What we’ve learned from Mobile World Congress 2016

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

The take away from MWC was that phones are great as standalone devices and pocket computers, they can be awesome when you extend their functionality with great accessories and ecosystems.

This year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona brought the focus back on smartphones with various new flagship models sporting the latest processors, the latest display technology, improved cameras and software as well as better battery life, water resistance features and premium materials.

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2016 Canadian International AutoShow features more than 40 vehicle unveilings

The 2017 Lincoln Continental was one of the many new models unveiled at the CIAS Media Preview

“With such a strong roster, it cements the Canadian International AutoShow’s place as the biggest and best consumer show in the country,” says Jason Campbell, General Manager of the AutoShow.

The 43rd Canadian International AutoShow kicked off on Thursday with more than 40 vehicle launches during Media Preview Day.

The world’s leading automotive manufacturers pulled the covers off 33 production vehicles and 11 concepts over the course of the media tour that took a record number of digital, broadcast and print journalists through the 1,000 cars and 650,000 square feet of show space at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The AutoShow opens to the public Friday, February 12 at noon.  Hit jump for the full list of new vehicles and concepts unveiled.

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BlackBerry looks to focus on Android handsets for 2016

Updated on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at 10:41AM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

After BlackBerry CEO John Chen confirmed that the company would only release two Android powered devices in 2016 behind the perceived success of the BlackBerry PRIV, Damian Tay, BlackBerry’s senior director of product management in Asia Pacific all but confirmed that BB10-powered BlackBerry devices are no longer a priority and are seen as transitory devices. “The future is really Android,” Tay said in an interview with Economic Time India.

“The PRIV device is essentially our transition to Android ecosystem. As we secure Android, over a period of time, we would not have two platforms, and may have only Android as a platform [for smartphones],” Damian Tay said. “But for now, we have BB10 and Android platforms for our smartphones.”

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Apple reports record earnings despite softening economy and weakened currencies

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

This is Apple’s biggest revenue and profit ever and likely the most revenue reported by any company, yet it is still dampened by falling short of expectations plus the first ever sales decline for iPhone in Q2, which will be the first downturn for Apple’s marquee product since its launch back in 2007.

Apple held its holiday quarter earnings call yesterday and reported $75.9 billion in revenue, $18.4 billion in profits which breaks previous records for the company despite the global ‘softening’ of the economy and devaled currencies.  Apple’s success is bolstered by iPhone sales, the company sold 74.8 million units for the quarter. iPad sales continued to fall at 16.1 million units sold despite the addition of the iPad Pro, and Mac unit sales were at 5.3 million units in what is traditionally considered Apple’s strongest quarter.

For the same quarter a year ago, Apple reported the following for comparison. $74.6b in revenue, $18 billion in profit, 74.4m iPhones, 21.4m iPads, and 5.5m Macs. Analysts were predicting around $76.6b in revenue, 75m iPhones, 17.3m iPads, and 5.8m Macs this quarter. 

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