Category: launch

Sony Xperia XA hands-on, first impressions

Kevin Bruce Francisco

We’ve seen what the Xperia X has to offer and now we’re here taking a quick hands-on look at its sibling that targets a more budget-conscious market. Read on to see how Sony‘s Xperia XA is different from the Xperia X.

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Just like the Xperia X, the Xperia XA carries a screen that spans 5 inches across. It doesn’t have the company’s famous Triluminos display, but features In-plane switching (IPS) so that’s not bad at all.

Sony also opted to go for a lower HD resolution on the Xperia XA, but makes up for it by implementing an edge-to-edge display that honestly makes the device more attractive to look at.

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There is a strip of unused space at the base of the handset and serves simply as a handle when using the device on landscape orientation.

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The physical buttons are also lined up at the right side, namely the camera shutter, volume rocker, and power/lock button. Do take note that the power/lock button is not the same as the oval-shaped one from the Xperia X. Instead, it’s circular and is reminiscent of the older Xperia Z2.

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Looking at the upper part of the handset we see sensors on the left side of the logo with the 8-megapixel front-facing camera located on the right. The speaker for calls is stealthily tucked away at the slit near the frame and is almost unnoticeable on first glance.

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Turning it around and we will be greeted with its 13-megapixel main shooter. It might not have Xperia X’s Predictive Hybrid AF, but it’s been equipped with Phase Detection Autofocus that makes focusing smarter than what others can offer.

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While all the buttons are on the right side, the slots are on the left. Prying open a flap reveals the nano-SIM and microSD card slots. Expanding the storage is possible until 200GB.

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Finally, we have the lonesome audio jack pushed to the left edge of the device. From this angle, we also see the handset’s curved corners just like the Xperia X. Both are easy and light on the hands, but we prefer the overall look of the XA mainly because of its edge-to-edge display.  In terms of specs, however, the XA lags far behind.

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Just like the Xperia X, the XA is available in different colors including White, Graphite Black, Lime Gold, and Rose Gold.

During the announcement, the Xperia X series still has no definite date of availability, but will be arriving sometime in summer. Stay tuned as we wait for new updates.

Sony Xperia XA specs:
5-inch HD IPS LCD display @ 1280 x 720 resolution, 294ppi
2.9GHz MediaTek MT6755 octa-core processor
Mali T860 MP2 GPU
2GB RAM
16GB internal storage
Expandable via microSD
13MP rear camera with Phase Detection AF
8MP front camera
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.1
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
NFC
2,300mAh battery
Android Marshmallow 6.0

The post Sony Xperia XA hands-on, first impressions appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

Huawei MateBook hands-on, first impressions

Kevin Bruce Francisco

Huawei, at this year’s Mobile World Congress, launches its MateBook which is a 2-in-1 device that aims to combine mobile productivity and reliable performance. We spend some quick alone time with it and here’s our hands-on and first impressions.

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The Huawei MateBook carries a 12-inch IPS TFT LCD display with 2160 x 1440 resolution that equates to a decent 214ppi. Based on the screen size itself, you know you have room to multitask for productivity on-the-go.

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Flip it on its back and you’ll be greeted with the lonesome Huawei logo situated right smack in the middle of its high-quality aluminum unibody back plate. At only 6.9mm thin and 640 grams, the MateBook could easily slip in and out a bag without much fuss.

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Over here we see the world’s first single touch side fingerprint sensor flanked by the volume up and down buttons. The company claims that it is currently the fastest fingerprint recognition in the industry as it supports 360-degree sensitive identification that minimizes authentication failures.

The placement of the sensor at the upper right side makes it easily reachable for the index finger to unlock the device.

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On the opposite side, there’s the 3.5mm audio jack abruptly following the rounded corner of the slate.

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The MateBook has been equipped with dual speakers featuring Dolby audio and is located up top on opposite sides. This works fine as the sound is thrown upwards while watching videos or playing music.

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Lastly, the device’s lock button is located at the top just beside one of its speakers.

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The MateBook comes with optional accessories that further enhance the user’s experience whether how they use the device. There’s the detachable and splashproof keyboard which features a 1.5mm keystroke and a chiclet keycap design with larger key surfaces to minimize typing errors.

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To further maximize the spacious screen real estate, the MateBook can also be used with the Huawei MatePen. It could be the perfect companion for you if you draw or doodle a lot since it boasts 2,048 levels of sensitivity for creating diverse pen-tip actions without any delay.

The device is designed more as a business companion and its stylus has functions specifically for that use. As an example, it has support for graphics and mathematic features and it can even be used as a laser pointer while showing presentations.

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There is also the MateDock that’s basically a power bank-sized hub which houses most of the connectivity ports you’ll need to work efficiently and output content to different platforms. It has ports for USB 3.0, LAN,  HDMI, and VGA.

Overall, we see the MateBook as a necessary gadget for users who demand a capable machine to conduct presentations while at the same time is light and slim for easy portability. Getting the additional accessories could also expand the use of the MateBook as a more efficient way of getting work done wherever you go.

Huawei’s newest MateBook, in gray and gold colors, is slated to arrive in stores in the coming months with a $699 (~Php33,600) price for the entry-level Intel Core m3 version sporting 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD, while the full-spec’d Core m7 variant with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD will cost you $1599(~Php76,300). The Keyboard, MatePen and MateDock will be sold separately with $129(~Php6,200), $59 (~Php2,900), and $89 (~Php4,300) price tags, respectively.

Huawei MateBook specs:
12-inch IPS TFT LCD Display @ 2160 x 1440, 214ppi
Up to 3.1GHz Dual-core 6th Gen Intel Core m3 / m5 / m7 processor
4GB / 8GB SDRAM
128GB / 256GB / 512GB SSD internal storage
5MP front camera
WiFi
Bluetooth
GPS
Dolby Audio
Micro USB-C
Fingerprint scanner
Windows 10 Home / Professional
33.7Wh Battery
6.9mm thin, 640g

The post Huawei MateBook hands-on, first impressions appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

Leica intros its first tough and rugged camera

Kevin Bruce Francisco

Leica, the Germany-based optics manufacturer, introduces its new camera that’s built to take some serious beating. The Leica X-U is sealed to its core making it waterproof, shatterproof, and dustproof so you could bring it with you on any adventure you’re on.

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Leica X-U specs:
16.5-megapixel APS-C sensor
Leica Summilux 23mm f/1.7 ASPH lens
ISO up to 12,500
3-inch LCD display
Aluminum shell
Waterproof up to 49 feet
Shock-resistant, freeze-resistant, dust-sealed
Built-in flash
HD/Full HD video recording @ 30fps

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It got its minimalistic looks in collaboration with Audi Design and the top plate and control dials are all aluminum-based. In addition, the entire body of the camera has no space for outside elements to creep in.

The Leica X-U will reportedly be available by the end of this month for $2,950 (approx. Php141K).

{Via 1, 2}

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The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2016

Kevin Bruce Francisco Leave a comment

This year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) saw a lot of promising gizmos that are very much appealing to today’s tech-loving lifestyle. From all of the products launched, here’s a hand-picked list of some of the coolest gadgets during the show.

1. BRAGI Dash Wireless Earbuds

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Germany-based company BRAGI unveiled the world’s first smart wireless headphones — the Dash. The Dash is quite a looker on the outside and is also loaded on the inside. Obviously, it streams music wirelessly thru Bluetooth 4.0 but it also has a built-in storage that can store 4GB worth of audio files.

The Dash can also act as a fitness tracker since it is able to calculate heartbeat, steps, and duration of activity that all go straight to a partnered app. Additionally, it has sensors on its surface that you could tap and swipe to control the volume and hear external noises even without removing the Dash.

2. Parrot DISCO

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Moving away from the usual quad-propeller design of drones, Parrot launched its new DISCO that implements a fixed-wing approach with a nose camera for recording aerial footage.

Some of its key features include using a VR headset to be able to “fly” as the drone, going as fast as 80km/h without losing stability, and semi auto pilot that only requires you to throw the flying wing to take off.

3. Nikon KeyMission 360

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Nikon surprised many with the introduction of their new action cam and with it comes some pretty cool features. This shooter is waterproof and captures 360-degree photos and 4K videos.

How the KeyMission 360 captures images around it is via the lens that are located on opposite sides of the device. The image sensor, together with the company’s algorithm, stitches them together to produce ultra-high-definition photos and videos.

4. Garmin Varia Vision

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Designed to easily work with other devices from Garmin, the Varia Vision is a heads-up display (HUD) for cyclists. It attaches itself to sunglasses and projects a small image at the corner of the user’s field of view and shows stats, notifications, and other important details — eliminating the need to look down or worse, to check the phone while riding a bicycle.

5. Casio WSD-F10 Smart Outdoor Watch

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The Casio WSD-F10 Smart Outdoor Watch is designed for outdoor activities such as trekking, cycling, and fishing. The body is water-resistant up to 50 meters and built to military standard specifications.

The watch face features a dual layer display with monochrome and color LCDs which shows information such as compass direction, air pressure and altitude, sunrise and sunset times, tide graphs, and activity graphs.

6. Segway Advanced Personal Robot

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Segway also announced that they (together with Intel and Xiaomi) will be developing what’s called the Advanced Personal Robot that not only transports you from point A to point B on its wheels but also serves as your assistant on some of your daily tasks.

Users can ride it like a regular “hoverboard”, and it can be commanded to accomplish simple jobs for you like carrying groceries or answering the door using its sensors. There are also compatible arm-like extensions that further add to the things that it could do.

Have your own list of cool and nifty gadgets that were announced last CES? Feel free to share them with everyone.

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Specs Comparison: Lenovo K4 Note vs K3 Note

Kevin Bruce Francisco Leave a comment

Lenovo, over in India, officially launched the K4 Note which replaces the K3 Note (arrived locally as A7000 Plus). Let’s take a look what has been bumped up in terms of specifications between these two.

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Lenovo K4 NoteLenovo K3 Note
5.5-inch Full HD IPS display (1920 x 1080)5.5-inch Full HD IPS display (1920 x 1080)
403ppi401ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass 3None
64-bit MediaTek MT6753 octa-core processor64-bit MediaTek MTK6752 octa-core processor
Mali T720-MP3 GPUMali-T760 GPU
3GB RAM2GB RAM
16GB internal storage16GB internal storage
up to 128GB via microSDup to 32GB via microSD
13MP rear camera w/ Phase Detection Auto Focus and LED flash13MP rear camera w/ LED flash
5MP fixed focus front camera5MP fixed focus front camera
4G LTE, 3G HSPA+4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/acWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
NFCNone
Fingerprint scannerNone
Bluetooth 4.0, A2DP, LEBluetooth 4.0, A2DP, LE
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASSGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound, WM8281 audio codecDolby Atmos
Front-ported 2x1.5W stereo speakersNone
3,300mAh battery3,000mAh battery
Android 5.1 LollipopAndroid 5.0 Lollipop
153.7 x 78.74 x 9.14mm152.6 x 76.2 x 7.6mm
160 grams150 grams

Basing solely on the specs sheet, the display size and resolution didn’t change for both devices. The screens are fitted with a Full HD panel, although the K4 has better protection with its Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3.

Internally, both run on a 64-bit octa-core processor. The difference now is that while the older variant has an MT6752 processor, the K4 Note performs on a slightly updated MT6753 CPU. RAM is bigger with the new phablet at 3GB while storage expansion now stretches to 128GB.

On the imaging department, the 13MP rear camera was retained but now has Phase Detection Auto Focus for sharper photos. Additionally, NFC and a fingerprint sensor made their appearance on the K4 Note.

Lenovo also made the new device more for multimedia use as it has dual stereo speakers facing the user. Together with its Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound, the K4 Note can provide better listening experience.

Finally, the recently-announced gadget has a bigger battery capacity compared to its predecessor and now has an updated OS.

Lenovo’s K4 Note has been introduced in India for Rs. 11,999 or approximately Php8,500 when directly converted. On the other hand, the K3 Note is available at Widget City for Php7,990 while the A7000 Plus is officially offered in the country as well for the same price.

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