Welcome to our comprehensive coverage of MWC 2024. As the event unfolds in Barcelona, TickTockTech will keep you updated with all the exciting action, product launches, and startup news that you need to know.
Top New Gadgets at MWC 2024
The Mobile World Congress (MWC) is here, and it’s a treat for tech enthusiasts! The annual event brings together the biggest names in the communications industry to showcase their latest innovations and products.
Below are some of the top new gadgets at MWC 2024 that are available for preorder or purchase. We’ll keep updating this list as the event continues, so be sure to check back for the latest tech products.
Motorola Unveils a Bendable Phone and Launches Smart Connect
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At the end of last year, during Lenovo’s Tech World event, Motorola introduced an innovative bendable phone named the Adaptive Display. It resembles Motorola’s Razr foldable phone with a twist: instead of folding in half, it bends backward.
This design allows the phone to sit in a curved position on a table, making it perfect to share the screen with someone else. Motorola also offers a magnetic band that turns the phone into a sort of smart bracelet when wrapped around your wrist. While it’s a fun and quirky idea, it does seem a bit unpolished. Comparing it to Motorola’s previous concept, the Rizr, which featured a rollable screen to increase display size, the Rizr’s concept appears more appealing than the bendable design.
Furthermore, Motorola, in partnership with Lenovo, announced a new software called Smart Connect. This software is an upgrade of the Ready For platform, which allows connecting a Motorola phone to nearby screens to stream apps, use the camera as a webcam, and share files. Smart Connect will be available for Windows laptops through the Microsoft Store. With a compatible Lenovo tablet or Motorola smartphone, users can easily move their apps from one screen to another, like Apple’s Universal Control. They can even control the tablet and phone with the laptop’s keyboard and mouse.
Google Enhances Services with AI Innovations
Google is stepping up its game by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) across a broader range of its products. For instance, Gemini, can now generate captions for images and summarize texts for Android Auto. Additionally, Wear OS users can access passes with the help of AI. Google Messages will also have a feature that allows users to access Gemini directly within the app. This feature is currently in beta and only available in English.
Moreover, Google has introduced some accessibility-related features, such as the Lookout app, which helps visually impaired individuals with tasks like reading food labels and documents. The app will now use AI to generate captions for images with missing or inaccurate captions or alt text.
During a panel discussion at MWC, Demis Hassabis, the founder of DeepMind, announced that Google will soon reactivate the ability of its multimodal generative AI tool, Gemini, to depict people. The tool was temporarily suspended after users pointed out that it was producing historically inaccurate images, such as depicting the U.S. Founding Fathers as a diverse group of people rather than only white men. Hassabis stated that the capability to respond to prompts for images of humans should be back online in the next few weeks.
HMD’s Fresh Start and Exciting New Collaborations
HMD, a company that was once known for its Nokia phones, has recently announced a rebranding effort. Instead of focusing solely on the Nokia brand, the company is now leaning towards “Human Mobile Devices” (HMD). Along with this change, HMD has revealed its plans for the upcoming year, including a new lineup of devices and a unique collaboration with Mattel.
One of the most interesting announcements from HMD is its partnership with Mattel to create a Barbie-themed feature flip phone. Set to release this summer, the phone will be pink and marketed as a digital detox device. While details are still scarce, it’s clear that HMD is trying to tap into the nostalgia of older generations and appeal to a new audience. In addition to the Barbie phone, HMD is also working on a new system called HMD Fusion. Similar to Motorola’s Moto Mods or Google’s Project Ara, HMD Fusion is a modular system that allows developers to create custom components for the smartphone. This could include anything from extended batteries to barcode scanners, payment terminals, and even medical equipment. To encourage development, HMD has released a toolkit for developers to get started.
Another focus for HMD this year is repairability. The company aims to have half of its global launches repairable, and it’s working on a system that will significantly reduce the number of steps required to fix a cracked screen.
OnePlus Watch 2 Marks a Significant Improvement
The OnePlus Watch 2 is a significant improvement over its predecessor. The original Watch was inaccurate and disappointing, but the Watch 2 is remarkably better.
One standout feature of the OnePlus Watch 2 is its unique dual operating system setup, powered by two processors. It functions as a Google Wear OS smartwatch, utilizing the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chipset for demanding tasks such as navigating with Google Maps, playing music, and running apps. Additionally, it employs a Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) run by the energy-efficient BES2700 chip for managing the always-on display, background activities, and handling calls and notifications, without any noticeable transition during use. This innovative combination significantly extends the battery life, allowing the smartwatch to last for 72 hours with the always-on display feature activated.
OnePlus is offering a fun promotion where you can trade in any watch, even analog watches, to get $50 off your purchase. The Watch 2 is available for preorder now for $300 and goes on sale March 4.
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring for Health Tracking
Samsung is having a great year, capturing attention with notable product teasers and launches. Among these, the Galaxy Ring stands out as a highly anticipated device that Samsung has hinted at but not yet released.
In a recent blog post by the Vice President and Head of Samsung’s Digital Health Team, the company shared insights into upcoming enhancements for Samsung Health. The post emphasizes Samsung’s dedication to empowering individuals to manage their health more effectively using technology. It addresses the challenge of fragmented health tracking and outlines Samsung’s strategy to streamline this process through a unified device ecosystem within Samsung Health.
Looking ahead, Samsung Health is set to introduce “My Vitality Score” and “Booster Card” features. These innovations aim to combine comprehensive data with advanced analytics, offering personalized health guidance around the clock. This approach is designed to deepen users’ understanding of their health and provide valuable insights.
Furthermore, Samsung is developing a feature called “Sleep Apnea,” potentially available on the Galaxy Ring. This feature aims to detect signs of obstructive sleep apnea, enhancing users’ ability to monitor this chronic condition. Samsung plans to integrate sleep data with other smart devices, like smart mattresses, to improve sleep quality.
Lenovo showcases the world’s first transparent laptop
Lenovo unveiled a revolutionary new laptop at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 event in Barcelona, Spain. The ThinkBook Transparent Concept is a 17.3-inch laptop with a borderless screen, transparent keyboard area, and a floating footpad design.
The ThinkBook Transparent Concept features a MicroLED display, which offers better saturation, brightness, and image quality compared to traditional OLED panels. The display has up to 55% transparency when the pixels are set to black but becomes less transparent when the pixels light up. With a peak brightness of 1,000 nits and a 720p resolution, this laptop is perfect for architects and other creators.
Unlike other premium laptops, the ThinkBook Transparent does not have an AMOLED panel, but a MicroLED display instead. This technology offers several advantages, including better color accuracy, higher contrast ratio, and lower power consumption. The laptop’s transparent keyboard is a projection rather than an actual keyboard, and it disappears when you bring the pen close to the Thinkbook. This innovative feature allows users to sketch and create directly on the screen, making it an ideal tool for creative professionals. Although the ThinkBook Transparent Concept is still a proof of concept, Lenovo has expressed confidence that this technology will translate into a real laptop within the next five years.
Furthermore, the ThinkBook Transparent Concept runs on the Windows 11 operating system, similar to many other premium offerings. Lenovo has not revealed any hardware-related specifications, but the laptop’s sleek and slim design suggests that it will be lightweight and portable.
Wrapping Up: Updates from MWC Barcelona 2024
The Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 in Barcelona has been a thrilling event, showcasing the latest innovations in the tech industry. From industry giants to startups, MWC 2024 has brought together some of the brightest minds in tech. If you’re interested in exploring tech innovations, be sure to check out our CES Recap and Highlights. Also, stay tuned for more updates from MWC 2024 as the event continues!
