Daily Archives: September 2, 2015

Motorola’s new Moto 360 Collection is official with the second-gen 360, available for pre-order today

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The Motorola Moto 360 is undoubtedly the smartwatch that put Android Wear in the map. It was the first round, full color smartwatch to hit the mass market, and it showed us just how beautiful a nontraditional watch could be. Today Motorola is announcing the much anticipated followup to the Moto 360 as a part of the new Moto 360 Collection, alongside the Moto 360 Sport.

The first thing you might notice about the new Moto 360 is its refined design. The bezel has been thinned out and the screen runs edge-to-edge now. It looks phenomenal, especially in the newest colorways (more in that in a bit). Size-wise, the new Moto 360 comes in several different sizes: 46mm and 42mm cases for men with 360×330 and 360×325 displays, respectively, and a 42mm case for women. For men, the standard Moto 360 colors are silver, black and gold with your choice of chamfer or micro knurl bezel treatments. Women get silver, gold and rose gold, and peak or micro etch bezels.

As you might have guessed by now, with all these different colors and bezel choices, the new Moto 360 is Moto Maker-compatible. Not only can you change the case color and bezel treatment, but also the bezel color and band. Speaking of the band, that’s also been redesigned for easier removal.

The specs of the new Moto 360 have also been updated:

  • Powered by Android Wear, compatible with Android and iPhone
  • 42mm – 300mAh battery, 46mm – 400mAh battery
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 with 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU (APQ 8026)
  • Adreno 305 with 450MHz GPU
  • Dual-microphones
  • 4GB storage
  • 512MB RAM
  • Improved sensors including heart rate sensor
  • IP67 dust and water resistance

The new, second gen Moto 360 is available for pre-order today from Motorola.com, Best Buy and Google. It starts at $299 and goes up to $429. It will be available in late September at Nordstrom’s, Best Buy and Verizon. The new Moto 360 is also expected to come to Asia, Europe and Latin America.

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Lenovo’s Phab Plus is a tablet masquerading as a phone

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Six-inch phones are a relatively normal occurrence in flagship devices in 2015, and with that normalcy has come the death of the word “phablet.” For better or worse, Lenovo’s got a shovel and they’re doing some digging with the announcement of the Phab Plus and Phab.

Sporting 6.8 and 6.9-inch displays, Lenovo is once again challenging the limits of what people are willing to carry around on a daily basis and hold against their face for long periods of time. But the Phab and Phab Plus aren’t meant for US, they won’t even be released here, so for markets where a smartphone is some people’s only access to the Internet, a 7-inch device makes a lot of sense.

Other than their gargantuan screens, the Phab phones are spec’d just about right for the price: $299 for the Plus and $179 for the regular Phab. The Plus comes with a Snapdragon 615 with 2GB of RAM, while the Phab comes with just 1GB. However, both do have an HD display. As previously mentioned, these won’t be released in the US, but they will be available elsewhere in September.

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Lenovo’s Vibe P1 and P1M feature huge batteries at an affordable price

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Ask just about any smartphone user what they would love in a new device and you can almost guarantee all of them will say better battery life. Lenovo is taking on that challenge with the introduction of the Vibe P1 and P1M (these devices should look familiar from MWC) at a very affordable price.

The P1M is the lesser of the two devices, coming in at just $159 with a 5-inch 720p display, 64-bit MediaTek MT6735P 1.0GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB expandable storage, 8 and 5-megapixel cameras, Android 5.1 and a 4000mAh battery.

The flagship Vibe P1 boasts a 5-inch 1080p display, 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 1.5GHz octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB expandable storage, 13 and 5-megapixel cameras, Android 5.1 and a whopping 5000mAh battery, all for just $279.

Unfortunately, both handsets are not slated for a US release, but they will be available in the markets in mid-September. If you want one bad enough, there’s sure to be a way to import one in the coming weeks.

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The Lenovo Vibe S1 has two front-facing cameras

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According to Lenovo, selfies are still a thing. Unfortunately, a quick check of your Facebook news feed will confirm this. So Lenovo is embracing the long-lasting trend with the Vibe S1, a new smartphone launching with two front-facing cameras.

Yes, that’s right, two front-facing cameras. The first is an 8-megapixel shooter for capturing your beautiful mug, and the second is a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The two cameras “work in tandem to unleash a myriad of new possibilities that can give selfies a creative twist.” Possibilities Lenovo suggest like getting rid of a photobomber, making the background blurry or superimposing your face in front of Eiffel Tower or Taj Mahal.

The rest of the phone isn’t too shabby: It comes with a 64-bit MediaTek MT6752 1.7GHz octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB expandable storage, 5-inch 1080p display, 13-meapixel rear camera, Android 5.0 and a 2500mAh battery, all for $299, launching this November. The Vibe S1 also comes with a curved glass back reminiscent of the original Moto X.

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Tech explained: Sony’s new Z-series uses a brand new custom camera sensor

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Sony has been persistent in using the same 20.7MP sensor for its flagship camera setup since the Xperia Z1. That makes for four generations of regular-sized Z-series members and two Compacts, so it’s fair to say that the imager was due for a replacement.

That’s precisely what Sony did and it’s now introduced a brand new custom sensor, exclusive to the company’s own device portfolio. Sources from Japan call it IMX300, but we couldn’t verify that. The chip debuts on the just announced Xperia Z5 lineup and is paired with an f/2.0 24mm-equivalent wide-angle lens.

The smartphone camera is being advertised as 23MP, and that’s what’s engraved on the backs of all three models, but that number only tells part of the story.

While we were shooting our camera samples with the pre-production models we have at the office, we noticed a discrepancy between the dimensions of 16:9 and 4:3 shots. That led us to dig in a little and we discovered that the camera utilizes what’s become known as a multi-aspect sensor.

Samples shot in 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios

Photos shot in 4:3 aspect come out at the headline 23MP resolution, or 5,520 x 4,140 pixels (22.85MP, but who’s counting). Meanwhile, the 16:9 aspect yields images, measuring 5,984 x 3,366 pixels (20.14MP). What you’ll notice, is that the 16:9 shots are wider than the 4:3 ones, hence they’re not cropped from 4:3, but instead use a different part of a larger sensor.

Basically, the effective area of the imager is at least (or exactly, we have no way of knowing) 5,984 x 4,140 pixels, totaling 24.77MP. The concept allows for optimum utilization of the image circle, projected by the lens, but also means you get comparable resolution in both ratios.

For example, if you were to extract a 16:9 aspect photo from a supposed 5,520 x 4,140 native 4:3 sensor, you’d be left with 5,520 x 3,105 pixels, or only 17.14MP. Additionally, your field of view (measured diagonally) would be narrower. With the multi-aspect sensor you get 3MP more and the same diagonal field of view, though obviously wider horizontal coverage. All that comes at the expense of wasting the extreme corners of the sensor, which we’re inclined to agree is a minor trade-off.

Sony, naturally, went the obvious route and branded the camera as 23MP, choosing go keep the nitty-gritties to itself. If it were to announce a 25MP camera, but users could only select a 23MP maximum resolution, we reckon marketing will have a lot to explain. More or less, the…

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Hulu announces $11.99 per month ad-free option

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Hulu is finally going to let you watch stuff without being pestered by ads. The streaming service announced a new paid plan today, and this will give you the freedom of watching your favorite content without it being interrupted by ads.

The catch is that it’s more expensive than Hulu’s other paid plan, which for $7.99 per month brings you “limited commercials”. If even those are too much for you to bear, then you can now opt for the “no commercials” variant, yours for $11.99 per month.

However, “due to streaming rights”, certain shows “will play with a short commercial before and after each episode”. Thankfully though there won’t be any interruptions while you’re watching.

The $7.99 plan isn’t going anywhere, so if you’re on that but don’t want to pay more you can just keep it. Hulu says this will continue to provide “a seamless and relevant ad experience by connecting viewers with the right advertisers”.

This year, the company has grown to 9 million US subscribers, up 50% from 2014.

Source | Via 1 • Via…

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Los nuevos Nexus se darán a conocer el 29 de Septiembre

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Marshmallow

Septiembre es un mes muy importante para muchos fabricantes y empresas del sector tecnológico. Tan sólo hace falta ver como las grandes empresas del sector presentan sus últimas novedades en ese mes, incluso muchas empresas tienen un propio evento y exclusivo para las próximas novedades antes de finalizar el año.

Apple es una de esas empresas que realiza cada año una presentación durante Septiembre, precisamente este año, se realizará el 9 de Septiembre. Los otros fabricantes esperan la celebración del IFA para presentar sus futuras novedades, y Google suele también realizar un evento a finales de Septiembre o principios de Octubre para presentar su nueva versión de Android junto a nuevos dispositivos Nexus.

Pues bien, después de muchos rumores sobre los futuros Nexus 2015 de cuando se presentarán ante el público, podemos comentar que, Google tiene previsto realizar un evento el próximo 29 de Septiembre en San Francisco. Así lo ha hecho saber el portal tecnológico, CNET, el cuál también informa que tanto el dispositivo de LG como el de Huawei compartirán escenario. Si esto ocurre, será la primera vez en la historia de Google que presenta dos terminales, el mismo año, bajo su marca Nexus.

LG Nexus 2015 y Huawei Nexus 2015, los terminales estrellas

Como es de esperar junto a la presentación de un nuevo dispositivo Nexus, también llegará la presentación de la versión final del sistema operativo para dispositivos móviles de Google. Android 6.0 Marshmallow, es el nombre de la futura versión que llevarán los futuros Nexus de LG y de Huawei. Ya hemos visto algo sobre esta futura versión, pero no será hasta el próximo 29 de Septiembre, que la veamos en todo su resplandor y con todas las novedades.

Sobre los dispositivos han habido muchos rumores sobre ellos. El Nexus 2015 de LG incorporaría una pantalla de 5,2 pulgadas bajo una resolución de alta definición. Su procesador sería el Snapdragon 808 y incorporaría 3 GB de memoria de RAM. Se habla que podría haber modelos de 16 GB, 32 GB y 64 GB de almacenamiento interno. Su batería no será extraíble y será de 3180 mAh. Entre otras especificaciones vemos como, incorporará sensor de huellas, una cámara de 13 MP, carga rápida e inalámbrica, USB Type-C, 4G/LTE.

nexus 2015

Por lo que respecta al Nexus de Huawei, este será más grande en todos los aspectos. Se rumorea que el dispositivo tendrá una pantalla de  5,7 pulgadas con resolución WQHD. En su interior encontramos un procesador Snapdragon 810, aunque también cabe la posibilidad de que sea un procesador del propio fabricante chino y, junto a ese SoC, encontramos 3 GB de memoria de RAM. Al ser un terminal más grande que su hermano, se espera que la batería tenga mayor capacidad, así como el sensor de la cámara fotográfica. Por las demás especificaciones, incorporará, sensor de huellas, carga rápida e inalámbrica, USB Type-C, 4G/LTE y será fabricado en metal.

huawei nexus

Como bien sabréis las especificaciones son rumores así que pueden variar cuando los nuevos Nexus se den a conocer. Estaremos atentos a las próximas horas y días para ver, de una vez por todas, la confirmación oficial por parte de Google.

 

 

El artículo Los nuevos Nexus se darán a conocer el 29 de Septiembre ha sido originalmente publicado en Androidsis.

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Motorola at IFA 2015

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A year after the first generation took the smartwatch world by storm with its timeless looks, it is time for the new Moto 360 to step up to the plate. The new iteration of Motorola’s acclaimed Android Wear device arrives on the market with revamped design, highly customizable body in two sizes, a version designed for ladies, and a brand new Sport model.

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Motorola unveils Moto 360 2nd Gen and Moto 360 Sport

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Today Motorola announced two new smartwatches – the Moto 360 2nd Gen and the Moto 360 Sport. Both will launch until the end of this year.

Moto 360 2nd Gen

The new Moto 360, as Motorola likes to call it, comes with improved design and battery life, enhanced fitness tracking and it’s highly customizable. Motorola stuck to the “flat tire” display for the new generation Moto 360, as they claim this was the only way for them to keep the bezels so thing and achieve the 71.7% screen-to-body ratio.

The new design moves the crown at 2 o’clock, keeps the round shape, but introduces lugs for hassle-free strap exchange. It also comes in two sizes – 42mm and 46mm. The available straps are made from either steel or leather.

The Moto 360 2nd Gen will be available within the Moto Maker website and will be highly customizable – you will be able to choose between various materials, additional bezels, colors, band colors and materials.

There is no official information on the chip inside the new Moto 360, but it does sport a heart-rate sensor, Wi-Fi connectivity allowing you to keep connection to your phone even when you are out of the Bluetooth range, wireless charging support and a battery capable of lasting 2 full days. Unofficial sources suggest the 42mm model is powered by a 275mAh unit, while the 46mm has a 375mAh battery.

Moto 360 2nd Gen runs on the latest Android Wear, enhanced with Motorola’s custom watch faces and Live Dials – those are shortcuts available on the watch faces.

The new 360 watch will launch worldwide very soon. As of tomorrow it will be available on pre-order in the USA via Motorola.com, Google Play Store and Best Buy. By the end of September Nordstrom and Verizon will be offering it as well. The retail price begins at $299.99 up to $429.99, depending on your configuration.

Moto 360 Sport

The Moto 360 Sport is a new take on the 360 smartwatch with the fitness fans in mind. It has everything the second generation Moto 360 offers, but comes with a better AnyLight Hybrid display with higher sunlight legibility, integrated GPS and option to work without your phone, plus it can store your music for offline listening while you are training.

The Moto 360 Sport, just like the regular Moto 360, is IP67 certified for dust and water resistance, though it isn’t water proof and is not meant for swimming or diving. It has strong silicone bands with UV coating so they can last longer and endure when subjected to moisture, water and dust.

Motorola is yet to detail the pricing and availability of the Moto 360 Sport, but we should be getting it in time for the holiday season or sooner. We can confirm the Sport model will come in just one…

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