Work and play from home: Huawei MateBook X Pro full review

MANILA -- Having cracked the premium market for smartphones, Huawei is hoping to translate the same status with its laptops, tablets and wearable devices, notwithstanding these challenging times.

Its top-tier laptop, the MateBook X Pro, packs a bright, 3K touchscreen with almost no bezels, a powerful processor, stereo speakers and a slim profile encased in a sleek metal case.

The MateBook X Pro has been my only work and entertainment machine for several weeks now during the lockdown and it excels on both fronts. It also connects instantly to Huawei phones via Huawei share, a preview of the company's vision for a future of intertwined devices.

For this review, I came from a 2019 MacBook Pro, another reliable and gorgeous slab of tech that connects effortlessly with my iPhone and Apple TV.

WORK FROM HOME

Two things stand out when working on the MateBook X Pro, the screen and the keyboard.

Before I was willingly chained to desk work, I used an iPad as a work machine. It's light, portable and the touch panel makes multitasking and copy-pasting text easier.

The MateBook X Pro offered a similar experience, though moving around in lockdown meant shuttling between bedside table and kitchen table instead of shuttling from Manila to Makati.

I worked faster since I can touch buttons on the screen and use finger gestures as I would on a smartphone screen. The drawback: the nearly 14-inch, 3K screen is almost too beautiful and bright to touch. Huawei said the panel is coated to prevent smudges.

The keyboard is firm with a satisfying click when I type on it. It's just the right size for my hands. One thing I didn't have on my iPad work machine was a keyboard, for which Apple charges a fortune.

My gripe about the design: the trackpad is too small for my taste. It could be a bit taller and wider, like on my MacBook Pro.

The placement of the recessed camera is also horrible for Zoom or Microsoft Teams, inflicting unflattering views of my nose and gut on my colleagues. For video calls, it was back to smartphone only.

PLAY FROM HOME

The bright and crisp display comes with a loud set of speakers, located on the left and right edges of the keyboard.

I burned through seasons of "Travels with my Father" and "Nadiya's Time to Cook" on Netflix during 1-hour lunch breaks on the MateBook X Pro.

The 3000 x 2000 is pin sharp, I marveled at how well Heidi Klum and Naomi Campbell kept their 90s supermodel frames half a century past. 

Streaming "Market Edge with Cathy Yang" wasn't bad either, the audio sharp enough to transcribe on the fly.

Transferring photos from the Mate 30 Pro and the P40 Pro was effortless thanks to Huawei Share.

As with other slim laptops, be careful when placing the device on uneven surfaces like a bed, pillow or couch. It will heat up. In such case, reboot and rest a few minutes.

I can't give a full verdict on battery life as I have this inexplicable compulsion to top up midday. On days I forget to plug in though, I went from 8 a.m. to mid afternoon on around 80 percent brightness. That's more than enough power for an afternoon of pretend working at a cafe.

IT WILL COST YOU

The MateBook X Pro retails for P119,990. That's asking a lot, but consider that it can replace my MacBook Pro at the same price point.

Get the MateBook X Pro if you want a premium, powerful laptop that can last a couple of years. It has a beautiful display, blistering performance and a firm keyboard. No one wants a limp set of buttons.

If you're budget conscious, the MateBook D 15 at P37,990 is a solid choice.

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Apple launches new MacBook Pro

Apple Inc on Monday launched an updated version of its MacBook Pro, with modified keyboards as the laptop line had faced criticism for typing-related problems, while boosting performance and adding storage.

Apple said its new lineup of MacBook Pro was available to order and was priced at $1,299, while its education-focused model was priced at $1,199.

MacBooks account for 9 percent of the company's total revenue.

The new keyboard follows the "scissor" mechanism more commonly found in the industry.

The iPhone maker switched back to the mechanism, discarding the "butterfly" keyboards, after it complaints of sticky, unresponsive keys and keystrokes that failed to register when tiny amounts of dust or debris accumulated under or near keys. 

(Reporting by Neha Malara and C Nivedita in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)

-reuters-

New Lenovo Legion gaming devices to be available in PH in June 2020

MANILA -- Lenovo recently unveiled its new line of Legion gaming products, each promising a blend of performance, sleek design, and value.

The 2020 lineup includes two new PCs and six new laptops, with many of them fitted with the latest 10th Gen Intel Core H-Series or AMD Ryzen 4000 Series mobile processors, and up to the recently announced NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti and RTX 2080 Super with Max-Q Design.

The products also come with the Lenovo Legion Coldfront 2.0 thermal management for better air flow and lower system temperatures; a TrueStrike keyboard for 100% anti-ghosting and sub-millisecond response times; Dual Burn to optimize CPU and GPU performance; and Hybrid Mode, NVIDIA Advanced Optimus, and Rapid Charge Pro for extended battery life up to eight hours.

Ian Tan, Asia-Pacific Gaming Lead at Lenovo, said they aim to address the needs of the "avid gamer" with the new Legion products.

In Lenovo's first virtual meeting with members of the Philippine media, he described their target market as those "who love performance and high-end gaming products but want a balance in their lives as well."

"Their average age is about 38. They've been playing games for about 30 years, from PCs to consoles," Tan said, noting that this group is a mix of 60% male and 40% female gamers. 

"Many of them have jobs... They work hard in the day and they play hard after work," he added.

Citing a consumer survey they conducted in 2018, Tan mentioned poor configuration options and thermal design, short battery life, washed out or inaccurate colors, mushy laptop keyboards, and sub-optimal designs as their target market's main pain points. 

He said many "avid gamers" are also turned off by the loud colors and designs normally associated with gaming laptops which could easily stand out in an office setting. 

"We wanted to bring maximum gaming to them while giving them a stylish design," he said. "People are sort of threatened by the scary colors and designs... it's hard to bring gaming laptops in the boardroom."

The new Lenovo Legion gaming devices are expected to be available in the Philippines starting in June, with prices ranging from P56,995 for the 15-inch Lenovo Legion 5 to P119,995 for the top-of-the-line Lenovo Legion 7i.

"The virus situation definitely has affected every business out there, but I'm glad to say that Lenovo has managed to weather through these difficulties," Tan said.

"We're on track to launch Legion in the same time frame as original plan," he added.

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Huawei's MateBook X Pro makes case for premium, touchscreen laptop

MANILA -- Huawei on Wednesday debuted the MateBook X Pro in the Philippines, the latest in a stream of low key launches for premium products with most of the world on lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shenzhen-based Huawei is promising powerful performance in a sleek, stealthy metal frame, aiming squarely at the top of the premium everyday laptop heap.

With a 91-percent screen-to-body ratio that trumps the Macbook Pro, the 3K (3000 x 2000) 13.9 inch panel offers an immersive experience. Text and images are sharp and the screen is bright enough to keep it at around 70 percent in our initial tests.

The 10-point touch screen offers a new way of interacting with the device which can make work faster by easing the burden on the trackpad. Think using an iPad pro as a work machine, but with a reliable keyboard.

The screen is meant to be touched, Huawei said, made out of Gorilla Glass with an anti-fingerprint coating.

The wide keyboard with backlit keys feels solid when typing and hides the camera in the topmost row, as in the MateBook D15. The power button doubles as a fingerprint sensor for added security.

Huawei is positioning its laptops like its smartphones in terms of battery endurance. The 57 Wh lasted for a full day of work from home in our initial test. The bundled 65-watt charger also supercharges Huawei smartphones and wireless earbuds cases.

The MateBook X Pro comes with Huawei Share for seamless file sharing between phone and laptop. It runs on the 10th generation Intel Core i7 with 16GB RAM and 512GB to 1TB of internal storage.

We will be coming out with a full review in the coming weeks. Here are the full specifications.

The MateBook X Pro will retail for P119,990. Pre-order customers from April 15 to 24 will get P11,990 worth of freebies: a backpack, mouse and Freebuds 3 wireless earphones.

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Huawei debuts upgraded Mate Xs 5G foldable, bets on connectivity ahead of P40 series

MANILA -- Huawei on Monday unveiled its newest foldable smartphone, tablet and laptop, betting on an interconnected ecosystem of devices and software as it reasserted itself in the face of new devices from Samsung and Apple.

The world's largest supplier of telecommunications equipment debuted the new additions to its Mate line of premium devices ahead of the P40 series, its photography-centered line of premium smartphones that is expected be unveiled in March. The P40 phones will compete directly with Samsung's Galaxy S20 series.

In a global livestream, the Shenzhen-based tech giant unveiled the Mate Xs foldable phone; the MateBook X Pro laptop with a near borderless display; and the MatePad Pro, a productivity focused tablet.

The Mate Xs is made from sturdier materials and has an improved hinge that allows the display to unfold into an 8-inch tablet. Huawei also upgraded the processor to its latest in-house Kirin 990, said Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei consumer business group.

The quick charging battery charges up to 85 percent in half an hour and lasts 20 percent longer than the original Mate X. The Mate Xs has 4 Leica-engineered cameras, he said.

The Mate Xs will be available internationally in March for 2,499 euros (roughly P138,0000). There was no immediate word on availability on the Philippines.



The MatePad Pro, aimed squarely at Apple's iPad Pro has a 10.8 inch screen with a 90-percent screen-to-body ratio, compared to 84.6 percent on the Apple device. It supports up to 40-watt fast charging and runs on Kirin 990, Yu said.

Also like the iPad Pro, the MatePad pro can be used with Huawei's own M Pencil and a keyboard that doubles as a case. Prices start at 549 euros (roughly P30,000) and will be available from April.

The MateBook X Pro has 3,000 x 2,000 resolution touch screen with a 91-percent screen-to-body ratio. It runs the 10th generation of Intel's Core i7, Yu said. Prices start at 1,499 euros (roughly P82,000)

Huawei is building its own AppGallery to compete with Google's Play Store and Apple's iOS App Store, he said.

A launch event in Barcelona for the new devices was scrapped, along with the entire Mobile World Congress to prevent the spread of a new coronavirus strain.

"We want to make sure your health and safety comes first so this new and unique format is arranged for your comfort," Yu said.

Acknowledging a "tough" 2019 for Huawei in 2019, Yu said annual revenue grew 18 percent while smartphone shipments grew 16.8 percent, Yu said.

Personal computer sales grew 200 percent while wearables grew 170 percent, he said.

The current year will be a "takeoff year" for 5G, as Huawei has so far shipped 10 million devices with the new connectivity standard, he said.

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Huawei's Matebook D feels like a MacBook, at half the price

MANILA -- With the look and feel of a Macbook, Huawei is making the case for a notebook that performs as well as it looks, and as is typical for the Chinese tech giant, at a much lower price point.

Unveiled in Manila on Wednesday, the 15-inch Matebook D is billed as a productivity machine (typing, graphic design) and a productivity killer (read: Netflix).

The Matebook D is "is the most balanced between design and cost," said George Li, Philippines country manager for Huawei consumer business group. "It will be an affordable but premium product."

Huawei is working to increase connectivity between devices under one ecosystem, he said.

The 15.6-inch IPS display, with its 87-percent screen-to-body ratio is immersive and big enough to place spreadsheets and documents side-by-side or streaming video in full screen. It maxes out at Full HD (1920×1080).

The Matebook D is powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 3500U chip and Radeon Vega 8 Graphics. It has 8GB memory and a 256GB solid state hard drive with the option to add up to 1TB hard drive.



The Matebook D booted up fast and switching between windows was easy. Huawei claims it can handle multiple open tabs up to "double digits," but we'll have to test that in our full review.

Coming from a 13-inch Macbook Pro (and sometimes, a similar sized HP Pavilion), the Matebook felt big and heavy. The near bezel-less screen however, helped limit the notebook's footprint.

The upside to huge laptops: the keyboard and trackpad are also big, which I require for long hours of typing. The keys felt more tactile compared to the Macbook, which feels a little limp (especially the 12-inch model from a couple of years back).

The spaces beside the keyboards, however, are bare unlike the Macbook which houses speakers. Sound comes from the rear of the machine, which could get muffled if you use it on your bed or on your couch.

What I liked about the Matebook D, which other notebooks don't have, is Huawei Share, the Airdrop of this ecosystem. For the Matebook to Mate or P Series link, users can tap to transfer files and mirror the phone screen on the laptop screen.

Beyond mirroring the phone screen, users can drag and drop files between laptop and smartphone by simply navigating the laptop display. Imagine shooting hundreds of photos on your P30 or Mate 30 in a day and reviewing your shots on a 15-inch screen without cables or a WiFi connection.

The bundled charger is also slim and light and works with Huawei phones with USB-C ports. That's one less charger in the traveling electronics bag.

The power button also doubles as a fingerprint sensor for added convenience. Huawei says users can turn on the device and log into the device with just one press.

See the full specifications of the Huawei Matebook D 15" below. We will be posting a full review in the coming weeks.

The Matebook D 15" will retail for P37,990 and will be available on Feb. 15. Pre-orders start on Feb. 8.

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Twin-screen Duo puts Microsoft back in smartphone game

SAN FRANCISCO, United States - Microsoft on Wednesday unveiled new Surface devices with twin-screens that open like books, including a notepad-sized version that will put it back in the smartphone game next year.

Surface Duo was touted as the first device in the lineup to fit into a pants pocket, with two "paper-thin" 5.6-inch screens that unfold and work in harmony with a specially tailored Android operating system.

Described as a "new category" of device, Duo can make telephone calls and run applications designed for Google-backed Android mobile software, which powers most of the world's smartphones.

"You are going to talk about it as a phone, and I get that," Microsoft chief product officer Panos Panay said at a Surface event in New York of Duo, which will be available late next year.

"You can text; you can write; you can do what you want, make no mistake this product is a Surface."

The Duo and a separate foldable Neo tablet came as a surprise at a New York event where the tech titan unveiled its latest lineup of Surface computing devices.

Microsoft years earlier surrendered the smartphone market to operating systems from Apple and Google after its own line of Windows-powered handsets failed to gain traction.

While it has been emphasizing its cloud computing and other business services, Microsoft still draws considerable revenue from Windows, the software that powers the vast majority of PCs.

Third time a charm?

Smartphones and tablets tuned to Microsoft's subscription-based, cloud-hosted applications work into the company's successful shift away from relying on packaged software.

Microsoft has achieved strong growth from its cloud services and revenues from its Xbox gaming business, Bing search, Surface tablets and PCs, as well as the professional social network LinkedIn acquired in 2016.

As its Windows mobile phone business struggled to gain traction, Microsoft acquired the device business of Finland-based Nokia in 2014 for some $7.2 as part of a reboot effort.

But that failed and Microsoft eventually threw in the towel on its Windows mobile operating system which failed to get a foothold in the sector dominated by Apple's iOS and Google's Android.

"I believe the third time's a charm for Microsoft and smartphones as conditions for a Surface smartphone's success have turned in favor of the company," said analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy.

"The timing is right, too, as it'll take a new and radical foldable design to wake buyers from their 'good enough' slumber."

Microsoft argued that building on the Android mobile operating system provides a good foundation for Duo and can help replace larger devices such as tablets and laptops in many cases.

"We wanted to build experiences that span all devices in our lives," Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella said at the Surface event.

At the event on Wednesday, the US technology titan unveiled a Neo dual-screen, foldable version of its full Surface tablet, which like the Duo will be release late next year.

Microsoft also unveiled new Surface laptops and earbuds to hit the market in time for the year-end holiday shopping season this year.

"All in all, this was a huge event for Microsoft with new form factors, new use cases, and processor choices," Moorhead said.

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Apple recalls MacBook Pros over battery fire risk

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple has recalled a number of its older generation MacBook Pro because their batteries may overheat and "pose a fire safety risk." 

The recall affects 15-inch MacBook Pros with Retina displays sold between September 2015 and February 2017, the company said, adding it would replace batteries free of charge.

A number of countries are covered by the recall.

In mainland China, around 63,000 units may be affected by the problem, China's State Administration for Market Regulation said.

The regulator said there have been 6 reported incidents of overheating among laptops that qualify for the recall in China.

The tech giant, however, said it had not received any reports of significant damage to computers or injuries due to the defect, but urged owners of the affected devices to stop using them immediately.

It said a dedicated recall website has been set up where users can input the serial number to determine if their computer is affected.

The company said the recall does not include newer 15-inch MacBook Pro units or Apple laptops of other sizes and variations.

The battery recall marks the second technical glitch to affect Apple laptops this year. Last month, the US behemoth confirmed that some of its newer laptops had problematic keyboards and offered free replacements to affected customers.

In 2016, South Korean phonemaker Samsung suspended sales of its Galaxy Note 7 handset after devices caught fire due to flawed batteries exploding.

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Virus-packed laptop sells as artwork for over $1.3 million

WASHINGTON -- For Chinese artist Guo O Dong, the simple black Samsung laptop computer, loaded with six potent viruses, symbolizes one of the world's most frightening threats.

On Tuesday his creation "The Persistence of Chaos" rocked the art world, selling for more than $1.3 million (P68 million) in a New York online auction.

There's nothing special about the 2008 10-inch Netbook, running Microsoft's now-outdated Windows XP. 

But loaded onto its memory chips are the computing world's equivalents of the most deadly infectious diseases: "I LOVE YOU" from 2000, "Sobig" of 2003, "MyDoom" (2004), "DarkTequila" (2013), "BlackEnergy" (2015), and the most notorious of all, the "WannaCry" ransomware from two years ago.

It is a powerful symbol of the threat on simple laptop can pose to the entire world. The six trojans, worms and malware loaded on it have caused at least $95 billion in damage around the world, according to Guo.

Guo is an internet artist "whose work critiques modern day extremely online culture," the auction site, organized by cybersecurity group Deep Instinct, said.

The computer, viewed via an online video stream, is harmless in its auction state -- turned on, but not connected to any network or the internet.

The auction site says it is "airgapped" -- its wireless and internet connections physically and electronically plugged. 

But it comes with ominous warning to the buyer not to unleash its pathogenic programs -- possible by unplugging its connection hardware, or by simply inserting a thumb drive.

The site stresses that the artwork is for research use only, saying that anyone who submitted a bid contractually agreed that they "have no intention of disseminating any malware." 

At the same time, the site appeared to acknowledge that the buyer might not heed the agreement. 

"Please remember that these are live and dangerous malware samples," it said.

"Running them unconstrained means that you will infect yourself or others with vicious and dangerous malware."

The buyer was not identified.

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AsusPro business laptop: A featherweight that packs welterweight punch

MANILA - Business laptops are all about portability, power and battery life. As a category, they may not always be the prettiest of the lot, but in terms of practicality, they are at the top. 

The AsusPro doesn’t have the refined looks of the Taiwanese electronic company’s flagship ZenBooks, or the graphics processing muscle of its ROG gaming laptops. But at a little over 1 kilogram in weight, the Asuspro is much much lighter than either of them. For most business tasks, the AsusPro also gets the job done, plus a little more. 

Our review unit, dubbed the P5440, came with an 8th generation Core i5 processor running at 1.8 GHz, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB solid state drive, which are pretty standard for this class of laptops. But the AsusPro can also be configured to have up to 16GB of RAM and an additional 1TB hard disk drive. There’s also an option for a faster Core i7 processor.

The laptop has a 14 inch 1080p IPS screen that’s easy on the eyes, and thanks to its matte coating, doesn’t reflect much glare. The screen can also be tilted 180 degrees, which allows users to flat-lay the laptop on a table. This is a feature that could come in handy during a business huddle or a collaboration meeting when several people need to see what you are presenting on the screen. 

The screen however doesn’t swivel 360 degrees like in 2-in-1 models. You can’t use this notebook as a presentation screen, or a tablet like the Lenovo Yoga or Asus’ own Zenbook Flip and Vivobook Flip series. The screen also doesn’t support touch input nor does its trackpad function as an extra display like in Asus’ top-of-the-line notebook.

But what it lacks in bells and whistles, it makes up for in one feature that’s very important to a lot of business travelers: weight. The AsusPro weighed just 1.23 kg. As someone who was more used to lugging a 15-inch MacBook Pro, this notebook felt almost impossibly light. After using it for about 2 weeks, going back to my MacBook Pro felt like carrying a kettlebell. 

The AsusPro is even lighter than the MacBook Air, whose most affordable 13-inch version weighs 1.25 kgs. The only other laptop I could think of that was lighter is the 12-inch MacBook, which is 0.92 kgs. Tech pundits however have pointed out that these 2 lightweight laptops from Apple both scrimp on ports and require users to carry dongles for peripherals.

The AsusPro meanwhile gives business users numerous I/O ports. If you need to connect external drives, monitors, projectors, speakers or just look at the photos and videos from your camera, the AsusPro has you covered. You don’t need to lug around a lot of dongles to connect peripherals to this machine as it has 1 USB-C port, 2 USB-3 ports, 1 HDMI port, an SD card reader, a power port and an audio jack. 

But in case you need to connect to older projectors that require a VGA port, Asus also sells a dongle for that. 

Since this laptop can connect via the superfast 802.11ac Wifi, there isn’t much need for a LAN port. But if you need faster gigabit access or your office supports the slower 802.11bg or 802.11n standards, you can also get a LAN dongle for this laptop. 

Dongles aren’t the most convenient solution, but it would have been silly to accommodate too many legacy ports on a laptop designed to be as portable as this. 

Typing on the AsusPro was excellent. I loved the feel of writing on this laptop because the keys were soft without being too feathery, and the layout was just right--it didn’t feel cramped at all. 
In low-light conditions, users can also turn on the keyboard’s backlighting. There’s also a fingerprint scanner next to the trackpad for extra security. 

Asus claims a 10-hour battery life for this laptop. I was never able to verify this, but casual days of web browsing, writing and watching videos on this machine for around 3 hours still left it with about 65 percent battery life, so the official estimate is probably not too far from real world conditions. 

This laptop also has enough processing power and memory to handle photo editing. It can even do some light video editing for business presentations or stuff that need to be uploaded to social media sites. But I wouldn’t recommend it for professional video editors.

The AsusPro’s magnesium alloy body also feels sturdy enough to handle the rigors of business trips and daily use.

For professionals who need a lightweight laptop that packs enough power for demanding business tasks, the AsusPro is a very solid choice.

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Apple finds problems in some iPhone X and MacBook Pro models

Apple Inc said it had found some issues affecting some of its iPhone X and 13-inch MacBook Pro products and said the company would fix them free of charge.

The repair offers are the latest in a string of product quality problems over the past year even as Apple has raised prices for most of its laptops, tablets and phones to new heights. Its top-end iPhones now sell for as much as $1,449 and its best iPad goes for as much as $1,899.

Apple said displays on iPhone X, which came out in 2017 with a starting price of $999, may experience touch issues due to a component failure, adding it would replace those parts for free. The company said it only affects the original iPhone X, which has been superseded by the iPhone XS and XR released this autumn.

The screens on affected phones may not respond correctly to touch or it could react even without being touched, the Cupertino, California-based company said.

For the 13-inch MacBook Pro computers, it said an issue may result in data loss and failure of the storage drive. Apple said it would service those affected drives.

Only a limited number of 128GB and 256GB solid-state drives in 13-inch MacBook Pro units sold between June 2017 and June 2018 were affected, Apple said on its website.

Last year, Apple began a massive battery replacement program after it conceded that a software update intended to help some iPhone models deal with aging batteries slowed down the performance of the phones. The battery imbroglio resulted in inquires from US lawmakers.

In June, Apple said it would offer free replacements for the keyboards in some MacBook and MacBook Pro models. The keyboards, which Apple introduced in laptops starting in 2015, had generated complaints on social media for how much noise they made while typing and for malfunctioning unexpectedly. Apple changed the design of the keyboard this year, adding a layer of silicone underneath the keys.

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Ahead of P20 flagship, Huawei launches laptop, tablet

BARCELONA - China's Huawei launched a new laptop and tablet on Sunday as it sought to cement its place among the world’s 3 biggest electronic device manufacturers.

The laptop, the Matebook X Pro, and the tablet, the MediaPad M5, were presented on the eve of the opening of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona -- the scene of previous major Huawei launches.

But this year the company will instead present its new flagship smartphone -- the P20 -- on March 27 in Paris, in what is seen as a bid not to be eclipsed by Samsung's launch of its new top end phone later Sunday.

"By launching the new P20 smartphones only a month later in Paris, Huawei will be able to fine tune its marketing message based on how the new Samsung S9 devices are perceived by consumers," said Forrester analyst Thomas Husson.

Both the new Huawei laptop and tablet feature long lasting batteries and quicker charge times and are available in grey and silver.

The laptop's power button doubles as a fingerprint scanner, which Huawei says will start and securely log into Windows in under eight seconds.

Huawei also unveiled what it said is the world's first commercial chipset that meets the standards of the super-fast 5G wireless networks which are poised to start being rolled out.

The company said the chipset can hit download speeds of 2.3 gigabits per second, significantly faster than speeds reached in current 4G networks.

Huawei remained the world's third biggest seller of smartphones in 2017, behind Samsung and Apple.

It boasted a 10.4 percent market share, up from 9.5 percent, according to research firm IDC.

Samsung had a 21.6 percent share while Apple held 14.7 percent.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

U.S. might ban laptops on all flights into and out of the country

The United States might ban laptops from aircraft cabins of all flights into and out of the country, John Kelly, Secretary of Homeland Security, said on Sunday.

In an interview on Fox News Sunday Kelly said the U.S. plans to "raise the bar" on airline security, including tightening screening of carry-on items.

"That's the thing that they are obsessed with, the terrorists, the idea of knocking down an airplane in flight, particularly if it's a U.S. carrier, particularly if it's full of U.S. people."

In March the government imposed restrictions on large electronic devices in aircraft cabins on flights from 10 airports, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Turkey.

Kelly said the move would be part of a broader effort to tighten airline security to combat what he called "a real sophisticated threat." He said no decision has been made as to the timing of any ban.

"We are still following the intelligence," he said, "and are in the process of defining this, but we're going to raise the bar generally speaking for aviation much higher than it is now."

Among the enhanced measures will likely be tighter screening of carry-on items to allow Transport Security Administration (TSA) agents to discern problematic items in tightly stuffed bags.

The reason, Kelly said, is that in order to avoid paying a fees for checking bags, people are stuffing them to the point where it is difficult to see through the clutter.

"The more stuff is in there, the less the TSA professionals that are looking at what's in those bags through the monitors can tell what's in them."

The TSA has begun testing certain new procedures at a limited number of airports, requiring people to remove additional items from carry-on bags for separate screenings.

Asked whether the government would expand such measures nationwide, Kelly said: "We might, and likely will."

On Friday Kelly told Fox News that if most people knew the extent of the security threat to the United States some people would "never leave the house."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Dell targets casual gamers with new Inspiron laptop

MANILA -- Casual gamers who are used to playing games on their mobile devices are returning to their PCs for higher-end games that demand more powerful graphics and faster performance.

This, according to Chris Papa, country manager at Dell Philippines, which recently announced its new Inspiron 7500 line of gaming laptops.

Rather than ride the wave of behemoth 17-inch gaming laptops like the MSI G-Series and the Acer Predator, Dell adopted the relatively compact 15-inch platform with the emphasis on compact portable gaming.

Despite this, the Inspiron 7500 packs a lot of gaming power in a 22-mm thick laptop. It can speedily do common tasks like word processing, spreadsheets and browsing. The demands of a gaming laptop will also allow users to run more processor-intensive software like AutoCAD and PhotoShop. In breaks between work, these laptops have the horsepower to run current-generation PC games on recommended settings at a decent frame rate.

PC games these days like Overwatch, Dark Souls and modded versions of SkyRim and Grand Theft Auto V demand a powerful processor and a lightning-fast graphics card -- not an easy task cramming these into a small package. The graphics are powered by an NVIDIA GTX960m with a 4GB DDR2 memory to power its 15-inch display.

The Inspiron 7500 comes in two configurations. The base Inspiron 7566 i5 (SRP P49,990) with a 6th gen Intel i5 quad core processor with 4GB RAM, a 1TB hard disk and an HD display. The top-of-the-line Inspiron 7566 i7 (SRP P69,990) sports a 6th gen Intel i7 quad core processor, 8GB RAM, hybrid storage 256 GB SSD + 1TB Hard Disk and an Ultra HD/4K display should allow power users/gamers to enable all the graphical bells and whistles today’s games demand.

This writer thinks that the specs of the lower-end Inspiron 7655 i5 will leave gamers wanting. Paired with the slower i5, the 4GB onboard memory will need an upgrade to play 3D games at minimum settings.

The specs of the Inspiron 7655 i7 are competitive with 15-inch gaming laptops like the HP Omen and the Lenovo Ideapad Y700, although the i7 variant is a little bit more expensive because of the SSD option which should result in a significant speed boost.

All these high-end components generate loads of heat. The Inspiron 7600 cooling system sports dual fans and multiple exhaust ports around the laptop’s chassis to keep the machine cool and prevent internal damage.

The Inspiron 7500 is a laptop that will keep local gamers who want to happily bring around their gaming rigs. That is, until Dell brings its Alienware monster gaming laptops to the Philippine market.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

LOOK: HP unveils world's thinnest laptop

Hewlett Packard (HP) has grabbed the title for the world's thinnest unveiled laptop.

The tech company has unveiled a new ultraportable that weighs only a little over two and a half pounds.

The HP Spectre is only over a centimeter thick and boasts about 10 hours of battery life.

Public can pre-order the world's thinnest laptop for a staggering $1,700 or just about P78,000.

This is the latest effort of the company to boost its slumping PC division since it reported a huge plummet in laptop and desktop sales in 2015.

-Mornings @ ANC, April 6, 2016

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Best-rated' Acer Chromebook now available in PH

MANILA - Telco giant Smart Communications Inc. has announced the arrival of one of the "best-rated" Chromebooks in the Philippines.

In an announcement made Friday, the Acer Chromebook C720 will be available for free through the company's Smart Bro Plan 999 and comes with the Smart Bro Pocket WiFi loaded with 50 hours of mobile internet per month.

"Now, users have an affordable yet best-in-class option for their laptop needs with the Acer Chromebook C720 from Smart Bro," claimed Michele Curran, Data and International Services Marketing Head at Smart.

"We're proud to partner with global giants such as Acer and Google to bring this next-generation mobile device to Filipinos nationwide," she added.

Unlike conventional laptops, Chromebooks uses Google's own Chrome OS, which promises instant connection to the Internet from boot-up to welcome screen in less than 8 seconds.

The C720 measures only at 19.35 millimeters at its thickest point, making it one of the thinnest and lightest notebooks in the market today. It also features an 11.6-inch screen and boasts a battery life of over 8.5 hours in a single charge.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Dell launches new Inspiron laptops

Computer hardware manufacturer Dell on Thursday introduced the latest Inspiron 14 3000 Series laptops and Inspiron 14 and 15 5000 Series laptops which the company claimed can perform high-performing tasks.

“Students and parents alike want technology that helps them to be successful in their personal and educational pursuits,” Charlz Adano, marketing manager of Dell consumer group, said in a statement.

“Our new Inspiron laptops are a smart investment for families, providing the latest technology for productivity and entertainment in thin, space-saving designs,” he added.

Adano said the latest computing machines of the company have been designed with powerful processors, high-capacity hard drives and responsive 10-finger touch displays up to full high definition (HD) resolution. These, he said, are some of the options designed to meet the needs of consumers’ diverse lifestyles.

Further, Adano said Dell added new features such as the 20GB of Dropbox cloud storage for sharing, saving and collaborating, and facial recognition software to make using password-enabled web sites safer.

He said the new Inspiron 14 3000 are loaded with lots of hardware configurations to enable consumers to select the model best suited to their needs. With built-in DVD drives, up to 1TB of storage and optional touch panels, the Inspiron 3000 Series laptops are backed by long-lasting battery.

Meanwhile, he said the new Inspiron 14 and 15 5000 Series laptops are well-suited for a day spent roaming across the campus or sharing screen time among family members. He said families will be excited by doing mobile computing with the enhanced by high-end options like a backlit keyboard and Full HD touch display

The Inspiron 14 and 15 5000 Series are showcased within an attractive, brushed aluminum lid, and the 10-finger capacitive touch option makes it easy to scroll, zoom, and tap through documents or social media status updates.

The laptops are powered by 4th Generation Intel Core i processors that help extend battery life, up to 8 hours, 9 minutes for the Inspiron 14 5000[i] and up to 7 hours, 33 minutes for the Inspiron 15 5000.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Acer launches 8 touchscreen products

MANILA -- Acer on Friday launched eight new touchscreen-based products equipped with the latest Windows 8.1 operating system.

Manuel Wong, general manager of Acer Philippines, said the latest products have better features as a result of the continuous innovation programs of the company.

“They are thinner, better features and longer battery life,” he boasted.

Anchored on its worldwide campaign “A Touch More,” the latest Acer products play a big emphasis in the growing “touch" product category.

Acer has raised the bar with the Aspire S7-392 by making it a mere millimeter thicker than its predecessor, boosted processing power with fourth-generation Intel Core processors and the introduction of the “Acer Purified Voice” to lessen the noise for voice recognition and voice over Internet protocol applications. It has an aluminum frame that is designed to withstand the rigors of mobile computing.

The Aspire S3, also called the little brother of S7, comes in a slim and stylish design complemented by strong enhancements led by the fourth genration Intel Core chips to enhance the productivity of a user in office or personal requirements.

For users who enjoy using laptops and tablets, the Aspire R7-571 has the “Ezel” hinge that enables the versatile machine to transform from a normal notebook into a tablet by simply reversing the screen with its pad mode, or as a digital drawing board.

For massive gaming requirements, Acer has also boosted the computing power of the V3-772 with a fourth generation Intel Core chips up to 2 terabit of storage space or 1 terabit through the 256 gigabit (GB) solid state drive (SSD), or through the AcerCloud for bigger storage space. Furthermore, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M delivers high quality visual applications along with Dolby Home Theater sound system for quality sound.

In mobile handheld devices, Acer introduced the Iconia W4 that can be used both as a fun and a productive tool in terms of viewing, creating and editing documents while a user is on the road or rushing in-between vital appointments. The Iconia also has the “Zero Air Gap” technology, the touch capacity and liquid crystal display (LCD) screen designed to provide superior clarity.

In the desktop category, users can take a crack at the All-in-One (AIO) personal computer like the Acer Aspire ZC602 and the famous Acer Aspire U5-610. The Aspire ZC602 is a versatile computing machine that does not only deliver basic computer needs at home but also has user-friendly features such as the “Acer Remote” to enable a user to connect with other Windows 8 mobile devices.

Meanwhile, the Aspire U5-610 delivers better daily computing performance with its Intel Core processors and 16 gigabit of DDR3 1600 megahertz synchronous dynamic random-access memory that can boost the performance to 15 percent and load any application twice faster.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Dell Unveils The XPS 14z

MANILA, Philippines — Dell has unveiled its XPS 14z laptop, one of the thinnest fully featured 14-inch laptops featuring an internal optical drive and discrete graphics option. The latest in a series of thin-and-powerful solutions from Dell that include thin laptops, desktops and accessories, the XPS 14z delivers performance that impresses and design that inspires. Professionals now can power through their day at work and kick back at night to take advantage of the system’s HD screen to watch movies or video.

The XPS 14z is a sleek laptop with a compact design that measures in at less than an inch thin. The unique design also maximizes screen size, delivering a 14-inch screen in a 13-inch form factor.

The XPS 14z is the latest member of Dell’s portfolio of thin-and-powerful solutions, and the second such solution in the XPS family, joining the successful XPS 15z laptop.

Dell’s thin-and-powerful solutions now include the Inspiron 13z laptop, Inspiron 14z laptop, and the Inspiron One all-in-one computer that are ideal solutions for parents and students, as well as the Vostro V131 laptop for small businesses. All solutions are designed to deliver impressive performance in beautiful packages.

The XPS 14z is the classic example of style and substance. Customers will get more with this laptop: more screen size, and surprising portability for such a fully-loaded laptop.

The 14-inch HD display easily fits into a 13-inch laptop form factor –while offering 10 percent more viewing area than a 13.3” display. And starting at just 4.36 pounds1, less than an inch thin, and up to six hours, 42 minutes of battery life2, it also has the easy portability of a 13-inch laptop. The XPS 14z’s uncompromising performance helps busy professionals achieve their personal and professional pursuits – and look good while doing it. The XPS 14z is visually striking, with a slim, yet powerful form synonymous with innovation. Its anodized-aluminum finish is stylish and sophisticated, and the latch-less design is simple, yet elegant.

“The XPS 14z delivers what professionals want – raw power paired with a stunning, sophisticated design that signals ‘I’ve arrived’,” said Chris Papa, Country Manager, Consumer and Small Business, Dell Philippines. “The XPS 14z is specifically engineered to help our customers do more in their personal and professional lives – and it advances our industry-leading vision for thin-and-powerful solutions that deliver performance without compromise.”

“When Dell looks at innovation and product development, we start with the customer. For us, it’s about delivering the right feature-set and design to provide the best user experience for our customers,” said Sam Burd, vice president of Dell’s Consumer and Small/Medium Business product group.

Dell XPS laptops come with the Dell Stage user interface, which offers one-click access to favorite content including music, photos and video. SyncUP powered by Nero can keep content and personal information synched with other Stage-enabled Dell PCs and mobile devices.

Editor's Note: A performance laptop, that is how best to describe the XPS 14z. With second-generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, an HD WLED display, a slot-load optical drive and NVIDIA graphics option, heavy stuff!

source: mb.com.ph

ASUS Eee PC 1025 Flare Series with 2-Second Resume

MANILA, Philippines — ASUS has launched the Eee PC 1025 Flare Series, an Intel Atom Cedar Trail-powered netbook with a brand new design. The latest Intel Atom dual-core processor offers four times the graphical performance compared to the previous generation, while consuming less battery. The Eee PC 1025 comes equipped with the exclusive ASUS Super Hybrid Engine II with Instant On technology, which enables 2-second resumption from sleep mode and up to twenty-one days of standby time. Full HD 1080p video playback on HDTVs comes by way of the HDMI output port and the Eee PC 1025 provides Blu-ray 2.0 support as well. Connectivity is a breeze too with the built-in USB 3.0, DLNA, and Wi-Fi Direct.

Brand new design, both inside and outside

The Eee PC 1025 Flare Series comes in eleven different colors, including Addict Pink, Mysterious Blue, and Plucky Purple. ASUS has also enhanced the design through additions such as the metallic-like finish on the lid, as well as chrome accents around the sides of the netbook. With the exclusive ASUS Super Hybrid Engine II technology with Instant On, the Eee PC 1025 can resume from sleep in just two seconds. With up to twenty-one days of standby time, users need not worry about running out of battery. Finally, built-in data security features ensure zero data loss, with user data automatically saved to the hard drive when the battery drops below 5%.

Powerful performance with long battery life

The Eee PC 1025 Flare Series comes equipped with the latest Intel Atom Cedar Trail dual-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz, and supports up to 2GB of DDR3 memory and up to 500GB of hard drive space. Users will also receive 3GB of cloud storage space on ASUS WebStorage.

The latest Intel Atom processor offers six times the graphical performance compared to previous generations, and fully supports Blu-ray quality videos. Super Hybrid Engine II technology manages the battery life to give users up to twelve hours of use with one charge.

Multimedia and sharing

The Eee PC 1025 Flare Series provides Full HD 1080p video playback. Built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0 keeps users connected; while USB 3.0** provides data transfer speeds ten times faster than USB 2.0.

With DLNA support, users can stream music, photos, and videos to any DLNA-compatible devices in the home, such as the flat-panel TVs. Wi-Fi Direct enables users to transfer files wirelessly between the Eee PC 1025 and other devices directly without having to go through a network. This is very convenient for file sharing on-the-go.

USB Charge lets users charge electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, via the USB port even when the Eee PC 1025 is powered off.

Smart camera

The Smart Camera features a 4x zoom, which allows users to quickly focus their images depending on how far they are sitting away from the camera. A convenient sliding cover is also included with the webcam to increase privacy.

source: mb.com.ph