A few days ago, a user posted a video online showing him bending his brand new Huawei Nexus 6P. It did create a lot of ripples over the internet, but a simple analysis would suggest that bending a smartphone with sufficient force applied deliberately is no indication of its weakness. Bending of Nexus 6P is definitely nothing to worry about unless someone with an insane mind would try to break it deliberately.
And now another news is doing the round. The glass at the rear panel of the phone that covers the camera is being touted as susceptible to spontaneous cracks! The glass covering the rear camera is named “visor” due to its appearance. Four users on Reddit have claimed that the visor of their Nexus 6P shattered spontaneously without exerting any external force.
This weird phenomenon has been taken seriously by several users who have been asking for clarification both from Google and Huawei. These claims cannot be validated due to the lack of any proper evidence and any confirmation from either Google or Huawei. But what is weirder is the fact that neither of the companies has refuted these claims either. So, what is the truth behind these so-called spontaneous shattering of the glass and what could be the probable reasons?
Well, for now we will look at both the possibilities. There is insufficient proof to prove the shattering phenomenon or to disprove it. Since the time users of Nexus 6P are reporting the cracks in the visor of their phone, various theories are doing the round.
According to one theory, the cracks are due to overheating and sudden cooling of the glass. It happens when the phone camera is used for a longer period resulting in the heating of the visor. As it would happen with any glass that is warm and suddenly cools, the visor also breaks “spontaneously”. This theory assumes that the poor management of heat is the reason for the cracks in the visor. Another theory suggests that the tempering method used for the glass could be the reason it cracks when there is a shear force impact. There could be some structural flaw in the glass resulting in the cracks.
Both these theories seem far-fetched. There is a very low probability of the cracks due to sudden heating and cooling phenomenon as the glass used to manufacture the visor is a gorilla glass. Such glasses are robust enough to withstand such fluctuations in the temperature. The second theory sounds even more outrageous. A glass of this quality used in a phone like Nexus 6P must have undergone various stress testing thereby nullifying any chances of it breaking due to any structural faults.
Having said that, why would anyone take a chance with a $600 smartphone, especially when there are reports of shattering of the visor? Instead of worrying whether to buy Nexus 6P or not due to these reports, it is a good idea to wait probably for a while before this news can be validated. Alternately, you may buy a Nexus 6P with a protective case and a Nexus protection program.
LG is planning to launch its successor to G4 in the form of G5 that will include an iris scanner taking biometric security to the next level. The expected specifications of the phone include a UHD or QHD display, either a 4 or 5 GB of RAM, 21 Megapixel cameras capable of clicking 4K images, a Snapdragon 810 processor and Android Marshmallow operating system. LG it seems has decided to deliver a power packed phone to carve a niche for itself in a highly competitive smartphone market which is evident from the fact that G4 does not even have a fingerprint scanner whereas G5 will feature the iris scanner.
Samsung would like to take the legacy of S series phones forward with its S7 and it is likely that the phone might be introduced in the first half of 2016. We might see the launch of S7 and S7 Edge with a possibility of them featuring a Snapdragon 820 processor although Samsung might continue with Exynos processors used in S6 phones. Alternately if decides to revert Samsung revert to Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processors, we could possibly see a 530 graphics and either a 4 GB or 6 GB LP-DDR4 RAM. The OS will be Android Marshmallow.
Sony had a tough time this year in the smartphone market and would like its fortunes to be turned around in 2016 with the launch of Z6. It is expected that Z6 will have a fingerprint scanner and a retina scanner, a Qualcomm 820 processor or Octa-Core chip 3GHz processor, a 27 Megapixel rotator camera, 5” 4k display and a type C USB port.
After the launch of HTC One M9 in October this year, the next expected offering from the company is HTC One M10 which might be launched by March next year. The company has said in a statement that it is working on making significant improvements to the design of its future phones. To survive in the ruthless smartphone market, HTC needs to innovate to not just succeed but also to survive. HTC One M10 is likely to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4 GB RAM, 27 Megapixel camera and a 1440 X 2560 resolution screen.
Apple iPhone 7
And, here’s the big one! Apple has traditionally announced the launch of its devices in September each year and in September of 2016, we may see the launch of iPhone 7 and even an iPhone 7 Plus. There are various rumours doing the round that iPhone 7 would feature a bigger and better screen, a brand new D-Jack headphone jack and a waterproof protection. The most likely technical specifications include an A10 processor and an M10 motion co-processor.
The German company Sennheiser has yet again surprised us all with their top of the line headphones that are definitely going to break the bank. The next generation Orpheus headphones or “Orpheus Reborn”, as the company calls it, cost $55,000 per pair. Sennheiser promises you to “transform music from something you listen to, into something you live in.”
Sennheiser first introduced the best headphones in the world in 1991 called the Orpheus. The company limited it to only 300 units and priced it at $16,000. And today, you’d be lucky to find those headphones double that price now. Keeping the same name and the philosophy behind their product, Sennheiser introduced the new and better Orpheus model, putting a mighty $55,000 price tag on it. This time, the headphones are not limited in production numbers, but the company says it is capable of building only 250 per year due to the time each unit requires to be built.
So what are the features of these $55k headphones that make them worth their price?
Electrostatic Earphones
Designed with Carrara marble
Audio range from 8 Hz to more than 100k Hz.
The lowest distortion in a sound reproduction system measured yet; 0.01% at 1 kHz, 100 dB SPL.
A platinum-vaporized diaphragm which is 2.4 microns thick.
The headphones took more than a decade to be created. They are made with such finesse and perfection that the engineers claim that these headphones will provide you with the cleanest sound you’ve ever listened to. So why do these headphones cost $55,000, and are they actually worth it?
Comes to Life with a Touch
Orpheus headphones give you a luxury experience from the moment you press the power button. The whole thing comes to life as the buttons slowly pop out, the analog amplifier tubes come out ready to be used and finally the box’s lid opens revealing the headphones.
Created with uncompromised Materials
Orpheus promises you the perfection you’ve never experienced. The company didn’t compromise on the materials they used to create the headphones. These are the first electrostatic headphones that use cool class A MOS-FET amplifiers eliminating any noise or distortion in the sound signal. The diaphragms are just 2.4 micrometers thick, made from vaporized platinum. It sits between two gold-vaporized ceramic electrodes, coated with a layer of gold to ensure perfect conductivity. The cables are made from oxygen free copper, plated with silver and other materials to eliminate any noise.
How does it Sound?
To put it straight, it sounds like heaven. People who have actually listened through these luxurious $55,000 headphones claim that they’ve never heard anything like it before. You become aware of every beat, every instance of music that you never knew existed. The Orpheus really provides you with the best audio sounds ever.
So the question still remains, are these headphones actually worth $55,000? And the answer is yes. Each and every component exists for a reason; it is a beauty with a purpose. And it all combines to give you the best hearing experience of your life. But should you spend $55,000 on a set of headphones? That depends on if you really appreciate high fidelity audio. If you can afford to spend $55k on headphones, then sure, go ahead.
Next year will be huge for new developments in technology, especially for laptops. 2015 was a big year in its right, from flexible 2-in-1 laptops finally reaching optimum functionality, to the refinement (and price drop) of touch screens. 2016 tech will be building off the success of this year, and you can bet some big splashes will be made. Read on to find out about four of the upcoming laptop tech trends to look for in 2016.
8K Screens
Once a distant dream that rivaled science fiction, 8K screens will be a reality in 2016. While you still may have to wait for the TV of your dreams, these ultra-high-definition screens will be available in the coming year on laptops and desktops. For comparison, the highest definition mainstream computer screen on the market is the visually impressive Mac desktop, at 5K. Its screen will look dingy compared to these beauties, which are also super thin. However, due to the innovation of this tech, the price tag will still be pretty hefty. If you can afford it, snap one up, but your patience will be rewarded if you wait a while for a lower price.
Obviously, the new tech can’t be completely weightless, but it can get pretty close. Many new laptops, will be a far cry from the clunky laptops that debuted earlier this century. Lenovo came out with a laptop this past year that is one of the lightest, at 1.72 lbs. Thin is the new small: Since laptop sales have taken a hit the past few years; laptop companies have taken note of the public’s interest in lighter weight laptops that still keep a healthy screen size. When looking at purchasing one of these feather-light computers, make sure you find out what features are included — some companies don’t put ethernet or DVD drives in these machines to help keep them thin, so if those are important to you, keep your eyes peeled for one that better suits your needs.
Longer Battery Life
Battery life seems to get better every year, and 2016 will be no exception. With some companies stating that their laptops will run up to 17 hours while running the full gamut of programs, you’ll be less tied down with wires and more free to travel with your laptop. And longer battery life doesn’t necessarily mean a heavier laptop, making them ideal for travelers. If you’re interested in one of these old computers, check out the stats online before you buy, and expect some degradation over time, which happens with all batteries. There are steps you can take to keep your laptop battery running as well as it did the first time you charged it, including not blocking the air vents by resting your laptop on a pillow or cushion, causing it to overheat.
AI Inclusion
Microsoft’s new AI program, Cortana, made huge waves in the tech community, but it didn’t seem able to reach its full potential on the 2015 computers. However, with the mass roll out of the vastly improved Microsoft 10 on most laptops, you can bet that Cortana will be making an even larger impact in the coming year. With increased functionality, not to mention even more universal usage across all of Microsoft’s platforms, including the XBox One, Cortana will be one of the top, if not the top, AI to look out for in 2016. Microsoft’s program has already shown remarkable promise and will only continue to get better as it is updated and learns from its current users. Office 16 will also be working closely with Cortana, allowing vocal commands and responses that will make her your in-computer assistant.
Next year will see companies building on already established preferences to make them even better and more practical. If you’re thinking of buying a new laptop, it’s worth waiting until the 2016 batch gets released — you may be surprised at the quality and range that will come out in the new year.
The vast expanse of space holds infinite mysteries and finding life in the outer space is a fascination many are obsessed with. To find live in space, scientists adopt several measures but most of it at the moment is observation. Stories of aliens’ visit are probably the biggest modern mythologies and despite all the so-called “eyewitness” accounts, a concrete evidence of alien life is yet to be found.
Astronomers, professional or amateur observe space for signals and evidence of life and one such evidence has now said to have been found around the star KIC 8462852. KIC 8462852 is a 12-magnitude star situated at a distance of over 1,400 light years from earth. While hunting for exoplanets (planets outside our solar system and revolving around other stars), astronomers monitor the dip in the light of the stars when planets come in between the stars and the observer.
While monitoring KIC 8462852, the observed dips were erratic and irregular. Usually when exoplanets cross the stars, the dip in the light of such stars is very low – around 0.5 percent. But in the case of KIC 8462852, the reduction in the light of the star was as high as 20 percent. This is a phenomenon that has never been detected ever before and hence it led to various speculations ranging from a cluster of comets to something being wrong with the star itself.
However, none of the theories could satisfactorily explain the drastic dip in the light of the star. It resulted in another theory that there is a possibility that the star is being orbited by a mega-structure built by aliens to harness the energy of the star. Since aliens are every science fiction lover’s favourite topic, it did not take long before the news went viral over the internet and even SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) got involved in detecting any radio signals originating from the vicinity of the star.
Speculations are rife that the mega-structure, referred to as Dyson Sphere in the realm of science fiction is a probable answer to this mystery. However, the existence of an evidence does not mean that such a structure definitely exist and more research is needed to find the reasons for this unusual behaviour of the star.
And now another equally strong theory might unravel the mystery of the star. According to a new item published in the Dailymail.co.uk, the dip in the luminosity of the star could be due to an oblate or a lopsided structure of the star. Along with it, there are two planets orbiting the star and one of them revolves around it at a speed much faster than the other.
Science, works on evidence and observations and unless there is irrefutable proof that a Dyson Sphere actually orbits the star, it will be naïve to consider the possibility of the existence of an advanced alien civilisation near that region of space. While other theories are also being considered, SETI has also monitoring for the signs of any radio signals proving that they are being transmitted by aliens. Only with observation and evidence the mystery can be solved.
We were in the middle of the tea break, right before the end of the working hours when we received a courier on our doorstep. It was Asus Zenfone 2 Laser, a budget smartphone that promise to deliver the laser technology at an affordable price.
We were actually very happy when we had a quick glance at the keywords “Asus+Zenfone” on the courier receipt, assuming that this could be Asus Zenfone Delux edition, a limited edition smartphone with 256GB internal storage. However, it was soon enough when we realized that it was a different low budget smartphone released earlier this year.
Asus Zenfone series is just like Samsung’s Galaxy line up; confusing. You have to pay real attention to the model name at the end of the title, otherwise, you will end up having a totally different smartphone. So far, Asus released these smartphones in Zenfone series:
Asus Zenfone C
Asus Zenfone Go
Asus Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE500KL)
Asus Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE550KL) – This is the one we’re reviewing
Asus Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE601KL)
Asus Zenfone Selfie
Asus Zenfone 6
Asus Zenfone 2 (multiple variant)
Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe
and more to come…
We are reviewing the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser in this article. Let us figure out what it has to offer:
Build Quality
The Asus Zenfone 2 Laser looks a lot like the original Zenfone 2 smartphone released by the company. It has same 5.5-inch display, same ergonomically pleasing curve and overall could be easily mistaken for the original. However, there are still few minor differences that can be sorted out by the keen observer.
In addition to the surprising premium laser autofocus technology, it offers a removable battery. It also allows access to the dual Sim slots and expandable memory card slot, which adds up to the pros of the device.
The device is right there in the phablet family, if size is considered, but curved back and ergonomic design makes this device lot easier and comfortable to use compared to the other 5.5-inch smartphones.
The most annoying part of the overall build quality of the phone is the power button, which is placed at the top side of the phone. It can be really annoying at times on a phablet with a 5.5-inch display. Thankfully, double tap to wake and sleep is still present on the phone as a part of the Zenmotion, among other gestures.
There is a 5 MP front-facing camera on the right and an LED notification at the top, and 3 non-illuminated standard capacitive keys at the bottom.
We felt that bezels on this smartphone are slightly wider compared to the other smartphones in the same price range. However, just like all other areas where you’d compromise, you’ll get used to the bigger bezels on this phone.
The back of the device has brushed metallic touch on it, but the device is actually made up of plastic. There’s no metallic sides or external metallic body parts. The phone looks and feels cheap, although it is a strongly built device.
Display
The Zenfone 2 laser boasts 5-inch 720p (HD) IPS display, which looks and performs about the same as it did on the original. It has excellent viewing angles, great color reproduction and good brightness in the bright environment but not enough to read the small texts clearly as you would expect. The sunlight visibility is poor as it was on the original zenfone and we do wish that the panel was little brighter. However, the splendid display color and temperature settings are very useful and thoughtful of Asus.
Finally, Asus took the opportunity and upgraded their display’s protective glass from Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to 4, a seemingly small but very welcome change.
Camera
The Zenfone 2 Laser’s 13MP rear camera is accompanied by Laser Autofocus technology, which according to Asus is laser-guided autofocus, capable of emphasizing on specific objects within 0.3 seconds. This new technology is the main selling point of this smartphone as the name suggests, and to our surprise, it does work as advertised. In fact, this is the only thing on this phone that actually is worth spending money for.
That being said, camera on this smartphone is not going to impress anyone. The images taken by the phone doesn’t feel like it is rendered by a 13MP lens; the images lack dynamic range and suffer in low light conditions, HDR mode often make things worst, and Asus’s image processing is bit aggressive as it adds lots of digital noise on the picture. The camera is capable of taking decent images, but these issues make things hit and miss.
The front camera actually is the weakest point of this phone. Images taken from 5MP front shooter didn’t just felt right at all; the images felt washed off. The indoor images lost its sharpness, and it had same digital noise over the images when shots are taken.
We really liked the camera UI and tons of cosmetic features it had to offer. If you love taking shots with manual controls, you’ll love the camera app on this phone but however, you’ll be stuck with the poor camera module which beats the actual motive of enhanced camera UI and additional features.
The Asus Zenfone 2 laser has inferior hardware specification compared to that of the original. The Indian version is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, which puts the processing power slightly on the lower side. On our day to day usage, we experienced some slight hiccups and lags, given that the phone boasts to be capable of providing seamless performance in the budget segment.
As expected, the benchmark scores are at the lower side on this smartphone and expect some minor hiccups here and there, you will probably find the day to day performance to be similar if compared to the original. The gaming performance on the phone was quite a mixed experience. While we were able to play games like Asphalt 8, Modern Combat 5 and Marvel Future Fight but none of them were as fluid as it was intended to be played; at high settings, you could actually feel the struggle that these games had to go through just to keep up with the high-intensity graphics rendering.
With support for 802.11 n WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth 4.0, the Zenfone 2 Laser offers all of the connectivity that you’d expect; It is, however, missing the NFC, which is not very uncommon in this price segment. The phone comes with full 3G HSPA+ and 4G LTE support on both sim cards.
The Zenfone 2 laser comes in 16GB variant only, a bummer for those who want higher internal storage space as your options are limited. However, there is a microSD slot which can be used to extend the storage up to 128GB.
Asus seems to have used the same rear speakers that were found on the original, which means it suffers at the sound quality coupled with poor loudness. The rear speakers, like on any other phone that features the speakers on the back, will get muffled when put on a flat surface.
The battery on this phone was quite an average performer considering that this phone is packed with 3,000mAh battery. We were able to get an about 3.5hr average screen-on time with 15hr of usage. The good thing is that you can swap up the battery if needed.
The phone is powered by Android 5.0 Lollipop with Asus’s ZenUI skin on top. The software experience remains similar to the original Zenfone, and there isn’t much to discriminate it from it. However, it is not necessarily a bad thing as the ZenUI is very user-friendly and quite decent for day to day usage. Asus did a good job by adding value with nice software experience.
Virtually everything has been well thought out and Asus has done a good job filling up the gaps in Android Lollipop while it still lacks the stock-ish android feel; the ZenUI follows it’s own style guidelines. That being said, it could’ve been way better to use stock android OS on this phone, as we did notice some lags while using the phone. However, the phone does offer a good room for customizations; the custom gesture controls and customizable quick access apps on the lock screen are some of the most useful.
There are also many features that you’d find on high-end Zenfones, for eg. – Ram cleanup, Several power saving mode with automatic or scheduled switching, auto start manager, Audio equalizer, built-in backup and restore (which actually backup app data as well), FM radio, video editing app, quick memo app, a sound recorder app, themes manager with support for custom fonts and icons etc.
Asus has reduced the bloatware on this phone to a significant amount, but there still are a couple of applications which comes pre-loaded on the phone. It might piss off some users, as these apps are non-removable (well, at least if you don’t know how to root your smartphone).
What do we think?
The Zenfone 2 laser display could be brighter, battery life could be on the top side of the chart and speaker could’ve been louder, but the phone excels on the software experience and AutoFocus technology that allows you to take quick shots on the phone. There are a bunch of unrecognized competitive companies that can provide these features with better hardware specifications at lower price range. Meizu M2 Note and Coolpad Note 3 has far better hardware features to offer in the similar price range; Huawei Honor 4X actually beats Asus Zenfone 2 laser in terms of camera and battery performance. The only reason you wouldn’t want to go with these ‘not too popular’ companies is their OS update support while Asus does have the reputation of providing software updates for years.
At the end, the choice is all yours — you can go with the recognized brand for extended support but no noticeable value-added specifications or features, or opt to ‘value for money’ with newer companies.
GENERAL FEATURES
Brand
Asus
Handset Color
Black
Form
Bar
Call Features
Loudspeaker
Model Name
Zenfone 2 Laser ZE550KL
Touch Screen
Yes, Capacitive
SIM Type
Dual Sim, LTE + LTE
Model ID
ZE550KL-1A017WW/ ZE550KL-1A111IN
In the Box
Handset, Standard USB Cable, Adapter, User Manual, Warranty Card
MULTIMEDIA
Video Player
Yes
Music Player
Yes, Supports MP3
CAMERA
Other Camera Features
f/2.0 Aperture, 5-element Lens, Auto Focus, Dual Color Flash
Rear Camera
Yes, 13 MP
Front Facing Camera
Yes, 5 MP
INTERNET & CONNECTIVITY
Preinstalled Browser
Android
Bluetooth
Yes, v4
4G
Yes
Navigation Technology
A-GPS, GLONASS, with Google Maps
Wifi
Yes, 802.11 b/g/n
Internet Features
Email
3G
Yes, 42 Mbps HSDPA; 5.76 Mbps HSUPA, HSPA+
OTHER FEATURES
Sensors
Accelerometer, eCompass, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, Hall Sensor
Phone Book Memory
Yes
SMS Memory
Yes
Call Memory
Yes
SAR Value
At the Head – 0.361 W/Kg, At the Body – 0.313 W/Kg
WARRANTY
Warranty Summary
1 year manufacturer warranty for Phone and 6 months warranty for in the box accessories
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