Mwc2012
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ZTE PF 100 hands-on at Mobile World Congress 2012 (video)
ZTE's been making some slow, but steady progress as it transitions from no name, white label manufacturer to more of a well-known brand. Aiding the company in that exact mission is one of its latest tablets, the PF 100, shown off by NVIDIA at this year's Mobile World Congress. The apparently stock Android 4.0.3 slate packs a Tegra 3 CPU inside and 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 display. The unit we saw is far from a finished production model, given the fact that it was literally bursting apart at the seams and appeared as if it'd been roughly handled. We imagine the final product will be a bit more hardy than the one we had in-hand, but that shoddiness aside, it's still a hulk of a tablet.Indeed you won't find the design at all charming; it's rough, thick and inelegant with a chunky bezel on front and mix of hard, grooved rubber and plastic on back. All of the ports and hardware keys are relegated to the top edge of the device with slots for both SIM and microSD covered by a single flap. There's also a dual camera setup, as well as stereo speakers and a proprietary dock connection on the base. As you might expect, performance on the tablet was incredibly fast thanks to its 1.5GHz quad-core processor and the one game we demoed loaded quickly, showcasing responsive controls. No further details about pricing, markets or availability have been announced at this time, but we expect those important tidbits to be forthcoming in the weeks ahead. You can check out a hardware tour of the tablet in the gallery below and be sure to jump past the break for a full video walkthrough.%Gallery-149030%
Myriad Updates enables social networking via USSD (hands-on video)
You may not be familiar with USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) but there's a good chance you've used it before -- by dialing *225# (or something similar) to check the balance on your account. Just like SMS, it's a protocol baked into every GSM phone. Unlike SMS, it allows session-based, real-time communication between a handset and an operator's USSD gateway -- without the store and forward mechanism required for text messaging. Basically, it's a simple way to enable data connectivity on phones without deploying an actual data network and while it's pretty slow, it may be monetized. We met with Myriad's VP of Business Development Olivier Bartholot at Mobile World Congress who gave us a demo of Myriad Updates, a solution based on the company's Xumii back-end that delivers social networking services like Facebook, Twitter and Flickr to any GSM handset via USSD. This means no data plan is required and there's no app to install or cumbersome SMS-based UI to deal with. Myriad's partnering with Vodafone, Orange and Mobinil to provide social networking access to customers in emerging markets who may be using very low-end devices (like the Nokia C1 above) with limited or no data functionality. Hands-on video and PR after the break.
Tianyu K-Touch Treasure V8 hands-on at Mobile World Congress 2012 (video)
Ever heard of Tianyu? You probably haven't, but that's why the Chinese manufacturer left most of the heavy PR lifting for its ICS-equipped, quad-core phone to NVIDIA at this year's Mobile World Congress 2012. Details on this Tegra 3-based Android handset are admittedly scarce for the time being, but from what we were able to glean, the 4.3-incher should be able to hold its own in the high-end smartphone market. Aside from an 8 megapixel shooter with single LED flash on its back and the aforementioned CPU clocked at 1.5GHz, there's not much else to divulge spec-wise.In terms of build, the design is a mixed bag. From afar, the Treasure V8 appears sleek and even (dare we say it?) sexy, but once the unit's in hand, you'll notice the cheapness of the glossy, white plastic enclosure. A metal trim borders the device lending to the mix of high and low quality materials used in its construction, but actually makes the phone uncomfortable to hold. The screen also tapers in towards the edges, leaving a ridge to form that's unpleasant in the hand. It doesn't appear that this is the final build of the product and it could even wind up becoming sleeker as it approaches an indeterminate launch, so there's room for improvement. Of course, pricing and availability for China are also unknowns, but we have a feeling that could very well be resolved in the coming weeks. Check out the gallery below and head on past the break for a brief video tour.
Doro PhoneEasy 740 smartphone hands-on at MWC 2012
Don't recognize the name? If so, it's probably because Doro is a completely new player in the smartphone industry, as it doesn't necessarily quench the appetite of power users. The vendor primarily focuses on providing the elderly with simple handsets, which in the past equated to offering nothing but feature phones. Doro's got a few new tricks up its sleeve which may be the most ridiculously easy transition from old-school to new-school yet. Their creation, with a title nearly as simple as the device itself, is called the PhoneEasy 740. It's a phone running essentially a forked Android OS with an incredibly user-friendly launcher -- called the Doro Experience -- that consists of only a few major functions, such as phone, messages, email and pictures. As for the handset itself, you're looking at a meager spec sheet: 5MP rear camera, 3.2-inch HVGA shooter, four hours of continuous talk time, FM radio, 512MB of RAM and 4GB internal memory. The software itself isn't fully functional yet, so we were only able to scroll through the main menu. We're anticipating the device to be ready in time for a summer release in markets around the world.Speaking of the Doro Experience, the UI's going to be available on tablets this spring as an optional Android launcher. Fortunately the software can be paired with a desktop-specific app -- the Doro Experience Manager -- that gives the user the ability to remotely customize and manage the device. This is actually quite ideal, due to the fact that it's not limited to a proprietary Doro-made tablet. We haven't heard details on pricing and availability, but we'll get that information as it comes in. For now, anyone intrigued by the idea should hightail it to our gallery below.
Sony's 2012 Xperia series gets together for awkward family portrait
While Sony's newly-christened Xperia phones are a bit difficult to tell apart, there's nothing quite like getting the whole clan together to tell these statement slabs apart. It's largely about the size and build differences here -- while the 4.3-inch Xperia S readies itself for retail stores very soon, the middleweight Xperia P is showing off its aluminum unibody frame. The Xperia U then shyly rounds out the series with the smallest footprint of the bunch. Hopefully our gallery below will help you decide exactly which Sony phone is the one for you.
Nokia Drive 3 teased at MWC with commute alerts via live tiles (video)
When the folks at Nokia took us aside and asked if we'd like a preview of the latest features slated for Nokia Drive, we knew something good was in store. Our intuition wasn't wrong. The next version of Nokia's navigation software will focus on commutes -- aiming to make the daily chore easier by learning driving habits, identifying regular trips and providing users with live tile updates that estimate journey times and traffic flow. Nokia Drive 3 will automatically query this data 30 minutes before an established commute is expected to begin, and will also provide drivers with suggested quicker routes to their destination. The traffic data is gathered both from traditional navigation sources and other Nokia Drive 3 users -- we're told this latter bit is completely optional and, while the privacy policy is quite explicit, the company insists it doesn't personally identify users.Nokia tells us the software interface isn't finalized, so what you see in the Flash demonstration may change before Nokia Drive 3 arrives in the coming months. You'll find a demonstration of the new My Commute feature, from the creator himself, right after the break.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 hands-on (video)
It's easy to get confused by the variety of 7-inchers coming out of Samsung's gate; you might even speculate that the category is getting a bit crowded. But with the arrival of the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, it appears the popular Android manufacturer has an ace in its sleeve. The slate leaps past its cousins with the latest build of Ice Cream Sandwich out of the gate, although it still reps the same 1024 x 600 PLS TFT display, 3-megapixel rear camera, 4,000mAh battery and dual-core setup. We had a chance to get a real feel for the tablet, so join us after the break as we parse through our initial impressions. %Gallery-148985%
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 hands-on (video)
As far as product launches go, the 10-inch Galaxy Tab 2's debut was relatively discreet. Announced with little fanfare, it's not even on display in Samsung's booth here at Mobile World Congress; you'll have to talk your way into a private room if you want a shot at getting hands-on. And we can see why: with a 1280 x 800 display, 1GHz dual-core processor and 3-megapixel rear camera, its specs are nearly identical to what you'll find in last year's Galaxy Tab 10.1. Sure, it has a redesigned back cover and ships with Android 4.0, but otherwise, it's the same tablet. But with the new Galaxy Note tablet replacing the original 10.1 as Samsung's premier 10-inch tablet, the new 10.1 could be the budget-friendly option its predecessor wasn't. So does it hold promise as a mid-range tab? It'll be impossible to say until we know the price, but watch our hands-on video after the break and decide for yourselves just how much you'd pay for this thing.
Broadcom: 802.11ac chipsets already in preproduction, preparing router invasion in summer
Broadcom might have unveiled a bevy of 802.11ac chipsets back at CES, however when it came to availability the chipmaker played more than coy as to when they'd sashay their way out of developmental labs and into the hands of actual consumers. Fast-forward to MWC and the chipmaker's isn't nearly as shy, proclaiming its future WiFi solutions were "beyond the sampling phase" and now in preproduction. Also of note, was the estimate that finished products (read: the ones you can buy) containing this tech would go on sale by mid-2012. With competitor, Qualcomm, also previewing its 802.11ac concoction, could this year possibly shape up to golden era of speedy wireless transfers? Bring it on, we say.
China Mobile plans widespread rollout of TD-LTE network, 20,000 base stations to be operational this year
China Mobile announced a deal with Clearwire last fall to speed up the rollout of its TD-LTE network, and now China's largest wireless provider has revealed some additional details about when that rollout will take place and just how big it will be. Speaking at Mobile World Congress, China Mobile president Li Yu said that the company will have over 20,000 TD-LTE base stations in operation by the end of this year, and a full 200,000 up and running by the end of 2013. That initial deployment will occur in the six trial cities already announced, as well as three additional cities confirmed at MWC: Beijing, Tianjin and Qingdao. Two of those cities, Hangzhou and Shenzhen, are expected to have full TD-LTE coverage of their urban areas this year, while the others will have more isolated coverage until the next phase of the deployment begins.
Fuzhou Rockchip announces RK30 for the budget tablets of today
Budget ARM licensee Rockchip has been bawling out its wares on the streets of Barcelona as the company announces its newest RK30xx platform. Rockchip provide the internals for a variety of low-cost android tablets, often based on last year's technology. The newest system will be based on ARM's dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU, Mali-400 GPU and Artisan Physical IP Process Optimization Pack (nope, us neither). The chips will clock to 1.4GHz and be able to decode 1080p video and even support 3D displays. The whole package will ship as a "turnkey" solution, i.e. one any manufacturer can buy in bulk and shove inside a tablet, meaning that plenty of the budget slates released in the second half of the year will have identical internals. First engineering samples arrive in March and if you're interested in starting your own tablet business, head on past the break to get the details.
Samsung pairs Qualcomm and ARM DRM to get HD content on Galaxy Note Media Hub
Samsung's going to bring "premium HD video content" to Media Hub after pairing up Qualcomm's StudioAccess and ARM's TrustZone DRM systems. The first device that will benefit from the rollout is the Galaxy Note thanks to its enormous 1280 x 800 HD display. Owners of the large phone / small tablet hybrid will find HD content appearing alongside SD editions of your favorite movies and shows -- previously unavailable because of copyright concerns. There's PR after the break, but we'd suggest reading it only if you enjoy paragraph upon paragraph of executives praising DRM to the hilt.
ELVIIS Volvo C30 EV charges from any standard outlet, bills the driver (hands-on)
The electric vehicle is still a fresh enough concept that the issue of redirecting the bill when filling up at a public outlet or a friend's house is of little concern. But once EVs gain more traction and the cost of electricity during that monthly dinner party starts to run upwards of 50 bucks, you'll definitely take notice. ELVIIS, a research collaboration between Ericsson and the Viktoria Institute in Sweden, may be the solution. Instead of pulling power from the grid blindly and billing the outlet's owner, the system provides driver and vehicle information to a server before charging begins, then redirects the cost for power consumed to whatever account you've registered with the vehicle, alleviating any concern about unexpected electricity bills. ELVIIS can theoretically serve other purposes, allowing you to select the least-expensive energy source, for example, or set the car to wait to charge until late-night, when rates are lower.We jumped into the passenger seat of one of five existing ELVIIS cars -- built around an all-electric Volvo C30 -- and poked around the charging interface. The project isn't fully operational just yet, and was running in demo mode so there's no way to verify that it works as described, but it definitely appears to be solid, with Ericsson providing financial and development support. Eventually, it will use the car's GPS to identify nearby power outlets -- for now, you need to enter a specific outlet ID. There's also an Android app that allows you to monitor and reschedule charging, so if you programmed your car to be completely charged by 7AM but realized that you need to leave at 6, you can make sure you're covered without getting out of bed. But you don't need to go anywhere to see it in action -- just click on past the break.
T-Mobile HTC One S hands-on at MWC 2012
You know that One phone announced by HTC on Sunday? Well, it's actually a series of three phones, and we already know that a couple of them (at least) are going to be landing on the shelves of your friendly American corner retail store. We got a look at one of them today -- specifically, the One S destined for T-Mobile. We conjecture that this will be offered as Magenta's premium device, and it's not hard to see why. Its owners will enjoy nearly all of the same privileges as every other user around the world: a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 (Krait) CPU, 1GB of RAM, a durable and scratch-resistant ceramic unibody build and 8MP rear camera with f/2.0 and LED flash.In nearly every respect, the model we saw was the same as the global version we got acquainted with just two days ago. The only exceptions were found in T-Mo's choice of color (more of a gun metal grey flanked by light black on the top and bottom) and the obligatory carrier-branded bloatware. The apps aren't going anywhere, of course, but T-Mobile was quick to point out that the hardware and software aren't final. We believe it -- evidenced by the lack of any carrier branding on the phone -- but we can't be sure exactly how different it'll look by the time it comes hot off the press. Either way, we still captured a few images to keep your level of intrigue up to the max.
NEC Medias series makes the trip to MWC, we go eyes-on
While NEC had already unveiled some of its plans for 2012, a phone with a pair of 4.3-inch screens is bound to draw in even the most jaded MWC attendee. Alas, these are still empty prototypes -- the seed for whatever set of colors and complicated numerical naming conventions that Japanese carriers will place on the final models. The Medias W closes like a book -- or perhaps a certain Sony tablet -- and even over-extends beyond the hinge. No glimmer of technical detail on those screens, but we're promised the "latest OS" and from the sticker screen, that appears to be a lightly-skinned version of Ice Cream Sandwich. It's joined by the 4.3-inch Medias X (ultra slim and waterproof) and the Medias Z, the large-screened five-incher revealed in Japan last week. Its LTE tablet, the mobile wallet-capable Medias Tab N-06D was also available to gawp at -- just to round out the family. NEC's otherwise keeping it vague with the specs at the moment, so you're going to have to peruse our gallery with an extra critical eye for more hints on what's to come.
The Engadget Interview: Nokia CEO Stephen Elop at MWC 2012 (video)
Not one, not two, but three Nokia interviews at Mobile World Congress? Yes, we were lucky to catch up with CEO Stephen Elop -- whom we last saw at CES -- and chat about the Lumia 610, the white Lumia 900, the 808 PureView imaging flagship, and a hint at what kind of cameras we can expect in the company's future Windows Phone handsets. Just hit the break to watch our video interview.
Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G hands-on
It's half-2011, half-2010. Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G is what appears to be in many respects a hybrid device that blends a majority of specs from the original Samsung Galaxy S series with the processor found in the T-Mobile Galaxy S II. It's got a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3 CPU, 4-inch Super AMOLED panel, 42Mbps HSPA+ radios and a 5MP rear camera capable of producing 720p video and a 1.3MP front-facing shooter. It's using Android 2.3, and its eventual graduation to ICS was confirmed.T-Mobile insists the Blaze is a great lower-end complement to the $200 Galaxy S II, though to that end we'd have to disagree with the phone's $150 price point. Even though the processors are the same in both handsets and the two devices offer the same HSPA+ radio and TouchWiz UI 4.0, most of the phone's other components are still rolled over from the original series. That said, our only real concern here is the price -- the Blaze itself is well built, and most folks looking to keep their cellular telephones in the mid-range will find its performance and specs quite reasonable. You'll want to peel those eyes to the gallery and our video down below.%Gallery-148869%Sean Cooper contributed to this report
Huawei Ascend G 300 hands-on at MWC 2012 (video)
Huawei's all about the D Quad at this year's Mobile World Congress, but that's not everything in the manufacturer's arsenal. Having seen the first devices from its D (Diamond) and P (Platinum) series, we've been wondering how the third-tier G (Gold) handsets would turn out. Huawei's booth holds the answer to our lingering question in the form of the Ascend G 300, a predictably lower- to mid-range smartphone packing a 1GHz single-core CPU, 4-inch WVGA display, 5MP rear camera along with other modest specs. While it's clear that Huawei's major focus is on bumping up its specs and becoming a major player in relevance and performance, we've only seen that strategy reflected on its top two tiers. The G 300, in contrast, doesn't feel any different in build quality than its older budget-conscious cousins; it employs the company's signature gray / white (or gray / black) look on the back. The edges and sides of the device are slightly different, varying by its color: the versions in black are soft-touch plastic, while its white counterpart is completely smooth, much like the rest of the phone. The battery cover felt rather flimsy, and one unit on hand looked as though it were coming apart, the cracks far too distanced for our comfort. The OS on hand is Android 2.3, accompanied with the usual MWC promise of being "upgradeable to ICS," and uses the same homegrown skin we saw a couple months ago on the Huawei Honor. Of course, this one will likely hit at a low price point, so don't be tempted to compare this particular handset with some of the vendor's more premier options. It's not going to be as polished, but it's not meant to be. So while the 10.5mm-thick device will be perfectly reasonable for many, power users won't be waiting in line for this one to come out at a yet to be determined time. Still curious? Keep scanning your eyes below to find the gallery and movie. Dana Wollman contributed to this hands-on.
Mozilla Boot to Gecko hands-on (video)
Here it is, folks: Mozilla's assault on the smartphone. Known as Boot to Gecko, the OS is geared toward hobbyists and consumers alike. Mozilla tells us that all Android users (with unlocked bootloaders) will be able to install the operating system onto their phones, and for less tenacious individuals, the non-profit group has begun lining up partners. We were given a quick demo of Boot to Gecko on a Galaxy S II, which included peeks at the dialer, messaging system, system preferences and, yes, the Mozilla Marketplace. Our initial impression? Boot to Gecko doesn't seem quite ready for prime time, as the operating system froze as we merely tapped through the settings and apps, which then required us to pull the battery. On the upside, the interface seems incredibly slick and the phone booted astonishingly fast -- it was good to go in about two seconds. Be sure to hop the break for the demo video of Boot to Gecko.
Nokia Lumia 900 in white hands-on
What can we say, white sets are somehow more pleasant to behold than the typical black slabs we see. Nokia's glossy Lumia 900 is no exception; in fact we're all in a heated debate about exactly which color we'd choose and which theme makes it look best. Device color aside, there's nothing new here, but we know we'd be breaking hearts if we didn't get all close and personal with the only color we've not had a chance to play with. As a refresher -- if you were sleeping when it launched -- the Lumia 900 is loaded with a 4.3-inch ClearBlack AMOLED 800 x 480 display, an 8-megapixel shooter with dual-LED flash, single-core 1.4Ghz Snapdragon processor with 512MB of RAM at hand for storage. Gallery is just past the break -- but for the record, dark theme with blue tiles looks so sharp.%Gallery-148844%
