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Why the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1's stylus works (hands on, video)

BARCELONA, Spain--Forget about a smartphone you have to force to be a tablet. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is a tablet in its own right, and in my opinion, the appropriate size for a device that makes use of a stylus for additional creative composition.

Let's back it up for a moment with a look at the Galaxy Note family tree. The first Note, which CNET first spotted back in September and has since intensely reviewed, comes with a 5.3-inch screen and a skinny, 4-inch tall pressure-sensitive stylus you can use to doodle or take notes.

The … Read more

Spotlight on: Samsung Galaxy S Advance, Mini 2, Ace Plus (video)

BARCELONA, Spain--Amid all the Samsung Galaxy devices shown so far at MWC, these three barely saw the spotlight, if at all.

Well, it's time to turn on the diva lights for the Samsung Galaxy S Advance, Samsung Galaxy Mini 2, and Samsung Ace Plus, even if for just a minute.

Although none of these phones is a flagship product (the Mini 2 is a downright simple Android starter phone,) they have their place in the mobile ecosystem.

Besides, it's always fun to see which phones are bound for other pastures.

Dialed In #212: Mobile World Congress madness begins (podcast)

Can't make it to Barcelona, Spain, this year for Mobile World Congress? Don't fret, just check out the latest episode of Dialed In. We chat about all the phone news to come out so far at MWC including quad-core handsets from HTC, Samsung, LG, Sony, and newcomer Huawei. … Read more

Nokia unveils Lumia 610 and the 900 goes global

If you've already been drooling over Nokia's Lumia family these past few months, get ready for the manufacturer's newest addition to the lineup: the Lumia 610.

The 610 is aimed toward a younger audience and will be one of the first few phones to run Windows Phone Tango. It will go for about $254 (before subsidy) and will be shipping out in the second quarter of this year.

The handset provides access to popular social networking services like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. It comes equipped with Nokia-specific apps like Maps, Drive, Transport, and Music, as well as … Read more

Bill Ford: Computing tech will upend the auto industry

BARCELONA--Bill Ford, bitten by the Silicon Valley bug, has dreams of a fast-moving Detroit at the heart of a radical overhaul of personal transportation.

As the executive chairman of Ford Motor Company and great grandson of the company founder Henry Ford, he's got deep roots in a century-old industry. Ford predicts a future, though, in which computing and communications technology is no longer an accessory but instead a primary part of a car, and in which the auto industry works on the same time scales as the electronics industry.

There was a time when technology suppliers would have a … Read more

Windows Phone 7.5 update to expand SMS functionality

In addition to lowering its minimum requirements for building Windows Phones, Microsoft announced at Mobile World Congress today that it will add support for multiple attachments to SMS messages.

The new functionality is part of the upcoming Windows Phone 7.5 Tango update due out this spring and includes the option to attach numerous pictures, video, and audio notes to text messages.

Microsoft didn't provide more specific details about the update release schedule but said the new lower-end phones, such as the Nokia Lumia 610, will come preloaded with the software update, while current Windows Phone 7 device owners … Read more

Android chief: We must 'double down' on tablets, win the market

BARCELONA, Spain--Android is far behind Apple's iPad in total units sold, but Andy Rubin says 2012 could be the year where that changes.

Speaking today at Mobile World Congress in Barcleona, Google's Android chief said that users have activated 12 million Android-based tablets so far. According to The Verge, which first reported on his comments, Rubin said that the figure was "not insignificant, but less than I'd expect it to be if you really want to win" the tablet market.

That might be an understatement. During the fourth quarter of 2011 alone, Apple sold over … Read more

Intel touts new chips, partnerships in mobile push

BARCELONA, Spain--Intel has unveiled a number of new partnerships and chips as the company, which is dominant in the PC business, attempts to find the same success with mobile devices.

Intel said today it is working with ZTE, Lava International, and Orange on handsets, and with Visa on a multiyear partnership to build a mobile-payment service together. It also unveiled a trio of new Atom chips to fill out its mobile-centric product portfolio.

"We're not a stranger to the mobile market," CEO Paul Otellini said during a press conference at the Mobile World Congress trade show. He … Read more

LG's new smartphones: We go hands-on from MWC

There's no doubt that LG made a splash with its sexy and consolidated new smartphone lineup. Inside these cutting-edge handsets are coveted components such as Nvidia's Tegra 3 quad-core processor, HD displays, 3D capabilities, and even "phablet"-style functionality like arch-rival Samsung's Galaxy Note.

Take a virtual spin of LG's slick mobile devices to see what you make of these products. Then be sure to view our Mobile World Congress page for all the phone news rolling out of Barcelona this week. … Read more

Mobile World Congress kicks off

Links from Monday's episode of Loaded:

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