Huawei to launch its own operating system

According to a leak on the GizmoChina website, Chinese manufacturer Huawei could be ready to release its own mobile operating system. As Samsung did with Tizen, Huawei could, in part, reduce its dependence on Android with its next smartphones.

This operating system, developed internally by Huawei, would be called Kirin OS and could, in the long run, replace Android on certain products. No leak has mentioned any precise details on the system, but this decision is hardly trivial, coming from the fourth biggest vendor of smartphones in the world. Until now, all of Huawei's products use Android, enhanced by a customized user interface (UI) on top, as is the case with other manufacturers. The idea of having its own operating system is following in the footsteps of what Samsung did with Tizen.

However, this is still only a rumor, and it shouldn't prevent Huawei from working simultaneously for Google on an upcoming Nexus smartphone.

Alternatives from various players

Carving out out market share against Android and iOS has become increasingly challenging for other operating systems; in this first part of 2015, according to IDC, the two account for more than 96% of smartphone sales around the world.

Samsung, in collaboration with Intel, has nonetheless developed Tizen, an open and multi-platform operating system that is compatible with Android and Firefox OS applications. Tizen is already built into some of the South Korean company's watches and on one low-cost smartphone, the Z1, which is sold in some emerging markets.

Other players are betting on the low-cost game, as exemplified by Mozilla and its Firefox OS, installed on certain entry-level smartphones. Firefox OS is designed to be used as an operating system across all different types of screens, from smartphones to televisions, in-car systems to connected watches. Computer software company Canonical also offers a low-cost alternative called Ubuntu Touch, a mobile version of Linux, already available in certain European countries.

Finally, Cyanogen, creators of CyanogenMod, a mobile operating system based on Android but that could be substituted for it, hopes to become the third player on the market behind Android and iOS. Cyanogen has garnered support from Qualcomm, Telefonica, Twitter and Rupert Murdoch's group.

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro first impressions: Great design but the Rs 1,14, 990 price tag is too high

Lenovo today launched the Yoga 3 Pro laptop in India for a whopping Rs 1,14,990 onwards.

The company had showcased the device at CES last month. Though the laptop does impress us with its beautiful and super-slim form factor, we wonder if it really is worth the exorbitant price.  At the same event, Lenovo also announced a partnership with Croma and stated that the product would be exclusively available at select Croma stores across India apart from Lenovo Smart Connected Devices stores.

We spent some time with the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro during the launch and here are our first impressions:

Design:- It’s safe to say here, that Lenovo has gone all out. Claiming to be the world’s thinnest convertible laptop at just 12.8mm (0.5) thick, the Yoga 3 Pro is also exceptionally light at just 1.19 kg. You will be able to literally carry this around with one hand and feel no discomfort. It’s also probably lighter than your regular 300 page book as well. This could also be the most adaptable PC we have seen in a while, as it offers users four different modes of use – Laptop, Stand, Tent or Tablet. The device also allows the screen to flip around 360 degrees -taken from its predecessor the Yoga 2 Pro. This means you can use it as both a laptop and a tablet, depending on how the spirit moves you.

The Yoga 3 Pro’s watchband-inspired hinge is unique and adds a certain touch of panache look to the laptop which has a wonderfully simple and clean design. Lenovo says the hinges are crafted from 813 individual pieces of aluminum and steel. Lenovo has also added in premium JBL speakers to the laptop along with Waves Audio certification.

The keyboard deck is quite comfortable and the track pad is extremely smooth and light. The only thing that looks out of place is a rubbery plastic finish along the keypad which does not look good. We’re guessing that its intended to be a place for a user to relax their hands after a long typing session. All the connectivity ports and necessary buttons go on the side.

Display:- The Yoga 3 Pro sports a high-resolution QHD+ (3200 x 1800) 10-point multitouch display. It might not exactly be 4K but it definitely comes close. The 13.3 inch display size gives us clear and crisp images. Videos seemed decent and also did not lag as such. The screen comes fortified with Corning Gorilla Glass protection.

The touchpad works well for two-finger gestures, and extreme viewing angles did not disappoint. A good feature about the display would be that it doesn’t look too cramped up. The company hasn’t unnecessarily gone with super-slim bezels. Well done there.

Features and Performance:- The Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro runs on an Intel Core M-70 processor with 8GB RAM. In terms of OS, it will come with Windows 8.1 64-bit or Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit operating system options. Lenovo says users will have access to everything in Windows 8.1, plus enhanced security features like trusted boot, improved biometric support, backup to SkyDrive, and more. The company’s Yoga Harmony adapts to users preference by intuitively optimizing settings, making app recommendations by mode, and sharing statistics about how users would use the device.

Lenovo also offers usage statistics, breaking down how much time you spend in each mode and how that compares to all the other Yoga owners the world over. Interesting feature, but not necessary. It has a built in storage of 512 GB and has a 720p front facing webcam.

In terms of connectivity, the laptop has two USB 3.0 ports, one DC-in with USB 2.0 function, 4-in-1 card reader (SD, MMC, SDXC, SDHC), micro-HDMI out and an audio combo jack. It also has 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The device claims to offer 7.2 hours thanks to the built-in 44 Whr Li-Polymer battery.

Conclusion:- Apart from the fact that the device offers premium looks, it comes with a hefty price tag which might not attract a lot of customers. But if you’re looking for a premium device, then you should consider the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro. However whether the device will be able to unseat Apple will be the question,  given that they also offer high-end laptops with high-end price tags. But in a market that is as price sensitive we can’t help but be a little bit disappointed.