6 of the Best Devices That Were Unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2014 (list)

Mobile World Congress 2014 turned out to be an action-packed event last week. Several OEMs showcased their flagship devices at the big event, mostly mobile. This year, OEMs didn't only focused on smartphones and tablets, but also unveiled a number of wearables as well. If you, for any reason, missed the Mobile World Congress 2014 last week, we'll do a quick roundup for the best devices showcased at the grand stage in Barcelona.

1. Sony Xperia Z2

Sony unveiled their latest flagship device at the Mobile World Congress 2014, dubbed as the Sony Xperia Z2. It looks quite similar to the Sony Xperia Z1, but brings an improved set of specifications compared to its predecessor. Sony Xperia Z2 comes with a bigger 5.2-inch Full HD Live Color LED TRILUMINOS display with X-Reality for mobile picture engine and sports a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

The handset is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 801 chipset with Adreno 330 GPU, 3GB of RAM, 16GB storage with a microSD card support, 20MP camera with 4K video recording capabilities, 2MP front-facing camera, a 3,200 mAh batery and runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat pre-installed out of the box. The handset is expected to hit retail in March globally.

2. Samsung Galaxy S5

The main star of the event was the Samsung Galaxy S5. The extremely hyped handset was made official at the event, but it did turn out to be a little disappointing as it didn't bring the specifications we heard so much about before it's launch.

Samsung Galaxy S5 comes with a slightly bigger 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display sporting a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, a quad-core 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 chipset with Adreno 330 GPU and 2GB of RAM on board. Other features include 16/32GB internal storage with a microSD card slot, a 2,800 mAh battery, 16MP camera for photos and videos, heart rate sensor, a fingerprint scanner for additional security and runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat with an improved version of TouchWiz UI on top of it.

Samsung Galaxy S5 does bring some useful features, such as the Ultra Battery Saving modes, which converts your display into black and white to make sure the device can provide an extended battery time, as long as 24 hours with 10 percent of battery. The handset will hit retail shelves across 150 countries on April 11th, and rumors suggest it will be cheaper than the competition, even the Samsung Galaxy S4 at launch.

3. Samsung Galaxy Gear Fit

Samsung launched their first wearable device dubbed as Galaxy Gear last year, but it didn't turn out to be as successful as the Korean OEM thought it would be. At the Mobile World Congress, the Korean OEM launched a number of wearables, including the successor of the not-so-popular Samsung Galaxy Gear, as well as a health-oriented Galaxy Gear Fit and Galaxy Gear 2 Neo.

Galaxy Gear Fit brings a handful of fitness-related features such as a pedometer, heart rate sensor, ability to connect with Galaxy devices via Bluetooth and display incoming notifications for emails, messages, calls and more. The wearable was also crowned as the best device at the Mobile World Congress 2014 as well.

4. Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet

Sony had a pretty decent Mobile World Congress. The company unveiled a number of new products, including the Sony Xperia Z2, as well as a new Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet that brings top-of-the-line specifications at the table. The tablet rocks a 10.1-inch display sporting a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels resolution, and is touted as the world's slimmest tablet.

Under the hood, it comes with a quad-core 2.3GHz Snapdragon 801 chipset with 3GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage with a microSD card slot, a 8.1MP camera at the back for photos and videos, LTE connectivity support, a 6,000 mAh battery to make sure there's enough juice for the tablet and runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat as its OS.

5. YotaPhone 2

While all eyes were fixed on the Samsung Galaxy S5, there was another smartphone that many of us may have missed. It was the next-generation Yotaphone with dual-display; one on the front, while the second is the e-ink display on the back of the handset.

The handset rocks a 5-inch 1080p display on the front as well as a 4.7-inch qHD e-Ink touchscreen. It's powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 800 chipset with a clock speed of 2.3GHz and 2GB of RAM on board. Other features include 32GB internal storage, 8MP rear camera with 108-p video recording capabilities, a 2,550 mAh battery, LTE support, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, GLONASS and runs Android 4.4 KitKat pre-installed out of the box.

YotaPhone 2 is expected to hit the EMEA regions and Russia in Q4 2014, and is also expected to hit the US and Asian markets.

6. Huawei MediaPad X1

Huawei also made an appearance at the Mobile World Congress, but the device which has caught our eye is the MediaPad X1, the ultimate phablet carrying a screen size of 7-inch and comes with cellular connectivity, which means it can act as a smartphone as well, touted as the 'the world's slimmest 7-inch LTE Cat4-enabled all-in-one phablet.'

The phablet cum tablet comes with a 7-inch sporting a resolution of 1900 x 1200 pixels, and is powered by a 1.6GHz quad-core Hisilicon Kirin 910 processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB internal storage on board. On the rear, it comes with a 13MP camera for photos and videos with a 5MP front-facing camera. The only disappointing part of the phablet is its operating system - it's running the old Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. To make sure there's enough juice for the oversized phablet, there's a 5,000 mAh battery as well.

The Huawei MediaPad X1 is set to launch in China, Russia, Western Europe, the Middle East, Japan and Latin America in March later this year, but there's no word about its pricing at the moment.

If you think we missed any device from the list, feel free to let us know using the comments below.

10 Must Have GoPro Camera Accessories (list)

GoPro has become a must-have camera for anyone involved in extreme action sports, and those who want to shoot high quality video on a limited budget. The company's YouTube channel currently has over 1.5 million subscribers and over 600 videos, not counting all the user-contributed videos made with GoPro cameras. Earlier this month GoPro announced plans to file an IPO, and enjoyed wide brand recognition at the Sochi Winter Olympics. Here we take a look at some of the coolest GoPro accessories on the market, some of them used by professional athletes worldwide.

1. Joby Action Clamp

Anyone working in video knows support systems are the key to getting great shots (unless of course you're going 'Blair Witch Project' style). The Joby Action Clamp is a nice little camera support that won't break your back, or your wallet for that matter. The clamp comes in two models: the Joby JB01280-BWW Action Clamp with GorillaPod Arm, and the Joby JB01291-BWW Action Clamp with Locking Arm. The two clamps retail for about $29.99 and $39.99, respectively. The Action Clamp with Locking Arm (as you can see in the photo on the right) is a bit more stable than the GorillaPod (on left), although the latter gives you more flexibility and range in motion. Both models are available at Joby's website, Amazon, and other retailers.

2. Octomask

You can get some great underwater shots while keeping your hands free with the Octomask accessory for GoPro cameras. The Octomask works with all GoPro cameras including the Original HERO, GoPro HERO2, HERO3 and HERO3+ models using the universal GoPro mount. The product features a super-soft silicon skirt and dual safety tempered glass lenses, and can be fitted for prescription lenses at your local dive shop. Octomask currently has 4 models available all priced at $79.99. The mask can be used in conjunction with the Red Cube Tropical Water Color Correction Filter for filming at depths of 12 to 65 feet. The filter, which color corrects for loss of red light, sells for about $19.99. Check out Octomask.com or Amazon for more information on these products.

3. Easy Gimbal

EasyGimbal is a 3-axis handheld camera stabilizer designed for the GoPro Hero3+ camera. The device successfully ran as a KickStarter campaign back in October 2013, raising $62k from a goal of $40k. The EasyGimbal keeps a GoPro camera steady even while you move your hand or body, by rotating on all three axes: pan, tilt, and roll, without the use of weights. Instead, the EasyGimbal uses brushless motors and electronics powered by standard DSLR style batteries. The company's website promises delivery of the EasyGimbal Spring 2014.

4. GoPro Dive Housing

Essential for anyone who wants to film underwater or in wet conditions, the GoPro Dive Housing for HERO Cameras by GoPro is an accessory you can't live without. The housings vary for different models, and range in price from about $29 to $59, so take care when so that you pick the right model. The BacPac Compatible Housing for HERO3 and HERO3+ is rated to be waterproof at up to 197 feet (60m), while other models are rated up to 131 feet (40m). The large glass lens in the front of the housing ('glass' is the key word here) provides excellent video clarity and is free of vignetting. Those of you who have used acrylic lenses know how quickly they can get scratched up in salt water. If taken care of correctly, a glass lens will last much longer. You can find the right GoPro Dive Housing for your camera at the GoPro website.

5. GoPole Evo

The GoPole EVO Transparent Extension Pole is a simple idea that gives you wider shots when hand-holding GoPro cameras. The pole extends to 26', weighs just 4 ounces, and is waterproof up to 197 feet (60m). What's more, the majority of the pole is made of transparent material. While you won't trick anyone into thinking you've actually got a camera man nearby, the transparency element makes the pole somewhat less distracting in the composition. The GoPole EVO lists for $39.99 and is available at GoPole.com and other retailers.

6. VectorMount

The VectorMount Dynamic Action Camera Mounting System for GoPro cameras costs more than most of the accessories we've mentioned so far, but the system is so flexible it's well worth the investment. What we're looking at in the photo is the VectorMount GO with Tri-base package ($249), that gives you a suction cup Tri-base for easy mounting on various surfaces. The system includes a wind-vane style tail wing that uses natural airflow to steer the camera, so the camera pans along a horizontal plane as a vehicle moves. Pretty ingenious, no? There are several models and packages to choose from, available in either black or silver finish. Get the VectorMount.com or Amazon.

7. GoPro Hero3+ Macro Glass Lens

Want to get some great close up shots with your GoPro camera? The $29 GoPro Hero3+ Macro Glass Lens provides 2.2X magnification for shooting from 2 to 18 inches (although the Hero3+ only focuses down to approximately 12 inches). The makers of the product say the new glass lens is more durable and scratch resistance than the previous model, and offers 6-month replacement for any defective lenses. You can find the GoPro Hero3+ Macro Glass Lens at polarprofilters.com, Amazon.com, and other electronics dealers.

8. The Bobber

Never lose your GoPro at sea with The Bobber floating hand grip from GoPole. The $29 is essentially a yellow bobber with universal GoPro mount that attaches to all GoPro HERO cameras, and will float the LCD BacPacTM, Battery BacPac, and even the Camera + 3D HERO system. The Bobber must be a popular GoPro accessory, because as of this article the product is sold out on GoPole's website. But Amazon has still got some in their inventory, and GoPole promises more product early March.

9. GoPro Head Strap

It might be time to do some mining with the GoPro Head Strap. The head-mounting system will keep your hands free while getting all the action in front of you on video. The Head Strap is available by itself or combined with a GoPro QuickClip, giving you more options for mounting on places like your belt or backpack. The GoPro Head Strap with QuickClip retails for $19.99 (or get just the Head Strap for $9.99), and comes with a 30-day money back guarantee. The strap and clip are designed with the universal GoPro mount and work with all GoPro camera models. Get it at GoPro.com or Amazon.

10. 3D HERO System

Save the best for last? One of GoPro's more fun accessories to use is the 3D HERO system. The 3D HERO System combines two GoPro HERO2 or HERO original cameras into one housing (notice in the photo one camera is rotated upside down) to record synchronized 2D videos that can be later converted to 3D using GoPro Studio software. The housing is also waterproof, rated up to 180 feet (60m) deep. The system comes with 3 Pairs of 3D Anaglyph Glasses, a helmet front mount, sync cable, and various mounting hardware. The GoPro Studio software, by the way, is available for free at gopro.com.

The New Samsung Chromebook Is Almost a Real Laptop

At $400, Samsung's new high-end Chromebook 2 costs more than most laptops running the super-lightweight Chrome OS. But you'll get quite a bit for that money.

The bang for the buck starts with a 13.3-inch 1080p display. Thirteen inches is a great size - not too big or heavy, but not too small to type or watch a movie on. While the 13-inch Toshiba Chromebook and 14-inch HP Chromebook 14 are both cheaper, neither offer the 1920 x 1080 resolution of this new Samsung model.

This 'premium Chromebook' is also powered by a 2.1GHz, eight-core Exynos 5 Octa CPU, and comes loaded with 4GB DDR3L low-voltage RAM. According to Samsung, the processor squeezes as much battery life as possible out of the Chromebook 2 by using two low-voltage cores for general futzing around on the Web, and higher-voltage cores for processor-intensive tasks and full-HD movies. Still, it's rated at a maximum of 8.5 hours per charge of its battery - not bad, but short of the 10-plus hours you'll see on many less specced out Chromebooks.

The slate-gray laptop weighs a tad over three pounds, and the edges have the same faux leather stitching and feel as recent Samsung devices like the Galaxy Tab Pro and Galaxy Note 3. Samsung seams to be on a pleather kick these days. If you can get past that, it looks pretty slick and elegant, with a slightly concave-key chiclet keyboard. It's sort of like the old plastic Macbook/Blackbooks, but with a matte finish on the keys.

Input-wise, you get a full HDMI port, two USB ports (one 3.0 and one 2.0), a MicroSD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone port. There's a 720p-capable Webcam above the display, and Samsung says this is the first Chromebook out there that's certified for Google Hangouts chats. Samsung is also touting greater cross-platform options with these new Chromebooks via a 'Software Value Pack' that includes AirDroid; it'll let you run some Android apps on the Chromebook within a virtual environment.

The 13-inch Chromebook 2 is slated for release in April, and its specs certainly seem to add up to a capable (if somewhat pricey) new Chromebook. Its combination of screen resolution, weight, size, and price could make the laptop a solid choice for students on a budget or anyone who does a lot of work in Google Docs. There's also an 11-inch version of the Chromebook 2 coming out in April, but its screen resolution and other specs represent a step down from this bigger-screened model.

Apple CarPlay Announced, New In

Apple's extending its electronic reign to your vehicle with their new CarPlay in-car interface that's designed to bridge the gap between your iPhone and your car. Announced at this week's Geneva Motor Show, the interface is compatible with the new Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo cars unveiled at the show. Features include both touch and Siri voice navigation of your phone function like contacts, voicemails and more, while also supporting third-party apps like Spotify and right from launch. All controls will be assessable from a button on the car's steering wheel and its touchscreen will have familiar iOS 7 icons for easy access. Right now, you can ply connect to CarPlay via a Lightning cable, with Wi-Fi coming in the future. Also, the CarPlay will launches an iOS update for iPhone 5 models and up (because it's only available for those with Lightning), while other compatible cars models (like Toyota, BMW, Ford, Honda and more) coming soon.

The new HTC One leaks in 12 minute video review

In a tragically unfortunate piece of exclusive journalism, a young YouTuber by the name of Roshan Jamkatel has posted a 12-minute review of a developer edition HTC M8, the codename for the new HTC One, three weeks before the device is to be officially announced at an HTC event later this month. The video shows the device from all angles, including information identifying the owner of the device, most likely Roshan's parents, whom he says are engineers. Perhaps for not much longer.

The leaked video review shows a very good looking HTC One successor. / © YouTube, HTC

The new M8 looks very much like the other leaked images we have seen splashed around everywhere recently and there's no major surprises other than the inclusion of a microSD slot, although that is only mentioned in passing by Jamkatel and is not shown properly. The dual cameras on the rear of the brushed aluminum unibody are there, but there is no explanation of what they do and the camera app doesn't seem to give anything away either. The new Sense 6 makes it's feature length debut and we also get a good look at the new BlinkFeed. Despite some lags and crashes, which is understandable if the handset in the video is a pre-release test device, the new HTC One looks pretty nice and handles quite well.

Link to Video

Note: if the above video gets pulled, which it will soon enough, you can also watch the video via AusDroid.

Unfortunately there's not much in the way of solid information in the review, rather just a clumsy tour of the device, but we do at least get a better look at the look and feel of the all new HTC One. Despite this, it seems Jamkatel's days as a gadget reviewer are numbered, as HTC's Jeff Gordon responded to the video's appearance on Twitter, mentioning that HTC are using the IMEI number (which appears clearly in the video) to track down the owner of the device. As Gordon also said, before the dialogue was pulled from Twitter: ''it's not going to be a good week for you, my friend.''

Here's Jeff Gordon on Twitter while Jamkatel goes into damage control. / © Jeff Gordon/AusDroid

While some are claiming that the leak is a well-crafted piece of marketing by HTC, I highly doubt it. A laggy and crashing test device, a reviewer who demonstrates absolutely nothing important about the device and subsequent threats of legal action do not make a particularly good marketing campaign. But then again, hipster troll carwashes and Robert Downey Jr don't either. Whatever the case, the atmosphere of leaks in the tech industry has just claimed another mostly innocent victim, and for that we should all feel a little ashamed. Let's just hope HTC also stands for Help The Children.

What are your thoughts on the new M8? How do you feel about this leaked video?