Report: Samsung set to launch the Galaxy Tab S2 next week?
The upcoming Galaxy Tab S2 is, arguably, a mash-up between the Nexus 9 and Galaxy Tab S (both seen here) as far as design and aspect ratio go.
Tablet aficionados are no doubt chomping at the bit over the lack of love their favorite form factor has received so far this year. Amid reports of poor sales, and a general feeling of consumer apathy, it’s tough times finding a flagship tablet. Samsung, having arguably released several last year, has been on a far more reserved tone in 2015, with only the Galaxy Tab A and Galaxy Tab E under its belt so far. We’ve heard talk of the Galaxy Tab S2 for months now, yet nary a press-release in sight has made even the most patient ask when the time is right to let them loose in the market, especially given their recent skirt through government regulatory inspection.
A new report is suggesting the follow-up to last year’s Galaxy Tab S will be announced as soon as next week, in both 8-inch and 9.7-inch variants, conforming to the new 4:3 aspect ratio Samsung has chosen for this year’s tablets. This would make sense, as barring any further delays, the devices run the risk of being overshadowed by the possible August 12th launch of the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+. Along with the release date report, two new pictures have been leaked, though they raise a fair question that has been lurking since the very first images appeared:
The picture looks to be a press render and matches with the images seen from China’s regulatory committee, as well as various leaks over the past months. Still, there is the curious question as to just why Samsung has apparently decided to remove the LED-flash from the rear camera. Given that this is a flagship product, and in-light of last year’s Tab S pair having such a component, it raises the possibility of cost-cutting measures. Considering these devices are expected to retail between $440 and $650 (for the LTE variant), there is arguably no excuse for such doings. The pictures also further the understanding that both black and white variants will ship with a rather standard-affair trim as opposed to the more nuanced, striking bronze colored one that adorned last year’s offerings.
The Galaxy Tab S2 series is purported to feature a QHD Super AMOLED display, an Exynos 5433 CPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of on-board storage, microSD support, and Android Lollipop (the exact version of which is seemingly less clear). They are expected to come in at a svelte 5.4mm. Because the specs aren’t wildly different from last year’s offerings, we expect Samsung to push the new aspect ratio, inclusion of the S6’s fingerprint sensor, a possibly updated build of TouchWiz, and the metal unibody construction.
Will you be purchasing any of the Tab S2 variants? Leave us a comment below along with a note as to which one(s).
Samsung’s new advertisement focuses on the Galaxy S6 Edge’s camera
The latest advertisement from Samsung is all about promoting the speed of the camera found in the Galaxy S6 Edge. In the thirty-second commercial, two women are trying to capture photographs of a dog that popped into the room. They double-press the home button to quickly launch the camera and the Galaxy S6 Edge can immediately take photos so not a single moment is missed. Both women then admire their photos taken with the phone’s 16MP camera on a crisp Quad HD display.
Hit the break for the video.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Samsung’s new advertisement focuses on the Galaxy S6 Edge’s camera
Google posts strong second quarter growth, mobile leads the way for earnings
On Thursday, Google posted its latest financial figures for the second quarter of 2015, reporting nearly $18 billion in revenues. This is an 11% percent since last year. Most of Google’s revenues unsurprisingly came from mobile search growth. And from that revenue came $3.93 billion.
You can check out the source link below for the full report.
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: Google posts strong second quarter growth, mobile leads the way for earnings
Top ‘Counter-Strike’ player admits eSports has a doping problem
Performance-enhancing drugs are nothing new to sports. When your physical abilities are the difference between victory and defeat, many athletes turn to banned substances to gain a crucial advantage. Now, it seems, the same practice is bleeding into eSports too. A top Counter-Strike: Global Offensive player has admitted that everyone in his former team, Cloud 9, were taking the psychostimulant Adderall during a professional tournament. In a video interview, Kory “Semphis” Friesen said: “The ESL (Electronic Sports League) comms were kinda funny in my opinion — I don’t even care, we were all on Adderall.”
The interviewer, Mohan Govindasamy, then suggested that “everyone” at ESEA (E-Sports Entertainment Association) tournaments takes the drug. “Yeah,” Friesen replied.
Adderall is a “smart drug” that’s normally used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It helps the user concentrate, reduces fatigue and can also boost reaction times. Unsurprisingly, it’s a popular choice for students cramming for exams. It’s also been used by traditional athletes, and is mostly banned by the NFL, MLB and NHL. But Adderall abuse in eSports isn’t new either. An anonymous player interviewed by Eurogamer said Adderall use was “very widespread” in the US eSports scene. In the same piece, Michal Blicharz, managing director of ESL, said drug abuse “did not seem commonplace” and that he doesn’t believe players are using them to improve their performances.
Well, the recent interview with Friesen seems to suggest otherwise. It’s hard to tell just how commonplace Adderall usage is right now, but if the eSports industry wants to be taken seriously, it needs to stamp out these performance-enhancing drugs quickly — or risk a tarnished reputation similar to other popular sports such as road cycling.
Filed under: Gaming
Via: Wired
Source: YouTube
How Google’s robotic cars deal with human stupidity
Like the Terminator T-800, Google’s self-driving cars don’t feel pity, remorse or fear. But they also never lose their patience or get distracted by smartphones, and Google has revealed data collected by its vehicles showing just how bad we human drivers can get. It said the goal with the Medium article was to improve road safety by reminding us that “driver error causes 94 percent of crashes.” Program director Chris Urmson said that “our safety drivers routinely see people weaving in and out of their lanes; we’ve spotted people reading books, and even one playing a trumpet.”
Google released a video recreation of an intersection accident — one of 11 its cars have experienced — when its vehicle was rear-ended (bottom). Google’s car slowed to a stop at an intersection behind another vehicle, even though the light was green. However, the driver behind them only saw the green light and not the stopped cars, and plowed into Google’s sensor-equipped rig. Urmson said that such drivers are often “checking their devices instead of watching the road.” On the other hand, its self-driving cars have “360 degree visibility and 100 percent attention out in all directions at all times.”
Other dangerous situations involve freeway exits, turns and lane changes, and Google pointed out that cyclists and pedestrians are particularly at risk. It cited the case of a cyclist who got a late start across an intersection and was nearly hit by a left turning car. “Our car predicted the cyclist’s behavior (in the red path, above) and did not start moving until the cyclist was safely across the intersection.” He added that the cars are programmed to pause briefly when a light turns green, as “that’s often when someone will barrel impatiently or distractedly through the intersection.” None of this is new information to drivers, of course, but it’s interesting to see it from the viewpoint of an all-seeing robotic car that never feels road rage.
[Image credit: Associated Press]
Filed under: Transportation, Google
Translogic 180: Zombie 222 Electric ’68 Mustang
Translogic heads to Austin, TX for a chance to drive the all-electric Zombie 222, a 1968 Ford Mustang converted by Mitch Medford and his team at Blood Shed Motors. The Zombie 222 has classic looks, but modern performance with over 800 horsepower and 1,800 ft-lbs of torque, making it the fastest electric car we’ve ever driven on Translogic.Translogic heads to Austin, TX for a chance to drive the all-electric Zombie 222, a 1968 Ford Mustang converted by Mitch Medford and his team at Blood Shed Motors.
“I wanted to start a company that would do nothing but specialize in converting vintage iconic cars into supercars,” said Medford.
The Zombie 222 has classic looks, but modern performance with over 800 horsepower and 1,800 ft-lbs of torque, making it the fastest electric car we’ve ever driven on Translogic. Those mind-blowing specs helped the Zombie 222 conquer the Texas Mile, setting the electric speed record at 174.2 miles per hour.
“The Zombie 222 has been breaking electric records, said Medford. “Now it’s time to break records-gas or electric.”
Next up for Medford and his Zombie 222 is a Kickstarter-funded attempt at 200 miles per hour. But first, we take a turn behind the wheel.
- Have an RSS feed? Click here to add Translogic.
- Follow Translogic on Twitter and Facebook.
- Click here to learn more about our host, Jonathon Buckley.
Filed under: Transportation
Amazon’s reportedly bringing its grocery delivery service to the UK
Amazon’s made a name for itself as the online store that sells practically everything, but it’s certainly not a site you visit for your weekly shop. That might change in near future, however, as according to The Times, Amazon is gearing up to launch its AmazonFresh grocery-delivery service in the UK. Amazon introduced the same-day delivery service for household essentials in the US last year, and its now thought it could premiere in London — where Amazon launched one-hour Prime deliveries last month — as early as September. AmazonFresh would effectively be competing with the likes of Ocado and the delivery options of several bricks-and-mortar supermarkets, but it’s not quite that simple, and we doubt it’ll have existing players quaking in their boots.
You see, in the US AmazonFresh is positioned as a premium service, and you can’t even begin to load up your virtual basket with bread and milk without a “Prime Fresh” subscription that costs $299 per year (roughly £192). That’s a hefty mark-up on the standard $99 Prime subscription, and even then, you still have to pay a delivery fee if your basket doesn’t meet the $50 free delivery threshold. Chances are Amazon will introduce a similarly pricey Fresh subscription in the UK, which will undoubtedly put a lot of potential customers off the service. It could become more attractive in time, however, if Amazon brings its Dash shopping-assistant gadget and quick-order buttons over here, though these are still only being piloted in the US for now. Naturally, we reached out to Amazon to confirm the launch of Fresh in the UK, but all it had to say was: “We do not comment on rumour or speculation.”
[Image credit: adpowers/Flickr]
Filed under: Household, Internet, Amazon
Source: The Times
‘Mortal Kombat’ and ‘NBA Jam’ documentary needs your help
In the 1990s, one name ruled the arcade scene: Midway Games. From Mortal Kombat to NBA Jam, Revolution X, NARC and San Francisco Rush, you knew what you were going to get when you popped a few quarters into a cabinet: fast, loud, aggressive games. But what’s the story behind those titles? How did the studio come to practically dominate an entire sector of gaming? That’s what Josh Tsui, co-founder of Chicago-based game developer Robomodo, wants to tell you with his new documentary, Insert Coin: Inside Midway’s 90s Revolution.
“I always half-joked that Midway Games was the most-funded group of indie developers ever,” Tsui says. “They just did whatever they wanted and as long as it was done on time. That’s pretty much all that mattered.” And he should know: He worked there from 1993 to 1999 on games including Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game and Mortal Kombat 3. “There are all these crazy stories that I was just in the middle of witnessing, and I thought it would be really great to try to get all these different stories into one place and see how they interacted with each other,” he says.
So far, those stories come from Mortal Kombat co-creator John Tobias, NBA Jam co-creator Sal Divita and Smash TV co-creator Mark Turmell. Oh, and perhaps most importantly, the man who’s widely considered the godfather of the arcade scene: Eugene Jarvis, the creator of Defender and Midway Games’ creative director. Tsui says that the reason for his timing with Insert Coin is that a lot of the Midway games from the ’90s are hitting their 20th anniversaries around now and that at the moment, there seems to be some nostalgia for that era. Also, after scrolling through the documentary section on Netflix, he realized that he had tales of his own to tell. Like when director Steven Spielberg apparently tried stealing Midway employees for his own project, or what happened when NBA Jam brought in over $1 billion in quarters in its first year. He needs your help to do it, though.
The documentary’s Kickstarter campaign launches today, and the $75,000 funding goal will go toward hiring an editor and production crew. The money will also ease travel expenses — a necessary expenditure for getting more interviews (including with former Midway audio specialist Matt Booty, who now leads Microsoft’s Minecraft division in the Pacific Northwest). The reward tiers are pretty straightforward, too. “I’m not going to make plush dolls of John Tobias or anything like that,” he says, laughing. Instead, $15 gets you a digital version of Insert Coin, while a $50 pledge translates to a special edition Blu-ray with bonus footage and $5,000 get you in the movie, talking about your memories of Midway games from that era. Interested? Hit the source link below.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Kickstarter
‘Mortal Kombat’ and ‘NBA Jam’ documentary needs your help
In the 1990s, one name ruled the arcade scene: Midway Games. From Mortal Kombat to NBA Jam, Revolution X, NARC and San Francisco Rush, you knew what you were going to get when you popped a few quarters into a cabinet: fast, loud, aggressive games. But what’s the story behind those titles? How did the studio come to practically dominate an entire sector of gaming? That’s what Josh Tsui, co-founder of Chicago-based game developer Robomodo, wants to tell you with his new documentary, Insert Coin: Inside Midway’s 90s Revolution.
“I always half-joked that Midway Games was the most-funded group of indie developers ever,” Tsui says. “They just did whatever they wanted and as long as it was done on time. That’s pretty much all that mattered.” And he should know: He worked there from 1993 to 1999 on games including Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game and Mortal Kombat 3. “There are all these crazy stories that I was just in the middle of witnessing, and I thought it would be really great to try to get all these different stories into one place and see how they interacted with each other,” he says.
So far, those stories come from Mortal Kombat co-creator John Tobias, NBA Jam co-creator Sal Divita and Smash TV co-creator Mark Turmell. Oh, and perhaps most importantly, the man who’s widely considered the godfather of the arcade scene: Eugene Jarvis, the creator of Defender and Midway Games’ creative director. Tsui says that the reason for his timing with Insert Coin is that a lot of the Midway games from the ’90s are hitting their 20th anniversaries around now and that at the moment, there seems to be some nostalgia for that era. Also, after scrolling through the documentary section on Netflix, he realized that he had tales of his own to tell. Like when director Steven Spielberg apparently tried stealing Midway employees for his own project, or what happened when NBA Jam brought in over $1 billion in quarters in its first year. He needs your help to do it, though.
The documentary’s Kickstarter campaign launches today, and the $75,000 funding goal will go toward hiring an editor and production crew. The money will also ease travel expenses — a necessary expenditure for getting more interviews (including with former Midway audio specialist Matt Booty, who now leads Microsoft’s Minecraft division in the Pacific Northwest). The reward tiers are pretty straightforward, too. “I’m not going to make plush dolls of John Tobias or anything like that,” he says, laughing. Instead, $15 gets you a digital version of Insert Coin, while a $50 pledge translates to a special edition Blu-ray with bonus footage and $5,000 get you in the movie, talking about your memories of Midway games from that era. Interested? Hit the source link below.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Kickstarter
Young guns: 10 up and coming phone brands out of China
The western world is like an exclusive club when it comes to technology. Everyone knows the big tech players, but we tend to forget the rest of the world spins just as much as our part of it. There’s a plethora of other manufacturers which make amazing Android products!
We have put together a neat list of phone makers that mainstream consumers in the West likely don’t know a thing about. Most of us are tech geeks around here, so many of you have probably heard the names and may be familiar with some of these, but we also know plenty of our readers would like to improve their knowledge on some more obscure companies. Get ready, because you are in for an interesting ride!
Xiaomi
If you keep up with our feed (or any other tech website’s), you have probably heard of Xiaomi. This company is often referred to as “the Chinese Apple”, thanks to its quick rise to the top, but also a certain inclination towards Apple’s design language. It happens to be #2 in Chinese smartphone shipments in China, only falling behind Apple. The issue is most Western consumers have no clue about these phones, as these can’t really be found at any regular store.
Xiaomi is taking an approach most of the market is not familiar with. They save millions in marketing by resorting to mostly promoting their devices via social media and word of mouth. Another way Xiaomi saves money is by making sure demand is always higher than supply. They have no extra inventory laying around, making their losses much smaller in the long run.
The Chinese manufacturer then transfers the savings to you, the customer. This translates to amazingly affordable devices that offer quite the bang for your buck. Very few competitors get even close to Xiaomi in terms of specs relative to price. Sadly, we have yet to see them really hit the USA, but they are coming. And when they get here, they will definitely leave a mark.
Some of their most recent devices include the Xiaomi Mi Note Pro, Xiaomi Mi 4i. Just read our Xiaomi device reviews to find out what these phones are really like – these are truly impressive.
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.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;
font-size: 24px !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 (min-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
width: 100% !important;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos
width: 100%;
float: none !important;
overflow-x: auto;
overflow-y: hidden;
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
overflow: auto;
max-height: none;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: left !important;
clear: none !important;
Meizu
Meizu is a main competitor to Huawei and Xiaomi, taking one of the top spots among the biggest manufacturers in China. They accomplished this in a very short period of time, as the company was only established in 2003. Just like Xiaomi, Meizu is known for making great devices that keep your wallet relatively healthy.
The manufacturer is responsible for devices like the Meizu MX5, M2 Note and MX4 Pro, which are all great handsets with very low price points. The only issue is they are only big in Asian markets and it will probably take some time before they reach the USA (if they do). You could have the devices imported, but not many customers will opt for such inconvenient measures.
Regardless, Meizu is definitely a company you should keep your eyes on. All these Chinese manufacturers are about to change the tech world as we know it, and Meizu wll be one of the main ones to join the party.
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.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;
font-size: 24px !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 (min-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
width: 100% !important;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos
width: 100%;
float: none !important;
overflow-x: auto;
overflow-y: hidden;
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
overflow: auto;
max-height: none;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: left !important;
clear: none !important;
OnePlus
You are really out of the loop if you read Android Authority on the regular but haven’t heard of OnePlus. Though they are a very new startup, these guys are the kings of social media and the affordable market. They are known for hyping up their devices to no end, but the main difference is that they actually have something to tout, as opposed to just making a blast about gimmicks.
The OnePlus One smartphone was priced at only $300 when launched, yet it came with specs that could put most $600-$700 phones to shame. Internals include a 5.5-inch 1080p display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage (64 GB for the higher-end version) and 13/5 MP cameras, all packaged in a strong body with a solid design.
Honestly, at that price it’s likely still the best phone you can get. Now we know what this Chinese startup can do, and they are coming in for round two. The OnePlus 2 hype train has taken off and it’s not stopping! This is definitely a manufacturer you want to keep an eye on, as they do cater to the American market. Through an invite system, but at least you can actually buy a OnePlus smartphone.
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.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;
font-size: 24px !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 (min-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
width: 100% !important;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos
width: 100%;
float: none !important;
overflow-x: auto;
overflow-y: hidden;
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
overflow: auto;
max-height: none;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: left !important;
clear: none !important;
OPPO
We have to give props to OPPO. They may not be too popular outside of China, but they can put together awesome smartphones that are actually innovative. They were the first to become “selfie kings” with a rotating camera, and their amazingly thin OPPO R5 and R7 are gorgeous.
The guys at OPPO have made a habit out of breaking the rules left and right, but they always do it in the right ways. I would say we need more manufacturers like OPPO, willing to be creative, stay smart and take risks.
We were actually at their Shenzhen offices and factory once and you can learn all about that in our dedicated post. Or you can just watch the video embedded below!
LeTV
You probably haven’t even heard of LeTV if you live outside of China, but this doesn’t mean they are a small player. In fact, this company runs the biggest online video company in their home country, which is definitely an important market to have in your pocket. They just happen to be new to making smartphones.
The entertainment and tech company is now venturing into new markets by making its own smartphones, and boy are these awesome! They announced three smartphones, which are all coming to the USA. These are the Le Max, Le 1 Pro and Le 1.
The trio of handsets are meant to be affordable, but they are in no way cheap. The best of the three has a full aluminum body, a 6.33-inch QHD display, a Snapdragon 810 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 64/128 GB of internal storage and a massive 3500 mAh battery. This thing is a beast!
Oh, and all of these come with USB-C, something smartphone manufacturers continue to take their sweet, sweet time on.
ZTE
ZTE is definitely much more popular, as they have managed to pierce into the American market and become a main player in the affordable smartphone market. Most people don’t know ZTE can also make some mean quality smartphones, and they happen to also be a main player in Asia.
This is one of the few Chinese smartphone manufacturers to have a significant presence in America (and the rest of the world, really), and it’s devices like the ZTE Grand X Max+, the ZTE Star 2 and the SPRO 2 that have taken it where it is.
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.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;
font-size: 24px !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 (min-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
width: 100% !important;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos
width: 100%;
float: none !important;
overflow-x: auto;
overflow-y: hidden;
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
overflow: auto;
max-height: none;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: left !important;
clear: none !important;
ZTE is definitely here to stay, and the last few years they have done wonders to their design and build quality. In fact, they have their eyes set on the #3 spot in the USA. That is an ambitious goal – will they reach it?
Nubia
Nubia is new… but it really isn’t. The truth is that this is pretty much a branch of ZTE, but they run independently now. They seriously do! These guys even have separate PR teams, which makes things a bit harder for us at times. It’s all worth it, though, because they can make some awesome devices.
Nubia smartphones tend to have a much friendlier and sleek design. They are usually very affordable, but come with specs that make them more than usable for the casual customer. In fact, these phones have some of the best camera software I have ever used. My only gripe with their interface is that they have done away with the traditional app drawer, leaving all installed apps in the home screen (a la Apple).
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.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;
font-size: 24px !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 (min-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
width: 100% !important;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos
width: 100%;
float: none !important;
overflow-x: auto;
overflow-y: hidden;
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
overflow: auto;
max-height: none;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: left !important;
clear: none !important;
Otherwise, Nubia’s handsets tend to be very well built and are held to high performance standards. Want to see some great examples of Nubia’s work? We recently published a review on the Nubia Z9, and I personally reviews the Nubia 5S Mini last year.
Axon
The Axon Phone mysteriously showed up online last June. We had no idea what this new manufacturer was about, but after some research we discovered it wasn’t really an actual manufacturer. It turns out this new brand is linked to ZTE, which would make Axon yet another sub-brand of the Chinese phone maker. This company really wants to expand its reach!
We can’t tell you too much about this branding yet, as there is only one device they have announced. For what it’s worth, the Axon Phone does look like a very promising handset (even if it will have its challenges). It carries a “lightning-fast processor”, 4 GB of RAM, dual rear-facing cameras with “incredibly fast auto-focus” and “a large battery for all-around high performance”. It also happens to be the “first true high-fidelity phone to be available in the US”.
That sounds like a lot of PR jargon, to be honest. We really won’t be able to pass judgement until we know more details and get to test the device. What we can tell you is the phone looks to have a great design and build quality. It looks great in pictures and will come with a metallic body.
Huawei
I love the attitude Huawei has taken toward their lack of recognition in the USA. They know they are the underdogs and they find clever ways to get their name out there… even though people don’t even know how to pronounce it!
Truth is Huawei is another huge Chinese manufacturer with a bad reputation. Those who do know Huawei will recognize it for the super affordable handsets you usually find in American stores. Truth is Huawei is a huge manufacturer in other markets, especially Asian ones. Contrary to public belief (at least in America), Huawei makes some outstanding handsets. An example of a great device from the manufacturer is the Huawei Ascend Mate 7, which we have a full review on.
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.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;
font-size: 24px !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 (min-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
width: 100% !important;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos
width: 100%;
float: none !important;
overflow-x: auto;
overflow-y: hidden;
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
overflow: auto;
max-height: none;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: left !important;
clear: none !important;
Huawei continues trying to gain market share in the USA with devices like the Huawei Ascend Mate 2, which offers a great bang for your buck. Recent rumors also point towards a Huawei-made Nexus device incoming. Surely, many more of you would be interested in Huawei if that ends up panning out.
Honor
Chinese tech brands aren’t being very well-received in Western countries. In an effort to combat their long-established fame and get a foothold in other markets, companies have started branching out separate brands to produce phones independently. In this case, Huawei is to Honor what ZTE is to Nubia.
This technique seems to be working very well for the Chinese manufacturer, as Honor sales have been booming and the company plans to take on the US market this year. The truth is they make great devices, even if they do happen to be somewhat similar to Huawei’s in some ways (which is not exactly a bad thing). Take a look at the Honor 6 Plus review we have put together if you want to see what the guys at Honor can do.
This completes our quick look at some of the most dynamic and exciting smartphone brands to come out of China over the last few years.
What about you? Have you ever used one of these brands? What do you think of this wave of China-based companies taking over the smartphone industry? Are you considering any smartphones from them?
AIVAnet 