MOBILE SPECIAL..... MWC 2016

MOBILE SPECIAL    MWC 2016





The Mobile World Congress, which was held in Barcelona between February 22­25, is one of the biggest mobile technology showcases in the world. Savio D'Souza and Ashutosh Desai pick some of the hottest and most innovative gear unveiled.

THE PERSONAL ASSISTANT | Sony

Not all of us are posh enough for a butler like Jeeves or Alfred, which is why Sony plans on setting us up with a digital assistant like `Iron Man' Tony Stark's Jarvis. This MWC, the Japanese electronic major unveiled three prototypes, the Xperia Ear, the Xperia Projector and the Xperia Agent.

The Ear looks like any Bluetooth earpiece, but it isn't. This little gadget connects to your handset via NFC and Bluetooth, after which, you can set it up using its accompanying smart phone app to provide you with voice-based information on your day's schedule, app notifications and more. You can use natural language commands to make a call, search the web, play your favourite track, dictate a message, and even request navigation route maps on your phone.

The Xperia Projector (pictured above) brings the digital assistant into your home.While Sony didn't provide too many details on this early prototype, the table-top device could possibly run apps for your calendar, contacts and weather, and even provide news updates. Its projection system transforms any surface into a touch gesture-recognition system for input. This means you could use its projected keyboard to type on a table, initiate a phone call, and even wave your hands to play games.

As part of its Internet of Things (IoT) product portfolio, Sony also showcased the Xperia Agent, which is equipped with a rotating camera, touch display and voice recognition. Like the Ear, the agent can be commanded by voice, and it even projects images and alerts on your tabletop. If this prototype finally sees the light of day, it could go beyond just displaying messages and alerts. Users would be able to use voice commands and gestures to control a whole range of connected devices like lighting, air conditioning, and even use its cameras for remote monitoring.

THE FIRST MODULAR | LG

Manufacturers have been talking about modular smartphones for quite a while now: Handsets where you can swap and attach mini bricks (for batteries, biometric sensors, cameras, et al) to your device depending on your needs. But LG, it seems, is going to be the first major company that's going to roll out such a handset. Their new LG G5 flagship, which is slated for a second-quarter release this year, can be bought with two `modules': The Cam Pro and the Hi-Fi Pro.All you have to do is remove the bottom of the handset and attach the Cam Pro when you want to use your device as a shooter.This module expands the G5's 2800mAh battery to 4000mAh, and provides you with dedicated buttons for camera onoff and shutter release. Plus you get a scroll wheel to zoom in and out of any scene.The Hi-Fi Pro attaches to the handset similarly , and here you get a 32-bit DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter), developed in conjunction with B&O Play (Bang and Olufsen), for audiophile-grade sound through your headphones.

The rest of the phone isn't too bad either.

The G5, which will come with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, sports an all metal and glass unibody , is equipped with a fingerprint scanner at the back, and is fronted by a 5.3-inch (2560x1440px, 554ppi) IPS LCD touch screen. Inside, you get the new Qualcomm Snap dragon 820 octa-core chip with 4GB RAM, 32GB storage (with a microSD card slot) and Quick Charge 3.0 via the new USB Type-C connector.

SUPER FAST CHARGING | Oppo

Many smartphone manufacturers ship their devices with fast chargers that promise to juice up a mobile's batteries significantly within a few minutes. Oppo Mobiles has now improved on the charging technique considerably .

The China-based electronics company demonstrated their proprietary Super VOOC Flash Charge technology in which a 2500mAh battery was charged up to 45% in just five minutes, and fully charged in fifteen.

Super VOOC, company officials said, comprises a new low-voltage pulse-charge algorithm, a customized battery , “multiple technical innovations“ and “extremely reliable military-grade materials“.

Since it uses low-voltage to charge batteries, the handset's temperature remains significantly low ­ heating up by a maximum of only 3.3 degrees Celsius ­ when charging. This also means that smartphones can safely be used for calls and data during the process.

The technology , which supports microUSB and USB Type-C, is currently in final testing stages and will make its appearance in Oppo's smartphones in the very near future.

INTERNATIONAL ROAMING | ChatSIM & KnowRoaming

If there's one thing frequent travellers need, it is a SIM card that lets them communicate with family, friends and colleagues, regardless of the country they are visiting. Well, ChatSim and KnowRoaming are two SIM-based systems that provide hassle-free roaming services. Pop a ChatSim into your handset, and you can start messaging via apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, WeChat and more. The service automatically blocks traffic from non-messaging apps to cut unintentional data usage by up to 90%.

The Italy-based service has partnered with over 250 operators in 150+ countries. Users in India can get a ChatSim for `1,800 (shipping extra). This includes a one-time `900 fee for the SIM card, along with a `900 plan for unlimited and free text messages and emojis anywhere in the world for the entire year. KnowRoaming, on the other hand, is a “Global SIM Sticker“ that promises to save you up to 85% on voice, text, and data in 200+ countries. For $29.99, you get an applicator that helps you place the SIM Sticker precisely over your existing SIM card. You can continue using that SIM card with your local number in India. When you are abroad, the SIM Sticker automatically takes over, connecting you to a local mobile network, via its companion app. It also gives you a free US and UK number that you can use there.

The Canada-based service lets you check rates, monitor usage in real time, purchase and activate packages via its KnowRoaming app. The best part?
When you arrive home, the SIM Sticker switches you back to your home network seamlessly, remaining dormant till you travel again ­ and any balance remaining in your account can be used the next time you're abroad.

VIRTUAL WORLD| Epson & Samsung

While the Google Glass seems to have made an exit, Epson has added the Moverio BT-300 to its existing line-up of smart eyewear.Unlike bulky VR headsets, these are lightweight see-through glasses that can be worn over spectacles. The BT-300 uses a 5MP front-facing camera along with motion-tracking sensors to locate objects its wearer looks at.

A new silicon-based OLED (SiOLED) system projects dual HD displays on the lenses to render 3D content virtually in front of the wearer. The glasses connect to a small controller, which comprises an Intel quad-core Atom X5 processor running Android 5.1, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for connectivity. The BT-300 is already available for pre-order at a steep $800.

Then, there is the Samsung Gear 360 ­ a new 360-degree camera, equipped with dual fish-eye lens and backed by 15MP sensors that capture highresolution (3840x1920px) 360-degree videos and 30MP stills. This spherical shooter, which is dustand waterresistant, can also be paired with a diminutive tripod for time-lapse photography. When synced to a compatible Samsung phone (like the Galaxy phone (like the Galaxy S6 series, the new S7 and S7 Edge, and Note 5) users will be able to enjoy the footage on the Gear VR headset. The Gear 360 comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, a microSD slot (up to 128GB) and a 1350mAh battery .

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