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The Miix 700 is Lenovo's Surface killer
Lenovo has arguably done more than any other PC maker to blur the line between tablets and laptops, but its new Ideapad Miix 700 convertible tablet is clearly aimed at one competitor in particular: Microsoft's Surface. Like that machine, the Miix 700 sports a kickstand with a high-tech hinge; it's a pretty decent tablet on its own, and it has a well-built keyboard accessory that snaps on with a strong magnet. Even a Lenovo rep acknowledged that it was "inspired" by the Surface. But just because it looks familiar doesn't mean it's not worthy in its own right. Lenovo fans will likely appreciate the Miix 700's more subdued style, as well as its solid keyboard implementation, which feels practically indistinguishable from some of the company's laptop keyboards (and far more comfortable than the Surface Type cover). The Miix 700 starts at $699 and will start shipping in November.
Lenovo's AIO 700 is a beast of an all-in-one PC
Even if you're a geek who's steadfastly refused to consider all-in-one computers, Lenovo's new Ideacentre AIO 700 might be worth a look. It sports a 24-inch or 27-inch display in up to a 4K resolution with multitouch, but most importantly it comes with a dedicated graphics card and it can also be easily opened up. That means it'll actually be able to play some decent games, and you have room for upgrades down the line (which is pretty rare for all-in-one PCs). The AIO 700 can be configured with either an Intel or AMD CPU, and you can also add in an Intel RealSense camera (which will also speed up your Windows 10 logins). We only confronted it briefly at a press event yesterday, but we were struck by its sheer immensity. The 24-inch AIO 700 starts at $1,099 while the 27-inch model starts at $1,899. Both will ship in October.
Polaroid's latest instamatic doesn't use ink to print photos
Cubes, unwieldy squares, bulky cameras of yore. Regardless of form factor, when the Polaroid name is on a camera it means you're getting instant photos. With the company's latest shooter, the Snap, you're getting what looks like a pocketable device that uses proprietary tech to print photos using zero ink. Instead, the ZINK (get it?) paper you load in the 10MP pictograph box uses heat to activate color crystals and reproduce your 2-inch by 3-inch masterpiece. And of course, since this is camera made in 2015 there's a selfie timer and filter presets (color, black and white, vintage) in addition to a Micro SD card slot. Interested? All it takes is $99 to sate your curiosity sometime later this year.
Intel's 'Skylake' CPU family includes an unlocked laptop chip
To say that Intel has been dragging out the launch of its Skylake-based processors would be an understatement when it didn't even reveal full details after it started shipping the first CPUs. Most of that secrecy is coming to an end today, however, as the semiconductor giant is officially launching the wider 6th-generation Core family. You'll soon see mainstream Core i3, i5 and i7 chips in desktops and laptops, as well as updated Core M processors in ultraportables, convertible PCs and tablets. As you'll see in a minute, though, this isn't just a straightforward refresh.
What Sony, Samsung and others have on tap for IFA 2015
We're back in Berlin for IFA, one of the largest consumer electronics trade shows in Europe. As usual, we're here to witness what companies like Microsoft, Sony, Samsung and others have planned ahead of the holiday season. Samsung already hosted its major event, Unpacked, a couple of weeks ago, but it and other manufacturers are still expected to unveil plenty of new products in Germany. From smartphones and tablets to laptops and smartwatches, prepare to be introduced to a myriad of never-before-seen gadgets over the next week. One inescapable presence, of course, will be Windows 10. So don't be surprised when you see a lot of devices running Microsoft's shiny new operating system. But before things get started, let's talk about the biggest players at IFA 2015.Check out all the news from Berlin at our IFA 2015 hub.
LG sensor adds smarts to your 'dumb' home appliances
Sure, it's easy to find connected home appliances, but what if you want to add a dash of intelligence to many of your existing appliances (not just one or two)? LG might come to your rescue before long. It's launching a SmartThinQ Sensor which uses feedback like temperature and vibration to tell you what your devices are doing. It can tell when your washer has finished by waiting for the shaking to stop, for instance, or tell you if someone left the fridge door open while you were out. In some cases, you can even remotely control those older machines. There's no word on when the sensor arrives, but it'll be joined by the smartphone-controlled Smart Lightwave Oven and Smart Air Conditioner at the upcoming IFA trade show.
LG dresses its luxury smartwatch in a gold suit
LG's Watch Urbane was a pretty watch, but it was hardly going to impress the super-rich with its sub-$300 price tag. That's why the Korean company has teamed up with Reeds Jewelers to craft the LG Watch Urbane Luxe, a shinier version of the hardware for the most conspicuous of capitalists. The insides haven't changed, but the outside has been dipped in 23 karat gold, while the strap is now made of gen-u-ine alligator leather. In addition, the timepiece comes in a piano gloss lacquer case and will be produced in a limited run of 500. As the company's Chris Yie says, "Wearable devices shouldn't be thought of as an extension of one's smartphone, but as an extension of oneself." Presumably the part of yourself that really likes spending $1,200 on a $300 smartwatch.
Huawei aims high with $800 gold-plated Watch
Huawei may have accidentally revealed that its Android Wear Watch will cost as much as $799.99 and be compatible with iOS. Earlier today, the company teased a September 2nd arrival at IFA 2015 via Twitter, but a tipster pointed us to a legit-looking Amazon listing that shows four flavors of the wearable. The basic version in stainless steel starts at $349.99 with a leather strap, but the highest-end model in gold-plated stainless steel goes for $799.99, making it one of the pricier Android Wear devices out there. Intriguingly, the listing also mentions that the Watch is compatible with iOS 8.2 or later devices.
LG made a solid, roll-up keyboard for your tablet or giant smartphone
To the untrained eye, LG's new Bluetooth keyboard looks like a (very long) mobile battery, but that's because it's all bundled up. Unfurl the Rolly and you'll get a "full-size" keyboard that automatically switches on and connects to your nearest (LG?) tablet. There's a stand built into the top of the device, which will hold tablets up to ten inches big. The keys are made of solid plastic (not the flat, squishy kind), which LG hopes will offer a typing experience close to what you're used to on your PC. The keyboard is just the start: the company says it plans to offer even more "input devices" in the next few months. The Rolly will launch this September in the US first, rolling out to the rest of the world soon after. (You're welcome.)
LG's non-curved 4K OLED TVs are finally here
LG is finally ready to sell the OLED 4K TVs it revealed in January, including the first ever flat models. The Korean company has invested huge sums in OLED tech, believing that consumers will be drawn in by the improved black levels, better off-axis viewing angles and more saturated colors. We're pleasantly surprised to learn that the two flat UltraHD models (in 65- and 55-inch sizes) also have HDR capability with improved color range -- provided you have content that supports it. If you're more into curved 4K OLEDs, there's a new 55-inch model, bringing the total number of LG OLED 4K TVs to nine.
Sony's next phone is yet another rectangular slab
If you were hoping for a radical change in Sony's Xperia formula, bad news -- it looks like the company is sticking with its blocky "Omnibalance" design for now. A tweet from Sony UK is teasing a new smartphone that will be unveiled on September 2nd, immediately before the IFA trade show. It shows a blurry handset capturing a photo, with the tagline "a smartphone with greater focus" underneath. The combination would suggest an upgraded camera, although it's possible the message is also hinting at the new, stripped back Android skin it's been testing recently. Regardless, we're expecting this to be either the Xperia Z5 or Z5 Compact -- perhaps both, if Sony mimics last year's reveal. The photo might be a little blurry, but it's obvious Sony is preparing another rectangular slab. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but given the Xperia Z4/Z3+ is only a few months old, we're hoping Sony has made some changes elsewhere to make this model a worthy upgrade.
LG's latest 10-inch Android tablet comes with a sharper screen
Still (still?) looking for the Android tablet that fits your lifestyle? Maybe LG will capture your imagination, / wallet with a G Pad sequel that cranks up the processor speed (now a quad-core Snapdragon 800) while pairing it with a battery that's actually smaller (7,400mAh) than its name-based predecessor. It's now got a sharper 10.1-inch 1,920 x 1,200 display and while there's an LTE option, there's only a single color choice: Brilliant bronze. We'll ignore those with third-place connotations from the outset, but it otherwise sounds like pretty inoffensive Android tablet. LG says that price (even though it's noted in the press release that it will cost the same as its predecessor) and launch dates will be detailed locally when it launches across Asia, the US and Europe. The company added that we'll be able to paw at it at IFA in Berlin early next month. Wurst things have happened.
Samsung's latest monitors wirelessly charge your phone
It's not coated in gold, but Samsung's newest screen -- a monitor this time -- packs wireless charging for mobile phones and other Qi-compatible gadgets. (Yes, functionality you'd actually want in your office monitor... if you have a wirelessly charging phone.) The full-HD 24-inch S24E370DL and 27-inch S27E370DS displays come with AMD's anti-flicker gaming tech as well as 178-degree viewing angles. Samsung's not offered a date or country for release, but we'd expect it to appear (somewhere!) by the end of the year. Expect a steady trickle of new products from the company: it's gearing up for Europe's biggest electronics show, IFA, which kicks off in September. Samsung fridges! Washing machines! Conceptual laptops! And possibly a new Galaxy smartphone. If you're good.
WSJ: Samsung launching Galaxy Note 5 early to beat Apple
Samsung is believed to be bringing the launch date of the Galaxy Note 5 forward by a few weeks in order to beat Apple to the punch. The Wall Street Journal believes that the Korean company will announce its phablet gigantophone in August and get it into stores ahead of the iPhone 6S. It's a break from tradition, since Samsung normally refreshes the Note line at IFA in the first week of September. Last year, however, the iPhone 6 arrived around the same time and, presumably, stole enough thunder to prompt the change.
