The Technology of Today Malaysia: IFA

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Lenovo makes some big waves with their new Yoga Book tablet but they have another more conventional device for the market. Enter the Lenovo Yoga 910 which is the successor to the Yoga 900 convertible. The new Yoga 910 still features Lenovo's watchband hinge design but Lenovo has included a edge to edge display for the first time ever. To top things off, the Yoga 910 comes standard with a 4K display.

But beyond that, the Lenovo Yoga 910 is a pretty decent 13-inch laptop. It features Intel's new 7th generation (Kaby Lake) Core i7 processor that can be paired up with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of flash storage. In addition to that, Lenovo is also including things like USB Type-C ports, JBL stereo speakers with Dolby Audio and a fingerprint reader.

The result of all these high-end features is that the Lenovo Yoga 910 will retail at US$ 1,299 (~MYR 5,300) for the base model and will likely go up significantly higher for the spec'd out model. Learn more about the Yoga 910 here

ORIGINAL SOURCE: POCKET-LINT

As they say, bad habits die hard and for Sony, they are once again doing the 6 month flagship refresh cycle. Earlier this year, Sony revealed that they will be retiring the Xperia Z series in favor of the new Xperia X series. Currently, there are 4 devices in the Xperia X family and at IFA 2016 today, Sony is adding another two more to the Xperia X family.

The new Xperia XZ will be replacing the Xperia X Performance as Sony's flagship grade smartphone. The Xperia XZ is made out of aluminium and the fingerprint scanning lock key is still here but the biggest change to the design is ALKALEIDO aluminium that Sony is using to construct the rear panel of the Xperia XZ.

Other than that, the Xperia XZ is also Sony's first smartphone to adopt the UBS Type-C port. Also, Sony is also introducing their new 23MP IMX 300 sensor on the Xperia XZ which will supposedly produce excellent photos. In terms of video, Sony says they have thrown in a 5-axis stabilization system that they use with their handycam but the caveat is that it will only work with 1080P recording.

Beyond that, the Xperia XZ looks to be a pretty decent smartphone. There's also a new shade of blue like the one pictured below.

Moving on to the second smartphone that Sony is showing off at IFA 2016 and that is the Xperia X Compact. In a lot of ways, the Xperia X Compact is a lot like the Xperia Z Compact from yesteryear. But Sony is mixing things up a bit with the Xperia X Compact, it does feature the same 23MP IMX 300 sensor that the Xperia XZ has but that's about it.

Everything else is a little bit of a downgrade. The screen is a mere 720P and the Xperia X Compact is constructed out of plastic. But, Sony did retain some of the good features like front facing speakers and the fingerprint sensor on the lock key.

Right now, Sony isn't disclosing any information or pricing of the Xperia XZ and Xperia X Compact.

Sony Xperia XZ Key Specifications

— 5.2-inch 1080P IPS LCD display
— Snapdragon 820 SoC
— 3GB RAM
— 32/64GB expandable memory
— 23MP f2.0 rear camera
— 13MP front camera
— 2,900mAh battery w/QC3.0
— Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
— 146 x 72 x 8.1mm
— 161g
— Black, Platinum, Blue, Pink
— IP68 rating

Sony Xperia X Compact Key Specifications

— 4.6-inch 720P IPS LCD display
— Snapdragon 650 SoC
— 3GB RAM
— 32GB expandable memory
— 23MP f2.0 rear camera
— 85MP front camera
— 2,700mAh battery w/QC3.0
— Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
— 129 x 65 x9.5mm
— 135g
— White, Black, Blue

ORIGINAL SOURCE: SONY

At IFA 2016 today, French based firm Withings (owned by Nokia) announced their latest product called the Withings Steel HR. In terms of design, the new Steel HR looks a lot like the company's previous analog based fitness trackers that could last for months. The biggest feature of the Withings Steel HR is it's design, just like other trackers from Withings, the new Steel HR looks like a normal analog watch.

The twist is that the new Steel HR from Withings not only track your fitness data but it also tracks your heart rate and the device can also display simple notifications. In addition to that, Withings also claims that their Steel HR has a battery life of up to 25 days even while the heart rate monitoring is active. This is a pretty impressive feat given that current fitness trackers with HR features can only last up to 7 days.

Withings will begin offering the Withings Steel HR this October for US$ 179.95 (~MYR 740) and US$ 199.95 (~MYR 820) for the 36mm and 40mm models respectively. Learn more about the Withings Steel HR here

ORIGINAL SOURCE: ANDROID CENTRAL

Just as hinted by previous reports, Huawei has announced two new mid-range android smartphones called the Huawei Nova and Huawei Nova Plus. The Nova is the smaller of the two and in terms of design, the Huawei Nova looks strikingly similar to the Huawei made Nexus 6P. The Nova Plus in the other hand is a much larger device with a 5.5-inch display and the design of the phone resembles Huawei's existing smartphones.

Both devices feature premium unibody aluminium builds, a fingerprint sensor on the back and a USB Type-C port on the bottom. Huawei says that they will be launching the Nova and Nova Plus in Europe (in October 2016) for €399 (~US$ 447 / ~MYR 1,800) and €429 (~US$ 480 / ~MYR 1,950) respectively.

Huawei Nova Key Specifications

— 5-inch 1080P IPS LCD display
— Snapdragon 625 SoC
— 3GB RAM
— 32GB expandable memory
— 12MP rear camera
— 8MP front camera
— 3,020mAh battery
— Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
— 141.2 x 69.1 x 7.1mm
— 146g
— Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold

Huawei Nova Plus Key Specifications

— 5.5-inch 1080P IPS LCD display
— Snapdragon 625 SoC
— 3GB RAM
— 32GB expandable memory
— 16MP rear camera
— 8MP front camera
— 3,340mAh battery
— Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
— 151.8 x 75.7 x 7.3mm
— 160g
— Gray, Silver, Gold

ORIGINAL SOURCE: HUAWEI

Last year, HTC unveiled an iPhone lookalike called the HTC One A9 and today at IFA 2016, the company is at it again with their new HTC One A9s. While the name of the HTC One A9s sounds like an upgrade, it is in fact a downgrade in terms of specifications. The core design of the A9 is still present in the A9s but HTC has seemingly downgraded things like the screen and SoC.

Right now, HTC isn't talking about release dates and pricing yet but expect it to be more affordable than the US$ 499 HTC One A9 given that the A9s is less powerful in all aspects.

HTC One A9s Key Specifications

— 5-inch 720P Super LCD display
— MediaTek Helio P10 SoC
— 2/3GB RAM
— 16/32GB expandable memory
— 13MP f2.2 rear camera
— 5MP f2.8 front camera
— 2,300mAh battery
— Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
— 146.5 x 71.5 x 8mm
— 150g
— Black, Silver, Gold

ORIGINAL SOURCE: HTC

Yesterday, ZTE Malaysia announced the availability of their Axon 7 smartphone in Malaysia and today in Berlin (IFA 2016), the chinese company showed off the Axon 7 mini which is the more affordable version of their flagship smartphone.

ZTE Axon 7 Mini Key Specifications

— 5.2-inch 1080P AMOLED display
— Snapdragon 617 SoC
— 3GB RAM
— 32GB expandable memory
— 16MP f1.9 rear camera with OIS
— 8MP f2.2 front camera
— 2,705mAh battery w/QC2.0
— Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
— 147.5 x 71 x 7.8mm
— 153g
— Dual SIM LTE
— Gold, Gray

Building upon the original Axon 7, the new Axon 7 mini is basically a device that features less processing power but retains the core features that made the Axon 7 unique. Things like the Dolby Atmos audio, the aluminium unibody design and front facing speakers are still present with the Axon 7 mini

ZTE says that they will be rolling out the Axon 7 mini to the US, Germany, Australia, India, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Poland, Japan and Russia later this year for €299 (~US$ 334 / ~MYR 1,370).

ORIGINAL SOURCE: ENGADGET

The 2-in-1 laptop/tablet market has grown substantially in the last couple of years with various form factors from a lot of manufacturers. Microsoft made a mark with their Surface convertibles, ASUS has been trying to make detachable PCs for quite some time now and Lenovo has been innovating on their 360 degree hinge.

But the latest device out of Beijing's Lenovo is trying to redefine the 2-in-1 convertible market. Enter the Lenovo Yoga Book, a device that looks strikingly like Lenovo's previous Yoga 2-in-1 laptops but the twist is that the Lenovo has replaced the keyboard with something that they are calling the "Create Pad"

Basically, this region serves as the keyboard of the Yoga Book and also a canvas that accepts input from Lenovo's specially engineered pen (called the Real Pen) that uses the Electromagnetic Resonance (EMR) film to detect input in real time. What's even more impressive is that if you write on paper place on the Create Pad with the Real Pen, the hardware will transfer what you doodled on that piece of paper onto the Yoga Book.

Also, the Real Pen serves as a dual purpose device. Out of the box, the Real Pen comes with a tip for digital inking but Lenovo has created a special ink catridge that can be swapped for the digital inking tip to make the Real Pen an actual pen.

Beyond that, the Lenovo Yoga Book is a pretty decent tablet constructed out of aluminium and paired with a 10.1-inch 1080P IPS display. Powering the Yoga Book is an Intel Atom X5 processor and a decently size 8,500mAh battery that will last up to 15 hours. When launched, Lenovo will be offering both a Windows 10 version and Android version of the Yoga Book which will cost US$ 499 (~MYR 2,040) and US$ 549 (~MYR 2,242) respectively.

Learn more about Lenovo's Create Pad canvas here

ORIGINAL SOURCE: LENOVO

Alongside the announcement of the Moto Z Play this morning, Lenovo also showed off a new Moto Mod from camera maker Hasselblad. The company famously known for it's medium format camera recently announced a mirrorless camera and the announcement today is the company's first dive into the consumer smartphone world.

The new Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod does not actually utilize any of Hasselblad's imaging technology but it does take advantage of Hasselblad's software algorithm. For US$ 299 (~MYR 1,200) Hasselblad's Moto Mod is pretty affordable. This Moto Mod will support all three Moto Z phones and introduces a xenon flash, a physical shutter button, the ability to shoot photos in RAW and a 10x optical zoom.

Learn more about Hasselblad's Moto Mod here

Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod Key Specifications

— 12MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor
— f3.5-6.5 aperture
— 25-250mm focal length
— 100-3200 ISO
— 152.3 x 72.9 x 9.0-15.1
— 145g
ORIGINAL SOURCE: MOTOROLA

Earlier this Summer, Lenovo showed off the Moto Z family and also introduced the concept of Moto Mods. And today at IFA 2016, Lenovo is announcing the Moto Z Play, the third smartphone in the Moto Z family. Just like the Moto Z and Moto Z Force, the new Moto Z Play features the same glass on glass design and also features the Moto Mod pins on the back.

What's being highlighted with the new Moto Z Play is the battery life which according to the company is the best they have ever achieved. With a 3,510mAh battery and a 1080P display, the Moto Z Play can last up to 50 hours of mixed usage. Additionally, the Moto Z Play will also feature Turbo Charging for 9 hours of usage with just 15 minutes of charging

But beyond that, the Moto Z Play looks to be an affordable alternative of the Moto Z and Moto Z Force. For what it's worth, the Moto Z Play features the 3.5mm headphone jack which the Z and Z Force left out. Lenovo will begin offering the Moto Z Play globally beginning September 2016 for €499 (~US$ 556 / ~MYR 2,278)

Lenovo Moto Z Play Key Specifications

— 5.5-inch 1080P Super AMOLED display
— Snapdragon 625 SoC
— 3GB RAM
— 32GB memory

— 16MP f2.0 rear camera

— 5MP front camera

— 3,510mAh battery
— Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

ORIGINAL SOURCE: MOTOROLA

Just last month, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note7 and today at their IFA 2016 event, Samsung is showing off their third generation Tizen based smartwatch which will support Android phones running Android 4.4 and above (and iPhones in the near future) The biggest change that the Gear S3 is bringing to the table compared to last year's Gear S2 is a bigger display that is covered by Corning's new Gorilla Glass SR. Samsung is baking in a full color always on display with the Gear S3.

Like last year, Samsung's new Gear S3 series will have two variants, the Gear S3 Frontier and Gear S3 Classic. The biggest difference between the two is that the Gear S3 Frontier features LTE and a more aggressive industrial look. Both versions feature MST and NFC which enables Samsung Pay transactions and they are also IP68 water resistant. Samsung is also adding a microphone and speaker to execute various commands.

But that's not all, the company says that they have done extensive research in designing the Gear S3 and the Gear S3 Frontier is the result of the research. Additionally, Samsung has also collaborated with designers Yvan Arpa and Arik Levy to design straps and watch faces for the Gear S3.

In terms of the actual functionality of the Gear S3, the device itself will count health data like calories and sleep but it will now also track GPS data. Also, Samsung says that they have tuned the software to improve battery life and the Gear S3 will last up to 4 days on a single charge. Things like the rotating bezel and wireless charging is still present.

Right now, Samsung isn't talking about pricing but they are quoting that the Gear S3 will be available beginning October 2016. And given that Samsung is planning to continue offering the Gear S2, expect the Gear S3 to be priced higher than the current Gear S2 models.

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier Key Specifications

— 1.3-inch 360 x 360 Super AMOLED display
— Dual core 1.0GHz processor
— 768MB RAM
— 4GB memory
— Bluetooth 4.2 LE

— 380mAh battery
— Tizen OS 2.3.2
— LTE

— 46 x 49 x 12.9 (62g)

Samsung Gear S3 Classic Key Specifications

— 1.3-inch 360 x 360 Super AMOLED display
— Dual core 1.0GHz processor
— 768MB RAM
— 4GB memory
— Bluetooth 4.2 LE

— 380mAh battery
— Tizen OS 2.3.2

— 46 x 49 x 12.9 (57g)

ORIGINAL SOURCE: SAMSUNG

Thin and light is the trend today and Acer is joining the trend with their new laptop series called Acer Swift. At launch, there will be three iterations of the Acer Swift, namely the Swift 1, Swift 3, Swift 5 and Swift 7. Most notably is the Acer Swift 7 with a 13.3-inch display which is leading the headlines because it is officially the world's thinnest laptop at just 9.98mm

Acer Swift 7 Key Specifications

— 13.3-inch 1080P IPS display
— Core i5 7300U processor
— 8GB RAM
— 256GB SSD
— 1.1kg (2.48lbs)
— $999

Acer Swift 5 Key Specifications

— 13.3-inch 1080P IPS display
— Core i5 7300U processor
— 8GB RAM
— 256/512GB SSD
— 1.36kg (2.99lbs)
— $749

Acer Swift 3 Key Specifications

— 14-inch 1080/720P IPS display
— Skylake/Kaby Lake processors
— 4/8GB RAM
— 128/256/512GB SSD
— 1.5kg (3.3lbs)
— $499

Acer Swift 1 Key Specifications

— 14-inch 720P IPS display
— Pentium/Celeron processor
— 4GB RAM
— 1.6kg (3.53lbs)
— $249

ORIGINAL SOURCE: ANANDTECH

VR backpacks might be the trend this year amongst computer manufacturers but Acer might have just started a new trend with the introduction of their new Predator 21X laptop. This is no ordinary gaming laptop, sure it has the best from Intel and Nvidia (7th generation Core i7 processor and dual GTX 1080s in SLI) which is cooled by 5 cooling fans

But the star of Acer's new 21X gaming laptop is the 21-inch curved display. The display itself features a resolution of 2560 x 1080 which is an ultra-wide form factor. That's not all, the display also includes Tobii's eye tracking technology to intelligently change the display for an optimal viewing experience.

In addition to that, Acer has also thrown in a mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX switches. As for the actual laptop part of the Predator 21X, the device features USB-C ports, Windows Hello, support for Nvidia G-Sync and a 4.2 channel audio system.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: ACER

During ASUS' Zenvolution IFA 2016 press conference, the taiwanese company unveiled their latest Android Wear device. The new ASUS ZenWatch 3 is the third smartwatch from the company in the last two years and the biggest difference with this new model is the inclusion of a round display which is a departure of the square display that ASUS has been previously using.

ASUS ZenWatch 3 Key Specifications

— 1.39-inch 400 x 400 AMOLED display
— Snapdragon Wear 2100
— 512MB RAM
— 4GB memory
— Bluetooth 4.2 LE
— 341mAh battery

— Android Wear 2.0
— Rose gold, Silver, Gunmetal

In terms of design, ASUS is opting in with a gold theme color for all three color options available. All three ZenWatch 3 color options will feature a rose gold bezel. Also, ASUS has implemented a three button layout for the ZenWatch 3 which is similar to that of an analog watch but it will be interesting to see how the software will play along with three buttons.

This is an Android Wear smartwatch after all and ASUS says that their ZenWatch 3 comes pre-loaded with 50 watch faces. They are also quoting that their new ZenFit activity tracking is 95% accurate in tracking steps. And last but not least, the ZenWatch 3 features ASUS's Hypercharge technology that will recharge the ZenWatch 3 from 0 to 60% in just 15 minutes.

Right now, ASUS isn't disclosing any information as to when the ZenWatch 3 will be available but they are quoting the ZenWatch 3 to be priced at €229 (~US$ 255 / ~MYR 1,040)

ORIGINAL SOURCE: ASUS

Well, today Samsung has just announced two new smartphones and usually for Samsung, the announcement of the Galaxy Note 5 marks the end of big announcements for the Korean manufacturer but just before closing of the keynote this morning, the company did a very subtle teaser of what's coming next.

Samsung has officially confirmed that their brand new wearable devices called the Gear S2 will be announced during IFA 2015. We've already heard previously that Samsung is working on a circular Tizen smartwatch that feature premium build materials and it looks like things are beginning to materialize.

Besides it's ability to run third party applications and it's round nature, that's all that we currently know about the new Gear S2. Stay tuned for more information regarding this as the weeks unfold.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: SAMMOBILE

Earlier this week Samsung officially confirmed the reports and scheduled an Unpacked event for August 13. While the much anticipated Galaxy Note 5 will definitely be making the cut and so is the Galaxy S6 edge+, we have yet to set eyes on anything clear.

In the past, all of the leaks were either blurry, badly composed or was just computer renders showcasing the shape of the device. Well, that is all in the past as prolific leaker Evan Blass has tweeted what looks like official marketing renders from Samsung.

As expected, both the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ looks similarly sized and this is yet another confirmation that Samsung plans to unpack two new devices on August 13. This render also confirms the new look of the S Pen and the date listed on the device is August 21 which is apparently when the device will hit the market.

Other that that, the capacitive buttons on the Galaxy Note 5 looks enlarged compared to the Galaxy S6 edge+. Anyways, stay tuned as we're bound to see and hear more about Samsung's new devices as the days go by.

Just in case you missed these elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/zOmKkJqQpU
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 1, 2015

ORIGINAL SOURCE: @EVLEAKS (TWITTER)

After quite a number of leaks and report in the outgoing weeks, Samsung has finally come out to say that they will be hosting an Unpacked event in NYC on August 13 11:00AM ET. As always, the invite card has a little to say about what Samsung plans to unveil on the day itself and from the looks of it, the curved glass back on the Galaxy Note 5 is definitely happening.

Check out the GIF of this in the tweet below

#TheNextGalaxy is coming. See what's next on August 13. http://t.co/8YGETdtuo7 pic.twitter.com/CSaKrroj1h
— Samsung Mobile (@SamsungMobile) July 27, 2015

During the Unpacked event, Samsung will be announcing both the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ and for the first time ever, Samsung will be skipping the IFA unveiling of their flagship phablet device and reports suggest that this move by Samsung is to gain some sales ground against Apple's forthcoming iPhone 6S.

For all of us in Malaysia the time for the Galaxy Unpacked event will be August 13 11:00PM (GMT+8). So, the time is just right for a stream before the night goes down. As usual Samsung will be hosting a livestream through their YouTube channel, so stay tuned for that.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: THE VERGE

Over the last few weeks, we've heard countless stories about the Galaxy Note 5 and reports have indicated that Samsung will indeed be launching a brand new phablet earlier than the usual IFA unveiling. Besides a possible launch date, multiple sources have also published credible renders of the device which shows a lot of similarities amongst each other.

Samsung Galaxy Note lineup has always been known for it's large size but besides that, Samsung's unique S Pen is also the thing that drives sales for new Galaxy Note models. In the past, Samsung has slightly changed the design of the S Pen and also increased the sensitivity but this time around with the Galaxy Note 5, Samsung is shaking up the functionality of the S Pen.

At the moment, we know nothing much about the new features which the Galaxy Note 5's new software will bring to the table in terms of S Pen functionalities but one thing's for sure is the the S Pen might finally be able to eject itself from the silo. As seen from various leaked renders, the Galaxy Note 5's S Pen sits flush on the bottom of the device.

This new photo revealed today shows what allegedly looks like Samsung's new S Pen design which apparently features a second button located on the top of the S Pen as a vertical click button. As for the look and feel of the new S Pen, it looks like Samsung is going for a clean metallic look which might very well be just nicely painted plastic.

Samsung is aiming to launch the Galaxy Note 5 early next month ahead of Apple's new iPhone 6S and all that's left now is to see an official announcement by Samsung regarding a new device launch.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: PHONEARENA via ANDROIDGUYS

Samsung might be planning to announce the Galaxy Note 5 weeks ahead of IFA 2015, but it looks like Microsoft plans to take the center stage during Europe's biggest electronics trade show to announce Windows 10 devices. Although smartphones were not specifically called out, it's pretty self-explained as IFA has always been a place for mobile devices rather than PCs.

Just last week, Microsoft revealed that they will be streamlining their product lineup into a more narrow focused approach with only 1-2 devices for the 3 categories (entry level, enterprise, high end) they're aiming at.

So, it's clear that we might very well only see 2-3 devices being announced at IFA 2015. At this point, nothing is solid about the progress of Windows 10 Mobile, the software is still pretty much not stable at the moment but the pace is about to ramp up shortly after Windows 10 for the desktop hits users on July 29.

Also, to add up to the big speculation about upcoming Lumia devices running Windows 10 Mobile, Terry Myerson briefly teased the crowd during his keynote at Microsoft's annual partners conference this morning.

“Soon you’ll see premium Lumia devices designed for Windows 10,” says Myerson.
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) July 13, 2015

IFA, cough, IFA
— Daniel Rubino (@Daniel_Rubino) July 13, 2015

Microsoft's keynote during IFA 2015 will see Nick Parker, VP of Microsoft's OEM division to deliver a keynote entitled "Windows 10 Lights up new devices". The keynote will feature introductions to new Windows 10 2-in-1 devices, premium notebooks, gaming devices and also AIO devices.

So at this point, the introduction of new Lumia devices are still hanging about the clouds but there is potential that new Lumia Windows 10 devices will make an appearance during IFA 2015 which is happening this September. Are you excited to see Microsoft's new flagship Lumia? We know we are. The keynote will be on September 4 (3PM CET) during IFA 2015 in Berlin.

based on rumors. It has a FullHD 5.2 inch edge to edge screen, 20 MP camera, triple LED flashlight, USB-C, an iris scanner and it runs with Windows 10 Mobile.
Posted by Phone Designer on Monday, July 6, 2015

SOURCE: PHONEARENA via WINDOWS CENTRAL

It seems we're having no lack of Android phones to choose from this year and just weeks after being announced in Japan. Today, Sony is announcing the Xperia Z3+ which is basically the Xperia Z4 in Japan. It seems that companies are enjoying adding the letter '+' after their existing smartphone and thus making a entirely new model out of the old one.

Sony is not a newcomer to this rebranding game, they've been practically doing this with their entire Xperia Z lineup. Throughout the 2 years since the original Xperia Z1 was announced, the design and core specifications like the camera has not be changed whatsoever. Every 6 months or so, they'll just swap in the latest and greatest silicone into the body of the previous Xperia Z and somehow make it a little thinner and boom! They have a new device.

Even slimmer.Even lighter. Even faster.Discover the next step in our evolution with Xperia Z3+. http://bit.ly/XperiaZ3plus
Posted by Sony Mobile on Tuesday, May 26, 2015

The Xperia Z3+ is no exception and this time around, Sony didn't increment the numbering and simply just added the '+' after the Xperia Z3 indicating that it's a slight improvement. Indeed it is, as usual, the new processor included this time around is the ever so popular 64-bit 8 core Snapdragon 810 CPU.

On the front of the display, Sony has kept the already decent 5.2" 1080P Triluminous IPS display and is comparatively lower res than competing flagships from both Samsung and LG. Despite the lower PPI, the display is still very much a good one and so is the 20.7MP brought forward from last year's Xperia Z3. There's not much highlight on either the software or hardware of the rear camera, so we'll presume that it's still pretty decent.

What's different however is the new processor and also changes like the new 5MP front facing camera, a slightly slimmer profile (6.9mm opposed to 7.3mm), and a somewhat smaller 2,900mAh battery which can accommodate up to 2 days of usage.

As to the looks of the Xperia Z3+, Sony has kept the well designed omni-balance design of previous Xperia Z devices and the Xperia Z3+ is still IP68 rated which means you can bring it down to the pool to capture all the action underwater.

However, there is one notable change in the hardware and that is the new position for the microUSB charging port. The port has been moved from the top left corner to the standard bottom center placement. The new placement also removes the obnoxious flap and also the magnetic charging dock.

Sony says the Xperia Z3+ will go on sale in the coming weeks ahead and no pricing has been revealed but expect it to be closely priced to the existing Xperia Z3. This is indeed an international phone so expect to see it available in quite a range of countries.

SOURCE: ENGADGET and SONY MOBILE

This year Samsung didn't unveil a new smartwatch alongside their flagship Galaxy S6 and there's a very good reason for that. The company has been actively teasing a new smartwatch last month when they announced that a brand new Samsung Gear SDK will be made available soon. Well, today the SDK is out to developers and the package from Samsung does indeed reveal quite a bit about their next wearable.

According to the purported documents which reference Samsung's round smartwatch as "The Next Gear", the device will apparently feature a 360 x 360 resolution display similar to that of the Moto 360. In addition to the round form factor which is a first for Samsung, the device will feature the essential sensors like GPS and a HR sensor and most intriguingly is the inclusion of a 2G wireless connection.

This isn't the first time Samsung threw in a wireless connection on a device that fits on your hand, the gigantic Gear S had a SIM card slot.

Moving on to the most intriguing part of the SDK and that is the ability to rotate the bezel of the screen to either scroll through lists or zoom into images. These are just some of the examples which Samsung has implemented with this new hardware and it's all up to the developers to think of what can they do with that rotating ring.

This is quite an ingenious way to interact with the screen and at least Samsung didn't blindly copy the Apple Watch's digital crown which supposedly does the same thing as Samsung's solution but with is a little bit more left-hander friendly. Rotating bezels on watches aren't something new, they've been on watches for quite some time now.

As a whole, the SDK which Samsung released today is just scratching the surface of things and we're definitely going to see a round smartwatch from Samsung later this year. The alleged Galaxy A (codenamed Samsung Orbis) is expected to launch alongside the Galaxy Note 5 during IFA 2015 and it'll most likely be battling it off with Apple's next generation Apple Watch when if goes on sale during the holiday season.

One thing to note is that this round smartwatch isn't running on Android Wear, it's being powered by Samsung's own Tizen OS. Check out the sample screenshots of the round UI.