HMD Global banks on nostalgia yet again with Nokia 8110

HMD Global, the manufacturer of Nokia phones, have released four new devices at Mobile World Congress 2018. But what’s caught our attention is a throwback to our past: the redesigned Nokia 8110. It’s a €79 (around CA$120) 4G feature phone that comes with a “familiar and easy to use interface” and that The Matrix banana phone form factor. It’s a slightly curved handset that comes with a slider to make it easier to answer and end calls.

As a feature phone, you won’t get access to traditional Android apps you can see in other Android-powered Nokia devices. But it does have its own app store and has access to Google Assistant, Google Search, Google Maps, Facebook, Twitter, as well as Outlook and Gmail. It runs on what’s called Smart Feature OS. As mentioned, this supports 4G LTE and has dual SIM versions available as well. It runs on a Qualcomm 205 Mobile Platform processor, 512MB RAM, and 4GB of storage. It has a 2.4-inch QVGA display, 2-megapixel rear camera, and for those who really want to relive their past, a revamped version of Snake. The Nokia 8110 boasts a 25-day battery standby time.

Source: The Verge

First impressions of the Samsung AR Emoji on the new Samsung Galaxy S9

Text and photos by Nicole Batac

You’ve probably already heard of Samsung’s own take on Apple’s Animoji. The South Korean company is calling it AR Emoji. How Samsung stepped up on its own is by letting you create a 3D avatar based on your looks. This is possible with use of a 3D modeling algorithm and face-tracking technology. We got some hands-on time with the Samsung Galaxy S9 and was able to play around with this feature for a bit.

The default camera app on the S9 brings this feature to life. There is an AR Emoji mode available for both the front and rear cameras of this device. And it’s a simple enough process to setup. There is an option on the app to start the process. It’ll just take a photo of your face and it advises you to take off your glasses or anything that might obstruct its view. Once it captures your likeness, it’ll ask if you’re male or female and from their it generates your 3D avatar. We’re not sure how many 3D avatars you can make but we were able to make two so far during our brief testing of the feature.

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Alcatel unveils 2018 portfolio at Mobile World Congress featuring 18:9 display resolution

Hot on the heels of a busy 2017, TCL Communications has unveiled its portfolio of devices under the Alcatel brand focusing on premium features as well as 18:9 display resolution for improved content consumption.

Alcatel will be the world’s first brand to deliver an immersive 18:9 display experience across each series in the portfolio, made possible by using custom-built displays leveraging parent company TCL’s award-winning television technology and bringing the immersive entertainment experiences to smartphone customers. The portfolio also features all-new Alcatel experiences such as Face Key, a facial recognition technology, and enhanced camera options that give users more control over how they capture the moments they want to remember and share.

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BlackBerry Mobile declares it accomplished its mission with 2017 unit sales

BlackBerry Mobile, a subsidiary of TCL Group has sold 850,000 BlackBerrys in 2017 as per IDC. Mostly focused on the KEYOne and some initial Motion models, this figure may seem insignificantly small to some but the company said it has accomplished its mission of putting the brand back on the map on an interview with The Verge.

BlackBerry devices are available in 50 countries and sold by 110 carriers, they don't just appeal to BlackBerry loyalists or new users seeking differentiation, they are resonant with users who want the Android experience but also crave security and privacy as built-in features. BlackBerry Mobile has indicated it will bring two new models to market this year, we also expect variants of the KEYOne and Motion to continue in countries where these devices are selling well.

Source: The Verge