Microsoft took its first step into the tablet industry this past year with its Surface for Windows RT, but the company may have a long way to go if it wants to rival Apple, Google and Samsung in that arena. The sales estimates for last quarter are in, and experts say that Microsoft may have only sold one million Surface tablets during the holiday season.
As a result, Microsoft’s fiscal second-quarter earnings could amount to less than initially expected due to low demand of the Surface tablet, Bloomberg reports. This number comes from UBS analyst Brent Thill, whose projections slightly exceed those of Detwiler Fenton’s from last year. The brokerage firm suggested that Microsoft would sell less than one million units in the last quarter of 2012, aiming at a 500,000-600,000 range. Detwiler Fenton referred to Microsoft’s strategy as “in disarray,” but did say that Surface sales could improve in the second half of 2013.
Thill attributes this estimate to a “gloomy sentiment” lingering after the holiday shopping season, as he cited in his research report on Monday. He also cut his earnings per share projection for the quarter to 78 cents, marking an 8 cent drop.
“Surface Pro is the more promising model,” Thill wrote, according to Bloomberg.
Microsoft is likely to launch its Surface Pro at the end of the month, but has yet to specify a launch date. Back in November the company confirmed that it will hit store shelves in January, but didn’t reveal when. Unlike the Surface for Windows RT, the Surface Pro will come equipped with Microsoft’s full Windows 8 operating system.
This means that it will have the ability to run both legacy and new Windows apps – a feature that the current Surface model doesn’t have. In addition, the Surface Pro comes with Intel’s i5 Ivy Bridge processor while the Surface for Windows RT runs on an ARM-based processor.
Although Surface for Windows RT sales may not be what Microsoft had expected, this could be attributes to its limited retail presence. For the majority of its shelf life the Surface was only available through Microsoft’s own stores, some of which were implemented only as temporary holiday locations. The company also sold its first self-branded tablet online before rolling it out to major retailers such as Staples and Best Buy at the end of 2012.
As a point of reference, Apple’s iPad was projected to reach sales of up to 14 million units in the fourth quarter of 2012.
In its most recent paperwork, Samsung has urged judges to maintain their decision against Apple’s proposed sales ban on the Galaxy Nexus.
The year 2012 may be over, but patent wars between Apple and Samsung are as fresh as ever. In the most recent debacle in a slew of ongoing legal battles, Samsung has urged a U.S. appeals court to uphold its decision to deny Apple’s proposed sales ban on the Galaxy Nexus smartphone, according to Reuters.
This follows a decision in October in which a three-judge panel blocked Apple’s request for a sales ban on Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus handset. Apple has asked all nine active Federal Circuit judges to change their mind, but now Samsung appears to be strongly advocating the decision.
The process of reconsidering a ruling, known as “en banc” review, was deemed unnecessary by Samsung in this case because Apple did not provide enough evidence to show a “casual nexus” between its patented search capability and iPhone sales, reports Reuters. In turn, Apple probably won’t be able to justify a ban on the Galaxy Nexus, as Samsung reportedly said in its court filing last Friday.
The Korea-based electronics manufacturer also argued that the ruling against Apple cited “well established” reasoning that doesn’t conflict with U.S. Supreme Court precedent.
Those looking to purchase a Galaxy Nexus-branded smartphone in the near future shouldn’t worry, as a sales ban seems largely unlikely. Legal experts believe that Apple’s chances of persuading the courts to rule in their favor are slim, according to Reuters. Apple’s grudge against Samsung has been seen by some as an outlet for Apple’s own battles with Google, since Galaxy smartphones run on the search engine giant’s mobile operating system Android.
This ongoing mobile feud with Samsung could be an indicator that Apple is feeling the heat from competing smartphone sales. Although its line of iPhones has seen great success, recent rumors have hinted that the company may consider launching a low-cost smartphone or an iPhone in different screen sizes. Android and Samsung own a majority of the mobile market because they offer variety – a strategy that could be holding Apple back in the smartphone industry.
Representatives from Apple and Samsung refused comment to Reuters as of Monday, and the two companies are scheduled to appear in a federal court in San Jose, Calif. in March 2014.
With all those smartphones on display, it may have come as a bit of a surprise there was no successor to the Ascend P1 at the show.
Though the Ascend P1 has been out in the States for only a short time, the device has been available to the rest of the world for almost a year.
However, just because a potential Ascend P2 wasn't at CES doesn't mean Huawei isn't looking ahead to the future of the line.
In fact, according to some recently released specifications, Huawei's Ascend P2 is already in the works and looks to improve upon the original in just about every way possible.
Bigger, badder, faster
While the Ascend P2 doesn't formally exist as of yet (Huawei hasn't even announced it), detailed specs of the potential smartphone were uncovered by China Smartphone Review.
Most importantly, the Ascend P2 will purportedly run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and make use of a quad-core 1.8GHz Hisilicon K3V2 processor.
The supposed 5-inch screen will boast a 1,280 x 720 resolution, and the Ascend P2 is also believed to include a 13 megapixel rear camera plus a 1.3MP front-facing snapper.
All of those features are coupled with support for WiFi 802.11, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, mini USB 2.0, and network support for GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA and HSUPA, along with 2GB RAM and 8GB memory.
Unfortunately, like the Ascend P1, it doesn't appear there will be any support for LTE networks, which could dampen hopes of standing out against potential competition like HTC's J Butterfly.
Obviously since Huawei hasn't spoken publicly about the Ascend P2, there are no pricing or release date details, nor any information about where the phone might be made available.
With CES 2013 having already come and gone, there's no telling when Huawei might see fit to announce the Ascend P2, though there is a little show in February the Chinese manufacturer could use as a launch pad.
With all those smartphones on display, it may have come as a bit of a surprise there was no successor to the Ascend P1 at the show.
Though the Ascend P1 has been out in the States for only a short time, the device has been available to the rest of the world for almost a year.
However, just because a potential Ascend P2 wasn't at CES doesn't mean Huawei isn't looking ahead to the future of the line.
In fact, according to some recently released specifications, Huawei's Ascend P2 is already in the works and looks to improve upon the original in just about every way possible.
Bigger, badder, faster
While the Ascend P2 doesn't formally exist as of yet (Huawei hasn't even announced it), detailed specs of the potential smartphone were uncovered by China Smartphone Review.
Most importantly, the Ascend P2 will purportedly run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and make use of a quad-core 1.8GHz Hisilicon K3V2 processor.
The supposed 5-inch screen will boast a 1,280 x 720 resolution, and the Ascend P2 is also believed to include a 13 megapixel rear camera plus a 1.3MP front-facing snapper.
All of those features are coupled with support for WiFi 802.11, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, mini USB 2.0, and network support for GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA and HSUPA, along with 2GB RAM and 8GB memory.
Unfortunately, like the Ascend P1, it doesn't appear there will be any support for LTE networks, which could dampen hopes of standing out against potential competition like HTC's J Butterfly.
Obviously since Huawei hasn't spoken publicly about the Ascend P2, there are no pricing or release date details, nor any information about where the phone might be made available.
With CES 2013 having already come and gone, there's no telling when Huawei might see fit to announce the Ascend P2, though there is a little show in February the Chinese manufacturer could use as a launch pad.
We got a sneak peak at the line of smartwatches and its capabilities are as promising as the project made it sound. Available in five face colors (the clear one is an exclusive developer’s edition) and two strap colors, the Pebble features an e-paper LCD display with a refresh rate that makes it load faster than E Ink readers. It charges with a custom magnetic conductor which keeps the product completely waterproof. In a single, two-hour charge, the watch is estimated to last up to seven days on average use.
At demo, we noticed the room was blasting Red Hot Chili Peppers, and you can control the music straight from the Pebble. “We imagine the Pebble as your smartphone’s companion,” Pebble Head of Operations Rahul Bhagat says. You can’t store music in the Pebble, but you can use it to play, pause, skip and restart songs. Whenever you receive text messages, Twitter mentions, pings, pretty much any notification you’d ordinarily get on your phone, you’ll receive a slight buzz from the clock face. The Pebble’s 144 by 168 pixels screen can read up to 160 characters of a message, and you can use the right hand side buttons to navigate up and down, and tap the accelerometer-infused screen for temporary backlight.
Another cool feature is, of course, the actual time-telling part of the clock itself. The Pebble comes preloaded with three clock interfaces, and the developer community can share their custom-designed editions. The Big Time interface is our personal favorite since it does a good job showcasing the e-paper screen’s smooth refresh rate. At the moment, the Pebble is compatible with devices running iOS and Android. While there are no indicated plans to develop for Windows Phone or Blackberry, Pebble is interested in working with other technology such as IFTTT to daisy chain commands – such as sending notifications to your smartphone and Pebble when the weather forecasts snow.
For a gadget that’s jam packed with features, the watch is surprisingly light. I’d imagine that the silicone strap could get annoying if you get sweaty, but that’s what you have to endure for waterproof accessories. Alternatively, if this bothers you, you could switch out the strap for any ol’ band as long as it measures 22mm.
In our quick hands-on with the Pebble, we found the watch to be extremely responsive. It boasts a speedy load time, fun app development possibilities, and just as Bhagat suggests, a neat companion to your smartphone for those who can’t be bothered to reach inside their pockets and constantly check for updates. If you didn’t pre-order during the product’s Kickstarter session, you still have time before the next few weeks’ shipment date at $150 apiece.
RIM's first BB10 handsets will be revealed at a launch event on January 30, but until now there have been few hints as to when they'll actually go on sale.
Purported inventory documents, leaked from Best Buy in Canada, now suggest that at least one handset toting the new OS will be up for grabs from February 28 - a month after the launch event.
The document relates to a BlackBerry 10 device on the Canadian Bell network, which gives away the "street date" of 13/2/28.
Although the leak represents only one network, in one country, there's little reason to believe that RIM would stagger launches around the world, especially given the global nature of the launch event and the time the company has taken to complete work on BlackBerry 10.
Speculation
When asked for comment, a RIM representative said: "We will launch the platform on January 30 and until then we won't comment on speculation."
Are you an enduring BlackBerry fan bristling with excitement over the eventual arrival of BB10? Or did you get bored of waiting and move on to iOS or Android pastures? Let us know in the comments section below.
We've previously covered some juicy rumors that Samsung is working on a 5-inch 1080p screen of its own. Competingmanufacturershavealreadyannounced plenty of smartphones with such a screen, so the race is in full swing while Samsung is not even the list.
Well, fret not, because Sammy has its sleeves all rolled up, working hard on a 4.99-inch 1080p screen and best of all, it's of the Super AMOLED variety.
A hawk-eyed writer for AnandTech.com spotted this roadmap at Samsung's booth. It clearly shows the company's next generation screen.
The new screen should be available in Q1, 2013. This may as well be the screen for the future Samsung Galaxy SIV or why not even a Note II mini?
Samsung claims its new generation AMOLEDs will use 25% less power and will even have a new low-power mode. Well, we guess we'll know more when we know more.
With BlackBerry 10 all set to launch in a little over two weeks, the leaks are really springing, and so far it's all good news.
The latest suggests that Twitter and Google Talk will be integrated directly into the BB10 OS, right in the BlackBerry Hub, the system's unified notification center and inbox.
In addition, Canadian phone makers Research in Motion (RIM) recently held a "port-a-thon" event to get as many apps ready for the BlackBerry 10 launch as possible.
The good news? Over 15,000 BB10 apps were submitted in under two days.
So what's the bad news?
The bad news is that not all of those apps will be approved, of course.
But still, a good chunk of them likely will, and BlackBerry 10's launch is looking better and better.
And all it took was money; the port-a-thon event offered app developers $100 for every BlackBerry 10 app that gets approved. The stunt could potentially cost RIM $1.5 million, though the presence of so many apps at launch could make it worth it.
But that's not even it - app devs who submitted between two and five apps had a chance to win a BlackBerry PlayBook, and those who submitted more than five were up for BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha units.
BlackBerry 10 leaks to date
The other leak that emerged on Monday exposed the integration of Twitter and Google Talk directly with the BlackBerry 10 OS - screenshots that Engadget believes are "quite legit" shows the two apps listed right next to Facebook and LinkedIn in the unified BB Hub.
More BlackBerry 10 leaks are expected in the coming weeks, and there have been plenty already.
BlackBerry 10 won't have an easy time catching up to iOS, Windows Phone and Android, but with the way everything's looking so far it might just have a chance.
As the excitement accompanying CES dies down, we outline seven smartphones the debuted there and find what makes them unique. It’s a dog-eat-dog world for Android devices and manufacturers need all the help they can get.
The first major trade show of the year is over (CES), but judging by the lack of smartphone announcements by industry leaders like Samsung and Apple, it is clear that the divas need a stage of their own. Choosing to ignore the throng of tech reporters waiting for a substantial story, the biggest players will be waiting to unveil products at individual events in the coming months. However, when you’re a smaller fish in a great big pond, the Consumer Electronics Show is a great opportunity to show off your goodies to a huge audience and that’s exactly what companies like Lenovo, Huawei, and ZTE decided to do.
Do these “smartphone underdogs” have what it takes to compete with the reigning champs? Lets find out.
Huawei Ascend Mate
Without being able to pick the brain of Huawei’s design team, it’s safe to assume the Ascend Mate is the company’s attempt to top Samsung’s gargantuan Galaxy Note. You don’t have to be genius to see that Huawei desperately wants a piece of the luxury Android pie currently being hogged by Samsung and this latest gamble just might work, assuming the Ascend Mate is actually usable. We had some face time with the device during CES and though the device is absolutely massive – it makes the Galaxy Note look regular-sized – there just might be a market for it. It may seem crazy, but there are people who think the Note isn’t big enough.
Plus, Huawei absolutely packed the Ascend Mate with features like software changes to improve one-handed use and a quad-core processor. It feels pretty balanced in the hand, not too heavy or bulky and those of you with medium-to-large hands should have no trouble holding it one-handed. That being said, with a 6.1-inch screen, two hands is better than one. The display looks great and features enhanced sensitivity (you can use it with gloves). Huawei has, unfortunately, placed a skin over Android but it doesn’t seem to be too disruptive. Finally, there’s a 4050mAh battery on-board that should last for two to three days.
On paper, the Ascend Mate seems like a worthy adversary to Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2, but it is hard to tell whether the public can stomach an even larger smartphone that won’t be fitting in anyone’s pant pocket. There is also Huawei’s budget-oriented reputation to consider, it won’t be easy to shake that in the eyes of the consumer and show the world that it can handle a higher-end device.
YotaPhone
If you haven’t heard of the YotaPhone before now, we can’t hold it against you but it certainly wants to be noticed. The attention-grabbing feature this time around is a dual-screen design. Yes, we have seen this rather gimmicky design used in the past to varying degrees of success but Yota has taken it in a fresh and distinct direction that actually makes a lot of sense. The YotaPhone comes with a 4.3-inch HD LCD (1280×720 pixels) on the front and a similarly sized eInk display on the reverse. Other specs include a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 12MP camera.
First impressions from various tech sites seem positive as reviewers are impressed by the device’s build quality, a well-designed implementation of the dual screens, and some not-awful changes to stock Android. Undoubtedly, the most obvious change is the absence of the Back, Home, and Search buttons. In their place, Yota decided to implement touch gestures instead. Swipe to the right for multitasking, left to reach the homescreen, and half-left to go back. The other big change is the way the OS interacts with the rear display. Yota says it will share the API soon, but in the meantime it is developing a handful of apps to take full advantage of the second screen like an RSS Reader, Twitter client, and to-do list. For now, the eInk display is best used as a storage space. Images can be sent to the back of the device by swiping from the bottom to the top of the screen. Yota suggests using this feature to keep your boarding pass close by at the airport.
Since it takes almost no battery to display an image on the rear, Yota has some fun with it by displaying silly messages and adding a bit of whimsy to the smartphone space. Open the camera app and “Smile for the camera!” will appear in clear view of your subjects. Similarly, a message stating “I’m out of battery, please charge me.” when you’re running out of juice. It’s fun, its unique, the YotaPhone just might make a mark.
Lenovo IdeaPhone K900
Known for stellar laptops and above average tablets, it seems only natural that Lenovo should expand its brand and pursue the smartphone angle. For some reason, however, Lenovo has been unable to break into the Android mainstream in the same way that manufacturers like Motorola and LG have been able to. It doesn’t seem to be for a lack of trying either as this certainly isn’t the first smartphone by Lenovo.
The latest, the K900, has the guts to get the glory. It’s packing a 5.5-inch 1080p IPS display, Gorilla Glass 2, 13MP camera with dual flash, and the latest Intel mobile chip, the Clover Trail+. But we all know that it takes more than great hardware to impact the Android market, notorious for being flooded with handset options.
Fortunately for Lenovo, the K900 looks gorgeous and comes in four different colors for its stainless steel and polycarbonate body. The back has four exposed screws that lend an industrial vibe, lending a sense of durability. The game changer here though is the chip inside: Clover Trail +, Intel’s second shot at powering smartphones. Early speed tests have it clocked in at almost double the competition, but this could all change once the next-gen Qualcomm and Tegra chipsets are released.
ZTE Grand S
Another device that’s joining the race to perfect 1080p on a smartphone. On paper, the ZTE is impressive with a 5-inch, 1080p display, 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro, Android 4.1, and a 13MP camera. We weren’t impressed when we tried it out on the show floor, however. Our unit was laggy and didn’t keep pace with other 1080p competitors. It doesn’t help that ZTE backed it up with a measly 1,780mAh battery either.
ZTE would like you to believe the “world’s first” (for a 5-inch 1080p device) 6.9mm thinness is enough to make a sale. It is impressive for sure, shrinking a phone with such high-end parts into a really thin package should be applauded. But without an exclusive feature, ZTE will probably continue to be a more niche-oriented manufacturer. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a compelling device, because it is, but there are too many other Android makers playing a similar game.
Sony Xperia Z
It was recently discovered that Sony wants to focus on high-end devices to achieve the sort of reputation currently associated with Samsung and Apple. With that in mind, we’d say it is off to a great start. The specs speak for themselves: a 5-inch HD display, 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro, 2GB of RAM, 13MP rear camera, 2330mAh battery, and Android 4.1. With that kind of power and a stunning display, Sony actually stands a chance at becoming a superior Android manufacturer.
Out of all the smartphones announced at CES 2013, Sony has the best chance of succeeding thanks to its extremely positive image in the tech work at large with stellar camera technology and cutting-edge televisions. Thankfully, Sony has finally learned to draw on its strengths and has deposited some technologies from its other areas of expertise into the Xperia line up. The camera has Sony’s Exmore R sensor (allowing for HDR video) and then there is the inclusion of Mobile Bravia Engine 2 in the display for enhanced brightness and clarity. On top of all that, the device is waterproof.
Like we have said before, Sony has yet to differentiate itself from the pack. Churning out passable phones that, though nice, don’t offer anything definitively better than the competition. This year, however, Sony may have struck the perfect chord between enhanced performance and luxury design. Plus, we really like that power button.
Vizio Phone
Now that Vizio has mastered televisions and started a fairly successful PC line, it is really taking the smartphone division to new heights. After failing to find a foothold within American carrier politics, Vizio has turned its sights to China where it is easier for the company to sell phones direct to consumers. However, since the pair of devices Vizio announced are looking mighty fine, it’s a shame we won’t see them stateside – at least not in the near future.
Early hands-on impressions are finding that the 5-inch model has a laminated display that looks too good to be real. Otherwise, it is a fairly standard high-end device featuring 1080p resolution, 1.5GHz Qualcomm process, and 2GB of RAM.
The real excitement comes with the lower end model that supports two different SIM cards, a feature that frequent travelers will surely lust after. Both phones have a design reminiscent of the HTC One X, matching the phone in build quality as well.
Pantech Discover
While the rest of the smartphones populating this list are aiming for a higher price point by focusing on top-of-the-line hardware and trendy features like 1080p, Pantech seems content to rule the entry level. It already has a great reputation as a budget-friendly manufacturer and the Discover is taking the company to a whole new place. The Discover is sporting a 720p, 4.8-inch display, 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 13MP rear camera and 2MP front, NFC, a 2100mAh battery, and Android 4.0.
For the price ($50 on an AT&T contract), it is hard to ignore this absolutely crushing handset when it is packing high-end internals at a really low price. Clearly the Discover plans to ride the road to success by appealing to the pocketbook. Design-wise, Pantech has done a nice job as well, bringing a curvaceous profile to the Discover that gives it a unique look.
There are also a few software enhancements on board like the Easy Experience option (a mode to help first-time smartphone owners navigate the interface) and AT&T’s DriveMode app (auto-replies to texts when you’re driving). If low price and high quality are anywhere on your wish list, the Pantech Discover should be right near the top of your list.
What do you think about the “Smartphone Underdogs” of 2013? Does anything stand out to you as a must-have Android device? Hash it out below.
We may soon see Sony double down on premium smartphones, jettisoning entry-level handsets in a play to compete with the big boys.
"We're ready to be a premium smartphone provider, logically then, at the very entry level is where you lose the 'Sonyness,'" Stephen Sneeden, the Xperia product marketing manager, told CNET Asia in a recent interview.
"And it's where you cannot implement some of these wonderful ideas from Sony at such a low cost, we might leave the very entry tier to some other manufacturers."
That's not to say Sony phones will only occupy the upper stratosphere of the handset market: Sneeden said the likely strategy is for it to have arms in the mid- to premium tier range as features from the top trickle down.
Z leads the way
Sony used last week's CES to introduce the Xperia Z, a powerful phone with hugely impressive specs and one that serves as Sony's debutante into the top manufacturer conversation.
The phone with a 5-inch display will serve as Sony's flagship for some time and help spread the story of Sony as a premium phone maker.
As more companies look to scuttle lower-end devices in favor of a few signature offerings, Sony is reading the trends right to move into that space with gusto.
A sharper focus for Sony could see it seriously compete with Apple and Samsung in the next two years (or at least that's what Sneeden wants to see), and if it keeps bringing out devices like the Z, that hope isn't too far off.
Dual-core Intel Atom-powered smartphone blows away the competition in benchmarks
Few of us buy smartphones based purely on specs, but the Intel Atom-powered handset Lenovo debuted at CES 2013 may put even the latest quad-core Snapdragon benchmarks to shame.
PhoneArena reported Friday that Lenovo's forthcoming IdeaPhone K900 might establish a new bar for smartphone processors, judging from impressive benchmarks leaked to the internet.
Powered by a 2GHz dual-core Intel Atom processor, the IdeaPhone scored upwards of 27,000 points on the AnTuTu benchmark, leaving competitors like the HTC DROID DNA in the dust with a mere 14,000 average.
HTC's device is powered by the quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro, but Lenovo's benchmark also eclipses the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 with a 1.6GHz Exynos 4412 processor.
Impressive score
It remains to be seen how Samsung's next-generation Exynos 5 Octa processor will fare against the dual-core Intel Atom, but the chip has yet to wind up in any currently announced smartphone or tablet.
The report is quick to note there's always a chance the Lenovo IdeaPhone K900 benchmarks are a fake - and competitors are likely hoping that's the case.
Assuming these AnTuTu benchmarks are for real, the Lenovo IdeaPhone K900 could impress even further when the handset is out of testing and finally released with an Android build optimized for its powerful engine.
On top of offering the ultimate viewing experience, fantastic performance and stunning design the Sony Xperia Z also features a wealth of great connectivity options.
The Xperia Z provides you with One-touch connectivity, giving you the easiest and fastest way to wirelessly share music, photos and videos from your phone.
With the NFC technology built into the Sony Xperia Z, you can easily pair the handset to other compatible devices such as your NFC-enabled BRAVIA TV or wireless headphones.
One-touch Viewing
If you want to share the latest movie you've just downloaded on your Xperia Z with your whole family you now can, without the need for cables or even a network connection.
The Sony Xperia Z comes with one-touch mirroring, meaning it can seamlessly share content between other compatible devices.
You don't even need to have a home Wi-Fi network for the service to work and it means you can stream your movie straight to your big screen BRAVIA TV in a matter of seconds.
And it's not just movies – fancy playing a game on your TV, or how about showing off the photos you've taken with the Xperia Z's superb 13MP camera – now you can thanks to one-touch mirroring technology.
One-touch Sharing
We all know it's good to share, and luckily enough so does the Sony Xperia Z that makes transferring photos, music or other files between your phone and other devices as simple as a tap.
Touch the Xperia Z against another NFC enabled device such as a smartphone or laptop and content will instantly be beamed over.
One-touch Listening
The Sony Xperia Z all makes it simple to enjoy your favourite tunes, be it on your home audio system or with a set of headphones.
Equip yourself with a NFC enabled Hi-Fi and set of headphones and you'll be able to seamlessly switch your music from one to the other with a tap.
Say you come home from work listening to tunes on your Xperia Z via your wireless headphones, you can tap the phone on your Hi-Fi and the music will seamlessly switch to the system without missing a beat.
Total Control
That's not all though, there's on final trick up the Sony Xperia Z's sleeve and that's its ability to transform into the TV remote for your NFC-enabled Sony Bravia TV.
No longer will you have to hunt down the back of the sofa for that elusive remote, as it will be in your pocket and thanks to the one-touch mirroring credentials of the Xperia Z there's no need to worry about infra red, cables or even a home network.
Ever since AT&T started exclusively selling the Nokia Lumia 920 in the US, the carrier has been kind enough to offer it bundled with Nokia's Wireless Charging Plate.
Initially, the carrier said the promotion will go on until the end of January, 2013, but now the timeframe of the deal has been extended to February 21.
This is great news for AT&T customers, who want to upgrade to the Lumia 920, but aren't eligible to do so before February. At CES 2013, AT&T mentioned that the Lumia 920 was selling very well, but the promo extension could indicate that the carrier has some trouble shipping all of its available Lumia 920 stock.
For $99.99 (on a 2-year contract), the US carrier is making the Nokia Lumia 920 the obvious choice for the Windows Phone 8 fans in US.
Somehow Sony has managed to fit itself inside a smartphone
The new Sony Xperia Z with its large display and industry-leading tech under the hood is here to give you the best viewing experience you can get from a smartphone.
The latest flagship handset from Sony, the Xperia Z pulls in expertise from the firm's TV, camera and gaming divisions to deliver a phone with a beautiful, full 1080p 5-inch display.
Sony's heritage in the TV industry comes into play with the Mobile Bravia Engine 2 which is created by specialised engineers to really make you feel like you're part of the action, tailoring the output to the type of video you are watching, for example smoothing rough edges from a low-res YouTube video.
Super sharp
At 443ppi, the Sony Xperia Z boasts the highest pixel density of any smartphone giving you exceptionally sharp images, smooth video footage and an all-round stunning experience even in bright sunlight.
The intelligent display is always optimizing the detail on screen, making it brighter and sharper to deliver higher quality images and vivid colour, be it watching a movie or using the spacious 5-inch screen as a viewfinder for the powerful 13MP camera.
With a 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor under the hood, slick Android Jelly Bean operating system and dazzling CyberShot camera with an EXMOR RS sensor that auto-detects the type of photo you are taking and adjust the mode accordingly, the Sony Xperia Z is very well equipped to bring you the best mobile viewing experience.
While Samsung left most of us a tad let down at this year’s CES with no new device announcements, it did manage to get us excited about the future regarding its upcoming Exynos 5 Octa SoC.
As the name implies, the Exynos 5 Octa will feature eight cores of processing power; four Cortex A7's, and four Cortex A15's.
While the Exynos 5 Dual variant features a new-gen Mali-T604 GPU, it seems this was not good enough for Samsung's octa-core model, which will instead feature a PowerVR SGX 544MP3.
If the name sounds familiar, that’s because similar graphics processors are found in the Apple's A5/A6 processors - the PowerVR 543. The 544 is set to feature many of the same options that are found in the 543 plus DirectX 10 texturing and 2x faster triangle setup.
It won't, however, match the performance of the PowerVR 554MP4 found on Apple's A6X chipset, so the performance delivered by Exynos 5 Octa's GPU will likely be somewhere between the third and fourth-gen iPads' GPUs.
The Sony Xperia Z manages to marry a dust- and waterproof design with a stunning 5-inch full HD display and powerful 1.5GHz quad-core processor for a truly super-phone experience.
Carrying IP55 and IP57 certificates, you can take the Xperia Z for a dip in fresh water up to 1 metre for 30 minutes, meaning a trip into the bath or a slip into the toilet shouldn't end your phone's existence.
You can also rest easy when you next head to dustier climates as these are no problem for the tough Sony Xperia Z, which laughs in the face of such danger.
Festival-proof
And if all that wasn't enough, if you were to drop your Xperia Z in the mud at a festival, the smartphone can easily handle a tap of running water to get it clean again.
Couple this stand-out durability with a super-slim 7.9mm chassis, reflective glass surface and a wealth of features under the hood and you'll realise how the Sony Xperia Z can deliver the ultimate smartphone viewing and performance experience.
OLPC’s new touch-enabled XO 4.0 Touch tablet PC convertible benefits from the mistakes of the past and is more likely to fulfill the non-profit’s mission than last year’s ill-fated tablet.
The One Laptop Per Child project is getting back to its roots. A few years ago, the company revealed plans to release a tablet and ride the wave of popularity generated by slates like the iPad. However, it was clear from the mock-up images that the project’s goals were awfully lofty, especially for a device meant to be ultra affordable and destined for kids in developing countries. The working prototype, the XO 3.0, was a little more down to earth yet never made it to production. This year’s CES, however, brought both a dedicated tabletand a convertible tablet PC to the table. Though the XO 4.0 Touch convertible is a bit of a reversal as it goes back to an older design, the veer into tablets wasn’t a complete waste of time. The XO 4.0 Touch sports a touchscreen as well as faster internal specs.
Though the design looks a bit chunky, the XO 4.0 Touch is quite light and perfect for small people. It even has a handle for easy transport between classes, home, and school. It’s also quite rugged, so even if kids aren’t as careful or gentle with it as they should be, the laptop will continue to function. The hinge that makes changing from laptop to tablet mode is sturdy and looks like it will last for lots of twists.
Both the internal and external design elements prioritize power efficiency since the XO 4.0 Touch is often destined for areas where access to electricity is sporadic. For instance, the 7.5-inch display utilizes Pixel Qi technology, which greatly minimizes energy usage. The screen isn’t particularly vibrant, but it’s crisp and works in the sun. For the touch functionality, OLPC turned to a technology currently in use on popular eReaders like the Nook and Kindle: infrared. This uses less energy than the touchscreens on consumer laptops and allows for the use of a stylus without an active digitizer.
Inside, Marvell’s dual-core, 1.2GHz PXA2128 processor provides plenty of power coupled with high efficiency. It won’t break any records for speed, but is robust enough to run Linux quite well. Just as with previous XO laptops, the XO 4.0 Touch runs Fedora Linux with a customized UI designed to appeal to kids. The focus of the software is education and a peek into the offerings reveals apps and games that teach everything from math to programming to reading skills.
OLPC plans to start shipping the XO 4.0 Touch in March. Right now there are no plans to sell it via retail channels. The company will instead focus on governments.
Apple has reportedly cut its iPhone 5 screen orders by around half as people cease flocking to throw their money at the company.
Two people 'familiar with the situation' told the WSJ that the first quarter screen orders were down because of weaker-than-expected demand, while other components were also being slashed.
The site also reports that sources also told Japanese newspaper Nikkei that Apple has slashed its iPhone 5 component orders.
Tide's a-turning
Of course, the notion that the iPhone 5 is underwhelming is an obvious target; after the Apple Maps debacle, high-profile staff exits and the fairly underwhelming handset upgrades that the iPhone 5 brought with it, subsiding Apple-mania is a natural corollary.
There could be another reason for the rumours though - like with the new iPad 4 launch, there's every possiblity Apple could be looking to a mid-year launch of a slightly upgraded 'iPhone 5S', which would feature an improved screen and better internals.
