MWC 2015
The world's largest annual mobile event - Mobile World Congress - takes place the first week of March. We're on the ground in Barcelona to bring you all of the week's news. Tune in here for our full coverage, including hands-on with new phones from Samsung, HTC, Microsoft, and Alcatel.
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Alcatel to Sell Hero 2+ with Cyanogen In US
Alcatel OneTouch today announced the Hero 2+, a phablet running Cyanogen, which is a modified version of Android. The Hero 2+ is a refreshed version of last year's Hero 2. The The Cyanogen 11 operating system is based on Android 4.4.4 KitKat. It includes Cyanogen's Privacy Guard software, which lets users protect their information, as well as encrypt and remotely lock/wipe their device. Cyanogen has supplied its own set of themes and wallpapers to the user interface in addition to camera software and other tools. The phone has a 6-inch full HD display with a built-in stylus. It is powered by a 2.0GHz octa-core Cortex A7 processor from MediaTek paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. The main camera captures 13 megapixels and the user-facing camera captures 5 megapixels. Both can film full HD video. Alcatel plans to sell the phone directly to consumers across North America through its e-commerce web site. The phone will be sold unlocked for $299. Alcatel expects it to go on sale during the second quarter.
Hands-On: Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3
Alcatel's new flagship Android smartphones impress with their features, build quality, and cost. Here are Phone Scoop's first impressions of these mid-market killers.
Alcatel OneTouch Aims High with Idol 3 Flagship
Alcatel OneTouch today announced the Idol 3, its global flagship series for 2015. The Idol 3 series encompasses two handsets, one with a 4.7-inch display and another with a 5.5-inch display. The phones share many features, such as the design, which features a thin-and-light look with a polycarbonate edge polished to a chrome-like finish and a back cover that mimics brushed metal. The Idol 3 packs stereo JBL speakers with Clarify processing, and each has its own dedicated 1.2W amplifier for full sound. The phones are reversible, meaning they can be held in any orientation and the user interface will rotate accordingly. The main camera uses a Sony sensor that rates 13 megapixels. It includes a variety of modes and video-capture options. Connectivity options include LTE and HSPA+, Bluetooth 4.1, FM radio, GPS, and WiFi. The Idol 3 devices support microSD cards up to 128GB.
- Idol 3 (5.5): The larger of the two has a full HD screen and octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The processor includes four cores at 1.5GHz and four cores at 1.0GHz. This phone has an 8-megapixel user-facing camera with wide-angle lens, and a 2,910mAh battery. The retail price is $249.
- Idol 3 (4.7): This model is more compact and includes a 720p HD screen. It features a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The phone has a 5-megapixel user-facing camera and a 2,000mAh battery. The retail price is $199.
