Two new touchpanel PCs have been launched by Advantech. The 12.1″ TPC-1251T and 15″ TPC-1551T units feature Advantech’s iDoor modular design; customers can use this to add desired functionality without adding unnecessary hardware and costs. The modules run Windows Embedded Server 7/Windows 7/Windows 8 on a 1.75GHz Intel Atom processor with 4GB of RAM (8GB optional). They are IP66-compliant, with a -20° – 60° operating temperature, vibration protection and a fanless design. Each has 1024 x 768 resolution and a 700:1 contrast ratio, with 600cd/m² (12.1″) or 400cd/m² (15″) of brightness. They feature mini-PCI-e, RS232, RS232/422/485, USB 3.0, USB 2.0 and RJ45 (x2) ports. Advantech’s new modules are available now; price is on application.
A new smartphone from Desay, a former OEM and Apple supplier now building its own brand, features a sapphire screen. The ‘Magical Mirror X5’, which is only on sale in China, costs CNY855 ($140), with a quad-core MediaTek processor, 13MP rear camera and 5MP front camera. Analysts told the Wall Street Journal that they believe the phone – or at least the sapphire version – will only be available in limited quantities, to promote Desay’s brand.
Fujitsu is releasing two new Arrows tablets and four Lifebook laptops in Japan. The tablets are the Q775/K (13.3″, 1920 x 1080, Broadwell Core i5/i7) and Q584/K (10.1″, 2560 x 1600, Atom CPU); as Arrows models, both are resistant to water, dust and chemicals (IPX5/7/8). They run Windows 8.1 and support accessories such as keyboards, docking stations and NFC readers.
The new notebooks are the U745/K (14″ ultrabook, 19mm thick, 1.55kg); 5935/K (13.3″, IGZO technology, 15.8-hour battery life or 20-hour with optional internal battery in the multi-bay); and two convertibles, the T935/K (13.3″ ultrabook-equivalent, 17.1mm thick, 1.59kg) and T725/K (12.5″, multi-bay design).
China’s K-Touch has launched two new Windows Phone 8.1 handsets. The K-Touch 5705A is a 5″ model with 1280 x 720 resolution, dual-SIM capability and a Snapdragon 200 chipset (quad-core, 1.2GHz), as well as 1GB of RAm and 8GB of storage. The same chipset and storage are used on the K-Touch 5703A, which has a 4.5″ display (854 x 480) and 512MB of RAM. The phones use IPS panels, apparently with ClearBlack (anti-reflective) screens – although that is a trademarked technology belonging to Nokia.
The G Flex 2, LG‘s newest smartphone, will be launched in Korea on the 30th January. The price will be ‘at the higher end’ of the KRW800,000 ($740) range.
Samsung‘s Gear VR (Display Monitor Vol 21 No 37) has been available in the USA since December. The product has now appeared on Samsung’s official websites in Sweden, Belgium and Germany, suggesting that a European launch is close. The price is listed at €170.
Coming soon, Sharp will launch a compact smartphone called the Aquos Mini in Japan. Like the Aquos Crystal (Display Monitor Vol 21 No 33), the Mini has thin bezels. It features a 4.5″ display (1920 x 1080) using Sharp’s IGZO technology, Snapdragon 801 CPU running Android 4.4 and a 13MP rear camera. It is also water-resistant. Sharp will also launch a clamshell (I know!) smartphone called the Aquos K SHF31. Running Android 4.4 on a Snapdragon 400 CPU, the device will be waterproof and boast a 3.4″ LCD display (960 x 540), with physical navigation keys and a number pad. Sharp is highlighting the HDR capabilities of the 13MP camera. Release dates and prices have not been shared.
