The announcements from CES 2016 keep coming. Dell has what is possibly their biggest product launch ever and look to be aiming towards business customers. The Oculus Rift isn’t what some were hoping for and appears to be an expensive gaming experience unlike any other. Huawei has shown off the smartphone they’re going to be releasing in the US, and it’s a smartphone at an affordable price.
Dell is joining a long line of tech companies moving into the world of 2 in 1 laptop/tablets. The Latitude 12 7000 Series is thin and light with a range of customization for the user. The processor choice is between the Intel Core M3, M5 or M7 and the operating systems available are Windows 10 or Windows 8. Even the screen comes with options: A premium 4K UHD model or a lower end full HD device. Dell is installing two Type-C/Thunderbolt USB 3.1 ports, an SD card reader and a slot for a micro SIM.
For those who are after something more affordable, there is the Dell Latitude 11 5000. The size of this 2 in 1 tablet is 11-inches, and there is only one USB 3.0 Type-C Port. The Latitude 11 5000 has a micro HDMI port, micro SIM card slot and a reader for SD cards. The processor options are the Intel Core M3 or M5 with either Windows 10 or Windows 8 as operating system choices. The screen is a full HD display, and there is a difference in the design of between the Latitude 12 and Latitude 11 2 in 1 tablets. Unlike some devices, Dell’s tablets come with keyboards.
Dell’s Latitude 13 7000 series laptops want to be the best for businesses who use Windows. The Latitude 13 is an upgrade of the previous XPS13 models from last year. The screen is to the edge with the InfinityEdge display. As with the devices mention above, there are options as to what screen you want. There is a non-touch model with 1080p or a QHD+ touch-screen. The processor of the Latitude 13 is no longer Intel’s Core i5 or i7 but Intel’s new Core M processor series. Which Core M processor you want inside your laptop is up to you.
The Oculus Rift has caused a bit of excitement with tech heads. Preorders are currently available with the price and release date announced. The 28th March will see customers able to get the Oculus Rift into their homes for $599. The sad news is that your PC will need to be very powerful to be able to use the Oculus Rift. There is a downloadable compatibility tool to help you find out if your current system is good enough or if you need to invest in something new. In the Oculus Rift pack will come a Xbox One controller, an external tracking camera and the Oculus Rift remote (Which was announced at CES 2016).
The Oculus Rift remote is there to make guiding yourself around a VR experience easier and more intuitive. A trackpad, back, home and plus/minus buttons are found on the remote. Beyond the announcement of its existence little else was mentioned about it.
Huawei has been looking for a way into a US market saturated with the choice for smartphones. The device that Huawei believes can get a foothold in the US market is the Honor 5X. Possibly what sets apart the Honor 5X is the price – $199.99.
The specs inside the Honor 5X are 2GB RAM with a Snapdragon 615 processor. The battery is 3,000mAh, and the camera is 13MP with a f/2.0 lens. The build of the Honor 5X is a metal frame and fingerprint sensor, something usually seen on more expensive smartphones. The OS that runs the Honor 5X is the only downfall for Huawei. It runs a version of Android Lollipop that has the feel and look of a bad iOS rip off. Perhaps Huawei missed the point – If a person wants an iOS phone, they go for an iPhone. While changing the stock version of Android is a good idea (Personally, I like when Android smartphones make themselves different through a customized Android OS), doing it in a way that rip offs iOS isn’t the way to go about it.
Lastly, Fitbit has given a look at Blaze, a smart fitness watch. Fitbit fell a little behind with the release of smartwatches, but if they can get the Blaze right, it’s a big step forward. The display is color LCD and pops out of the band. The Fitbit Blaze has an optical heart rate sensor but doesn’t have a GPS. The Blaze a big smartwatch and how it goes for users is yet to be seen until there’s been extensive testing done. Still, Fitbit is showing that it wants to keep up with the bigger companies.
