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.
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
Microsoft Surface Pro 4, a high-end portable hybrid tablet has been recently launched by Microsoft. It is the upgraded version of their current Surface Pro 3 and is currently creating a lot of buzzes, but considering that it is launched with a very high price tag and is specifically targeted for the high-end users, we feel a bit disappointed. Though specification wise Surface Pro 4 is very well loaded but we found that there are 4 features that could have made it a lot better.
1 Windows Help/ Passport
Image Courtesy: Microsoft
Edit: Windows Hello is actually present in Surface Pro 4, which allow users to seamlessly and securely log into their PCs. Windows Hello supports three types of biometric entry, which includes fingerprint recognition, iris, and facial recognition. Sorry for the wrong information. Thank you! “Andy_Elvis” for this tip.
Windows 10 came out with some of the most magnificent features which are specifically designed to make operating easily. Microsoft has kept the marketing of Windows 10 around the proposition that Next Gen babies of today will grow in a password free world.
There are many PC around the world which has the capacity of utilising windows Hello facial recognition software but with surface Pro 4 this feature is missing. Even if they were not able to fit in the Intel RealSense 3D camera they could have at least installed the fingerprint sensor which could have let users utilize the biometric authentication with the help of Microsoft Passport.
2. USB Type-C
USB Type-C is now making inroads into most of the high-end device which are available in the market. It has now become a norm for all high spec devices to use it because of its amazing variety and features. The omission of the USB Type-C is a huge disappointment considering that other devices of the same category have it.
There are currently two USB ports in the Surface Pro 4, one of them could be easily devoted support the new tech if they were concerned about the legacy support and backward compatibility on the device. Maybe Microsoft would have thought that as there are not many devices currently in the market which have USB C types, but it would have made sense considering the future belongs to USB C and if not anything perception wise it would have given a good boost to the product.
3. 4G / LTE
Image Courtesy: Microsoft
In this day and age its very difficult to imagine that a premium ranged hybrid PC is not equipped with 4G connectivity. 4G connectivity is something which for this kind of device was an absolute necessity as it would have been essential getting a better coverage in the area which lack the facilities of WiFi.
4. Battery
Battery backup is something which would have been compromised with 4G but having it as a feature was highly necessary for Microsoft. There is one thing that Microsoft got correct this time which is that it can utilize the same docking station of Surface Pro 3. When rumours began to fly that Microsoft was planning a larger Surface Pro it was a big cause of worry for the fate of docking station but Microsoft has remained true to their word and has retained the same docking station as the Surface Pro 3.
But it must be said that even after considering all these flaws, the product line announced last week is very exciting. Microsoft is certainly making a valiant effort to rub shoulders against its age-old rival Apple with a good premium range Hybrid. They have certainly set a good platform for others to know the right way to build a premium Windows 10 device.
Today owning a good smartphone is not just a luxury, but it has become a necessity too. The mobile has completely changed the way we live. Our phones have become our life partners in all the way. It’s no surprise that every now and then, we hear the news about a new smartphone with the new features, launched in the market. However, if we look closely, iOS and Android rule the gadget kingdom. As of 2015, the BlackBerry OS market share hold merely 0.3% while Android is at 68.4%. As mentioned by Apple CEO Tim Cook in his interview with Business insider, between Q1 2014 and Q1 2015, they increased their market share in the 5 prominent countries Germany, Britain, France and Italy to 20.3%.
However, not the one to be behind, BlackBerry has decided to take things further and revive their turnaround by selling 5 million pieces of the handset in a year or otherwise stop making the phones entirely.
The BlackBerry CEO John Chen talked about the same in an interview to The Verge. He mentioned that to make their business lucrative, their current goal is to sell 5 million units in a year otherwise they might have to leave the smartphone business.
Let’s not forget that this Smartphone manufacturing company used to lead the market once but with the entry of its rivals Google and Apple, they slowly started to get tough competition and lose shares. If we look back, Chen took over the company when the company failed in their deal with equity firm Fairfax. At that time, the company was still hoping that their new smartphone BlackBerry 10 will bring back the lost glory. However, they didn’t succeed and then-CEO Thorsten Heins resigned, letting Chen enter the scene.
Chen added that the demand for BB10 devices is limited to the high-security business only; like governments and hospitals, where strongly encrypted devices are required. He mentioned to Reuters that the company can still make a profit if they are able to sell around 10 million phones a year. But when we glance at what their rival companies sell, it’s nowhere near them yet.
Meeting this high figure is quite crucial for the company as I remember that BlackBerry was once a heavy-duty name in the mobile market and it was a thing of proud to own one. However, the scenario has changed now and only the next year will say whether the company will completely stop making any more hardware of it.
In case if BlackBerry decides to exit the market, Chen said the company would focus on extending their strong security services to other platforms in a form of new handset Priv mobile. The idea behind this BlackBerry-Android merger is to combine the ease and diversity of Android with BlackBerry’s top security features which may help to attract more customers. This latest phone is their final attempt to stir the market. It would be the first BlackBerry smartphone which will run on Android (or any OS other than its own) and at the same time, it will be also one of the safest ones. The upcoming Priv smartphone runs Android along with some BlackBerry apps. This new changed BlackBerry is supposed to have better technology and other high-end specifications which might make it a right candidate to race against Samsung and other gadgets.
One thing is for sure that making customers switch to Priv might be another issue and Chen may have some difficulty in making the new device reach the masses as most of the people don’t think about BlackBerry when they think of buying a new device. While you may cling to your BlackBerry 10, what happens in the next year, nobody can tell.
What are your feelings about this? Do you love BlackBerry? Which of its features are useful to you? Will you stick with it or will change over to another OS? Please leave your opinions in the comments section below.
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