NOKIA 3310 IS BACK

Approximately 17 years after its debut, a device many old-school purists deem the “original cell phone” is returning to the market. During the recent 2017 Mobile World Congress event, a refurbished Nokia 3310 was introduced by HMD Global, a Finland-based tech start-up. To the delight of many traditionalist users, the new 3310 won’t carry full smartphone features, and while this model does have a larger screen and thinner body than the original, it retains the same number-key based typing method that many users learned to text with. Ben Wood, a tech expert from consultancy firm CCS Insight, commented, "the 3310 was the first mass-market mobile and there's a massive amount of nostalgia and affection for it. If HMD had just announced three Android devices they would have barely got a couple of column inches in the press. The 3310 is a very clever move and we expect it will sell in significant volumes."

Nokia 3310 is Making a Comeback!

#TheOriginal #NokiaReturns #BackToBasics

BLACKBERRY KEYBOARD!

Another highlight of the Mobile World Congress was TCL tech’s unveiling of the modern Blackberry, classic physical keyboard included. Named the BlackBerry KeyOne, this model features a 4.5” LCD screen with a 3:2 aspect ratio, and comes housed in a full-aluminum body with an unbreakable Gorilla Glass 4 front. Its 12 megapixel camera utilizes a Sony sensor boasting a 1.55-micron pixel level. But like its predecessors, the KeyOne’s keyboard is the star of the show—its buttons are touch sensitive (meaning you can scroll without contacting the screen), and also programmable (for instance, the “T” key could be assigned to immediately open Twitter). The space bar can also read fingerprints, in the same manner as the iPhone home button. In coordination, all of these features allow users to run two apps simultaneously and enter text without blocking them by using an onscreen keyboard.

BlackBerry KeyOne Review

http://www.trustedreviews.com/blackberry-keyone-review

#RealKeys #BetterBlackBerry #MWC2017

SAMSUNG PHONES DELAYED? 

After its conspicuous absence from the Mobile World Congress show, Samsung used its own prescheduled Tab S3 press event to reveal the Galaxy S8 launch date (currently set for March 29###sup/sup###). The company’s MWC absence was initially attributed to a Galaxy S8 launch delay, presumably as a result of the massive Galaxy Note 7 recall. Though Samsung’s MWC absence was initially seen as a negative, the timing of the S8 reveal ended up aligning with the premier of LG’s G6 flagship model, a major competitor. The new S8 design is said to rival the G6’s trim bezel layout and favorable screen-to-body ratio, and like the LG, the S8 is also a waterproof, wireless charging, dual lens camera device. As the S8 rollout approaches, Samsung has grown increasingly vocal about their commitment to engineer safer phones, Galaxy S8 will undergo a lengthier and more thorough battery-testing process.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Teaser Reveal

#SamsungComeback #BlowinUpNotLiterally #MWC2017

GOOGLE ASSISTANT DOES A LOT ON THE PIXEL

The Pixel and Pixel XL, Google’s trademark smartphones, are the web giant’s first entries into an ultra-competitive market filled with established competitors—Apple, LG, Samsung, Nexus. What sets the Pixel apart however is its keystone feature, an intuitive central AI named Google Assistant. With greater command understanding and abilities that overlap into other platforms, such as Google Home, Wikipedia, Twitter and YouTube, Google Assistant is an extremely unique tool. Users can dictate typical voice commands, such as call, text, email and search, but with more depth and specificity than typical smartphone AIs. For instance, “text Mike on his work phone and tell him I’ll be there in ten minutes,” combines three commands into one. Similar command combos are available for camera, music, video and alarm functions.

CNet: Google Assistant Demo

https://www.cnet.com/videos/start-chatting-with-google-assistant/

#InstantAssistance #CrossPlatformTech #MWC2017

THE LG G6 ROCKS

LG’s G6 is not only a gorgeous, feature packed, glass-and-metal beauty, but from a market perspective, it’s a perfectly timed device. Given primary competitor Samsung’s absence from the Mobile World Congress (due to the Galaxy S8 launch delay caused by the aftermath of the company’s exploding Galaxy Note 7), the G6 received a wide-open red carpet welcome at this year’s global tech conference. The fully waterproof G6 carries an eye-friendly 4:5 screen ratio, meaning barely any bezel, more swipe room, and much sleeker, luxurious design than last year’s clunky G5. The G6’s laser-sharp screen packs 565 pixels per inch, providing an 18:9 aspect ratio, which bests the typical smartphone’s 16:9 ratio. To top it all off, its dual rear cameras, a standard 13-megapixel lens as well as a 120-degree wide-angle lens, offer features and tricks that downright embarrass the iPhone 7.

LG G6 Gallery

https://www.cnet.com/pictures/lg-g6/

#LGLooksGreat #G6RedCarpet #MWC2017