Google I/O 2015 may have come and gone, but the aftermath of the developers’ conference is far from over. Curiously, it seems that some manufacturers actually waited for the event to be over before announcing their new wares to the public. Last week, we saw the unveiling and launch of a few new interesting devices, not just smartphones but even some wearables, some of the more perplexing than others . This is your latest edition of Android Community’s Weekly Digest, covering the period from June 1 to 7, 2015.
New Smartphones and Tablets
ASUS ZenFone Selfie, ZenPads
ASUS may have just launched its ZenFone 2 flagship in the US, but it already raring to move forward with even more new gadgets to saturate the market. While it may share the ZenFone name, this Selfie handset is no high-end device, though it pretty much qualifies as a decent mid-tier one based on its 5.5-inch 1080p screen and 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615. The real highlight of the smartphone, however, can be gleaned from its name. The ZenFone Selfie packs 13 megapixel cameras, both rear and front, making it the almost perfect companion for selfie lovers.
Perhaps more interesting is ASUS’ new line of tablets. Moving away from the budget-conscious MeMO Pads, the new ZenPads tout power and class. More than just the specs, these tablets, particularly the 8-inch ZenPad 8.0, advertise changeable back covers that range from extra batteries to one that delivers surround sound audio. The ZenPad S 8.0 takes a page from Samsung’s book with an optional pressure sensitive stylus.
ZTE nubia Z9
ZTE is unsurprisingly eager to get its latest masterpiece, the nubia Z9, into the US, announcing its arrival sometime in the third quarter of this year. It’s not hard to imagine why. The smartphone boast of a virtually bezel-less design. Virtually, because it’s all smoke and mirrors. Well, mirrors particularly, using “arc Refractive Conduction” technology to give the illusion of no borders. Even more intriguing, however, is the Frame Interactive Technology or FIT, which turns those side borders into touch-sensitive interaction points, allowing users to apply gestures and holds in order to more easily launch apps or actions.
Huawei
Moving slightly away from the high-end, we go to Huawei’s P8 lite launch, the smaller, mid-range siblniing of the flagship. Sporting a handy 5-inch 720p display and a Snapdragon 615 CPU, the P8 lite is designed to deliver the P8’s classy but still plastic design in a more affordable but still decent package. More than the launch of the smartphone itself, however, it is Huawei’s new US strategy that is more notable. Selling the P8 lite unlocked, Huawei is offering a few perks that are intended to assuage consumers’ worries with unsubsidized purchases. The first part of the offer involves a two-year warranty for any Huawei device released this year, after registering on Huawei’s website. The second part is an offer to buy the device in three, six, or 12 month installments, similar to what consumers would have if they bought the smartphone from a carrier. Huawei is definitely out to redefine how people buy unlocked smartphones in the US.
Meizu m2 note
Moving to the East, we cast our eyes upon Meizu’s latest phablet, the m2 note. This successor to the m1 note actually has very little difference from its predecessor, but in the parts where they do differ, things get a bit curious. There is that new SIM and microSD card combo tray that seems to be gaining popularity among Chinese OEMs. This allows users to either have two SIM cards or one SIM card and a microSD card. The mBack home button is also peculiar. Previously believed to host a fingerprint scanner, the button turned out to just be a regular button with one special trick. Press on it lightly and it acts as a Back button, harder and it returns to being a Home button.
HTC One ME
HTC is at it again, potentially confusing the smartphone market, though perhaps only the Chinese market. After announcing the One M9+ and the One E9+, this new One ME seems to combine the specs of the former with the plastic design of the latter, which probably explains the strange name. In other words, here is yet another smartphone that potentially outranks the HTC One M9 flagship in some aspects, particular in the display and the fingerprint scanner.
But wait, there’s more! New HTC CEO Cher Wang publicly apologized to investors about the company’s dismal performance and in doing so promised a “hero product” coming this October. It seems that the One M9’s stay in the market might be short-lived. Oh, and they won’t be renewing Robert Downey, Jr.’s contract either.
Wearables Galore
ASUS ZenWatch 2
Smartphones and tablets aren’t the only things that ASUS announced at Computex. It also revealed the second iteration of its take on the wearable market. The ZenWatch 2 is pretty much an incremental improvement over the first ZenWatch, but some might see hints of Apple’s influence in the wearable, particularly the magnetic charging and the physical crown. Will it sell? We’ll have to wait for the actual launch of the device to find out.
Acer Liquid Leap Trio
Acer has also unveiled not one but three wearables from its Leap line. Each new member of the family tries to appeal to different tiers of users, each with varying degrees of functionality. At the very bottom, for “socially active” users, is the rugged-looking Acer Liquid Leap Active, with just enough sensors to track activities and just enough tech to get notifications and control music playback. A step higher is the Liquid Leap Fit, which adds a heart rate sensor and “stress sensor” for the more fitness-conscious group. Last but not the least, the Liquid Leap Curve takes all of those features and adds a curved display and a slightly more stylish look.
Huawei Talkband B2
Together with the P8 lite, Huawei is bringing the Talkband B2 to the US market. The company’s smart fitness wearable is quite unique, with the core module doubling as a Bluetooth headset that you can separate from its band. For its US launch, Huawei isn’t going at it alone. It has announced the Talkband B2’s integration with Jawbone’s UP platform, allowing the wearable to play nice with one of the more popular fitness platforms in the industry.
TAG Heuer Carrera Wearable 01
It’s not yet an actual announcement of a device, but TAG Heuer has named its first smartwatch as the Carrera Wearable 01. The name’s similarity to the Carrera 01 is no accident. The luxury watch maker wants the smartwatch version to be virtually indistinguishable from the normal one, at least from a distance. How it will manage to pull that off will be the interesting part that we’ll have to wait for. The combination of “Swiss Made” design and materials and technology from Google and Intel could potentially help steer traditional watch makers into the smartwatch market.
Wrap-up
This was definitely a hardware-filled week, with a few rather curious devices entering the market. And that’s not to mention the leaks and teasers that have come our way the past days. Google’s time on the stage is over, and the mobile world is preparing for Apple’s overture. And while we, of course, are more inclined towards the little green robot, it will still be interesting to see what the competition has cooked up for the industry as well.
Thanks @Juan..
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