News

Tango-enabled Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is finally available

Published

November 2, 2016

Marvin Velasco

You’ve likely come across a few augmented reality products and apps already. These range from Microsoft’s insanely expensive HoloLens to the Pokémon Go game we’ve had too much of. Unlike virtual reality, which places you in a totally separate world, augmented reality adds virtual layers to real surroundings. The now-available Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is designed to push AR even further, with a little help from Google’s Tango, of course.

Hold on… Tango? According to the search giant, it’s technology that enables AR utilities and gaming. All you need is a compatible smartphone — the Phab 2 Pro is the first — and the right apps. Once everything is set up, you’ll see visual information laid out in your environment just like in sci-fi movies.

Three specially designed rear cameras handle AR duties

To make things possible, the Phab 2 Pro employs three rear cameras consisting of one 16-megapixel shooter (also used for taking regular photos), a depth camera for figuring out distance, and a single fisheye lens for ultra-wide-angle shots.

There’s only one Tango-enabled phone right now and a little over 35 downloadable apps on either the official Tango store or Google Play, but it’s definitely a start, and way more accessible than a HoloLens that isn’t commercially available yet or the discontinued Google Glass.

Want to measure furniture in real time, or draw on objects in your home without making a mess? You need some Tango in your life.

You’ll want the Phab 2 Pro for the AR games

But, as useful as the home improvement programs are, the coolest apps are the games. You can play with a virtual pet in Raise; battle against a dragon in Slingshot Island; and enjoy a relaxing game of dominoes in your living room with Domino World.

The Phab 2 Pro itself is a sweet piece of hardware and doesn’t cost that much for what it offers. Its display is big enough at 6.4 inches, with a Quad HD resolution to make the AR experience as vivid as can be. Powering the hefty smartphone is Qualcomm’s “Tango-optimized” Snapdragon 652 processor and 4GB of RAM.

To make sure the constant use of the camera for AR won’t murder the battery, Lenovo equipped the Phab 2 Pro with a capacity of 4050mAh and its own turbo charging technology. A fourth, 8-megapixel camera is located on the front for the usual selfies. Those into shooting videos will also appreciate the three microphones used for 5.1-channel audio recording.

There’s still a fingerprint sensor located under all the rear cameras

While the Phab 2 Pro feels like a pioneering concept device for Tango, It’s clear the fully aluminum handset is more than capable of doing practically everything else. Google claims its AR initiative will reach more products next year, so it’s nice to have a future-proofed phone in case Tango becomes a hit.

You can buy the Phab 2 Pro in the US for $500 on Lenovo’s official website starting today. Champagne gold and gunmetal gray are the colors of choice.

[irp posts=”4774″ name=”Moto Z Play first look”]

Sources: Lenovo, Google

Apps

EU wages war against doomscrolling

Brussels is asking TikTok to change its addictive design.

Published

February 16, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Doomscrolling is the greatest enemy to everyone’s productivity today. The temptation to keep on scrolling for hours is an ever-present temptation. Taking a very strong stance against the phenomenon, the European Commission is now investigating TikTok for having an addictive interface.

Via Politico, Brussels is now prodding TikTok to change its interface. Very technically, the European Commission is not out to get doomscrolling, specifically. However, the major changes that they want to introduce “disabling infinite scrolling, setting strict screen time breaks, and changing its recommender systems.”

App addiction is a persistent problem today. Besides concerned parents, governments around the world have been trying to regulate addiction, especially when it comes to children. The European Commission, as is apparent from this new initiative, is at the forefront of preventing addiction.

Though the target is explicitly TikTok right now, changing addictive interfaces will also affect other social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and X. Most platforms nowadays thrive on encouraging users to keep scrolling through more content.

Right now, TikTok isn’t set to change just yet. However, the report states that the European Commission is willing to work with platforms for a better, non-addictive interface. It’s less abrasive than the region’s recent privacy initiatives, which requires users to verify their age before accessing mature content.

Laptops

Are you ready for a more colorful MacBook?

Apple is experimenting with quirkier colorway options for the MacBook.

Published

February 16, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

In recent years, Apple has relented on limiting the colors of its devices to only the more premium-looking options. Users can now pick quirkier colors for their iPhones, highlighted currently by the Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro Max. Soon, the same splashes of color might make its way to the MacBook lineup.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has been testing different colorway options for its upcoming entry-level MacBook. The unannounced lineup might come in pink, light yellow, light green, and blue.

It’s a big change for MacBooks. Currently, the only “quirky” option that users can get is the MacBook Air’s Sky Blue, which honestly looks more silvery than blue. Other than that, the MacBook simply seesaws from different shades of gold, silver, and black.

To be fair, the upcoming MacBook will still have the traditional colorways of the current lineup. Additionally, it’s unclear whether Apple will ultimately include all its experimental colors into the final lineup.

Reportedly, the new lineup will cost somewhere between US$ 699 to US$ 799. Of course, the lower price tag will come at the expense of some specs. Although, it should still be good if we’re talking about an entry-level laptop.

It’s even more interesting if it’s hinting at the return of truly colorful options but for the notebook. The iMac already got a similar renaissance back in 2024, which mimics the classic computer’s colorful history.

SEE ALSO: M5 MacBook Pro review

Laptops

ASUS, Acer PCs are banned in Germany

And it’s all because of Nokia.

Published

February 16, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Brands getting banned are commonplace in today’s tech landscape. These usually happen because of geopolitical reasons, especially if it’s in the United States. In Europe, brands sometimes get banned for anticompetition reasons. Today, however, a commonly used codec, HEVC, is at the center of a controversy that has led to the banning of ASUS and Acer in Germany. Even crazier, Nokia is involved.

For context, Nokia owns several patents for video codecs. One of those codecs, HEVC (or High-Efficiency Video Coding) is ubiquitous in every PC, which means that every PC maker must purchase a license to include the codec in their machines. It’s an essential these days, so it’s unusual for ASUS and Acer to miss it.

In Germany, where licensing is stricter, both companies were found guilty of infringing the patent, as reported by German outlet Hardwareluxx. As a result, ASUS and Acer must stop selling PC and laptop sales until they obtain a license from Nokia.

To be clear, this doesn’t mean that the two brands have disappeared from the country. Third-party retailers can still sell their remaining stock. However, the companies cannot import or sell any new stock, pending a conclusion to the issue.

Naturally, the easiest fix is to just buy the license. Hisense, another company that found itself in the same mire, bought a license last month. Either ASUS and Acer are running into more technical issues, or they just didn’t feel the license was worth it for a single market.