Qualcomm to use Samsung to build Snapdragon 820 chip
Qualcomm will reportedly use Samsung’s foundries to build its next high-end Snapdragon 820 chipset according to a new report, which suggests that Samsung’s 14-nanometer manufacturing process is the reason for the change from Qualcomm’s past practices.
Quoting sources familiar with Qualcomm’s roadmap and Samsung’s foundry operations, Re/code say that Qualcomm will choose Samsung over long-term partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), as the latter still uses 20-nanometer transistors compared to the 14-nanometer wiring used in Samsung’s foundries. One reason for Qualcomm to opt for Samsung over TSMC is the belief that thinner wires means smaller and less costly chips along with supposedly better battery performance.
brightcove.createExperiences();
In its new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge smartphones, Samsung opted to use its own 14-nm chipsets in the much thinner smartphones and the shunning of Qualcomm’s chipsets saw the company cut its financial outlook for the year. Even though the Snapdragon 810 chip is being used in the HTC One (M9) and LG G Flex 2, the loss of Samsung’s business – and the reported 70 million sales target – had a major impact on the company’s financial outlook.
The Snapdragon 820 is Qualcomm’s next-generation chipset and the company is reportedly hoping that manufacturing the chipset at Samsung’s foundry will persuade the Korean manufacturer to use the Snapdragon 820 in the next Galaxy S flagship. Samsung’s Exynos chip in the Galaxy S6 has broken all benchmarking records and it’s unclear whether the company would entertain a switch to the Snapdragon 820 chipset when the Exynos chip has worked so well in its flagship.
Awesome related Galaxy S6 videos:
.rvs_wrapper
width: 335px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
.rvs_wrapper
width: 100%;
text-align: center;
#page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
display: inline-block;
float: none;
vertical-align: top;
Both Samsung and Qualcomm were not immediately available for comment.
Monday Makeover: Taking control of widgets with HD Widgets
There is a plethora of apps out there that allow you to customize just about every single thing on your android smartphone without even rooting. That is why we have started the weekly series “Monday Makeover.” Each week we will take one of these customization apps and talk about setting it up, discuss the features of it, and show you how you can make your android device truly one of a kind. Last week we talked about Muzei. This week we are taking a look at HD Widgets.
What is HD Widgets?
HD Widgets is an app that allows you to customize widgets to use on the homescreen of your device. You are able to choose the size of you widget as well as what is displayed on the widget. Instead of having to install multiple apps for weather, clock, and switches, you can do it all with one app and customize each one. If you do not know much about customizing and creating widgets, it is okay because HD Widgets makes it quick and simple to create exactly the widget you want. There is no searching through settings to choose the right option for your widget because all of the customization options are displayed on one page.
Why should I use HD Widgets?
HD Widgets allows you to make amazing looking widgets without having to download individual apps or spend too much time working on them. It is for people who want their widgets to have a specific look and want to be able to change the way their widgets look quickly at any time.
How do I use HD Widgets?
One of the best features of HD Widgets is that it does not require much work to create a wonderful looking widget for your homescreen. After installing HD Widgets, go to your homescreen, touch and hold, and select “Widgets.” You should now see a list of different sized HD Widgets, and you can select the size that you want. After applying the widget to your homescreen, you will be taken into the HD Widgets app.
You will now see the widget customization screen which is where you can make all the changes you want to your widget. In the top right corner is a dropdown menu that allows you to choose the size of the widget you would like to use. Along the top is a scrollable list of all the widget options you have with the “Glass Gems” widget pack.
You will have a widget for switches which allow you to toggle on and off setting like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, several widgets for weather and forecasts, and even more widgets for time and date.
Once you have decided the style of widget you want, move the the bottom of the screen from customization. If you have no idea what you want your widget to look like, you can tap “Random” which will apply a random customization to your selected widget. Depending on the widget you have selected, the other options will be different. We are sticking with the “Switches” widget for this walkthrough. “Background” allows you to change the style and color of the widget, or you can remove the background completely. “Switches” allow you to choose what switches you want displayed on the widget. “Active” changes the color of the switches that are on or active. “Labels” turns the text labels under the switches on or off. “Text” changes the color of the text if labels are on. “Icons” changes the color of the icons when they are off or inactive.
Where do I get HD Widgets?
HD Widgets is on sale right now in the Play Store for only $0.99. This is a fantastic price for such a useful app. You can also get add-on widget styles on the Play Store for free.
HD Widgets does a fantastic job creating an easy way to customize the widgets that grace your homescreen. This app is highly recommended to anyone who wants to take more control of their homescreen without having to spend too much time in customization. Are you going to use HD Widget or have used it in the past? Tell us your thoughts on it in the comments! While you are down there, leave some suggestions of apps you would like to see featured on future Monday Makeovers. Have a great week!
The post Monday Makeover: Taking control of widgets with HD Widgets appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Mattel hopes you’ll design 3D-printed toys
Admit it: when you were a kid, you wished that you could design the toys that the stuffy manufacturers refused to build. Well, you’re about to get that chance. Mattel and Autodesk are teaming up to let you design and customize 3D-printed toys through a “dedicated online hub” in the second half of the year. It’s not clear just what freedom you’ll have, although it wouldn’t be shocking if you could craft your own Hot Wheels cars or Barbie accessories. They’re likely to carry a premium over off-the-shelf toys, but they could be worth it if they encourage kids to create toys, not just play with them — and hopefully, prevent the disappointment you probably felt when you were growing up.
[Image credit: Timm Schamberger/Getty Images]
Via: 3DPrint.com
Source: Autodesk
Disney Research makes dubbed movies more believeable
“This town’s like a great big chicken, just waiting to get plucked.” That line is one of the more unintentionally funny results of cleaning up 1983’s notoriously blue Scarface for cable, and new insight from Disney Research could make awkward redubs like that a relic of the past. By using an automated system that generates alternative dialog while keeping the spoken words in sync with lip movements, Walt’s mad science wing thinks it has they key to believeable audio replacement for movies and video games — perfect for anime and foreign flicks, we’d imagine. For example, Disney says (PDF) that the phrase “clean swatches” is replaceable with “like swats” or “need no pots,” thanks to the lines having similar phonemes (the smallest form of speech that differentiates two words, like “bat” and “bad”).
By combining those with dynamic visemes (visual phonemes), and some old fashioned scouring of a pronunciation dictionary, an acoustic speech synthesizer is able to generate inoffensive audio tracks. Disney says that using this approach, it’s able to suggest “thousands” of alternate word strings compared to traditional methods. Whether or not that means we’d actually want to watch an edited-for-TV movie, on the other hand, is another matter entirely.
[Base image credit: Universal Pictures]
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Disney Research (1)
The Big Picture: Chevy’s self-driving concept car is straight out of sci-fi
Thought that Mercedes’ F 015 self-driving car was futuristic? It looks old hat next to GM’s autonomous electric concept, the Chevrolet-FNR. The pod-like design appears ripped straight from a sci-fi flick, complete with crystal laser lights, “dragonfly” swinging doors and sensors (including radar) that aren’t as conspicuous as they are on other robotic vehicles. And that’s just the outside — inside, it’s touting magnetic hubless wheel electric motors, wireless charging, swiveling front seats and eye recognition to verify the owner. As with most out-there concepts, the chances of driving what you see here are slim to none. However, it won’t be at all shocking if the technology in the FNR eventually trickles down to more practical (if far less adventurous) cars.
Filed under: Transportation
Source: GM Media
Samsung calls Galaxy S6 the “smartphone of your dreams” in new ad
Samsung has already released several adverts and commercials for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge but with so many new features, the company isn’t quite ready to stop there. The latest commercial showcases the Galaxy S6‘s pretty awesome wireless charging capabilities, along with the fast charging and Ultra Power Saving modes.
The video is just the right amount of catchy, corny and witty and presents the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge in a different light. Rather than adopt Apple’s style of advert where there’s a short demo with several steps missed out, this advert simply shows the Galaxy S6 for what it is: a very good handset packed with a range of charging solutions.
Samsung ends the advert by saying you could just call the Galaxy S6 “the smartphone of your dreams” and the company does have a fair point. If you were looking for a handset that has the least compromises- as all handsets are a compromise in one way or another – chances are you would probably turn to Samsung’s latest handsets.
I personally own the Galaxy S6 edge and I love it but what do you think? Are you planning to buy one and, if so, which one do you intend to buy? If you’ve already got one, is it everything you’d hoped it would be or has it fallen a little short? Let us know your views!
Awesome related Galaxy S6 and S6 edge videos:
.rvs_wrapper
width: 335px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
.rvs_wrapper
width: 100%;
text-align: center;
#page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
display: inline-block;
float: none;
vertical-align: top;
Google wants you to download your web search history
Wondering what you were searching for online a few years ago? You now have a (relatively) easy way to find out. Google has quietly trotted out an option to download your entire search history. So long as you searched using your Google account, you’ll have a permanent record. Of course, this is something of a mixed blessing given how pervasive Google is at this stage. While the archive may help you dig up a keyword you’re struggling to remember, something tells us that it’d be all too easy to dredge up embarrassing memories — we hope you didn’t Google your classroom crush.
Via: Google Operating System, CNET
Source: Google Web history
What’s on your HDTV: ‘StarTalk’, ‘Taken 3’ and ‘Breakin’ on Blu-ray
While the NHL and NBA playoffs roll on, this evening we welcome a new entrant to the late-night arena with Neil deGrasse Tyson’s StarTalk on National Geographic Channel. Promising to “collide pop culture with science” its guest for the premiere episode is George Takei, stopping by to discuss the importance of Star Trek’s ideals. In other TV news, we have season finales for Fresh Off the Boat, The Americans and Vikings, while Inside Amy Schumer is back for season two. Our favorite entries this week come from Blu-ray and no, it’s not because of Taken 3. Several classics are hitting the shelf with dual packs for Breakin’ / Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo and Ghoulies I / II, plus Cooley High and Escape from New York. For gamers, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China, Shovel Knight and Infinity Runner are the high points. Look after the break to check out each day’s highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLMKk4lSYoM-w-S_FdvK7zgtT2K230I5qr
Blu-ray & Games
- Taken 3
- A Girl Walks Home at Night
- Ghoulies / Ghoulies II
- Escape from New York
- Bio-Dome
- Everly
- The Musketeers (S2)
- Breakin’ / Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo
- Cooley High
- Shovel Knight (PS4, PS3)
- Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
- Infinity Runner (PS4, Xbox One)
- Carmageddon: Reincarnation (PC)
- LA Cops (PS4)
- We Are Doomed (PC)
- The Evil Within: The Consequence (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC)
- Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2 (Wii U)
Monday
- The Voice, NBC, 8PM
- 2 Broke Girls, CBS, 8PM
- The Originals, CW, 8PM
- Gotham, Fox, 8PM
- Dancing with the Stars, ABC, 8PM
- WWE Raw, USA, 8PM
- Mike & Molly, CBS, 8:30PM
- The Following, Fox, 9PM
- Scorpion (season finale), CBS, 9PM
- Jane the Virgin, CW, 9PM
- Turn, AMC, 10PM
- The Night Shift, NBC, 10PM
- Castle, ABC, 10PM
- The Returned, A&E, 10PM
- StarTalk (series premiere), National Geographic Channel, 11PM
Tuesday
- Community, Yahoo Screen, 3AM
- Powers, PlayStation Network
- Fresh Off the Boat (season finale), ABC, 8PM
- The Flash, CW, 8PM
- The Voice, NBC, 8PM
- Repeat After Me (season finale), NBC, 8:30PM
- Undateable, NBC, 9PM
- iZombie, CW, 9PM
- Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., ABC, 9PM
- Weird Loners, Fox, 9:30PM
- One Big Happy, NBC, 9:30PM
- Forever, ABC, 10PM
- Your Family or Mine, TBS, 10PM
- Chicago Fire, NBC, 10PM
- Finding Carter, MTV, 10PM
- Tosh.0, Comedy Central, 10PM
- CSI: Cyber, CBS, 10PM
- Inside Amy Schumer (season premiere), Comedy Central, 10:30PM
Wednesday
- Saving My Tomorrow, HBO, 7:30PM
- Survivor, CBS, 8PM
- Arrow, CW, 8PM
- American Idol, Fox, 8PM
- The Middle, ABC, 8PM
- Young & Hungry, ABC Family, 8PM
- The Mysteries of Laura, NBC, 8PM
- The Goldbergs, ABC, 8:30PM
- Freak Out, ABC Family, 8:30PM
- Dual Survival (season finale), Discovery, 9PM
- Criminal Minds, CBS, 9PM
- Modern Family, ABC, 9PM
- Supernatural, CW, 9PM
- Jim Rome, Showtime, 9PM
- Black-ish, ABC, 9:30PM
- CSI: Cyber, CBS, 10PM
- Nashville, ABC, 10PM
- Broadchurch (season finale), BBC America, 10PM
- The Americans (season finale), FX, 10PM
- Catfish, MTV, 10PM
- The Prancing Elites Project (series premiere), E, 10PM
- Big Time in Hollywood, FL, Comedy Central, 10:30PM
Thursday
- Bones, Fox, 8PM
- Grey’s Anatomy, ABC, 8PM
- The Big Bang Theory, CBS, 8PM
- The Vampire Diaries, CW, 8PM
- WWE Smackdown, Syfy, 8PM
- The Odd Couple, CBS, 8:30PM
- The Blacklist, NBC, 9PM
- Backstrom, Fox, 9PM
- Reign, CW, 9PM
- Scandal, ABC, 9PM
- Mom, CBS, 9:30PM
- Elementary, CBS, 10PM
- The Comedians, FX, 10PM
- Dig, USA, 10PM
- American Crime, ABC, 10PM
- Vikings (season finale), History, 10PM
- 8 Minutes, A&E, 10PM
- Olympus, Syfy, 10PM
- Louie, FX, 10:30PM
- Major Lazer, FXX, 12AM
- Axe Cop, FXX, 12:15AM
Friday
- Grimm, NBC, 8PM
- Cold Justice, TNT, 8PM
- The Amazing Race, CBS, 8 & 9PM
- Bitten, Syfy, 9PM
- The Messengers, The CW 9PM
- Hawaii Five-0, CBS, 9PM
- Meet the Smiths, TBS, 9PM
- Lost Girl, Syfy, 10PM
- Jim Norton: Contextually Inadequate, Epix, 10PM
- Andrew Dice Clay presents The Blue Show, Showtime, 11PM
- Vice, HBO, 11PM
Saturday
- Inside Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, Showtime, 7:30PM
- Til Death Do Us Part, Lifetime, 8PM
- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series @ Richmond, Fox, 8PM
- Outlander, Starz, 9PM
- Orphan Black, BBC America, 9PM
- Lake Placid vs. Anaconda, Syfy, 9PM
- The Universe, History, 9PM
- Tatau, BBC America, 10PM
Sunday
- 60 Minutes, CBS, 7PM
- Once Upon a Time, ABC, 8PM
- Game of Thrones, HBO, 9PM
- Nurse Jackie, Showtime 9PM
- Family Guy, Fox, 9PM
- A.D. The Bible Continues, NBC, 9PM
- Mr. Selfridge, PBS, 9PM
- Secrets and Lies, ABC, 9PM
- The Good Wife, CBS, PM
- The Last Man on Earth, Fox, 9PM
- Silicon Valley, HBO, 10PM
- Naked & Afraid, Discovery, 10PM
- American Odyssey, NBC, 10PM
- Mad Men, AMC, 10PM
- Lizzie Borden Chronicles, Lifetime, 10PM
- Revenge, ABC, 10PM
- Battle Creek, CBS, 10PM
- The Royals, E, 10PM
- Salem, WGN, 10PM
- Veep, HBO, 10:30PM
- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, HBO, 11PM
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Sony’s REAL flagship could land next month
Poor old Sony – after unveiling the Xperia Z4 earlier today, the company has faced a backlash across social media – and from myself – about how the Xperia Z4 isn’t really an upgrade, it’s just the same device with a couple of tweaks to the specifications. Except, all might not be as it seems with a new report suggesting that we’ll see Sony announce a real global flagship towards the end of next month.
The new information suggests that Sony’s Xperia Z4 launch was held in Japan as the handset is only for Japan and instead, the company plans to launch another flagship device for the rest of the world at the end of May. Our very own Matthew Benson has written about Sony in Japan and why the Xperia Z4 makes perfect sense for the Japanese market and it seems that Sony agrees but exactly what the company will announce next month – if anything – is unclear at the moment.
The new “flagship” could be an entirely new device with new build, new materials and new design or just as easily, it could be the Xperia Z4 with a slight tweak to the specifications. That tweak could be as simple as something like updating the LTE band radio and the handset may even sell under the same monniker, albeit with a different model number.
Given Sony’s past history of releasing new flagships that are slight tweaks over previous years and given the announcement of the Xperia Z4 today, we’re inclined to believe that the new flagship won’t be a completely new device but the Xperia Z4 in some form or another. Then again, Sony could have launched the Xperia Z4 today only to launch an entirely new handset line next month and while it might seem strange that Sony would launch a handset only to replace it a month later, stranger things have happened in the smartphone industry.
More on Sony:
.rvs_wrapper
width: 335px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
.rvs_wrapper
width: 100%;
text-align: center;
#page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
display: inline-block;
float: none;
vertical-align: top;
What will Sony announce next month and will there even be a global flagship and a launch? Those are questions we can’t answer right now but you know we’ll bring you the news as soon as it happens. For now, head over to my thoughts on Sony’s new flagship and be sure to check out Matthew’s analysis of Sony in Japan and how the Xperia Z4 fits in there.
ZTE SPro 2 Review
brightcove.createExperiences();
The Bottom Line
- Great build quality
- Bright projector
- Ease of use
- Portable
- Good battery life
- Expandable storage
- HDMI and Miracast support
- Expensive
- Proprietary charger
The ZTE SPro 2 is a portable and powerful projector that runs Android, and even though the price point may seem quite steep, this device does what it is designed to do extremely well.
(function($)
$(document).ready(function()
$(“#aa_bottom_line .aa_bl_pros_cons”).each(function()
var aa_bl_pc=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_pc”);
var aa_bl_pros=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_pros”).height();
var aa_bl_cons=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_cons”).height();
if(window.innerWidth > 480 && aa_bl_pros != aa_bl_cons)
if(aa_bl_pros > aa_bl_cons)
aa_bl_pc.height(aa_bl_pros);
else
aa_bl_pc.height(aa_bl_cons);
)
);
)(jQuery);
One of the biggest advantages of the open nature of Android is that it allows for its use and application in a variety of product, and has led to a unique line of devices from ZTE. Like its predecessor, the latest iteration of the company’s portable projector and mobile hotspot combo brings to the table some different and useful capabilities, while featuring major improvements in all key aspects when compared to the original. What does an Android-powered device such as this have to offer, and who is the intended target? We find that out, and more, in this comprehensive ZTE SPro 2 review!
Design
The ZTE SPro 2 retains a lot of the design language of the original, and is basically just a large square with rounded corners and flat sides, and is slightly bigger and thicker than its predecessor, at 1.5-inches thick. The shape will remind of you the Amazon Fire TV, with the SPro 2 of course being much bigger, given the large display, battery, and projector that it features. The build material is mostly metal, with the bottom of the device being the exception, and weighs a little over a pound. That’s hardly what you’d call heavy, and the weight actually makes it feel more substantial in the hand than the previous iteration.
Taking a look around the device, the buttons to control the volume are found on the left side with the power button placed on top, and all of them are very easy to press and offer a good tactile feel. On the right is a fan to keep things cool, and on the back are the proprietary charging port, HDMI port, USB 3.0 port, and headphone jack, below all of which are the microSIM card and microSD card slots. On the bottom are little rubber feet to keep the projector from sliding around, a standard tripod mount, and a rather small kickstand, the helps you prop the device up at an angle for easier viewing.
Display
The display on top has been given a nice bump in size and resolution, with it now being a 5-inch panel with a 720p resolution, with a pixel density of 293 ppi. It’s not the highest resolution or pixel density around, but with a device such as this, it doesn’t need to be, as you won’t be using the display much, especially if you use the SPro 2 most of the top as a projector or a Wi-Fi hotspot. It is still nice that ZTE decided to include an HD display though, bringing with it bright, vivid colors and good viewing angles. So if you do decide to use the device to play games, browse the web, or read emails, this display is certainly more than good enough for that.
Performance and Hardware
It’s somewhat odd to discuss the hardware features of a projector, but under the hood, the ZTE SPro 2 does pack some power, with its quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, Adreno 330 GPU, and 2 GB of RAM. This processing package may seem a little dated given the current trends in the smartphone and tablet market, but is definitely more than capable of handling the standard aspects of the Android experience that is available on this device. Performance remains smooth during everyday tasks like web browsing, reading mails, and some multi-tasking, and also does very well with everything but the most graphic-intensive of games. Keep in mind though that certain games and applications may be a little awkward to use on this device due to their portrait orientations.
The ZTE SPro 2 comes with the usual array of connectivity options, including 4G LTE support, and also functions as a Wi-Fi hotspot that allows a connection for up to 10 devices. The available 16 GB of on-board storage may not seem like a lot, given the media-centric nature of the device, but expandable storage via microSD card is possible. Also, being that it has a built in USB port, it’s likely that they are intending for this to be used in conjunction with a portable hard drive, which is a nice feature to have.
For audio, an internal speaker is found at the bottom of the device that does get very loud and with more clarity than expected from a single speaker, but a better option may still be to use headphones or external speakers than can be connected via the headphone jack or Bluetooth.
#gallery-1
margin: auto;
#gallery-1 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 25%;
#gallery-1 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
On the battery front, the SPro 2 packs a rather large 6,300 mAh unit the ZTE promises will provide up to 3 hours of use as a projector, and 10 hours when functioning as a Wi-Fi hotspot. So far in my testing, ZTE claims have certainly held true, with just above 20% of battery remaining after watching a movie with a duration of two and a half hours, and in some instances, I was able to squeeze past the three hour mark as well. The performance of the battery is definitely a big improvement over its predecessor and its maximum of two hours of use as a projector. As a side note, it has to be mentioned that projector use shows up as screen on time as can be seen in the battery screenshots above.
Projector
We now take a look at the the projector, something that is essentially the star of the show, and the main reason why anyone would buy this device. It is a DLP projector that comes with a brightness of 200 lumens, doubling what was found with the original, and is capable of outputting a 720p image with a screen size up to 120 inches. The projector is pretty bright and fairly easy to see even in a well lit room, but unfortunately, in order to take advantage of the highest brightness setting, the device has to be plugged into an AC power source.
The SPro 2 also features keystone correction, which basically means that the image will always maintain a rectangular form even if the projector is not perfectly horizontal, avoiding the trapezoid effect that will otherwise be seen without this feature. The device also doesn’t come with a physical wheel or button to control focus, which is all handled through the software now. Be default, the projector focuses automatically with a few seconds and works extremely well. If you do prefer setting the focus manually though, it is still possible within the projector settings.
Projected content is made available in three ways, first by streaming or being stored and played locally directly from the device itself, secondly via Miracast, and finally, by connecting another device using the HDMI port. Streaming or playing locally store content directly is definitely the easiest method to use, with no extra wires or additional setups required. Transferring content isn’t always ideal though, and that is where HDMI and Miracast opens things up.
#gallery-2
margin: auto;
#gallery-2 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-2 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-2 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
The HDMI port allows laptops, or any other devices that support HDMI, to be hooked up, which is a great option not just for watching videos, but also viewing webpages or presentations. Miracast allows for any device that supports it, like most smartphones and tablets, to be used to project content. Once connected, any content from your device will be shown through the projector, and it actually works surprisingly well, with very little latency between the connected device and the projector.
Software
On the software side of things, the ZTE SPro 2 is running Android 4.4 KitKat, but unlike last year’s device that offered a stock experience, the SPro 2 now comes with a custom skin that is definitely more suited to be used with a projector. The interface features large tiles, grids of icons, and individual tabs at the top to easily find what you’re looking for, with additional tabs also easy to create for any applications that you may want to group together. A floating bubble makes it very easy to turn on the projector, regardless of whether you’re using an application or at the homescreen, and is incredibly useful to quickly turn on the projector.
#gallery-3
margin: auto;
#gallery-3 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 20%;
#gallery-3 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-3 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Gallery
Pricing and Final Thoughts
The ZTE SPro 2 will be available exclusively from AT&T for $399.99 with a 2-year contract, or $499.99 off-contract, with a $10 monthly fee to add it to a new or existing Mobile Share Value plan. The price is definitely steep to justify a purchase for just casual media consumption, but if you do see its use at work as well, the device could be a good buy.
So, there you have it – a quick look at the ZTE SPro 2! There’s no denying that this device is a niche product, but it does what it is designed to do extremely well. The SPro 2 addresses a lot of the negatives found with its predecessor, and is certainly a good option for anyone looking for a simple, but powerful, and portable projector, with some additional features, such as its Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities and almost standard Android experience, tacked on.
AIVAnet 
