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Oppo launches Find 5, touts 5-inch 1080p display, quad-core and 13MP camera
At last, the wait is over for Oppo's latest flagship device. Launched in Beijing earlier, the Find 5 comes with pretty much all the top ingredients in the current market -- many of which had been teased by the company multiple times already: 5-inch 1080p display, Qualcomm's quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 chip with 2GB RAM, a 2,500mAh battery and Android 4.1.2. There's also NFC, and on top of that, the Find 5 will come with two NFC tags (remember LG's Optimus LTE Tag and Sony's SmartTags?) plus a special version of Sina Weibo that uses the phone's NFC to let users instantly follow each other. The 13-megapixel, 5fps camera on the back isn't just about numbers, as it also packs fast hardware-enabled HDR for both photos and video! Oppo claims it's the first in the mobile industry to carry this awesome feature. Additionally, the main camera can capture slow motion of up to 120fps, though it isn't clear whether the resolution is reduced to achieve this. On the other side of the device there's also a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera, which beats most phones these days. Audio-wise the Find 5 features Dirac HD, a technology that's embraced by the likes of BMW, Bentley, Rolls Royce and Datasat; making Oppo the first mobile phone brand to join the party. The included earphones are fine-tuned for Dirac, naturally. Alas, much like the Droid DNA, this Chinese superphone also suffers from the lack of microSD expansion, so users may struggle to fully appreciate the 441ppi screen with just 16GB of built-in storage. As for pricing, we already know that the US will offer the Find 5 for $499, and luckily, it'll just be ¥2,998 or about $480 in China, but it'll be about a month before the phone reaches its various markets, including the US. Stay tuned for our hands-on, and there's also a press release after the break for the time being. Update: Our hands-on is up!
Oppo Find 5 spec sheet pops up, heading to US for $499 unsubsidized
Quad-core APQ8064 chip: check. 5-inch 1080p display: check. That's right, it's the Oppo Find 5 again, but this time we're seeing the phone's full spec sheet courtesy of the manufacturer's overly simple US website -- we've already verified this with our contacts. Apart from the fact that Oppo will be selling the much anticipated Find 5 in the US, the product page also lists an unsubsidized price of just $499, which isn't bad when you look at the $600 HTC Droid DNA off contract. The specs also mention Android 4.1.2, a 2,500mAh battery, NFC, 16GB of built-in storage and 2GB of RAM, as well as compatibility with T-Mobile and AT&T's 3G networks. Now all we need are some pictures, but we'll even get to touch it at the Beijing launch event next Wednesday.
Oppo's Ulike 2 boasts 5MP front camera, clearly made for self-portrait addicts like you
Hold up! Oppo's not quite done with teasing just yet for the day. The company's Sina Weibo account has quietly announced the Ulike 2, a white 4.5-inch phone designed with ladies in mind: not only does it have a common eight-megapixel main camera on the back, but there's also a staggering five-megapixel front-facing imager with beautification features (like face slimming, skin whitening, skin smoothing and more) to keep the self-portrait addicts busy. Other specs include a gapless 960 x 540 LCD (with 2.2mm-thick bezel), 1GB RAM, 16GB built-in storage, micro-SIM slot, a 2,020mAh battery, and TD-SCDMA radio for China Mobile's network. There's no telling how much this Android 4.0 phone will hurt your wallet, nor is there any official information on the underlying processor, but we shall find out when it hits the Chinese market on December 19th, if not at the Find 5's launch event on the 12th.
Oppo to unveil Find 5 in Beijing on December 12th, but we all know what's coming
We see what you did there, Oppo: a triple-12 date for the introduction of its next flagship phone, the Find 5. You'd think it'd be a tough act to follow after the Chinese company's crazy slim Finder from this summer, but as CEO Tony Chen's already teased previously, his next product will boast a five-inch 1080p (441ppi) display along with a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064. It sure sounds a lot like HTC's Droid DNA, but we shall have to wait until the Beijing event to see what Oppo's "fifth element" actually looks like, as well as to see what other surprises it may have for us, so stay tuned.
Oppo continues its legacy with two new top end Blu-ray players
Regarded as the best of the best when it comes to disc players, Oppo has two new ones that can easily handle any disc you've got. Physical media isn't the only game in town, obviously, so in addition to Netflix, Vudu and local file support like MKV, Oppo has stepped it up even further by adding an HDMI port in front for use as an MHL input. This allows you to leverage the high-end Oppo's processing to do wonders on content stored on your portable or other MHL source. Speaking of video processing, both the new guys use Marvell's Qdeo video processor and are capable of doing both 2D-to-3D conversion as well as up-scaling to 4K. From a control perspective, a back-lit remote is included, but there's also an IR input, RS-232 and mobile phone apps. The BDP-103 will surely satisfy any videophile at $499 this October, but if you happen to be an audiophile too, then you'd probably want to wait until the BDP-105 is released later this year. Not only does it feature two ESS Sabre32 Reference DACs and a Toroidal linear power supply, but there are also dedicated stereo outputs with both RCA and XLR balanced connections and a headphone amplifier -- if you know what all that is, we're sure you really want it.
Oppo CEO says quad-core Find 5 will feature a 1080p, 441ppi display, forgets to wink at HTC
Not sure how this slipped under our radar, but recently Oppo Mobile CEO Chen Mingyong teased that his upcoming flagship phone, the Find 5, will again feature a non-removable but "certainly big enough" battery (for the sake of anti-counterfeiting and, consequently, safety) as well as a 1080p, 441ppi display. That's right, 441ppi! We're finally getting a phone with a display that's impossibly sharper than the 326ppi on the latest iPhones (up to 4-inch, 1,136 x 640), the 331ppi on the Nokia Lumia 920 (4.5-inch, 1,280 x 768) or even the 342ppi on the Sony Xperia acro S and the Xiaomi Phone 2 (4.3-inch, 1,280 x 720). Assuming Chen's talking about a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, a quick calculation based on these two numbers would give us a 5-inch screen size, which matches what LG Display announced back in May. Taking into account that a reliable source of ours got to see HTC's 5-inch 6435LVW phablet recently, this would make the Find 5 unofficially the second device to receive the same full HD panel. Still, there's a significant difference inside these two phones: Chen had previously mentioned that the Find 5 will be joining the quad-core APQ8064 party, while the HTC device appears to sport the dual-core, LTE-enabled MSM8960. Speaking of which, the same source informed us that much like the Flyer, HTC's 6435LVW will also feature N-trig stylus technology. Will Oppo follow in the same footsteps? And will it bring back the slide-out keyboard à la Find X903 (pictured above)? Go on, Mr. Chen, tell us more.
Mobile Miscellany: week of August 13th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, Clove teased the October arrival of the black Samsung Galaxy S III and a security vulnerability was uncovered for Android's pattern unlock feature. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of August 13th, 2012.
Roku Streaming Stick ready devices will come from Insignia, Mitsubishi, Onkyo, Oppo and others
Roku unveiled its miniaturized Streaming Stick at CES, and while we still don't have an exact release date or price tag, the company has produced a list of manufacturers that will deliver "Roku Ready" hardware. That list is comprised of Element Electronics; GlobalVue International, LLC; Haier; Hitachi America, Ltd.; Insignia / Best Buy (which already tried out this strategy once with the whatever-happened-to-the TiVo-powered cTV); Mitsubishi Electric (TVs); Onkyo and Integra; OPPO and TMAX Digital, Inc.(Apex Digital® TVs). In case you've forgotten, the Roku Streaming Stick plugs into MHL-compatible HDMI ports to not only feed video to the HDTV, receiver or other device, but also accept remote control inputs and power, and brings its own WiFi hookup for internet access. That way, users can add this single accessory to make a "dumb" flat panel into a connected TV all without any extra cords or switching remotes, and, if necessary, easily upgrade in the future. As CEO Anthony Wood mentioned just days ago Roku's current focus is finding companies willing to work together to provide a well integrated experience for the add-on. To make that clear for potential buyers, Roku Ready devices like HDTVs, receivers and Blu-ray players will not only be stamped with a logo to show they're compatible, some will arrive with the dongle packed in. Its due date is set for "the coming weeks" so it shouldn't be long until we nail down the other details about the Roku Streaming Stick -- all currently available information can be found in the press release after the break.
Oppo Finder goes up for pre-order, super-slimness can be yours July 1st
Oppo has been playing games with our thin-phone-obsessed hearts for awhile, but at last it's time to make a commitment to the Finder. Coming somewhat belatedly, pre-orders are now open for Chinese who want to make the 6.65mm-thick Android 4.0 phone their own. While there's just one version with 16GB of built-in space, it takes only ¥2,498 ($393) contract-free to get a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen, a dual-core 1.5GHz chip, an eight-megapixel rear camera and a 1.3-megapixel front shooter. If that sounds tempting, you won't have long to pull the trigger before the golden day: pre-orders stop on June 24th before a full-scale launch on July 1st. That won't make prospective Huawei Ascend P1 S buyers any happier at having lost phone thickness bragging rights, but it will mean just a couple of weeks' wait until we crown a new champion.
Oppo's super-skinny Finder smartphone gets many more details, should reach pre-orders June 6th (video)
The last time we saw Oppo's 6.65mm-thick smartphone, it was playing hard to get: we didn't see much more than its svelte profile. Oppo is now being a little more forthcoming, both officially and otherwise. It's now teasing the device as the Finder, and some escaped details explain just how it's getting to that Ascend P1 S-busting dimension as well as where it sits in the smartphone pantheon. TGBus understands the Finder should use a familiar-sounding 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen -- much thinner than an LCD -- as well as a dual-core 1.5GHz processor of an unspecified make and the virtually pre-requisite 8-megapixel rear and 1.3-megapixel front cameras. The lot should run on a customized version of Android 4.0. If all goes to the still somewhat unofficial plan, the Finder could be ready for pre-orders on June 6th at a not-insignificant ¥3,999 ($631) off-contract. We're mostly waiting on in-store dates and the possibility of snapping one up without a long flight to China. Update: Check out Engadget Chinese's hands-on coverage at the more coverage link below.
Oppo teases 6.65mm-thick smartphone, about to steal 'world's thinnest' title from Huawei
China-based Poop Oppo is back again with yet another smartphone, only this time there's no pretty girl teasing Mr. DiCaprio. Instead, what we have here is an exclusive leak that shows off a 6.65mm-thick device -- just 0.03mm thinner than the Ascend P1 S from local rival Huawei. In other words, if all goes well then Oppo will have us the world's slimmest smartphone. Details are scarce at the moment, but judging by the above picture this phone will come with a metallic bezel of some sort, along with three capacitive buttons and a three-pin contact for dock connection. Obviously, stay tuned for more deets.
Oppo's Android-based X903 smartphone gets previewed
We didn't exactly get the most extensive look at Oppo's new Android-based X903 smartphone when the company announced it with Leonardo DiCaprio's help earlier this month, but our pals from Engadget Chinese thankfully managed to come through on that front in a big way. As you can see, the phone's brushed metal exterior certainly makes this one an eye catcher, although that apparently also contributes to a weight that's a tad on the heavy side (there's also a full QWERTY keyboard tucked underneath, albeit one that apparently suffers a bit from some short key travel). Those trade-offs also extend to some of the phones specs; you'll get a high-end 4-inch IPS display, for instance, but you'll have to make do without a front-facing camera. Hit the source link below for the full preview.
Oppo announces X903 smartphone, leaves Leonardo DiCaprio confused (video)
Oppo, beloved maker of a variety of electronics rarely released outside of China, is jumping into the smartphone business with an Android-powered slider called the Oppo X903. Take the following specs with a pinch of salt, but the device is believed to have a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 CPU and comes with an eight megapixel camera and a 3.97-inch WVGA IPS screen. So far, so normal -- what's not normal is the ad campaign for the phone, in which a bemused Leonardo DiCaprio stares glumly out of a moving train as a woman writes "find me" in condensation on a perfectly clean window. That's right after the break and you won't have to look too hard to find press shots of the phone itself either. They're down there in the gallery. %Gallery-130726%
Oppo opens up preorders for the BDP-95 Blu-ray player at $999
If you're one of the audiophiles Oppo is targeting with its new BDP-95 Blu-ray player, click the read link to get in line first for the new hardware. Other than preorders being available, it appears that the predicted ship date has slipped to "early March" but if toroidal power supplies and SABRE 32-bit digital-to-analog converters are your thing, we're sure you'll be willing to wait until then to shell out your $999. Of course, that's twice the price of the base model BDP-93 that keeps the Blu-ray 3D and dual HDMI out accoutrements plus is available right now -- your choice.
The worst name for a knockoff cellphone, ever
And in case you're wondering, they're ripping the Oppo logo.
Oppo reveals new BDP-95 Blu-ray player aimed at audiophiles
Just as Oppo's latest BDP-93 Blu-ray player reaches homes in increasing numbers, the company has queued up some new hardware for 2011 with the BDP-95. This player sports many of the features of the BDP-93, but adds on a SABRE 32-bit DAC, toroidal power supply and all new chassis designed to deliver improved analog audio performance. No word on price yet but it's scheduled to arrive in February, check Oppo's site for the full specs and the usual registration for notification when it's available. [Thanks, James]
Oppo officially announces BDP-93 Blu-ray player, shows off full specs
It hasn't been long since Oppo's well-received BDP-83 made its debut, but now it's gone, and the company has fleshed out details on the successor to the throne, the BDP-93. say hello to another universal player, now updated with Blu-ray 3D and streaming access to Netflix and Blockbuster over WiFi N. There's two HDMI 1.4a outputs in case your receiver isn't 3D passthrough ready, an eSATA port for playback from hard drives and two USB ports. Retail price? $499. If this is the player you've been waiting for you're probably already on the list, but if not click the source link for a full list of specs on Oppo's site and to register for notification when it goes on sale "soon." [Thanks, Mike]
Oppo adds a cheaper Blu-ray player to its lineup with the $289 BDP-80
After wisely avoiding being drowned out by the din of CES product launches Oppo has made official its new BDP-80 Blu-ray player. A lower priced version of the existing BDP-83 hardware (a comparison that should be familiar to owners of the company's DV-980H/DV-983H DVD players,) it still features BD-Live compatibility, DVD-Audio and SACD playback but drops the ABT2010 video processor, aluminum faceplate and some of the audio capabilities of its big brother. Other items sliced to get the price down to $289 from $499 are IR in/out, RS-232 control interfaces, and a backlit remote. Assuming one doesn't want to wait for the rebadged $2,500 Lexicon edition, it should be on sale "soon." Universal player fans looking to save a couple of bucks or bring their own video processor to the party can check Oppo's comparison page or the press release after the break.
OPPO Enjoy looks like just another Android e-reader
Another day, another Android e-reader. We apologize for not sounding overly enthusiastic about this one, but going off of the picture of the OPPO Enjoy we don't anticipate the 6-inch e-ink reader to be the next Kindle or Nook killer. The rest of the specs are unknown, though it looks like the main controls are the trackball on the right edge and touch navigation keys on the left. You know what, maybe we're being too pessimistic. Perhaps the Enjoy really runs the next version of Android, is Tegra 2 powered and actually has a color display. Alright, that's all very unlikely, but a reader can dream.
Lexicon busted passing Oppo off as a $3500 Blu-ray player
If Lexicon is your favorite brand then here's a shocker, the company figured if it isn't broke, then don't fix it and grabbed an Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player and encased it into a high end chassis and listed it for $3500 -- a $3000 case, wow? We know this type of thing goes on all the time in the world of electronics, but wow, this is just unbelievable. The folks at Audioholics didn't believe it either, so they stripped the two players down and did some bench testing to reveal that indeed both were identical -- other than the case that is. Now to be fair, we realize that companies like Lexicon probably sell this to distributors for $1000 and the rest is all retailer markup, and of course Lexicon insists it has made upgrades beyond that of the Oppo, but come on, this is just wrong.
