Android OEM strategies in 2015: which OEM’s are heading in the right direction?
The year 2015 has been a mixture of rebirth and, arguably, stagnation, depending on the OEM in question and who you ask. Some players have largely kept the same strategy, for better or worse, while others have started to plant the seeds of change with shakeups in design and software. We have to wonder, which OEMs are heading in the right direction, and which aren’t?
Before we ask that question, let’s take a look at each OEM and highlight their basic strategy for 2015 so far.
Samsung
One the biggest examples of change in 2015 can be seen in Samsung. While the company’s button layout and UI design has largely stayed the same in 2015, they have considerably evolved their design language and streamlined the software experience starting with the Samsung Galaxy S6. At the same time, they have also made some stark changes in their product philosophy with the decision to cut microSD and removable batteries from their key 2015 flagships.
Not everyone is a fan of the changes Samsung has made, but there’s no denying that people are now buzzing about Samsung in a way they simply weren’t in 2014.
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HTC
An example of a company that has done little to change their strategy this year is HTC. Despite continued hard fiscal times, HTC did little to raise the bar with its 2015 One M9 flagship. The year isn’t over just yet, and HTC may have a few cards up its sleeve, but ultimately the lack of change is probably a big surprise to fans who were hoping to see something a bit more awe-inspiring from the troubled handset maker.
Bottom-line, HTC’s reluctance for change has led to many would-be consumers dismissing the brand as a viable option in 2015.
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Motorola
Starting with the Moto X, Motorola has been firmly planted in the philosophy that experience is really what matters, not the specs or even the shiny extras. This had led to the company focusing on customization, pricing, user-friendly software, and a near-stock experience that flies.
In 2015, Motorola has kept this philosophy, while taking a few steps forward. The Moto G introduced Moto Maker support and waterproofing, while the Moto X Style (aka Moto X Pure Edition) has followed the trend of bigger QHD displays, and yet at the same time managed to cut pricing down to as little as $400 without sacrificing any of the elements that have made the Moto X series a popular choice for Android fans.
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LG
The year 2015 has been all about change for Samsung. In contrast, LG’s 2015 strategy seemingly is to see whatever Samsung is doing, and offer the opposite experience. This has meant a continued push for microSD and removable backs, the continuation of plastic bodies (though they’ve also offered premium options like the LG G4 leather back option), and, while they optimized the software, the LG UI is as feature packed as ever.
While LG is rumored to have a super-premium phone that might make some more aggressive changes when compared to the LG G4 and its earlier 2015 releases, this year LG seems content to continue largely doing the same as it has in past years.
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Sony
For the most part, Sony has followed a similar strategy as LG and HTC in 2015, namely kept things pretty status quo. While the Japanese giant did slow things down a little by only releasing the Xperia Z4 (aka Z3+ or Z4V) in select regions, the company has continued to push the same overall aesthetics and experience. That said, the latter half of 2015 has now introduced a small shift for the company.
The Xperia Z5 family largely looks the same as its predecessors, but the company did surprise the world with the first 4K smartphone, dubbed the Z5 Premium. The software experience has also become even more stock-like than in the past, retaining many of the menu choices and material design influences found in stock Android. The biggest difference is now custom icons and the presence of select Sony apps.
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The rest of the pack
These are obviously far from the only OEMs out there, though they are arguably the biggest and most popular, at least in the western world.
As an honorable mention, ZTE has made some pretty big shifts this year with the Axon, a nearly OnePlus One-priced flagship with a lot of potential. Huawei is also looking to turn its attention further to the North American market releasing at least a few US-focused devices this year, and will introduce a Nexus flagship later this month, at least if rumors prove correct.
We’ve also seen Alcatel change its direction by bringing us the Idol 3, one of the first Alcatel OneTouch devices to actually be worth our attention, due to a competition of good looks, solid hardware, and an aggressive price. And then there’s Asus, which has kept a similar direction in 2015, but taken it to a whole new level with the ZenFone 2.
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Who is heading in the right direction, who isn’t?
To be fair, the answer to that question is completely subjective. Looking at the strategies, Samsung is the OEM that has made the most aggressive changes this year, though it remains unseen if whether or not these changes will truly pay off in 2015 and beyond. Motorola has kept to its guns, while making a few refinements in its strategy that has really put the company in a good place. LG falls somewhere in the middle.
With minor changes in strategy, LG has yet to “fall on hard times”, but the LG G4 hasn’t been a runaway success either. That said, LG has the Nexus 5x and likely one other flagship coming our way before the end of the year that could help further push the company upward in market dominance. Out of the bigger OEMs, it is Sony and HTC that have disappointed the most this year. Though the two companies are both falling further down the ladder, neither seems to be making the bold moves needed to turn their perspective ships around.
What do you think, which OEMs do you feel are heading in the right direction in 2015? Which aren’t?
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Asus will begin selling the Zenfone 2 Laser 5.5 a week early thanks to strong pre-orders
Asus originally planned on launching its new Zenfone 2 Laser 5.5 on September 19th, but after receiving over 30,000 pre-orders for its new line of Zenfone devices, the company is moving the release date of the Laser 5.5 up to September 8th.
The Laser 5.5 was one of the most pre-ordered devices in the lineup, and had completely sold through initial stock after three days. That’s pretty impressive, but considering the device is being offered at a very wallet friendly INR 9,999 it’s easy to see why it was so popular.
The phone features a 5.5-inch HD screen, a 13 megapixel rear camera, a removable 3,000 mAh battery, and a very capable Snapdragon 410 CPU with Android 5.0 onboard. Hard to beat for that price.
The Laser 5.5 will go on sale later today in four colors, although if you didn’t lock in a pre-order you may have to wait until stock gets replenished to get your hands on one.
source: Asus
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Hands-on with the Asus ZenWatch 2 at IFA 2015
Just like Huawei with its Watch, Asus took its sweet time bringing the ZenWatch 2 to market, after announcing it in early June at Computex. While we’ll still have to wait another month until the ZenWatch 2 hits the shelves, we had the chance to play with the two variants of the smartwatch at IFA in Berlin, and these are our impressions.
First up, Asus appears to have realized that one size does not fit all when it comes to wearables, as the ZenWatch 2 is available in a slightly more petite variant, featuring a 37 mm face and an 18 mm band, in addition to the familiar, 41 mm/22 mm model. It’s commendable that Asus is trying to cater to more types of users, but I will say that the increased thickness of both ZenWatch versions is a bit of a letdown, as the slick, wrist-hugging profile was one of the best things about the original ZenWatch, in my opinion.
The specifications of the ZenWatch 2 are pretty close to what you had last year. Notable improvements include better resistance to elements (IP67) and better battery life, along a new way to charge the smartwatch using a magnetic connector, as opposed to the unwieldy cradle from before. Asus claims you should be able to get two days of battery life out of the ZenWatch 2, especially when using the ambient mode heavily. You should also be able to fill up 50 percent of the battery in a little over half an hour, thanks to the new charging port.
All in all, this refresh is largely about the design, which is now more refined and comes with more customization options. Joining a trend that we can only salute, Asus is making multiple color options and bands of various materials available, and that should make it easy to adapt the ZenWatch 2 to your particular style and image.
Asus has updated the software side of the ZenWatch 2, through the inclusion of some of its own apps on the smartwatch, and a capable companion app for your smartphone, that lets you do things like pick up the right watch face for the moment.
The 41 mm ZenWatch 2 will cost around $190 when it lands next month, while the smaller model will be roughly $170.
With the new Moto 360 and especially the Huawei Watch, the ZenWatch 2 has some very strong competition in the Android Wear race. But Asus’ take on the concept benefits from a lower price tag, and an aesthetic that will appeal to those who look for a non-traditionally looking smartwatch. Is that enough of a differentiator? Let us know your thoughts!
Here are the best things from Europe’s biggest tech show
Big tech shows. Sometimes they amaze. Other times they can leave you a little cold — it just depends on what you’re looking for. This year’s IFA, held in Germany and blessed with a mix of torrential rain and sun, is a good example of exactly that. The show has a reputation for filling halls with refrigerators and washing machines (which can sometimes be interesting), but here’s the finely-honed highlights. If you somehow missed our IFA reportage all this week, start here. Slideshow-317033
Filed under:
Cellphones, Laptops, Robots, Sony, ASUS
Tags: asus, ifa, ifa2015, sony, video
Acer’s CEO says merging with Asus is unlikely due to Taiwan’s Fair Trade laws
It wasn’t too long ago that Asustek was muted to be discussing a takeover of its struggling local rival, HTC after its own mobile division posted a profit. However, the takeover rumour was strongly refuted by HTC shortly after becoming public news. Today, we have Acer’s CEO, Jason Chen, shooting down talk of a merger between itself and Asustek, stating that the joining of the two companies would violate Taiwan’s Fair Trade laws.
A merger between Acer and Asustek would result in a combined market share of over 70% in Taiwan, creating an unhealthy monopoly in the eyes of the government’s regulatory bodies.
That being said, Acer’s CEO isn’t against the idea of the company being taken over by someone. Acer’s stock price has plummeted by 50% since April, and the company made just $5.4 million in profit for the first half of 2015 compared to $15 million the previous year. The trend is continuing, because July’s revenue saw a year-on-year decline of 33%.
All of this makes Acer a target for a hostile takeover, something that Acer founder, Stan Shih, actually welcomes as he believes the buyer could end up buying an empty shell due to the existing management quitting Acer. Whether it’s merely bluster or shrewd business sense, it’s clear that Acer’s situation could result in significant changes ahead for the Taiwanese manufacturer, although a merger with local rival Asustek would appear to be off the cards.
Source: DigiTimes
Via: PhoneArena
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IFA Day 1: 4K Smartphones and water-cooled laptops
IFA started with a bang as Sony whipped out the Xperia Z5 Premium, a smartphone that comes with the “world’s first” 5.5-inch 4K display. That was swiftly followed by the launch of Huawei’s Mate S, a phone that’s designed to kill the iPhone 6 Plus by basically copying its every design feature. Then there was ASUS’ new gaming laptop that’s so powerful it needs its own water pump to keep it cool. We took some time to bring you the most exciting announcements from the show floor, so don’t hesitate before hitting that play button.
Check out all the news from Berlin at our IFA 2015 hub!
Tags: 2015, asus, Huawei, IFA, IFA2015, MateS, sony, video, XperiaZ5Premium
ASUS ZenWatch 2 will go easy on the wallet when released in October
ASUS has announced pricing for their new ASUS ZenWatch 2 smartwatch and for those looking to get a smartwatch without dropping a lot of coin, the ZenWatch 2 may be a good option. The different versions of the ZenWatch 2 are slated to be available on retail shelves starting in October. When they arrive, the larger 49mm model will run €149 ($170 USD) while the smaller 45mm version will cost €169 ($190 USD).
The ZenWatch 2 will come equipped with a Snapdragon 400 processor, 512 MB of RAM and a 320 x 320 AMOLED display.
Anyone out there enticed by the ZenWatch 2? Be sure to check back for more IFA 2015 coverage from TalkAndroid.
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IFA 2015: ASUS announces the beastly-looking RT-AC5300 router that boasts “world’s fastest Wi-Fi”
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There are some pretty badass looking products being announced at IFA 2015 so far. First, there was the Acer Predator 6 with its sharp edges and now ASUS has announced a router that looks like the top of Saruman’s tower in The Lord of the Rings. Unsurprisingly, the device is being targeted at gamers and people who want 4K streaming to be a reality as the RT-AC5300 router boasts the “world’s fastest Wi-Fi” – on a side now, I feel like ASUS has missed a golden naming opportunity by calling it the RT-AC5300.
If you’re wondering what kind of speeds you can expect with the RT-AC5300 router, ASUS says you should be getting 1Gbps over the 2.4GHz bands and up to 2.167Gbps on the two 5GHz bands available to the router. I’m not great at math, but that sounds like more than enough for most people’s streaming and gaming needs – I think I know what I want for Christmas now.
Source: engadget
The post IFA 2015: ASUS announces the beastly-looking RT-AC5300 router that boasts “world’s fastest Wi-Fi” appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
The latest ROG laptop comes with a giant water cooler
ASUS is one a rare few companies that’s both a mainstream PC manufacturer and a respected name among the gaming community. Its ROG (Republic Of Gamers) line is a favorite, with giant laptops like the G751 earning top marks from gamers and reviewers alike. We’re looking forward to its replacement, the ROG G752, but first let’s talk about the GX700 in the image above. ASUS is only teasing this laptop, but it’s going to have an overclockable Intel K-series Skylake processor, the latest graphics from Nvidia, and, a 17-inch 4K display. Oh… and that giant thing you see next to it? That’s apparently a water-cooling system. Details are scant, but an educated guess would suggest you’ll only be able to overclock the GX700’s processor and graphics when you’re docked to it. I don’t know whether to laugh or take out my wallet.
On to the thing you’re more likely to buy some time soon: the ROG G752. It takes the basic premise behind the G751 — throw every spec you can into a giant laptop — and updates it for 2015. It’s got a far sleeker profile than last year’s model — it’s still chunky of course, but this looks much more like a laptop and much less like a riot shield.
You’ll be able to kit it out with your choice of SSDs and HDDs, sixth-generation Core i7 processors (up to i7-6820HK), Nvidia GPUs (up to GTX 980M 8GB), and (up to) a 17.3-inch 4K display (that supports G-Sync). Other specs include Thunderbolt 3.0 and a revamped keyboard with much deeper keys. Expect to hear more on the G752 before it launches this winter from $1,499. ASUS says the GX700 could appear before the year’s out also, but is making no promises.
Check out all the news from Berlin at our IFA 2015 hub.
Tags: asus, G572, G751, GX700, ifa, ifa2015, RepublicOfGamers, ROG
ASUS unveils the Intel-powered, Windows 10 VivoStick
Intel generated a storm of interest when it launched the HDMI-based Compute Stick, but is anybody willing to buy a tiny, under-powered PC? Who knows, but ASUS has just launched its own model that trumps Intel’s in nearly every way. It’s a lot less clunky-looking and one-ups Intel’s Atom CPU with a Cherry Trail model, while adding an extra USB 3.0 port and headphone jack for good measure. Otherwise, it has the same 2GB of RAM and 32GB storage, and works in the same way: you plug it into any HDMI TV, add a keyboard and mouse, then compute away on Windows 10.
At least, we hope so. As we noted in our review, Intel’s stick is far from a powerhouse and not quite up to its primary task of serving music and video streaming to your TV and sound system. However, at $129, the ASUS VivoStick runs a bit less than Intel’s $150 Compute Stick, which might make it worth the gamble. Availability has yet to be determined.
Check out all the news from Berlin at our IFA 2015 hub.
Filed under:
Wireless, Storage, ASUS
Tags: asus, ComputeStick, HDMI, IFA2015, PC-on-a-stick, PC-on-a-TV, USB3.0, VivoStick
AIVAnet 