MWC
Latest
O2 CEO says blocking mobile ads isn't 'the answer'
Just a few days after Three announced it was going to block mobile ads at the network level, O2's CEO, Ronan Dunne, has spoken out against the practice. In an interview with Campaign at MWC, Dunne criticized pop-ups and other "intrusive forms of advertising" but added that grand-scale blocking wasn't "the answer." It's a slightly different tune than O2 was humming late last year. Days after EE said it was considering ad blockers on its network, O2's MD of digital commerce made it clear that the carrier was in the advanced stages of assessing the technology itself, and was even testing it with some customers.
Netflix is going all in on HDR and more original content
After revealing an ambitious plan for global expansion earlier this year, Netflix is now looking to focus on what's arguably the most important part of its business: content. In a recent meeting at Mobile World Congress 2016, the video giant shared more details about what subscribers should expect next. And that mostly revolves around making a bigger push for original shows, improving the Netflix mobile apps on iOS and Android, and bringing support for high dynamic range (HDR) programming.
Oppo can fully charge a smartphone in 15 minutes
Most people might not drool over Oppo phones, but they're going to get a feature that might get those salivary glands pumping. This morning at Mobile World Congress, the company showed off its new SuperVOOC quick-charging technology. If real-world results are as promising as they say, Oppo fans will be able to fully charge some of their devices in 15 minutes. No, seriously.
Zuckerberg finds it funny some still don't trust Internet.org
Despite onstage sweat, several wireless microphone issues and pointed (but important) questions from his interviewer, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg held his ground at Mobile World Congress tonight. For the most part, the keynote discussion wasn't very different from his previous talks at the conference, which included a recap of Facebook's recent initiatives. But Wired's Jessi Hempel, who moderated the chat, pushed him to open up around India's recent ban of Facebook's Free Basics program (a part of the Internet.org initiative).
Oral-B's new smart toothbrush tracks movement with your phone
Oral-B debuted its Smart Series of connected toothbrushes last year, and at Mobile World Congress 2016, the company announced a new model. The Oral-B Genius touts Position Detection tech that uses motion sensors and your phone's camera to track your oral hygiene. Those bells and whistles keep tabs on location, pressure and brushing time to offer feedback on how well you're cleaning your teeth. All of those details come to you through the companion app on your trusty handset. In fact, there's a holder that comes with the high-tech toothbrush so you can put your phone on the mirror in front of you while brush.
Samsung's Galaxy S7 and Gear 360 event: Here's what you missed
Samsung wasn't going to let LG have all the limelight. The mobile giant's press show at MWC was memorable, to say the least, not just for the launch of the Galaxy S7 (and S7 Edge), or even the Gear 360 VR camera, but because parts of the show were delivered over Gear VR headsets. Oh, and some chap called Mark Zuckerberg showed up. Catch a breakdown of everything that happened right here.
LG came out fighting at Mobile World Congress
MWC proper hadn't even started, yet LG was already poised to be the talk of the show. Its G5 flagship surprised everyone with its snap-on accessories, but that wasn't the main talking point. The company also introduced a dizzying array of accessories that covers everything from audio to aerial drones. There was a lot to cover, but we break it all down for you right here.
Intel bets big on 5G to avoid missing out on mobile (again)
Remember WiMAX? So does Intel -- and it doesn't want to repeat the failure of that 4G technology, which it backed heavily before it lost out to LTE, when it comes to the next generation of networks. To that end, the chip giant is making it clear at Mobile World Congress today that it's gearing up in a big way for 5G, which could potentially end up being 10 to 100 times faster than today's LTE networks. That includes announcing a slew of partners -- from AT&T and Verizon to Ericsson, Huawei and ZTE -- with which it will be collaborating to develop and test 5G offerings.
Motorola chief Rick Osterloh weighs in on life under Lenovo
Motorola's split from Google and absorption by Lenovo left many people wondering if one of the world's most interesting phone makers would get mismanaged into oblivion. Motorola President Rick Osterloh sought to clear the air with a candid chat session at Mobile World Congress, where the answer was a pretty emphatic "no." "We've done an enormous amount of great stuff as part of a broader company," he said.
Kyocera shows off another solar-powered prototype smartphone
Last year, during Mobile World Congress, Kyocera teased a rugged smartphone with solar charging built in. What made that concept device interesting was how its sun-powered films were laid out: they sat between the LCD and touch panel, as opposed to being somewhere on the outside of the body. Now, Kyocera's building on this idea with a new prototype handset, which it has once again created in tandem with Sunpartner Technologies, a French company that focuses on solar tech.
Cyanogen's 'MOD' platform is a whole new level of Android tweaking
Android has always been the mobile platform of choice for tinkerers, a trend that also directly led to Cyanogen's success as a custom version of the OS. Now Cyanogen is launching a platform called "MOD" that'll give developers access to portions of Android they could never reach before. For example, Microsoft has developed a mod that puts Skype right into the Cyanogen Android dialer. Another one lets Cortana take voice-activated selfies. It's an entirely new frontier for Cyanogen -- which has often been described as an Android mod -- but also a necessary one.
KnowRoaming's money-saving sticker SIM goes hardware-free
KnowRoaming's magical SIM sticker auto-detected when your phone was working outside its home territory, switching to local carriers and saving you a bunch of money in the process. What's smaller than a sticker that goes on your existing SIM card, though? No sticker at all. in a collaboration with Alcatel (and TCL), it's announced a Soft SIM software platform, which sounds duller than it actually is. In short, it means no SIM tinkering necessary, and your phone will automatically link up with whatever network it needs to deliver voice, data and SMS services.
LG's new VR headset, as explained by Jamiroquai
This is the new LG 360 VR headset. That is Nick Summers. This is a Jamiroquai video: These are emotions:
The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are beautiful, if unsurprising sequels
When Samsung outed the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge last year, we all generally lavished it with praise. It was for a good reason -- they were easily the nicest phones Samsung had crafted in years, even though one was clearly more popular than the other. This year isn't really about reinventing those formulas, but about refining them, and the results are the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. You'll be able to get your own starting on March 11, but read on to get our early impressions.
Lenovo has a lot of cheap Android tablets
In addition to unleashing Windows 10 fury on an unsuspecting Spanish public, Lenovo is also introducing a new line of Android tablets named "TAB3" here at MWC 2016. There's the TAB3 7 and TAB3 8, which, if you couldn't guess, had 7- and 8-inch displays, respectively. They're super, super cheap Android 6.0 tablets, available in a range of colors. And then there's the TAB3 10, which is a cheap tablet for business people.
Lenovo adds more mid- and low-end options to laptop range
Lenovo has a bunch of new Windows 10 machines to show off at MWC this year, and if you're familiar with the company's Yoga and Miix lines, they'll seem very familiar. First up is the ultraportable Yoga 710, which comes in 11- and 14-inch sizes. Both have 1080p IPS touch screens, up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB SSD storage. The smaller has a choice of Intel Core m processors (up to m5) and integrated Intel graphics, while the larger utilizes 6th-generation Intel Core i processors (up to i7), and up to Nvidia GeForce 940MX graphics. Like all Yogas, the 710's keyboard rotates a full 360 degrees, giving you a choice of laptop mode, stand mode, tent mode, or tablet mode. The 11-inch model starts at $499, while the 14-inch will cost $799. They'll both go on sale this May.
HTC's new Desire phones are inspired by 'streetwear fashion'
HTC's Desire phones have never been the most thrilling. Sure, the low- to mid-range devices fill a purpose for those who can't afford (or don't want) the latest and greatest smartphone, but ... it's difficult to get excited about them. Perhaps with this in mind, the Taiwanese manufacturer has spiced up the range with three new devices inspired by "streetwear fashion."
Live from Samsung's MWC 2016 press event
Now that LG has shown us the G5 and "Friends," it is Samsung's turn to take the stage at Mobile World Congress 2016. If last year's event in Barcelona is any indication, all signs point toward the Korean company prepping to reveal the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, its latest flagship smartphones. There's also chance we'll learn more about the new Gear S2 smartwatch, which comes with an electronic SIM card. Whatever it may be, we're here to bring you the news as it happens. The keynote starts at 1PM ET/10AM PT -- grab some popcorn and keep your eyes peeled to this post.
Meet HP's Elite X3, a Windows Phone with a wireless lapdock
It's been ages (fine, two years) since HP released a smartphone, so surely a device making its debut at Mobile World Congress ought to be special, right? Well, HP's newest mobile -- the Elite X3 -- is special, for a few reasons. First off, it's a Windows Phone in an age where Windows Phone growth has basically stopped. And second, HP is looking at it as a productivity powerhouse, supplementing it with a lapdock that the phone connects to wirelessly. The result? A mostly full-size laptop with all the power of a smartphone.
HTC's Vive will cost $799, ship in early April
If you've been eagerly awaiting HTC's Vive VR headset, we hope you've been saving up. At Mobile World Congress today, HTC announced that the consumer version of the Vive will cost $799. That price includes the headset, two wireless controllers with haptic feedback and two location sensors. While it may seem expensive at first glance, we've been hearing for a while that the Vive would be pricier than the Oculus Rift, which sells for $599. Of course, the Oculus Rift doesn't come with motion controllers -- those will be coming later this year (and we still don't know what they'll cost).
