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Kogan's latest phone one-ups the Moto G LTE with a bigger screen
The Moto G LTE offers a lot of smartphone for the money, but Kogan reckons that's not quite enough value for your hard-earned cash -- the Aussie outfit just brought its latest smartphone, the Agora 4G, to the US and UK. Pay the same $219 (£149) you would for Motorola's device and you'll get a larger 5-inch screen, an 8-megapixel rear camera and a beefier 2,500mAh battery on top of speedy LTE data (on AT&T) and a quad-core Snapdragon processor. Sounds great, doesn't it?
IRL: Kogan's Agora HD, a $189 smartphone made obsolete by the Moto G
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. When I first came across Kogan at last year's CES, it was for the launch of the Aussie company's very first Agora smartphone. It was a modestly specced handset with some performance issues, but that was understandable: the going price was just $149, a sign that affordability was considered above all else. Then just nine months later, a follow-up smartphone, the Agora HD, was announced. A new 720p, 5-inch display and quad-core 1.2GHz processor were the headline features, but really there were improvements across the board. It was inevitable the price had to go up, too, but even then $189 felt like a small hop compared with the leap in hardware.
Kogan's ultra-budget 4K TV and 3G tablet arrive at CES
Kogan's name may not roll off your brain as easily as some companies we could mention, but the Australian outfit is attempting to bring premium technology to the masses with a focus on low prices. In fact, there's probably a comparison with Vizio to be made here, considering that Kogan's first 4K TV retails for $999 AUD, or around $890 USD. Then there's the Agora HD Mini 3G, a 7.85-inch tablet with a 3G modem that retails for $199 AUD, or about $180 in the US. Considering how frequently our antipodean friends are gouged by technology companies, it's good to see the locals fighting back.
Kogan debuts second Agora smartphone: 5-inch 720p display, 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, Jelly Bean, $189
Kogan's Agora brand may not drive techies wild like Galaxies or iThings do, but its motto is clear: try to deliver reasonable hardware at the lowest possible price. The company's first bid for a piece of the smartphone pie launched earlier this year, and today we're learning of its sequel. Design-wise, this second Agora handset is a little curvier than the last, with a soft key replacing its predecessor's physical home button. A 5-inch, 720p IPS LCD display occupies the face, and inside we're looking at a 1.2GHz quad-core MT6589 Mediatek SoC (Cortex-A7), 1GB of RAM and 4 gigs of internal storage, expandable with up to 32GB cards of the microSD variety. It runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, hosts two SIM slots, an 8-megapixel main camera, 2-megapixel front-facer, 2,000mAh removable battery and 3G (850 / 1900 / 2100), WiFi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 4.0 antennae. Most importantly, it costs $189, £149 or 199 Aussie dollars -- it's up for order now at the relevant source links and is expected to ship to the US, Australia, the UK and other European countries, as well as a couple of Asian markets starting October 3rd. We're hoping to get a review unit through soon, so keep an eye out over the coming weeks for our impressions. In our opinion, anything that rings up at under $200 is worth a fair trial.
Kogan Mobile to wind down after wholesale provider ispONE goes bust
Virtual carriers are only as healthy as the companies that provide their services -- and Australia's Kogan Mobile is learning this the hard way. Its wholesale cellular partner ispONE has just entered administration following a contract dispute with Telstra, ending all its deals for prepaid 3G services and leaving Kogan Mobile no choice but to wind down. Customers have already lost the ability to add or replenish services; they'll have up to 60 days after a Telstra notice to use any credit they have left, and 180 days to port their numbers elsewhere. While Kogan's shutdown may only affect about 100,000 people, it still represents an unfortunate loss of competition in a country with few major providers.
Kogan Agora phablet hands-on (video)
Kogan has released a budget-friendly netbook (back when netbooks existed), laptop and tablet, and now its got a new product to show us here at CES -- the Agora smartphone. It's verging on phablet territory with a 5-inch screen (800 x 480 resolution), and running the whole show is a dual-core 1GHz Cortex-A9 processor and half a gig of RAM. A 5-megapixel shooter with flash is found top-center on the back, and a 0.3-megapixel camera off to the right of the speaker grille on the front. Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich is the OS of choice here, kept alive by a 2,000 mAh battery nestled under the textured back panel. Right next to that power source is space for two SIMs (one 2G / one 3G), and a microSD slot to boost the 4GB of on-board storage (up to 64GB cards supported). Those specs should tell you that the Agora phone isn't aimed at the high end, but despite that, the build quality is solid. The square handset looks alright, too. We liked the dimpled back panel and prominent metal Kogan logo, as well as the shiny dark grey rim holding it all together. It's not exactly a Retina display, but it's not notably terrible, and performance-wise, it ranged from slick to jittery depending on how much we were telling it to do in how short a time. We'll save the Note II comparisons, as there's only stat you really need to know -- the Agora smartphone costs $149 (£119 in the UK). Pre-orders are live on Kogan's website now, and units should be hitting hands mid-February, or earlier. We're assured the launch will go ahead without a hitch (various difficulties prevented a previous attempt from reaching market). Check out the gallery and hands-on video below for more info. Kevin Wong contributed to this report.
Kogan intros 10-inch Agora tablet with ICS in Australia, ships next month starting at $179
The sea of budget-friendly slates just keeps on comin' -- and hey, we're certain you won't mind it in the least. This time around it's Kogan bringing its own sub-$200 Agora tablet to folks living in the land of Oz. Those near 200 bucks will give Aussies a taste of Android 4.0, as well as a 10-inch, 1024 x 768 display, one rear 2-megapixel shooter, a 1.2GHz Cortex A8 CPU under the hood and 16GB of built-in storage (expandable via microSD). Meanwhile, those looking to keep spending to a minimum can look towards the lesser-priced $179 slab, which is identical in every bit, save for the lower 8GB of internal storage. Barring any major mishaps, Kogan says it expects to start shipping the new Agora on June 25th, with pre-orders being taken as we speak at the source link below. %Gallery-156270%
Kogan advertises Samsung LCDs in its HDTVs, Samsung would rather not take credit
It won't be shocking to most in the electronics industry, but the rest of the world probably doesn't realize that many products use components from other manufacturers and even direct competitors. So much like most hard drives are made by one of only a few companies, there are only about four LCD panel manufacturers. But just because it's Samsung inside doesn't make it the same, and in that vein Samsung took pause with the Australian value-minded brand, Kogan, when its commercial very plainly exposed just who makes the panels in its TVs . The cease and desist notice didn't sit well with Ruslan Kogan, who claims his company never agreed to obscure that fact and that he wouldn't "conceal the truth from the public." While we usually wish everyone could just get along, we can totally see where Samsung is coming from on this one, as there is far more involved in making a quality TV, beyond sourcing a great panel.
Kogan Agora is world's first Google Chromium OS laptop, ships next week
Kogan, the Aussie company behind such gadgets as the fist-sized Bluetooth GPS watch and gesture-controlled IPTV, is adding a Chromium OS laptop to its family of Google-powered Agora products. The 11.6-inch computer has a spec list rivaling the midrange notebooks of 2006, including a 1.3 GHz Celeron processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 30GB SSD. That's not a lot of oomph, but with cloud-based storage and Google's open source Chromium running the show, this thin client laptop should be in decent shape. There's also a 3.5-hour battery, SD card reader, webcam, Bluetooth, and an HDMI output. Like all Kogan products, the Agora is only available in Australia (AUD 349, about $372) and the UK (£269, about $440), so if you live down under or across the pond and don't want to install the open-source (free) OS yourself, look for the laptop to hit Kogan's online stores tomorrow.
Kogan's Agora Internet TV Portal promises Android Market access, our LCDs remain skeptical
Believe it or not, we're still rooting for Ruslan Kogan and the rest of his Aussie compatriots, but the company's announcement today of an Android 2.2 set-top TV box with full Market access is, as usual, equal parts intriguing and unbelievable. The Kogan Agora Internet TV Portal: Powered by Android is priced at A$149 with a 1GHz Cortex A8 processor from Samsung, 512MB of RAM, 2GB of flash storage, HDMI output and three USB ports for external storage, that it claims will bring the full internet -- including everyone's favorite Angry Birds -- to your TV screen. According to the sales page it's expected to ship May 27th to anywhere you like, as long as it's in Australia or the UK. We'll mark our calendars to see if it beats official Google TV boxes to Market access in the living room (we're still waiting for the TV shown off last year), but in the meantime check after the break for a press release with more details on this box, a familiar looking 7-inch tablet that also claims access to the Market's thousands of apps and a couple of netbooks. Finally, we spotted a video from ARM fan Charbax checking out what could be the OEM version of the TV box at CeBIT, so that's included after the break as well. %Gallery-121192%
Kogan's latest fantasy product? An IPTV with Chrome browser, WiFi & gaming
The always optimistic Kogan isn't just aiming at tablets, it's posted a video showing off a new IPTV that could do what the big boys won't when (if) it ships later this year. These Chinese built HDTVs feature WiFi and video on-demand widgets similar to what everyone else is doing, but things start to get interesting in this YouTube video (embedded after the break) around the 1:05 mark when he pulls up a Chrome browser window and navigates the internet easily using the remote, as well as testing out some gesture controlled games and a Bluetooth keyboard. More than a few no-name builders had displays with similar capabilities up and running at CES so it's easy to see someone shipping one or two of these but with Kogan's track record (what happened to those OLED TVs?) it's difficult to disguise our doubt it will be among them. True believers are invited to post suggestions for other features on the company blog -- we're thinking a dedicated Engadget Show channel is just what the doctor ordered.
Kogan announces $200 HD tablet, with networked TVs, Agora handset, and leprechauns to follow
Ah, Ruslan Kogan -- we can't help but want to see this starry-eyed dreamer succeed, even if we still haven't got our Android handset. According to Australia's APC, the man's gunning for the iPad market with an as yet unnamed tablet of his own. The goal? A full HD, ARM 600MHz-powered capacitive touchscreen device with 512MB RAM, 2GB storage, and an SDHC card for under $200 (presumably that's Australian dollars, meaning about $180 US). Apparently the above prototype runs Windows, Android and Ubuntu, although Windows won't be an option if -- and we do mean if -- this thing ever solidifies, due to production costs. As for that display, it's tipped to be 800 x 480, the sting of which is taken out by the unit's 1080p HDMI output. You say you're not in the market for a slate? Kogan's also said to be working on networked TVs ("probably by the end of the year") and a Blu-ray player with WiFi and YouTube widgets. As for the aforementioned Agora handset? "[S]oon," he says. "I can't give a time frame on that, though. It'll be as soon as we're allowed to." This is one mysterious man indeed. We can't help but wonder when he's going to get serious and tackle something big, like perpetual motion. Update: We just realized that this is none other than SmartQ 7 MID first handled, oh, back in May!
Kogan's Twitter reading, Facebook browsing digiframe
Let's face it: digital picture frames are kind of lame. But companies seem to think that if they keep throwing more features at us we're going to suddenly decide that we actually want an extra 800 x 600 display that does nothing but flash pictures of the yokels we were escaping when we hitchhiked out of Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi, at the tender age of 16. To that end, Kogan's 8-inch WiFi LCD digiframe packs in a number of tricks we've seen before, and a few we haven't: it accepts photos via email, RSS feeds, Flickr, and Facebook. Email pics to a central address and see them displayed on a group of these things. The free SeeFrame app for iPhone even lets you send images directly from your handset. Or if Twitter's your bag, you can apparently view your feed on the thing as well. Sound great? All this can be yours for a not-so-cool AUD $169 (about $139 in the States). Now all you need are some friends -- friends with digital cameras (or access to a scanner). Sadly, not even Kogan can help you there.Read - Look where they're Twittering at you now: from a photo frameRead - Kogan 8-inch WiFi LCD Digital Photo Frame
Kogan's Bluetooth GPS watch is not for the fashion forward
If we have one word of advice for folks looking to get into the tech game (that is, besides "why bother?") it would probably be "set the bar low." Don't try to change the world with an unlocked 3G Android handset until you've mastered the basics, like maybe a netbook or, better yet, a watch. Of course, it would be a bit much to expect a true visionary to stop short of a humble timepiece. To this end, Kogan's rebranding that old Mainnav chronometer, the one that packs Bluetooth, a GPS receiver, a temperature sensor, speedometer, pedometer, altimeter, and Google Earth functionality into a package that most of us would probably rather not be seen wearing in public. Available for AUS $129 (about US $85).[Via SlashGear]
$320 Kogan Agora netbook gets the hands-on treatment, Aussie-style
We admit to being more than a little skeptical when Ruslan Kogan, Aussie tech entrepreneur, promised a cheap netbook within weeks, after his Agora smartphone stumbled out of the gates, but sure enough he's come through, making a run down to Australian PC Authority with a very working prototype of his upcoming netbook -- confusingly also called the Agora. What he demonstrated was a fairly standard 10-inch netbook package, featuring an Atom N270, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard disk, and a 3-cell battery, as well as a Pro model with twice the RAM and battery, both available with gOS and, eventually, Windows 7. What makes this upcoming model notable is the price: the cheaper model is expected to retail for $499 AUD, which in American dollars is just a tick over $320, while the Pro will go for $549 AUD, or about $355 US. Both models are expected to drop down under next month, and while no domestic release was confirmed, at that price this is one import we wouldn't mind seeing come up over.
Kogan hopes you'll spend stimulus bucks on Kevin37 HDTV
This, folks, is the tell-tale sign of someone eager and willing to capitalize. Kogan, the guy who almost made a QWERTY-packin' Android phone, has conjured up a brilliant way for Aussies to spend their forthcoming stimulus checks. You see, the Australian government has sent out AU$900 checks to citizens who made under AU$100,000 last year in an effort to boost the overall economy, and lo and behold, this 37-inch HDTV (comically named Kevin37 -- the locals know what's up) is priced at exactly AU$900. As for specs, you're looking at a 1,366 x 768 resolution panel, 1,200:1 contrast ratio, six-millisecond response time, 600 nits of brightness, a PAL / SECAM / NTSC tuner and a slew of connectors. Get your orders in now before you think better of it, and watch for it to head your way in late April.[Via Gizmag]
Kogan promises Linux netbook in "weeks," we have our doubts
Ruslan Kogan, the Australian who built up our hopes only to let them down recently with his make believe Agora, is back with more outlandish promises, and for whatever reason, we think he actually expects us to just believe him this time. During a recent interview, Kogan noted that he would like to be taking orders for a Linux-based netbook that he designs and specs in as little as "two to two and a half weeks." He's expecting to sell the 10-inch machines for around $529 to $539, which will buy you an Intel Atom processor, 160GB of HDD space, 1GB of RAM and a decent amount of magical pixie dust, we imagine. In related news, Kogan's also hoping to have OLED TVs out within just a few months and region-free BD decks shortly thereafter. See, our skepticism isn't that unwarranted, now is it?
Kogan shows off Agora prototype, promises retail model will be way cooler
So, what's up with Kogan these days? It's just been a few weeks since the Australian shop went back to the drawing board with its Android-based Agora series, but Ruslan Kogan himself is talking up big plans for the redesigned version -- whenever it gets around to launching. According to Gizmodo Australia, Kogan says he wants the retail Agora to feature a 3.8-inch full touchscreen in concert with Cupcake's virtual keyboard place of the physical portrait keyboard he'd originally envisioned; cool, yes, but sadly, he'll have to play second fiddle to the Magic at this point. In the meantime, he's carrying around his original prototype, which looks... shall we say, not ready to ship. Then again, a hand-built Android set is better than no set at all, eh?
Back to the drawing board: Kogan working on a redesigned Agora
It's always fun to root for the little guy, but more importantly, it's fun to root for the $200 unlocked Android phone with 3G, right? It wasn't clear what would become of Ruslan Kogan's dream of building his own Android set after Google apparently told him the Agora's design wasn't such a good idea, but let's be honest: the dude probably didn't build his Australian off-brand electronics empire by giving up every time he hit a bump in the road. We talked to Ruslan today to confirm reports that there's a new model in the works, and he assured us that his company is "certainly in the process of redesigning and launch [sic] the improved Kogan Agora" -- which presumably means he'll be putting a phone onto the market that'll overcome the app compatibility issues that kept the original model from shipping this month. We don't have a timeframe yet, but considering how quickly he was able to pump out the first draft, we wouldn't be surprised to see something within a handful of months.
Kogan 'not aware' of sketchy Agora clone
Only in the bizarro world of KIRF can canceled, nonexistent handsets be cloned and released in quantities of 100 for just $240 a pop, and by all accounts, that's what has happened -- already -- to poor Ruslan Kogan and his doomed Agora. The Aussie with an admirable desire to get one of the first Android devices on the market recently had to delay his pet project indefinitely over compatibility concerns, but knockoffs running knockoff OSes have no such concerns, which is where the lovely Shining phone comes into play. After seeing the all-too-familiar render, Kogan contacted iTWire to say that "I am not aware of this manufacturer and I have doubts that it runs Android OS. It is certainly not what the Agora was going to be or in anyway related to it." 'Course, all it'd take is a couple chats over dinner between Chinese ODMs for Kogan's design to get recycled running something less than Android -- and granted, the Shining isn't identical to the Agora, but the similarities are striking, are they not?
