The Huawei MWC liveblog – 1.30 p.m. CET, 7.30 a.m ET
Mobile World Congress doesn’t officially open until tomorrow, but today’s the day all the big players are throwing big press events. We’re getting ready to spend some time with Huawei where, given recent leaks, it looks pretty likely we’ll see the introduction of an Android Wear smartwatch. The action kicks off at 1.30 p.m. local time, which translates to 7.30 a.m. on the East Coast and 4.30 a.m. on the West.
LG Watch Urbane + Urbane LTE hands-on
LG introduces its best-looking wearable yet — including a unique LTE-capable version
In a relatively short amount of time, LG has rapidly developed its smartwatch portfolio. Starting with the original square reference device for Android Wear, the G Watch, and evolving later last year into a more traditional watch design with the G Watch R. Now, still less than a year on from its first smartwatch, LG brings us what’s arguably the best-looking Android Wear smartwatch yet, the LG Watch Urbane. Broadly based upon the design of the G Watch R, the Urbane steps things up a notch with a polished metal chassis reminiscent of a traditional high-quality analog wearable — a step in the direction of jewelry, as opposed to technology.
But that’s not the end of the story — the LG Watch Urbane comes in two flavors. In addition to the standard Android Wear version, LG has developed an LTE-capable version based upon its own “LG Wearable Platform” software, which is based upon webOS. It’s the first smartwatch with 4G connectivity, looking a lot like the LG/Audi prototype smartwatch teased at CES.
We’ve had the chance to preview both versions of the Watch Urbane ahead of Mobile World Congress. Read on for our first impressions!
Microsoft accidentally confirms Lumia 640, Lumia 640 XL in premature announcement
A premature announcement coming out of Microsoft’s news center outed two devices that are likely scheduled to make their debut on March 2, the Lumia 640 and the Lumia 640 XL.
Huawei’s new TalkBands are more serious about activity tracking
Huawei has today at Mobile World Congress announced a pair of new TalkBand devices to add to its wearable portfolio that now includes the Android Wear powered Huawei Watch. The TalkBand B2 is a direct follow up to the B1 from last year and incorporates smartband features and a premium Bluetooth headset.
Alongside it is the TalkBand N1, a health and fitness tracker that incorporates a Hi-Fi Stereo, Bluetooth headset with 4GB of internal storage to put your music on.
The Huawei MediaPad X2 is its latest 7-inch ‘phone’
Among its Mobile World Congress announcements, Huawei has unveiled a new, cellular enabled tablet, the MediaPad X2. At 7-inches we’d hesitate to call it a phone, but it has an earpiece and you can use it to make phone calls.
The Huawei Watch is official and it’s a looker
Huawei has announced its very first foray into the Android Wear space at Mobile World Congress with this, the Huawei Watch. For a first entry it’s an impressive looking thing, with Huawei boasting a team of traditional watch designers having been involved in its creation.
Huawei’s new TalkBands are more serious about activity tracking
Huawei has today at Mobile World Congress announced a pair of new TalkBand devices to add to its wearable portfolio that now includes the Android Wear powered Huawei Watch. The TalkBand B2 is a direct follow up to the B1 from last year and incorporates smartband features and a premium Bluetooth headset.
Alongside it is the TalkBand N1, a health and fitness tracker that incorporates a Hi-Fi Stereo, Bluetooth headset with 4GB of internal storage to put your music on.
The TalkBand B2 features an updated, more premium feeling design with an aluminium bracket, leather or TPU bands and colors available including silver and gold. Its fitness tracking has got more accurate compared to the B1, better Bluetooth connectivity and enhanced synchronization with your phone or tablet.
The 6-axis sensor inside can automatically recognize your activity type and record the relevant data, and monitor your sleep patterns giving you some tips and tricks on how to make it better. The Bluetooth headsets boasts noise reduction and smart detection, so it can tell when its on your wrist or your ear so it can automatically push audio when required.
The TalkBand B2 promises up to 5 days of battery life and supports Android 4.0 and up as well as iOS.
The TalkBand N1 is aimed squarely at the sporty crowd, tracking steps, distance, calories and a whole lot more as well as being able to play your music. It’s IP54 dust and water resistant (and sweat proof, apparently) and with magnetic elements in the earbuds it can also become a ‘fashionable necklace accessory.’
No information on specific availability or price is available at the time of writing.
Acer’s Liquid Leap+ Smart Activeband is platform agnostic with changeable straps
Mobile World Congress 2015 has just begun, and Acer has just announced its latest wearable, the Liquid Leap+ Smart Activeband. The Liquid Leap+ (as we will call it from now on) is platform agnostic, meaning it is compatible with Android, Windows and iOS. More details as well as the full press release after the break.
Acer’s Liquid Leap+ monitors your sleep, counts your steps and calories as well as allowing you to receive notifications and control your music with Play, Pause, Previous and Next commands. The Liquid leap+ has a 1-inch OLED display, and the rubber straps are interchangeable. The Liquid Leap+ has an IPX7 water-resistant body that allows it to be exposed to 1m of water for up to 30 minutes and the smart band connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth 4.0 LE (Low-Energy).
Finally, the Acer Liquid Leap+ will become available later this month in the EMEA market for €79 ($89). Have a look at the video below, read Acer’s Press Release beneath it and remember to follow our MWC 2015 coverage here.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Full Press Release:
BARCELONA – Acer today announced the next generation of Smart activeband products, the Acer Liquid Leap+. Standing for flexibility, the new wearable now syncs and connects with all main supported operating systems (Windows, Android, iOS) and the 1” OLED touchscreen can be strapped to the wrist-band colour of your current mood. Life is more than the number of steps you take, the Liquid Leap+ is about action, motion, logging and flexibility.
Acer Liquid Leap+ | Acer’s first multi-OS wearable device
By developing Liquid Leap+, Acer had one thing in mind: user flexibility. This innovative wearable convinces with features aimed at keeping track of all aspects of one’s life in a small 1-inch package. There is no question that Liquid Leap+ radiates an understated elegance with its modern, minimalistic, button-free design. But its qualities go well beyond looks, the ultra-slim 1” touch-screen is nestled in a durable exchangeable rubber wristband with a curved surface especially designed to lower body temperature by minimizing skin contact.
The Acer Liquid Leap+ is the ideal smart wearable device for active digital users who have both a need and a desire to always be connected. It becomes a fitness companion by tracking the user’s steps, running distance and calories burned. The activeband core module is a 24/7 wearable thanks to its waterproof certification (rated IPX7). Music control functions such as “play”, “pause”, “previous”, and “next song” make it easy to adapt to the tune of your choice, while notifications never let one miss an important email, calendar event or SMS.
The wearable technology in Liquid Leap+ talks to Acer Leap Manager app and your Android, Windows, or iOS smartphone via Bluetooth 4.0 low energy.
Light-weight and stylish, the Liquid Leap+ comes with a variety of colour-bands: Charcoal Black, Fuchsia Pink and Lime Green.
Source: Acer
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Acer announce the Liquid Jade Z handset with 5-Inch IPS display and 64-bit processor
In case you forgot, the Mobile World Congress (2015 edition) is in full swing over in Barcelona, with Acer kicking things off with the announcement of it’s new range of Liquid handsets, as well as its latest wearable. Here we have the Liquid Jade Z, and its specifications, pictures, and full press release are available after the break.
As you can see from the specifications below, the Liquid Jade Z is firmly in the mid-range category, although Acer has included software features such as Read Mode that eliminates blue light emissions from the image processing engine. Other features include Bright Magic that allows 20% more light to reach the sensor, and AcerEXTEND – enables users to control their smartphones via their PC either through wireless or by cable. The Liquid Jade Z is running Android Version 4.4 KitKat at launch, although Acer has stated that a Lollipop update is in the works.
Specifications:
- 5-inch IPS Zero Air Gap display, Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3
- Quad-Core MediaTek processor with 64-bit compatibility
- 13MP main camera with F1.8 aperture with Bright Magic feature
- 5MP front-facing camera F2.2 aperture
- LTE connectivity (Cat.4)
- 24-bit Hi-res audio; HD speakers with DTS Studio Sound
- 7.95mm thick
- Weighs 110 grams
The Acer Liquid Jade Z will become available to purchase in Europe later this month (March) for €199 ($222). Don’t forget, you can catch up with the rest of our MWC 2015 coverage right here.
Full Press Release
Barcelona Acer announces the Liquid Jade Z that brings premium features and award winning Jade design to the mainstream. Beautiful in its HD definition, viewable from any angle with its IPS Technology, readable in all circumstances with Zero Air Gap technology reducing unwanted reflections, and durable as protected under a beautifully Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 panel. The special Read Mode feature protects the eyes by eliminating the blue-light emissions from the image processing engine. Speedy browsing, streaming and downloading almost anywhere in the world is guaranteed with 4G LTE (Cat. 4) connectivity and a 64-bit quad-core Mediatek processor.
The Liquid Jade Z will be on display at Acer’s booth (Hall 1, stand G50) during MWC2015 in Barcelona.
Brighter everywhere
Thanks to its voice-activated 13MP rear camera with F1.8 aperture, it can produce flawless pictures in any environment, even when the light is scarce. A front camera of 5MP F2.2 is also on board, to empower users to shoot their best selfie.
Additionally, the Jade Z embeds a series of exclusive enhancements for the perfect shot:
- Everything brighter thanks to the F1.8 aperture allowing 20%¹ more light to reach the sensor, Bright Magic integrates multiple pictures into one single shot
- Perfect selfie with Bright Magic Selfie and Surround light even in low light conditions;
- Exposure control with one finger to adjust focus and exposure independently for clear shots;
Equally Beautiful inside
AcerEXTEND will enable users to take full control of their smartphones via cable or wirelessly using their Windows-based PC, typing with their keyboard, using drag and drop and rich sharing – taking the multitasking experience to the next level. AcerNAV1 , a free offline navigation software powered by TomTom and utilizing TripAdvisor POI, gives Acer Liquid smartphone users the flexibility to navigate without any data plan at home or abroad.
Superb Design
The Liquid Jade Z was created to be an elegant but wallet-friendly smartphone. It boasts a beautiful curved surface and gives the eye an impression of elegance and grace. 7.9 mm slim and weighting only 110 grams, the Liquid Jade Z is comfortable to hold and use even with one hand.
Come comment on this article: Acer announce the Liquid Jade Z handset with 5-Inch IPS display and 64-bit processor
Whine has been discounted to $0.99 during the month of March
.99 during the month of March’>
Want to get your Vine on but haven’t downloaded Whine yet? Well, maybe now is the time. Third party BlackBerry 10 client, Whine has had it’s price slashed down from $2.99 to $0.99. This sale will last throughout the month of March. It’s definitely worth getting if you prefer native apps to Android ports. It runs smoothly and has everything you need to get you Vine on and more.
AIVAnet 