Hasta La Gadget!

Huawei has just unveiled both of their latest and greatest Android smartphones today at CES 2013 here in Viva Las Vegas. First up was the larger than usual Ascend Mate with a 6.1-inch display, but what we have below is their flagship device. The Ascend D2 follows up on its successor with a 5.0-inch 1920 x 1080p true HD display, Jelly Bean and more. Read on for full details.

Just like everything from Huawei this week, the Ascend D2 smartphone has seen its fair share of leaks too. Today however the folks from Huawei confirmed all the details themselves right up on stage. Huawei Chairman Richard Yu described it as a “dream phone” and we’d have to agree — at least according to specs. Imagine everything we loved about the DROID DNA but with a much bigger battery. Let us elaborate.

The Huawei Ascend D2 comes in with a size of 140 mm x 71 mm x 9.4 mm and only 170 grams. And will be available in Crystal Blue or Pearl White. Those “dream phone” specs include a 5.0-inch 1920 x 1080p Full HD 443 ppi “super retina LCD” Huawei’s own 1.5 GHz quad-core Hi-Silicon K3V2 + Balong V7R1 processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and much more.

Then the other important specs that make this a tier above their Ascend Mate phablet are the fact that they tossed in a 13 megapixel rear camera that has a f/2.2 aperture, and a hybrid IR filter. Not to mention full HDR, burst mode, and of course LED flash. Then just like the original Ascend D they’ve tossed in a large battery so we won’t be begging for an outlet. The Ascend D2 rocks a large 3,000 mAh battery under the hood.

Again the Ascend D2 rocks Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, and is heavily skinned with their own UI as expected. For an idea on what to expect with software have a look at our Ascend D Quad Review from last year. The new Ascend D quad has a similar design language, although clearly is a bit larger and the screen is amazingly crisp and vibrant. Aside from the shiny new plastic design the aluminum edges feel great in the hand. More details will follow shortly with our hands-on video. Stay tuned. The device will be available next month but pricing and details were not yet available.

Huawei announces the Ascend D2 with a 5-inch 1080p display, we go Hands-on is written by Cory Gunther & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

[CES 2013] No matter what your loyalty is to television brands, everyone can agree that Samsung’s TVs have been capitalizing the market for several years now, which is exactly why we made sure we completely cleared our schedules today in order to get first-hand news of what they’re planning for their TVs in 2013. And, as is expected, they didn’t fail to disappoint.

One HDTV we’ve been keeping our eye on has been Samsung’s 55-inch OLED, which was shown at CES last year, but was delayed to hopefully be released some time this year. Today, Samsung announced its 55-inch OLED will be released this year with specs similar to what Samsung has planned for other HDTVs releasing this year, with of course the main difference is its gorgeous OLED screen.

Samsung’s KNF559500 will also have a unique Multi-View mode which will allow users to watch entirely different programs, that is, as long as they’re using specific 3D glasses that have their own built-in headphones.

As of now, Samsung has yet to announce an official release date or pricing for its 55-inch OLED HDTV, but you can expect it to cost more than $100. We guarantee it.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Olympus Unveils Flagship Rugged Camera STYLUS TOUGH TG-2 iHS, Olympus STYLUS TOUGH TG-630 iHS Rugged Camera Announced,

Your Internet-connected devices may be getting more cooperative, thanks to group of startups and established players who have come together to create a new nonprofit group called the Internet of Things Consortium.

The “Internet of Things,” for those of you who aren’t too familiar with it, basically refers to the growing trend of uniquely identifiable, Internet-connected electronic devices. Jason Johnson, the consortium’s chairman, said that the term was first coined to refer to industrial technologies like RFID, but we’re now seeing a wave of consumer products, too, often funded on Kickstarter.

There are 10 initial participants in the group: Active Mind Technologies (which makes Game), Basis Science, Coin, Kease, Logitech, Movl (which makes KontrolTV), Ouya, Poly-Control, SmartThings, and Ube.

Johnson said the goal is to play a “very active” role in finding new ways for Internet of Things-related products and services to work together (in part by taking advantage of new technologies like Bluetooth Low Energy and Low Power Wi-Fi) and create “a richer fabric of intelligent devices.” For that reason, one of the key criteria for new members is an open approach to integrating with other companies. Johnson said a meeting of the consortium would be “not unlike a standards body meeting,” except that the group won’t just focus on technology, but on business as well.

Here’s an email comment from Ube CEO Utz Baldwin about why this effort is important:

The successful adoption of [machine-to-machine] and connected home technologies is dependent on open standards for the provisioning and control of millions of headless devices. We are excited to be among other emerging companies that share the same vision and that are committed to moving the industry forward collectively.

Johnson may be best known to TechCrunch readers as a managing partner at the Founders Den, but his past experience includes serving as chairman of the Wireless VoIP Consortium and vice president of Dolby Laboratories’ technology standards licensing business unit. He said he’s also working on a stealth Internet of Things startup of his own.

The consortium will hold its first meeting on Wednesday at 5 pm, at CES in Vegas. If you’re interested in attending, you can email events@iofthings.org.

LG is selling a $10,000 OLED TV—brighter, more vivid, and skinnier—that you’ll drool at online and not be able to afford. Now Samsung is also officially in the TV You Can’t Ever Afford game too with the 55-inch F9500. More »

The Samsung SMART CAMERA environment has been upgrade this week to SMART CAMERA 2.0, not just software, but an ecosystem made to work with a set of five new models of Samsung cameras. Photography with the Samsung WB250F/WB200F, the WB800F, WB30F, DV150F and ST150F will be much more advanced than Samsung SMART CAMERA machines of the past with evolved functions such as AutoShare and Direct Link. The new flagship machine under this brand is the WB250F, a WB long-zoom shooter with a 14.2 megapixel BSI CMOS (WB250F) or CCD (WB200F) sensor as well as a fabulous 24mm lens.

The Samsung SMART CAMERA series hero here comes in two configurations, the WB200F and the WB250F (pictured above), the larger number being the one that’s being detailed in full this week. You’ll be able to work with its LCD touchscreen as well as its five-way navigational keys, whichever you like, controlling such functions as SMART Mode, Motion Photo, and Best Face. These features you may remember appeared on the Samsung Galaxy Camera which we’ve reviewed in full not too long ago. The WB250F will be available in white, cobalt black, gun metal and red and will be appearing for $249.99 USD.

Also appearing soon will be the WB800F long-zoom camera, complete with 16.3 Megapixel BSI CMOS sensor for low light and a 21x optical zoom. This beast will be coming forth with the same 3-inch touchscreen LCD that the WB250F works with and includes a new Direct Link Button for wi-fi connectivity (also just like the WB250F). You’ll be seeing this device appear for $299.99 soon.

Down the line we’ve got the WB30F Camera, an upgrade of the original ST200F, now with integrated SMART connectivity attached to a 16 megapixel sensor and a 10x optical zoom lens (thats 24mm wide angle, mind you). All of this will be coming in Black, White, Plum, Pink or Red for $179.99 USD.

The DV150F Camera was introduced to build upon the excellence of the DV300F, here working with dual-view technology (a screen on the front) to deliver front-facing photos, so to speak. You’ve got the ability here to work with SMART CAMERA 2.0 technology as well, and you’ll be doing it with a 16 megapixel sensor once again. This device will be appearing in Black, White, Plum, Pink or Green for $149.99 USD.

Samsung has also revealed a couple of cameras that will not be working with the newest SMART CAMERA 2.0 software that you’re just going to love nonetheless:

The Samsung WB2100 Camera will be appearing with a fabulous new 35x Optical Zoom lens, a 3.0-inch Tilt Display, and a Movie Zoom toggle that’s built right onto the lens. This device works with a 16MP CMOS sensor and will be available in Black, White, or Red for $329.99 USD. Get the red, readers, it’s hot!

Finally there’s the Samsung ST72 Camera, bringing on a 3.0-inch LCD on the back, a 16MP sensor up front, and the ability to work with Vivid Live Panorama Shot, Smart Filters, and Magic Frame. This machine has a brand new 5x optical zoom F2.5 lens and will fit nicely in your front pocket. The ST72 will be appearing in Black, White, Red, or Plum for $119.99 USD.

Stick around our Samsung tag portal as well as our CES hub to see more up to the minute updates as well as hands-on action all week!

Samsung SMART CAMERA 2.0 unveiled with devices galore to run it is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.