ASUS ZenFone 2 Not Launching in Malaysia Until May 9th
Last week we thought that the ZenFone 2 line of devices from ASUS were to launch towards the end of April however, that’s no longer the case. ASUS has rejigged things and the launch is now slated for May 9th. This means there’s a longer wait for those interested in the device, but at least ASUS is holding a proper launch for the device. 1,000 lucky people will be chosen to attend the event for fans in Kuala Lumpur and those interested can register here.
Samsung Offers Engraving on the Galaxy A3, A5 and A7 in Russia
Not one to keep their current devices stale and boring, Samsung is running a promotion in Russia until the end of April. It allows users looking for a Galaxy A3, A5 or A7 to engrave their devices with a note and a choice of logos similar to tattoos. Like SamMobile’s imprint above, users can have their choice engraved directly into the metal build of the device. Those interested should move quickly in Russia however, as the promotion only runs until the end of April.
Android TV Arrives in France and Germany While Hong Kong Gets the Nexus 6
Google’s Play Store has been expanding their offerings worldwide for a few years now, and while countries outside of the U.S. still have to wait for new products, the wait isn’t quite as long anymore. The Nexus Player recently went on sale in the U.K. and now it’s available in France and Germany from the Play Store. Those interested in Android TV should check out our weekly feature and read a review of the Nexus Player here. Meanwhile, in the Far East, the Hong Kong Play Store has been blessed with the gigantic Nexus 6, which you can read a review of here.
Beijing’s Ninebot Acquires Segway, While Xiaomi Invests
This week there was interesting news coming from China, as Beijing-based Ninebot bought Segway, the company known for the two-wheeled contraption that literally takes you where you could go by just walking. For quite some time now, Segway hasn’t been doing all that way, and after being sold a number of times it looks like they’ve finally found a decent fit. This is amusing because Ninebot not only offers similar contraptions, but they also pointed the finger at Segway in a recent trade complaint. All this seems to be behind them however, as Segway’s president has said that “The strategic alliance with Ninebot will enable us to provide more intelligent and valuable products for our customers. We are fully confident about our future.” Not content with just absorbing Segway, Ninebot has also managed to score $80 Million in funding from all over the place, including investors like Xiaomi. Whether or not Xiaomi will become a player in the space or offer partnering services remains to be seen.
Mobilink Pakistan Offering 1GB of Free Data for a Year When Purchasing a Galaxy S6
While the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge might have launched throughout the world last week, some nations are still waiting for Samsung’s latest. In Pakistan, Mobilink is offering 1GB of free data per month for a year when somebody purchases a Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge. Of course, this is only 3G data, but that’s perhaps the best you’re going to get in the region, reliably anyway. Prices start at 78,999 Pakistani rupees for the Galaxy S6, with the Galaxy S6 edge starting at Rs. 92,999. Neither of those prices are cheap, but at least there’s a free gigabyte of data to consider here, right? Those interested can take a look at the offer from Mobilink here.
Xiaomi’s Redmi 1S Gets Global MIUI 6 Beta
In China, it’s pretty easy to get your hands on a pre-release version of MIUI, the ROM that runs on all Xiaomi devices, but if you don’t speak Chinese it’s been difficult for owners of older devices like the Redmi 1S. Now though, there is a global beta available, giving English speakers chance to get a hold of the latest version of MIUI, version 6. MIUI 6 brings with it a new approach to notifications and overall feels a lot snappier. Those interested in download the 600MB ROM to their Redmi 1S should take a look at the official instructions here.
LG Leon to Launch in Australia?
During Mobile World Congress, we got the chance to spend time with the LG Leon, one of many new mid-range handsets from the Korean manufacturer. While no official announcement has been made by LG, the device has appeared on their Australian website, and it looks like a launch is to happen sometime soon. It’s a 4.5-inch 854 x 480 device with Android 5.0 onboard and a 64-bit Snapdragon 410 running the show. With a 1,900 mAh battery it’s not going to break any records or anything, but to say this is a mid-range device these specs could be a lot worse. You can read more about the LG Leon on LG’s Australian site.
Motorola’s Champagne Gold Model to Hit the UK April 23rd
The Champagne Gold version of the Moto 360 has been available for some time in the States, but it’s heading to O2 in the UK starting April 23rd, in a bid to compete with the Apple Watch. Of course, at £249.99 it’s a whole lot cheaper and as we found in our review it’s a great smartwatch all round. This Champagne Gold model is, dare we say it, one for ladies with a slimmer 18mm band versus the 22mm bands on the normal version and well, it’s far more feminine than a simple steel disc. Sales for this new version of the Moto 360 start April 20th, with watches arriving April 21st provided they’re ordered before 10PM and starting April 23rd it’ll be available in general stores.
Xiaomi Reduce the Price of the Mi4 in India
In India, Xiaomi recently announced that they’re reducing the price of the Mi4 to just RS 17,999 for the 16GB version and to RS 21,999 for the 64GB version. The Mi4 has been available in the region for a while now, and for a 1080p device with a Snapdragon 801 and 2GB of RAM, this is the best price you’re likely to get in the region. Our review can be found here.