Acer announces Liquid Z6, Z6 Plus, and Iconia Talk S tablet at IFA

At IFA in Germany, Acer unveiled the Liquid Z6 and Z6 Plus along with the Iconia Talk S tablet. The phones will be making their debut in EMEA (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) markets, with no word on North American availability. The Iconia Talk S will be available from September for €169 ($188), the entry-level Liquid Z6 will head to shelves starting November for €119 ($130), and the mid-range Liquid Z6 Plus will debut in December for €249 ($275).

The Liquid Z6 Plus is the most interesting phone in the bunch, offering a 5.5-inch Full HD display with 2.5D curved glass, octa-core MediaTek MT6753 SoC with eight Cortex cores clocked at 1.5GHz, Mali-T720 GPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB storage, microSD slot, 13MP camera at the back, 5MP front shooter, and a massive 4080mAh battery.

Whereas the Liquid Z6 Plus is clad in metal, the Liquid Z6 sports a plastic body. The phone has a 5-inch 720p display, quad-core MediaTek MT6737 SoC clocked at 1.25GHz, 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage, microSD slot, 8MP camera, 2MP front shooter, and a 2000mAh battery.

Meanwhile, the LTE-enabled Iconia Talk S tablet is aimed at business users, offering a 7-inch 720p display, quad-core MediaTek MT8735 SoC, 2GB of RAM, 16GB storage, microSD slot, two SIM card slots (4G + 3G), 13MP camera, 2MP front shooter, and a battery that’s touted to offer 9 hours of usage on a full charge. Microsoft’s Office suite is pre-loaded on the tablet.

All three devices run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box.

Press release follows:

Acer Launches Intuitive and Compact Android Devices at IFA 2016

New Iconia Talk S phablet and Liquid Z6 series smartphones integrate personal and professional lives on the go

Acer today unveiled a new range of stylish, compact and affordable Android mobile devices that strike a balance between personal and work life, whether connecting at home, the office or on the move. The Iconia Talk S doubles as a 4G LTE tablet and phone, providing flexibility with communication needs, while the new Liquid Z6 series provides an excellent entertainment experience with a high-definition IPS1 panel and an elegant 2.5D curved glass display.

Acer Iconia Talk S

Perfect for business professionals, frequent travelers and cost-conscious consumers, the Acer Iconia Talk S is a 4G LTE tablet and phone in one. Its dual-SIM design supports two accounts (phone numbers) and offers extremely accurate and clear voice calls as well as fast text communication.

Courtesy of a quad-core processor, the new Iconia Talk S is powerful and responsive. It also features Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which delivers a superb user experience with tight security. Intelligent power management provides ample battery life of up to 9 hours[1] for enjoying videos, gaming and web browsing all day.

Acer Iconia Talk S boasts an impressive 1280 x 720 HD display and an anti-slip finish that enables a firmer, more secure grip to help avoid accidental drops. The 13MP camera captures crystal clear images in vivid detail for uncompromised sharing of precious moments with friends and family.

Fully integrated with Acer’s Iconia Suite apps, which include EZ Snap, EZ WakeUp and EZ Utilities, the Iconia Talk S offers easy and intuitive access to smart functions, while the pre-installed Microsoft Office Suite and official Google Mobile Services enable the device to be leveraged for both business and pleasure.

Acer Liquid Z6 Series

Liquid Z6 series smartphones are designed for those desiring a full-featured and intuitive device for staying productive on the go. Both devices sport minimalist designs and elegant 2.5D curved glass. For added sophistication, the Liquid Z6 Plus offers an ultra-premium metal back casing. Much like the Iconia Talk S, the two Liquid Z6 series smartphones feature Android 6.0, are easy to customize and come with dual cameras for capturing high-quality images and videos anywhere.

The Liquid Z6 and Z6 Plus are as functional as they are slim and compact, and come with 5-inch and 5.5-inch Full HD IPS displays respectively. The mid-range Liquid Z6 touts an 8MP main camera and the high-end Liquid Z6 Plus boasts 13MP rear and 5MP front cameras to capture exciting moments in sharp detail.

The Liquid Z6 features a powerful quad-core processor, while the Liquid Z6 Plus enables even higher speeds with an octa-core processor. The Liquid Z6 Plus also provides biometric authentication with a fingerprint sensor for secure and convenient access.

ASUS unveils sleek round ZenWatch 3, priced at €229

ASUS goes round and rose gold with its third Android Wear watch.

Continuing in its tradition of launching watches at the IFA show, it was fitting that ASUS unveiled the ZenWatch 3 this year in Berlin. The Android Wear-powered wearable is the first round watch from the company, and is generally a big departure from the look of the first two ZenWatches.

The ZenWatch 3 is crafted from jewelry-grade 316L stainless steel and is just a hair under 10 mm thick, which is rather thin for modern smartwatches. The round display is accented by a rose gold ring around the circumference on all three — gunmetal, rose gold and silver — colors of the watch, along with two buttons and a crown button on the right that really stand out but are functional as well. The body is also IP67 water resistant, which pairs nicely with its fitness tracking capabilities from the built-in ZenFit software.

On the software side ASUS is focusing on the 50 watch faces it pre-loads on the ZenWatch 3, including dozens that are customizable from a smartphone app and include widgets that offer even more information on the watch face. There are also six different themes you can apply to the interface.

It looks nice, and finally uses a new wearable-focused processor

Though it didn’t make a big deal about it during the presentation, one of the biggest parts of the internal hardware story here is the Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor. This is the first watch with the new wearable-focused chip, which is a huge step beyond the old Snapdragon 400 that was being used in almost every other Android Wear watch.

ASUS is claiming two full days of battery life from the ZenWatch 3, and also its own “HyperCharge” tech that will add 60% to the battery in just 15 minutes from its magnetic charging adapter. Just like previous ZenWatches, there will also be an add-on battery pack that can give you 40% longer battery life.

With all of these changes, the price is still very compelling at €229, keeping it well within line of the last two ZenWatches. When it arrives in the states, we’d expect an equivalent price of $229 as well, though details haven’t been announced.

Press release:

ASUS Presents Zenvolution at IFA 2016

Global debut of ZenWatch 3 and announcement of European pricing and availability for latest laptops, 2-in-1 PCs, tablets and displays

• ASUS unveils ZenWatch 3, a stylish and customizable wearable device powered by Android Wear and the first ZenWatch with a round case

Berlin, Germany (31st August, 2016) — ASUS Vice President Eric Chen today took the stage at the Zenvolution event at IFA 2016 in Berlin to unveil ZenWatch 3, the latest model in the ZenWatch family of Android Wear™-powered wearable devices. He also announced European pricing and availability for the latest lineup of laptops, 2-in-1 PCs, tablets, and displays. Products featured onstage include ZenBook 3, Transformer 3 Pro, Transformer 3, ZenPad 3S 10 and ZenScreen.

“IFA is where we launched our very first smartwatch and we have continued the tradition today with ZenWatch 3,” said Mr. Chen. “We deeply appreciate the loyal support from consumers in Europe, and we are excited to bring our new Zenvolution product line-up to the European markets.”

ZenWatch 3 is a stylish and customizable wearable device powered by Android Wear that provides wearers with timely information at a glance, and functions as a full-featured activity tracker to help wearers stay motivated and meet their fitness goals. Meticulously crafted in the tradition of fine watchmaking, ZenWatch 3 is the first ZenWatch model with a gorgeous round design.

ZenBook 3 is a premium, prestigious laptop with unprecedented performance, featuring an ultra-thin 11.9mm profile and an Intel® Core™ i7 processor. Transformer 3 Pro is the world’s most versatile PC that delivers extreme performance in a slim and light design, whereas Transformer 3 redefines 2-in-1 PC computing with ultimate mobility. Both feature unrivaled expandability, with a range of accessories that includes the ASUS Universal Dock, ASUS Audio Pod, the VR/4K UHD-ready ROG XG Station 2 and ASUS Pen.

“With the 7th-generation Intel Core processor we have once again delivered new performance levels with increased efficiency, and introduced new media capabilities that give people the power to create and view in the immersive internet,” said Chris Walker, Vice President of Intel’s Client Computing Group and General Manager of Mobility Client Platforms. “Intel is proud to have worked closely with ASUS on their stunning new line-up of ZenBook and Transformer products.”

ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC is the world’s lightest and slimmest Full HD portable monitor. It features a hybrid USB Type-C (USB-C) port that supports both power and video transmission for compatibility with any laptop with a USB-C or USB Type-A port.

ZenPad 3S 10 is a 9.7-inch Android™ tablet featuring a stunning QXGA (2048 by 1536) high-resolution touchscreen and an incredibly slim, compact, and elegant design. It offers a comprehensive set of entertainment-focused features, including ASUS Tru2Life video-enhancement technology and a powerful stereo audio system with five-magnet speakers and NXP smart amplifier technology that make media look and sound their best.

ASUS ZenWatch 3: Time-Honored Craftsmanship, Smart Customization

ASUS ZenWatch 3 is a stylish and customizable wearable device powered by Android Wear that serves as a smart assistant for Android and iOS devices1. ASUS ZenWatch 3 follows in the tradition of fine watchmaking with its luxurious, detail-focused design and construction from premium materials. Its round case — available for the first time on an ASUS wearable device — is accented by a thin, rose-gold bezel for a sophisticated look inspired by the corona of an annular solar eclipse.

ZenWatch 3 is just 9.95mm thin and its case is meticulously fashioned from jewelry-grade 316L stainless steel, available in three gorgeous finishes: Gunmetal, Silver, and Rose Gold. This premium-quality, cold-forged steel is 82 percent stronger than conventional steel to ensure that ZenWatch 3 can easily withstand the rigors of daily wear. Three crown buttons adorn the case, providing quick access to frequently used functions. The top button can also be assigned custom functionality. ZenWatch 3 comes with a strap made from a choice of stitched Italian leather or high-quality rubber, each of which is available in dark brown or beige colors.

Complementing its physical design, ZenWatch 3 comes with more than 50 software watch faces that can be changed using the ZenWatch Manager smartphone app, letting wearers easily customize their watch to fit any style, mood, or occasion. Many of these watch faces support customizable widgets that display useful information, such as current weather, daily step counts, and missed call notifications. For an even more personal ZenWatch 3 experience, wearers can create their own unique watch faces with the FaceDesigner smartphone app.

ASUS ZenWatch 3 features the all-new ZenFit activity tracking app that automatically counts wearers’ steps throughout the day with industry-leading 95 percent accuracy and provides reminders to stand and move after periods of inactivity. ZenFit works together with the companion smartphone app to provide helpful and easy-to-understand summaries and graphs for a complete picture of physical activity.

ASUS ZenWatch 3 provides long battery life of up to two days. It features exclusive HyperCharge technology that provides industry-leading charge times — just 15 minutes to reach a 60 percent charge — and a convenient magnetic charging connector that snaps into place automatically. An optional battery pack is also available that provides 40 percent more battery life.

Qualcomm details what’s inside the Snapdragon 821

ASUS revealed earlier this year that the ZenFone 3 Deluxe will be the first phone to run the Snapdragon 821 SoC. At IFA, Qualcomm is providing additional details on its mid-year refresh, delving into the performance improvements and feature additions over the Snapdragon 820.

The Snapdragon 821 retains the Kryo quad-core CPU cluster, but the cores are now clocked at 2.4GHz, providing a 10% bump in performance over the Snapdragon 820. The Adreno 530 GPU has also picked up a 5% increase in speed to 650MHz, and SoC boasts a 5% uptick in energy efficiency when compared to the Snapdragon 820. Like the 820, the Snapdragon 821 is based on the ARMv8-A instruction set and is manufactured on Samsung’s 14nm second-generation FinFET LPP (Low Power Plus) node.

Qualcomm also mentions that it has optimized the Snapdragon 821 to reduce app load times by 10% and speed up the boot process by 10%. The UI optimizations and performance tweaks should provide “smoother scrolling and more responsive” browsing experience.

The Snapdragon 821 also supports the Snapdragon VR SDK, which gives developers the ability to craft mobile VR experiences compatible with Google’s Daydream platform. The SoC also boasts support for Dual PDAF, which allows for faster autofocus speeds when taking images in challenging conditions. Then there’s Extended Laser Auto-Focus Ranging, which extends the focus range of a laser autofocus system, making it easier to dial in on far-away subjects.

Oh, and the Snapdragon 821 will support Nougat. Overall, we’re looking at incremental performance improvements over the Snapdragon 820, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing as the 820 turned out to be a stellar SoC. With the Snapdragon 821 now sampling to manufacturers, we should see more phones running Qualcomm’s latest SoC in the coming months.

B&O BeoSound 1 and 2 speakers look to Daleks for inspiration

Bang & Olufsen has announced two new speaker systems at at the IFA trade show in Berlin, Germany this week, bringing with them a striking cone design for those wanting something more than just a box.

The aluminium cone design means that the two speakers – small and large – can deliver a 360-degree sound experience no matter where the speakers are placed in your room.

Perhaps inspired by the Daleks from Dr Who, they won’t drive themselves around your home, by you can place them wherever you want your music; on the shelf, casually on the floor, by the coffee table or even outdoors.

The conic bodies hover slightly above the ground, letting the thumps of the bass units out beneath and feature a slight opening at the top for acoustical reasons says B&O.

B&O

BeoSound 1 is a portable lightweight wireless speaker with a battery-driven option crafted for mobility. It has a small groove under the top to ensure a better grip when it’s lifted up and moved around.

BeoSound 2 is its slightly bigger and more powerful sibling. It needs a permanent power connection to produce its vigorous output of excellent sound with great clarity and distinction

Of course, these speakers also offer a plethora of connectivity options such as Google Cast, AirPlay, DNLA and Bluetooth. The two speakers also provide access to TuneIn Internet radio stations as well as Spotify and Deezer music services to allow streaming of music without using a smartphone or tablet.

And yes, it will work with the company’s BeoLink Multiroom system so you can connect them to your multiroom set-up in you already have it.

The BeoSound 1 is available in Bang & Olufsen stores now at a recommended retail price of £995, while the BeoSound 2 is available from the end of October and will cost slightly more at £1350.

Asus Zenwatch 3 is here, it’s round and charges stupendously fast

Asus has taken the wraps off its next generation ZenWatch. It’s called the ZenWatch 3 and is the first wearable in the series to feature a round case and display.

The ZenWatch 3’s round case is built from jewellery-grade 316L stainless steel, similar to many other watches. In lay terms, that means it’s stronger than traditional steel and can easily withstand daily bumps and scrapes from the clumsiest wearers.

Unlike most other Android Wear watches, the ZenWatch 3’s round edges feature three crown buttons for easy access to frequently used functions and have a subtle gold trim around the bezel.

The ZenWatch 3 will be available in three finishes – Silver, Gunmetal and Rose Gold – and will ship with either a stitched Italian leather strap or rubber strap, both kinds available in various shades of brown.

As well as featuring a number of customisation choices for case and strap colours, Asus is making the experience of using the watch more customisable too.

For starters, the next ZenWatch comes loaded with more than 50 watch faces with support for customisable widgets for information like weather, battery life, call notifications and such. You’ll be able to manage them all from the ZenWatch Manager smartphone app, and even design your own watch faces with the FaceDesigner app.

Asus

Like most smartwatches, the ZenWatch 3 has a load of fitness-focussed features like the ability to count steps, track various activities and alert you when you’ve been stationary too long. Its IP67 rating also means it can cope with being worn outside in the rain.

From a tech specs perspective, the ZenWatch 3 is equipped with a 1.39-inch round display boasting a resolution of 400 x 400 pixels and built from AMOLED technology to ensure colours pop and contrast levels are super high.

It’s powered by the new Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor and comes with support for HyperCharge technology. Simply put – the watch will recharge very quickly. It takes 15 minutes to charge up to 60 per cent using the included magnetic charging connector. And, if the two day battery life isn’t good enough for you, you’ll also be able to buy an additional battery pack for 40 per cent extra capacity.

The next-gen smartwatch from Asus will cost €229 in Europe when it goes on sale. We’re awaiting confirmation on ZenWatch 3 UK pricing and release date. 

Garmin Forerunner 35 adds heart rate monitoring to line-up

Garmin has announced a couple of devices ahead of IFA 2016, with the prominent being that its Forerunner sports tracker getting a slimmer design and new features.

The Garmin Forerunner 35 is a GPS-enabled running watch that comes with wrist-based heart rate monitoring and can be used as a general activity tracking device too.

Thanks to the built-in GPS, it can track how far, fast and where users are running, while matching heart rate to runs for extra information.

It syncs with the Garmin Connect Mobile app for iOS and Android to store and compare tracking statistics. Data can be saved online to a free Garmin Connect account for future browsing.

Runners can even compare workouts in real time and set challenges and goals online.

The watch has an updated, sleeker design that the last generation, and comes with a high resolution mono display. There are modes for walking, cycling and cardio workouts as well as those involving pounding the pavement.

It can also be used as a smartwatch to control notifications and music played from a connected phone, while the battery life lasts up to nine days in activity tracking mode, 13 hours in training mode.

The Garmin Forerunner 35 will be available this quarter for a suggested retail price of $199.99 (around £150 at today’s exchange rate).

Griffin iTrip Clip turns your old headphones Bluetooth in time for iPhone 7

With rumours suggesting Apple is about to ditch the headphone port on the new iPhone 7, Apple accessory make, Griffin, is hoping to offer a solution to those that want to still use its favourite headphones without the need to worry about where to plug in the headphone socket.

The new iTrip Clip Bluetooth Adapter basically lets you plug in your headphones to a small pocketable device before wirelessly connecting to any Bluetooth enabled product.

“iTrip Clip ensures users can continue using their favorite 3.5mm headphones, with no worries about if their new smartphone eliminated the headphone jack,” said Andrew Biddle, Category Manager of Power at Griffin. “Not only can our iTrip Clip make any pair of headphones wireless, it also puts the convenience of a Bluetooth sound system into any car.”

As the clip name suggests you can clip it on to your sleeve, shirt collar, or bag strap, and weighting just 1.41 grams should be light enough not to bother you.

Priced at £19, the iTrip Clip comes with basic playback controls, a built-in mic, and 6 hours of play/talk time. The battery offers a total of 180 hours on standby too.

Available late September, we can see this being a hit with those not yet ready to upgrade their headphones, but looking to ditch that wired connection.

Bang and Olufsen’s new BeoSound speakers project music 360 degrees

Bang and Olufsen typically unveils new audio gear at IFA and this year is no exception. Following last year’s $1,000 BeoPlay A6, the company has two new speakers that project sound 360 degrees. The new devices are called BeoSound 1 and BeoSound 2, both sporting a conical design that looks like a base of a lamp more than a speaker. That’s not a criticism though, it will actually blend in better on a shelf or side table than a boxy cube typically would. B&O is known for its high-end aesthetics and these new speakers continue the lineage with aluminum shells that project bass out from bottom and are open up top for acoustics.

What’s the difference between the two models? Besides the subtle differences in design and size, the BeoSound 1 (right) is a portable speaker with a rechargeable battery so you can take it with you at times you won’t be near an outlet. B&O’s BeoSound 2 (left) is the larger and more powerful of the pair and it has to remain plugged in at all times. Both tout the aforementioned 360-degree sound with support for streaming music via Google Cast, AirPlay, DNLA and Bluetooth. What’s more, they work with other Bang & Olufsen BeoLink speakers for a multi-room setup if you happen to own a few of those devices.

Both the BeoSound 1 and 2 have proximity sensors that display the controls facing whichever side you approach the speaker from. The top functions as the volume control by spinning the wheel while swiping and tapping that panel handles all of the other commands. As you might expect, these don’t come cheap. The portable BeoSound 1 will cost you $1,495/£995 and it’s available now at the company’s stores. You’ll have to wait until the end of October to snag the BeoSound 2 for $1,895/£1,350. While the new goods certainly are expensive, it’s worth noting that BeoSound is typically the high-end brand for Bang and Olufsen while BeoPlay tends to be the more approachable (and affordable) consumer line. If you’re not looking to pay that much, there are multi-room options from the likes of Sony, LG, Sonos and others for a fraction of those prices.

We’re live all week from Berlin, Germany, for IFA 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.

Garmin debuts action camera with voice control and 4K video

If you’ve been looking to buy an action camera, Garmin’s latest one might be worth considering. The Virb Ultra 30 is feature-packed, with things like an LCD touchscreen, 4K video at up to 30 fps, 3-axis image stabilization and livestreaming to YouTube. Most notably though, this new shooter supports voice commands, letting you control it via phrases such as, “Okay Garmin, start recording.” Similar to the Virb and Virb XE action cams, the Virb Ultra 30 also comes with GPS and other sensors that show you how far, fast and high your movements are. When you combine all of that, you get a strong alternative to products including GoPro’s Hero4. Like what you see? It’s available today for $500.