Minus influencers' sheen, Vivo spotlights tech for productivity

SHANGHAI -- Stripped of celebrity endorsers that helped propel smartphone sales, Chinese tech firms like Vivo focused on showcasing innovations that are both practical and futuristic.

The Asian stop of Mobile World Congress this year showcased how the upcoming connectivity standard, 5G, can transform how people use their devices.

From motorized selfie cameras that pop up from the top of the device to keep the screen truly bezel-free, Vivo's prototypes will soon make their way to mainstream offerings.

At triple the capacity of the fastest charger commercially available, the 120-watt SuperFlash charge promises to juice up a Vivo device to full capacity in 13 minutes, or roughly the time it takes for a Grab ride to arrive, the company said.

There was no NBA superstar Stephen Curry or the hot new teen couple in Vivo's booth at MWC, just its staff who explained the new tech to visiting Southeast Asian journalists.

Vivo claims up to 50 percent charge in just 5 minutes, addressing a consumer pain point on slow-charging batteries. The computations were based on a 4,000 mAh battery that is common for handsets in the market.

While rivals Huawei and Oppo showcased the zoom capabilities of their P30 and Reno series, respectively, Vivo showcased how its phones could be used as enterprise devices.

Similar to what Blackberry did in its heyday, Vivo said it partnered with Chinese firms to equip their workforce with Vivo phones.

Once they enter the office, a simple tap on an NFC device art the door switches the profile on their devices to work from personal, Vivo said.

Aside from gaming and scene recognition, Vivo's AR glasses can also be used for productivity such as managing emails, using the phone as a track pad.

Targeting industrial problems tied to file swapping and sharing in the age of wireless, Vivo said it combined 5G with the cloud for Easy Share and Screen Mirroring.

Easy Share allows devices to swap files regardless of size or distance as long as there is a 5G connection and Screen Mirroring, which lets a user see the display on another person's screen in real time.

Ahead of the MWC event on Wednesday, Vivo also unveiled in Manila on Monday its newest Apex concept phone, which has no ports and buttons.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

5G future on display with robots, AI at China tech fair

SHANGHAI -- The near future where robots take charge of mundane tasks like grocery shopping to helping doctors save lives was on display in this Chinese financial hub on Wednesday, all powered by the upcoming 5G standard that promises to transform the way people interact with technology.

This year's Mobile World Congress was a display of practical applications of 5G, which Chinese tech titans are selling to the world, despite opposition from the US.

The biggest exhibitors include Huawei, the world’s largest manufacturer of telecom infrastructure and number two smartphone maker that was blacklisted by Washington, compatriots Vivo and Oppo, chipmaker Qualcomm and carriers China Telecom and China Unicom.

Compared to 4G or LTE, 5G promises faster data transfers and at larger volumes at a time. In the home, it can help power smart devices such as virtual assistants housed in speakers and ultra high definition television and gaming.

It can be used by autonomous vehicles to carry both people and cargo, automating both transportation and logistics.

Big data can harness 5G speeds to aid doctors in diagnosis and treatment. Another application allows users to pay for their groceries without passing through the check out counter since the computing is done on the cloud.

One 5G-powered robot was controlled using a glove with sensors, reminiscent of the big robot cartoon "Daimos" that was popular in the 1980s.

Another robot, its body shaped like that of a woman, interacted with visitors as it danced.

source: news.abs-cbn.com