We're live in Barcelona, Spain for Mobile World Congress. Stay tuned to this very page for all the news we're covering here at the event, from Android to ... something that starts with Z but is also related to Android. That's how we do.

We're here the 13th through the 16th and running like crazy in a timezone that's conveniently many hours ahead of the US, so there's a better than even chance you'll wake up to fresh new announcements for the rest of the week. Peachy, innit?


Samsung teases the next-gen Galaxy S at Samsung Mobile Unpacked

By Jerry Hildenbrand  | Feb 01 2011 | 12:39 am  | 59 Comments


YouTube link for mobile viewing

Samsung has set-up a new teaser site, complete with 31 seconds of video that leaves us all gold and glittery inside.  Of course they are touting their next generation Galaxy S, which gets more than a few ears perked up.  Still nothing new from this latest video, but we now have a countdown to Samsung Mobile Unpacked on Feb. 13 in Barcelona (we'll be there, of course).  Hit the source link to learn that "Something big is coming!" [Samsung Mobile Unpacked]

 

LG confirms Optimus 3D coming at MWC

By Phil Nickinson  | Jan 31 2011 | 10:50 pm  | 29 Comments

LG Optimus 3D

Well, cross that one off the list. Just hours after the LG Optimus 3D picture leaked out, LG confirmed that we'll indeed see it in a couple weeks at Mobile World Congress. Here's the presser, in its entirety:

SEOUL, Feb. 1, 2011 – At this year’s Mobile World Congress, LG will unveil the LG Optimus 3D, the world’s first 3D smartphone offering consumers a full 3D experience right in the palm of their hands.

The LG Optimus 3D addresses the lack of 3D content issue -- one of the biggest problems facing the 3D market -- with a complete platform for a one-of-a-kind experience on a mobile device. LG’s most advanced smartphone to date will feature a dual-lens camera for 3D recording, a glasses-free LCD panel for 3D viewing and diverse connectivity options such as HDMI and DLNA for 3D content sharing anytime, anywhere.

Further details and a live demo of the LG Optimus 3D will be offered at Booth #8B178 at MWC in Barcelona from February 14 to 17.

We're not entirely sure that a lack of content is really what's holding 3D mobile phones back (though it's certainly part of the chicken/egg equation). Guess we'll have to see for ourselves. We'll be there, of course. Stay tuned for the hands-ons and such.

 

LG Optimus 3D appears in 2D form

By Phil Nickinson  | Jan 31 2011 | 10:21 am  | 13 Comments

LG Optimus 3D

Sure, the dual-core LG Optimus 2X is all the rage right now (be sure to check out our hands-on, benchmarks and gaming tests), but another high-end LG phone is starting to make the rounds. Phandroid got slipped this pic of what's being called the Optimus 3D. It very much looks like the Optimus 2X from the front, but the bottom bezel and earpiece are slightly different.

As far as that whole "3D" thing goes, no telling on that yet (and we're still not entirely sold on the idea sight unseen). But the screen supposedly is larger than 4 inches, has a dual-core processor (no surprise there) and "multi-channel RAM" (is that new?)

So, yeah, we'll see about this whole 3D thing. And by "we'll see," we mean we'll be at LG's event at Mobile World Congress in a couple weeks, and we'll get this thing figured out. [Phandroid]

 

HTC phone prototype spied on subway

By Phil Nickinson  | Jan 27 2011 | 9:25 am  | 24 Comments

HTC Prototype

A note to you clandestine types everywhere: If you pull an unannounced, unreleased phone out of your pocket on the subway, someone's going to take a picture of it. Such is the case with this HTC device (note the telltale serial number on the bottom), which was spied in a Taipei subway. It's clearly buttonless and appears to have a front-facing camera and shares some lines of the Thunderbolt on Verizon, but this is obviously a different device.

Will we see it in a couple week at Mobile World Congress? Only one way to find out. One more pic's after the break. [Engadget]

Continue Reading

 

Galaxy S 2 and Galaxy Tab 2 all but confirmed for Mobile World Congress

By Chris Kerrigan  | Jan 26 2011 | 10:16 pm  | 25 Comments

 

Samsung recently said that "something big" was coming at Mobile World Congress, and rumors began flying around about the next generation of Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab devices. A leaked Samsung PR detail has emerged which specifically mentions the successors to both. So it appears Samsung indeed has plans to unveil the Galaxy S 2 and Galaxy Tab 2 at this years Mobile World Congress in February. Will we see Galaxy S devices shipping with Gingerbread and a 10-inch Galaxy Tab successor running Honeycomb? We can only hope, and you can bet we'll be there to find out. [Samsung Hub]

 

LG promises 'new dimension' next month at Mobile World Congress

By Phil Nickinson  | Jan 25 2011 | 11:25 am  | 21 Comments

LG at MWC

As much as we're trying to duck it, it appears that 3D screens are just around the corner for smartphones. We saw one in the Sharp Galapogos at CES earlier this month. And LG's press invite for Mobile World Congress seems to indicate we're about to see more. "Into the new dimension" is what we're told to expect. Add to that the appearance of an "LG Optimus 3D" phone at a Dutch retailer, and it's looking more and more likely that we'll be seeing that new dimension.

We'll find out in a couple weeks. And we'll be there, of course,with or without 3D glasses.

 

Teaser video suggests Galaxy Tab 2

By Phil Nickinson  | Jan 22 2011 | 10:08 am  | 24 Comments

We know "something big is coming" from Samsung at Mobile World Congress in a few short weeks. And if this leaked teaser video (which almost looks unfinished) is any indication (and if it's real), we could well be looking at a Galaxy Tab 2. The rumor mill's got it coming with a Tegra 2 processor, and nobody can make up their minds on the screen tech.

And by the way, that SamsungUnpacked site has changed slightly, with word of an invite-only event Feb. 13, and open event Feb. 14. Guess we'll have to go to Barcelona to find out what's what. And go we shall. [YouTube via OLED-Display]

 

Samung Mobile promising 'the next evolution' at Mobile World Congress

By Phil Nickinson  | Jan 18 2011 | 7:00 pm  | 56 Comments

Samsung Unpacked

The theme of Samsung's press event at CTIA last March was "Unpacked." That's where we got the Galaxy S phones. And a few sneaky readers have hit up samsungunpacked.com recently and noticed that it's been updated for a Feb. 13 event at Mobile World Congress, where we'll see that "Something big is coming," "discover the next evolution in Samsung Mobile" and "Evolution is FATE."

What is it? Heck if we know. Place your bets now, folks. We'll find out in a few weeks. [SamsungUnpacked] Thanks, Cesar!

Update: Sammy tells us there will be another event at MWC that will have some sort of U.S. focus. Stay tuned!

 

Samsung sells 10 million Galaxy S phones, successor to come at MWC

By Jerry Hildenbrand  | Jan 10 2011 | 9:56 am  | 45 Comments

Samsung announces Galaxy S line at CTIA 2010

According to the Korean-language Samsung website Samsung Tomorrow, Samsung is proudly announcing two things (as of Jan. 10).  They have sold over 10 million Galaxy S phones world wide, and they will be announcing a successor to the Galaxy S line this February at Mobile World Congress. 

The 10 million-sold figure makes Samsung the single most successful Android smartphone manufacturer to date, and they expect next year to be even better with a huge goal of 60 million smartphones.  Problems with translation prevent me from giving the full breakdown by continent, but the 10 million figure is plain as day, and we all expected this based on third-quarter sales and predictions.  Congratulations, Samsung!

A bit more interesting, is the Galaxy S successor, as Samsung is saying it will ship with Gingerbread, and be a dual core device.  This mirrors earlier leaks and rumors about the mystery HSPA+ flagship phone from last November.  We'll be on the ground at the next MWC just as we were at CES 2011, and it's only about a month away -- stay tuned! [Samsung Tomorrow (Korean)] Thanks Andy!

 

New devices coming to the Xperia line at Mobile World Congress

By Phil Nickinson  | Dec 23 2010 | 4:04 pm  | 9 Comments

Sony Ericsson at Mobile World Congress

That thud you just heard was the sound of my head hitting my desk. Invites apparently already are going out for Sony Ericsson's event at Mobile World Congress in February. And just like last year, it's going to be on the eve of the opening, somewhere in Barcelona. (Last year's event, at Opium Mar, was way cool.) Anyhoo, the invite points to new devices in the Xperia family. Last year we got the X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro (plus a WinMo device).

What will we see in 2011? The Xperia Play (aka Playstation phone) is a good bet. And SE pretty much surprised everybody this past February, so maybe they'll have something else up their sleeves. We're about a month and a half away, so stay tuned. [Android World via EuroDroid] Check out our coverage of the 2010 Mobile World Congress