Verizon breaks new ground, ZTE enters the smartwatch race, and HTC goes for the gold (again.)
Verizon breaks new ground
Verizon’s Ellipsis tablet represents several “firsts” for the mobile device market. It is the first carrier-branded tablet to hit the U.S. market, the first LTE-only tablet, and according to Verizon it is the first member of an “Ellipsis family.” Priced at $150 with a two-year contract, the Ellipsis is a 7-inch tablet powered by a quad-core processor and an LTE-only modem made by Altair Semiconductor. The carrier did not disclose the maker of the processor, but MediaTek is a likely supplier. The Taiwanese chipmaker has a quad-core solution and supplies many Chinese manufacturers of “white label” devices.
Keenly aware of T-Mobile’s no-contract pricing and Sprint’s free device offers, Verizon is clearly hoping that by selling its own low-cost tablet during the holidays it will secure and retain new subscribers. Verizon is not alone in looking at carrier-branded devices; Sprint recently launched its own smartphone, called the Vital.
Time for ZTE to join the smartwatch race
ZTE joins Samsung, Sony, Qualcomm, Coolpad and Pebble in the race to bring wireless connectivity to your wrist. According to The Wall Street Journal, ZTE will launch its offering in China next year and hopes to compete on price. Like Samsung, ZTE reportedly plans to start off by making a smartwatch that works only with its own phones.
The Galaxy Gear has by most accounts gotten a lukewarm reception from consumers, but ZTE is apparently undeterred. The Chinese manufacturer of handsets, tablets, and telecom networking gear says it is also looking at other wearable technologies, including smart shoes.
HTC goes for the gold (again)
HTC is offering another gold version of the HTC One, this time at a price point that will not require a trip to Fort Knox. The newest model has a matte gold finish – not unlike the gold iPhone 5s – but it is NOT plated in 18-carat gold like the original gold HTC One. That extremely limited edition was valued at about $4,500. No word yet on pricing for the “street version” of the gold HTC One, but the same model in silver goes for $570 unlocked on Amazon.
New Kindle Paperwhite
Speaking of Amazon, a new Kindle Paperwhite will reportedly hit the market within the first half of 2014. Expected improvements include high-resolution 300 ppi screen, an ambient light sensor, and new typography. Amazon’s e-readers feature free 3G wireless.
The online retailer has not yet launched a new device for the holiday season, but it may have its hands full filling orders for others. The company is hiring up to 15,000 extra workers for the holidays, many of whom will head for the company’s vast warehouses. Those warehouses were recently the subject of an undercover investigation, generating negative publicity for a company that is already gaining a reputation as a stressful place to work.
Seeds of change?
If Amazon’s employees are indeed stressed out, they may want to search their company’s website for gifts from the Cybernetic Meadow Collection. Created by the Consortium for a Slower Internet, the Cybernetic Meadow Collection offers products meant to keep your devices connected and your priorities straight. Offerings include a Wi-Fi router that can be covered by a plant, and a smartphone dock that is sold with a matching planter.
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