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HP intros the ProPad 600 tablet, updates the existing ElitePad with LTE and a sharper screen
No, it's not exciting as HP copying Lenovo's Yoga design, but hey, tablet news is still news. In addition to launching a consumer laptop, Hewlett-Packard is using Mobile World Congress to unveil a couple new Windows business tablets. Chief among these is the ProPad 600, a 10.1-inch device intended for the small biz market. HP hasn't revealed the price yet, but it's obviously going to cost less than the company's existing ElitePad 900 tablet -- the move to plastic build materials makes that pretty clear. That plainer design aside, it offers comparable performance, with a 64-bit Intel Baytrail chip, dual 2MP/8MP cameras and a 1,920 x 1,200, optically bonded display that supports pen input. Connectivity-wise, you're looking at micro-HDMI-out, along with a microSD slot and a standard micro-USB port for charging. Really, then, it's not that different from the current ElitePad, except there's no 3G and it's not compatible with HP's so-called Smart Jackets. Again, no word on price, but look for it to arrive sometime in mid-April. Oh, and speaking of the ElitePad 900, HP is refreshing it with some updated specs. Now called the ElitePad 1000, it rocks the same aluminum design as the original, except it steps up to a 64-bit processor and a sharper 1,920 x 1,200 screen -- the same one used on the new ProPad 600. It also has an LTE radio, and trades a USB 2.0 port for USB 3.0. Otherwise, the battery life is the same, at around 10 hours, and it fits all the same optional Smart Jackets as the old model. That's mainly good news for IT guys, who may have already purchased productivity and power covers to issue to employees. At any rate, the tablet should land in March, with a starting price of $739.
HP's Pavilion x360 convertible has a low price, decidedly Yoga-like design
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Lenovo ought to be tickled right now. HP just announced the 11-inch Pavilion x360, and it takes more than a few cues from Lenovo's iconic Yoga design. Not only does it have a 360-degree hinge allowing it to be used in four modes, but HP is even using the same terminology to describe how it works (think: "stand mode" for when the keyboard is folded under, and "tent mode" when the machine balanced upside down). Also like the Yoga, the keyboard disables automatically when you flip the screen back into tablet mode. So how is it different? Cost, really. Whereas most Windows convertibles command flagship prices, the x360 starts at $400. (For comparison's sake, even Lenovo's mid-range "Flex" convertibles still cost $549 and up.) Of course, a lower price means lesser specs, which in this case include a Pentium-series Intel Bay Trail processor, a 500GB hard drive (no SSDs here) and a 1,366 x 768 display. On the bright side, the display uses IPS technology for wider viewing angles, and HP also included Beats Audio. So the sound quality, at least, might be better than what the Lenovos of the world have to offer. Three USB ports and a full-sized HDMI socket might further sweeten the deal for prospective buyers.
Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i is an iOS 7 controller with Xbox heritage (hands-on)
Best known for its range of console and PC gaming accessories, Mad Catz has made huge strides over the past year to cater for mobile gamers. After it launched its M.O.J.O. Android gaming console in June, the peripheral maker has emerged at Mobile World Congress with C.T.R.L.i, its first controller to feature native support for iOS 7. While it's still in the prototype stage (so new, we're amongst the first to see it), the C.T.R.L.i was fully playable when we discussed specifics with Mad Catz's representative, allowing us to experience an almost final version of the gamepad before it launches publicly in April.
Orange's Gova smartphone promises fast LTE on a budget
We don't normally think of Orange's smartphones as quick, but we'll have to make an exception for the carrier's just-unveiled Gova. The 4.5-inch, Android 4.3-toting handset is the provider's first with 150Mbps LTE, giving subscribers fast data without making them spring for more advanced hardware. It's also one of Orange's more capable phones overall thanks to its 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 5-megapixel rear camera and 8GB of built-in storage. The Gova should reach Luxembourg, Mauritius, Moldova, Poland, Spain, Slovakia and Tunisia in April. Those that don't need quite so much power can opt for the already available Reyo, which combines more modest data speeds with a 5-inch screen, Android 4.2 and a 1.3GHz dual-core chip. Unfortunately, there's no word of UK launches for either of these frugal devices.
Hands-on with Huawei's first Firefox OS phone, the Y300
The Y300 marks Huawei's first entry into the world of Firefox OS. But unlike ZTE's Open C, this device runs FFOS 1.1 -- not the latest 1.3 build with its focus on stability. Regardless, the Y300 looks like much like its sibling FFOS devices in software and general build quality. The 4-inch handset has a WVGA display, 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon 8225 processor paired with 512MB RAM, 1,950mAh battery and is the first FFOS device to include dual cameras: a 5 megapixel module on back and VGA up front. As we mentioned earlier, the build is nothing special, but that seems to be the common thread for FFOS devices. The Y300 has a black, all plastic hull that's marked by a power button up top and alongside the headphone jack, volume keys on the right edge and a micro-USB port at the base. The FFOS UI appeared mostly unchanged on the Y300, but a Mozilla rep did confirm Huawei had made subtle tweaks including the addition of a rotation lock amongst other minor changes. Again, as we spent very little time with the handset, we weren't able to get a real feel for its overall performance, but the experience still centers around HTML 5 apps and the adaptive search bar powered by everything.me. There's no specific release date for Huawei's Y300 yet, but we've been told to expect a retail launch within the next couple of months. Pricing as well is still yet to be disclosed, but given this is FFOS we're talking about, you can bet on it being affordable. James Trew contributed to this report.
ZTE's Open C is a 4-inch Firefox OS 1.3 device (hands-on)
We knew the Open C was coming before the start of Mobile World Congress because, well, ZTE spilled the beans on it early. And here at Mozilla's press event, we're finally getting a first look at the diminutive 4-inch device and the 1.3 build of Firefox OS it runs. But before you judge its modest specs too harshly, bear in mind these FFOS devices are geared towards emerging markets and are priced accordingly. Owing to its budget nature, the Open C sports a chunky plastic build and, from the looks of the two models we saw on display, will be available in Mozilla's two signature colors: orange and blue. The handset's equipped with a 4-inch WVGA display and runs FFOS 1.3 atop a dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon 200 with 512MB of accompanying RAM. There's also a 2-megapixel fixed focus camera on back and 1,200mAh battery powering it. Update: ZTE just informed us, the Open C will come in a total of six colors, including black, white and fuscia. Go pick your favorite!
Alcatel shows off new Firefox OS devices, including its first with LTE
It's been a year since we first got a glimpse of Firefox OS at MWC 2013, and unsurprisingly we're already seeing some more models show up once again in Barcelona. This time around, Alcatel is making a strong statement to Mozilla about its commitment level; the company's showing off a grand total of four devices, including a tablet concept. All still under the Fire brand, the trio of smartphones range from a budget-minded 3.5-inch device to a nicer quad-core model with 4.5-inch qHD display and LTE. First, let's tackle the latter. The Fire S (which stands for 'speed') is the company's first Firefox device with LTE built-in, and while we're not looking at top-of-the-line specs here, they're certainly better than most we've seen on a smartphone bearing Mozilla's B2G project. The handset features OS 1.3, a 4.5-inch qHD display, 8MP rear camera with a 2MP front-facing cam, a quad-core 1.2GHz CPU and even NFC. The other two in the trio aren't especially drool-worthy, but they're still notable for potential users in emerging markets -- obviously a rather large demographic for Mozilla. The Fire E (which stands for 'elegant') has the same 4.5-inch qHD display as the S, but it uses a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 5MP rear camera and VGA front-facing cam. It also doesn't feature LTE, as the S does. The C (which stands for 'cost-conscious') has a 3.5-inch HVGA display, dual-core 1.2GHz processor, VGA camera and other basic goodies.
Huawei MediaPad X1 is the lightest and narrowest 7-inch tablet, plus it's a phone (video)
Does the world need bigger smartphones? Huawei answers this question at MWC with the launch of its MediaPad X1, a 7-inch Android tablet that lets you make phone calls. As ridiculous as it sounds, this device is designed in a way that makes it more usable than other colossal phones. At just 239g heavy and 103.9mm wide, the X1 is the lightest and narrowest tablet in its class, beating the likes of the ASUS Fonepad 7, Kindle Fire HDX 7 and the latest Nexus 7. Don't be deceived by the lightness, though; Huawei has managed to stuff a generous 5,000mAh battery -- again beating the other 7-inch tablets -- and a high-res 1,920 x 1,200 LTPS display inside this 7.18mm-thick aluminum body. Let's get the remaining specs out of the way. First and foremost, you get a pair of cameras: 13-megapixel f/2.4 on the back, and 5-megapixel f/2.2 on the front. There's 16GB of internal storage, and you can add up to 32GB of external space via microSD. The SoC here is Huawei's HiSilicon Kirin 910 (as seen on the Ascend P6S), which features a 1.6GHz quad-core Cortex-A9 CPU, along with 2GB of RAM and a Mali-450 MP4 GPU. There's support for both TD-LTE and FD-LTE, meaning you can enjoy 4G speeds in both China and a large part of the world. Likewise, the same phone also works on both WCDMA and China Mobile's TD-SCDMA 3G networks. Sadly, the WiFi radio only goes up to 802.11n instead of the more powerful 802.11ac, but the 150Mbps LTE Cat 4 radio should somewhat make up for this -- if your carrier supports it, that is. Read on for our hands-on video and thoughts. Update: Huawei is pricing the X1 at a pretty competitive 399 euros.
Huawei's first smartband has a pop-out earpiece for voice calls (video)
Huawei hasn't exactly been keeping quiet about its very own wearable device, so today's announcement of its TalkBand B1 should be no surprise to anyone. As shown in the earlier leaks, it has a 1.4-inch flexible OLED display on the band, but what hasn't been obvious until now is that it also supports wireless calling -- there's a removable earpiece tucked inside it, which explains the 14.6mm-thick bulk. Like any good wearable, the device also has fitness tracking features: It records how many steps you've taken, how far you've travelled and how many calories you've burned. It's also a sleeping pattern monitor, so you can use the smart alarm function to wake up at the optimal time. There's NFC here for pairing with phones, and the 90mAh battery promises six days worth of usage (but takes two hours to charge up). There's no price announced just yet, but the B1 will be out in China next month, whereas Japan, the Middle East, Russia and Western Europe will have to wait until Q2 2014. Update 1: Huawei's Richard Yu just announced that the TalkBand will be available for €99. Update 2: We've been hands-on with the TalkBand and now it sorta makes sense! Check out the video after the break.
Huawei brings new super-fast LTE tech to affordable Ascend G6 smartphone and MediaPad M1 tablet (updated: hands-on)
This year's all about LTE Cat 4 for Huawei, which is why it's pushing this faster 4G technology into both the high-end market as well as the lower price points, in order to help drive its network business -- LTE Cat 4 only works if your carrier supports it, after all. At MWC, the company announced the launch of two affordable devices that will come with this 150Mbps technology: the Ascend G6 4G and the MediaPad M1. The Ascend G6 appears to share some design elements with the higher-end Ascend P6, so it looks quite pretty in the above render. It features a lesser 4.5-inch 960 x 540 LCD, a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, NFC and an adequate 2,000mAh battery. The cameras are surprising nice, though: there's an 8-megapixel f/2.0 imager (with Sony's IMX134 sensor) on the back, plus a 5-megapixel front-facing counterpart with unknown aperture. This phone will first arrive in its 3G-only, 7.5mm-thick form in Q1 this year, followed by a 7.85mm-thick 4G version in April. The 8-inch MediaPad M1 tablet (pictured after the break) has a 1,280 x 800 IPS display with stereo front-facing speakers, and with the help of its 4,800mAh battery, users will be entertained by hours of movies (Huawei claims up to eight hours) on one charge. Other specs include a 1.6GHz quad-core chip, a 1-megapixel front camera and a 5-megapixel main camera, all tucked within a 7.9mm-thick body. Like the 3G version of the G6, the M1 will also launch in various countries in Q1 2014. Update: We've just heard that the MediaPad M1 will come with a European street price of €299, while the LTE version of the G6 smartphone will set you back €249.
Tune in live for Samsung's 'Unpacked 5' event tomorrow at 2PM EST!
Here on the ground in Barcelona, Samsung's got a big banner just outside Mobile World Congress' main hall inviting us to "Meet the next Galaxy." And we're pretty sure that's confirmation of the rumored Galaxy S5, what with its supposed 2K display, fingerprint scanner and ability to float in mid-air while toasting bread. Alright, so maybe that last bit's just part of our spec wishlist. Whatever it is Samsung unpacks for us to see, you can also expect there'll be a new Gear smartwatch on hand and maybe even an ultra-lux Galaxy F (for 'fancy') to go with it. It's all going down right here at 2PM EST / 8PM CET tomorrow, so tune in for all the news live as it happens. February 24, 2014 2:00:00 PM EST
Microsoft announces new Windows Phone hardware partners, including LG and Lenovo
Microsoft is on a roll at its MWC event today. Shortly after announcing updates to Windows and Windows Phone, the company also told us that it's now trying to make its mobile platform more flexible for operators and manufacturers and is now working with a whole bevy of new manufacturing partners. Among the notable companies on the list are LG, Lenovo and ZTE, in addition to several companies in India, such as Xolo, Karbonn and Lava. Some of the listed companies (such as LG, Huawei and ZTE) have worked with Windows Phone in the past, but today's revelations show that those companies haven't completely turned away from Microsoft -- or have returned to the fold. Says Microsoft VP Nick Parker, "we're open for business on Windows Phone to anyone who wants to build one." The company is extending its arms out to more partners by providing more options; for instance, Parker told us that Microsoft is now working with operators on possible white label devices -- phones that are branded by operators but built by other manufacturers. Additionally, Microsoft also announced that any company can build a Windows Phone using Qualcomm's Reference Design; interestingly, this means that Android-based hardware could potentially be reused for Windows Phone. These changes announced today will certainly add more appeal and higher volume to the platform around the world, especially in emerging markets, and is a good way for Microsoft to indirectly address growing concerns that its upcoming acquisition of Nokia's device division would limit the interest of outside manufacturers.
We'll be live from Sony's MWC 2014 press event tomorrow at 2AM EST!
If history is any indication, then we have a sneaking suspicion Sony could be using this year's Mobile World Congress as a showcase for its next, great Xperia Tablet. More specifically, it could be this fella right here, the Xperia Tablet Z2 -- a minor spec update to its waterproof, "omnibalanced" Android slate. But that might not be the only Xperia flagship waiting in the wings here in Barcelona. Recent leaks have us fairly convinced Sony's planning yet another Zed Part Deux debut, but this time it's for the company's rumored Xperia Z2 smartphone. Lucky you, we'll be live at Sony's MWC press event to report on the news as it unfolds and count how many times Kaz says, "Wow!" So make sure to tune in here tomorrow at 2AM EST / 8AM CET to catch your (Xperia) Zzzs. February 24, 2014 2:30:00 AM EST
Windows Phone 8.1 will come with more hardware support and is backwards-compatible
Microsoft has made a few announcements related to Windows Phone 8.1 this afternoon in Barcelona. While we don't expect to see the new update in its entirety until April, we got at least a few satisfying nuggets of info today. First, we're going to see a lot more flexible support for hardware: 8.1 will be able to support more Qualcomm chipsets, such as Snapdragon 200, 400 and 400 LTE; it will come with TD-LTE, TD-SCDMA and SGLTE support, the ability for phones to use dual-SIM, apps on microSD and virtual softkeys instead of capacitive keys. Devices won't be required to have a hardware camera shutter key anymore, either (but it's still offered as an option anyway). Additionally, we've been told that devices currently on Windows Phone 8 will be able to get an update to 8.1, so it's fortunately backwards-compatible to some degree. With the new update, Microsoft is going to introduce support for dual SIM devices, which is huge in developing areas of the world. As part of this support, WP8.1 will offer Live Tiles for each SIM, as well as the option to link messaging tiles together for both. Microsoft is also going to be compatible with Qualcomm's Reference Design (QRD), and VP Joe Belfiore brought a Snapdragon 200-powered Windows Phone reference device to show it off. Unfortunately he couldn't show it off to us personally, since there were a few things he didn't want us to see, but it's refreshing to see such sweeping hardware opportunities; this opens up more ability for growth in global market share.
Hands-on with LG's G2 mini
Just because it's smaller and has the same branding, that doesn't mean LG's G2 mini is anything like its elder namesake. It's just borrowing a bit of the G2's tech halo, is all. With a 4.7-inch, 960 x 540 qHD display, Android 4.4 KitKat, Snapdragon 400 heart (or Tegra 4i, depending on your market) and 1GB RAM, it's clear LG's positioning this as a budget Android KitKat device. But budget doesn't have to mean bad and here at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, we got a chance to see just how modest the G2 mini really is. Read on for our initial thoughts.
Hands-on with the LG G Pro 2 (video)
Knock, knock. Excuse us, we're just unlocking LG's new G Pro 2 with some light taps from our fist. Yes, the Korean company's showing off its 5.9-inch flagship here at Mobile World Congress and its once again gunning for rival Galaxy Note 3's place in the spotlight. Aside from sporting a de rigeur 1080p display, the G Pro 2 comes loaded up with Android 4.4 KitKat, 32GB of storage and a 13-megapixel rear camera that's primed to shoot video in 4K. We've got one in hand right now, so follow along for our first impressions.
Facebook Messenger coming to Windows Phone in the next few weeks
Microsoft VP Joe Belfiore made an announcement that will come as a solid addition to the Windows Phone app ecosystem: Facebook Messenger will be making its way to the platform sometime in the next few weeks. No specific date was given, since it's still in the works, but we're told that it's progressing well enough that Belfiore could announce it. More updates from Microsoft as we get word.
Update to Windows 8.1 coming this spring with more hardware options, benefits for non-touch users
We may be at a mobile show this week, but Microsoft is making some announcements on the Windows side. VP Joe Belfiore, at an event this afternoon, has announced that an update is coming to Windows 8.1 this Spring, which will offer more hardware options, benefits for non-touch users and some changes to the user interface. It brings support to devices at lower price points that have as little as 1GB of RAM and 16GB storage, enables app launching and switching via the taskbar and a new mouse user interface with new options for closing apps and right-clicking to get to the Start screen. Despite the update's attention on users of non-touch devices, Belfiore exclaimed: "we love touch, but we do want to make things better for people who don't have touchscreens." We'll update the post as we hear more about this new update.
Acer's Liquid series: hands-on with the new E3 and Z4
Last week, Acer announced its latest budget smartphones ahead of Mobile World Congress, and as expected those devices are making an appearance at the show. We guessed that the €199 ($275) Liquid E3 is looking to go toe-to-toe with the Moto G in terms of specs, while the €99 Liquid Z4 ($135 or so) fights it out with a whole host of low-end handsets. With a 4.7-inch, 720p IPS screen, quad-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB of internal storage and 13-megapixel rear camera, the Liquid E3 is clearly the more exciting of the two, but head past the break where we take a closer look at both of Acer's new Android phones.
Alcatel OneTouch Pop Fit is a 'wearable' smartphone with a bundle of accessories
In the era of phablets, it's rather odd to see a company launching a 2.8-inch device, let alone calling it a "wearable" smartphone. Meet the Alcatel OneTouch Pop Fit, a little QVGA 3G phone that costs from just €89 or about $120 unsubsidized, but it comes bundled with a bunch of accessories. These include five back covers in different colors (black, blue, yellow, pink and red), along with a semi-transparent flip cover (with three dedicated music buttons) and an armband case. You also get a pair of JBL in-ear headphones, which will come in handy while jogging with this splashproof device. The phone itself is powered by a 1GHz dual-core MediaTek chip with 512MB of RAM, so the 1,000mAh battery should be sufficient. What's surprising is that even at this price point, the Pop Fit comes with either 16GB or 32GB of internal memory, thus giving the iPod nano a run for its money. There's a software bundle, too: RunKeeper GPS fitness tracking app, DoubleTwist music player and Fleksy keyboard (which should make typing a lot easier on this tiny screen). Expect this phone to hit the shops around May this year.
