Barcelona, Spain, February 27 — Spain’s annual running of the smartphones, the Mobile World Congress (MWC), had a lot of different things to show, as the vendors realize that people are rapidly becoming bored with the crawling evolution of our all-screen devices.
News from Nokia
First up was Nokia, with the brand’s owner HMD trying to reinvent the label, as hinted at last week. With a color screen, micro USB charging port, a month of battery standby time and a whole day of talk time, for around $50. The new Nokia 3310 will provide easy and fun access for when your primary phone batteries die, or you simply don’t want to take an expensive mobile device out.
It has a similar user interface and control button to the original, and the good old Snake game is back with a few tweaks. There’s a headphone jack to enjoy some music, and while it won’t threaten the iPhone, the novelty value and practicality of a cheap device will see it do well in the market. The new model rolls out soon with yellow, blue, gray and red cases.
Arto Nummela, CEO of HMD Global, said, “Nokia has been one of the most iconic and recognisable phone brands globally for decades. In the short time since HMD was launched into the market, the positive reception we’ve had has been overwhelming; it seems everyone shares our excitement for this next chapter. Today’s consumers are more discerning and demanding than ever before and for us they will always come first. Our efforts in bringing together world class manufacturers, operating systems and technology partners sees us proudly unveiling our first global portfolio of smartphones with a Nokia soul, delivering the very best experience to everyone.”
What’s new with Samsung?
Also unveiled at MWC Samsung’s latest raft of tablets, with the Galaxy 8 not being revealed until the end of March. No one really cares what’s inside a tablet these days, so Samsung took care to manage the total package, with an S-Pen now coming in the box with the new Galaxy Tab S3. With HDR video feature and surround sound, it is now more for entertainment and practical use, while larger products are focused on productivity.
“At Samsung, we are committed to expanding the boundaries of the mobile and computing experience by providing best-in-class products that satisfy mobile users’ diverse needs and demands,” said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “Our new tablet portfolio is built with premium technology that delivers a productive and versatile experience to consumers, designed for users at home, work or on the go.”
Moreover, given the dwindling tablet market, the Samsung Galaxy Book is the company’s new Windows 10 2-in-1 device. It will help the company compete with Microsoft’s Surface devices. Available in either a 10.6-inch or 12-inch version, the new “Book” packs in a Core i5 processor in the larger model up to 256GB SSD and SD card expansion for grunt work and a 4K display for stylish output.
Will the Book compete with Surface, will S-Pen challenge Apple’s Pencil? One thing is clear, just a cool looking device is no longer enough. What do you think?
YouTube: Nokia 3310
Photo credit: Samsung / Nokia
Source: Samsung / HMD
Editorial notice: Quotes were provided as part of a public press release.
