Kodak and Polaroid square off again, this time with smartphones
Kodak and Polaroid are both still fighting for relevance in a world that’s mostly left them behind, and this year they’ve got a new kind of weapon in their arsenals: the smartphone. Both of these companies have basically lent the power of their brands — the history, the force of nostalgia — to third-party players who make devices on their behalf. It’s a little too early to make a call on which company’s definitively doing it better, but we took a look to see how they stack up at this point.
The first up was Kodak, which telegraphed its intentions far in advance. The end result? A nondescript little thing called the IM5 that caters less to Instagrammers than it does to older folks who had an emotional connection to the Kodak brand. Need more proof? Just take a peek at its home screen: It’s festooned with giant icons that lead you into frequently used apps like the phone dialer, Gmail and, erm, the magnifier. Meanwhile, just about the only bit of visual flair you’ll find is a tiny Kodak logo smack in the middle of the IM5’s back. Fashion statement this thing ain’t.
If we’re being honest, what’s inside the phone isn’t that much more exciting — there’s an octa-core MediaTek processor running the show, along with 2GB of RAM to help keep things snappy. I didn’t notice much in the way of performance gaffes but, you know, it’s not like the intended market is on the lookout for visual stutters or slowdown. The real kicker is the 13-megapixel camera ’round the back, and the photos they produced weren’t all that impressive (though the relatively low-res 5-inch, 720p display didn’t help matters). One of the perks of attending the world’s largest conflagration of tech nerds is everyone, everyone is clamoring to play with the same things, but during our limited time together, the Kodak IM5 felt like little more than a money grab, another desperate attempt by Kodak to hang on in our lives.
Polaroid, surprisingly, fared quite a bit better. The company (or rather, the Brooklyn-based distributor that basically tweaks existing white-label Chinese devices) brought a trio of low-cost smartphones into the gaping maw that is Central Hall.
I found myself gravitating toward two in particular. The slim, slab-like Flip packs an unknown quad-core chip and 1GB of RAM, and seemed plenty responsive while I tried to suss out what its deal was. It, like the IM5, is pretty low-key in terms of design, but a pair of speaker grilles machined into the top and bottom of the phone’s plastic shell added just a touch of life to the mix. The other — called the Selfie, ugh — tickled my fancy because it uses the exact same swiveling-camera gimmick we loved when Oppo tried it. Being the more premium gadget, the Selfie has an octa-core chip and 2GB of RAM thrumming away inside, and the 5.5-inch, 720p display seemed brighter and more pleasant that the Kodak’s panel.
Polaroid logos and wallpapers aside, both devices also come preloaded with a Polaroid photo app — it’s a ridiculous and somehow charming thing that tries to replicate the act of peering through a retro Polaroid’s viewfinder. Once you snap your shot, you’ve even got the option to shake or blow on the “photo” to coax it into developing. Sure, it’s basically paying lip service to Polaroid’s retro roots, but there’s something to be said for even small amounts of effort and ingenuity.
The signs strewn around the booth claimed that the devices ran stock versions of Android 5.0 Lollipop, and they were wrong on both counts. The phones, in fact, ran lightly skinned builds of Android 4.4.2, but at least the spokesperson was quick with assurances that the final units would come laden with Google’s latest and greatest software. Not a single one of these phones will elevate the company that made them into anything more than a mobile also-ran. With all that said though, round 1 goes to Polaroid — its phones still aren’t out-and-out great, but the companies involved haven’t completely failed capturing a once-great camera company’s legacy.
Filed under: Mobile
Apple scores victory in lawsuit over defective MacBook logic boards
Apple has scored another legal victory today, this time in a case concerning defective logic boards in MacBooks sold since May of 2010. The case was dismissed on grounds that plaintiffs weren’t able to prove that the logic boards used were “unfit for their ordinary purpose.”
From Reuters:
U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco said the plaintiffs, Uriel Marcus and Benedict Verceles, failed to show that Apple made “affirmative misrepresentations,” despite citing online complaints and Apple marketing statements calling the laptops “state of the art” or the “most advanced” on the market.
“Plaintiffs have failed to allege that Apple’s logic boards were unfit for their ordinary purposes or lacked a minimal level of quality,” Alsup wrote. “Both plaintiffs were able to adequately use their computers for approximately 18 months and two years, respectively.”
It’s important to note that this lawsuit is seperate from one initiated late last year over a similar issue concerning the integrity of the soldering between the GPU and logic board in 2011 MacBook Pros.
Source: Reuters
YotaPhone 2 knows that bowties are cool
While we’re still getting to know the new YotaPhone for review purposes, Phil and Cali got a chance to talk about the phone live today with YotaPhone Managing Director Matthew Kelly. In many ways this has been one of the more interesting phones at CES, and that has everything to do with the software that drives the e-ink display on the back of the phone. Using the back of the phone is cool for getting information at a glance, but the folks at YotaPhone are really driving home how much you can actually do with the touch capabilities on this second display. One of the big things we saw today was the way certain SMS messages are displayed to users. For example, if someone sends you a message that just contains the word “cool” you’ll see an image of a man straightening his bowtie. You know, because bowties are cool.
Super nerdy Doctor Who reference aside, YotaPhone 2 has got some seriously cool stuff going on inside. Especially now that we know it’s headed to the US soon, this phone is well worth keeping an eye on.
LYNX 9 debuted at CES 2015; $300 mobile gaming controller
Mobile gaming controllers have been around for awhile now, but none have really perfected the product. They are either too big to be portable or too small to be comfortable. Well, MadCatz now looks to combine the best of both worlds with their “hybrid” mobile gaming controller which is the LYNX 9. The LYNX 9 is a Bluetooth enabled and can connect to smartphones, tablets, PCs, and even media streaming devices.
The LYNX 9 comes in at a staggering $300, which is definitely a lot for a gaming controller; the convenience feature naturally comes with a high price. The LYNX 9 is small enough to be able to be folded up to be put in a pocket or bag, but can be expanded to give maximum comfort while playing games for extended periods of time. Along with folding capability, the device features a keyboard module and a tablet extension for the gaming controller. All of which are included with in the price. The controller also is enabled to have the track pads be used as a mouse for navigating the web and has a built-in mic that allows the user to access voice commands on their device.
It is unknown when the controller will be made available, but you can sign up to be notified when it is available.
Source: MadCatz
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Alcatel Onetouch to sell devices in the US through online storefront
Alcatel Onetouch is launching a new online store to directly sell devices to American consumers this year. The company has had moderate success in European countries, but so far hasn’t made much headway in the key US market. Selling a variety of phones online might just change that.
The store is actually powered by Amazon, so customers can pay for devices with their Amazon account. You can currently purchase the Idol X+ and Idol 2S, as well as the new Pop 7 and Pop 8 tablet that were announced at CES this year. Their planned smartwatches should also be available on the store, whenever those are released.
Alcatel Onetouch plans on making the store available to Canadians early this year, but for right now it’s pinned to the US only. For everything else that’s happened at CES this year, check out our full coverage.
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ – CES – ALCATEL ONETOUCH today announced the inaugural launch of its first-ever e-commerce channel for North America, allowing consumers to purchase unlocked smart devices and accessories directly. Beginning today, consumers looking for affordable unlocked smart devices and accessories can visit www.alcatelonetouch.us to begin shopping in the U.S. A new e-commerce channel for Canada will be available later in Q1 2015.
“Launching this e-commerce channel allows us to form a more direct relationship with our customers, while providing them greater access to affordable, feature-rich technology,” said Steve Cistulli, Senior Vice President of North America for ALCATEL ONETOUCH. “Bringing our key global devices to consumers, unlocked, is a natural progression of our growth in North America and is another step we’re taking to ensure consumers have the choice and opportunity to buy the smart devices they need at affordable prices.”
This first for ALCATEL ONETOUCH in North America is an expansion of the online channel shop.alcatelonetouch.com which went live in Europe in November 2014 offering a full range of accessories for customers in the UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain. In 2015, the European e-commerce store will expand to include other countries in Europe.
In the U.S. this new online sales channel, powered by Amazon, gives consumers the opportunity to experience the best of ALCATEL ONETOUCH’s global technology with the flexibility to choose what fits their needs best. These are the first unlocked devices and accessories offered directly to shoppers online in the U.S. by ALCATEL ONETOUCH, which includes some of our most popular smartphones and tablets. Accessories available on the webstore range from device covers and NFC tags, to 1800mAh power banks and Bluetooth headsets.
SMARTPHONES AVAILABLE INCLUDE:
IDOL X+ (4G):
- 5-inch Full HD IPS 1920×1080, 440 PPI capacitive touch display
- 2.0GHz octa-core MediaTek processor
- 13MP rear camera with auto-focus, LED flash, 4x digital zoom and EIS video stabilization
- Ultra-slim, lightweight design, weighing only 4.5 ounces
- 2500mAh battery for up to 16 hours of talk time and up to 600 hours of standby time
- 2GB RAM / 16GB of storage (Expandable to 32GB via MicroSD)
- Android 4.4 KitKat operating system
- Available starting at $275 (USD)
IDOL 2 S (LTE):
- 5-inch (12.7 cm) HD IPS 1280 x 720 16M color display
- 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
- 8MP autofocus rear camera with LED flash and 4x digital zoom + 1.3MP HD front camera
- Lightweight design, weighing only 4.4 ounces
- 2150mAh battery for up to 7 hours of talk time and up to 400 hours of standby time
- 1GB RAM / 8GB of storage (Expandable to 32GB via MicroSD)
- Android 4.3 operating system
- Available starting at $198 (USD)
CONNECTED TABLETS AVAILABLE INCLUDE:
POP 8 (4G):
- 8-inch IPS 1280×800 16M color capacitive touch display
- Quad-core 1.3GHz MediaTek processor
- 4060mAh battery for up to 3.5 hours of gaming, 5.5 hours of video playback and 350 hours of standby time
- 1GB RAM / 4GB of storage (Expandable to 64GB via MicroSD)
- 2MP main camera with additional front facing camera
- Lightweight, thin design, weighing just over 11 ounces
- Available starting at $199 (USD)
POP 7 (4G):
- 7-inch TFT 1024×600 16M color capacitive touch display
- Dual-core 1.3GHz MediaTek processor
- 3240mAh battery for up to 8 hours of browsing and 280 hours of standby time
- 1GB RAM / 8GB of storage (Expandable to 32GB via MicroSD)
- 2MP main camera with additional front facing camera
- Lightweight, thin design, weighing just over 10 ounces
- Available starting at $149 (USD)
To shop the new ALCATEL ONETOUCH web store in the U.S., or learn more about the company, visit www.alcatelonetouch.us.
About ALCATEL ONETOUCH
ALCATEL ONETOUCH is simple, unexpected, down to earth, irreverent and colorful. We believe that what makes technology smart is what you can do with it rather than what it can do.
ALCATEL ONETOUCH is a brand within TCL Communication, an international multicultural company which designs, develops, and markets globally a growing range of mobile and Internet devices. TCL Communication is a public company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (2618.HK) and part of TCL Corporation, one of the largest consumer electronics companies in the world.
ALCATEL ONETOUCH is a SMART MOVE.
For more information, please visit www.alcatelonetouch.us.
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140730/131980
SOURCE ALCATEL ONETOUCH
Come comment on this article: Alcatel Onetouch to sell devices in the US through online storefront
SwiftKey wraps up a huge year with big plans for themes
The folks at SwiftKey had an absolutely huge 2014, filled with users all around the world who have no idea how they managed to use a smartphone before this app existed. Not only is SwiftKey a big deal with Android users, but with iOS 8 opening the doors to third party keyboard the app quickly rose above the rest. When you add those users to the impressive accomplishment of working with Stephen Hawking to create a better language system for his chair, huge is the only way to describe the last year. It’ll be hard to top those accomplishments in 2015, but according to SwiftKey VP Rhodri Thomas a big part of this coming year is going to be more third party themes for their keyboard.
Given how incredibly popular the Frozen keyboards have been, there’s no doubt we’ll see keyboard themes for all kind of pop culture this year. I’ll take a Walking Dead board, how about you?
Cricket Wireless ditches Muve Music in favor of Deezer
Music streaming service Deezer, which acquired Stitcher in October, is continuing to devour competitors. It has purchased Muve Music, the in-house music streaming service for Cricket Wireless. Muve Music became popular largely due to its bundling with Cricket Wireless plans. The carrier was able to add value for customers and this made Muve Music, believe it or not, one of the top music streaming services in the United States. With Deezer now in control, Muve Music will fade. Deezer is offering Muve Music subscribers a free 15-day trial of its service and then they can upgrade to a $6 per month subscription.
Hit the break for the full press release.
Cricket Wireless and Deezer to Bring Popular Global Music Service to Prepaid Wireless Customers
Deezer Acquires Muve Music and Debuts Largest Streaming Music Library on US Smartphones
ATLANTA, Jan. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Cricket Wireless announced an exclusive wireless agreement with Deezer, one of the most popular music streaming services worldwide. On January 31, Cricket customers will have access to 35 million songs and more than 30,000 Internet radio stations from around the world, helping Cricket continue to deliver great value to customers by combining the world’s largest streaming music catalog with more 4G LTE coverage than T-Mobile, Sprint, MetroPCS and Boost.
The deal marks the first time Deezer will be available to mobile subscribers in the U.S. Since re-launching in May of 2014, Cricket has been on a mission to design a better wireless experience for its customers. First, it upgraded the network and retail experiences, and now it enhances the mobile music experience with Deezer from Cricket, a unique and exclusive world-class music experience not available with any other U.S wireless carrier.
Cricket will discontinue its existing Muve Music service on February 7, 2015 and byJanuary 31 offer existing Muve customers an extended free trial1 of Deezer from Cricket when they switch to Cricket’s new GSM network. Muve customers who switch and sign up for the extended free trial and download the Deezer app will also be able to transfer their existing music libraries2 and playlists right to the app so they can keep listening to the music they love during the trial period and for as long as they remain subscribed to the paid service.
“Cricket has done an incredible job building Muve into one of the largest music services in the U.S.,” said Tyler Goldman, North American Chief Executive Officer of Deezer. “Deezer’s 16 million listeners around the world share the same passion for music. We’re thrilled to serve the music needs of Cricket’s vibrant audience.”
All new and existing Cricket customers on the new LTE network are also eligible for a minimum 15-day free trial of Deezer. After the free trial period, Cricket customers will be automatically billed only $6/per month for Deezer from Cricket unless canceled – that’s $4 less than other premium services.
“Customers are demanding more compelling services from both their music and wireless providers,” said Jennifer Van Buskirk, President of Cricket Wireless. “This agreement illustrates our ongoing commitment to deliver the best value in prepaid wireless and satisfy our customers’ growing need for an unparalleled premium music experience.”
The agreement with Cricket and the acquisition of Muve Music is another example of Deezer’s approach to super serving the needs of consumers around the world. Deezer also recently acquired Stitcher to best serve talk radio listeners and launched high definition audio to serve music enthusiasts and audiophiles.
To find out more about Cricket’s new music platform by Deezer, go to http://cricketwireless.mediaroom.com/.
About Cricket Wireless
Cricket is bringing consumers more value with a simple, friendly and reliable nationwide wireless experience with no annual contract. The power of Cricket is our nationwide 4G LTE network that covers more than 300 million people; easy and affordable unlimited plans that are all in with taxes and fees included – no surprises; annual loyalty rewards; and a great selection of phones customers love. Cricket, Something to Smile About. Cricket is a subsidiary of AT&T Inc. Coverage not available everywhere. © 2014 Cricket Wireless LLC. All rights reserved. Cricket and the Cricket logo are trademarks under license to Cricket Wireless LLC.
About Deezer
Deezer is the first truly global on-demand audio provider, offering a digital music streaming service in more than 180 countries, with 16 million monthly active users and 6 million paid subscribers worldwide. Deezer is at the forefront of a streaming revolution, allowing fans instant access to the largest music catalogue in the world, with more than 35 million songs and 30,000+ radio channels on any device. Combining the best of man and machine, Deezer’s global editorial team searches for the best music around the world and its algorithmic recommendations help fans discover music they will truly love. Deezer is available on your favorite device, including smartphone, tablet, PC, laptop, home sound system, connected car or smart TV.
Launched in 2007, Deezer is a privately held company, headquartered in Paris with offices in San Francisco and around the world. Deezer is also available in the U.S. via Bose and Sonos audio systems. Deezer is currently available as a free download for iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows devices or on the web athttp://www.deezer.com globally outside the US. In the fall of October 2014 Deezer acquired leading on-demand talk radio service Stitcher.
For the latest news, and official Deezer images go to Deezer.com/company/press.
1Muve customers who sign up for Deezer from Cricket while remaining on the CDMA network will get a free trial through 03/31/15 after which time they will only have access to Deezer Free, Deezer’s free streaming radio service, and they will no longer have access to downloads and playlists. Muve customers who migrate to the new Cricket GSM network and sign up for Deezer from Cricket during the trial period receive an additional extended trial period. After the free trial customers will be automatically billed just $6/mo unless cancelled. Muve subscribers who have qualified for the extended offer on the GSM network will not be billed until their bill cycle between April 30, 2015 and May 31, 2015. The length of each customer’s free trial will depend on the date that they sign up for Deezer and/or migrate to Cricket’s new GSM network and the date of their billing cycle. After the end of the trial period, downloads and playlists will only be available with an active paid subscription to Deezer from Cricket.
2While the majority of tracks on Muve (and many more) are also available in the Deezer service, there may be some tracks not available. These tracks will not transfer to Deezer. After the end of the trial period, downloads and playlists will only be available with an active paid subscription to Deezer from Cricket.
Come comment on this article: Cricket Wireless ditches Muve Music in favor of Deezer
Indiegogo CEO on crowdfunding’s growing importance at CES
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It’s no secret that crowdfunding is an increasingly important part of getting a product off the ground. And with the big boys either backing out of CES or saving their big announcements for their own dedicated events, the little guys are getting more attention. Who better to talk about the trend than Slava Rubin, the CEO of Indiegogo. All told, some 80 companies on the CES show floor got their start on Rubin’s crowdfunding site. Now, that may seem like a drop in the bucket when you consider the thousands of exhibitors fighting for attention, but it’s roughly four times as many as there were in 2014. He was also kind enough to bring along some toys for us to show off. Check out the video above for the full interview, in which Rubin shared some news of his own about the future of Indiegogo.
Filed under: Misc
Nokia N1 is sold out; 20,000 units sold within 4 minutes in China
A lot of talk has been surrounding the Nokia N1 tablet, mainly because it was Nokia’s first device announced after their split with Microsoft. The device also features class leading specs at a low cost. Due to these factors, 20,000 units of the tablet were sold within a span of 4 minutes in China and now the device is sold out.
The Nokia N1, which is a direct competitor to the iPad Mini 3, is easy to sell when the specs are comparable, if not better, and priced at CNY 1599 or $257 USD. It was rumored earlier to sell in the United States for $249.99, so it will for sure be between that and $259.99.
To give a refresher, the Nokia N1 comes with a 7.9 inch display (1536 x 2048) in a sleek metal construction. To top that off, it features a 2.3 GHz Intel Atom Z3580 processor backed by 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of ROM and runs Android 5.0 Lollipop. It also features Nokia’s very own Z Launcher and sports a 5,300 mAh battery.
Source: Blogjackphone | Via: Talk Android
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Saygus V2: Super smartphone announced at CES 2015
Not many smartphones can take on the label of “super smartphone”, but the Saygus V2 maintains the rights to be called it. The Saygus V2, which was debuted at CES 2015 this week and it features some specs and features that no smartphone has been able to boast, yet.
The Saygus V2 features a Snapdragon 801 processor backed by 3 GB of RAM, a 5 inch 1080p display (445 ppi), and a 21 megapixel rear-facing camera accompained by a 13 megapixel front-facing camera; both boasting optical image stabilization. Now if those specs didn’t stand out to you, just wait, there’s more!
This is where it gets interesting… What makes the Saygus V2 so original is that it comes with 64 GB of on-board storage, but comes with support for two, you read it, two microSD cards. That means that this device can handle dual 128 GB microSD cards with a total storage of up to 320 GB. The originality doesn’t stop there. The V2 comes with an all-new waterproof rating of IPX7, which Saygus claims is swimming worthy. The device also features a “50% battery savings chip” that can make the 3,100 mAh battery seem like it’s a 4,600 mAh battery.
This is where it gets to really unheard of territory. With all those features listed above, what more could they instill in this device to make it better? The Saygus V2 comes with super user or root permissions right out of the box. That means users can get maximum customization right away on this device. This is something that is unheard of from smartphone manufactures, but it definitely makes the V2 stand out from the crowd.
A release date and pricing have not yet been announced, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated on this so-called “super smartphone”. It is rumored that the device will be $100 less than current flagship devices, which leaves a big range; $400-$700.
What are your thoughts on the Saygus V2? Would like a device to come with root-access right out of the box or do you like doing the down and dirty stuff by yourself. Let us know, because I for one would love to get my hands on this device.
Source: Saygus | Market Wired (press release)
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AIVAnet 