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Saturday 14 January 2017
Sunday 8 January 2017
Nokia 6 hands-on shows that sweet metal body in full glory
Nokia 6 hands-on shows that sweet metal body in full glory
Nokia is back in the smartphone game and even if the mid-range China-exclusive 6 isn’t exactly what we all wanted at least it will give us some valuable insights for the future of the HMD-owned brand. You see while the Nokia 6 will retail for under $250 its aluminum body is more fitting of a flagship or at least an upper midrange device, so maybe it’s a good indication on what’s to come at MWC.
A reader of ours stumbled upon a bunch of live photos of the Nokia 6 on Weibo and was kind enough to share them with the rest of us. The images show the smartphone from all sides and even give us a glimpse of its about screen. In case you were wondering the Nokia 6 has the TA-1000 model number and its Android security patch level is December 2016.
Nokia 6
The Android Nougat version is the initial 7.0 as opposed to the latest 7.1.1 available, but differences really are minor there and they really mostly concern the Google Pixel phones.
One of the live shots is of the retail box of the Nokia 6. Judging by its size, you shouldn’t expect to find too many accessories inside, but that’s hardly surprising for a midranger.
With no first-hand impressions to go with the photos we can’t really comment on how that aluminum 6000 series body feels, but we’ll do our best to get a review unit as quickly as possible and make up for that.
The Blade V8 is another new dual-camera smartphone, courtesy of ZTE
The Blade V8 is another new dual-camera smartphone, courtesy of ZTE
The ZTE Blade V8 Pro definitely turned some heads at its CES 2017 announcement. We already managed to secure some hands-on time with the phone and frankly, kind of liked it. The "Pro" moniker already suggested there's another model coming, but now it is official - ZTE unveiled the basic Blade V8.
Now, you would be forgiven for thinking the pair isn't related in any way. The ZTE Blade V8 has a radically different exterior. It is still just as elegant, perhaps even more so, thanks to the diamond-cut metal body and 2.5D front glass. The clean front side does offer some similarity, but the back features completely different, horizontal arrangement for the dual-camera setup.
That is one of the devices signature features and the main fuel for ZTE's ad campaign targeted squarely at the younger crowd. The setup consists of a 13MP full-featured camera with autofocus and an additional 2MP fixed-focus one. The latter is clearly designed for a supporting role and provides depth and spacial information for some interesting effects, including 3D shots and bokeh effects.
Other hardware on the Blade V8 includes a 5.2-inch FullHD LCD fitted in a body measuring 148.4 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm. Underneath the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 octa-core chipset. Sadly, it is not a 14nm unit, like the Snapdragon 625 inside the V8 Pro, but then again, it is a lower end phone. The Blade V8 is available with either 2GB RAM plus 16GB storage option or 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.
Other notable features include a fingerprint reader, FM radio and a 2,730 mAh battery. ZTE is also shipping the Blade V8 with a fresh new Android 7 Nougat ROM, with Mifavor 4.2 UI on top.
You can expect the Blade V8 to hit shelves in Russia and Japan around February 2017 and around a month later in Germany, Spain and China. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.
Vodafone India announces SuperHour unlimited data packs
Vodafone India announces SuperHour unlimited data packs
Mobile data has become such an integral part of the smartphone experience that most users and developers and service providers, for that matter, can't really imagine modern digital interactions and activities without it. Hence, it is rather disappointing to learn that getting a proper data plan from most carriers, even on the biggest markets is still mostly a drag.
Vodafone India is looking to sweeten the deal for its prepaid customers. Users can now purchase a "SuperHour" pack for unlimited mobile data over the course of an hour. And the best part is, it only costs INR 16 or just around $0.25. There is also no limit on stacking these packs, so every hour can be a "SuperHour", if that is your wish.
The plans cover 4G, 3G and even 2G networks, depending on your local coverage. Customers stuck in a 2G circle will get an even cheaper deal at INR 5, to compensate for the inferior service. Vodafone will also offer an unlimited local call package, under the same hourly conditions. You just have to pay INR 7 and enjoy 60 minutes of Vodafone to Vodafone voice calls.
Sandeep Kataria, Chief Commercial Officer, commented on the program, saying:
The "SuperHour " scheme is expected to launch on January 7 and roll-out across all circles by January 9. Well, at least most circles, that is. Apparently, the deal won't be available in Bihar-Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh — Jammu and Kashmir, and Andhra Pradesh-Telangana.
ASUS announces HiveSpot and HiveDot mesh networking system
ASUS announces HiveSpot and HiveDot mesh networking system
ASUS has also thrown its hat in the modular wireless mesh networking system with the launch of the HiveSpot and HiveDot systems.
Both systems require at least three nodes or up to five nodes. They work together to have a single Wi-Fi access point for all your devices. One of the nodes can be the master and connected to the modem and the others can be the slave. You can also connect them to an existing router through a LAN connector and then extend its range.
The difference between the HiveSpot and HiveDot systems is that while the HiveDot is a dual-band AC1300 system, the HiveSpot is tri-band AC2134 system. HiveSpot also incorporates seven smart antennas for wide coverage. It has two 2.3GHz bands along with a third 5GHz band for higher speeds with limited range.
The systems can be setup through the ASUS Hive mobile app.
Garmin announced three new Fenix smartwatches
Garmin announced three new Fenix smartwatches
There are lots of devices for you if you want to own a smartwatch. But if you are tech geek and you are really into sports then you better check out what Garmin announced at CES - three new high-end athletic watches. The Fenix 5 debuted alongside its bigger edition Fenix 5X and the Fenix 5S, the first device specifically designed for women.
All three watches have GPS and GLONASS to measure metrics like pace, distance, speed and pulse and have preset sports and actions incl. running, biking, hiking, triathlons, paddle boarding and even golf. They also sport Garmin’s QuickFit release system which lets you quickly and effortlessly swap bands.
Fenix 5 has 47mm diameter display and carries a battery that will last up to two weeks normal usage or up to 20 hours in full racing mode with heart-rate tracking and active GPS. The stainless steel bezel acts like an antenna. The heart rate is visualised at the same time with an elevation vertical image of your run so you can monitor your pace and perform in optimum mode.
Garmin Fenix 5
There is also an estimator about the maximum volume of oxygen you can consume per minute depending on the preset activities and the Fenix 5 can also recommended you recovery time for your last workout.
Fenix 5S is a smaller version of the Fenix 5 (hence the S) but is delivering the same high-end Garmin performance. The watch is 42mm and has a smoother design. It can last up to 13 hours in racing mode.
Garmin Fenix 5S
Being smaller isn’t about being cheaper - Garmin actually is targeting this product to ladies with even more available QuickFit bands. All the functions that could be found in the regular-sized watch are also available here - Training Modes, Recovery Advisor, Functional Threshold Power etc.
Fenix 5X is clearly the most powerful option from Garmin. It is larger (51mm) and has features that the other watches lack. It comes with preloaded topographic US maps, routable cycling maps and turn-by-turn navigation. Also there are Round Trip Run and Round Trip Ride which suggest a route based on how far you would like to run or bike. And most of all - the device has Wi-Fi and scratch-resistant sapphire glass.
Garmin Fenix 5X
The devices could be found at Garmin’s website. Fenix 5 and Fenix 5S are priced at $600 and Fenix 5X is $700.
The R-8 and R-9 are the latest smartglasses, courtesy of Qualcomm and ODG
The R-8 and R-9 are the latest smartglasses, courtesy of Qualcomm and ODG
Earlier, Qualcomm struck the mobile tech scene hard with the official announcement of the Snapdragon 835 chipset. The efficient 10nm chip is now more power-friendly and capable than ever, with particularly major performance improvements in the graphics department.
The American semiconductor giant, along with Osterhout Design Group (ODG) wasted no time in introducing an interesting new implementation and potential use for its newfound hardware power. The R-8 and R-9 are both smartglasses, which is a slightly ambiguous title. They offer VR experiences much like the HTC Vive or PS VR, but are untethered and rely solely on the aforementioned Snapdragon chip.
Also, much like Microsoft's HoloLens, the R-8 and R-9 offer an augmented or mixed reality experience as well. Ralph Osterhout, Founder and CEO of ODG, commented on the exciting future implications of the tech.
The two initially showcased device are geared towards slightly different crowds and usecases. The R-8 has a 40-degree field of view and HD resolution and is generally intended as an end-user product. Early adopters of the tech from the enthusiast consumer crowd will likely opt for them.
Whereas, the R-9, with its 50-degree FOV, 1080p resolution, advanced visual inertial odometry motion tracking and Project Horizon compatibility, have a much more serious developer pedigree
The more premium R-9 is expected to start shipping to interested industry parties in Q2 of 2017, so content development can be kickstarted. Their price tag is currently set at $1,799. As for the consumer-grade R-8 - they should hit shelves a bit later, during the second half of the year and retail for around $1,000.
SanDisk Extreme Pro USB 3.1 brings SSD speeds to thumb drive form factor
SanDisk Extreme Pro USB 3.1 brings SSD speeds to thumb drive form factor
SanDisk is known for pushing the limits of portable flash storage - usually capacity, but this time it went for speed. The SanDisk Extreme Pro USB 3.1 promises SSD-like speeds in a thumb drive form factor.
Using a USB 3.1 interface, the drive offers read speeds up to 420MB/s and write speeds up to 380MB/s. That’s fast enough to transfer a 4K movie in just 15 seconds points out SanDisk while we’d like to point out that these are more SATA SSD speeds (some M.2 drives get into the gigabytes per second range).
Anyway, the Extreme Pro USB 3.1 drive has an aluminum casing and a retractable connector for improved looks and durability. It’s safe too, SanDisk’s SecureAccess software can password protect files on the drive with 128-bit AES encryption while RescuePro Deluxe can resurrect files you deleted accidentally.
SanDisk Extreme Pro USB 3.1
The drive will be available in capacities of 128GB and 256GB and will go on sale later this month. The top model will cost $180 and you can grab one from Amazon, Best Buy, Adorama, B&H and others. Note that $180 is the MSRP, stores that list this drive put it in the $130-$140 range.
Sony unveils new headphones and portable speakers within its EXTRA BASS range
Sony unveils new headphones and portable speakers within its EXTRA BASS range
Sony is a veritable veteran on the audio scene. The Japanese giant was busy developing high-end acoustic gear long before mobile phones were even a thing. So, every new release is understandably met with a fair bit of excitement from most enthusiasts.
Sony added a total of four headphones models and two wireless speakers to its EXTRA BASS line. It is good to see that the company is still adapting to modern consumer needs, since the new gear is, and we quote: "made for today’s heavy-hitting bass lines and dropping beats".
A quick rundown, roughly arranged by MSRP starts with the MDR-XB950N1. The flagship wireless model (the one depicted in the picture) is rated for up to 22 hours of playback, has a mic on board and active noise cancellation. The MDR-XB950B1 is basically the same product, minus the noise reduction and with a shorter 18 hour battery life.
Moving on to the wired models - the MDR-XB550AP is an on-ear model, with in-line mic and a wide selection of color options. And last, but not least, the MDR-XB510AS are earbuds, complete with water resistance and geared towards sports use.
Moving on to the speakers. First are the SRS-XB40, SRS-XB30 and SRS-XB20 models. They all bear the same features and classic rectangular design, complete with customizable color lights, for a club-like effect. The Bluetooth speakers are also water-resistant, so a splash here and there should be fine and can be chained wirelessly together to increase volume. The key difference between the three models is size and battery. The top of the line 40 model measures 4 inches by 11 inches and then the other two bump that down to 3 inches by 9 inches and 2.5-inches by 8 inches, respectively.
Then there is the cylindrical SRS-XB10. It measures 3 by 3.5 inches, has a convenient strap for attachment and boasts 16 hours of battery life. Bluetooth and NFC are also part of the mix, just like on the SRS-XB40 line.
The Misfit Vapor can dive up to 50m underwater but sidesteps Android Wear
The Misfit Vapor can dive up to 50m underwater but sidesteps Android Wear
Misfit is best known for its fitness trackers but after joining Fossil it seems that the company wants in on the smartwatch action. The Misfit Vapor uses a proprietary platform (it’s not an Android Wear device), but it will give the new Casio a run for its money.
Speaking of running, the Vapor has a built-in GPS receiver, an optical heart rate monitor, an altimeter so it can faithfully track your running or cycling routes. It can connect to Bluetooth headphones and play music from its 4GB of memory, but you can’t quite leave your phone at home - there’s Wi-Fi connectivity but no LTE.
Misfit focused on industrial design and crafted the 44mm case out of metal. On the front is a roomy 1.39” AMOLED screen (326ppi pixel density) that’s fully round. The Vapor doesn’t have a physical rotating bezel like the Samsung’s Gear S3 but the touchscreen UI uses a virtual version of that.
We mentioned the Casio F20 (a $500 smartwatch), this one is also waterproof up to 50m but will cost only $200 when it launches later this year. It will lack the flexibility of Android Wear, for now only first-party Misfit apps will run on the Vapor.
Sennheiser announces three new Bluetooth headphones at CES
Sennheiser announces three new Bluetooth headphones at CES
Sennheiser has announced a trinity of Bluetooth wireless headphones.
The first is the HD 4.50 BTNC Wireless. It has a full size, closed back circumaural foldable headphone design with wireless Bluetooth audio, active noise cancellation, NFC pairing, aptX support, external controls, and 19 hour battery life with noise cancellation enabled (25 hours with it disabled). The HD 4.40 BT Wireless is mostly the same but without the active noise cancellation and folding design.
HD 4.50 BTNC Wireless • HD 4.40 BT Wireless
Lastly, there is the Momentum In-Ear Wireless, which in the US will be called HD 1 In-Ear Wireless. It features a neckband design with plush sheepskin nappa leather and stainless steel speaker enclosures. They feature NFC pairing, aptX support, and ability to pair with two devices simultaneously. The battery life is rated at 10 hours with 1.5 hour charge time.
Momentum In-Ear Wireless
The HD 4.50 BTNC Wireless are priced at $199.95/£169.99. The HD 4.40 BT Wireless are priced at $149.95/£129.99. The Momentum In-Ear Wireless are priced at £169.99. The first one will be available from February while the remaining two from this month onwards.
Whopping 63 billion WhatsApp messages were sent on New Year's eve
Whopping 63 billion WhatsApp messages were sent on New Year's eve
New Year's eve saw people sending a total of whopping 63 billion WhatsApp messages, according to Facebook, which owns the mobile messaging service. Of the total, nearly 14 billion messages were sent in India alone.
While images constituted around 8 billion messages, nearly 2.5 billion WhatsApp messages were videos, a WhatsApp spokesperson revealed.
The 63 billion figure assumes significance given that back in April 2016 it was revealed that both Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp combined were sending 60 billion messages each day. WhatsApp alone was responsible for 30 billion messages a day back in January 2016 - that figure jumped to 42 billion in February.
