|
From the MWC 2011:
LG Optimus 3D
LG seems to be on a roll at the moment. Having announced the super-powerful dual-core Optimus 2X ( at the top of the list) It's now unveiled the world's first mobile phone with glasses-free 3D display.
The Optimus 3D uses the same technology as the Nintendo 3DS to show three-dimensional images without the need for silly specs. It has a dual-lens five-megapixel camera, so you can shoot images and video in 3D, and also packs a 1GHz dual-core processor. All of which combines to make a rather lustworthy mobile.
Samsung Galaxy S II
Samsung's Galaxy S II is another addition to the growing ranks of dual-core processor smartphones, and it looks like a worthy challenger to the likes of the Motorola Atrix and LG Optimus 2X.
As well as the nippy chip running the show, the Galaxy S II also offers an eight-megapixel camera on the back and a two-megapixel camera on the front. A particularly notable feature is the inclusion of near field communication (NFC) technology, which will enable a user to pay for goods by simply swiping their mobile over a terminal. This feature will only be active in certain markets, however, and whether the UK will get it remains to be seen.
Acer Iconia Smart
Acer's newly announced smartphone isn't far off the dimensions of a tablet computer - it's packing an immense 4.8-inch touchscreen.
The display has a 21:9 aspect ratio, which will make it perfect for watching movies, as well as a resolution of 480 x 1024 pixels. On the back is an eight-megapixel camera with LED flash and running the show is Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). Acer might not be the most fashionable name in mobile phones, but the Iconia Smart looks to be a device worth keeping tabs on.
Sony Ericsson Xperia Play
We've been waiting for this one for a long time - the fabled 'PSP phone'. Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play is a fully featured smartphone that turns into a handheld games console by sliding out the hidden control panel.
Those controls include a digital D pad, two analogue touch pads, two shoulder buttons and the four PlayStation buttons: circle, cross, square and triangle. More than 50 games are expected to be available for the device at launch, March.
HTC Incredible S
This is a high-end device from HTC which combines a quality camera with a high-definition four-inch touchscreen.
That rear-mounted camera has an eight-megapixel sensor and dual LED flashes and also records video in 720p HD. Running the phone is a 1Ghz processor and Android 2.3.
Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo
Sony Ericsson grabbed all the headlines when it announced the PlayStation-friendly Xperia Play, but the company has also been showing off another smartphone at MWC.
The Xperia Neo has a four-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels (powered by the Sony Mobile Bravia Engine for improved clarity), a fully featured eight-megapixel rear-mounted camera and runs Android 2.3.
Motorola Pro
Aimed squarely at the business market, if Motorola's Pro were a wine we would probably be discussing its hints of blackberry.
The Pro is already out Stateside, but Motorola has announced at MWC that the handset will now be coming to Europe as well. It's an Android 2.2 handset with a 1GHz processor, 3.1-inch touchscreen and, of course, that full QWERTY keyboard. With a range of business applications pre-loaded, it's a strong all-rounder.
HTC ChaCha
It's not easy to keep a straight face while writing about a phone called the ChaCha, trust me but anyway
The device is one of two 'Facebook phones' launched by HTC; the other being the similarly oddly named Salsa. It has a dedicated Facebook button which pulses with light whenever you are looking at content you can share on the social network. For instance, while you listen to your music, you can press the Facebook button and details of the track you're listening to will be posted on Facebook. The phone will be out before July 2011.
HTC Desire S
This follow-up to the excellent Desire (my personal favorite brand and model) with greater speed than the original (thanks to Qualcomm's new 1GHz Snapdragon MSM8255 processor) as well as an improved design.
Essentially, what we're getting here is what many people were crying out for last year: a mobile with the smarts of the Desire but the slinky design (with a casing sculpted from a single block of aluminium) of the Legend. It has a 3.7-inch touchscreen as well as front- and rear-mounted cameras.
HTC Salsa
The second of HTC's 'Facebook phones', the Salsa is another handset pitched at 'always-on' social networkers. It has the same one-button access to Facebook as the ChaCha.
The core difference lies in how you use it: the Salsa is a 3.4-inch touchscreen handset, while the ChaCha has a full QWERTY keyboard in addition to its 2.6-inch touchscreen. Both phones' displays have a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, and both pack five-megapixel cameras.
HTC Wildfire S
HTC's Wildfire has been the Taiwanese company's entry-level smartphone handset - this update retains the original's dinky dimensions and (we're assured) its affordable price, but work has been done on a number of key features.
Notably, screen resolution has been improved from 240 x 320 pixels to 320 x 480 pixels, meaning the phone's display will look far sharper. Additionally, the outside of the Wildfire S has been given a paint job, with the device coming in a range of colours. This phone will run Android 2.3 and has a five-megapixel camera.
LG Optimus Me
The LG Optimus Me is another entrant into the affordable smartphone category, with a range of decent features at what will ultimately be a reasonable price.
It's a fairly small handset, with a 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen (320 x 480 pixel resolution), 600MHz processor and three-megapixel camera.
ZTE Skate
Chinese manufacturer ZTE announced its flagship mobile phone at MWC: the ZTE Skate. The phone has a 4.3-inch touchscreen, 800MHz processor, five-megapixel camera and runs Android 2.3. Despite its large screen it tips the scales at a truly featherweight 120g.
And the name? The design of the ZTE Skate has been inspired by the skateboard.
Umeox Apollo Solar
One of the more quirky handsets on show at MWC, the Umeox Apollo Solar has an embedded solar panel to boost its battery life. Its maker claims the panel will supply enough juice for daily usage in two-and-a-half hours, or fill an empty battery in 17 hours. The phone itself is a budget, entry-level Android 2.2 device.
Samsung Wave 578
The Wave 578 is the latest device to run Samsung's proprietary Bada operating system. It's a 3.2-inch touchscreen device, with a front-facing camera and a 3.2-megapixel snapper on the back. As with the Samsung Galaxy S II, this phone will come equipped with near field communication technology.
Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
If a Sony Ericsson phone has the word 'pro' in its name, you can bet it has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. So it is with the Xperia Pro, a smartphone aimed squarely at the business crowd which also includes office-friendly software that enables you to edit documents on the go.
The handset runs Android 2.3 on a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, while the display is a 3.7-inch capacitive touchscreen.
|
