Google Assistant is prepping to expand in a big way this year. We’re expecting new hardware directly from Google, but today third-party manufacturers have announced new hardware that brings Google Assistant to a wider ecosystem. Earlier today we saw Mobvoi’s TicHome Mini, but Google’s partners aren’t stopping there.
Earlier this year, we checked out the Panasonic CM1. In short, it’s either an Android powered compact camera that can make phone calls, or a basic Android smartphone with an incredible camera. Either way, we were impressed by its image capture capabilities. Although it’s clearly a niche product, Panasonic has decided to follow it up with the CM10; a device that’s identical to the CM1 in all ways but one…
We’ve all heard the phrase that the best camera is the one you have on you, and now with the Panasonic CM1, that could finally be true. It’s possible to have a smartphone that takes amazing pictures. With a 1-inch sensor, Leica lens and some useful software tools, this is easily the best camera setup ever built into an Android device.
Perhaps taking a play out of Samsung’s playbook, Panasonic has announced its new Lumix CM1, a device that comes off as a point-and-shoot camera that also happens be a smartphone. Referred to as a “connected camera,” this hybrid gizmo features a 1-inch MOS sensor capable of capturing 4K video and 20-megapixel still shots. In addition to a hearty sensor, the Lumix CM1 packs a f/2.8 Leica DC Elmarit lens, along with a physical shutter button, which should give shutterbugs something to smile about.
Panasonic may have decided to stick to its Japanese home market for its mobile phones, but it hasn’t completely given up on selling Android phones in Europe: it has just announced an Android-based landline phone.
Android Central reports that the KX-PRX120 is a DECT cordless phone and base-station running a rather elderly Android 4.0.
[It has] a 3.5-inch HVGA (480×320) display, though the spec sheet doesn’t specify a processor type or RAM amount.
Besides the ability to make calls (obviously), you’re looking at a device with Wifi, Bluetooth and GPS capability, an 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls, microSD expandability and a 1450mAh battery. There’s also a 40-minute answer machine.
It’s clearly a mobile phone adapted for its home role (there not being an obvious need for GPS to navigate between the living-room and kitchen), but the low spec display and out-dated version of Android doesn’t point to a likely return to the global smartphone market anytime soon.
Full specs below:
Panasonic KX-PRX120 specifications
Sophisticated Design
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Rich Functionality
Well-connected Analyst Mingchi Kuo from KGI securities is known for his often accurate predictions (timing notwithstanding) of upcoming Apple products. He’s got a detailed report out today on the new Nexus 7 that he thinks will be announced at Google I/O and could ship as early as June or July in large numbers.
Perhaps the most interesting bit is that the entry level price will remain at US$199, with Google likely to lose US$5-10 per unit sold according to the analyst. Why is keeping the same price interesting? Because this thing is getting supercharged according to Kuo:
We think the new Nexus 7 will come with the following major spec upgrades: Qualcomm APQ 8064 processor; narrow bezel LTPS 7-inch high-resolution panel (1,920×1,200); 5MP AF rear camera lens; and wireless charging. We also think it will be much lighter and thinner than the previous version.
How light and thin? He’s saying that a smaller bezel around the edges and 7.5-8.5mm thinness should put it near or below the size and weight of Apple’s iPad Mini. He expects the next Mini 2 later this year.
Kuo expects Google/Asus to move 5M units in the second half of the year and continue with the same distribution strategies (selling at the Google Play Store and at retailers simultaneously).
We are positive on Nexus 7’s reception ahead of the iPad mini 2 launch given that the specs have been upgraded but the price has not been increased. However, tablet PC competition has become much fiercer this year, so we reckon new Nexus 7 year-on-year shipments growth will be limited.
It will be interesting to see how close to the current display size the new screen is. 1920×1200 is a 16:10 screen ratio just like the current 1280×800 but enlarging it a few points would go a long way in making it more competitive with Apple’s 7.9-inch iPad Mini, and with the shrunken bezel size, Asus could keep the same handheld form factor.
Since the introduction of Amazon’s 7-inch Kindle Fire tablet, the company quickly proved there is indeed a market for the $199 Android hybrid. As pointed out in a report from Taiwan Economic News today, Amazon already shipped approximately 5 million units of the tablet that launched last September. Backing earlier rumors that Amazon planned to launch a larger 8-inch Kindle Fire sometime during 2012, the report claimed Amazon would roll out three new models of the tablet this year:
In what looks like Toughbook tech for tablets, Panasonic Japan has announced a new lineup of rugged, built for business Android tablets.
The two models to debut in the BizPad tablet line include the 7-inch BizPad JT-580VT and the 10.1-inch BizPad JT-581VT. Both tablets, according to TechCrunch, are water-, dust-, and shock-proof, with the 10.1-inch model able to absorb impacts from up to an 80cm fall, and 120cm for the 7-inch.
The BizPad T-581VT(above) sports a 10.1-inch 1024×800 LCD display, built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, a 1.3-megapixel camera, weighs in at 700g. We aren’t sure when the device will be landing stateside, but Japanese users will get their hands on in January of next year.
The 7-inch T-581VT BizPad model (below) packs in 3G capabilities, a 5-megapixel camera, and a 7-inch 1024×600 resolution LCD display, built-in 802.11a/b/g/n, and weighs in at 400g. It’s doesn’t look as pretty as many of the other Android tablet alternatives, or even the 10.1-inch BizPad, but certainly looks like it can handle some abuse. This model will hit Japan in December.
Features included in both devices:
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Australian Business Traveler is reporting that Boeing has selected Android as the exclusive operating system for the entertainment system in the new 787 Dreamline aircraft. Boeing will use Android to provide flyers with music, video, and airline specific apps that will be embedded through touchscreen panels on the back of the headrest, built by Panasonic.
First class and business seats will have non-touchscreen panels, because they will be much larger, but will feature hand-gesturing — which is a prototype as of now.
Luckily, the touchscreen panels in coach will have wider viewing angles and will be less reflective of light than airplane screens that you see today. Also capacitative sensors will replace resistive touch.
For those of you who use laptops on airplanes, you’ll be thrilled to know the 787s will include laptop power sockets and USB ports on the menu for economy seats. Chromebooks, anyone?
There have already been 820 orders of the new 787 Dreamline aircraft, so the number of people that will be open to Android will be significant.
More shots after the break:
