Why the Xperia Z5 Premium’s 4K screen is a marketing mess
This past weekend, I was mighty motivated, though admittedly from auspicious agitation. The problem, you see, was that I decided to watch a video, Pocketnow’s Anton D. Nagy posted on YouTube. The title? “SONY Xperia Z5 Premium 4K: What It Is and What It Isn’t.” The length? Roughly 10 minutes. Now let me be perfectly clear, my objection is not with the video itself, as Anton did a wonderful job explaining Sony’s 4K tech here.
In the video, Anton demystifies the whole mystique and misconception mythos surrounding the Z5 Premium’s 4K display. He approaches this topic logically and even uses a fitting analogy with a sports car’s engine to ensure that all those watching will get it, not just the spec spectacular.
Some of the points he raised that I found to be important:
- 3840X2160 pixels with a PPI resolution of 806.
- Sony claims the decision to run at FHD most of the time is due to battery life
- Android Lollipop – which the device runs – doesn’t support 4K resolution
- 4K will work with 4K videos taken or imported, and for the Gallery.
- The Xperia Z5 plays YouTube 4K videos at 1080p resolution upscaled to 4K.
So what had me so agitated? In case that answer isn’t obvious to you yet, let me spell it out: if it takes 10 minutes to explain how a display works on a smartphone, then it makes me seriously question the hardware itself. In this particular case, why Sony even bothered to malign this so badly.
Lots of Logic
It is no secret that when it comes to Android OEM market share, Sony is far from the top dawg. Still, the company has a dedicated group of loyal fans, many of whom either love it – as I once did for reference – or else who simply adore the wonderful camera sensor used on the flagship devices.
These loyal customers are pleased with the Japanese conglomerate’s products and seemingly less likely to complain about reused designs or whatnot. Still, Sony needs to get more people purchasing its phones if it plans to keep the Xperia line viable.
To this end, it makes sense that a 4K display was chosen. No one has put such a high resolution panel on a smartphone so far, and thus the company made tech history in doing so. It could have put a QHD display on the device, but then the Xperia Z5 “Premium” would have been just shy of “Ordinary” given that rival OEMs have been placing such panels on their phones for almost two years now.
Even Sony’s decision to downplay the 4K nature to assist with battery life is a commendable achievement. If the OS itself doesn’t natively support 4K then tinkering away to enable it, as well as literally running it non-stop would kill the power cell in no time. Arguably few people would want a device that requires them to be tethered to an AC outlet just to use it.
See also: Best Android phones (December 2015)
The Problem
The problem however, is that it takes 10 minutes to explain how the phone’s display works. Mainstream tech is supposed to be simple and easy to use. Apple’s entire empire is built on this intrinsic notion. Heck, last year I even had a candid conversation with a Sony employee who proceeded to bash the Galaxy Note Edge I was using at the time because it was “way too complicated for the average person to want.” And perhaps he was right.
The problem is, that the Xperia Z5 Premium is way too complicated for the average person to understand. If company makes a major marketing point out of a feature, then proceeds to post an extensive blog entry explaining how the feature really works, and then tries to justify why it exists, something feels a bit wrong. In fact, this kind of “damage control” is something we saw again, this time when Samsung tried to explain the purpose and existence of its Galaxy View tablet.
See also: Road to 4K: Do we need it?
The problem is that I’m willing to bet 95% of the customers who purchase the Z5 Premium – and let me assure you the device will inevitably be a big seller here in Japan – will have no clue whatsoever about the caveat surrounding the screen. I can easily foresee a situation wherein buyers are going around telling people “Wow 4K is so beautiful” despite the horrible irony of having been using the phone at FHD the entire time.
Is this kind of analysis something that one typically does with a new product? Sure we could debate if 4K is necessary on a mobile device, that’s a much more fundamental issue. But actually having to discuss the nature of when a screen is and isn’t 4K at any given moment just feels like a poor planning and execution.
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The Simple Solutions
Can you see the 4K on display? Sadly no, because the home screen is rendered at just 1080p.
The simple solution was right in front of Sony the whole time. Just deal with it and put a QHD display on the device. Heck, the canceled Xperia Z4v was already going to be making use of one for crying out loud. This would have worked brilliantly:
- Sony would still have made a legitimate reason for the Z5 Premium to be branded such along side the FHD Z5 (Standard) and the SHD Z5 Compact.
- There would be no great need to explain to customers how the “advanced” display works at times but not usually.
- There would be no up-scaling needed for anything.
- People could focus on the phone itself instead of arguing about the display.
Seems simple enough, really. But let’s extrapolate even further: why does the Xperia Z5 Premium exist at all? In making three separate Z5 devices, Sony has successfully ensured that no single one will be a break out success. Given the lack of flagship-level small smartphones, few would probably argue the Z5 Compact was a mistake. But the Z5 (standard) is quite similar to the Z4/Z3+ which released just months earlier save for a few internal upgrades.
Wouldn’t it have made much more sense to just release a single “large” Z5 and be done with it?
- Those looking for a mid-sized Z5 could just as well buy the Z4/Z3+ which was, and still is, a new product.
- The Z5 “Premium” would have been just the “Z5” thus avoiding any possible misconception that the real Z5 (standard) is somehow a lesser product because it lacks the “Premium” moniker attached to it.
- Sony released a Z3 Compact Tablet but not a Z3 Standard Tablet, thus it has already demonstrated no qualms about illogical release schedules.
Mind you this is not suggesting that the Z5 Premium is a mistake per se. Sony could have actually done some “real work” to make it into a legitimate, unique device by say, including stylus support or a new design. Really doing anything other than calling it “Premium” because it’s slightly larger and has a 4K display that can sometimes actually display in 4K would have been good. Instead, rather than try and establish a new line of products – like LG did with its V10 – Sony just took the easy way out.
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Wrap Up (Focus on the Future)
All of this leaves us wondering what will happen to the Z5 Premium when it gets Marshmallow, given that the OS has native support for 4K. Will the Z5 be “unhinged” and thus allowed to run at such a resolution 24-7? Would anyone even want this given the battery constraints that would presumably be raised? Could the Snapdragon 810 even accomplish such a task without severely overheating?
As was speculated in a recent piece about the Android 6.0 update, the sad reality is that nothing is likely to change at all, meaning that the powerful picture potential of 4K will be relegated to the confusing, convoluted scheme Sony has supplied the mainstream market with.
At the very least, the fact that Sony has released a device as peculiar and confusing as the Z5 Premium speaks volumes about the vision the company has for its product pipe-line and performance. How I pine for the Sony of days long since past…
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Toshiba, Fujitsu and Vaio could merge their PC divisions
The PC business as we know it is dying, and whenever an industry reaches this point in its life, it has to team up with the other survivors to avoid oblivion. To that end, Nikkei Asian Review believes that Toshiba, Fujitsu and Vaio, Sony’s spun out computing division, are considering merging their PC divisions together. The move would create a desktop, laptop and tablet-manufacturing supergroup that controlled more than 30 percent of Japan’s market — making it bigger than Lenovo, the current local champion. The paper believes that Vaio would be the name that survives, absorbing its rivals into its existing operations.
Source: Nikkei Asian Review
Sony closes $155 million purchase of Toshiba’s image sensor business
Sony is the biggest player in the mobile image sensor business and has likely just secured its position. The company has announced that it will purchase Toshiba’s rival imaging business for 19 billion yen ($155 million).
Following a series of rumors, the two companies had originally signalled the closing stages of the deal back in October. Today’s announcement sees the signing of definitive agreements and confirms that Toshiba’s fabrication plant, equipment, and around 1,100 employees mainly located at its Oita Operations facility will be transferred over to Sony, along with the cost of the acquisition. The facility will operate under Sony’s newly formed Semiconductor Corporation, a subsidiary that was formed along with a number of others to give Sony’s various business arms greater autonomy.
Sony is the largest sensor developer in both the smartphone and high-end camera markets. The company’s sensors power a range on flagship smartphone cameras, including the Galaxy S6, LG V10 and the Huawei Mate 8. In the mobile space, Sony has become increasingly dependent on its semiconductor sales in order to offset losses from its struggling handset business. Toshiba had seen more limited success in high-end mobile products, but its T4KA7 sensor was apparently used in the HTC One M9.
The two companies aim to have the asset transfers completed by the financial year ending March 2016.
Sundance’s experimental New Frontier looks beyond virtual reality
Virtual reality found itself front and center of Utah’s wintery celebrity village earlier this year, virtually dominating the conversation around this past Sundance Film Festival. The technology, a burgeoning new medium for artists, game developers, filmmakers, and journalists alike, had reached a cultural tipping point, with the Park City fest playing host to the announcement of a dedicated VR animation studio from Facebook-owned Oculus VR and ten VR projects that stole the headlines from Sundance’s edgy, experimental New Frontier showcase.
“Last year was one of those historic moments where it was like the perfect storm,” says Shari Frilot, chief curator of New Frontier’s VR-heavy 2015 showcase. “Not only were there significant developments in the technology and a commitment by storytellers, content creators, filmmakers and journalists to grasp onto it, [but] there was also this ramping up of industry — manufacturing, as well as kind of peaking of interest in more mainstream content creators. That all converged at the festival in a way that was really explosive. … That’s sort of the unicorn that came out of New Frontier.”
‘Vampyr’ casts you as a creature of the night with a conscience
Since we last heard about developer Dontnod’s vampire role-playing game, Vampyr, set against the first World War, the studio released and wrapped the excellent episodic Life is Strange. But seeing as how that project has wrapped for now it’s time to focus on the post-World-War-I tale of the macabre once more. Turns out that it’s an action role-playing game focusing on makeshift weapons and the protagonist’s newfound vampiric ways.
Source: European PlayStation Blog
The ‘Uncharted 4’ beta launches ahead of schedule
We didn’t know the specifics of exactly when the Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End multiplayer beta would launch before, but that’s changed. Nathan Drake’s online adversarial adventures, and, by extension, yours, begin at 5 PM GMT (12 PM Eastern) tomorrow for European folks. Domestically, we’ll have to wait for Friday. We’ve reached out to Sony for exact timing of when the test phase will go live in the US and will update this post should the company respond. Remember, you still need a copy of Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection to access the beta at all.
Via: Kotaku
Source: PlayStation Europe
Make sweet, sci-fi music with ‘Amplitude’ on PS4 in January
Amplitude blends rhythm gaming with sci-fi spaceship action, and it’s heading to PlayStation 4 on January 5th, for $20 via the PlayStation Store. This is the new, Kickstarted version of Harmonix’s beloved 2002 PlayStation 2 franchise — Amplitude raised $844,127 on Kickstarter in 2014, partially because the crowdfunding cards were stacked in its favor.
Source: Harmonix
Best tech gifts under $250 (2015 holiday guide)
Finding a good gift for that special someone with a tech inclination is no easy feat. And it’s not only a matter of preference; there’s plenty of lackluster gadgets out there you really don’t want to buy. Then there are the obviously good gifts that happen to cost a fortune. Where are the options that won’t necessarily break the bank and are worth your cash?
We already gave you a list of our favorite gifts under $50 and $100. Now it’s time to step up the game and curate a list of products under $250 for those who have a higher budget or want to treat a special someone to a nicer gift. This post includes smartphones, wearables, tablet, media streamers, Chromebooks, headphones, cameras, speakers and more. Pretty exciting stuff, right? Let’s get right to the goods!
Smartphones
Moto G
Motorola may no longer be the only one making affordable handsets that are actually good, but they sure started a trend and the Moto G series continues to offer some of the best value around. The latest version (3rd generation/2015) Moto G is currently only $219 off-contract and unlocked. That would be for the higher-end version, by the way.
And it’s no weakling. This phone can handle most casual tasks thanks to its modest, yet very capable specs. This little phone sports a 5-inch 720p display, a 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, a 13 MP rear-facing camera, a 5 MP front shooter and a 2470 mAh battery. You could also opt for the cheaper $176.85 version, which has half the RAM and internal storage.
Buy the Moto G (2015) for $219.99!
ASUS ZenFone 2
We told you the Moto G was no longer alone in the battle for the best affordable handset, and one of its closest competitors is definitely the ASUS ZenFone 2. Be sure this is no bad contender. It’s actually a favorite among Android fans, thanks to its accessible price, good size, awesome build quality, vivid screen and more. To be honest, this is the affordable handset I recommend the most, these days.
The only things we complained about during our review were battery life, average camera quality and a weak speaker. But come on, the phone is only $199, and it makes up for those caveats in plenty other areas.
Buy the ASUS ZenFone 2 for $199!
See also: Best cheap Android phones (October 2015)
Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3
The Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 is more expensive than the smartphones listed above, but it’s for good reasons. This phone is worth every penny you will spend on it! Especially for those of you who like larger handsets, as this big guy’s screen measures in at 5.5 inches. It’s also more powerful thanks to its Snapdragon 615 processor.
Other specs include 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, a 13 MP rear camera, an 8 MP front camera and a nice 2910 mAh battery. By the way, I happen to love this phone’s attractive, slim and strong design. It will take care of all casual tasks and even some gaming. Furthermore, those front-facing speakers make it sound much better than many other devices (even more expensive ones).
Buy the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 for $249.99!
See also: Best Android phones (November 2015)
Smartwatches and fitness trackers
LG Watch Urbane
Once we hit the $250 price point much better wearables start showing up on the list. Of course we will list Android Wear devices here, and the LG Watch Urbane is one of our favorites. This thing is beautiful, has a great battery life, good performance and a classic look that will match even the most elegant suits. It’s one of the best Android wear devices around, and that price point really shows it.
Customers will have to pay $242.79 right now, but it’s worth it for the user who wants a high tech smartwatch without sacrificing on looks. Whoever said high-tech watches had to be ugly?
Buy the LG Watch Urbane for $242.79!
ASUS ZenWatch 2
LG’s smartwatch may be better looking to some, but the ASUS ZenWatch 2 is definitely not ugly. And considering it’s about $100 less, we know many of you will much rather go with ASUS for your wearable needs.
The ASUS ZenWatch 2 has a great battery life, a fast magnetic charger, different sizes and good performance. Our only complaint is that its bezels are pretty large, just like its predecessor’s. Otherwise, it’s one hell of an Android Wear product!
Buy the ASUS ZenWatch 2 for $149.99!
Pebble Time
I am a loyal Pebble user, and it’s mainly for one reason – battery life. Thanks to its e-paper display, these wearables are able to last nearly a week on a single charge! That’s simply unheard of in the Android Wear world, at least so far. I also happen to like that the UI is simpler and does less things. This is mostly a notification device, and though it can do a few other things, it doesn’t go overboard with fancy animations and gimmicks. What it does, it does very well. And it just so happens to do everything I need it to.
The newer Pebble Time happens to come with a color display, too, which is definitely a plus. The team has also included voice input, new software, more app storage and performance improvements.
Pebble Time Steel
And if you want to get fancy, you can also go for a Pebble Time Steel. This is pretty much a Pebble Time made with quality materials. It’s also worth more, though.
Buy the Pebble Time Steel for $249.99!
Fitbit Surge
Fitbit‘s activity trackers are very popular, but only those who really care about their performance will go for the Fitbit Surge. This wearable can track your steps, monitor your sleep and display call & text notifications. It has even been upgraded with a heart-rate monitor and GPS. Not to mention that 5-day battery life, which will also keep you active without being tethered to an outlet all the time.
Buy the Fitbit Surge for $240.99!
Fitbit Charge HR
We know the Fitbit Surge can be a bit of an overkill, but some of you still want a good activity tracker from the same manufacturer. The Fitbit Charge HR costs only $139.97, only sacrificing the heart-rate monitor and GPS. It also has a smaller screen, but does manage to take care of all the other features. Yes, even call & text notifications. Oh, and it does last a little longer (7-day battery life).
Buy the Fitbit Charge HR for $139.97!
Withings Activite Pop
What I love about the Withings Activite Pop is that it has this classic look that will match any style. Its appearance is just like that of a regular watch, and it even has the classic clock hands we all know so well. But don’t mistake this for your typical dumb watch; it can count your steps, measure distance, keep record of your runs and even monitor burned calories. Your inactive time will also be recorded, as the Activite Pop monitors your sleep.
Worried about battery life? Don’t even! This thing will last about 8 months between battery replacements!
Buy the Withings Activite Pop for $149.95!
See also: Best Android Wear watches
Tablets
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8-inch
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A may not be the cheapest tablet around, but it is below the $250 threshold we have set ourselves here. It has a low resolution display and performance could be improved, but it makes up for those downsides by offering great audio quality and a battery life that won’t disappoint.
Specs include an 8-inch 1024×768 display, a 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor, 1.5 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, a 5 MP main camera, a 2 MP front shooter and a 4200 mAh battery.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8-inch for $229.99!
Amazon Fire HD 10
Frequent users of Amazon’s services should really look into getting a Fire HD 10. This device harnesses all that’s good about Amazon’s ecosystems and puts all that content right at your fingertips. And even though it is only $229.99, it shouldn’t leave many of you disappointed. Some sacrifices were definitely made, though.
Specs include a 10-inch 1280x800p display, a quad-core MediaTek processor, 1 GB of RAM and 16/32 GB of internal storage.
Buy the Amazon Fire HD 10 for $229.99!
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4
When it comes to compact, affordable tablets, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is actually still among my favorites. This pad is super thin, light and has really small bezels. Factor in the good specs, solid battery life and high-res display and you truly have a winner.
The tablet comes with an 8.4-inch 2560x1600p display, a Samsung Exynos 5 Octa processor, 3 GB of RAM, 16/32 GB of internal storage, an 8 MP camera, a 2.1 MP front shooter and a sizable 4900 mAh battery. Not bad at all, especially starting at $204.22 from Amazon. Honestly, I would say this is the best deal out of the 3 tablets listed here.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 for as low as $204.22!
See also: Best Android tablets (November 2015)
Media streamers
NVIDIA Shield Android TV + Remote
Whoever said Android TV devices weren’t good for gaming? The average set-top boxes do casual gaming pretty well, but if you want to get serious you go for something like the NVIDIA Shield Android TV. This beast may not look intimidating, but it packs an NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor, 3 GB of RAM, 16/250 GB of internal storage and more. It is 4K-ready and will take care of all your playing needs. And we really mean all… it can even do console games via NVIDIA GeForce NOW and NVIDIA GameStream. It is the ultimate gaming Android TV.
Buy the NVIDIA Shield Android TV for $249.98!
Amazon Fire TV Gaming Edition
Don’t need too much gaming power and would rather take advantage of Amazon’s platform? The Fire TV is a great little device that will connect you to all the apps and content the popular retailer has to offer. Not to mention, that controller will help you dominate your favorite mobile games (over 800 available titles). You can also use voice commands to navigate and access your favorite content.
Buy the Amazon Fire TV Gaming Edition for $139.99!
Roku 4
We are huge fans of Android here, but we also understand you don’t need to have this complex OS in every single device you own. Some users prefer Roku’s UI and ecosystem, and the Roku 4 is definitely a viable option. This set-top box gives access to over 2500 channels with plenty of content. It also includes features like voice search, and the remote can also work as a Wii-like controller. Or simply plug in your headphones to turn it into your audio device.
Buy the Roku 4 for $129!
See also: Best media players and streamers (September 2015)
Chromebooks
ASUS Chromebook Flip 10.1
Guess what? You can buy a perfectly good computer for under $250 nowadays! The ASUS Chromebook Flip takes advantage of Chrome OS to bring a simple and fast experience without breaking the bank. Packed inside you can find a 10.1-inch 1280x800p screen, a 1.8 GHz quad-core processor, 4 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. You can also opt for a version with 2 GB of RAM for $30 less.
But all those specs are standard for Chromebooks nowadays. ASUS manages to differentiate itself in another way – the screen flips over a la Lenovo, giving you flexibility and portability all around.
Buy the ASUS Chromebook Flip 10.1 for $249!
ASUS Chromebook C201
Maybe you don’t need your laptop to bend over backwards for you. In which case the ASUS Chromebook C201 may be a better option, as well as cheaper. Like the Chromebook Flip, this PC comes in two flavors, one with 2 GB at $154.99 and another with 4 GB at $184. Other specs include a Rockchip 3288 processor, 16 GB of internal storage and an 11.6-inch 1366x768p display.
Buy the ASUS Chromebook C201 for $184!
Acer Chromebook 15
One thing that keeps the average user from switching to Chrome OS is the fact that Chromebooks tend to have tiny screen. It’s just not convenient for those who actually want to get some work done, which is the audience Acer had in mind when creating the Chromebook 15.
This bad boy comes with a large 15.6-inch HD screen, 2/4 GB of RAM, 16/32 GB of internal storage and your choice between a Celeron, Core i3 or Core i5 processor. The price for a decked out one can go all the way up to $469.99, though. Not exactly within our limit.
Buy the Acer Chromebook 15 for as low as $229.99!
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones are a favorite pick among audiophiles. They cost only $168 and offer better quality than many headphones that double this price. These are very comfortable, solidly made, portable and offer sound quality we can’t really complain about. Our friends over at Sound Guys did a more complete review, just in case you are interested in catching all the details.
Buy the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones for $168!
Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7BK
Those who want something a little nicer can pay up and get the Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7BK headset, which can be had for $192.31 right now. These are also amazingly comfortable and offer 45 mm True Motion drivers for better audio reproduction.
Buy the Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7BK headphones for $192.31!
Sennheiser Momentum headphones
Sennheiser is known for its good quality headphones. Considering their large follower base, we would say you can’t go wrong with the Sennheiser Momentum headset at $189.99. These closed back, over-the-ear headphones are made with premium leather pads and metal. They are also fancy, as you can see in the image above. And if you are always on-the-go, its gorgeous case will definitely turn some heads.
Buy the Sennheiser Momentum headphones for $189.99!
Jaybird X2 Sport Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
While the other headphones listed above try to please audiophiles, Jaybird targets the general consumer with the X2 in-ear headphones. These are super user-friendly, wireless, small and great performers. The X2 headset also happens to be super comfortable, thanks to the foam tips that keep the earbuds in place. They also come with a nifty case. Our only complaint is that we wish it had better battery life, but we must keep in mind these headphones are tiny. Considering this, almost 8 hours of playback is really not bad at all.
Buy the Jaybird X2 headphones for $179.95
Plantronics Backbeat Sense SE headphones
While there are definitely better Plantronics headsets out there, these offer quite a bit for the price. Because these are on-ear headphones, this makes them much lighter and more portable. Not to mention the fact that they are gorgeous!
And these do come with some neat capabilities. For starters, they will pause your music if you remove them from your ears. Another cool feature is its active noise cancellation. Sound is well-balanced and battery life averages at about 18 whopping hours!
Buy the Plantronics Backbeat Sense SE headphones for $199.99!
Read also: Best headphones of 2015 (via SoundGuys)
Action cameras
Sony HDRAS100V/W video camera
I swear I can’t think of a worse name for a consumer camera, but that doesn’t take away from its quality. This little guy happens to be quite an awesome action camera for adventure seekers. It is splash-proof and compact, making it the perfect companion for your active lifestyle. Its optical image stabilization will keep your clips clear and smooth, all while the stereo microphones capture quality sound you will love when viewing your clips in other devices.
There’s very little to dislike about this camera (aside from the name), which can be controlled trough your smartphone or a Sony-made wrist-worn remote.
Buy the Sony HDRAS100V/W for $169.95!
Garmin Virb Elite Action Camera
You know what I hate about action cameras? They usually don’t have screens; and if they do, you have to buy it separately. That’s not the case with the Garmin Virb Elite. It has a 1.4-inch Chroma display, which means it also doesn’t take a ton of energy to operate. This convenient action camera is rugged (IPX7 rating) and can shoot at up to 1080p resolution. It’s 2000 mAh battery provides up to 3 hours of shooting. Other features include WiFi, GPS, digital stabilization and more.
Buy the Garmin Virb Elite for $195.43!
GoPro Hero+
This entry level GoPro+ includes WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, which makes it a breeze to control through your app, as well as editing and sharing your clips. And though it’s cheaper than other GoPro cameras, it doesn’t skimp out on much. This camera can still shoot at 1080p60. It’s also built directly into a rugged housing that makes it resistant to dirt, sand and water. It’s all the beauty of a GoPro in a more affordable iteration.
Buy the GoPro Hero+ for $199.99!
Bluetooth speakers
Amazon Echo
Have you seen this thing before? Let me tell you it’s totally awesome. It pretty much works as a wireless speaker, digital assistant, book reader, weather reporter and more. The Echo even works with some smart home platforms, such as Belkin WeMo, Phillips Hue, SmartThings, Insteon and Wink.
All you have to do is talk to it and request your needs! The best part is it doesn’t really need another device. It actually works by connecting to the cloud, so everything is done through Amazon’s servers.
Buy the Amazon Echo for $179.99!
UE Boom 2
UE can’t be missing on any list of best wireless speakers. Their products are solid, and the Boom 2 is no exception. Its loud 360-degree sound will fill any room. It’s also super portable and fits in any bag (and some pockets). And don’t even worry about it not being able to keep your pace. UE’s speaker is waterproof, shockproof, and has an IPX7 rating. Factor in 15 hours of battery life and you have a winner.
Buy the UE Boom 2 for $199.99!
Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II
Bose is synonymous with quality – there’s no doubt about that. You can not go wrong with the SoundLink Mini II. It may not look the coolest, but does provide a deep bass and full-range listening experience. Bluetooth connectivity will keep a connection with your smartphone, and you can even use it as a speakerphone for calls. Its battery also lasts up to 10 hours, which is definitely not bad.
Buy the SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II for $199!
JBL Charge 2+
Here’s another Bluetooth speaker you can get wet (as long as you don’t submerge it). The JBL Charge 2+ gets its name from the large 6,000 mAh battery packed inside, which allows it to stay alive for 12 hours of continuous playback. Powerful sound, resistant body and many hours of playback – what else can you ask for?
Buy JBL Charge 2+ for $141.11!
Fluance Fi50
Have you heard of Fluance? Probably not, but they happen to make some amazing products. This speaker provides pristine sound, undistorted bass and natural highs at any volume. It is made with dual full-range 5-inch woven woofers, ultra high-end tweeters and a 40 watt amplifier. The thing is some serious stuff, guys.
Buy the Fluance Fi50 for $199.99!
Read also: Best Bluetooth speakers of 2015 (via SoundGuys)
Smart home
Nest thermostat
Times are changing. No longer do you have to get up and change your temperature like a caveman, interacting directly with the device. Nest can be controlled through your smartphone. It can also schedule itself to optimize both comfort and energy efficiency. And since Nest knows when you are away, it can stop working when you leave the house.
Buy the Nest thermostat for $249!
Nest Cam
Nest is working hard to control all areas of your home. They have a thermostat, a smoke detector and now even a camera. The Nest Cam allows customers to see their home from anywhere at Full HD 1080p resolution. But you don’t have to be looking at all times. The camera will send you alerts if it senses movements while you are not there, and its night vision will ensure you don’t miss a thing.
Gift cards
Google Play Store
Of course, no solid shopping guide is complete without the beloved gift cards. And since here at Android Authority we are all about Google’s mobile OS, we would like to remind you there’s plenty of options under $100 to be had from the Google Play Store.
Learn about Google Play Store giftcards!
Amazon
You can also get Amazon Gift cards in plenty of increments, ranging from $10 to the thousands. These can be used for all your tech and content, so go grab them!
Wrapping up
Did you find any good gifts for that special loved one? We are almost sure this list has at least one awesome thing your beloved tech geek will love. If not, those gift cards are always perfect! What do you guys think? Are there any cool ideas you can think of for gifts under $250? We are sure you can come up with some other great gadgets, these just happen to be our favorite.
Sony tempts gamers with two $300 PlayStation 4 bundles
Black Friday and Cyber Monday may be behind us now, but Sony wants to keep people’s shopping momentum going. The tech company today announced two PlayStation 4 bundles at a new low price: $300 each, albeit for a limited time. First up, there’s the The Nathan Drake Collection version, which includes a 500GB console and three remastered titles from the Uncharted franchise. Your other option is the Star Wars: Battlefront bundle, and this comes with the Standard Edition of EA’s newly released game, a code to download four classic Star Wars titles, as well as a 500GB PS4 model. If you missed out on deal these past few days, this could be your chance to save cash on Sony’s console. Both bundles will be available starting on Sunday, December 6th, through the 19th.
Source: Sony
Future PS4 games will have more power to play with
It seems the PlayStation 4 is now just a little more powerful than before. At least for game developers, anyway. None of the console’s components have changed — instead it’s being reported that a seventh core has been “unlocked” in the CPU. Until now, six of the PlayStation 4’s eight-core CPU have been dedicated to games, while the remaining two handle the operating system. In all likelihood, this was a conservative setup to ensure consoles ran smoothly at launch. It also gave Sony some wiggle-room if they needed to make any system changes or optimizations. Now, however, it seems the company is happy with the console’s performance and willing to give developers a tad extra power.
Via: Eurogamer
Source: FMOD Studio
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