Incredibly complex machine plays music with marbles

There have been plenty of impressively elaborate musical machines in recent years, but this might top them all. Swedish band Wintergatan has crafted a Musical Marble Machine that, as the name suggests, churns out tunes using 2,000 marbles (technically, ball bearings). It’s a pretty involved effort with 3,000 parts that include a crank, levers, conveyor belts and legions of spinning gears — Rube Goldberg would be proud, especially if he knew that this beast took 14 months to make.

The results speak for themselves. One person can play bass guitar, xylophone and drums… and importantly, play them well. There’s even a “breakdown” lever for that all-important bridge section. You’re unlikely to see the Musical Marble Machine in concert (moving it anywhere is a supreme challenge), but it serves as testament to what engineering can do when it’s put to work by musicians.

Source: Wintergatan

Watch the Engadget staff on: FBI vs. Apple

Yesterday, both Apple and the FBI testified at a House Judiciary committee hearing on the San Bernardino iPhone debate. If you’re looking to get caught up quickly, a few of our editors sat down to explain the both sides of the case and where things stand. Arguments over encryption are nothing new, but this case could set some very important precedents for future law enforcement access. Here’s what our editors had to say on the matter.

Adobe Lightroom for iOS Gains Full Resolution Support, 3D Touch in Camera Roll Browser

Adobe today updated its Lightroom photography app for iOS devices to version 2.2, adding two small but notable features. Lightroom is now able to output full resolution files for any file, whether captured directly on an iOS device or taken on a standard camera and transferred to an iPhone iPad.

Files added to an iOS device from a direct connection with a camera are also able to be transferred in full resolution to other mobile devices that are signed into the same Adobe account. According to Adobe, files captured with iPhone are available for editing and exporting on an iPad in full resolution and vice versa.

Today’s update also brings improved 3D Touch support to the Lightroom app on the iPhone 6s. Peek and Pop 3D Touch gestures are available in the Camera Roll browser view, allowing users to quickly preview images in a larger size while browsing through their photo collections.

– New: Full resolution output. Now, export and share photos that were captured on your device or that you added to your device at full resolution.
– Updated: 3D Touch support in the Camera Roll browser view. Quickly preview your image with Peek & Pop when browsing Camera Roll photos in the app.
– Fixed: Issue that lead to a potential crash.
– Improved: Various bugs and issues.

For those unfamiliar with Lightroom, it is Adobe’s professional-level photo editing software. Lightroom for iOS devices is a free download, but because it is designed to work alongside the Lightroom app for the desktop, it requires a subscription to Adobe’s Creative Cloud Photography plan, priced at $9.99 per month. A 30-day free trial is available.

Adobe has separate Lightroom apps for the iPad [Direct Link] and the iPhone [Direct Link].

Tags: Adobe, Lightroom
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Reconciling the Rumors: What the iPhone SE Might Look Like

Apple’s rumored 4-inch iPhone is supposed to be debuting at an event set to be held on March 21, just under three weeks from today, but due to an unusual lack of part leaks, we still have no clear picture of exactly what the device will look like.

Rumors suggest the device, said to be called the “iPhone 5se or iPhone SE,” will resemble the iPhone 5s while also incorporating the curved cover glass of the iPhone 6 and 6s, a marriage difficult to imagine because those are two very different design aesthetics.

With that in mind, we’ve commissioned designer Tomas Moyano to create a mockup that combines the curved front panel of the iPhone 6s with the boxier, thicker shape of the iPhone 5s, ending up with an attractive design possibility that satisfies all of the current rumors.

Last week, two conceptual design drawings of the 4-inch iPhone were shared by 9to5Mac and OnLeaks, each created based on information sourced from parties with knowledge of the 4-inch iPhone’s design. Neither is a direct, ultra-detailed schematic like those we have seen in the past from case makers, and the design elements of the device in the two drawings do not match up.

The conceptual image created by 9to5Mac depicts a 4-inch iPhone that is identical to the iPhone 5s in size and shape, matching rumors that the 4-inch iPhone and the iPhone 5s will be able to be share cases. It does not align with rumors about a curved display, instead appearing to depict the same flat front panel that’s used on the iPhone 5s.

OnLeaks’ design drawing does include a clear curve on both the front display panel and the back panel, lining up with the display rumors, but the curved display results in a body design that would prevent the device from sharing cases with the iPhone 5s as rumored.

For our renderings, we have chosen to use the OnLeaks design drawings as a guideline because it incorporates the curved display glass, a feature that has been consistently mentioned in rumors and can’t be ignored. With the 4-inch iPhone adopting internal features of the iPhone 6s, it makes some sense that it would follow some of the same design logic, but it should be noted that we do not know for sure that this is the design the device will adopt. The renderings include a power button located on the top of the device like the iPhone 5s, round volume buttons, and a pill-shaped camera flash.

You’ll also notice a protruding rear camera, something that we originally thought was an oddity in the OnLeaks drawing. Recent rumors, though, suggest the 4-inch iPhone will use the same 12-megapixel camera found in the iPhone 6s, which may explain the protrusion. On the iPhone 6s, the camera protrudes approximately 0.7mm from the device’s 7.1mm body. The 4-inch iPhone is said to be the same thickness as the iPhone 5s, at 7.6mm, meaning the camera could still be too big to fit flush with the body.

Ahead of iPhone releases, we typically see part leaks months in advance, with images that cover everything from the display to the body to the internal parts like the logic board. With the 4-inch iPhone, we have seen exactly one part leak — a display component that does not divulge much information about the device.

There have been no part leaks that hint at the finalized design of the 4-inch iPhone, and it’s not exactly clear why that is. It’s possible we have seen no leaks because it does indeed use the exact same body as the iPhone 5s, but that does not explain why there have been few internal part leaks. There’s also the possibility the device has just recently entering mass production, something that could explain why the event date was pushed back from March 15 to March 21.

If the latter case is true, and production has just begun ramping up, we may see part leaks over the course of the next two weeks that will give us a clear picture of what the 4-inch iPhone will look like. As it stands now, the device’s launch is shaping up to be the biggest design surprise we’ve had in years.

Internally, rumors have suggested the 4-inch iPhone will include an A9 processor, the aforementioned 12-megapixel camera, and an NFC chip to enable Apple Pay. It is expected to come in the same colors as the iPhone 6s — Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, and Space Gray — and it may be priced between $400 and $500.

Apple is holding an event on Monday, March 21, where the 4-inch iPhone, the next-generation iPad, and new Apple Watch bands are expected to debut. More of our iPhone SE renderings can be seen below.

Related Roundups: iPhone 5se, iPhone SE
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MailWise: Trying to make your inbox more pleasant [Review]

For an industry that changes so quickly, it’s surprising to see the slow pace of innovation in email. If you think about it, we use email exactly the same way

You can now use your Amazon Echo to check on flights with Skyscanner

Skyscanner, the travel search engine, is now available as a skill for Alexa, the digital assistant powering the Amazon Echo. You can use Skyscanner on any device that supports Alexa, including the Echo and the most recent version of the Amazon Fire TV.

With the Skyscanner skill enabled, an Echo owner could search for flights using only their voice. Alexa can also suggest flights based on information your provide on upcoming trips, and will provide the best, cheapest option that it can find.

You can add Skyscanner, along with other skills, using Amazon’s Alexa app.

Amazon Echo

• Read our updated review
• Get the latest news
• Join the discussion
• Download the Echo app

Amazon

Best Fitbit to buy: Here’s what our editors are using!

Fitbit is one of the most popular wearables on the planet. Here’s what the Mobile Nations editor’s wear, and why.

There are lots of reasons to get a Fitbit. More than just a fitness-focused wearable, it comes a whole social platform that its some 21 million users can all be a part of. For some, it means bragging rights over their friends, for others it’s a way to keep motivated to stay in shape.

It’s also a favorite among the Mobile Nations editors at iMore, Android Central, CrackBerry, and Windows Central. So, if you’re looking to buy a Fitbit but aren’t sure which one to get, we can help!

We’ve rounded up our Fitbit wearing colleagues and they’re here to tell you what they wear and why they like it so much. Let’s get to it!

Let’s get to it!

Phil Nickinson

I wear a Fitbit Flex. In basic black, of course. And to be completely honest I’m not entirely sure why. I’ve got a Fitbit on one arm, Android Wear on the other. The Fitbit is more accurate, I think, even when worn on the dominant hand, like I do. (And the Fitbit app can compensate for that.)

I do think that because it’s a dedicated fitness tracker and not a watch that happens to track fitness I tend to wear it a little more, and I’m more conscious of just how much I’m walking. I’m not necessarily going out of my way to hit my 10,000 every day, but I’m definitely more aware of when I do.

Or maybe the most important part is that my wife’s been wearing a Fitbit for a while now, and I get off on the competition — and the taunting feature.

Married 11 years and counting, folks.

Kevin Michaluk

Why do I like Fitbit in general? Because of the Friends and Challenges. It’s not about the tracking, as lots of products can do that. What makes the difference is that I can compete with my co-workers, friends, family, nieces and nephews. Whenever I have a challenge on a week or weekend I do way more steps and I’m more conscious of my physical activities. And now Fitbit has sold enough of them that you’re almost guaranteed to know people who have them.

My favorite model is the Fitbit Charge HR. I can wear it all day easily, even at the computer. It’s easy to take on and off when I have to and the band is durable. I also really like having the heart rate all the time. It’s comfortable enough to sleep with for tracking, though I don’t always do this. Also, fashion-wise, because I like to wear mechanical watches, I wear this on the opposite wrist along with another leather bracelet and it blends in well. It’s not trying to define my style, it just blends in. The battery life is good enough, I only need to charge it maybe twice a week. And a pro tip: Leave your charger in the bathroom and charge it when you shower (that’s when you know you’ll be taking it off consistently.)

While the Charge HR is my favorite, I’ve used enough of the various Fitbit products to have some opinions on all of them:

Fitbit Flex

• Likes: Lots of colors of bands which is great. Can coordinate colors for different wardrobes and occasions.
• Dislikes: I have trouble putting it on sometimes with the way the clasp is designed and have broken the clasp on numerous occasions. Taking the bit out of the bracelet for charging is kind of annoying. It is actually is less comfortable to wear at a computer than the Charge/Charge HR.

Fitbit Surge

• Likes: If I’m hardcore training (such as getting ready for a half marathon), I like the built-in GPS.
• Dislikes: It’s big and watch-like — it looks and feels more like a sports/heart rate monitor watch. The Surge doesn’t have that all day wearability that I desire, but some of my more athletic friends are all about the Surge.

Fitbit One

• Likes: Price is good, especially if you just care most about tracking your daily steps.
• Dislikes: Because it’s not strapped to my wrist, I’ve lost them before

Fitbit Blaze:

This one takes the most common smartwatch tasks and puts them in a Fitbit without trying to do too much. It provides a lot of customization options, but it’s not for me, though — it starts to define your style. I prefer my fitness tracker to just blend in with my own style. At least for now, maybe some day that will change.

James Falconer

Having been a Fitbit user for many years now, I can safely say their fitness products (and apps) keep getting better and better. I’m invested in their ecosystem, and have cycled through the Fitbit One, Flex, and Charge. Heck, I even have the Aria wireless scale (to tell me how fat — or not fat — I am). These days I’m sporting the Charge HR on my left wrist. I rarely (if ever) go a day without wearing it.

The Charge HR is actually quite comfortable. It’s not too bulky, is easy to take on and off, and stays put on my wrist. I can actually work with it on without feeling uncomfortable.

The heart rate tracking is actually really good. I use it when I’m out for a run or workout to keep me on track. I have never had an issue with this feature, it works as advertised.

The Charge makes key data glanceable. You can set the display to show you whatever information you like (time, current heart rate, steps, etc.) when you raise your wrist as you would a watch. I usually set this to the time, but if I’m out for a run I might set it to distance, steps, or heart rate. No matter the situation this is easily tweaked from within the Fitbit app.

On that note, the apps are just plain solid. I’ve used both the Android and iPhone apps, and the detailed data is great. It easily lets me go back to monitor progress, pick up on trends, and more. But most important is the social aspect. I enjoy entering competitions with friends and colleagues, and the extra motivation can really push you to put in that extra workout, or push that little bit harder to win the day!

Alicia Erlich

I spend most of my time working in my cubicle, so I wear the Fitbit Flex to help with my day-to-day fitness goals.

Motivation is a key aspect of the Flex. Not only do I have myself to rely on, but there is also the added benefit of social interaction. I can connect with my friends who cheer on my accomplishments. That’s not to say that the Flex doesn’t do typical fitness tracker things like tracking my step count and distance towards my daily goal. If I do reach that goal, there’s a sense of accomplishment. If I don’t, I try to make up for it the following day. As such, I find myself opting out of public transportation and walking more even for minor errands.

I chose the Flex for two reasons. The first being I already use a smartwatch, so having a tracker with a built-in clock was unnecessary. The second is for the sleep monitoring capability. I tend to ignore the recommended number of hours one needs for a good night’s sleep due. On average I think I was getting five or six hours depending on what I was working on during the week. Using the tracker, I can see not only the duration but the quality as well. I am aware of how much sleep I get on a daily basis and have learned to plan my schedule accordingly.

While I cannot always find the time to exercise at the gym, my Flex helps me to stay fit and reach my fitness goals in other ways.

Michelle Haag

I’ve been a Fitbit user off an on for years now. I started with a Fitbit One, moved briefly to a Fitbit Charge HR and then upgraded to the Fitbit Surge shortly after. Working from home, you’d think it’s easy to get 10k steps in daily, but it tends to have the opposite effect. Some days I find myself wondering if I even moved at all. Wearing a Fitbit helps me stay accountable and motivates me to hit step goals to ensure I’m getting in at least the bare minimum of activity.

I often participate in the weekly challenges with my Fitbit wearing friends. A little friendly competition always helps me get in gear. I also appreciate how Fitbit integrates with other apps like Pact and MyFitnessPal.

I just upgraded from the Surge to the Blaze, and so far I’m loving it! I liked the touchscreen features of the Surge, but it was kind of bulky for me. The Blaze is solving that problem for me, plus the on-screen workouts are going to be super useful during the day when I just need a quick break and a little activity. And I’m looking forward to buying bands so I can switch up the look!

Rich Edmonds

Fitbit is the most popular form of wearable available today and it’s clear to see why when you strap one to your wrist, or attach another option to a piece of clothing. Coupling the company’s trackers with the connected scales and social platform enables you to conveniently check out how you’re progressing through selected fitness programs, or to boast about how many steps you managed to rack up during that evening stroll.

I enjoy using Fitbit due to the battery life of the Flex, as well as having the official app available cross-platform. I was relatively unfit compared to my younger years, but sticking to a strict regime, watching what I eat and noting it down on the Fitbit website (which counts your calories and whatnot), as well as ensuring I’m smashing all my set goals really turned things around.

I’m now in the frame of mind to head out each and every day for a run or walk, which is especially important for someone who sits at their desk for a number of hours in the morning and afternoon. Should you be looking for an easy-to-use tracker with a platform to really expand upon, look no further than Fitbit.

DJ Reyes

While I use a smartwatch, I prefer to use a dedicated fitness tracker for tracking my overall fitness. Right now my current choice of fitness device is the Fitbit Flex. It’s simple, not too big and it lets me track my steps as well as my sleep. My initial reason for picking one up is because a lot of the Mobile Nations team owned one and Fitbit offers a great way of competing with your friends, family and colleagues through challenges. It’s certainly a great motivator and seeing a colleague’s name further up on the list always makes me aim to get my step count up. Fitbit also has a sleep tracker, and while I was not really into tracking my sleep before owning a Fitbit Flex, I’ve found it to be very helpful and does lead me to try and sleep better.

I do have plans to upgrade my Flex to a newer model. I have been eyeing the Charge HR, mainly due to the heart rate monitor but with the new models announced, I am holding out a little while to see what the reviews say about them. While I’ve thought about other brands of fitness tracker, I’m very partial to the Fitbit brand and the motivation I get from competing with the Mobile Nations team.

Marc Lagace

Being relatively new to wearing a Fitbit, I can’t help wishing I had jumped on the bandwagon sooner. I spent my university and college years piling on the pounds through pizza, beer, and a sedentary lifestyle marked by Netflix and an aversion to going to the gym.

Now in my late-20s, I’ve decided to finally focus on improving my health by setting better lifestyle habits for myself. I’ve been wearing the Fitbit Surge for the past month or so as part of my overall fitness plan along with eating healthier and hitting the gym.

And the Fitbit Surge has definitely played a role in getting me off the couch, thanks in larger part to the Fitbit Friends and Challenges. It motivates me to use my standing desk at work and to go for walks as I try and keep pace in challenges. I’ve also appreciated reviewing the activity data from my workouts and tracking the calories I burn at my weekly dodgeball league. I’ve yet to use the built-in GPS much as it’s been too icy outside to go for runs, but once the sidewalks have cleared I’m eager to have the Surge literally track my path to better fitness.

Aesthetically, I’ve never really seen the point in wearing a watch — smartphones are essentially modern pocket watches — but I’ve actually come to enjoy wearing the Surge. On top of looking stylish on my wrist, I can get quick info about my recent activity (or inactivity) from just briefly glancing at the watch face. And I’ve found it’s comfortable enough to wear to bed for the sleep tracking features—a data set I value and have previously attempted to track via clunkier smartphone apps in the past.

That’s ultimately my favorite part about the Fitbit experience. It’s designed to track your steps, sleep, and active minutes automatically so I don’t have to fuddle around in the Fitbit app too much. You just wear it and go.

If you’re interested in any of these for yourselves, hit up the link below to check out Amazon’s dedicated Fitbit store.

Fitbit Store at Amazon

Google starts testing Hands Free mobile payments app

Google has announced a new pilot program for hands-free payments with a new app, appropriately named Hands Free. With the app, you won’t need to grab your wallet, hunt for cash, or even pull your phone out of your pocket or purse in order to pay. Currently separate from Android Pay, the Hands Free beta is currently limited to the South Bay area of San Francisco.

From Google:

Once you’ve installed and set up the app, Hands Free uses Bluetooth low energy, Wi-Fi, and location services on your phone to detect whether you’re near a participating store. When you’re ready to pay, you can simply tell the cashier, “I’ll pay with Google.” The cashier will ask for your initials and use the picture you added to your Hands Free profile to confirm your identity.

Google says that Hands Free is currently rolling out to a small number of partners, including McDonald’s and Papa John’s. Some stores are even implementing their own dedicated cameras that will be used to confirm your identity. Customers who beta test Hands Free can get up to $5 off their first purchase using the system at participating stores.

South Bay residents can grab and start testing the Hands Free app from the Google Play Store now.

Source: Google

Mobile World Congress 2016: The Android Central postmortem

Everything Android from the show in Barcelona.

This year’s Mobile World Congress was the most eventful in years, with major flagship announcements from some of the biggest names in Android. The weeklong show gave us newer and faster phones with more beautiful hardware than ever, along with some surprises from the biggest players in the smartphone space.

There’s been a lot of news to keep track of, so we’ve done the legwork for you, condensing all the major MWC 2016 developments into one place. So what are you waiting for? Head past the break to get up to speed on everything from the biggest show in mobile.

More: Catch up on the big announcements from MWC 2016!

Samsung

As much as MWC 2016 was one of the busiest single events in years for Android, it was once again Samsung’s show. The Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are undoubtedly going to be among the best-selling Android phones of the year, and deservedly so.

You can argue that Samsung didn’t give us any revolutionary changes this time around. Instead, it did something much more important: taking three good phones — the Galaxy S6, S6 edge and S6 edge+ — and condensing them into two awesome phones. Water resistance and improvements in battery capacity are important advancements. Meanwhile an improved low-light camera should keep the Korean firm at the top of the pile (or at least near its summit) when it comes to imaging. All three are areas in which smartphone hardware has yet to plateau, and thus important spaces for Samsung to differentiate its products.

More: Samsung Galaxy S7 + S7 edge preview

The Unpacked event itself also bears mentioning. For the third year running, Samsung did its thing at the CCIB (Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona), located away from the bustle of the main MWC venue, and a stone’s throw from the beach. Unpacked 2016 was a mix of virtual reality showboating and real-life spectacle, with Gear VR-equipped attendees arranged around a central stage.

Samsung Unpacked 2016 was bombastic and showy, but not weird.

New Samsung Mobile boss DJ Koh put in a strong performance, tying together a presentation that managed to be bombastic and showy, but not weird — a balance Samsung hasn’t always managed to pull off. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, already in town for his MWC keynote, talked up VR as a platform for sharing important moments, giving us a glimpse of something beyond the relatively crude stereoscopic experience of the current Gear VR. Also a big deal: A brief cameo from Epic Games co-founder Tim Sweeney — who’s previously made appearances at Apple launch events — to talk up the GS7’s gaming prowess.

Samsung Galaxy S7

• Galaxy S7 and S7 edge hands-on
• Galaxy S7 and S7 edge specs
• Here are all four Galaxy S7 colors
• Details on the Galaxy S7’s camera
• The SD card is back on the GS7
• Join our Galaxy S7 forums

AT&T Sprint T-Mobile Verizon

LG

Samsung’s local rival LG focused on being different at this year’s MWC, introducing the G5 — a phone built with differentiation in mind, and a clean break from the past three years of LG smartphones. It’s LG’s first metal-bodied flagship, with a unique design that keeps necessary antenna lines out of sight. It’s got two cameras — one regular, one wide-angle — along with LG’s trademark laser autofocus. But the biggest technological feat comes from the G5’s removable modules — remove the bottom section of the phone and swap out for extra camera controls and an additional 1,100mAh of battery, or 32-bit audio from Band & Olufsen.

LG’s new mobile products are all about being different.

Modular attachments for mobile devices aren’t a new idea, and not everyone is convinced they’ll be anything beyond one big gimmick.

Nevertheless, this is pure LG, trying different and crazy ideas in order to position itself as the de facto alternative to Samsung. (And in fact, the company’s Feb. 21 press conference contained more than a few Samsung comparisons.)

LG’s positioning the G5 at the heart of a new ecosystem of “Friends” — add-ons that work with the phone with a minimal amount of setup. These include the LG 360 CAM and 360 VR, as well as the adorable LG Rolling Bot. The latter two are clear rivals to Samsung’s own Gear VR and Gear 360 offerings, while the Rolling Bot is a product of the kind of crazy experimentation that makes LG LG.

However these new products work out for LG, it’s clear the company’s not afraid of trying new stuff. And that’s going to make its 2016 lineup very interesting to watch.

LG G5

• LG G5 hands-on
• LG G5 complete specs
• LG G5 CAM Plus module
• LG G5 B&O Hi-Fi audio module
• The G5 has an always-on display
• LG G5 keeps the SD card, shuns adoptable storage
• Join the LG G5 discussion

Sony

When it comes to its high-end Xperia phones, Sony Mobile is normally about predictable (almost boring) incremental upgrades every six months. At MWC this year, that changed.

The Xperia X is the new flagship series for Sony, the old Z series being not entirely 100 percent dead, but unlikely to make a return anytime soon. Sony’s new portfolio is centered around the “super-mid” 5-inch Xperia X, a Snapdragon 650-powered beast, which incorporates an updated version of the Xperia Z5’s camera, along with a new metal-backed design. Then at the high end, the Xperia X Performance packs a Snapdragon 820 into an almost identical body. The biggest surprise from the Sony booth was that both performed pretty much identically in day-to-day tasks.

Xperia Z isn’t quite dead, but it’s clear the new, leaner Xperia X series is what’s next for Sony.

It’s a readjustment for Sony, which arguably sees it sidestepping a direct confrontation with the likes of Samsung and Apple, as it moves towards a leaner lineup of smartphones.

The other big news from Sony came from its new smart wearable — the Xperia Ear, and a range of “Concept” devices including the Xperia Eye, Xperia Agent and Xperia Projector. Taking after its 2015 Marshmallow software Concept, these are more about showing Sony’s future direction than any specific product — and the devices we saw on the show floor were very early. Regardless, they show the importance of the Xperia brand, and point to its expansion beyond phones and tablets in the near future.

More: Xperia X + X Performance hands-on

HTC

In an announcement largely steamrolled by Samsung and LG, HTC unveiled three new entry-level Desire phones on MWC media day, while also bringing the dual-SIM One X9 to international markets. For enthusiasts, the most interesting thing about these is the move back to capacitive buttons for the Taiwanese firm as it readies its next flagship. (And that would fit with rumors already doing the rounds concerning the HTC One M10.)

As for HTC’s next big thing, it took to Twitter to tease the M10’s arrival as MWC was coming to a close.

In the absence of any firm M10 details however, the biggest HTC announcement of the show wasn’t a mobile device at all, it was Vive, the firm’s VR hardware developed in partnership with Valve. MWC brought news of the VR kit’s $799 price tag. (That’s just $200 more than rival Oculus.) HTC also took the wraps off the final Vive hardware itself, which included a new polished finish, a refined head strap to hold it more securely, along with improved gaskets. Vive is available for pre-order now, with units set to ship in April.

More: First look at HTC Vive consumer version

Huawei

Boom: Huawei is now a laptop manufacturer. The Chinese firm didn’t have any Android-specific announcements in Barcelona. Instead, it used the show to launch itself into the Windows 2-in-1 world with the MateBook.

This Surface-like device borrows from the design language of Huawei’s phones, including a fingerprint scanner, a super-slim profile and a new app to connect seamlessly to your Android phone.

For more on the Huawei MateBook, check out Richard Device’s write-up over on Windows Central.

Xiaomi

Chinese giant Xiaomi introduced itself to a global audience at this year’s MWC, taking the wraps off the Snapdragon 820-powered Mi 5. At a high level the phone is classic Xiaomi, packing trailblazing internals into a highly affordable package — in this case, one with a price tag below $400.

Much like Samsung, Xiaomi’s latest is all about curves, metal and glass. The rounded ceramic rear reminds us of the Galaxy Note 5, as does the front-mounted fingerprint scanner, which also doubles as a home key. On the software side though, it’s all Xiaomi, with MIUI 7 living atop Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Snapdragon 820 for less than 400 bucks.

And Qualcomm also played a huge role in the company’s Feb. 24 press conference, with Xiaomi’s Hugo Barra talking up the processor’s computational, graphical and LTE chops.

While we won’t see the Mi 5 (officially) in Europe or North America anytime soon, it’s already hit 16 million pre-orders in other markets. And with the company courting attention from Western press, it’s likely it won’t stick to traditional strongholds like China and India forever.

More: Xiaomi Mi 5 hands-on

Alcatel

Alcatel OneTouch is dead. The TCL-owned firm is now simply Alcatel, and with this change in branding comes two intriguing new handsets: the Idol 4 and Idol 4s. The regular Idol 4 sticks with the mid-level internals for which Alcatel has been known, with a Snapdragon 615 running the show and a 1080p display, while the Idol 4s steps up to a new Snapdragon 652 and a 2K AMOLED display — a first for the company.

Also praiseworthy: Alcatel’s new glass-backed design language, borrowing a little from Samsung while introducing a unique dual front and rear-facing speaker setup. And the “Boom” key, a programmable switch which can be pressed to ramp up brightness in movies, increase volume and bass in music playback, or perform a variety of other tasks.

Alcatel’s new phones will become available this April for €279 to €449 depending on configuration, which is a bit more expensive than the firm’s 2015 portfolio. There are no plans for a U.S. launch of these specific models, but Alcatel reps left us with the impression that something similar but slightly different is on the cards for American buyers later this year.

More: Alcatel Idol 4 and 4s hands-on

Qualcomm and Google

Qualcomm was one of the big winners of the show, with Snapdragon 820- and 650-based handsets dominating the announcements out of Barcelona. The LG G5, Sony Xperia X Premium, Xiaomi Mi 5 and (in some markets) the Galaxy S7 all use Qualcomm’s latest and greatest SoC. And the company was keen to talk up its performance and efficiency compared to the previous generation 810 — a chipset with a somewhat tarnished reputation.

What’s more, Snapdragon 650 and 652, with their newer and more powerful A72 cores and Adreno 510 GPU, could be seen taking over from the older Snapdragon 615 in the mid-range space.

Qualcomm will continue to face tough competition from MediaTek in Asia, but the chipmaker looks set for a strong 2016 based on what we’ve seen in Barcelona.

And Google’s presence at MWC was centered around the “Android Garden,” a characteristically whimsical collection of Android topiaries, smoothies, “Androidify” characters and wacky experiments. And aptly for an OS at the heart of most of the gadgets on show in Barcelona, Android’s official home was sandwiched between two of the main exhibition halls.

More: A closer look at the Android Garden at MWC

Head on over to our Mobile World Congress landing page for all our stories from Barcelona. And be sure to share your favorite announcement down in the comments!

Google Photos for Android gets a visual refresh with simplified navigation

Google Photos has received a substantial update, redesigning the interface and making it easier to find different features like Assistant and Albums. Rather than hiding these sections away in a sidebar, Assistant, Albums, and Photos can now be found in a bar at the bottom of the screen.

In addition to their new placement, both Albums and Assistant have been redesigned. Albums now offers easier access to all of your personal and shared albums, and makes it easier to find photos of specific people and places. Assistant now sports large buttons at the top of the screen to help you perform popular actions quickly. You can create a new album, collage, animation, or movie, all with a single tap.

Naturally, this update is currently rolling out, so it may be a little while before you see it. You can grab Google Photos on the Google Play Store now.

Google Photos

• Getting to know the new Google Photos
• Get your Google Photos library started
• Manage Google Photos backup settings
• What happens when you delete pictures in Google Photos?
• Managing your shared photo links
• Where did Auto Awesome go?
• Discuss Google Photos in the forums!

Google Play