Today we were fortunate enough to be guests at Lenovo’s IFA 2014 keynote. Lenovo are probably best known in the UK for their laptops, but they do have a tablet range that is growing in stature here and a large phone range outside the UK.
HTC have announced another big-screen device, this time with a new Octa-core Snapdragon CPU; the HTC Desire 820.
This new device packs in quite a spec for what is deemd to be mid-range and even includes a whopping 8MP front-facing selfie cam…
HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, has announced the HTC Desire 820, the successor to the popular HTC Desire 816. Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 615 processor, with integrated 4G LTE Cat 4 connectivity and 64-bit, multi-core CPU, this new addition to the HTC Desire family delivers content on-the-go at exceptional speeds and with stunning clarity on its 5.5” high definition screen. Sporting a premium imaging experience and powerful HTC BoomSound™, the colourful, stylish HTC Desire 820 sets a new benchmark for mid-range smartphones.
“Our new HTC Desire model gives entertainment lovers exactly what they are looking for; a powerful, fast, stylish smartphone that delivers their favourite content on a big screen at a competitive price” said Peter Chou, HTC Corporation. “With the HTC Desire 820, we’ve combined the most advanced technology with the best possible entertainment experience and bold, distinctive design, to deliver a handset that is both desirable and affordable”.
Premium camera for stunning photos and selfies
For high quality selfies, the HTC Desire 820 features an 8MP front-facing camera, delivering impressive solo poses and effortless group shots. Enhancing the imaging experience, it also offers software that allows you to merge your features with those of a friend or celebrity for a completely original look, real time Live Makeup, which allows you to preview the image and set the desired level of skin smoothing before the image is captured and Photo Booth, where you can capture several moments in a single image.
Offering high-performance imaging, the phone’s rear camera, with f/2.2 aperture and a 13MP BSI sensor, captures incredible quality images in both daylight and low light, so your photos will be bursting with detail even as the sun goes down. If photography isn’t your strength, press and hold the shutter for rapid-fire and continuous shooting – ideal for capturing fast moving objects or for selecting your best image at a later date.
Advanced technology for ultimate performance
With the Snapdragon 615 processor, the HTC Desire 820 offers lightning-fast Cat 4 4G connectivity at speeds of up to 150mbps1. With an integrated LTE modem and the latest high performance multi-core, 64-bit processing power, entertainment lovers can revel in the ability to stream music, download films and juggle multiple social feeds or apps both smoothly and effortlessly.
Thanks to Qualcomm Technologies’ processing capabilities, with separate performance and low power clusters within the processor for managing intensive and lighter workloads, the HTC Desire 820 also operates at maximum power efficiency, ensuring you get more from your phone for longer.
Lose yourself in content
Whatever your surroundings, the HTC Desire 820 is perfect for immersing yourself in your favourite content. Whether gaming, watching TV or creating momentous video and photo sequences with Zoe™ Highlights, you’ll lose yourself in the rich, clear sound offered by the front-facing stereo speakers and two powerful, dedicated amplifiers of HTC BoomSound™. The vivid, 5.5” high definition display also puts big-screen entertainment in your pocket for the ultimate no-compromise experience.
Bold, distinctive style
In true HTC style, quality doesn’t stop at performance. Bold, bright and sleek, the newest addition to the HTC Desire range features HTC’s double shot colour technology, which allows us to create a two-tone colour unibody, that is not only perfect for reflecting both personality and style, but that also improves device quality, strength and tolerance. With distinctive colour trims around the camera, buttons and flash, the two colours merge seamlessly into one another creating a slick look that really stands out from the crowd.
Available in an array of colours2 and featuring HTC’s iconic unibody design, the robust polycarbonate device is not only stylish but also boasts the excellent build quality that has become synonymous with HTC.
Cool and convenient, the HTC Desire 820 also supports HTC’s Dot View™ case, providing instant access to your phone without opening the cover. With a range of functions from answering calls and receiving and dismissing notifications with a simple swipe, this retro style case can be customised to suit any situation, with the ability to create your own wallpaper by selecting images from your gallery or from 18 different themes.
Availability
The HTC Desire will be available in selected territories worldwide. Regional availability will be announced locally
HTC Desire 820 specification:
- Screen size: 5.5 inches, 1280×720 (720p), 267 ppi
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Octa-core 1.5 GHz & 1.0 GHz
- RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 16GB
- Expansion: MicroSD
- Primary Camera: 13MP
- Secondary front-facing camera: 8MP
- Battery: 2600 mAh
- OS: Android 4.4 with HTC Sense 6
- Nano SIM (dual nano SIM in some markets)
- Bluetooth 4.0
- WiFi: 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 + 5GHz)
- NFC
- Sensors: Ambient light sensor / proximity sensor / accelerometer
- Size: 157.7×78.74×7.74mm
- Weight: 155 grams
4K panel TV’s are hardly going to sell without content and that is why Panasonic is working closely with Netflix to enable 4K streaming on the new AX900 4K UHD TV at launch timing. The earlier AX800 4K UHD TV model will also become compatible shortly following a firmware update.
4K content, today
The AX900 and AX800 also feature the widest range of inputs to ensure you have an extensive spectrum of 4K content at your fingertips. They are equipped with the new 4K 60p-supporting HDMI terminal, which is compatible with the High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) 2.2 protocol, allowing 4K content to be transmitted at high frame rates. With input signals of up to 60 frames per second, both models provide the ultimate choice for consumers looking to access the next level in home entertainment.
Panasonic also mentioned they will be working with Amazon to make the AX900 and AX800 compatible with Amazon’s upcoming selection of movies and TV shows, along with its Amazon Studios original TV series, in Ultra HD quality. Welcome news to all those with a Prime subscription and nothing to watch Prime Instant Video on.
Panasonic has today announced the new ultra-large X940 series, which boasts an 85 inch screen and an exceptionally fast panel for stunning 4K images. The new European VIERA 4K Ultra HD (UHD) model combines its large screen size with supreme motion picture quality, cutting-edge design and intuitive features to provide incredible home entertainment experiences. Ultra HD LED TV with 2000Hz (BLS) offers exceptionally fast panel for impressive motion picture quality and 3D. It’s Quad Core Pro5 is a powerful processor, with HEVC decoder, for next-generation 4K entertainment and ultimate images. Featuring “Local Dimming Pro” allowing the user to enjoy added dynamics with robust blacks and delicate gradation, a 4K Studio Master Drive for more accurate colour and richer, smoother gradation at virtually any brightness.
Another feature is TV Anywhere for your entertainment, from the TV to your Web-enabled mobile device, even outside the home, alongside My Stream helping the user to enjoy content recommended to match your preferences, easily via an intuitive interface. Finally an Info Bar will see the user walk by the TV in standby and immediately get the time, weather and more. Add this up and you have one of the most rich feature sets available on the market.
Full press release follows:
4K Ultra HD Picture Quality on an Ultra-Large Screen
With UHD resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, four times as many pixels as a conventional Full HD device, the X940 series stands out with its superior image sharpness, showing every nuance in perfect detail.
Due to a powerful 2000Hz Back Light Scanning (BLS) panel and the ‘4K Intelligent Frame Creation’ technology, it guarantees breath-taking sharpness and smooth, clear images, even when watching fast action scenes.
The high-end Local Dimming Pro in the X940 offers an excellent class of dimming to boost contrast performance, enabling dynamic images with the deepest blacks and ultra-whites. This system provides additional details in both dark and bright areas, by analysing and optimising the individual image areas in real-time. This achieves the Supreme Contrast, underlining the stunning picture quality.
The X940 employs Panasonic’s new original high-performance image-processing engine, the Quad Core Pro5 super-high speed processor. This immaculately renders highly intricate and detailed 4K images as well as achieving beautifully elegant 4K quality with precise noise reduction and motion image compensation.
With 4K Studio Master Drive, the X940 is able to deliver more accurate colour; richer, smoother gradation, and more shadow detail at virtually any brightness. This is due to a 3D Colour Management System (Super Chroma Drive), in addition to the Black Gradation Drive which looks for and applies brightness compensation to low-brightness image elements. To deliver colours which are truly faithful to the original source, the X940 uses LCD panels equipped with a newly developed, high-colour-space LED backlight. In particular, the Studio Master Colour enables the X940 to reproduce colours accurately even at low saturation and brightness levels, greatly enhancing the picture quality of dark scenes.
4K content, today
Panasonic’s 2014 UHD 4K TVs all feature the widest range of inputs to ensure you have an extensive spectrum of 4K content at your fingertips. The X940 is equipped with the new 4K 60p-supporting HDMI terminal, which is compatible with the High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) 2.2 protocol, allowing 4K content to be transmitted at high frame rates. With input signals of up to 60 frames per second, the line-up provides the ultimate choice for consumers looking to access the next level in home entertainment, as well as professionals – such as those working in small TV studios – for whom picture quality is imperative.
In addition to the 4K 60p-supporting HDMI terminal, the X940 is equipped with a DisplayPort 1.2a terminal which can transmit 4K signals at 50/60Hz without any reduction in colour or frame rate performance. PC gaming enthusiasts can easily connect their PC via the 60p-capable DisplayPort and enjoy the latest blockbuster games in incredible detail and with extremely high motion clarity. The advanced upscaler also enables you to enjoy your favourite Full HD Blu-ray Disc movie or TV show with stunning motion clarity.
Photography enthusiasts can also enjoy their pictures on the 4K Photo Viewer or via the 4K Swipe & Share function accessed by the Panasonic TV Remote 2 App on their tablet or smartphone. The X940 also supports 4K video playback from USB, SD card or online sources as they are compatible with the new HEVC (High Efficiency Video Codec) format, which is ideally suited for ultra-high resolution video content.
Additionally, the 4K web browser further enhances web pages and with Panasonic’s 4K Channel you can access a wide range of high resolution content at any time.
Flexible networking options
In addition to the wide 4K networking capabilities, the X940 is equipped with the widest range of input signals so you can get content from virtually any source to be viewed on your ultra-large screen. Its Twin HD Tuner can simultaneously receive two separate HD programmes via cable, satellite or terrestrial broadcast and in parallel record one of those channels on an external USB hard drive. You can start watching a show that was previously saved while recording another one, or watch a live broadcast while recording a second programme and send it via the internet or a private network to your tablet or smartphone.
For even more entertainment possibilities, HbbTV connects your favourite TV programming with the internet, providing supplementary programme information as well as the media libraries of many broadcasters. With integrated Wi-Fi and DLNA capability, you can surf the internet and access an ever-increasing number of Internet Apps, all from the comfort of your couch, as well as enjoy multimedia content such as photos, movies or music that are stored on a home network device or USB media.
TV anywhere you are
With brand new features including TV Anywhere, my Stream and Info Bar, the X940provides a whole new level of TV entertainment.
With TV Anywhere you can access your TV’s content from anywhere you are in the world. Using the Panasonic TV Remote 2 App and connecting to the Panasonic Cloud, you can stream live TV shows or movies on your tablet or smartphone wherever you are, as well as recorded content from a USB hard disk drive connected to your TV. If you are travelling, TV Anywhere enables you to begin watching a movie at home, start recording before you leave the house and then continue to watch from where you left off when you reach your hotel. If you forget to start the recording, you can still do this on the road thanks to the Panasonic TV Remote 2 App.
Furthermore, my Stream totally redefines the TV viewing experience. The service provides individualised channels of personalised content for you and your family members, aggregated from a variety of sources. You have access to films and TV shows from cable, terrestrial broadcast, and Video on Demand (VOD) sources based on your viewing preferences, allowing you to easily access the content you love, without spending the time searching for it. Recorded content, home movies, family photos and online videos are also seamlessly included in the my Stream interface.
Voice Print recognition technology, available via the touchpad remote and the Panasonic TV Remote 2 App, is used to identify which member of your household is using the TV and automatically calls up their my Stream profile. In addition, the innovative voice interaction and control functions not only understand individual words, but also whole sentences. Additionally with more integrated voice commands available, you can easily find the content you are looking for.
The X940 series has also been designed and built to ensure easy operation, even for the most non-technical of users. This includes an optimised My Home Screen, VIERA’s start-up screen that can be personalised to the individual preferences of each family member.
A new and innovative Info Bar automatically displays useful information for the whole family, quickly and conveniently. A proximity sensor coupled with Face Recognition technology via the built-in camera work together to recognise your presence and automatically display relevant information, such as the weather forecast, time and notifications. This all happens without even turning on the TV.
Following Sony’s big announcement today at IFA in Berlin, Phones 4u have got to grips with the new Sony Xperia Z3 flagship smartphone. Will it wow the tech world as much as its predecessor, the Xperia Z2? Find out in the full video review below:
Sony Xperia Z3 Specification:
- 20.7 megapixel camera with 4K video capture
- Fully water and dustproof
- 3100mAh battery
- 5.2-inch Full HD display
- Latest Android operating system
The Sony Xperia Z3 really pushes the limits of smartphone technology. It is fully water and dust proof, slimmer and sleeker in design and it has a battery boost thrown into the mix. The latest Sony flagship really does set a precedent for other manufacturers and with Android on board, it has never been easier to get the best out of a device.
Everything looks simply amazing on the Z3’s expansive display, which is perfect for watching movies or internet TV. You have a massive 2.5GHz quad-core processor at your disposal too, so there’s loads of power for work and play.
And when you want to play, you can capture it all in effortless detail. With tons of modes alongside 4K video capture, the Z3’s camera will be your new best friend – snap, share and repeat the fun. However you decide to shoot it, you’ll be proud to show off the results.
Sony is releasing the Z3 in a variety of colours, including; black, copper and chrome. Phones 4u also has the smartphone exclusively available in white in the UK, as seen in the video above.
A new Bay Trail Toshiba Chromebook is on it’s way. Two separate models are being prepared for a launch this side of Christmas, each with varying screen resolutions and RAM configurations. The cheaper of the pair comes with 2GB RAM, a standard HD (1366×768) resolution and 11 hour battery life (better than the 10.5 we were expecting). Priced at $249.99 (US) makes this more than competitive with similarly spec’d Bay Trail devices.
The second has a more generous 4GB of RAM plus a full HD (1920×1080) resolution. The increase in pixels being pushed means an increase in the power required to do so. As such, this model packs in a shorter battery life of ‘just’ 9 hours. MSRP for this model is $329.99 (US). The release date being touted by Toshiba is November. It’s is expected they shall begin shipping sooner, hopefully.
HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, is pleased to announce a colour exclusive with Three for its powerful mid-range handset, the HTC Desire 610. Available to customers from Three on the 1st Sept 2014, Coral is a stunning extension to the original HTC Desire 610 colours. Bristling with audio visual power, the HTC Desire 610 in Coral offers Three customers even more choice when selecting a phone to reflect their personality and style.
Peter Frølund, UK and Nordics General Manager, HTC said: “We have a special relationship with our customers. The HTC Desire 610 delivers high-spec beauty in an amazingly affordable package yet we know that they are always looking for something different. Coral is a warm, unique colour which will allow our customers to stand out from the crowd.”
The HTC Desire 610 offers a host of features including a stunning 4.7” screen, HTC BlinkFeed™ and HTC’s industry-leading audio experience, HTC BoomSound™, which tops the charts when it comes to listening to music and watching films on your device thanks to dual front-facing speakers that deliver powerful and immersive sound.
ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solution products, expands its entertainment line today with the launch of its new VG2401mh, a 24-inch Full HD display designed specifically for avid gamers and entertainment enthusiasts.
The VG2401mh features a 144Hz rapid refresh rate and blazing-fast 1ms response time, delivering ultra-smooth graphics and lag-free, crisp images for extreme moments of game play, as well as action-packed videos and other multimedia entertainment applications. The VG2401mh also features ViewSonic’s Game Mode technology. Game Mode technology enhances visibility and detail by brightening the dark scenes of video games providing the ultimate gaming experience. In addition, an “Aimpoint” hotkey function provides gamers with on-screen crosshairs for an instant and accurate.
“We are very excited to launch our high-performance gaming monitor, the VG2401mh. Perfect for both professional and casual gamers, we developed this monitor after noticing a growing demand within the gaming industry for a monitor not only to enhance the visual experience during game play, but also to provide a competitive edge to gamers,” said Claire Chuang, Monitor Product Manager at ViewSonic Europe. “We’ve developed cutting-edge technologies and designed features specifically to help gamers compete and excel in a wide array of games.”
The VG2401mh includes dual HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, as well as dual USB hub connectivity, making it easy to connect to high-definition multimedia devices and gaming consoles such as Xbox and PS3, Blu-ray and DVD players, as well as traditional PC systems.
Along with a slim matt bezel, an advanced ergonomic design allows users to swivel, pivot, tilt, raise, and lower the display for a more comfortable viewing experience, while proprietary Flicker-Free Technology and Blue Light Filter help to reduce eye fatigue during extended periods of gaming.
The ViewSonic VG2401mh will be available from October 2014 with an MSRP of £249 (including VAT).
Recently we received some rather fetching PowerCubes from Allocacoc, a reimagination of a four gang power adapter for home use. These PowerCubes come in all manner of different configurations to fit your needs and we have a look at two different sorts. Over the last week we have been putting these to use and finding them quite adaptable to their surroundings and much better looking then the traditional style. The wife doesn’t seem to mind having one of these stretched across the floor and the layout of the plugs themselves have proved to be entirely practical.
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