LG’s Mystery Smartwatch At CES Is Actually Running webOS

The smartwatch market is finally starting to gain some traction. Samsung is shipping smartwatches that run its own Tizen operating system and numerous OEMs (including Samsung) are shipping smartwatches that run Google’s Android Wear operating system.

LG was one of the first to hit the ground running with Android Wear, launching the G Watch in June. The company followed up shortly with the more premium, better-looking G Watch R, which also ran Android Wear.

LG has shown some signs that it’s willing to field an alternative to Android Wear, and this past October announced the availability of the webOS SmartWatch SDK beta. Since then, LG has been pretty tight-lipped about its smartphone aspirations with webOS… until now. 

 

But what’s most interesting from the videos showing the device in action is that this build of webOS for smartwatches looks near production-ready. Animations are fluid, there are functioning apps, and everything in general looks very polished.

“We’re going to slowly try to build an (software) ecosystem around areas we can have more control over,” said an unnamed LG representative at CES in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

Want To Know More? Check-Out This Video

 

But just because LG has webOS in its back pocket doesn’t mean that Android Wear will get the boot. When LG does launch webOS smartwatches in early 2016, they will be featured alongside their Android Wear siblings.

About Anna Harris:
Anna Harris working as web content writer and a strategist for a major IT firm specialized in various mobile application development services for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other operating systems.

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Sony Launches Walkman with High Resolution Audio at CES 2015

Sony is bringing back the Walkman, with a new model of the music player pioneer that comes with high-resolution playback and Bluetooth-connected headphones.

The new Walkman, targeting audiophiles and set to cost about $US1200 in the United States ($1485), is a high-end version of a model Sony released in 2013 after retiring the classic cassette player in 2010. The first-generation, clunky-looking Walkman went on sale in July 1979, redefining the way people listened to music.

The NW-ZX2 Walkman was among products unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Wednesday (Australia time), and will be available globally alongside new high-end headphones in the first quarter of this year. Local pricing is yet to be announced.

Sony also presented an ultra high-definition action camera that uses the 4K video format it's trying to push, a challenge to GoPro in the market for filming extreme sports.

Chief Executive Office Kazuo Hirai led the presentation at CES as Tokyo-based Sony seeks to move past the embarrassing hacking on its Hollywood studio, an attack Hirai described as "vicious and malicious."

All of Sony's web-connected TVs will run this year on Google's Android platform with Sony planning models from 43 inches to 75 inches (1.9 metres). The X900C TV is just 0.2 inches deep at its thinnest point, the company said.

About Anna Harris:
Anna Harris working as web content writer and a strategist for a major IT firm specialized in various mobile application development services for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other operating systems.

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Lenovo Unveils A Unique ThinkPad Stack System & 8 ThinkPads At CES 2015

Lenovo has shared its line of ThinkPad laptops at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015, and there's a new ThinkPad stack system meant to enterprise mix and match units for mobile solutions.

ThinkPad Laptops Refreshed

The ThinkPad line has two flagship Ultrabooks in Lenovo's offerings, and both are getting updated for 2015. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is one of the most portable 14-inch laptops, and couples a high-resolution touch screen (optional) with a thin and light rugged case (0.73 inches, 2.9 pounds).

The ThinkPad X250 is Lenovo's 12.5-inch laptop that works with the company's Power Bridge technology for flexibility while traveling. The X250 is only 0.8 inches thick and 2.88 pounds. Power Bridge is a dual battery system that allows the user to configure it on the fly for maximum battery life or lowest weight.

There are four ThinkPads in the 450 series, the T450s, T450, E450, and the L450. The T450s is a 14-inch laptop that is larger than the two flagship models noted above (0.83 inches, 3.5 pounds).

Lenovo addresses those who prefer a large screen with the T550. This is configurable with either a 15.6-inch display or a 15.5-inch high-resolution display (2880 x 1620). It comes with up to 16GB of memory, up to a TB of HDD (or 512GB SSD).

The E ThinkPad line has two laptops, the E550 and the E450. The E550 packs a 15.6-inch display while the E450 is another 14-inch model. Neither laptop is available with a touch screen but both are available with optional optical drives. Both models can be configured with up to 1 TB of HDD or 128GB of SSD.

ThinkPad Stack System

The ThinkPad Stack has four modules, and they can be purchased and used interchangeably. The modules sit on top of each other and share power and data when stacked.

The four ThinkPad Stack modules that will be available in April 2015 are:

• Bluetooth speaker: for audio and conference call handling, 3.5 mm, microUSB ($89.99)
• Power Bank: 10,000 mAH, dual USB, microUSB ($49.99)
• Access Point: Shares 4G phone connection ($199.99 with the HDD below)
• HDD: 1 TB, USB 3.0, password security

About Anna Harris:
Anna Harris working as web content writer and a strategist for a major IT firm specialized in various mobile application development services for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other operating systems.

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LG Will Launch New Extra Wide Gaming Monitor at CES 2015

LG Electronics on Wednesday announced that the company will showcase its new 21:9 UltraWide Gaming monitor lineup at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015.

The new monitor lineup from LG highlights "world's first UltraWide monitor compatible with AMD FreeSync technology."

"AMD FreeSync technology is an innovative monitor technology, based on free and open industry standards, to eliminate the tearing and stuttering that has plagued PC gaming for 30 years, [...] We are pleased that LG Electronics stands with us with truly exciting AMD FreeSync-ready displays like the LG UltraWide Gaming Monitor," said Roy Taylor, Corporate Vice President of ISV/ IHV Partner Group, AMD.

At CES 2015, the company will showcase its first curved 34-inch UltraWide (21:9) monitor (Model 34UC97) with Quad-HD resolution (3440x1440 pixels). The company claims that the 178-degree viewing angle for the monitor's IPS display recreates colours across over 99 percent of the sRGB colour space, and there is no colour distortion at any angle.

The other two products to be showcased by the company include a 21:9 curved UltraWide multi-display (Model 34UC87M) targeted at stock traders and other financial professionals who need to keep track of large amounts of data simultaneously, and the Digital Cinema 4K Monitor (Model 31MU97) featuring 4K resolution (4096x2160 pixels).

LG Ultra-Wide Gaming Monitor

"LG's premium 21:9 UltraWide monitors are designed with the unique needs of consumers in mind," said In-kyu Lee, Senior Vice President and Head of the TV and Monitor Division at the LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company.

About Anna Harris:
Anna Harris working as web content writer and a strategist for a major IT firm specialized in various mobile application development services for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other operating systems.

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Android Equipped Electric "Sports Car" for Your Kids

Henes recently unveiled the Broon F8 series, a child-sized electric "supercar" that has features you probably wish you had in your own ride. 

 

This vehicle has its own 7-inch Android tablet that serves as both the dashboard and infotainment control deck. Junior doesn't even have to drive at all, since there's a Bluetooth-based remote control that lets you take the virtual wheel in a pinch.

The Broon F8 will cost much more than your old Power Wheels kit, but it's relatively reasonable for something with so many creature comforts. You're looking at between $895 to $1,000 depending on the drivetrain. 

 

The car is meant for kids five and under (even an eight year old can find it a tight fit), and it's still in the prototype stage. It'll be a while before your little tykes are impressing their kindergarten friends.

About Anna Harris:
Anna Harris working as web content writer and a strategist for a major IT firm specialized in various mobile application development services for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other operating systems.

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Projecting the Most Preferred Android Apps of 2015

Here, we are listing the top and best Android apps that are going to be the most preferred apps of the year 2015.

Google Hangouts

 

Hangouts is a messaging app that lets you send and receive messages, photos and more, and even start free video and voice calls – one to one or with a group!

• Send and receive both Hangouts and text messages (SMS/MMS) and switch easily between message types.
• Include all your friends with group chats for up to 100 people.
• Turn any conversation into a free group video call with up to 10 friends.
• Connect your Google Voice account for phone number, SMS and voicemail integration.
• Message friends any time, even if they're offline.

Free | Download from Google Play

Viber

With Viber, everyone in the world can connect. Freely. More than 460 million Viber users text, make HD-quality phone and video calls, and send photo and video messages worldwide over Wifi or 3G - for free. Viber Out can be used to make calls to non-Viber mobile and landline numbers at low rates. Viber is available for many smartphones and platforms.

• Viber is compatible with and optimized for Android tablets! Use Viber on your tablet and phone simultaneously.
• On Viber, your phone number is your ID. The app syncs with your mobile contact list, automatically detecting which of your contacts have Viber.

Free | Download from Google Play

TextSecure

TextSecure is a messaging app that allows you to take back your privacy while easily communicating with friends.

Using TextSecure, you can communicate instantly while avoiding SMS fees, create groups so that you can chat in real time with all your friends at once, and share media or attachments all with complete privacy. The server never has access to any of your communication and never stores any of your data.


Free | Download from Google Play

RedPhone

RedPhone makes private communication simple. Free, world-wide, end-to-end encryption for your calls, securing your conversations so that nobody can listen in.

• RedPhone uses your normal phone number to make and receive calls, so you don't need yet another identifier.
• RedPhone calls are encrypted end-to-end, but function just like you're used to.
• Free and Open Source, enabling anyone to verify its security by auditing the code.
• Uses wifi or data, not your plan's voice minutes.
• All RedPhone calls are free, including long distance and international.

Free | Download from Google Play

WebMD

24/7 access to health information and decision-support tools.

WebMD for Android helps you with your decision-making and health improvement efforts by providing mobile access 24/7 to mobile-optimized health information and decision-support tools including WebMD’s Symptom Checker, Drugs & Treatments, First Aid Information and Local Health Listings.

WebMD the App also gives you access to first aid information without having to be connected wirelessly – critical if you don’t have Internet access in the time of need.

Free | Download from Google Play

About Anna Harris:
Anna Harris working as web content writer and a strategist for a major IT firm specialized in various mobile application development services for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other operating systems.

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Amazon Will Launch Fire Phone 2 in 2016

Amazon never says die: The company is reportedly already developing a second iteration of its Fire Phone. According to VentureBeat, the e-retail giant expects to release the next-gen smartphone in 2016.

It appears Amazon has been planning another handset for months, but has "gone back to the drawing board" after watching its first attempt crash and burn, VentureBeat said.

Amazon did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment. But the company said in October that it will continue developing new Fire Phone models, hoping they will catch on like the Kindle e-reader, which was initially panned.

The company has been struggling to drum up interest in its 4.7-inch phone since its summertime launch; Amazon lost $170 million in the last quarter, and was left with an $83 million surplus in unsold phones. Even features like a 3D-esque parallax display and the "Firefly" identification software could not boost its sales.

Limp later blamed a too-high price tag; the AT&T exclusive launched at the standard $199 for the 32GB model and $299 for 64GB on contract, but was later dropped to 99 cents.

An off-contract, 32GB version is also available for $649; Amazon eventually lowered the price to $449, but couldn't manage to drive more sales. Last month, the cost fell further to $199 for a fully unlocked Fire Phone, but it is currently listed at $449 again.

About Anna Harris:
Anna Harris working as web content writer and a strategist for a major IT firm specialized in various mobile application development services for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other operating systems.

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