#IFA2017 Day 2: Of phones & speakers The second day of the IFA 2017 saw the unveiling of a host of unique smartphones and a range of AI-based speakers
After a range of unique gadgets made an appearance on the first day of IFA 2017, it was time for the smartphone manufacturers to show what they could do. However, various companies also showcased their individual take on smart speakers running either Google’s Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa or even both. Some of these devices will surely have an impact on the world of technology, changing trends and priorities. Check out some of the best that caught our attention:
Sony is a name synonymous with premium smartphones flaunting some of the best camera modules seen on mobile devices. For 2017, their revamped lineup brings premium features in the traditional form factor. The Xperia XZ1 is the flagship model built on a Snapdragon 835 SoC with 4GB RAM and a 5.2-inch Full HD display.
The phone runs on Android Oreo and its 19MP rear camera, apart from a plethora of camera tricks, can capture 3D portraits of subjects, which can be later used as a live wallpaper or even 3D-printed.
This is essentially the XZ1 in a compact polycarbonate body and 4.7inch 720p display. The Xperia XA1 Plus is a mid-range device with 5.5-inch HD display, MediaTek Helio P20, 23MP camera and 4GB RAM.
Motorola’s fabled X series makes a grand comeback, although as a mid-range smartphone with a premium build and certain neat tricks up its sleeves. The Moto X4 can play audio simultaneously through four Bluetooth speakers at once, courtesy of Tempow’s (a French startup) software baked into the OS. Then there’s a 12MP + 8MP dual camera setup that Motorola claims to deliver really good photos. Underneath the IP68 water resistant glass body (a first for Motorola), there’s a Snapdragon 630 SoC along with 3/4GB RAM and 32/64GB on-board storage underneath a 5.2-inch Full HD LCD display. To power the device, Motorola has packed in a 3000mAh battery with Moto’s TurboCharging tech. And, it also has the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Smart speakers are becoming the latest trend in the tech industry, with manufacturers either going for Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant or Google’s AI-based Assistant. Harman has used both in two separate speakers - the $249 (Rs 15,931) Harman Allure comes with four microphones, 360-degree sound and lighting as well as Bluetooth audio streaming. The Google Assistant has been reserved for its JBL subbrand speakers, namely the LINK 10, LINK 20 and LINK 300, each of them differing in size and battery capacity. However, all of them eliminate the Google Now button and instead solely depend on the ‘Ok Google’ hotword activation, which actually makes these smart. The JBL trio starts at $149 (`9,500) and go all the way up to $249 (`15,931).
After making Motorola a part of its core business, Lenovo has been trying to mould itself into an innovative tech company, with their innovative Moto phones and Lenovo tablets. When they decided to a smart speaker, they made the speaker a part of a smart dock. The Lenovo Home Assistant utilises the Tab 4 tablet to convert it into an Amazon Echo Show rival. With the tablet docked, the smart speaker can help users do video calling and all sorts of things that are possible with Amazon’s Alexa. The Home Assistant has two far-field microphones and 3W speakers. This is certainly an innovative approach to doing smart speakers, multiplying the productivity by multiple folds.
Now there is another Sony product here which was introduced at the IFA, but this is something they haven’t done before. Sony’s audio prowess has been put to good use with their first smart speaker whose name resembles that of a Japanese robot.
Nonetheless, the speaker belongs to the Google Assistant camp, which means that users have access to Google Search on demand.
The speaker is splashresistant, which means you can comfortably make it a part of your kitchen accessories without worrying about water spashes on the device. According to a statement from Sony Electronics, the speaker offers a 360-degree audio experience and has enough power to “comfortably fill the average room with sound”.
The speaker also supports Bluetooth as well as NFC and also sports a gesture control top that allows you to play music, skip music tracks, and adjust the volume as well.