Lenovo reveals the Vibe Z2, its very first 64-bit smartphone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/lenovo-vibe-z2-and-x2/

Lenovo might not be known for its smartphones around these parts (Motorola's new wares should change that soon), but it's definitely no slouch where the rest of the world is concerned. To no one's surprise, the Chinese juggernaut's family of phones just got a little bigger today at IFA: the company just pulled back the curtain on a pair of devices called the Vibe Z2 (pictured above) and Vibe X2.

Its name would imply that the Vibe Z2 occupies the rung under Lenovo's flagship Vibe Z2 Pro, but this new entry is Lenovo's first 64-bit smartphone thanks to the 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon chipset housed within its 7.8mm thick chassis. That means it'll play rather nicely with the new (and currently unnamed) version of Android waiting in the wings, though at this point it's unclear whether it'll ship with Android L preloaded. Rounding out the package are a super-bright 5.2-inch screen running at 720p (sigh), along with 32GB of internal storage, dual SIM slots, a 3,000 mAh battery and a 13-megapixel rear camera with a backlit sensor.

Itching for something a little more stylish? That's where the Vibe X2 comes in. There's a 5-inch 1080p display and one of Mediatek's new True8Core chipsets lurking under the hood, but your eyes will dart to its three-layered design with colors stacked atop each other like paperbacks perched atop a coffee table. Striking? You bet, but we're sure it won't be everyone's cup of tea. You'll be able to choose from white, red, gold and gray options, all of which should complement the 13-megapixel camera 'round the back nicely. And in case three layers just isn't enough for you, Lenovo's got a series of accessories -- think a super-slim battery and an amped-up speaker -- to add a fourth stratum to the mix.

The Vibe Z2 and X2 will cost $429 and $399 respectively when they launch in October, and (to no one's surprise) they'll hit Lenovo's native China first. From there, they'll trickle into the rest of southeast Asia, eastern Europe and Latin America -- just don't expect them to hit US doorsteps any time soon.

Filed under: Mobile

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Lenovo's ThinkPad Helix returns with a thinner design and longer battery life

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/lenovo-thinkpad-helix-2014/

Lenovo's ThinkPad Helix Windows convertible was always a promising device. Here was a tablet that could fit into its keyboard dock with the screen facing forward or backward. It had a full HD display and an active digitizer for pressure-sensitive pen input. Best of all, it used proper laptop-grade processors, ensuring you'd get performance more in line with Ultrabook than a standalone tablet. Sure, its weird cooling flap and pointy dock-guides made it cumbersome to use, but in spirit, at least, we were on board. We hoped Lenovo would try again with a refreshed design. At last, the company has done just that -- more than a year after the original first went on sale. The new Helix arrives later this fall with a thinner fanless design, not to mention slightly longer battery life.

As Lenovo tells it, the company's design team held off on refreshing the Helix until Intel's Core M processors came out. These chips, based on Intel's "Broadwell" architecture, allow for thinner, fanless Windows PCs. Not like an Atom-powered tablet, mind you, but full-fledged, laptop-grade performance inside a tablet. Just without the fans and cooling flap that annoyed us so much the first time around. The tablet alone weighs the same, at 1.8 pounds, but it now measures 0.38 inch thick, down from half an inch.

Other than that slimmer profile, the other big improvement is in battery life. The tablet now promises up to 12 hours with the keyboard dock, versus 10 on the original. As it turns out, most of the enhancements come from the tablet, not the dock: Even on its own, the slate is now rated for eight hours of runtime, up from four. The dock actually promises one less hour than it did last year.

Speaking of the keyboard dock, you actually get two options for a change. When the Helix goes on sale in October, you'll be able to buy it with a magnetic keyboard that connects via small pins at the bottom (meaning, it's not Bluetooth). Starting in January, when Intel's business-class vPro Core M chips become available, Lenovo will also start selling a "Pro" keyboard that looks similar to the one on last year's Helix, complete with a rotating hinge and the signature red TrackPoint. The Pro does still have guides that jut out from the device, though they're thankfully less pointy this time around. If we're honest, you might want to wait for this one instead of settling for the magnetic keyboard, which doesn't have a built-in battery, and which doesn't allow you to adjust the screen angle the way you can on the Pro.

As for other key specs -- 400-nit, 1080p display, dual 5MP/2MP cameras -- not much has changed since last year. Also like the original Helix, it'll be offered with a Wacom digitizer, with a slot on board to stow the pen. Hey, if you live in the US, it won't even be an "option"; it'll just come standard. Once it arrives in October, it'll start at $999 with the pen and magnetic keyboard. No word yet how much the tablet will cost with the Pro keyboard, but we're hearing around $1,200 and up. Don't take our word for that, though -- the price isn't final.

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Lenovo

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Beats co-founder returns with ROAM Ropes wireless in-ear headphones

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/roam-ropes-headphones/

Steven Lamar helped create the now iconic Beats by Dre brand back in 2006, and after a spat over royalties last spring, he's back with headphones of his very own. Touting the best in ergonomics, sound and "Noise Equalization," Lamar's ROAM brand is launching Ropes as its first portable audio offering. As the moniker suggests, the design allows for the earbuds to be worn around your neck when they're not in use. That "Noise Equalization" bit is proprietary tech that claims to deliver "the best sound quality on the market today." Unforunately, I've yet to get my hands on a pair, so I can't confirm or deny that declaration. If the stock tuning does suit your sonic sensibilities though, there's a ROAM EQ app for tweaking via smartphone. The in-ears will arrive in time for your Christmas shopping, and they'll carry a pricey $299 tag in either graphite/black or orange/gray (benefiting Stand Up to Cancer) color options. For comparison sake, that's $100 more wireless units from Jabra (a pulse-tracking model) and Beats, and $140 higher than the sport-themed pair from SMS Audio.

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video

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Source: ROAM

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LG's got an 8K OLED television and food looks delicious on it

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/lg-8k-tv/

As per usual, South Korean electronics giant LG is here at IFA in Berlin, Germany. Less usual? The company showing up with a 98-inch 8K OLED television. LG's saying it's "16 times full HD resolution," and while we didn't sit and count every pixel, the food porn being shown off looked mighty tasty. No pricing or availability was given, but we'd expect it to cost quite a bit of dough. The real reason it's here, however, is simply to showcase that LG can create the gorgeous, ultra high-res screen. And hey, did we mention that the food looked really pretty? Explore its depths in the gallery below.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD, LG

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WSJ: Apple's smartwatch will arrive in two sizes with NFC in tow

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/apple-iwatch-sizes-nfc-report/

By now, you've likely read at least one of the many rumors surrounding what's become known as the iWatch. Well, according to The Wall Street Journal, you can add a few more details to the fray. That outlet is reporting that whenever Apple's smartwatch arrives -- which has been tipped as no sooner than 2015 -- it will be NFC equipped. The prevailing sentiment is that inclusion of wireless connectivity that can be used to pair with other devices or sort things like mobile payments means Cupertino has more lofty expectations that just fitness and health for the gadget. Of course, the current iPhone doesn't have said feature, but rumblings indicate that it could (finally) be inside the next model. What's more, WSJ goes on to say that the so-called iWatch will come in two sizes that both have curved displays and exercise-tracking chops. With a reported 2015 arrival, we may not hear much about the wearable at next week's phone event. But who knows, Apple's been known to have a few tricks up its sleeve when it comes product-focused affairs in the past! .

Filed under: Wearables, Apple

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Source: The Wall Street Journal

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