ASUS Introduces ZenFone C in Malaysia
Pictured above is the ZenFone 4, a device we reviewed last Summer, and now ASUS is altering their formula a little bit to include a 4.5-inch ZenFone C specifically for the Malaysian market. We covered this news earlier in the week, and what is essentially a slightly larger version of the original ZenFone 4, the ZenFone C isn’t too bad a device for those that would be looking for their smartphone or a short and sweet device for not a huge amount of cash. You can read more here.
Airtel and Nokia Work Together to Bring FDD-LTE to More Indian Cities
Nokia Networks and Airtel have partnered together to bring FDD-LTE networks (running on 1800 mHz) in six new Indian regions including: Mumbai, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab and West Bengal. This is an interesting development and while Airtel is certainly dragging their feet when it comes to 4G in the country, there should be more progress throughout 2015, we hope. Sandeep Girotra, Vice President and Head of India, Nokia Networks said that Nokia’s ” rich experience gained in deploying FDD-LTE and TD-LTE to operators around the globe will ensure a fast and smooth network rollout. On top of that, our Flexi Zone solution will ensure the best possible LTE performance even in dense areas.” Hopefully, this is the beginning of faster and more reliable networks becoming the norm in India.
Meizu Unveil the M1; An Affordable 5-inch HD Handset
Earlier this week, Meizu announced their latest device for the Chinese market, and this one is super-affordable at just 699 Yuan and nice and colorful. The M1 follows in the footsteps of other recent launches from the company and will be offered in a variety of different colors. With a 5-inch 720p display and other respectable specs (that you can read about here), this is an interesting and fun launch for the company. You can take a closer look at the M1’s design here and read about the announcement here.
New Metal Band Options for the Moto 360 to Hit the UK in February
The Moto 360 is, for many, the only Android Wear watch to be considered. Those in the UK waiting for a metal strap option will soon be able to purchase the one you want. In 23mm options, it’ll be available in light black and silver whereas the 18mm option will be available in light gold. Motorola’s own statement on the matter is this: “From mid-February in the UK, Moto 360 will be available in a light metal or dark metal finish with a 23 mm band, and from mid-March it will be available in light gold with an 18 mm band. Crafted from aircraft-grade stainless steel, the new bands are as durable as they are beautiful and feature a modern, contemporary tri-link design that complements the round face of Moto 360.” These new options will cost around £229 and be available from the usual stockists of the Moto 360.
Nexus Player to Launch in Japan before the end of February
With the Nexus Player being only available in the US as of right now, it’s no wonder people have been waiting to see when Google would expand the device’s availability worldwide. Japan is set to be the first market outside of North America to get their hands on the first Android TV device and as a UK resident, I have to say I’m quite jealous. A Google Blog post from the Asia Pacific blog gives a price of 12,800 Yen and has said that it’ll be available before the end of February. For more on Android TV, don’t forget to read our review of the Nexus Player and our weekly Android TV feature!
Motorola Bring the ‘Moto’ Lineup to China, Including the Moto X Pro
Earlier this week, Motorola finally bought their products to China, with the whole 2nd-generation line of Moto products making their way East. That includes the Moto G, the Moto X and the Moto X Pro. If you’re unsure of what that is, it’s basically the Nexus 6 running Motorola’s software. It’s an interesting launch for sure, and we have all the info for you here and if you’re looking for more content, then we have all of that for you here.