Tag: IFA 2015

Hands On | Sony Xperia Z5 and Z5 Premium

Sony might have been getting flak for being slow on innovation for the past few years. However, with the launch of the new Sony Xperia Z5 Premium along side the more mainstream Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 compact, the Japanese giant is ready to set the record straight.

The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is the worlds first 4k display equipped smartphone. Sony has also included a new fingerprint scanner at an innovative location, right on the power button. The fingerprint scanner makes it easy to unlock the device efficiently, its quick and very accurate, making it a pleasure to use.

Sony has not done much about the design apart from adding a matte finish on the Z5 and a ultra glossy finish on the Z5 Premium which will be available in Gold or Chrome. The remaining design is based on the use of metal as a structure and Gorilla Glass 4 on the front and back of all the devices.

The premium with its 5.5 inch display is just a bit bigger and comfortable for most and also sits in the same size dimensions as the iPhone 6 Plus. Th rounded metal frame feels great and easy to hold.

The 23MP camera is an immense pleasure to use, with the dedicated shutter button. Images are captured quickly and look sharp, especially thanks to the 4k display. The in body image stabalization that we were able to test also looks fantastic.

While most of the interface is still designed like olden Sony Timescape, the UI is fast and responsive and looks glorious on the UHD display. Android 5.1.1 is pre-installed and will be updated frequently and promptly promises Sony.

The front of the device also houses- boom sound style dual stereo speakers which is nice and loud. The audio is crisp and well balanced.

Sony has been able to truly capture our attention with the launch of these new handsets, but do we really need a 4k display smartphone and how will it affect the battery life? These are almost the same questions we asked at the time of QHD display. Stay tuned for our Review on the Xperia Z5 and Z5 premium soon and check out the spec sheet below:

Specification	Sony Xperia Z5	Sony Xperia Z5 Premium	Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
Display	5.2 inch display	5.5 inch 4K Ultra HD	4.6 inch display
Resolution	1920 x 1080p	4k – 806ppi	1920 x 1080p
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
Processor	Octa Core – 64 bit	Octa Core – 64 bit	Octa Core – 64 bit
GPU	Adreno 430	Adreno 430	Adreno 430
RAM	3GB	3GB	3GB
Storage	32GB internal memory	32GB internal memory	32GB internal memory
Expandability	–	200 GB	–
Rear Camera	23MP sensor, F2.0 G Lens, 1/2.3 Exmor RS	23MP sensor, F2.0 G Lens, 1/2.3 Exmor RS	23MP sensor, F2.0 G Lens, 1/2.3 Exmor RS
Rear Camera Video	4k	4k	4k
Front Camera	5MP	5MP	5MP
Front Camera Video	1080p	1080p	1080p
Battery	2 days stamina with Qualcomm Quick Charger	3430 mAh battery lasting for up to two days, with quick charge	2 days stamina with Qualcomm Quick Charger
Operating System	Android 5.1	Android 5.1	Android 5.1
Connectivity	4G LTE, Single SIM and Dual SIM	Single SIM and Dual SIM	4G LTE
Miscellaneous	Fingerprint sensor, Colours: White, Graphite Black, Gold and Green	Fingerprint sensor	Yellow and Coral
Price	–	–	–

October 21, 2015

Rumour: Sony Z5 Ultra with Snapdragon 820 Arrives Early 2016

There were rumours about Sony releasing a Z5 Ultra phablet, but instead they released the Z5 Premium at the IFA Berlin event last week. However, reports and rumours still suggest that Sony might release an Xperia Z5 Ultra phablet soon.

The speculated features of this phone include a 6.44 inch display with a 4K resolution, 23MP primary camera which is also available in the Z5, Z5 Compact and Z5 Premium. This smartphone could be charged by a 4000mAh battery and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820. The storage is expected to support 4GB of RAM space.

This handset is expected to be revealed in March 2016. So stay tuned for more details.

September 8, 2015
Hands on | Moto 360 2015

The Moto 360 2015 version was just unveiled at the IFA Berlin event and we have hands-on visuals for it. But before that let us take some time to describe what you are about to see.

Motorola has not just revealed one watch, its an entire ‘collection’ inspired by all the latest fall trends. This time we have a couple of options when it comes to the straps, as compared to the first Moto 360’s boring black band. This time the Moto 360 comes in two models, three sizes and up to 300 different ways to customize your Moto 360.

The Moto 360 2015 comes in two versions – a women’s version, and a sport version with an on-board GPS and outdoor readable display. The device is still round in shape with the men’s version coming in two variant sizes – 46mm and 42mm. While the women’s version, is obviously thinner and also comes in two variants – 42mm and 16mm strap mounts.

Another convenience available in the new Moto 360, that wasn’t available in the first edition, is the fact that now the smartwear comes with standard lugs that are fused to the outside of the watches making it easier to swap bands. The Motorola bands also have release pins even in the metal link bracelets.

There are different colours available for it too; the men’s version is said to come in silver, gold, and black, while the women’s version will have silver, gold, or a new rose gold color option.

In respect to the battery power and processor, Motorola has upgraded its device with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor. They have also further improved the battery life and say that the 46mm watch will last up to two days between charges, while the 42 mm watch will be able to last about a day and a half. You can charge your watch on the wireless dock which you’ll get along with the watch.

The new Moto 360 will be available for pre-order from the Motorola’s website starting today and will begin shipping in a couple of weeks. The Moto Sport, however will be available later in the year. The prices for these products will range between $299.99 to $429.99 (Rs. 19,000-Rs. 28,000 approx.). The pictures below should help you decide, whether you want this new smart wear or not.

September 3, 2015

Move Over QHD Smartphones, 4K Displays Are Here

Along with the Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact, Sony also released the Z5 Premium. The Z5 Premium is touted as being the world’s first 4K smartphone to have been created. It also comes with a 5.5 inch TRILUMINOS display for mobile and IPS which is four times the resolution of Full HD.

You can also take the memory card from Sony’s 4K Action Cam FDR-X1000V to Xperia Z5 Premium to watch your footage immediately, or connect to the TV either wirelessly via DLNA or with MHL 3.0 to enjoy your content on a 4K TV.

It is powered by the Snapdragon 810 processor and comes with a 3430 mAh battery lasting for up to two days, with quick charge capability. It features a large 32GB internal memory, with the capability to take a 200GB external microSD card.

In the audio section it has – a High-Res Audio, DSEE HXTM, high quality wireless music listening, Sony’s LDAC codec that is said to transmit data three times more efficiently than legacy codec over Bluetooth.

The Xperia Z5 Premium will launch in November 2015 and will be available in both Single SIM and Dual SIM variants.

Here are the specs:

Features	Xperia Z5 Premium
Display	5.5 inch display
Resolution	4k
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
Processor	Octa Core 2.2 GHz
GPU	Adreno 430
RAM	3GB
Storage	32GB
Rear Camera	23MP, 1/2.3 Exmor RS for mobile sensor and F2.0 G Lens
Rear Video Camera	4k
Front Camera	5MP
Front Video Camera	1080p
Battery	3430 mAh, 2 days stamina with Qualcomm Quick Charger
Connectivity	4G LTE
Price	–

September 2, 2015

Sony Launches the Xperia Z5 and Z5 Premium

Sony has finally unveiled its three new devices – the Z5, Z5 Compact and the Z5 premium, at the IFA Berlin event today. The most important feature of the Z5, is that it comes with a large 1/2.3 Exmor RS for mobile 23MP sensor and F2.0 G Lens primary camera. This camera is also designed with Sony’s interchangeable lens camera alpha technology, with a speed of 0.03 seconds, and a 5x clear image zoom.

The Z5’s body is made in a continuous plate form, a metal frame, a frosted glass back and is also waterproof. It comes with a 5.2 inch display, and comes in various colours such as – White, Graphite Black, Gold and Green. The handset comes with a fingerprint sensor power button and will also support the FIDO standard – authentication via fingerprint for online payment services.

The other device that has been unveiled alongside the Z5 is the Z5 Compact which also comes with the same camera technology but is a pocket-friendly device with a 4.6-inch display. This phone comes in variants of Yellow and Coral, in addition to White and Graphite Black.

Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, featuring octa-core CPUs, 64 bit capabilities and ultra-fast 4G LTE speeds. They also come with a 2 day battery stamina and is also packed with the Qualcomm Quick charge 2.0, which gives you a 5.5 hours usage with just 10 minutes of charging.

However, the Z5 is said to come in both single and dual SIMed variants, and will launch globally in October 2015.

The Z5 Premium, on the other hand, is touted as being the world’s first 4K smartphone to have been created. It also comes with a 5.5 inch TRILUMINOS display for mobile and IPS which is four times the resolution of Full HD.

The Xperia Z5 Premium will launch from November 2015 onwards and will be also be available in both Single SIM and Dual SIM variants.

Check out the full specifications of the devices here:

Specification	Sony Xperia Z5	Sony Xperia Z5 Premium	Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
Display	5.2 inch display	5.5 inch 4K Ultra HD	4.6 inch display
Resolution	1920 x 1080p	4K – 806ppi	1920 x 1080p
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
Processor	Octa Core 2.2GHz – 64 bit	Octa Core 2.2GHz – 64 bit	Octa Core 2.2GHz – 64 bit
GPU	Adreno 430	Adreno 430	Adreno 430
RAM	3GB	3GB	3GB
Storage	32GB internal memory	32GB internal memory	32GB internal memory
Expandability	–	200 GB	–
Rear Camera	23MP sensor, F2.0 G Lens, 1/2.3 Exmor RS	23MP sensor, F2.0 G Lens, 1/2.3 Exmor RS	23MP sensor, F2.0 G Lens, 1/2.3 Exmor RS
Rear Camera Video	4k	4k	4k
Front Camera	5MP	5MP	5MP
Front Video Camera	1080p	1080p	1080p
Battery	2 days stamina with Qualcomm Quick Charger	3430 mAh battery lasting for up to two days, with quick charge	2 days stamina with Qualcomm Quick Charger
Operating System	Android 5.1	Android 5.1	Android 5.1
Connectivity	4G LTE, Single SIM and Dual SIM	Single SIM and Dual SIM	4G LTE
Miscellaneous	Fingerprint sensor, Colours: White, Graphite Black, Gold and Green	Fingerprint sensor	Fingerprint sensor, Colours: Yellow and Coral
Price	–	–	–

September 2, 2015

IFA Berlin 2015 : Lenovo Unveils its ‘Smart Connected Device Collection’

Lenovo today announced its ‘smart connected device collection’ with almost 40 devices, that includes smartphones, wearables, tablets and PCs. Here’s a list of some of the upgraded and new devices that have featured this year:

Ideacentre AIO 700

The Moto 360: Now comes with more features and an extended battery life. It includes a refined case design with extended lugs, a new women’s line designed “by women and for women”, a new Moto 360 Sport for fitness enthusiasts with GPS and heart rate sensors. Along with all this, Lenovo has also included an AnyLight Display so that things can be read even in the sunlight, and an extended battery life than the first gen tech wear.

VIBE P1 Smartphone: Comes with a 5000mAh battery, OneKey Power Saver and Rocket Charge. It also supports the 5G WiFi with its very own WiFi Boost and is run by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 64-bit Octa-Core processor. It comes with a Near Field technology and fingerprint reader and a starting price of $159 which is Rs.10,532. Lenovo has also unveiled the VIBE S1 which comes with an 8 MP primary and a 2MP front camera.

iDeaPad : Lenovo has also announced seven new desktops, laptops and tablets from its ideacentre. It has paired with Intel RealSense cameras and Windows 10 for this. The new ideapad MIIX 700 12 inch, 2-in-1 tablet comes with a dual watchband hinge kickstand. The AIO 700 desktop has doubled up its CPU performance, screen resolution and memory capacity. Last but not the least, the ideapad 300 and 500 laptops are thinner and lighter and have even thinner versions called the ideapad 100S, 300S and 500S.

Lenovo PHAB Plus: This comes with a 6.8-inch full HD display and a battery that promises to last you an entire day along with fast internet. The Phab Plus will be priced at $299 which is approximately Rs.19,795; it will be available September onwards in select countries.

YOGA Tab 3 Pro and YOGA Tab 3: With a 70 inch projector, this tablet is perfect for Netflix. It also features four front-facing JBL speakers and a virtualized Dolby Atmos 1 experience over built-in speakers. The tab comes with the Netflix app in full HD display along with Dolby Digital Plus.

The Yoga Tab 3 comes in two variants – an 8 inch and a 10 inch display. Both come with a rotating camera and a great battery capacity with LTE support.

Keep watching this space for more live updates, straight from IFA Berlin 2015.

September 2, 2015
Report: ZenWatch 2 Price and Availability Revealed

New reports tell us details about the price and availability of the ASUS Zenwatch 2. The larger of the two – 49mm version will cost around $170 which is Rs.11,256 and the smaller 45mm version will be around $190 which is around Rs.12,580.

The Zenwatch 2 is said to hit the worldwide in october. Some other features of this tech wear are – a new metal crown, AMOLED screens,Snapdragon 400 processor, magnetic charger cable, dust-and water-resistance and will come in three colour variants of silver, gunmetal and rose gold. The watch will also come with rubber, leather and stainless steel straps for the fashion conscious user.

Watch the video below for the full design:

https://youtu.be/dw5KKD0bdoo

September 2, 2015
IFA Berlin ’15: What to Expect

IFA Berlin, originally a radio exhibition, has now become a red-letter event in the tech world. One of the oldest industrial exhibitions, it is a consumer electronics trade fair which holds a record of 2.4 billion euro of placed orders.

What you can expect from the event is a myriad of smart-phones, smart-watches, tablets and laptops up for display for potential customers and the international media. About 7000 journalists from over 75 countries have attended and covered this event in the past. IFA has previously been the launch platform of various fancy gadgets, Samsung Galaxy Note series being an example.

The first week of September thus marks Europe’s biggest exhibition of new consumer electronics, and therefore the most perfectly prepared market for the gizmo connoisseur. With all eyes glued on one of the most important events of the tech calendar, here’s a quick look at the many ways we can expect our minds to be blown away over the course of the next three days.

Samsung

Starting with a consistent flag-bearer of the event – the brand is expected to launch its new smart-watch, the Gear S2 at the event. Although Samsung has already revealed most of the details about its upcoming smartwatch, the company promised to give a more in-depth presentation at IFA.

Asus

Closely followed by Samsung is Asus’s ZenWatch2 whose price and release date is likely to be announced at the event. The company has promised “dramatically improved” features which include better recharging times with a magnetic connector. Knowing its track record, it is highly unlikely Asus would make an appearance with only one gadget. Hold tight for more updates on what Asus have to offer this year.

Motorola

Motorola is in toe of these major brands with its launch of the 2nd generation of Moto 360, another gizmo falling in the smartwatch category. This one will be available in two different sizes.

Sony

Sony has been fairly quiet about its presence in IFA this year, however it won’t be wrong to expect a slice from its growing range of wearable devices and an expanding set of 4K cameras and TVs. Sony is also expected to release its Xperia Z5, Z5 Compact, and Z5 Premium at the IFA Berlin event today.

Click here to read more about the upcoming Sony smartphones.

LG

The stage is set for the LG Rolly portable keyboard. This full-sized QWERTY keyboard for smartphones and tablets rolls up into a stick and therefore is convenient to carry around. Backed by a AAA battery, it is bluetooth enabled and is expected to last three months before running out of power. It would be interesting to note the response to this little gadget –if it’s worth the hoopla or will it be too fancy for any practical purpose. LG has declared September as the tentative time when it will be available for sale in the US.

Huawei

If rumours are to be believed, Huawei is expected to bring into action its own version of Force Touch technology, present in the Apple watch and speculated to be part of the next iPhone. Apple has described Force Touch as the “most significant new sensing capability” for it included Multi?Touch in older MacBook laptops. A Force Touch includes the usual gestures like scrolling and swiping along with a customisable feature in the trackpad called Force Touch. The users can adjust the feature’s sensitivity enabling them to determine the pressure required to determine a click.

Additionally, updates on the price and release date of the Android Wear-running Huawei Watch are also expected to be announced this IFA.

Lenovo

The company has kept its plans carefully and deliberately under wraps this year. However the air is rife with rumours of a 5.5-inch Vibe P1 Android handset that would perhaps be coupled with a 5,000mAh battery.

Microsoft

If Intel manages to market its Skylake range quickly enough, there is much to look forward to in terms of the Wintel combination. Intel’s Kirk Skaugen has already said, “Windows 10 and Skylake processors were ‘designed together.” Today at IFA, the entire Skylake range is going to be released, covering perhaps the broadest range of devices in the company’s history. With Windows 10 now out, PC makers everywhere should expect all sorts of new things and updates since the processor and Windows updates have already lined up quite conveniently for some big news this year.

There are a whole bunch of other brands to watch out for. Not being mentioned separately does not reduce their importance and contribution at IFA ’15. If we would have it the Arthur C. Clarke way when he said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”, it’s time to sit back and let the magic begin!

September 2, 2015

Samsung Officially Unveils The Gear S2 in Two Variants

It seems like Samsung decided to leave nothing for the IFA Berlin 2015. Unlike last year, when we witnessed the unveiling of the Note 4 and Note 4 Edge at the mega electronics festival, this year Samsung has already unloaded all its blockbusters.

Coming to the new smartwatch – it is 11.4millimeter thin, comes with a 1.2-inch screen with a 360x360resolution (302ppi). To power the device, Samsung has used 1GHz dual-core processor and provided the option of 3G Connectivity. The Gear S2 runs on the company’s very own Tizen OS and uses a rotating bezel, along with the Home and Back buttons, for navigation. Samsung has also added NFC for mobile payments.

The Samsung Gear S2 reflects Samsung’s most progressive innovation. It is the perfect complement for any occasion, easily taking you from day to night, from work to workout

Perhaps, the highlight of the device would be the fact that the company claims it lasts upto 2-3 days on a single charge. Since a wearable is an extra ‘smart’ device that you need to carry around, a long-lasting battery is a necessity. One of the exciting announcements is that the smartwatch has been announced in two variants – Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic. Other than the design, the only major difference between the two is their size. The Classic has been built smaller and lighter than the Gear S2. For its timeless design, we’re leaning towards the Classic which comes with a black dial and a leather band.

Samsung also announced that there will be multiple apps already optimised with the watch when it is made available. Though they did not elaborate further on the same. We’re also currently awaiting a word on availability and pricing.

Features	Samsung Gear S2
Display	1.2-inch, Circular Super AMOLED, 360×360, 302ppi
AP	Dual core 1.0 GHz
OS	Tizen based wearable platform
Storage Memory	4GB Internal Memory
RAM	512MB
Connectivity	Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth® 4.1, NFC
Battery	250mAh Li-ion
Misc	IP68 Certified Dust and Water Resistant, Wireless Charging

September 1, 2015

Sony Teases the Camera Capabilities of the Upcoming Xperia Z5

Sony has recently put out up a teaser, of what is being rumoured to be the new Xperia Z5. The teaser mentions a ‘greater focus’ feature, which perhaps suggests a phase detection system.

The company used their official Twitter account to reveal:

https://twitter.com/sonyxperiagb/status/635851614083878912

It is known that Sony has already implemented this in the Xperia M5, so therefore it seems likely. But there have been no official announcements. Even the idea of a Z-series is speculated, however, there have been many leaked images of an alleged Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact.

All we can do now, is wait for the IFA Berlin event and see what happens. Watch this space for exclusive updates.

August 26, 2015
Asus All Set To Launch Its New Smartphone and Smartwatch at IFA 2015

Reports suggest that Asus will now launch a new smartwatch and a new smartphone at a press conference on the 2nd of September at IFA-Berlin 2015.

Asus has posted a video on their official Facebook page that shows new products, like a new monitor, a new smartphone and a new smartwatch. Reports suggest that the smartphone could be the ‘Z00TDA’ handset which is said to come with a 5.5-inch FHD display of 410ppi pixel density, an octa-core chipset paired with 2GB of RAM, and 16GB internal storage with support for a microSD card. This new device is also rumoured to be powered by the Android Lollipop and will come with 4G LTE connectivity and 13-megapixel and 5-megapixel camera sensors.

Apart from Asus, Samsung is also planning to launch its smartwatch Gear S2 while Sony gets ready to launch its next flagship smartphones – the Xperia Z5 and the Xperia Z5 Ultra. Other companies such as Huawei, Microsoft and Acer are also expected to launch products at this event. So watch this space for more details on the IFA-Berlin 2015 and more.

Watch the official Asus video here.

August 20, 2015

Tag: IFA 2015

Specification

Sony Xperia Z5

Sony Xperia Z5 Premium

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact

Display

Resolution

Chipset

Processor

GPU

RAM

Storage

Expandability

Rear Camera

Rear Camera Video

Front Camera

Front Camera Video

Battery

Operating System

Connectivity

Miscellaneous

Price

Features

Xperia Z5 Premium

Specification

Sony Xperia Z5

Sony Xperia Z5 Premium

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact

Display

Resolution

Chipset

Processor

GPU

RAM

Storage

Expandability

Rear Camera

Rear Camera Video

Front Camera

Front Video Camera

Battery

Operating System

Connectivity

Miscellaneous

Price

Samsung

Asus

Motorola

Sony

LG

Huawei

Lenovo

Microsoft