Huawei’s first smartband has a pop-out earpiece for voice calls
Huawei hasn’t exactly been keeping quiet about its very own wearable device, so today’s announcement of its TalkBand B1 should be no surprise to anyone. As shown in the earlier leaks, it has a 1.4-inch flexible OLED display on the band, but what hasn’t been obvious until now is that it also supports wireless calling — there’s a removable earpiece tucked inside it, which explains the 14.6mm-thick bulk. Like any good wearable, the device also has fitness tracking features: It records how many steps you’ve taken, how far you’ve travelled and how many calories you’ve burned. It’s also a sleeping pattern monitor, so you can use the smart alarm function to wake up at the optimal time. There’s NFC here for pairing with phones, and the 90mAh battery promises six days worth of usage (but takes two hours to charge up). There’s no price announced just yet, but the B1 will be out in China next month, whereas Japan, the Middle East, Russia and Western Europe will have to wait until Q2 2014.
[LEAK] Evleaks tweets a picture showing Huawei smartwatch next to mystery Device
It seems like we’re approaching saturation point for leaks even before MWC 2014 has even started; master of leaks, evleaks, has posted yet another picture today, this time simply accompanied by the caption “WOW-wei”. Assuming evleaks was making a joke on Huawei‘s oft-mispronounced name, the photo does show the Huawei smartwatch that was leaked just a few days ago by a Huawei executive, accompanied by a mystery device. The device looks almost like the love child of a HTC One and Huawei’s own Ascend P6, and most confusingly, does not resemble any of the devices expected to be announced by Huawei at MWC 2014 including the Ascend P7 and MediaPad X1. It’s also been pointed out that it does look awfully computer generated, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see if Huawei ends up announcing this mystery device in Barcelona.
Mystery device aside, this is a pretty good indication that the Huawei exec actually leaked a production model of the Huawei smartwatch. It looks like Huawei has taken a slightly different approach to smartwatches than say Samsung, instead opting to go with a fitness themed wearable, though how much it is able to do is unknown so far. With all these rumoured devices, Huawei’s press conference at MWC 2014 should be a good one and we can’t wait to see what they have up their sleeves.
What do you think that mystery device is? And do you like the route that Huawei has gone with their first smartwatch? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: Twitter
The week’s best Android rumors: Nexus 8, Galaxy S5, Android 4.5, Xperia Tablet Z2, and more
HTC Desire 8
Some last minute specifications for the upcoming Desire 8 fill in some of the blanks from before. Assuming they’re accurate, we should see a 5.5-inch 720p HD display, 8GB storage, 1.5GB RAM, a 13-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel front-facing camera, and microSD expansion. Powered by Android 4.4.2 KitKat, the phone is alleged to feature a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor.
Samsung Galaxy S5
With only a couple days left to go before it’s announced, the Galaxy S5 is again rumored with a fingerprint sensor. This time, however, we’re hearing that the sensor will be built into the display, making it available anywhere it’s touched. What’s more, the Galaxy S5 will purportedly show your real-time fingerprint on the display as you swipe about.
HTC M8 Mini
HTC’s smaller take on the flagship HTC One experience might be a shiny one, if not a small one. New images hitting the web this week have the device as offering a nice, metallic-like finish. The phone is set to provide a 4.5-inch display. Remember when that was considered huge?
Nexus 8 and Android 4.5
Google could wait until July to introduce the next build of Android, which is assumed to be 4.5. According to an unnamed Google Dublin source, the Nexus 8 will debut in July with latest version of the platform. As for the Nexus 7, the tipster says it’s being replaced by the 8-inch device.
NVIDIA Tegra Note with K1
NVIDIA looks to be testing a new Tegra K1 version of its Tegra Note tablet, should newly discovered benchmarks prove correct. Shown having a 1920×1200 resolution display, the device was running Android 4.4.2 at speeds of 2.1GHz. Other specs outed here include 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage.
Amazon Android-powered set-top box
Amazon could introduce its Android-powered set-top box as soon as March, according to a new Re/code report. Details are expected to include watching of TV and Amazon content as well as access to apps and other service providers.
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
Sony’s flagship tablet experience for 2014 could debut as soon as Mobile World Congress. Specifications tipped by evleaks include a 10.1-inch (1920 x 1200) Triluminos display, a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, 3GB RAM, 16GB storage, microSD slot, 8-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and 6,000mAh battery. Powered by Android 4.4 KitKat, it’s purported to be 6.4mm thick and waterproof.
Huawei smartwatch
Huawei’s first crack at the smartwatch space is less than a week away so it makes sense that it would leak online. A photo posted to Weibo shows the device as having more of a wrist-band appearance than that of a watch; it’s not unlike LG’s Lifeband Touch, Fitband Flex, or Jawbone Up.
The post The week’s best Android rumors: Nexus 8, Galaxy S5, Android 4.5, Xperia Tablet Z2, and more appeared first on AndroidGuys.
[LEAK] Huawei MediaPad X1 gets leaked in candid photos showing off call abilities and a smart Cover
As MWC 2014 approaches, we wouldn’t be surprised to see more and more leaked pictures of devices destined to be shown off at the mobile-centric event. The latest device to get the leak treatment is the Huawei MediaPad X1, expected to be latest model in Huawei‘s line of very solid tablets. The above photos were posted on Chinese social media site Weibo showing off the X1 with the ability to make calls, as well as featuring a smart cover with clock functionality, as we’ve seen previously with the Samsung S View.
The Huawei MediPad X1 is expected to have a quad-core HiSilicon 1.6GHz processor along with 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, a 7-inch 1920×1200 display and a 6,000mAh battery. Those specs make the X1 a very intriguing package, at the right price, which is rumoured to be 1,200 Yuan (or around $200 USD). There is also a rumoured option of LTE, but presumably the rumoured price doesn’t correlate with the LTE version. Even so, the X1 looks like a very viable alternative to the Nexus 7 2013 model, particularly if it is able to make calls, only for those inclined to do so, of course.
Would you consider the Huawei MediaPad X1? Let us know what you think in the comments.
[LEAK] Could this wearable be the rumoured Huawei smartwatch?
At MWC 2014, we’re expecting a whole number of devices to be announced, in particular a large number of wearable devices from smartphone manufacturers. One of these wearables is rumoured to be Huawei’s very first smartwatch, and if this picture from one of its executives is anything to go by, they might not be adopting the standard route for smartwatches. The picture of the Huawei smartwatch was posted on Chinese social media site Weibo by the Huawei executive and accompanied by a message “My new toy. Do you like this colour?”.
If this is the real deal, Huawei looks like it has taken a more fitness approach to its first smartwatch, and while it’s not exactly a looker, we can’t be certain this will be what the final device will look like; prior to the Samsung Galaxy Gear‘s launch, a less-than-flattering picture leaked out of the device, though this was later proven to be an early prototype by Samsung officials and sure enough, the actual announced device thankfully looked completely different (check the leaked photo out here). While that’s not to say this isn’t what Huawei’s first wearable is going to look like either, but it’s best to be wary about these leaks prior to MWC.
What do you think about this leaked photo: would you consider this Huawei smartwatch if this is what it turned out looking like? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Huawei’s Media Pad X1 leaks with calling capabilities and smart cover
A few cats have escaped from Huawei’s bag ahead of Mobile World Conference, namely images of its 7-inch MediaPad X1 and mid-range Ascend G6 handset. A Chinese Weibo site nabbed live pics of the MediaPad X1, and thanks to a previous visit through China’s FAA, we know its specs: quad-core 1.6GHz HiSilicon 910 CPU, 2GB of RAM, 16 GB memory, a 1,920 x 1,200 display and a 6,000 mAh battery. It’s also reported to have telephonic capabilities for those with headsets (or no shame), and optional LTE. Interestingly, the pics also show a faux-stitched smart cover with a secondary display, à la Samsung’s S View. All that puts it on the high-end side, and the coup de grace would be a rumored price tag of around 1,200 Yuan (about $200), which we imagine would be sans LTE or the cover.
Meanwhile, rumor-monger @evleaks has outed pics of Huawei’s Ascend G6 smartphone (after the break), a 4.5-inch model said to have a quad-core 1.3GHz MediaTek chip, 1GB of RAM, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and an 8-megapixel front / 5-megapixel rear camera. Its standout feature is a slim 7.5mm profile, but it otherwise seems destined for bargain shoppers. We know nothing else about pricing and availability, of course, but we imagine we’ll find out soon at MWC 2014 — which is shaping up to be rather epic.
Filed under: Cellphones
Via: Phone Arena
Source: 1Pad.cn (translated), @evleaks
This awkward wearable might be Huawei’s upcoming smartwatch
Look, the truth is most smartwatches just aren’t that stylish. Take for example the clunky wearable in this pic, which might actually be one of Huawei’s upcoming devices. A Huawei exec has posted this image and the one after the break on Weibo (a Chinese social network) with a caption that says: “My new toy. Do you like this color?” Since the company’s expected to launch a smartwatch at Mobile World Congress, it’s easy to assume that this is the device in question, but we’ll know for sure in a few days.
By the way, these images were taken using a mysterious Glory X1 device, which could be the MediaPad X1 7.0, the watch itself or something entirely new. Despite these pictures, it might still be worth checking back for Huawei’s smartwatch next week. After all, this baby blue bracelet could just be an early prototype… or a high-tech toy from a cereal box.
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile
Via: G for Games
Source: 张晓云 (Weibo)
Google’s Russian rival offers free alternative apps and services on Android
Android is famed for being an open-source operating system. Well, kind of. Anyone can cruise and caress Android’s code thanks to the AOSP, but if you want a package complete with Google’s services — like the Play store, Mail, Maps and better-than-basic apps for messaging, imaging, etc. — then you have to pay the piper. Yandex is to Russia as Google is to most other places, in that it’s the country’s most popular search engine, has its own browser and provides email and cloud storage services, among others. And now, with the launch of Yandex.Kit, it also has an alternative to the bits of Android only a licence’ll get you.
Available to those making devices for the Russian market, Yandex.Kit comprises 15 apps from browser, mapping, store and email clients to a launcher and dialer. (There’s a slimmed-down version of the firmware for outside Russia, too). Most importantly, it’s totally free, and has already attracted the likes of Huawei and local manufacturer Explay. Chinese firm Xiaomi forgoes Google’s wares in its Android-based MIUI OS due to censorship issues. Here, however, Yandex is intentionally wedging itself between Android and Google to erode any reliance on the latter’s ecosystem in Russia. The fact it allies you to Yandex instead being pure coincidence, of course.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Yandex
Huawei Ascend P7 looks ready to be revealed at MWC 2014, alongside Huawei’s first Smartwatch
For anyone keeping track, Huawei has been doing a pretty good job in the smartphone world as of late. Despite not having a particularly big presence in the U.S., Huawei had a 6% market share in the smartphone industry to finish 2013 which puts them third among all phone manufacturers behind Samsung and Apple; not a bad achievement at all. Huawei is looking to start 2014 with a bang by bringing in a successor to its Ascend P6 device, presumed to be named the Huawei Ascend P7, only 8 months after the P6 was launched.
The P7 is expected to have a 5-inch 1080p display, a quad-core HiSilicon processor clocked at 1.6GHz, 2GB RAM and a 13MP camera. Those specs, and pending the price, should put the P7 somewhere in the mid-range to upper-mid-range phones available on the market. And if its 6.18mm older brother is anything to go by, the P7 will likely have lost some millimetres on its waistline. The Ascend P7 is expected to debut at MWC 2014 next week, along side a rumoured smartwatch, the first from the Chinese manufacturer. While there aren’t many details about the wearable device, we only have a few more days before MWC 2014 begins and from the look of it, it’s going to be one filled with surprises.
What do you think about the Huawei Ascend P7: is this a device you would get? And what do you think about Huawei outing a smartwatch? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: Phone Arena (1), (2), (3)
Huawei’s MWC teaser gets in jab at Apple, Samsung
Chinese manufacturer Huawei just released a teaser video unveiling some of its plans for Mobile World Congress next week.
The video talks about a new tablet with “a beautiful slim design” and long battery life with “days of use,” a new smartphone with “an amazing front camera” and a “multimedia tablet” that can connect to “next-generation LTE networks.”
Besides talking about Huawei’s new devices, the video uses some marketing that takes shots at both Apple and Samsung. To start, the narrator in the promo is talking to an iPhone-like device with a Siri-like voice, with a Chinese accent though.
Second, the narrator asks the fake smartphone assistant if they’re made by “Fruit” or “Somesong,” which it replies, “No, they are Huawei.”
All that being said, we can expect two new tablets and a smartphone from Huawei during its Feb. 23 event in Barcelona.
via Digital Trends
The post Huawei’s MWC teaser gets in jab at Apple, Samsung appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 