By Joe Arico | Fri Feb 24, 2012 3:45 pm
Windows 8 smartphones and tablets will take center stage at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain next week, setting the tone for what's to come this year.One of the biggest events in technology, the MWC will get underway on Sunday and attract more than 60,000 attendees, including fans, members of the media and some of the largest tech companies in the world.
Analysts expect Microsoft's Windows 8 to have a big presence at MWC. Although Windows 8 is the company's next desktop operating system, it is also expected to have several features for mobile users. Microsoft has designed the OS from the ground up for use on a tablet as well as traditional PCs. It features a similar user interface to the company's Windows Phone platform, paving the way for tight integration between apps.
In addition to the Windows 8 reveal, analysts expect several manufacturers to unveil quad-core smartphones, setting a new bar for top-of-the-line devices. Both ARM and Nvidia have crafted quad-core processors for mobile devices, and although no news outlets have confirmed any specific devices, analysts predict several handsets powered by the chips will make their debut at MWC.
HTC is a likely candidate to show off new quad-core devices, but the company may not feature too many handsets. The Taiwanese phone maker appears committed to its goal of cutting back on the number of models it makes, instead focusing on making the highest quality devices possible.
Dozens of new smartphones will likely make an appearance at the conference, but Samsung is making news because of the handset it's not showing off. The South Korean company said it won't lift the curtain on the Samsung Galaxy S3 at the show. The Galaxy S2 was one of the few devices that challenged the blockbuster sales of the iPhone, making the S3 one of the most anticipated devices of the year.
Although Samsung is not planning to show its most popular device, and its main rival, Apple, will not be present, the MWC will likely pack several surprises and paint a clearer picture of what will excite tech fans this year.
Mon Feb 27, 2012 4:07 pm | By Best Buy cut the iPad 2's price by $50, an unusual move signaling the iPad 3's release is likely imminent.
Mon Feb 27, 2012 3:49 pm | By Nokia will offer a diverse range of phones this year, boosting both its feature phone business, while betting big on Windows to propel its high-end smartphones to success.
Mon Feb 27, 2012 3:40 pm | By Facebook addicts are giving up the social media site for Lent, highlighting their increasingly common struggle to balance online connections with real-life friendships.
Mon Feb 27, 2012 3:39 pm | By Facebook is pushing to create mobile browsing and Web-based mobile payments standards, hinting at plans to compete with Apple and Android's native app stores.
Mon Feb 27, 2012 3:31 pm | By Apple notched a victory over an attempted sales ban on its devices by Motorola, raising more questions over how common technology gets used under intellectual property ownership.
Editorials & Opinion By Kate Knibbs
Apple is gearing up for the iPhone 5, while adding improvements to its App store. 
