Mobile World Congress in Barcelona is the world’s biggest cellphone industry get-together and an event that hardware manufacturers use to showcase their latest gadgets. Here’s what grabbed our eye at 2015’s show.
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
One of the most exciting events at Mobile World Congress 2015 was the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge. The S6 edge, with its metal casing and curved screen, looks set to make up for the disappointment that was last year’s Galaxy S5. There’s plenty to say about the S6 and S6 edge, but the new fingerprint reader, wireless charging and fast charging (through cable) caught our eye. Like the S5, it includes a 16-megapixel camera, although Samsung says it has improved the launch and capture speed and you can open and take a picture in 0,6s.
Pebble Time
The Pebble Time smartwatch stands out among the plethora of smartwatches on show at Barcelona. While the plastic casing does lend a cheaper look to it, it includes a battery that lasts for seven days. Its features include a colour e-ink display that is protected by Gorilla Glass and works with iOS and Android phones. Software has been re-engineered so you receive fewer and more relevant notifications. It also allows you to send voice replies to incoming notifications and take short voice notes. It’s water resistant, too.
Huawei Watch
With its jewellery-like appearance, the Huawei Watch was easily the best-looking smartwatch at MWC 2015. It’s compatible with Android phones to receive e-mails, calendar notifications, texts and app updates. Features include a 1,4-inch touch-sensitive screen and a heart-rate monitor. However, with a rumoured price tag of a US$1 000, we’re not sure there are going to be too many takers. And, of course, the Apple Watch is imminent.
HTC One M9
Like the HTC One M8 before it, HTC’s new flagship, the M9, is a beautiful phone sure to catch your eye — and your ear. The HTC BoomSound, with built-in amp and Dolby Audio, provides optimised sound, including from multi-channel online sources. The phone incorporates Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 810 processor, which makes it ideal for playing games and watching movies. It has a 20-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 4-megapixel Ultrapixel front-facing camera, with a wider lens — ideal for those selfie moments. The phone features an “intelligent” home screen that changes according to location and time of day. You can set up different themes for when you’re at work or home.
Eye Print ID on the ZTE Grand S3
While most manufacturers are working on improving their fingerprint readers, ZTE has moved the goalposts with its Grand S3 smartphone. The phone features an EyePrint ID retina feature that uses biometrics to unlock the phone. The device stores the blood-vessel pattern of your eye, providing for secure, hassle-free privacy that’s also hands-free.
LG Watch Urbane LTE
The LG Watch Urbane LTE is another smartwatch that grabbed attention at MWC 2015. LG is continuing to redefine itself in the mobile space. The Urbane LTE uses the WebOS operating system and doesn’t need a phone to link to it to work. It can take and make calls, text and complete other basic tasks. It also features mobile payment technology using near-field communication technology.
HTC Vive
This headset developed by Valve Software and HTC is said to be the most realistic virtual reality headset to date. The Vive uses positional tracking through the use of two sensors on the wall as well as two controllers, one for each hand. The controllers lets the system know where you are as well as allowing you to see your hands in the virtual world. This certainly adds to the illusory experience. Like other VR systems, the Vive uses a headset that has dozens of sensors to track the user’s position.
Blackphone 2
This is a phone for the security conscious, and given all we know after the Edward Snowden revelation, we all should be much more cautious. The Blackphone 2 smartphone guarantees security by encrypting calls, texts and contacts. The device uses a custom-built and locked-down operating system called PrivatOS, which is based on Android. If the device is lost, all data on it can be wiped out remotely.
Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
Sony did not announce a new phone at the MWC, but did bring out its new tablet to play. The 10-inch Sony Xperia Z4 is just 6,1mm thick and weighs less than 400g. It features a 2K display, has a 64-bit octa-core processor and 3GB of RAM. It’s probably the best Android tablet available and looks set to give Apple’s iPad a run for its money. — (c) 2015 NewsCentral Media
