Sony announces Xperia Z1 Compact
Sony on Monday introduced its latest Android smartphone, the Xperia Z1 Compact, a 4.3-inch monster of a device. Powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB RAM, the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean handset packs a killer 20.7-megapixel camera. The display measures 4.3-inches, features a 720p resolution and offers Sony’s TRILUMINOS Display for mobile with X-Reality technology. The battery is listed at 2300mAh and offers Sony’s Battery STAMINA Mode which extends the life of each charge. In other words, it doesn’t have any weak spots.
As you might expect, the Xperia Z1 Compact features a host of Sony applications and services.
- PlayMemories Online – a cloud-based image and video service that is integrated into the Album application. A new ‘All Sync’ feature enables users to instantly auto-upload all of their photos without storage limitation.
- “WALKMAN” and Movies applications provide access to more than 22 million songs on the “WALKMAN” app through Music Unlimited and more than 150K movies and TV series on the Movies app through Video Unlimited from Sony Entertainment Network.
- TrackID TV – enhances your TV-viewing experience as it lets you search, share and explore information from broadcasted TV shows such as cast & crew, biographies, filmography or show related Tweets.
The waterproof Xperia Z1 Compact will launch globally from February 2014 in a variety of color (black, lime, white, pink) options. Look for pricing and carrier details in the coming weeks.
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We’re live-blogging Kaz Hirai’s CES keynote, don’t miss it!
It’s crazy, yes, but CES 2014 is only just beginning. Though we’ve been on the ground for two days already, the show floor is officially opening tomorrow. To kick things off, Sony CEO Kaz Hirai will be delivering the opening keynote. 4K’s a huge trend this year, so expect him to talk about his company’s efforts in this area. Of course, there may be some product announcements in store for us as well. We’ll be live-blogging his presentation — catch our updates here.
Filed under: Announcements, Sony
Fitbit partners with women’s fashion designer Tory Burch on Flex accessories
If the wearable trend is ever going to truly take off, companies are going to have to figure out how to make people want to wear them. That means taking it a step beyond simply not being embarrassed to be seen wearing one in public — these devices are going to have to actually be attractive. Pebble got the memo, now Fitbit is taking steps to turn its Flex fitness tracker into a legit fashion accessory. The company is partnering with Tory Burch, maker of high-end women’s fashion pieces, to design a line of bracelets and necklaces that will be able to hold the little Flex bug. While there doesn’t appear to be any final designs just yet, the sketches the company shared with us seem to indicate the goal will be to mask its gadget heart as completely as possible, while adding a dash of golden bling. The goods themselves are expected to launch sometime in the Spring. But until then, you’ll just have to peruse Tory Burch’s current jewelry and let your imagination run wild.
Filed under: Wearables
JVC makes its Everio camcorders rugged for 2014
If your first thought when buying a camcorder is “can it take a pounding?” then JVC’s got two more options for you to consider. The company’s new Everio shooters are clad in the same hard-wearing shell that we’ve previously seen on the rugged ADDIXION line. Both models come with a 2.5-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS, 40x optical zoom and a 3-inch touchscreen, but those stats aren’t the ones you’re probably interested in. No, get this outside, for instance, and the hardware will resist water for depths of up to five meters, drops from a height of 1.5 meters and cope with freezing temperatures down to minus 10 degrees Celsius. The only difference between the two devices is internal storage, with the GZ-R70 coming with 32GB internal memory, which is priced at $500, while the GZ-R10 will set you back $100 less. There’s no solid information (yet) about availability, but as soon as we know, we’ll update this accordingly.
Filed under: Cameras
The internet of toddlers: Intel shows off a smart baby onesie
The most crowded area of Intel’s CES booth? Not the phone section, not tablets, not even two-in-ones. Nope, everyone’s huddled around a desk with coffee mugs. That, and a plastic baby doll lying face-up in a carrier. Just like Intel CEO Brian Krzanich hinted, the company is going all-in on wearables this year. Except the outfit isn’t showing off fitness trackers; it’s showing off an internet-connected baby onesie. Most surprising of all: it’s not even a concept but rather, a real, final product that will ship this week.
So what does it do? Best to ignore buzzwords like “smart” and think of this simply as the baby monitor of the future. The onesie, made by a company called Rest Devices, has two green stripes on the front that are actually respiratory sensors. Additionally, the onesie comes with a removable, turtle-shaped clip, with sensors allowing it to monitor the baby’s body position, activity level and skin temperature. Then, parents can see all that data in an iOS/Android app or, potentially, a light-up smart mug that shows the baby’s respiratory patterns. In short, then, this is aimed at the same kind of parent who would otherwise buy a baby monitor. Except, you know, it offers an unprecedented amount of data. “You can look at your smartphone and know that everything is OK,” said Carson Darling, one of the founders of Rest Devices.
Inside, of course, there’s an Intel chip running the show — specifically, a dual-core Edison PC the size of an SD card. What’s interesting is that the onesie will actually ship this week without that Intel componentry inside, since Intel has already said that Edison won’t ship until this summer. To be sure, Rest Devices will eventually ship an Edison version too, which Darling says will be easier for his company to develop for. In the meantime, though, the non-Edison will still function exactly as advertised. That will sell for $199 as a starter kit, with three onesies and a turtle clip-on. Thereafter, individual onesies will sell in $29 two-packs, with sizes ranging from zero to 12 months. The chances of us reviewing this on a real baby are slim, so you’ll have to make do with our photos of a plastic baby doll. Enjoy, and, uh, please keep the dead baby jokes to yourself.
Source: Rest Devices
Kaz Hirai’s CES keynote liveblog
2013 was a big year for Sony, with 4K TVs and the hotly anticipated PlayStation 4, among many other products, keeping the company in the news. So, as CES 2014 kicks off, who better to set the tone than CEO Kaz Hirai? We’re here at the Venetian hotel bright and early to share his presentation with you. Stay tuned!
Filed under: Sony
Now your desktop can use Amped Wireless’ WiFi gear
Amped Wireless is here in full force at CES, and while the company has previously offered up USB adapters for tablets and laptops, there’s never been a card-based solution for your desktop. That’s all changing with the advent of the PCI20E, which combines a PCI-E card and two high-gain antennas that’ll give you 500mW of wireless power. It’ll arrive in February for $90, and pre-orders are open from… now!
Filed under: Wireless
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: kickoff!
Welcome to technology’s biggest week of the year. Sure, we’ve already been working our butts off for days now, but CES doesn’t officially open until those show doors do. And with them begins a week of high-profile interviews on our official CES stage. Join a handful of our editors as we christen the stage (anyone know a place in Vegas where we can get a bottle of champagne?), talk about the week so far and speculate on what’s to come.
Follow all the latest CES 2014 news at our event hub, and check out our full stage schedule here.
Native Union’s Jump is a charging cable with a little built-in battery
We’ve covered a few cool Native Union accessories before, but this one easily beats them all in terms of thoughtfulness. The Jump, which is debuting at CES, appears to be a Lightning or micro-USB cable that goes through a little cable wrapper, which is intentionally designed to fit into your trousers’ tiny coin pocket. The fun part is that this gray pebble also packs 800mAh of battery juice (with 1A current output), so it’s good for emergency use. But that’s not all! You can use the Jump as a normal cable to charge up your phone, and when the latter is full, the intelligent circuitry — which had been a tough challenge for Native Union — diverts the power to the Jump’s own battery. To put it simply: you’re hitting two birds with one stone here. No need to remind yourself to plug in your portable battery separately at night.
The Jump has just been launched as a Kickstarter project, and you can grab one now for as low as $30 (it’s a limited offer, of course). Want more? Just add $35 for every additional Jump. Expect this handy little gadget to ship some time in May.
Filed under: Peripherals
Source: Kickstarter
SMS Audio reveals three sport-friendly Carmelo Anthony signature headphones
Like to soak up some beats while out on the court? Or prefer a sonic boost to your run? Then SMS Audio’s new Audio Sport, Carmelo Anthony signature collection is looking squarely at you. There are three models in the line: the Sync Wireless Sport in-ear, and Street Wired Sport in- and on-ear editions. All three come with sweat-proof protection and tangle-free cables (on the wired ones, of course). The Street on-ears even come with an SMS Audio sports towel in the box, and all models come in three color variations (as you see above). If you fancy picking up a set of the wireless Syncs, then it’ll cost you $160. The on-ear Streets are $20 more, but if you’re more into the in-ear, wired version, you can snag ‘em for a much lower $80. All will be ready for your workout sometime in spring.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals
AIVAnet 