YouTube is set to demo its 4K Ultra HD video streaming capabilities using a new Google codec, VP9, at the forthcoming CES 2014 event.
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
Sunday, 12 January 2014
Beauty and the geek: Can wearable tech be fashionable?
Gadget lovers are slipping on fitness bands that track movement and buckling on smartwatches that let them check phone messages.
Some brave souls are even donning Google’s geeky-looking Glass eyewear.
For the technology industry, this is an exciting time, but also a risky one. No one really knows
whether the average consumer can be enticed to make gadgets part of their everyday attire.
The question is: Can tech companies create wearables with the right mix of function and fashion?
Wearable computing devices are igniting an explosion of hope and creativity that’s engaged both
startups and big companies including Samsung, Sony, LG and others. At the International Consumer
Electronics Show this week, companies are showing off hundreds of new watches, wristbands
and eyeglasses with built-in video screens or cameras.
The industry is encouraged by the attention Google’s Glass is getting. Companies are also encouraged
by the success —albeit on a small scale— of the Pebble and Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatches.
Intel Corp., the world’s largest maker of computer processors, is on the wearable computing bandwagon,
too. Its CEO, Brian Krzanich, demonstrated a onesie that can measure a baby’s temperature,
pulse and breathing rate. It sends a wireless signal to a parent’s “smart” coffee cup, which
shows a smiley face in lights if the baby is sleeping well and a worried face if the child is too hot or close to waking up. The outfit can also send a signal to a smart bottle warmer, so it can be ready
with warm formula when the baby wakes.
“We want to make everything smart,” Krzanich said, showing off the brains of the onesie —a computer
the size of a stamp.
The smart onesie is one example of the many gadgets at the show that are designed to demonstrate
what technology can do. What’s less clear is whether they tackle real problems, and improve life so
much that people will care to buy them.
The wearables industry is haunted by an earlier false start: Bluetooth headsets, which were commonplace
a few years ago, fell out of favor. The shift away from phone calls and towards texting
was one factor, but many say it simply became uncool to walk around in public with a listening
device protruding from one’s ear.
It’s easier to convince consumers to wear gadgets on their wrists, and that’s where most of the
industry’s energy is focused.
“The wrist is one of the few places where it’s socially acceptable and technologically feasible to
wear a gadget,” says David Rosales, the chief technology officer of Meta Watch Ltd., a spin-off of
watchmaker Fossil. Rosales has been making smartwatches for years, but only now does he believe
they can break into the mainstream. It’s not so much a matter of technology — smartwatches
worked fine in 2006, as one of social acceptance, he says.
Smartwatches are still a small market: the Consumer Electronics Association estimates that just
under a million of them will be sold in the U.S. this year, up from 600,000 last year.
“I don’t think consumers get the idea of smartwatches,” says Russ Crupnick, senior vice president
of industry analysis at research firm NPD Group. In a survey, the group found that the feature US
consumers most desire in a smartwatch is the ability to make and receive calls — something the
watches generally don’t do. He thinks the image a smartwatch projects of the owner is a more important
driver.
“I think this is about jewelry … I think at least in the near term, it’s about what having one of these
things says about me and my personal brand,” Crupnick says. “It’s human nature to brand ourselves.”
Fitness bands are also an effective way to brand oneself, and they’ve seen a big surge in interest recently.
The CEA says that last year, 13 percent of US consumers said they intend to buy a wearable
fitness product in the next 12 months, up from 3 percent the year before. But the staying power
of these products is questionable — much of their motion tracking can be done by smartphones,
which already contain the motion sensors that let the fitness bands act as advanced pedometers. At
CES, some bands are being revealed that do more than phones can; Epson’s Pulsense, for instance,
measures a wearer’s heart rate by shining a light through the skin.
Glucovation, a startup from Carlsbad, California, is among the companies that want to take wearables
one step further: into the skin. It’s developing a patch with a tiny needle that measures the
wearer’s blood glucose level and relays it wirelessly to a smartphone. That could be useful not just
for diabetics, but for anyone trying to control their eating habits.
The patch, which is at least two years away from being sold, would be worn discretely under clothing.
Google Glass is the opposite: it’s blatant and in your face, literally. Many people balk at the
image of the man-machine integration it conveys, and since it contains a forward-facing camera,
the gadget has given rise to privacy concerns. In theory, Glass wearers could be recording or taking pictures of anything they see, unbeknownst to others.
But even if some people balk at wearing gadgets of their own accord others— such as children and
workers —may not be able to avoid wearables. New York-based Filip is making colorful, rubbery
wristphones for kids. They can track the kids location and can place calls to five pre-programmed
numbers. They can also show text messages, like “Time for dinner!” AT&T started selling them in
November for $200.
Startup XOEye Technologies is building cameras into safety glasses. They can stream live video
for 45 minutes over Wi-Fi before they need a recharge. The wearer can talk to and hear whoever’s
watching the video. In effect, the glasses provide a way for an expert or supervisor to look over
the shoulder of a remote worker to walk them through repairs. Conversely, an expert could wear
the glasses and walk the viewer through a process. At XOEye’s trade show booth, a screen showed
high-quality eye-perspective video from an employee at the company’s office in Ann Arbor, Michigan,
working on an electrical box.
“You’ve got all these industries where you’re wearing safety glasses anyway,” says Anthony Blanco,
XOEye’s head of business development. “Basically, this lets them operate more efficiently.”
The gadget’s battery life is too short for all-day video streaming, but the glasses can be set to snap
photos every 30 seconds instead, which extends the battery’s limit. That could give employers a
way to track workers all day, sort of like an eye-level security camera. Blanco sees the potential for
cutting down on worker’s compensation fraud.
“Let’s say you have a guy who says he injured his back in a fall from a ladder on a Friday,” Blanco
says. “You could check the photos and see that no, you got injured in a softball game over the
weekend.”
Critics pan ‘clumsy’ wearable tech offerings at CES 2014
Despite the hoopla, wearable gadgets like wristwatches for checking your text messages or
eyeglasses that capture video are unlikely to make a splash with consumers anytime soon,
given the clumsy designs, high prices and technological constraints of many of the current
offerings.
That is the conclusion drawn by many industry executives and analysts who trolled the vast exhibition
halls of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week.
Most of the wearable products on display at the industry’s premier showcase looked like awkward
attempts to shoehorn technology into new forms without an original or compelling benefit for the
wearer, skeptics say.
Stacy Rasgon, a semiconductor analyst at Bernstein, spent a day at CES busily snapping photos of
every fitness band, watch and other wearable device he came across.
“I have 20 different photos, but if I look at the pictures I couldn’t tell you which product is from
which vendor. They all look the same,” Rasgon said. “Wearables sound like a great idea and there’s
going to be a lot of experimentation. People are throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what
sticks.”
Sony Corp , Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Qualcomm Inc showed off new or recently launched
smartwatches, most of which act as extensions to cellphones, letting users check messages and appointments.
Wristbands – like the popular Fitbit that tracks physical activity – also accounted for
a big chunk of the devices on display at CES.
“For wearables to finally match up with the hype, (they have) to be a true solution, where it isn’t
about the technology – it’s about what the technology enables you to do, something you couldn’tdo before,” said Mike Bell, the senior executive leading Intel Corp’s wearables push.
“The function, form and experience have to be as important as the parts you slap inside,” he said.
Intel this week unveiled its take on wearables that Bell believes serve a clear purpose and could
catch on, including prototype earbuds with a built-in heart rate monitor that changes the music on
a smartphone to keep pace with a workout. It also announced a collaboration with luxury department
store Barneys New York to develop smart bracelets intended to look like they were dreamed
up by a fashion designer – not an engineer.
The wearables mania gripping the industry is in part a response to slowing smartphone and tablet
markets. After growing 39 percent in 2013, global smartphone shipments are forecast to expand
by just 18 percent annually through 2017, with prices steadily falling, according to market research
firm IDC. Tablet shipments are seen up 22 percent this year, compared with 54 percent in 2013.
Tech executives say many consumers are intrigued by the potential for wearable gadgets, but they
are also cautious. A survey by research company Yankee Group in December found less than 10
percent of respondents planned to pay $200 or more for a fitness wellness device.
A survey by Wakefield Research, commissioned by U.S. cloud-services company Citrix Systems ,
last November found 91 percent of respondents were excited about wearables, but 61 percent said
they had no plans to purchase one.
Simon Randall, whose British-based OMG Life Plc makes a wearable camera called Autographer,
is not surprised. He recalls the lukewarm reception when Nokia , his employer at the time, introduced
camera-phones more than a decade ago.
“New things take time to be broadly adopted but if there’s an intrinsic benefit at the heart of them
they’ll prosper,” Randall said.
Samsung’s $300 Galaxy Gear may have had the biggest launch of any wearable so far – but it was
panned by reviewers. It shipped an estimated 800,000 of the watches in the two months since it
was introduced in September, a figure that pales in comparison to the millions its smartphones
manage.
Some experts said Apple may have the best chance of developing a gadget that will propel the
wearable category into prime time, given its track record in consumer devices.
“2014 will be more a year of attempts than of successful products. And for a lot of manufacturers it
will be a matter of waiting to see what Apple does,” said Carolina Milanesi, a consumer tech analyst
at Kantar Worldpanel.
While the electronics show lacked sure-fire winners, some offers were definitely intriguing and
drew crowds.
Epson unveiled a $700 pair of eyeglasses that allow the user to simultaneously view data about
objects they are looking at. Sony’s prototype glasses can display captions and information about
programs a viewer is watching on TV.
Another offer was a bracelet made by Netatmo embedded with a sensor that looks like a jewel and
which measures exposure to sunlight, helping the wearer decide when to put on sunscreen.
Even Qualcomm, one of the largest companies now touting the impending wearable device revolution
and purveyor of the “Toq” smartwatch, acknowledges the hurdles ahead.
Raj Talluri, who oversees the design of its Snapdragon smartphone processors, wants to add the
same chips to watches and apparel to let them handle much more sophisticated functions. But more work needs to be done on power consumption.
“The power consumption of processors really needs to get an order of magnitude less,” Talluri said.
“People’s expectation in wearables is not that they have to charge them every day. They want to
wear things for weeks.”
AT&T kicks T-Mobile CEO out of its CES party
The escalating battle between No. 2 U.S. mobile service provider AT&T Inc and smaller rival
T-Mobile US got personal on Monday night when the bigger operator kicked T-Mobile's
outspoken Chief Executive John Legere out of its party at the Consumer Electronics Show,
according to Cnet.com.
The latest sign of an increasingly testy relationship between the two companies, which tried to
merge in 2011, comes as they fight for each other's customers. AT&T said last week it would pay
T-Mobile customers to switch. According to a Cnet.com report, Legere was escorted out of the Las
Vegas event by security guards about 15 minutes after Cnet reporter Roger Cheng posted a picture
of himself and Legere and tweeted that the executive had crashed AT&T's party wearing his trademark
pink T-Mobile t-shirt.
Around the same time that Legere was being escorted out, AT&T's mobility chief Ralph de la Vega
was announcing that his company had won a deal to provide wireless connections to Audi vehicles,
beating T-Mobile US, Cnet reported. According to the Cnet report, Legere went to the party because
he wanted to see a performance by rapper Macklemore, whose agent gave the executive and
his entourage a pass for the party.
While AT&T and T-Mobile did not respond to requests for comment, Legere retweeted multiple
tweets about the incident, including Cheng's tweet that Legere was kicked out. Legere, an outspoken
critic of his industry rivals, spent most of 2013 directly marketing against AT&T in particular.
AT&T is most vulnerable to competition from T-Mobile because both companies have the same
network technology, which makes it easy for consumers to switch between their services without
having to buy new phones.
AT&T fought back by launching an offer on January 3 to T-Mobile customers for a $200 credit
if they switch to AT&T. Legere responded in a tweet directed at AT&T Chief Executive Randall
Stephenson asking “do you really think you can buy them back?” Legere has been tweeting heavily
to build up anticipation for his company's next competitive move, which is to be announced at a
January 8 CES press conference.
Driverless cars will still need to clear legal framework
Las Vegas: Hydrogen-and solar-powered vehicles are on the streets. So are cars that can get
you through stop-and-go traffic while you sit back and send texts from behind the wheel.
Cars are even using radar, ultrasonic waves and cameras to jump into the passing lane and
get around slowpokes.
Sure, all of these technologies are still in the testing phase, but that hasn’t stopped car makers and
technology companies from showing off a new paradigm of driving at the International CES gadget
show this week. It’s a world in which you no longer grip the wheel with excitement, but instead
relax with a book or movie as your car chauffeurs you to your destination.
That was the point of one simulation by Delphi Automotive PLC, a provider of auto parts and technology
to major manufacturers including Ford, GM and Volvo. The scenario, using a stationary but
souped-up Tesla Model S, imagines “autonomous driving lanes,” much like carpool lanes today.
The company imagines that vehicles might someday enter these lanes and then run on auto-pilot.
The feat is possible today with a mixture of technology that keeps cars inside lanes and adaptive
cruise control that matches a car’s speed to the vehicle in front of it.
While in the autonomous lane, the car’s window glass frosts up and functions that had been disabled
for the driver — like video playing from a mini projector — turn on. The driver can pursue
other activities, like surfing the Web or even taking a nap.
When the driver’s exit nears, the car gets increasingly persistent, demanding that the driver take
back control. First, the video player stops. Then a female voice intones, “Place both hands on the steering wheel and look ahead in the driving direction.”
Finally, the seat starts vibrating and a driver-facing camera ensures he or she is looking at the
road. The driver taps a steering wheel knob, takes control, and drives on. The experience is similar
to airline pilots who grab the controls for take-off and landing but let a computer do the rest.
“These technologies exist now and the carmakers assure us they’re ready to go,” said Jim Travers,
associate editor of autos for Consumer Reports magazine. “It’s really not that far off.”
Though technological innovation isn’t an issue, there are many speed bumps on the road to this
envisioned future. Consumers must accept the safety and reliability of such systems, governments
must draft and pass legislation and the insurance industry needs to draw up guidelines to answer
tricky questions such as who’d be at fault in the event of a crash.
“That’s one of the biggest issues for the industry as a whole for autonomous technology,” said Glen
De Vos, vice president of engineering for Delphi’s electronics and safety division. “The legal environment
has to keep pace. Today we’re at the very beginning.”
Clio Glass speaker
ClearView Audio’s Clio Glass speaker shows off a unique design with an ultra-thin, curved acrylic
glass transducer. Unlike traditional cone speakers that push out sound from the rear, company’s
“Edge Motion” system ensures that the sound is pushed out through the sides. So it emits sound in
multiple directions. The Clio is available for pre-order at $349, but will start shipping only by late
March.
3Doodler 3D printing pen
Among all the 3D printers at CES this year, what caught our eye was a 3D printing pen. Making 3D
printing even easier, 3Doodler has allows freehand drawing of 3D objects. It “looks” as simple as
using a sketch pen or crayon. The 3D pen began as a Kickstarter project, the company has already
shipped 20,000 such pens to all those who contributed to the project. It works by heating and
melting corn-based plastic that cools off immediately. It’s a bit like sketching in the air.
Sensoria Fitness Socks
Sensoria’s fitness socks identify injury-prone running techniques and helps users improve their
style in real time. It is capable of tracking cadence, foot landing technique and weight distribution
as you walk and run. The sock is paired with a Bluetooth Smart detachable anklet that can deliver
superior accuracy in step counting, speed, calories, altitude and distance tracking. The companion
app allows you to set goals and achieve them. The bundle that includes four pairs of socks, electric
anklet, anklet charger and the app currently sells for $199.
Sony debuts PlayStation Now cloud gaming service for consoles, TVs and smartphones
Sony has addressed one criticism that many gamers would have levelled at the PlayStation 4.
At CES, Sony President and CEO Andy House revealed details of PlayStation Now, the cloud
gaming service that will stream games to PlayStation devices, Sony smartphones and Bravia
TVs using Gaikai’s cloud technology
The service will launch in North America later this year, but Sony has shied away from giving any
details of a broader release. It acknowledges that Europe, in particular, will pose some problems
due to internet regulations.
With PlayStation Now, Sony will let you stream classic games from the PlayStation 3 library at
first. This will be switched on in phases with support for PlayStation 4 and PS3 systems coming
first, followed by PlayStation Vita and then the 2014 US models of Sony’s Bravia TVs and eventually
to other Sony devices such as tablets, PCs and smartphones.
So what this means is you will be able to play console-quality games streaming through the cloud
on any supported device without having a console. All it needs is a low latency Internet connection,
so we can understand when Sony says bringing it to a global audience will take its time.
PlayStation Now is made possible thanks to Gaikai’s advanced cloud-based technology, which Sony
acquired in June 2012. At CES, the company showed a demo of The Last of Us on a Bravia TV, but
with no console in sight. Thanks to games being hosted on the cloud, gamers will always get the
most updated version to play and achievements, progress data and DLC are synced across multiple
devices. The full service will let users rent games or pay for a subscription that will let them “explore
a range of titles.” A closed beta of the programme will launch in the US later this month.
Samsung announces a refresh of its compact and bridge camera lineup
Samsung has added to its range of compact cameras at the CES this year. The company
has released the compact WB350F, WB35F and the WB50F as well as the bridge cameras
WB1100F and the WB2200F
The WB50F comes with a powerful 12x zoom and a 16MP sensor. The camera will contain NFC and
Wi-Fi connectivity for sharing images easily. There’s also the Tag&Go feature that pairs the WB50
with smartphones simply by tapping the devices together. Besides being able to transfer pictures
from the device easily, Autoshare can be used to backup images and the Remote Viewfinder can be
used to click images remotely from the camera, using the paired smartphone.
The WB50F, WB35F and the WB350FThe WB50F, WB35F and the WB350F are Samsung's latest
travel zoom compacts.
Samsung’s WB35F too boasts of the same sharing features as the WB50F and comes with a 12x optical
zoom and 16MP CCD sensor. It also boasts of a 67.5mm QVGA LCD screen that makes navigation
easier. The camera, like the WB50F comes in red, white, black and purple colours.
The WB350F, on the other hand, comes in white, black, brown, red and blue colours and features
a 16MP BSI CMOS sensor. The sensor eliminates the need to use flash at inopportune moments,
says the company. You can use Tag&Go, Wi-Fi and NFC just like the above mentioned cameras and
the camera is also capable of uploading images directly to Dropbox. The camera is also capable of
capturing Full HD video recordings at 30fps and features a 3-inch Hybrid Touch LCD Screen.
Samsung has also introduced the WB1100F to its Smart Cameras line up for this year. The camera
boasts a 35x optical zoom and a 25mm wide-angle lens.
ISO range of 100-3200. Interestingly, the camera shoots in the JPEG format only and HD recordings
are done at 1280×720 at 30fps. The camera is available in black and red colours.
The bridge compacts by SamsungThe bridge cameras by Samsung
The WB2200F is a 60x optical zoom bridge and comes with a 16.3MP BSI CMOS sensor. The camera’s
ISO range is 80-6400 and like the WB1100F shoots images in JPEG format only. The camera’s
zoom lens features a variable aperture of f/2.8-f/5.9 and can shoot Full HD movies in 1080p.
It features a dual-grip design to allow you to easily shoot landscape and portraits. The secondary
grip also comes with its own set of controls.
Both the bridge cameras feature NFC and Wi-Fi and support sharing over Tag&Go. You can use
Photo Beam, Autoshare and even Remote Viewfinder and Mobile Link to enhance the cameras’
experience.
The price and availability of the cameras were not available right away.
After CES splash, Micromax plans to go global, starting with Russia
Last year Micromax roped in Wolverine star Hugh Jackman to promote the Canvas Turbo,
and there was wide speculation about the company’s plans to expand to international markets.
And, it’s true after all. At CES 2014, Micromax co-founder Rahul Sharma revealed to
Times of India about the company’s global ambitions. The company will start selling its phones
and tablets in Russia starting January 24.
Micromax is one of the first Indian companies to make its presence felt at CES. The company
showcased its Canvas LapTab – a dual-booting Windows 8 and Android tablet – that will be available
from early February. The LapTab is the company’s first Windows device and it’s also Micromax’s
first deal with Intel, which is providing the Atom chipset within the laptop. This does show
the company has broken through a ceiling by striking deals with two major tech forces in making
the LapTab a reality.
That doesn’t change the fact that a wider international play could stretch the company thin. Talking
about the Russian market, Shubhodip Pal, Micromax’s chief marketing officer told Firstpost
last year, “As far as Russia is concerned, the market that is very similar to India. It has 143 million
people with 85 percent internet penetration. Also people change their handsets every 11 months
there. Mobile internet is also growing there in a big way, mobile internet consumption is growing
as well. We feel that if we crack Russia, the rest of the European market should not be a problem.”
In a previous report, we had heard about the company’s plans to target the European market too.
We won’t have to wait too long to see how the company performs in its first big foray. With a January
launch, the first numbers will start trickling in by the end of Q1 and beginning of Q2. And as we
have said before, Indian companies have to spruce up their act in quite a few areas, before they can
make a dent in the international market. That will really prove if Micromax can make good on its
international ambitions.
Lenovo shows off ‘world’s thinnest 14-inch ultrabook’ ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Lenovo showed off the new and updated version of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon at the ongoing
CES festival in Las Vegas. Lenovo is touting the new ThinkPad X1 Carbon as the world’s
lightest 14 inch ultra book
“Lenovo continues to push the boundaries of design and technology as we aspire to create the best
products in the market. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon delivers a stunning user experience with the best
professional display and new interactive methods and represents another step in our PC plus journey”,
said Peter Hortensius, SVP and president, Think Business Group, Lenovo in a press release.
The new X1 Carbon weighing only 2.8 pounds (around 1.2 kgs). Despite the light weight, Lenovo
claims the ultra book is made from toughest materials and has excellent durability. The company
claims that the X1 is made from same material as aircrafts and racing cars – namely Carbon Fiber
– which while weighing less than magnesium and aluminum, is stronger than both.
The new X1 Carbon has an Adaptive Keyboard, which dynamically adjusts based on the software or
application being used to highlight the most relevant keys. The new ultrabook also integrates voice
and gesture control.
As far as battery goes, Lenovo says it comes with 9 hour batter life and users can get 80 percent
charge in under an hour. It also has optional built-in 4G capability. It has the option of going for an
Intel Core i7 with up to Intel HD Graphics 5000 powers. It runs Windows 8.1. The display resolution
is 2560 x 1440 pixels. The Ultrabook has 8GB RAM and 512 GB of SSD.
It also supports Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi and 2 USB 3.0 ports and support for a full-size HDMI cable.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon start at $1299 and will be available from late January. No word on any
India launch date or pricing
Monday, 6 January 2014
BMW driverless car
And BMW demonstrated it on a racetrack with a 6-series tackling a wet corner, a slalom, and s-turns at serious speed.
In fact, the 6-series went as fast as its computer said it could without losing grip. I sat in the passenger seat while a BMW staffer sat in the driver's seat. He kept his hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals as the car roared towards the turns, hit the brakes, and swung the wheel over.
The most amazing part of the demonstration was the wet corner. To show the system's car control, BMW turned off the vehicle stability systems. As the car hit the wet, it lost grip and went into a sideways slide. The system counter-steered to prevent the car from doing a 180, keeping the slide under control until the car was back on dry pavement.
BMW added these highly accurate GPS antennas to the car for this demonstration.
Dr. Werner Huber of BMW described how the system in the car was made up of a Lateral Control Unit and a Longitudinal Control Unit, each handling and interpreting their respective vectors of motion in the car. These components will be essential to a future fully autonomous vehicle. In BMW's conception, the autonomous car could handle high-speed driving situations or unexpected low traction surfaces.
Huber said that, before the introduction of a fully autonomous vehicle, BMW would use this type of research to add features under what it calls Highly Automated Driving. Throwing out a few ideas, Huber suggested that BMW could launch an Intersection Assist, which would contribute to safety when crossing intersections, an Evasion Assist, which would help the car steering around objects or stalled cars, and a Lateral Control Assist, a type of technology which could complement or even replace vehicle stability control systems.
Of course, all these future systems would need a complement of sensors to help the car recognize objects and other vehicles, but BMW certainly seems to have gotten its car control systems right.
Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G
Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G buddies up to LTE at last
LAS VEGAS -- While some smartphone-makers start with small phones that grow progressively larger each year, Huawei's Ascend Mate line started big and stayed that way. Announced Monday at CES 2014, the Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G tops last year's original Mate with a potent mix of LTE and this year's high-end specs.
Weighing in at about 7 ounces, it felt solid and yes, heavy, in the hand.
Android 4.3 is topped with Huawei's custom Emotion UI, with its characteristic, customizable themes and a layout that sprinkles apps horizontally across the home pages. You'll find a few gestures within, a shortcut for turning on one-handed operation, and another option to use the phone with a gloved hand.
When it comes to the front-facing camera, Huawei ups the ante with a 5-megapixel specimen. This secondary shooter adds a wider angle to get more of the scene you're in, plus an interesting vertical panorama feature that'll capture your environs, skyline and all.
A 1.6GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor resides within, along with a monster 4,050 embedded battery (or thereabouts, this could differ in some regions.) Here's an interesting factoid. Huawei claims that the Mate2's battery is capacious enough to use as a portable charger in a pinch without losing too much juice on its own. Say your friend needs a top-up and connects to the phone through a microUSB cable.
When you peel back the battery cover, you'll be able to augment the 16GB ROM with up to 32GB in extra storage. The Mate2 has 2GB RAM.
So far, the Mate2's pleasant looks and top-shelf specs have caught up to its impressive mass. Now that supersize smartphones are firmly on the rise, Huawei should start seeing more interest in this extra-large phone -- provided that the pricing is competitive and the phone arrives in other markets sooner rather than later. To that end, Huawei plans to release it, starting in China, by the end of the first quarter.
Asus PadFone X AT&T
AT&T's Asus PadFone X phone-plus-tablet packs in VoLTE, Android 4.4
LAS VEGAS -- An update to the best phone-to-tablet transformer series we've seen is landing exclusively at AT&T. That makes the Asus PadFone X the first of this line to come to a US carrier.
We're no strangers to Asus' PadFones. Thanks to the addition of Android 4.4 KitKat and Voice over LTE (VoLTE), which will support voice calls over the data network, this carrier-branded version is an even more promising performer than its cousin, the Asus PadFone (September 2013)
Apart from OS and this carrier partner, the specs we know of so far is very similar to September's unlocked, global model. A 5-inch 1080p HD smartphone slides into a connector bay on the back of the tablet docking shell, then uses the phone's battery and Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor to power the pad.
Interestingly, the tablet portion of the PadFone is smaller this time around, just a 9-inch HD screen rather than the 10.1 inches before. That'll place the PadFone X on the larger end of the tablet scale compared to small-size devices like Nexus 7 and iPad Mini tablets.
This isn't the first time that AT&T has peddled a phone-and-dock solution. It also carried the Motorola Atrix 4G docking station along with the Atrix smartphone as an expensive add-on, no doubt a costly mistake for everyone involved.
The PadFone X's eventual success or failure on AT&T will come down to price and if buying the one-two combo makes financial sense for those who are also interested in a tablet form factor for travel or home.
We're no strangers to Asus' PadFones. Thanks to the addition of Android 4.4 KitKat and Voice over LTE (VoLTE), which will support voice calls over the data network, this carrier-branded version is an even more promising performer than its cousin, the Asus PadFone (September 2013)
Apart from OS and this carrier partner, the specs we know of so far is very similar to September's unlocked, global model. A 5-inch 1080p HD smartphone slides into a connector bay on the back of the tablet docking shell, then uses the phone's battery and Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor to power the pad.
Interestingly, the tablet portion of the PadFone is smaller this time around, just a 9-inch HD screen rather than the 10.1 inches before. That'll place the PadFone X on the larger end of the tablet scale compared to small-size devices like Nexus 7 and iPad Mini tablets.
This isn't the first time that AT&T has peddled a phone-and-dock solution. It also carried the Motorola Atrix 4G docking station along with the Atrix smartphone as an expensive add-on, no doubt a costly mistake for everyone involved.
The PadFone X's eventual success or failure on AT&T will come down to price and if buying the one-two combo makes financial sense for those who are also interested in a tablet form factor for travel or home.
Asus PadFone Mini
Asus shrinks PadFone two-in-one mobile device unit
LAS VEGAS -- Shortly after AT&T said that it will bring the Asus PadFone X smartphone/tablet hybrid to US customers, Asus announced that it has manufactured a junior-sized version of it as well. Aptly named the PadFone Mini, this device still enables users to plug their handset directly into their tablet, but in a smaller package
Along with a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, the device features an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera. This five-element lens shooter packs a backside-illumination sensor from Sony, as well as an f/2.0 aperture. It is capable of recording 1080p video, and a few photo editing options include HDR shooting and a low-light mode.
As for the tablet, it is equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen, and has a 1,280x800ppixel resolution. It's powered by a 2,100mAh, bringing the entire power capacity of the PadFone Mini unit to 3,270mAh.
On its rear side is a 24-pin connector dock, which is used to hold and connect the accompanying smartphone in its place. The tablet can also be used to juice the handset's battery while docking as well.
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The Mini is available in five colors (black, white, red, blue, and yellow). Though Asus has yet to release pricing and availability information, it is possible that the US may never get its hands on it, similar to how the PadFone (2013) is available only in Europe and Asia. However, given the news that AT&T is bringing over the PadFone X, the Mini may find its way to our shores after all.
Whatever the outcome may be, the concept of having a two-in-one smartphone/tablet kit is unique, and consumers who prioritize consolidation and efficiency may find Asus' PadFone line compelling, if not convenient.
Asus ZenFones
Asus delivers Android 4.3 with ZenFone smartphone family
LAS VEGAS -- While Asus' recently announced ZenFone smartphones may not exactly have us channeling inner peace, the handsets do sport enough decent specs that'll make our ears perk up. Unveiled at CES 2014, the ZenFone comes in three different sizes (with 4-, 5-, and 6-inch displays), and a wide array of colors.
Other than that, however, the devices do differ in certain ways. The ZenFone 6, for instance, is the biggest and most powerful of the trio. It has a 6-inch display with a 1,280x720-pixel resolution, and can be used even with gloves on. Powering its innards is a 2GHz Intel Atom Z2580 processor and a 3,230mAh battery.
For photo capturing and video recording, users can operate its 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, as well as its 2-megapixel front-facing shooter. The PadFone 6 also comes with Asus' SonicMaster audio technology, which reportedly enhances sound quality. It will be available in black, white, red, and gold.
Camera equipment has also been scaled back. Namely, the rear-facing camera has been decreased to 8 megapixels, while the front-facing camera has a 2-megapixel lens. The ZenFone 5 will have the same color options as the 6.
Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+
Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+ gets an eight-core workout
In addition to the 2GHz octa-core processor, Alcatel has a full complement of other high-end specs on hand for its marquee smartphone, which will sell in basic black, bright white, and grey. There's the 5-inch 1080p HD display, the 13.1-megapixel camera with autofocus and an LED flash, plus a 2-megapixel front-facing camera; interestingly, both capture 1080p HD video.
Unfortunately, the Idol X+ stops short of its OS potential with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, rather than 4.4 KitKat or even 4.3 Jelly Bean, though this could change by the time the phone comes to market.
You're looking at 16GB or 32GB of on-board storage, plus 2GB RAM. The GSM quadband device (850/900/1800/1900) also supports UMTS 900/2100 bands. It weighs in at 4.6 ounces.
Overall, the Idol X+'s design was adequate, but not very exciting. The real cause for a quickened pulse is the potential performance of its eight-core MediaTek processor, and that's something we'll need to keep an eye on as the phone gets closer to launch.
Alcatel One Touch Pop C9
The phones are cheery, but build quality wasn't a priority for the budget-seeker's handset. At 6.7 ounces, the C9 sounds heavier than it felt in my hand, though it certainly isn't as light as some its size.
Interestingly, the blue-black and red models are enrobed with color (and a soft-touch matte finish) from head to toe, while the rest parade their glossy pigment on the back only, a contrast to the bright white fronts.
The phone's feature set has plenty of high points, but some dips as well. You get a 1.3GHz quad-core chipset for one, an 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture and playback, and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera as well.
On the other hand, the 5.5-inch LCD screen only has a qHD resolution of 960x540 pixels for a pixel density of 200 pixels per inch. That's very low compared to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, say, which has a 386ppi on its 5.7-inch 1080p HD screen. The result? Less crisply defined images and text, and no support for HD video clips -- in short, the very things you'd seek out on a large-screen device.
The quad-band GSM handset supports HSPA+ speeds, but no LTE, which means you shouldn't look for the Pop C9 to pop up on top-tier US carriers. Despite a battery that should be large enough at 2,500mAh, Alcatel is reporting talk times of only 8 hours over 2G and 4 hours over 3G.
All of this adds up to a handset that's gunning for a competitor like the (much larger) 6.3-inch Samsung Galaxy Mega, but which will sell for around half its unlocked retail price, closer to $200 than to $400. The Pop C9 comes to parts of Asia and Brazil in Q1.
Roku TV CES 2014
Roku announced the Roku TV platform today at CES 2014, partnering with Chinese manufacturers Hisense and TCL to produce the first sets. Six models are slated to launch this fall -- three from each company -- in sizes from 32- to 55-inches.
A Roku TV is exactly what it sounds like: a standard HDTV that essentially has a Roku box built-in. The idea isn't all that different than the Smart TV features included by most TV manufacturers, except that it's Roku's excellent software, which means Roku TVs will have access to over 1,000 channels, cross-platform search for movies and TV shows, and a clean, simple user interface. Roku's best-in-class streaming software is one of the main reasons the company's boxes have earned award over tough competitors like the Apple TV and Google Chromecast.
Those icons are basically fancy input labels. Once you select a device, it will switch to the corresponding input, but then you'll have to pick up its remote, as a Roku TV can't control other devices like a cable DVR. The interface should feel relatively snappy, as Roku claims Roku TV's internal processor is faster than its standard boxes, although not quite as speedy as the Roku 3's chip.
Technically, Roku TV is a "reference design platform and software stack" for manufacturers, and what's even more interesting is that Roku says it will be responsible for software updates in the future. That's potentially a big bonus for buyers, as major manufacturers tend to abandon their existing Smart TV software as soon as new models come out the next year.
The first Roku TVs are scheduled to be available from US and Canadian retailers this fall, and although not pricing hasn't been announced yet, Roku did say there will be entry-level price points. Both Hisense and TCL will be showing their Roku TVs at the show and we'll be going hands-on to get more details on each company's new sets.
Sunday, 5 January 2014
Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 in CES 2014
The Galaxy Camera 2 doesn't stray too far from the original formula, though. It has the same 21x zoom wide-angle lens and 16-megapixel backside-illuminated sensor as the first-gen model. Its giant 4.8-inch HD touch screen remains as well.
It's now wrapped in leatherette and trimmed in metal saying, "Look at me, I'm a camera, not a smartphone." Still, it is running on Android 4.3 Jellybean, so it can do all of the stuff that a newer Android smartphone can do. That's especially true thanks to a new speedier 1.6GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. Oh, and NFC joins the camera's Wi-Fi to simplify pairing with NFC-enabled devices.
You'll find some new shooting modes, too, and a desperately needed larger battery pack as well. You can read more about its features in this slideshow or wait till it arrives in stores. I'd love to tell you when that is, but Samsung didn't announce availability or pricing (though I'd expect it to be around $500).
Battery life wasn't great with the first Galaxy Camera, so Samsung increased the battery power for the new model to 2000mAh from 1650mAh. Also, although the camera stores shots to microSD cards up to 64GB in capacity (not included) or to its 2.8GB of available internal storage, Samsung bundles in 50GB of Dropbox storage as well for up to two years.
Samsung updated the Galaxy Camera's flash to a hinged design, which allows you to bounce its light off of ceilings and walls for indirect lighting.
There are now 28 Smart Modes in the Galaxy Camera (up from 19), which are like the scene modes you'd find on other point-and-shoots, but several of them have interesting twists. There are basics like Landscape, Snow, and Macro, but you also get Best Face, which allows you to pick the portrait you like most from a burst of shots, as well as the new Selfie Alarm, which works the same but is tuned for self-portraits. You'll also find a Multi Motion Video mode that lets you control playback speed so you can slow down or speed up the action in your clips.
The 4.8-inch HD Super Clear Touch Screen LCD was certainly a highlight of the original and remains unchanged for this second-generation model.
Along with the leatherette finish on front, the camera has a brushed metal finish on top. With the same lens, sensor size, and screen, the body size remains about the same as the first version, though its weight is a touch less at 10 ounces compared to the previous generation's 10.7 ounces.
There is no SIM card slot this time around, and the Galaxy Camera 2 is presently Wi-Fi only. However, Samsung added NFC for simple straightforward pairing with NFC-enabled devices. Just tap them together and you can create a wireless network between the camera and your smartphone or tablet for quickly sending photos and movie clips or remotely controlling the camera, among other things.
Just because it's first and foremost a camera doesn't mean you can't use it for anything else. With Android 4.3 and full access to Google Play and other apps, the Galaxy Camera 2 makes for a nice media player, too. There's even a mic and headphone jack, so you can listen to movies and music, make Skype calls, or even use it for recording better audio for your movies.
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