The week according to Geek

SOME amazing new phones have been launched this week at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and we asked Lee Williams (left) from The Geek Squad to talk you through them live.

Nokia: Brings home the big screen

First up to impress was Nokia, revealing the N96. Much smoother and sexier than the N95, this number packs a whopping 16GB of storage (that's around 40 hours of video). And if that's not enough, you can add an extra 8GB thanks to the microSD card slot. The boffins at Nokia have also sneaked digital receiver under the shell, meaning you can tune into your favourite digital TV channels. There's even a 'kickstand' on the back so that you can prop up your handset for easy viewing. Coupled with the fact that DOLBY have this morning announced they'll be packing their technology into future handsets, mobile TV could soon mean much more than squinting at a small screen with poor quality sound. Keeping to its predecessor's style, it's still a dual slider, revealing a keypad to access all your music and movies. A 5MP camera tops off this strong effort from Nokia, which also records top-notch video footage. Expect to see it landing on UK soil sometime late summer (why do they make us wait so long?)

Sony Ericsson: Find your face with new Cyber-shot range

Even before the conference began out here in Barcelona, Sony Ericsson were already making waves with the announcement on Sunday night of three new handsets coming our way this year: The first two are the C902 (below) and the C702. But enough of the numbers and letters, let me explain a little more. Both are designed for the budding photographer in you- with 5 and 3.2 megapixel cameras respectively. According to Sony Ericsson: "One is engineered to let you take more pictures in more places and the other is designed to look as stunning as the pictures it takes". For you outdoor types, the C702 is splash and dust resistant and comes with a built-in GPS preloaded with Google Maps Sat Nav in your pocket! The C902 offers a more slimline handset with some nifty camera technology ('BestPic, face detection and auto focus) and has some touch-screen keys similar to the popular K850i. The third handset revealed is a totally new offering from them: The Xperia X1. This uses Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system on a large 3 inch touch-screen handset. "With this new brand Sony Ericsson will position itself at the forefront of mobile convergence." This basically means they're going to be squeezing in as much technology as they can to make the handset appealing to those using it for both work and play. The handset packs a 3.2 camera too. Not bad!

Samsung and LG have also made exciting announcements

Samsung has unveiled the F490 and touch-screen 5MP F480. Both good competitors to the iPhone. Then LG took the lid off four new handsets (all touch screen of course). Highlights include the glass front of the KF700 and KF600 with the 700 having a shortcut dial on the back of the phone to switch between functions. Quite an innovation there it will be interesting to see if it gets taken on by other manufacturers. So that's the latest from Barcelona for now. We've had handsets being unveiled quicker than rabbits out of a magician's hat and no doubt tomorrow will be just as exciting.

To find out more about Geek Squad and to solve all your techie problems check out www.geeksquad.co.uk or call 08000494335

Comments

[Derrick]

Good article must have been an amazing trip to Barcelona