Samsung unloads new Galaxy S7 smartphones, 360 camera at MWC

What's old is new again. The Galaxy S7 family re-introduces water resistance and microSD card expansion to Samsung's flagship line

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Samsung just unveiled its goods at another event at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The announcements included the previously leaked Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge smartphones. The 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 and 5.5-inch Galaxy S7 edge are constructed with 3D glass and metal, feature new Dual Pixel cameras and  wider apertures that enhance low-light photography, faster auto-focus and shutter speeds.

The new Galaxy S7s have faster wireless and wired charging speeds, expandable storage via a microSD slot on the SIM card tray and an internal cooling system to manage overheating (?). Earlier rumors said the new Galaxy flagships would sport USB Type-C ports, which wasn't the case.

Continuing from where the Samsung Galaxy S5 left off, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have water resistance. A new feature is the always-on display which is helpful for notifications and alerts as well as getting quick updates on sports scores and the weather. Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge will be available starting mid-March 2016. 

Also announced at the Samsung event was a new 360' camera called the Gear 360 which is a 360-degree camera that lets consumers easily create, view and share their favorite experiences through video and still image content. 

HTC Vive VR pricing fixed at US $800

HTC's Vive VR headset, though of to be the most compelling competitor to Oculus just revealed its pricing. The device will ship in April and will cost US $799 (which in today's Canadian dollar will set you back $1099.94), this price is US $200 more than the Oculus Rift. Developed in tandem by HTC and Valve, the Vive VR will ship with two controllers, two base stations that track the user's movement in the room. The package will be bundled with two games, Job Simulator and Fantastic Contraption. Pre-orders for the device begin on Feb 29 for shipping sometime in April.

Huawei reveals its PC ambitions with the MateBook 12-inch hybrid

Don't look now but there's another Microsoft Surface clone coming to market and this one is from a very unexpected source. Huawei just took the wraps off its 12-inch MateBook Hybrid PC which features a tablet-first convertible that can emulate a notebook thanks to a kickstand and a slim keyboard case and yes, it also has a stylus accessory because it wouldn't be a very good Surface clone if it did not offer pen input. The 12-inch display weighs in with a 2160 by 1440 resolution and the keyboard/case/kickstand is included in the package.

At 1.4 pounds, the MateBook is one of the lightest such devices in terms of weight. CPUs range from Intel Core M3, M5 and M7 processors and storage goes from 128GB to 512GB, you can also get 4Gb or 8GB of RAM depending on the configuration. 

Canadian availability and pricing is questionable at this time but we should hear more from Huawei in the coming weeks.

SlideShow: LG's product reveals from 2016 Mobile World Congress

LG unpacked a brand new G5 flagship at MWC today with all the latest specs expected from a class leading smartphone while revealing a variety of accessories and products that play into the new device's ecosystem that focuses on fun, play and creation.