Asus ZenBook 3 review – CNET
The Good Powerful Core i7 processor in a slim, portable package with an excellent touchpad. A helpful USB-C mini-dock is included.
The Bad The 12.5-inch display is locked at 1,920×1,080 resolution, and it isn’t a touchscreen. Lots of extra bloatware. Battery life isn’t as good as the MacBook. Other similarly configured systems cost less.
The Bottom Line The Asus ZenBook 3 mimics many of the best features of Apple’s 12-inch MacBook, but in a Windows version with a more powerful processor.
Visit manufacturer site for details.
When is a MacBook not a MacBook? There’s a long history of PC makers selling computers that have a striking resemblance to one of Apple’s laptops. Sometimes this is in the form of a subtle homage, other times, it’s a literal attack of the clones. We’d even previously taken to calling one of Dell’s older designs the “DellBook Air.”
After Apple released the very minimalist 12-inch MacBook laptop in 2015, we saw a handful of similar designs, with Core M processors and ultra-shallow keyboards, and the Samsung Ativ Book 9 came closest to mirroring it.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Now there’s a new contender for most MacBook-like, called the Asus ZenBook 3. It’s a close-to-total clone, at least on the outside. But under the aluminum chassis, this ambitious, slim laptop trades midtier Intel Core M processors for a low-voltage Core i7 CPU.
But, the ZenBook 3 also shares the MacBook’s weaknesses, specifically a very shallow keyboard that’s not conducive to long-form typing, and an extremely limited set of connection options, which consists of a single USB-C port and a headphone jack (no one is taking the headphone jacks out of laptops, yet).
This might seem like too small a laptop, with too many compromises, to be an effective tool for either work or leisure, but the design grows on you. In the case of the 12-inch MacBook, I decided after a year of on-and-off use that it was actually one of my favorite laptops to use, because of its extreme portability and overall ease of use.
The ZenBook 3 next to the Apple MacBook.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The same could be said of the ZenBook 3, but with a few important caveats. This Windows version of essentially the same design is missing a few advantages that the Apple version has. The touchpad, while good by ultraportable Windows laptop standards, can’t come close to the responsiveness and multitouch gesture integration of any MacBook. That’s the home-field advantage Apple has in closely designing both the computer hardware and computer operating system, including the just-released MacOS Sierra.
The second advantage Apple has is a singular focus on battery life, and the current version of the 12-inch MacBook (that system’s second iteration) runs about 3.5 hours longer per charge than the ZenBook 3. That’s an important consideration when toting around a superslim laptop that might very well travel with you all day long for start-and-stop sessions at meetings, in coffee shops or on airplanes.
This configuration of the ZenBook 3 has a low-voltage Intel Core i7-7500 processor, along with 16GB of RAM and a sizable 512GB of PCIe SSD storage. That configuration, when it’s available later this fall, should cost $1,600 in the US. International Asus configurations often differ slightly, but that works out to £1,229 or AU$2,085. A better bang for your buck may be the $1,100 configuration (£845, AU$1,433), with a Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD.
ZenBook 3
| $1,600 |
| 12.5-inch 1,920 x 1,080 screen |
| 2.7GHz Intel Core i7-7500U |
| 16GB DDR3 SDRAM 1866MHz |
| 128MB Intel HD Graphics 620 |
| 512GB SSD |
| 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Windows 10 Pro (64-bit) |
The one spec that you can’t change, and one of the ZenBook 3’s main letdowns, is the standard 1,920×1,080 screen resolution, which is the only option available on this 12.5-inch non-touch display. Premium laptops, even with smaller sub-13-inch screens often hit 2,560×1,440 or higher.
There’s a good case to be made for the very similarly configured Razer Blade Stealth, another slim laptop with a 12.5-inch screen. The newly refreshed Blade Stealth (full review coming soon) has the same Core i7-7500 CPU, and can be configured with similar RAM and hard drive specs. But, its display is a 2,560×1,440 touch screen, and our test configuration (Core i7/16GB RAM/256GB SSD) is $1,250 in the US. My biggest knock against that system is the dated-looking extrawide bezel surrounding the screen.
The very similar Razer Blade Stealth, which has a higher screen resolution, but a wide bezel around the display.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Of course, you could also just get a 12-inch MacBook, starting at $1,300 (£1,050 and AU$1,800). It’s a fun, fast-feeling little computer, with a higher-res screen and new MacOS features such as Siri and a universal clipboard that shares content between the laptop and an iPhone. But, its Core m-series CPU isn’t as powerful, and it tops out at 8GB of RAM, rather than the 16GB found here.
LG BP350 review – CNET
The Good The LG BP350 is a budget Blu-ray player with image quality that’s basically the same as more costly models. It offers the most popular streaming services including Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Video.
The Bad The player is very slow at loading discs and streaming services. Lacks a number of connection options offered by competitors including Ethernet and coaxial digital audio.
The Bottom Line The inexpensive LG BP350 is capable of fine image quality, but its sluggish load times keep it from earning our recommendation.
Blu-ray players are so inexpensive now, and their image quality so similar, that you might be tempted to just buy the cheapest one and call it a day. But there are still advantages to shopping around and maybe paying a couple of bucks extra.
The LG BP350 is a 2015 model that is still available in the US for $79, the UK for £66 and Australia for AU$159. It’s one of the cheapest Blu-ray disc-spinners around, and it comes with hefty compromises. It’s one of the slowest players we’ve tested at loading both discs and streaming videos, and it’s missing all but the most basic connections. If you only want to play Blu-rays and very occasionally watch Netflix, this will do the job. But we think it’s worth paying a bit more for something like the $80 Sony BDP-S3700 or the $100 Samsung BD-J9500.
Design and features
Ty Pendlebury/CNET
With its cross-hatched finish the BP350 looks more like a lemon zester than a Blu-ray player. A power button, a tiny eject button and a USB port adorn the front panel, while ’round the back there’s just a power input and an HDMI port. That’s a sparse rear even compared to other players at the price — usually you can expect at least an Ethernet port and a coaxial digital port as well. At least it has Wi-Fi.
There’s a small selection of the most-popular streaming services onboard, namely Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, Spotify and Pandora. While that selection is dwarfed by the dozens on offer from Sony players, at least they’re all preloaded on the LG, so you don’t need to trawl through lists to find new services.
Google Pixel XL vs Nexus 6P first look
Google has now taken the wraps off the Pixel XL, leaving behind the Nexus family in favor of a new direction that sees Google more directly compete against Samsung and Apple in the smartphone hardware game. The new Pixel XL brings a lot to the table, but how does it compare to its predecessor?
Let’s take a look as we put the the Pixel XL up against the Huawei-built Nexus 6P in this quick comparison.
Aesthetically speaking, the Pixel XL and Nexus 6P have little in common in common, other than perhaps the use of metallic unibody designs and the circular fingerprint scanner found on the rear.
The Google Pixel XL offers up a unibody metal design that features a unique area of glass of the rear that starts around the fingerprint reader and stretches to the top. A subtle “G” can be found at the bottom, with no oversized logos or markings in sight. The front of the phone is completely devoid of buttons, with just a single speaker at the top middle, a sensor below, and the front-facing camera found to the left. Below the display is a pretty sizable chin, where honestly we would have liked to have seen a secondary speaker.
See also: Google Pixel and Pixel XL hands on34
Turning to the Nexus 6P, the Nexus is a bit larger and heavier than the Pixel XL, but it is a bit slimmer for what it is worth. Just like the Pixel, the phone is a unibody metallic device, but instead of the partially glass back, the 6P instead offers a unique camera “wedge.” Otherwise, the back is pretty plain with simple Nexus branding and a circular fingerprint scanner in the middle. One area that the Nexus 6P stands triumphantly over the Pixel is the front-side, thanks to its dual speaker configuration.
At the end of the day, both phones take an otherwise ordinary metallic design and add a little extra flair. With the 6P, it’s the camera bump. With the Pixel, it’s a half-glass backing. We suspect the Pixel’s design will be met with split reception, similar to the 6P before it, but really it comes down to personal preference as to which design is more appealing.
Both the Pixel XL and Nexus 6P offer QHD AMOLED displays, though this time around Google has shrunk the size down to 5.5-inches from the 5.7-inch size of the 6P. The smaller size means the Pixel XL will have slightly higher PPI, but overall you’re looking at pretty similar viewing experiences with all the characteristics you’d expect from an AMOLED panel.
Performance favors the newer phone, which is expected. The Pixel XL features the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, paired with 4GB RAM. Of course, the Nexus 6P is no slouch with its Snapdragon 810 and 3GB RAM, either. Though the processing package isn’t the latest or greatest anymore, it is more than capable of providing a great Android experience.
If you’re looking for plenty of storage options, the Pixel XL will probably disappoint a little, as your choices are between either 32GB or 128GB. In contrast, the 6P offered 32, 64, and 128GB configurations. Neither phone offers expandable memory, but that’s pretty much expected from Google. It is worth noting that the Pixel XL does include free unlimited storage of videos and pictures at full resolution.
Battery life will likely be fairly similar between these two phones, with both offering 3450mAh battery configurations. Both phones also feature quick charging and USB type-C. Whether the Snapdragon 821 offers any noticeable battery optimizations over the Snapdragon 810 remains unseen, but we’ll be sure to put the phone through its paces once we get our review unit.
The Nexus 6P completely raised the bar on what to expect from the Nexus family in terms of camera performance. Offering less megapixels in favor of larger ones, the 6P offered a 12MP shooter with f/2.0 aperture that prioritized low light performance. The end result was a pretty solid camera overall.
See also: Shootout: How good is the new Pixel XL camera?50
A similar story plays out with the Pixel XL, which features a 12.MP shooter with f/2.0 aperture and 1.55 μm sized pixels. On paper, this is a very similar configuration to the 6P. While we won’t be able to definitively say how the cameras compare until we’ve done a full review, it is worth noting that DxOmark has rated the Pixel XL with an 89 — beating out the Nexus 6P, Galaxy S7, and the iPhone 7 and receiving the highest mark from the company to date.
Like the Nexus 6P, at the heart of the Pixel XL is a stock Android experience. That said, Google has been less shy about adding on special features this time around. Out of the box the Pixel XL features Android 7.1 Nougat with the new Pixel launcher preloaded. Swiping up from the dock brings up the app drawer and circles are more the motif for this launcher. Another Google G is in plain view at the top, opening up a familiar Google Now search bar.
But the real star of the show is Google Assistant, now baked right into the OS. Previously found within the Allo application, the latest iteration offers a greatly improved experience over what you’d find with Google Now. Asking it contextual questions yields clear, accurate answers. For example, I asked Assistant to play me wrestler TJ Perkins’ entrance from WWE. Once I said the request, Youtube appeared and played the video in question.
The fast, fluid stock experience is alive and well on the Nexus 6P as well, with Android 7.0 Nougat currently being the latest version on offer. While the experience is largely identical, Pixel Launcher and the baked in Google Assistant are not part of the formula here. While it’s possible these new features will come to the Nexus family in some form down the road, for now these special extras remain something you’ll only be able to experience with a Pixel.
In many ways, the Pixel XL and Nexus 6P share a lot of the same DNA, despite offering different looks and different overall approaches. After all, they both run mostly stock Android software and have been built with Google’s influence. Still, the Pixel represents a big leap forward with Google not just influencing the software and hardware, but instead fully controlling it.
Pricing is another area where the two phones greatly differ. While the Nexus 6P could be had for just $399, the Google Pixel XL’s premium specs and features start at $769. It remains a matter of debate whether the Pixel XL offers enough improvements to justify that price hike, but it’s clear that Google wants to send a very different message with the Pixel family than it did with the Nexus line before it.
See also: Google Pixel & Pixel XL vs the competition101
The Pixel XL is an evolution of the Nexus formula, a device where Google doesn’t just control the software experience, but has equal power over the hardware. For Google fans looking for a phone built from the ground up with Google’s intentions and full blessing, it doesn’t get any better than that.
Theranos is closing its labs and Wellness Centers
Theranos is making some big changes going forward, company chief Elizabeth Holmes has revealed in an open letter. While the embattled blood-testing firm isn’t closing shop completely, it will shut down its clinical labs and Wellness Centers, as well as let 340 out of its 790 employees go. The layoffs will affect people who’ve been with the company for years, working for its establishments in Arizona, California and Pennsylvania. Going forward, Theranos will focus on the 95-pound device it debuted in August called “miniLab,” which she said can detect diseases, including Zika, with a drop of your blood.
Holmes said:
“Our ultimate goal is to commercialize miniaturized, automated laboratories capable of small-volume sample testing, with an emphasis on vulnerable patient populations, including oncology, pediatrics, and intensive care.”
A team within the company is already working on securing FDA clearances, partnerships and pursuing publication in scientific journals, the open letter added.
Theranos, once a promising company that reached a $9 billion valuation, promised blood test results with just a fingerprick. A series of Wall Street Journal reports, however, changed everything. They revealed that the company barely used its proprietary technology, relying mostly on traditional blood tests instead. Further, a lot of its results turned out to be unreliable and inaccurate that the company had to void two years’ worth of blood test reports.
Several agencies looked into the company’s practices, including the FDA, which found issues with its quality control procedures and the small vials called “nanotainers” it used to store blood samples. Since all these came out, the company’s been on a downward spiral. It lost its partnership with Walgreens, which used to offer its services and served as Theranos’ main source of business. COO and president Sunny Balwani retired, and founder Elizabeth Holmes was banned from running a lab for two years.
Despite all those issues, the company introduced the miniLab, which is different from its older proprietary machine called Edison, at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry in August. The convention’s attendees were expecting Holmes to explain Theranos’ situation and to shed more light on its controversial fingerprick-testing technique. They didn’t expect her to debut a brand new device in the midst of what the company is going through. But she did, and it has now become Theranos’ focus.
Via: Marketwatch
Source: Theranos, The Wall Street Journal
Washington state orders Valve to end ‘Counter-Strike’ gambling
For Washington state, it’s not enough for Valve to distance itself from gun skin gambling in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive — it wants the company to put an end to the practice. The state’s Gambling Commission has ordered Valve to “stop allowing the transfer” of gun skins for gambling through Steam. The gaming giant has until October 14th to explain how it’s obeying Washington gambling laws — if it ignores the request or can’t prove that it’s squeaky-clean, it might face “additional civil or criminal action.”
To the Commission, this is about reining in out-of-control, dangerous behavior. Skin bets represent a “large, unregulated black market” that burns unsuspecting players, Commissioner Chris Stearns says. The regulator is particularly worried about underage gamblers, who don’t face the barriers to entry that they do in the real world. It notes that one site, CSGO Lounge, has made over $1 billion so far this year.
When we reached out to Valve, it reiterated its attempt to separate itself from gambling sites. The developer has sent 40 cease-and-desist notices, it says, and a federal judge recently tossed a lawsuit targeting Valve over the issue. You can read the statement below. However, the company might not have much choice but to step up its response. If the Commission is convinced that Valve is enabling shady gambling, it’s going to crack down — it might not accept Valve’s stance at face value. There’s no indication that the Commission will ban gun skins outright, but it could easily restrict their availability.
“Back in July we posted about third-party gambling sites (http://store.steampowered.com/news/22883/). Our position has not changed and so far we’ve sent cease and desist notices to over 40 sites. On a somewhat related note, a federal judge in Washington recently dismissed a case associated with this subject where Valve was named as a defendant (https://www.law360.com/classaction/articles/848361/game-platform-beats-suit-over-teenage-gambling-).”
Via: Polygon
Source: Washington State Gambling Commission (PDF)
Reuters: Twitter seeks a sale decision by October 27th
Twitter’s flat growth and falling profits made for a dim outlook until a few weeks ago when sources close to the social media platform said that Google, Salesforce and other tech luminaries were looking to buy it. The company’s stock jumped 20 percent that day, and speculation has continued as to which would be the best buyer. But it seems time is of the essence: Twitter wants to conclude sale deliberations before October 27th, the day it reports its third quarter earnings, sources told Reuters.
Binding acquisition offers are due in two weeks, the sources noted. Salesforce is in the running, which could mine Twitter’s data for business intel, while Disney might make a bid to use its social media platform to boost outreach for its programming. While Google was considered a prominent potential buyer, separate sources told Recode that the search giant won’t make a bid. Apple isn’t likely to enter the fray either.
But it’s possible that even Twitter isn’t solid on what Twitter wants to do. Bloomberg reported today that three head executives are split: CEO Jack Dorsey wants to remain independent, co-founder Ev Williams wants to sell, with chief financial officer Anthony Noto stepped in to seize more control of the company amid Dorsey’s passive leadership.
But this whole process might not even result in a sale, Reuters’ sources cautioned. Regardless, concluding negotiations with any buyer before October 27th is an incredibly aggressive deadline. At the very least, it will likely define where Twitter is going before it has to report what is likely its 12th consecutive quarter without producing net profit as a public company.
Source: Reuters
Apple Creates ‘Orchard’ Program to Find Upcoming Marketing Talent
In the past couple of days, several Apple employees have begun tweeting about the Orchard, a new program created by Apple to find upcoming marketing talent. The Cupertino company has also created an Orchard page on its website teasing the program.
The moment is now. Throw everything you know out the window. All in. Head first. Join the Orchard. If you’re lucky enough to make the cut, expect to surround yourself with like-minded souls who are as terrified and excited as you are. Be part of a hand-picked team with a plethora of talent. Kick ass together. Panic together. Grow together. Work alongside the brains of all the iconic work you love from Apple. Watch and learn. Trust your gut. Challenge our ways. Have an impact on everything you touch. Be prepared to stumble and fumble and embarrass yourself. It will be messy, and it won’t be pretty at times, but if you stick together as a team, you’ll build a special bond and something truly great will come out of it all. Take it from us. It’s the only way. Does this whole proposal sound crazy to you? Good. We like crazy.
On its jobs page, Apple explains that the Orchard will be made up of 10 particpants. Of those 10, there will be 4 art directors, 4 copywriters and 2 strategic planners. The program will last for six months and give participants the opportunity to work and grow alongside Apple’s marketing communications team. The Orchard is intended for those with 0 to 3 years of experience.
The goal of the program, according to Apple, is for the “mutual learning and growth of the next generation of Apple thinkers and creators.” Participants of the Orchard will also go through a set curriculum, receive mentoring from Apple employees and work on Apple projects. Enrichment opportunities and sessions with leaders of Apple departments outside of marketing will also be available.
Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume and examples of design, marketing or advertising that show a “talent or passion for communication.” Applications will only be accepted from October 3 to November 4, and a selection committee will review all applications and screen applicants via FaceTime. In December, finalists will be flown to Apple’s Cupertino headquarters for one-on-one interviews. Orchard participants will then be with the company from January 16, 2017 to August 25, 2017. All participants will be given a competitive salary and a relocation package.
This isn’t the first time Apple has created a program intended to educate the next generation of Apple employees. In 2011, Apple created Apple University, an internal program to teach new employees about management techniques and the history of how Apple has approached problems and decisions.
Tag: The Orchard
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Daily brief: A Pixel in every pocket, a Note 7 in every nightmare
What happened in Android news on October 5, 2016?
We took the day off yesterday because it was all about the Pixel. And that’s OK, because the Pixel was a pretty big deal. I couldn’t help be caught up in the excitement, enjoying the dual-toned finish of the phones, and the promise of the best phone camera ever (though, probably not). I even enjoyed Google’s rather cheesy Assistant demoes, which showcased the artificial intelligence at its most benign.
I think people are underestimating just how important Assistant is going to be to Google’s future. Sundar Pichai opened the keynote by saying that “it is clear we are evolving from a mobile-first to an AI-first world.” That sentence alone places Google far ahead of companies like Apple and Samsung in its product strategy, since it’s clearly developing hardware to showcase both local and cloud-based software, and not the other way around. Samsung has little in the way of software prowess, and relies on Google’s advances in Android, year after year, to leverage its increasingly capable design chops. But to say that Samsung understands the internet, that it takes advantage of its position in the mobile space to push services, would be untrue. Now that Google is launching its first phones, that so-called synergy can finally happen.
The problem is that Samsung is so far ahead — like way, way further ahead — in both market share and brand recognition, that Google’s advantage is, at least right now, largely moot. The next few months is going to be very interesting, especially as the fallout from the Note 7 recall plays out into 2017.
And with that, the top stories you need to know from October 4 and 5.
Replacement Samsung Galaxy Note 7 reportedly explodes on a (still-grounded) plane
Well, this isn’t good. A Galaxy Note 7 — one of the shiny new ones, with the black square and green battery icon and everything — reportedly caught fire on a Southwest flight prior to taking off. The phone’s owner says that he powered down the device, as per the flight attendant’s request, but it caught fire shortly after putting it in his pocket. Very worrisome indeed. More
Cruise lines ban Galaxy Note 7 following recall
They’re somewhat late to the party, with the Note 7 recall now wrapping up in many countries, but several major cruise lines have banned the device from use aboard their vessels, according to The Telegraph. In some cases the ban only applies to unreturned, recalled Notes; in others, it’s all Note 7 phones. It’s unclear how the ban will be enforced onboard, but it’s largely in line with the guidance for Note 7 use (or lack thereof) aboard airplanes.
Motorola reveals which phones are getting Nougat
A total of 15 devices are set for an Android 7.0 upgrade, including the latest Moto Z phones — but not the Moto E and Moto G from 2015. More
Nexus is officially dead
Going forward, Google’s new internal hardware division, under Rick Osterloh, will produce in-house Pixel hardware. So long, Nexus! More
Galaxy Note 7 back on sale at T-Mobile U.S.
With the recall beginning to wrap up, T-Mobile is the first U.S. carrier to put the Note 7 back on sale. Pricing is unchanged, but now T-Mo’s product page lets you know you’re buying the non-exploding version. More
Google may make its own custom cores for upcoming Pixel phones
Google has started to assert control over hardware with the Pixel and Pixel XL, and it looks like the company will build its own silicon for upcoming handsets. That’s according to Bloomberg, citing VP of Android engineering Dave Burke:
Going forward, more and more of the phones’ guts will be developed in-house. Burke says the company will eventually be able to ship its own custom “silicon,” a buzzword for customized processors that make devices work better.
Google’s Quick Switch Adapter lets you easily move from iOS to Pixel
Google is bundling a Quick Switch Adapter with every Pixel and Pixel XL that makes it easy for those switching from an iPhone to Android. The Lightning-to-USB-C adapter lets you move contacts, iMessages, photos, videos, calendar events, music, and more.
Verizon is packing the Pixel and Pixel XL with its delightful bloatware
We apologize for the bit of editorializing above, but dang! A report from CNET answers the question we’ve all been pondering: Will the Verizon-exclusive Pixels be stuffed to the brim with Big Red’s own application suite? The answer is yes, and the Pixel and Pixel XL will come bundled with apps like Verizon Messaging, Go90, and MyVerizon. It’s too bad the Pixels won’t get the same treatment as Apple’s iPhones.
Unlocked Moto Z available in the U.S.
After a period of Verizon exclusivity, the Moto Z is now available unlocked in the U.S. It’s not necessarily any better than the Verizon model — it’s actually more expensive — since that version is SIM-unlocked and works on AT&T and T-Mobile, but the unlocked model is bloatware-free. Get it for $699.99, if you dare. See at Amazon
Moto Z and Moto Z Play go on sale in Canada
Canadian carriers have launched their versions of the Moto Z and Moto Z Play, which have been available since July and September, respectively, on Verizon. Thanks to a weak Canadian dollar, the phones are $900 and $650 when purchased outright (ouch!), but they’re much less encumbered with bloatware than Verizon’s options. Yay?
The Moto Z is available at Bell, Koodo (Online Only), Rogers, Sasktel, TBooth, TELUS, WIND, and WirelessWave for around $400 on contract.
The Moto Z Play is available at Koodo, Rogers, TBooth, TELUS and WirelessWave.
Lenovo Phab2 Pro: Project Tango’s first phone will launch in November
Google’s not done releasing new phones in 2016.
One day after the company introduced two Pixel-branded flagship smartphones, each with very non-Nexus price tags, it has confirmed that the first Google Project Tango phone will go on sale in November.
According to CNET, which spoke to Clay Bavor, head of VR at Google, the 6.4-inch Lenovo Phab2 Pro, which comes loaded with Tango’s depth-sensing 3D camera system in order to scan the world around you and deliver an augmented reality experience (whether that’s play games, navigate indoors, or see how furniture fits in your home) is finally ready.
The phone was originally suppose to launch in the summer but had been delayed to autumn. The Phab2 Pro should cost around $499 unlocked in the US (about £345 in the UK). Keep in mind this device won’t work with Google’s Daydream View, as only the new Google Pixel phones are compatible with the VR headset.
When Lenovo unveiled the phone last summer, it said PhabPro 2 would be sold globally, though in the US, it will be exclusively sold in the colours champagne gold and gunmetal grey at select Lowe’s stores and online toward the end of the year. The phone will arrive running Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
It also has a 4,050mAh battery and Dolby Atmos audio capabilities.
- What is Google Tango?
- Project Tango demoed in first sneak peek video of 3D-mapped room
Sony PSVR: Here’s every game and app that’ll be ready for launch day
Sony has released the full list of titles that’ll be available when PSVR launches.
Sony already confirmed at E3 2016 in Los Angeles that – when the PlayStation VR for the PS4 releases on 13 October – over 50 games would be available come launch day, and each one is built specifically for the virtual reality world. PSVR is going to be home to all types of games: from driving games like DriveClub to VR specific thrillers like Golem.
So, while incomplete lists of the system’s upcoming games and apps have already been compiled, this new list from Sony is the definitive lineup. As you can, see about half the games mentioned will be available on 13 October, while the other half is slated for release in Q4 2016. A few have also been delayed to first quarter of 2017, such as Golem.
- SEE FULL LIST HERE: PlayStation VR: Launch Lineup and Beyond
There’s also some apps, like Ethan Hawke’s interactive narrative Invasion, and shorter experiences, like Tomb Raider: Blood Ties, all of which is included in the list of 80+ titles. Sony previously revealed what we can expect from these, by releasing their game trailers, which you can see here, though viewing them on a 2D screen doesn’t do them justice.
If you wondering what you get in the box with your PSVR and, perhaps as importantly, what you don’t, Pocket-lint rounded up those details too. You do get a demo disc with the PSVR, but you will want to grab more games.
These can cost up to £50 each.
AIVAnet 