mwc2016
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Epson unveils its third-generation Moverio AR glasses at MWC
Epson debuted the third iteration of its Moverio AR glasses series, dubbed the BT-300, at the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona on Monday. The new smart specs boast completely transparent lenses impregnated with OLED displays, a quad-core Intel Atom X5 processor and the Android 5.1 operating system. Plus, they weigh 20 percent less than their BT-200 predecessors, making them the world's lightest AR glasses. They're currently available for preorder and are expected to ship later this year.
High-powered graphics chips are coming to cheap smartphones
The company that created the iPhone's graphics chip wants to bring its pixel-crunching expertise to dirt-cheap smartphones. Imagination Technologies is launching the PowerVR 8XE, a new series of chips that offer vastly better graphics for far less cash. The hardware's designed to support the new Vulkan API, which promises graphically intensive mobile games without the usual jerkiness or slowdowns. Imagination's pitch is that rather than just building ever-bigger slices of silicon, it's learning to do a lot more with a lot less. In addition to dirt-cheap smartphones, the chips will be used in cheapie set-top boxes and cars.
Sony focuses on the camera with its Xperia X lineup
It was a mystery what Sony was going to unveil at MWC this year, but now we know -- a new line of Xperia X smartphones and "smart products" to go with them. The Xperia X and Xperia XA aren't going to set any performance records, but Sony has tried to make them as compelling as possible in terms of design and photo features. As such, the mobile group worked closely with the engineers who created Sony's popular Alpha hybrid camera products. The result is a smartphone camera that focuses rapidly and accurately by predicting subject motion to eliminate any blur. Both phones also sport all-metal bodies with curved glass around the display "for a familiar form that feels comfortable in the hand," according to the company.
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.
ZTE's latest Android projector is basically a tablet
ZTE's Android projectors have often seemed like answers to a question no one asked, but the company might have found an audience with the newly unveiled Spro Plus. The device combines a 500-lumen projector with an Android-based control system that includes an 8.4-inch AMOLED screen, a Snapdragon 801 processor, optional LTE data and 128GB of expandable storage. In effect, it's a chunky mid-range tablet that can cast 80-inch images on your wall.
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:
Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge arrive on March 11th
Samsung really, really doesn't want you to wait long to get your hands on a Galaxy S7. The company has announced that both the S7 and the S7 Edge will arrive in Europe and the US on March 11th, with pre-orders starting as early as February 23rd. In the US, the big four carriers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon) will offer the S7 starting at $23 per month on an installment plan, and the S7 Edge for $27 per month. How much you pay depends on the network, of course, but there's an important note here: Unlike the S6, there's only one 32GB capacity available for either S7 model. You'll have to spring for a microSD card if you need more storage.
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.
Watch Samsung's Galaxy S7 event stream at 1PM Eastern
It's no secret that Samsung is going to unveil the Galaxy S7 at its Mobile World Congress event today, but let's face it: there's a certain thrill to seeing things unfold live, isn't there? If you're feeling that buzz, tune in below at 1PM Eastern to watch Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked stream as it happens. You can even watch on a Gear VR, if you're eager to be immersed in the company's vision of the future. We'll be there in person with a live blog, but this will help if you're eager to witness Samsung's announcements (including that possible VR camera) for yourself.
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.
Samsung Connect Auto brings LTE data to your car
You didn't think Samsung would stay out of the connected car race, did you? Sure enough, the Korean electronics giant has unveiled its own take on smarter vehicle tech in the form of Connect Auto. The Tizen-powered (and Knox-secured) dongle plugs into your car's OBD-II port and provides LTE data to everyone in the car through a WiFi hotspot. And like other connectors, it should help with your driving. The adapter promotes safer driving habits (including through insurance partnerships), keeps tabs on maintenance, helps you find your parked car and even alerts your contacts if you're ever involved in an accident.
LG's wacky 'Friends' accessories might just annoy its enemies
LG didn't just roll up with a new phone. It turned up with an entourage of devices in one of the most refreshing, if a little baffling, launches in MWC history. The devices all center around the G5, and include drones, rolling robots and high-fidelity audio accessories: quite the family. LG's calling these accessories "Friends," and while it's a little unexpected, the collection offers something compelling: a line of gadgets that not only plug into the LG G5, but also into pretty much every hot trend right now.
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).
Huawei's MateBook is its spin on the Surface
Just how hot are convertible PCs these days? Enough for Huawei to make one its very first computer. Today the Chinese electronics giant announced the MateBook, a 12-inch hybrid Windows 10 tablet, at Mobile World Congress. Just like Microsoft's Surface line, it transforms into a functional Windows 10 laptop with the addition of a keyboard cover (which, thankfully, is included in the box). There's also a stylus accessory that looks very similar to the Surface Pen.
LG made a robot ball and a VR headset for the G5
LG basically just shot for the moon with the new G5, but that's not all the company's been working on. There's a fascinating spate of accessories to go with the phone, though what's really weird is how LG is characterizing them. They're not just accessories -- oh, no. They're "friends."
