MobileWorldCongress2012
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ASUS claims it may be among first to get Android 5.0, confirms Jelly Bean moniker
We've seen some pretty incredible smartphones and technologies at MWC, but it goes without saying that one of the hottest topics at the show was Android, and speculation over the release and alias of its next-gen operating system. Based on Google's update schedule, it's within reason to expect Android 5.0 to hit within the next year -- but which popular confection will bear the honor or representing the latest OS flavor? There's been little doubt that the jelly bean will fill that role, and now ASUS has confirmed to TechRadar not only that delectable moniker -- Jelly Bean -- but also that the company will likely be among the first to get the new OS. That claim came from VP Benson Lin, who said "Asus is very close to Google, so once they have Android 5.0 I think there will be a high possibility that we will be the first wave to offer the Jelly Bean update." So, there you have it. Now go get to scooping up every variation of the Je!!y 8ean domain.
Adéu, Barcelona: Mobile World Congress 2012 comes to a close
The mobile world's biggest players have exhausted themselves again, taking us with them in the process. While HTC and Nokia seemed to grab a lot of the attention, Samsung stayed quiet -- at least for now -- there was still a veritable pile of devices and news to cover from everyone else. Let's take a look at what caught our attention during the week.
Neonode zForce uses infrared LEDs to measure pressure, replace capacitive touch (hands-on)
Smartphone fanatics may recall the Neonode N2 -- a rather unique recall-plagued feature phone that ultimately resulted in the demise of the company's handset arm. Neonode is still a major player in the portable device market, but may be more familiar to OEMs that employ its infrared LED-based touch technology, rather than consumers that utilize it in e-readers, with tablets soon joining the mix. zForce offers several advantages over its capacitive-based counterparts -- it's incredibly responsive and accurate, and can now measure the intensity (or pressure) of your touch, and not just position. There's also a built-in proximity sensor that can be added to any device for a few pennies, which is considerably less than traditional offerings. However, because Neonode uses an array of infrared LEDs and photodiodes, a raised bezel is required to accommodate the additional hardware, making it impossible to integrate a flush display.We went hands-on with an updated smartphone-sized embed of the company's zForce technology that not only works with any object, such as a finger, pen or a paint brush, but also recognizes both the pressure of your implement and also its size, so a larger paint brush has broader strokes than a smaller one, for example. Because the device can operate at 500Hz all the way up to 1,000Hz (refreshing 1,000 times per second), it appears to be incredibly responsive, with an almost unnoticeable delay between the time you touch the pad and when your input is displayed on the screen. A second demo unit, called Stargate, offers dual-layer touch with support for 3D control -- you can literally reach inside the unit to manipulate an object. There's no word on when this latest tech will make its way into devices, or how exactly we'll see it used, but you really need to see it in action to get a feel for how it works -- jump past the break for our video hands-on.%Gallery-149305%
Distro Issue 30 brings you 'The Best of Mobile World Congress 2012'
While a handful of Engadget editors braved the show floor in Barcelona, we here at Distro HQ were busy trying to keep pace with the insane amount of news coming out of Mobile World Congress 2012. Fittingly, issue 30 of our fine weekly is packed to the rafters with the best and latest in mobile technology. Also in this issue, Tim Stevens gives us his detailed impressions of Microsoft's Windows 8 consumer preview; we pick apart the long-awaited refresh of BlackBerry PlayBook OS; and Dante Cesa dives into Razer's first gaming laptop, the Blade. Plus, we grill Mobile Burn founder Michael Oryl for the Distro Q&A; Donald Melanson offers his latest reading recommendations; we get real for IRL; and Box Brown reveals a handful of Siri Easter eggs for Last Word.Distro Issue 30 PDFDistro on the iTunes App StoreDistro in the Android MarketDistro APK (for sideloading)Like Distro on FacebookFollow Distro on Twitter
Texas Instruments dual WiFi module lets your tablet connect to your TV and the web simultaneously (hands-on)
Texas Instruments is helping to lead the way when it comes to mobile computing -- when we want an early look at what's to come months and even years down the road, TI is always one of our first stops. At this year's Mobile World Congress, the semiconductor leader wasn't shy about showing off its latest innovations, including those from its manufacturing and design partners. Today's demo focused on wireless video streaming -- a concept that engineers are approaching from every imaginable angle, and that is bound to make its way to consumers in a very big way within the next few years. TI's flavor is based on WiFi, and offers a dual-connection solution, letting you pair a tablet with a TV using peer-to-peer while also creating a second link between the tablet and a wireless router for Internet.We took the tech for a spin using one of TI's development platform tablets and an external WiFi dongle (shipping versions will be integrated), and everything worked as described, though the video stream was noticeably choppy and compressed. TI reps explained that they dialed down the bitrate in order to maintain a connection at the MWC expo hall, which, as you might imagine, probably had a wireless signal density greater than any other room in the world. The tablet we saw was running a very slick context-aware UI that displays one of three home screens based on your current location -- there's one for work (that displays your calendar), one for home (media and home automation controls) and another for travel (restaurant reviews and weather). Pushing content from the tablet to the TV seemed to be seamless, and while both the UI and wireless functionality may appear to be ready to make their way into your home, TI isn't making any announcements about availability. There's no need to wait for a teaser, however, which you'll find just past the break.%Gallery-149212%
Always Innovating HDMI Android dongle gets an ICS update, we swing by for a taste (video)
Always Innovating appears to be living up to its name, making significant progress on that clever HDMI Android dongle that we first heard of way back at CES. Now the company's TI OMAP4-based television companion is rockin' some Ice Cream Sandwich madness, drawing curious Mobile World Congress attendees into the Texas Instruments booth for a look. We happened upon the device on the last day of the show, and we couldn't help but be impressed. The premise here is quite simple: your "dumb TV" (i.e. one that isn't Internet-enabled) gives up one HDMI and one USB port (for power), in return connecting you to the wonderful world of Android 4.0. Think web browsing, tweeting, gaming (yes, even Angry Birds), video streaming -- that same experience you'll get with any Android tablet can now be had on your aging flat-screen TV. Always Innovating isn't feeling inspired enough to take the lead on manufacturing, instead licensing the technology to third parties, but with some agreements signed and others on the way, this ICS solution on a stick may be hitting stores just in time to become this holiday season's ultimate stocking stuffer. Pricing is of course up to the manufacturers, but TI reps suggested that we might see these things pop up later this year in the $50-99 range, finally making Google on every TV a much more reasonable proposition. Care to take a gander at this stick-based wunderkind? Jump past the break for our hands-on.%Gallery-149208%
Novero's Solana is an $800 netbook running Windows 7 and Android, we go hands-on
The last time we saw the Novero Solana, we were prowling Intel's booth at CES in search of prototypes. Because it was Intel, not Novero, showing the device, the emphasis was on that Cedar Trail processor inside, as well as that kooky form factor -- a netbook with a titling, easel-like touchscreen. What we didn't know then was that the Solana also runs Android, and that it's almost ready for prime time: it's expected to hit Europe and North America within the next two to three months, priced at about €699 or $799, respectively. We had a chance to play with some more polished hardware here at Mobile World Congress, and also see the machine running Gingerbread. Follow past the break for some early impressions or, if it's too early in the US to stomach reading, have a gander at our quickie demo video.%Gallery-149169%%Gallery-149172%
Live from Microsoft's Windows 8 press event at Mobile World Congress 2012!
Today's the day! It's been months since we tested the Windows 8 Developer Preview, and now Microsoft is finally ready to let the general PC-using public give it a whirl. While we already have a feel for the overarching interface, which mashes together the traditional desktop and Metro-inspired tiles, we haven't yet had a glimpse of the native apps that will ship as part of the OS. And think of the untold number of tweaks Redmond must have made since the Developer Preview dropped! Will we get to poke around the Windows Store? Will switching between apps be any less jarring this go 'round? And what's the fate of the Start button? Stay tuned to find out what the OS will look like in its (almost) final form. February 29, 2012 9:30 AM EST
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.
ASUS PadFone hands-on (video)
We're here at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and ASUS just formally unveiled the shape-shifting PadFone -- just like it said it would. Even more than raw specs, what makes the phone striking are its accompanying accessories. Sure, you could use it as a standalone 4.3-inch handset, but it will also be sold with a so-called station that effectively turns it into a 10-inch tablet -- not unlike how you can slip certain Moto handsets inside the company's netbook-like Lapdocks. It will also be sold with an optional keyboard dock (just like the Prime) and -- get this -- a stylus that doubles as a receiver for when you receive phone calls. We elbowed our way to the front of a pack of voracious tech journalists, and stole a few minutes of hands-on time with both the handset and its various accoutrements. Join us past the break for some early impressions and a duo of videos.
ASUS rebrands its tablets 'Transformer Pads,' announces the high-end Infinity Series with either Tegra 3 or Snapdragon's S4 chip
Yes, another one. Less than four months after announcing the original T201 Transformer Prime aASUS is adding uno más to the collection. And don't be fooled by the name: though the company is rebranding its tablet line "Transformer Pads," the newly announced Infinity Series looks a lot like something we've already seen. Essentially, this is the TF700T announced at CES, with a dual-core Qualcomm MSM 8960 Snapdragon S4 CPU and an optional LTE radio. Now, before you gasp that ASUS has ditched NVIDIA, hear this: there will still be a Tegra 3 option, but that's just the WiFi-only version; the 3G / 4G versions will pack the S4 chip. Additionally, there will be a lower-end 16GB option (the TF700T was only available in 32GB and 64GB flavors). Otherwise, the specs are the same, including dual 8MP / 2MP cameras, 1GB of RAM, HDMI and a 10.1-inch, 1920 x 1200, Super IPS+ Gorilla Glass display. This time around, it has Gorilla Glass 2, but that's a mild spec bump indeed. Unlike the original Prime, which shipped with Honeycomb but updated to Ice Cream Sandwich shortly after going on sale, the Infinity Pad will run Android 4.0 out of the box. It also comes with 8GB of free lifetime ASUS WebStorage and is rated for 10 hours of battery life (16 with that signature keyboard dock, sold separately). No word yet on pricing or availability. In any case, though, we wouldn't be surprised if ASUS gave birth to another tablet between now and then.
Nokia grows Lumia 900 family: Canada gets LTE, HSPA+ for everyone else
Well, that AT&T exclusivity was bound to wear off at some point. Nokia just confirmed that an LTE version of its flagship Lumia 900 will be crossing the border into Canada in April, running on Rogers' network, while a dual-carrier HSPA+ flavor will be hopping the Atlantic sometime in Q2, with a €480 (about $650) price tag in tow. Naturally, it'll include Nokia Drive, but there's another treat in store -- Nokia Reading. The app will be available as a free download, and acts as a digital media hub, aggregating content in a magazine-like format. The new Lumia 900s also add a front-facing camera, in addition to that Carl Zeiss lens-sporting snapper out back. Also, as you can see in the image above, Nokia has confirmed a gorgeous white version of the Windows Phone device, which we saw leaked earlier this month. As for a release date to go along with that previously announced AT&T version? We're still hoping for March 18th, though we have yet to get a firm commitment from the carrier or manufacturer.Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
Nokia Asha Series 40 lineup expands with 202, 203 and 302 (hands-on)
The Nokia Asha Series 40 phones were introduced at Nokia World last fall and today it expands by a few models, with the 202, 203 and 302. The 202 model is designed for "easy swap" SIM changes without powering off the phone, while the 203 is a single SIM model. Both expand the lower end line with access to 40 free games ( including Bejeweled, Need for Speed, Tetris, Sims Medieval) and Nokia Life services. The 302 (pictured above) will be the first to bring Microsoft Exchange support on Series 40, a feature that will also be added to the older 303. It does not have a touchscreen, but does bring a 1GHz CPU and 14.4Mbps data speeds for 95 euros, shipping now. The 202 and 203 do have 2.4-inch touchscreens, and are shipping in the next few weeks for 60 euros. Follow along with our liveblog of Nokia's MWC 2012 press conference for more details, or check out the press release after the break.Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
Invoxia unveils the AudiOffice, a $299 speaker dock for iDevices (video)
The last time we heard from Invoxia, the company was showing off a desktop VoIP phone with iPad and iPhone docks, allowing you to use the familiar iOS interface to manipulate all the phone's controls -- mute, volume, speakerphone, et cetera. As Mobile World Congress kicks off, the company's back with a product that looks very similar, but does quite the opposite. Designed for business use, the AudiOffice isn't a standalone VoIP phone but rather, a speaker dock for your iDevices. Here, your sweet telephony comes courtesy of your iPhone, while Invoxia's hardware is mainly there to enhance the call quality, with the help of four wide-bandwidth speakers and two digital microphones. And though those docks were built with the iPad and iPhone in mind, you could, if you were so inclined, connect another device using the dock's USB socket or Bluetooth 2.1 radio. In addition to FaceTime, too, you can place calls through more OS-agnostic apps, such as Skype. The AudiOffice will sell for $299 -- quite pricey for what's essentially an iDevice dock -- but that's still far more affordable than the $599 the NVX 610 is fetching. We'll be back with hands-on photos soon enough, but in the meantime we've got pictures of the official sort below.
Angry Birds Space to launch on Samsung's Galaxy Note (video)
Rovio described the upcoming Angry Birds Space as its biggest launch since the original game, but has been coy about platform details until now, as Samsung has revealed it's launching on the Galaxy Note. We're not sure how the phablet's 5-inch (or possible 10.1-inch) display comes into play, but the extra area can't hurt. Other than the "Houston... we have a slingshot" tagline there's not many other details revealed, but if you're (still) obsessed with taking down those pigs once and for all then press play on the teaser video above.
Samsung's latest 8MP cameraphone sensor has backside illumination, zero shutter lag (Update: specs)
Samsung hasn't shown off all of its new tech at MWC 2012 yet, but one more early announcement is a new "premium" cameraphone sensor, the 8MP S5K3H7. Its new 1.4um CMOS shown above features backside illumination (BSI) technology for better quality in low light -- just like the iPhone 4/4S camera and HTC's just-announced ImageChip -- as well as the promise of zero shutter lag and 30fps 1080p video all while using less power than previous generations. There's no word yet on which phones will include the new imaging chip, but it should go into mass production in the next couple of months.Update: Looking for more numbers? The English PR is out now and confirms a slim form factor 8.5mm x 8.5mm camera module with 5.5mm height dimension capable of 120fps 720p or 240fps slow motion video recording. Check the data yourself in the press release after the break.
Join us for Sony's Mobile World Congress 2012 press event at noon EST
Okay, guys, time to finish up those Sunday errands, because we have quite the prime time lineup planned, and you're not going to want to go anywhere (Oscars, schmoscars, right?). Coming up at noon EST Sony is delivering its first press conference since breaking up with Ericsson and rebranding its phone division "Sony Mobile Communications." Bookmark this page and come back a few minutes before noon, at which point we'll be reporting live on the Xperia U, the Pepper or whatever it is Sony has up its sleeve. And then when we're done you can stick around for our HTC liveblog, yeah? Yeah. See you there. February 26, 2012 12:00 PM EST
Join us for Huawei's Mobile World Congress 2012 liveblog at 9:30am EST
We've had our day to get over our jetlag after touching down in Barcelona, and now we're ready to get the liveblogs rolling. Kicking things off is Huawei, purveyor of underrated winners like the Honor and MediaPad. On deck today (at 9:30am EST, 3:30pm local time), we have an inkling we'll see an Ascend D1 Q smartphone and maybe, just maybe a 10-inch slate to round out the company's growing tablet collection. Curious? Bookmark this link, and check back at 9:30am to get the news as it's breaking. February 26, 2012 3:30 PM EST
Samsung unveils new Galaxy Beam smartphone / projector combo with dual core CPU
Samsung has finally started to reveal its new products at MWC 2012, starting with this refresh of the Galaxy Beam packing Android 2.3 and a 1GHz dual-core CPU. Just like its predecessor it brings an integrated projector capable of 15 lumens of brightness, enough to shoot a high definition image that's up to 50 inches wide. There's a dedicated app that activates the projection, letting users pump out video and pictures, as well as interact with games when the 4-inch WVGA screen just isn't big enough. It has a 2000 mAh battery to keep the party going -- handy when you're stuck somewhere inconvenient with a few dozen of your coworkers -- 8GB of built-in storage and a claimed 6GB of RAM (we're double checking that, consider it a likely typo until you hear otherwise). There's more details and specs in the press release after the break, but no word on release date or market availability of this HSPA phone just yet.Update: We've just confirmed that the Beam isn't loaded with a whopping 6GB of RAM as we initially reported. As it turns out, the device is actually packing 768MB of RAM (which is 6 gigabits, by the way). You can check out our hands-on with the device here for more details.
