Sony and Samsung, once again, shows
why they are a force to be reckoned with.
The biggest contenders at IFA2012 have to
be Samsung and Sony. Seeing the devices and features both rival brands have
revealed throughout the event, it is clear that the two are making some of the
bigger splashes for the year and so will need a special report to cover some of
their biggest announcements. So here it is!
Samsung
Special report: Samsung goes all out
From the makers of almost everything
electronic, Samsung has a lot to show at IFA2012 even after losing US$1bn from
the patent infringement tussle with Apple. Let's start with the most
anticipated product...
Samsung Galaxy Note II
Samsung
Galaxy Note II
When the Galaxy Note came about, it is
clearly ludicrous with its 5.3in display form factor. However, it won a lot of
users over and now, the successor is here: Galaxy Note II. Featuring a bigger
display - at 5.5-inch - this Phablet (and for my sanity, I will call it a
"hybrid") is taller compared to the first generation hybrid, which is
wider. This makes the Note II much easier to hold. It now houses a larger
capacity 3,100mAh battery and a quad-core Exynos processor clocked at 1.6GHz.
Best news so far? It uses Jelly Bean (JB)
out of the box. That's right folks, no more tapping on "Software
Update" with the hopes of installing Android 4.1 JB over the air. Also, it
seems to be taking design tips from the Galaxy S3 as it also sports rounded
edges and a glossy finish. While not a crowd favourite in terms of design, no
one can deny that it is a powerful device.
Samsung Galaxy Camera
Besides a new Galaxy entry, Samsung also
introduced a controversial product for all to consider and critique. Called the
Samsung Galaxy Camera, Samsung's latest innovation is their way of saying
"Look world! We have re-incarnated the point-and-shoot camera by adding in
an Android OS!" Putting that aside, this camera is well equipped, sporting
a 1.4GHz quad-core processor and 8GB internal storage for photos.
Samsung
Galaxy Camera
The camera itself may not beat Nokia
Pureview 808's 41MP camera but the 21x optical lens and 16MP camera is
definitely good enough. Add to the mix the 3G, 4G and Wi Fi connectivity and
Samsung has created the ultimate photo sharing tool. Imagine Instagram
redefined: Hipster's best friend.
Samsung ATIV Smart PC
Samsung revealed yet another tablet but has
added in a twist as it is powered with Windows 8. ATIV Smart PC and ATIV Smart
PC Pro are embracing the Transformer concept by mating an 11.6-inch tablet with
a detachable keyboard dock. To add a Galaxy Note feel to it, an S Pen with
accompanying apps are included in as well.
Samsung
ATIV Smart PC
The difference here is the Smart PC comes
equipped with the humble Intel Atom processor, which is bundled with a 1,366 x
768 display, 2GB of RAM and up to a 128GB flash drive. However, it offers a
surprisingly lengthy 13.5-hour battery life, a rear 8-megapixel camera and a
2-megapixel front camera. Adding a "Pro" to the tablet means having
the device come with a beefy Core i5 processor, 1080p display, 4GB of RAM and
as much as a 256GB SSD.
Sony
Special report: Sony aims to lead
It is just phones after phones AFTER phones
with this manufacturer because Sony plans to flood the market. Of course it
docs have other gadgets hidden up its proverbial sleeves.
Sony Xperia T
Even before Sony's new flagship Xperia T is
out, rumours about it (codenamed Mint) made its round all over the internet.
Now that the curtains are drawn, we know that all the rumoured specs are
confirmed to be true. Sporting a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8260A Snapdragon
S4 CPU shows that Sony is not yet ready to embrace quad-core. It's good thought
that its designers are incorporating the curved design of the Arc S.
Sony
Xperia T
Slight multimedia upgrades from its
previous models include the 13MP camera and one touch NFC function. Although
the Xperia T has ICS in it, Sony notes that it will be fitted with Jelly Bean
shortly after its release. Seems Sony is really keeping track with its roadmap
and will only introduce quad-core Sony smartphones in 2013.
Sony 4K Bravia KD-84X9005
Large screen goodness also hit the floor as
Sony shows off its 84-inch 4K Bravia KD-84X9005 TV. This thing is a beast as it
uses a 3,840 x 2,160 LCD and comes packed with an X-Reality Pro Engine that
takes care of the rendering. This even includes the support to upscale
greater-than-HD passive 3D.
Sony
4K Bravia KD-84X9005
Additionally, the 84-inch 4K TV also uses a
'10 Unit Live Speaker' side speaker system, which is optimised for this
large-size screen. Sony claims that its sound signal processing technology
"achieves powerful three dimensional sound that envelops the viewer in
position orienting tones, from deep bass to high notes." If only we can
find a way to get this in our office...
Sony Xperia Tablet S
Getting an awesome refresh this time is
Sony's tablet by the name of Sony Xperia Tablet S. Looking considerably thin,
this tablet oozes with premium feel as it uses an aluminium body. Thankfully,
it keeps to the folded magazine design, making the grip very comfortable. The
IR remote control app that is included with the Tablet S allows it to control
TV, home entertainment systems and many more.
Sony
Xperia Tablet S
Despite running on ICS, The Xperia Tablet S
will be the first Sony product with a 1.4GHz Tegra 3 quad-core CPU. With the
name Xperia for its 9.4-inch tablet, it is easy to tell that Sony will be
bringing its smartphone user interface to make it in line with its portable
products.
