6 Biggest Tech News Happening in 2017 That All Malaysians Should Know

Mobile phones are a part and parcel of our everyday life with the majority of Malaysians owning at least one smart gadget. You’re probably reading this on your smartphone right now!

The mobile industry works hard to bring innovative new developments to the masses and usually these developments are announced in conferences and exhibitions. And Mobile World Congress (MWC) is the world’s largest gathering for it, organised by the GSMA and held in the Mobile World Capital Barcelona!

And this year’s MWC brought us some exciting news that will definitely change the way we are going to interact and connect with the world!

1. The release of Huawei P10 and other flagship phones

Diehard mobile tech geeks know that the long-awaited announcements of major flagship phones and intriguing new wearables are released in Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

2. Nokia 3310 is BACK!

There were over 2000 exhibitors that revealed everything from new smartphones to the latest VR innovations and weird wearables, to crowds topping 100,000.

But the launch that took everyone by surprise one of the bizarre highlights of the exhibition was the return of Nokia 3310. Yes, it’s back! This iconic phone launched 17 years ago and made its comeback to much fanfare in MWC. It remains true to its roots, with no touch screen and an alphanumeric keyboard.

It claims to be as durable as it was in the past but is considerably slimmer and lighter. HMD Global has not forgotten loyal fans of the mobile game, Snake and included it in the device. Also, the Nokia 3310 comes with upgraded functions, namely a 2-Megapixel camera, 16MB of internal memory, expandable memory up to 32GB and 2G connectivity.

3. Launch of fascinating wearable

Huawei also launched the new Huawei Watch 2 and Watch 2 Classic which sports a plastic and metal chassis respectively. This new model has a 1.4-inch screen, bigger than the prior model and has both LTE and Wi-Fi options. The battery life has been extended up to two days, compared to the previous model which only offers one day of battery life.

Sony introduced a new concept device, known as the Sony Xperia Ear open style which at first glance, already looks futuristic and cool. It was created to help with notifications and for listening music on the go but at the moment, it’s full potential has not been explored yet. But just look at how gorgeous it is!

4. Birth of these ultra cool devices

Bet you didn’t expect this, but Sony brought in the Xperia Touch, which is their name for the fancy projector that they created. It’s even portable and has an embedded battery so that you can take it out on the go. There are several ways to use it, you can project it down on a smooth surface or even use hand gestures to connect the device to your PS4 as a Remote Play machine. It’s perfect for large displays or multiplayer games!

Another device that took tech geeks by surprise was the unveiling of the Book One by Porsche Design. Their very first computer, the Porsche Design Book One offers high-powered, premium specs while the exterior looks stunning and ultra posh. This 2-in-1 laptop’s tablet portion can be detached and used as a tablet by itself. Definitely one to watch out for!

5. Advancements in Artificial Intelligence & Virtual Reality 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) was the most talked-about topic during this year’s MWC. For AI, the experts in the industry will be looking into advancing chatbots and virtual assistants into something more sophisticated. AI developers predicted that AI has a huge future ahead and the possibilities to refine it into something more advanced are endless. In fact, you can expect smart homes, deep learning and self-learning machines to be making headlines in the near future.

Google also announced that Google Assistant will be rolled out to all Android phones using Nougat and Marshmallow, so if you have a recent Android device, just wait for it!

More cutting edge VR is being developed, providing the user with a totally immersive experience. Upgrades such as live streaming and 3D audio was discussed at the congress. In addition, the purpose of VR to provide visual stimulation for the visually impaired is being explored as well.

6. Development and trial of 5G networks 

The most exciting thing about MWC? All the buzz about the upcoming 5G network! While 5G will not be officially finalized until 2019, the big boys in the mobile industry have already started getting in on the action. Numerous devices will be created with the hopes of supporting 5G in the future as more trials for the much-awaited network is being pushed out.

In short, if you love gadgets (which everyone does), you’ll be going like this: