Android-powered Sony Walkman NW-ZX2 puts everything in hi-res

It's been more than a year since Sony launched a Walkman flagship but now it's using CES 2015 as a launching pad for the next Walkman NW-ZX2. Continuing some of the things started by 2013's NW-ZX1, including that backside bulge that is thankfully now less pronounced, this latest standard bearer turns its eyes towards high-resolution audio, attempting to deliver the best audio quality possible, no matter how compressed the original source might be.

Digital music, while more portable and more ubiquitous, has a rather bad image of sacrificing quality for the sake of those conveniences, especially when you talk about portable media players and lossy audio formats. To combat the loss of quality in the digitizing process, Sony is putting to work all its technologies and production capabilities to upscale audio in the best way possible. The S-Master HX full digital amplifier, for example, keeps all signal processing digital to prevent degradation in the transition between analogue and digital and back. The DSEE HX processor, on the other hand, tries to recreate high-frequency information even from compressed files, upscaling the audio as needed to produce higher than CD quality sound.

And that's just what goes on inside the device. In its journey from Walkman to our ears, the NW-ZX2 uses Sony's new LDAC codec so that even Bluetooth headsets and speakers receive the best audio possible. And for those with a more wired bent, this Walkman also features USB audio output for connecting with headphone amps and DAC amps. Dual-band WiFi compatibility also makes it useful for streaming media.

Aside from working great, the Walkman NW-ZX2 also looks great, with a frame that's meticulously sculpted from solid aluminum alloy to give it a very luxurious image. And the somewhat premium materials aren't all just for show. Gold-plated copper plates inside are used to reduce electrical impedance that adversely affect audio quality. The NW-ZX2 is also an Android device, with 4.0-inch 854x480 FWVGA screen, that gives you access to more digital content and apps. It has an internal storage of 128 GB and can even be expanded with 256 GB more via a microSD card. The battery is advertised to last 60 hours when playing MP3s and 33 hours when processing hi-res audio.

The new Sony Walkman NW-ZX2 will launch in Spring 2015 starting in Europe. No price information has been dropped yet.

SOURCE: Sony

ASUS announces the ZenFone 2 flagship at CES 2015

Finally, we get to see the much hyped new flagship phone from ASUS – and no, it doesn’t have dual rear cameras, if that’s what you immediately wanted to know. But the rest of what was unveiled at CES 2015 in Las Vegas as the ASUS ZenFone 2 makes for a pretty strong argument at the mid-range price point.

First up, the ZenFone 2 carries an Intel Atom Z3580 2.3Ghz quad-core processor, which ASUS claims is faster than some quad-core processors out there. They were hesitant to name competitors in this statement, but are they referring to MediaTek or Rockchip cores? They also claim that the embedded GPU on the Intel chip can perform 8 times better than other GPUs. Well and good, but these claims need some solid benchmarking numbers behind them. After that, there's the large(ish) 5.5-inch Full HD (1080p) display, running Android 5.0 Lollipop.

The ZenFone 2 is packing 4GB of RAM, which means more fuel for that Intel Atom proc. ASUS says that the new smartphone should exhibit zero lag time on touch inputs. Pretty hefty claim. The smartphone is also LTE-capable, a relatively new thing for Intel SoC's. Finally, all of these elements will draw power from a generous 3,000mAh battery.

Then we get to the much hyped camera technology. It isn’t the dual rear cameras that we were expecting, but the 13MP camera has what ASUS calls PixelMaster technology, which is a proprietary method of backlighting your images. ASUS claims that this camera will be able to light up your night pictures by as much as 400% – again we need some real world numbers to back that up, but the tech shouldn’t be too complicated to execute.

The release date of the new ASUS ZenFone 2 is slated for March, and ASUS is targeting a price point at around USD$200. Of course, carriers and telcos will have their say on that number, so expect that to change a little bit.

SOURCE: ASUS

Story Timeline

• ASUS launches mid-tier ZenFone 5 Lite


• ASUS teases dual camera setup for ZenFone, CES 2015 reveal


• Certification docs point to underwhelming ASUS CES phone

ASUS rolls out ZenFone Zoom smartphone with 3x optical zoom

When ASUS was teasing a smartphone with big badaboom camera technology for CES 2015, they must have been referring to the ASUS ZenFone Zoom, a smartphone that carries 3x optical zoom for its main camera. Let’s see what this new shooter-with-a-phone has to offer.

First up, the ASUS ZenFone Zoom has a phablet-like 5.5-inch Full HD (1080p) display running Android 5.0 out of the box. It packs the same dual-core Intel Atom Z3580 SoC as the newly launched ZenFone 2, backed by a PowerVR G6430 GPU chip. The internal storage is set to go as high as 128GB, with a generous 4GB RAM allocation.

But we’re of course interested in the monster camera at the back. ASUS says this is the world’s thinnest smartphone to carry such a powerful camera unit. At the center of it is a 10-element lens, attached to the back of the phone in a fairly sleek design – reminds you of Nokia’s PureView lenses on smartphones as well, but without the flamboyant colors.

The ZenFone Zoom includes optical image stabilization for less accidental blur on pictures. There’s a macro mode that allows users to take super close-up images from small distances such as 5cm. For more serious cellphone photography, users can switch into a manual mode that allows control over settings like white balance, shutter speed, ISO and exposure.

ASUS is tipping the smartphone to sell at USD$399, and is set to be released to the market in the second quarter of 2015.

SOURCE: ASUS

Story Timeline

• ASUS teases dual camera setup for ZenFone, CES 2015 reveal


• ASUS rolls out Pegasus X002


• ASUS announces the ZenFone 2 flagship at CES 2015

Sony's New UHD TVs Will Run on Android TV

Rather than pack in ever more pixels or flex its screens , Sony is rolling out a number of technical and design tweaks aimed to make their benchmark-setting UHD televisions even better this year—and that includes a brand spankin' new OS powered by Google.

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Sony brings on the Android TV with 75-inch UHD XBR-75X940C

Sony's new line of Smart TVs are coming and, as previously leaked, they do come with Android TV in tow. Here at CES 2015, the Japanese manufacturer is revealing its 2015 TV line and it's kicking it off with the gigantic XBR-75X940C, a 75 incher with an equally gigantic Ultra HD resolution. And with Android TV nested within, owners are promised the best of all worlds of live TV broadcast, streaming content, and the Android platform all in one not so small package.

UHD TVs are the fad now, though UHD content still has catching up to do. Of course, not all TVs are created equal in size, and the 75-inch clearly lies on the larger side of things. But with big sizes come big responsibilities, and the XBR-75X940C definitely tries to do its job well, especially with Sony's new X1 4K processor which pushes 3840x2160 pixels around. Sony touts this processor as capable of upscaling content to 4K, so that even non-4K content can be enjoyed in their best quality. Aside from high-resolution video, the TV is also described to be "High-Resolution Audio Compatible".

As to the software, Sony is one of the first to publicly commit itself to Google's still rather new Smart TV platform. Android TV so far only officially exists inside the Nexus Player and still hasn't had enough time to cook in the market, so this will be an interesting space to watch. Google is said to be holding a tighter rein on Android TV, though we are most likely to see some OEM customizations here and there, like Sony's "One-Flick Entertainment" made possible with a brand new, rather odd looking remote control.

NOTE: We'll have more details and photos of this Sony XBR-70X490C 75-inch UHD Android TV as Sony's CES 2015 live event continues to unfold, so watch this space!

Sony SmartWear luau: Steel SmartWatch 3, Smart B-Trainer headset

We've seen a lot of new gadgets and gizmos at the start of CES 2015 yesterday and tonight, it's Sony's turn on the stage. While not giving any clues about the next Xperia devices, the manufacturer is focusing on its SmartWear line. Nothing exactly new aside from what it calls a prototype device, but fans of Sony's smartwatches will most likely be delighted to know that the latest model now comes with a stainless steel edition. Sony has also improved its Lifelog platform to include more apps and services for your life and activity monitoring needs.

The Sony SmartWatch 3 is sort of a first for Sony, as it is the company's first, and hopefully not the last, dip into Android Wear. Now that smartwatch has become even classier with a stainless steel option for those who prefer a more premium look for their smart timepiece. In all other aspects, it is pretty much the same SmartWatch 3, with a 1.6-inch 320x320 TFT LCD screen and a rather high score of IP68 water and dust proofing. But Sony won't force you to adopt its styles if they clash with your tastes. The company is also introducing a new SmartWatch 3 holder that enables you to use any 24 mm strap of your preference. The stainless steel SmartWatch 3 arrives February while the holder comes sometime later this first quarter. Prices to be announced.

Sony seems to also be getting into a some experimental wearables these days. After revealing its SmartEyeglass concept last month, it is now talking about a new wearable prototype called the Smart B-Trainer. As the name seems to hint, this waterproof all-in-one wireless headset is designed more towards those with an active lifestyle, particularly runners. The device sports its own memory storage and can let users listens not only to music but also to voice coaching. But more than that, the headset is supposedly laden with sensors for the benefit of athletes. Sony has yet to detail exactly what these sensors are and when the Smart B-Trainer will be available to the public, if at all.

Moving beyond hardware, Sony is also leveling up its Lifelog platform, the ecosystem that follows you everywhere and gives you an overview of almost all aspects of your life, both physical and digital. Lifelog users now need longer be confined to their mobile devices, as they can view their stats from a web browser via lifelog.sonymobile.com as well, whether it be on your smartphone, tablet, computer, or smart TV. In addition, Lifelog now offers integration with other services and devices, like IFTTT for an even more sophisticated Lifelog network, Habit Monster for developing new habits (and breaking bad ones), and Withings' Smart Body Analyzer and related devices.

Avy Android-powered Smart Speaker to be unveiled at CES 2015

CES 2015 will probably be filled with hundreds to thousands of Android-powered devices. We've seen a number of products the past few days and we can expect a barrage of announcements every hour until the event is over. Joining the lot is this Avy smart speaker by Zettalya-- a new startup based in Westport, Connecticut. It's an Internet-connected speaker that allows access to millions of songs available on the Internet.

With the Avy Smart Speaker, you can access various Android apps, TV shows, and movies via streaming. As long as you are connected to the Internet via WiFi, you can enjoy media and entertainment. The speaker system comes equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen, WiFi, Bluetooth connectivity, and a pair of 10-watt speakers.

Some features of the Avy include the TOUCH, LISTEN, WATCH, CONNECT, and GO functions. Touch feature can be experienced on the touchscreen interface where you can access millions of Android apps. With the amplifier and and Hi-Fi speakers, you can listen to music via streaming from Pandora, Spotify, or other similar services. You can use the Avy as a regular Bluetooth speaker too.

The crisp 7-inch display allows the user to watch shoes, movies, and videos on YouTube, Hulu, or Netflix. You can also connect the Avy to an HDTV via HDMI or using Chromecast. And since it runs Android apps, this means you can also use Skype or any other similar messaging apps.

With its compact size, the Avy makes for a portable speaker you can use and bring anywhere. Whether you're in your kitchen, dining area, or bedroom, just bring or connect your Bluetooth-enabled device to the Avy and it will play your favorite songs or videos.

The product is still listed on Kickstarter as part of the company's crowdfunding campaign. The Avy is priced at $169 when pre-order starts in February but you can avail of the speaker for $99 right on Kickstarted as a backer.

Avy Smart Android Speaker will start shipping in May. That's a few months from now but you can see it being shown off at the CES event this week.

SOURCE: Zettaly

Story Timeline

• Samsung Wireless HDD also shares Internet and battery


• AT&T no longer planning in-flight internet services


• LG to showcase WiFi speakers series in 2015 CES