Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro gets official, QHD screen, 16MP camera

Here's yet another smartphone to add to that slowly growing 2K display list. The Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro is big in more ways than one. While it's 6-inch display might be too unwieldly for single hands to use, it packs quite a punch with a lot of high-end specs and features that can still make Lenovo's massive phablet an enticing option, especially for those who place a lot of value on multimedia features.

Right upfront you will be greeted by the large 6-inch display. Fret not, however, because there is more than meets the eye. The screen boasts of a 2K resolution, that's 2560x1440 or QHD for you right there. This puts the Vibe Z2 Pro on the same level as devices like the LG G3 and the OPPO Find 7, albeit in a bigger shell. The device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 running at 2.5 GHz max. That's definitely enough clockspeed to drive the power-hungry display, but it's a bit disappointing that Lenovo didn't go with the more multimedia-friendly Snapdragon 805. The device runs Android 4.4 and version 2.0 of Lenovo's custom Vibe UI.

With the Vibe Z2 Pro, Lenovo wants you to forget about digital cameras. With a 16 megapixel rear shooter, that might actually be possible. It may not be as high as Sony's 20.7 megapixel-toting Xperia Z2, but Lenovo makes up for it with features. One of those is Auto-scene detection, which will automatically select the appropriate mode depending on what you're trying to shoot, a feature many DSLR or digital compact users will be quite familiar with. Ultra Night Mode goes above and beyond the call of duty of most night mode features to bring you clear shots in the lowest of low lights. And Pro Mode throws away all of that automatic fanciness to give you complete control over the camera's settings. Interestingly, the user interface resembles the concentric circles controls of the Nokia Camera app.

Lenovo isn't exactly known, at least in the US, for high-end smartphones, but the Vibe Z2 Pro could remedy that. Aside from sporting top of the line hardware, the smartphone comes in a classy real (versus plastic) brushed metal finish that gives the Vibe Z2 Pro a more "luxury phone" kind of personality. It might be big, but that perhaps could be forgiven since the smartphone is only 7.7 mm thick. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait a bit to truly judge this device's market-worthiness, as Lenovo has yet to announce availability and pricing for its newest premium smartphone.

SOURCE: +Lenovo

Story Timeline

• Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro leaked photos point to 2K screen


• Lenovo K920 is the Vibe Z2 Pro we've been waiting for

Sony Xperia Z3 opens its flaps for a photo shoot leak

With IFA 2014 just around the corner, leaks and rumors about expected devices are sure to ramp up. This latest round is dedicated to Sony's next flagship, but it leaves more questions than answers, as expected from any leak. Focus is given to the smartphone's edges and in particular, the flaps that cover the device ports and slots.

There isn't really much to gawk at here, aside from Sony's usual premium taste in design. Sony's smartphones usually sport a more unified (unibody) look and prefers to hide usually exposed openings with flaps to keep up that appearance. Thanks to this leak, we now get to see the Xperia Z3's micro USB port, SIM card slot, and microSD card slot. Interestingly, these photos seem to leave out some edges of the device, so we aren't able to spot the unique placement of the power button that Sony debuted in the Xperia Z1. Since it has become a Sony design hallmark, we'll just presume that it's there.

If these photos look in anyway familiar, it's because some of them have been leaked before already. Amusingly, they were labeled as the Xperia Z3 Compact back then. However, there have actually been doubts whether that was actually the mini flagship based on previous leaked photos. The discrepancy can probably be explained away by considering these latest batch as the Xperia Z3 and not the compact variant. Confusing maybe, but that's how leaks and rumors usually go.

We wouldn't have to rely on unofficial third-party sources for long, though. Sony has booked September 3 for its IFA 2014 press event so we will most likely hear about the real deal on that auspicious day. That day will hopefully answer many of our questions like whether the Xperia Z3 will simply be an incremental upgrade over the Xperia Z2 like the latter was for the Xperia Z1 or whether Sony has really decided to forego an Xperia Z2 Compact to jump right into an Xperia Z3-based version. As always, IFA is shaping up to be a fun-filled week even before it starts, so be sure to join us there when we cover one of the world's biggest mobile conferences.

VIA: Baidu

Story Timeline

• Possible first look at Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 compact


• More Sony Xperia Z3 pics leak, this time with details


• New leaked Sony Xperia Z3 photos show start of production


• Sony IFA schedule set, mysterious Xperia device leaked

Moonrise sounds like a Pokémon game for mobile

If it quacks like a Pysduck. Undead Labs of State of Decay fame has just announced a new game headed for mobile devices next year. Ominously just called Moonrise, the game's goals and basic elements sounds awfully close to that monster collecting and training Nntendo game that everyone either loves or loves to hate.

Not that having similarities to Pokémon is necessarily a bad thing, nor that Pokémon has a monopoly on the monster-human partnership concept. You could probably throw in a bit of Monster Rancher into the mix. As well as Digimon, minus the completely digital alternate world. A rose by any other name. Moonrise takes that familiar and well-loved (or well-hated) pet-raising pet-fighting genre and turns it into something you can play on your Android device. And hopefully it will a lot better than those Farmville-like Pokémon-inspired games that have saturated Google Play Store with their purposely addicting but ultimately shallow content.

For one, this game has a backstory, thin as it may be. The word "Moonrise" actually refers to a random and once rare lunar phenomenon that transformed otherwise peaceful critters called Solari into their more violent Lunari forms. Your job as an aspiring Master Warden is to catch 'em all. Er, what we mean is to purify these poor creatures back into their Solari selves and then recruit them to your team to fight off (and purify and "recruit", of course) other Lunari. Oh, and you get to fight other wannabe Wardens (real human players), too. Of course, you also have skills to develop, though if our guess is correct, you'll have a limit to the number of "active" skills you can carry around.

Undead Labs isn't yet revealing many of the aspects that could make or break this game. How will the controls be like? Will battles take place real-time or in Dragon City-like "leave a message after the beep" in absentia fights? And most important of all, will there be in-game purchases for pay-to-win players? At least these veteran game designers aren't going for a retro look and will be going with 3D assets, so we can expect something different from this game. Moonrise is set to go into beta this fall, whether that is private or public is unknown. Should things work out as planned, it will launch sometime in early 2015.

SOURCE: Moonrise

VIA: Android Central

Samsung to unveil Galaxy Note 4 on September 3 before IFA

Those who are eagerly awaiting the official announcement of the new smartphones from Samsung would have to wait just a few more weeks as the OEM is expected to reveal them in Berlin this coming September 3, two days before the start of IFA 2014. The rumoured devices that will be launched are the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, the upgraded version of the current Galaxy Note 3, and the Samsung Galaxy Alpha (name not yet confirmed).

The Galaxy Note 4 seems most likely to be revealed here. After all, Berlin was the site of the launch of the original Samsung Galaxy Note. Early rumours about the Note 4 says that outwardly, it will probably look like the Galaxy S5, with plastic outsides and faux stitching, and maybe even the perforated design, but with an S Pen that will be updated from the Galaxy Note 3. Earlier this year, there were also some leaks saying that it might come out with curved glass and maybe a 2560x1440 QHD display.

Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Alpha may also be the same as the Metal Galaxy Note that was rumoured to be a smaller version of the Note, but this time in, well, obviously from the name, metal instead of plastic. The specs are said to be an upgrade of the Galaxy S5, except with a 4.7-inch screen and a 1280x720 display. It is rumoured that it will run on a Samsung Exynos octa-core processor with 2GB RAM. For its camera, the main one will reportedly be 12MP while the front-facing camera will just be at 2.1MP.

All will be revealed in just a few weeks. Let’s see what Samsung has in store for us and hope that they will wow consumers again this time, especially since other OEMs have been unveiling pretty impressive smartphones the past few months.

VIA: SlashGear

Story Timeline

• Samsung Galaxy Note 4 confirmed to have 5.7-inch QHD screen


• Galaxy Note 4 Exynos proc faster vs. Snapdragon variant


• Samsung Galaxy Note 4 may include retinal scanner


• Samsung Galaxy Alpha product page accidentally tells all

LG G3 revisited: the US version is here

We’ve already fallen for the G3, which we noted in our review of the device. Now that we’ve got our hands on the domestic version, is it still the device we spoke so highly of? Have things changed, or did we just get one that was meant for this market? We go hands-on — again — to find out.

From the start, some hardware tweaks are present, but the differences are purely regional. Phones in Asian markets sometimes have pull-out antennae, and the Korean version of the G3 was no different. That’s clearly gone, but the rest checks out as we left it. Same battery, same weight, same — well, everything.

The software is untouched, save for the added apps being switched up. With Verizon, you get a slew of apps (which can be removed!) slapped in, which is average fare for any carrier device. Slacker Radio, Clash of Clans, and hotels.com are new additions, but not unwelcome ones.

The G3 runs Android 4.4.2 when you unleash it, and has a Snapdragon 801 processor. The 32GB storage is not expandable, and 3GB RAM will keep you going strong. The 13mp rear camera is fantastic, and the 3,000mAh battery is a welcome sight.

About that battery — is the life as good as we remembered? Almost. We can’t say we’re getting the same battery life that had us so excited last time, but in our testing we could get through a full day — and into the next — with a single charge, and “normal” use. While ”normal” can be tough to pin down, ours was messaging, light web surfing, email, some social browsing, and media.

At the end of the day, it’s still tough to find fault with the G3. It’s big, beautiful, and can last the day. The screen is fantastic, and the build is solid. LG’s skin is still one we like, and the rear power/volume buttons are growing on us. It’s the same device we liked in our review, so we can once again suggest you give it a strong consideration when you’re ready for a new Android handset.

Story Timeline

• Our LG G3 battery life test gives impressive early results


• LG G3 review: the phone every Android OEM should make


• LG G3 with Verizon lets you remove carrier "bloatware"

Netronix ereader combines e-ink display with Wacom pen

If you've ever wanted a truly digital notebook without much of the excess baggage of full blown tablets, then you better start crossing your fingers that Netronix makes its latest wonder device a commercial reality. Its unnamed 6.8-inch slab boasts of an e-ink screen that you can read on as well as a pressure sensitive Wacom stylus to write with.

Netronix is most likely an unfamiliar name to even those who closely follow the mobile device world. That's probably because the Taiwanese company mostly designs or produces devices that other companies would then buy from them to customize and rebrand. One of its more popular designs, however, is probably more known to the world as the Kobo eReader.

The combination of eink and wacom digitizer is a rather unusual mix, but this Netronix device is pretty much unconventional all over. Inside, it runs on a Freescale i.MX6SL (Solo Lite), a single core Cortex-A9 processor capable of running up to 1 GHz only. The 6.8-inch display size is rather odd too, but perhaps not so much for an ereader. The resolution is also a strange and almost square 1440x1080, that's Full HD that won't be of much use for videos but should afford crisp text and images. It is said to be running Android 4.1, definitely an old version but that shouldn't be much of an issue considering what the device is designed for.

And that purpose is to really give a unique ebook reading experience, especially for obsessive note-takers. Use cases include not just jotting down notes in margins or highlighting important lines but also scribbling down comments or making illustrations for, say, a business meeting. Right now, however, the functionality isn't all there yet, as the demo ebook reader doesn't allow for annotations yet. But since it is running Android, that shouldn't also be a problem in the long run. The screen is also supposedly touch-enabled but has been disabled for that demo device. This is definitely an interesting device for e-ink lovers to root and wait for, and hopefully Netronix finds a willing customer to put this on the production line.

VIA: Liliputing

Attopedia is an encyclopedia for your Android Wear

Smartwatches are very useful for telling time, checking the weather, letting you know of your notifications, researching about history, etc. Wait, what? How can you possibly research about something on a watch? Well if you have a Samsung Live Gear or an LG G3 running on the Android Wear platform, then all you need is an app called Attopedia.

Basically, the app will make your smartwatch a walking (wearing?) encyclopaedia by bringing Wikipedia to Android Wear. So since the 3-centimeter screen limits what you can properly view, the app uses a 2-dimensional grid-based interface, removing all the bells and whistles and keeping it simple enough to look at and scroll through on your wearable device. You can now have access to all the information (although of course, whether it is accurate is another matter) found on Wikipedia, just by looking at your wrist and pushing a few small buttons.

Of course, it may seem a bit weird to be scrolling through an encyclopaedia of sorts on your smartwatch, but remember that when Internet browsing started on mobile devices, people were having difficult adjusting to it after switching from a desktop or laptop. But eventually, developers and designers were able to adjust web pages to fit into the smaller screens. This is the reasoning behind Attopedia’s developer, and this is the first step towards a future when we will be browsing more on wearables.

So if you feel the need to be a fountain of information with just a flick of the wrist, then you better get Attopedia on your Android Wear stat. You can download it for free from the Google Play Store.

VIA: Dheera

Story Timeline

• File Manager now tweaked for Android Wear platform


• New app lets Android Wear control your Tesla Model S


• Swipify simplifies switching between apps on Android Wear