Featured
Best of MWC shows way to 5G future
In the first part of his selection of stand-out new tech from Mobile World Congress, ARTHUR GOLDSTUCK finds 5G rules.
Best new smartphone software: LG ThinkQ
LG surprised MWC with the unveiling of two flagship phones, showcasing the next generation of both the high-end G and cool-end V series. The G8 ThinQ and the V50 ThinQ 5G are as good as almost anything coming from the better-known smartphone brands, and the former may be better than the rest in one department: software. It is the world’s first smartphone with advanced palm vein authentication, or Hand ID. It identifies owners by recognising the shape, thickness and other characteristics of the veins in the palms of their hands. Placing a pre-registered hand in front of the front-facing camera for a split second unlocks the G8, regardless of ambient light.
Best new smartphone accessory: 5G Moto Mod
The Motorola smartphone brand made a comeback a couple of years ago when new owners Lenovo launched the Moto Z, which came with a family of “mods” that clip onto the back of the phone and transform it into high-end cameras, sound systems and the like. The InstaShare mod, a small projector that clips on the back and allows the phone to project movies onto walls or other surfaces in high-definition displays measuring up to 70-inches, was this column’s Accessory of the Year at the time. Now, as the Moto Z enters its third generation, the Moto Mod family is joined, among other, by the Moto Printer and 5G Moto Mod. The latter is in effect a 5G antennae that clips onto any Moto Z to turn it into a 5G device. This means users of existing handsets don’t have to upgrade to expensive new 5G-capable smartphones when networks switch on their 5G capacity. While 5G is little more than a buzzword for now, the blazing-fast connectivity speeds it offers – well over 1Gigabit per second – along with low latency, means that it will transform the Internet experience over the next two to five years.
Talking of which…
Best new 5G Networking Technology: Huawei 5G RAN
Huawei 5G RAN uses something called UL&DL Decoupling Technology to improves coverage and capacity using existing 4G or LTE base stations, without the need to erect new towers. Aside from being compatible with the current and the next generations of connectivity, it improves coverage and performance up to 10 times thanks to the clustering of antenna within the equipment, as well as cutting edge processors and software designed for peak 5G performance. Unlike much of the 5G on display at MWC, this was not a prototype. Huawei has already shipped more than 25 000 modules.
Click here to read about the best 5G roll-out in South Africa, best 5G device, and best AR/VR technology.
