Millions share new Chinese character

2 March 2015 Last updated at 13:16 BBC Trending What's popular and why

A new word is taking the internet by storm in China - but no one knows quite what it means.

The character "duang" is so new that it does not even exist in the Chinese dictionary. But it has already spread like wildfire online in China, appearing more than 8 million times on China's micro-blogging site Weibo, where it spawned a top-trending hashtag that drew 312,000 discussions among 15,000 users. On China's biggest online search engine Baidu, it has been looked up almost 600,000 times. It's been noticed in the West too, with Foreign Policy seeing it as a "break the internet" viral meme - like a certain Kim Kardashian image, or a certain multicoloured dress.

But what does it mean?

"Everyone's duang-ing and I still don't know what it means! Looks like it's back to school for me," said Weibo user Weileiweito.

Another user asked: "Have you duang-ed today? My mind is full of duang duang duang."

"To duang or not to duang, that is the question," wrote user BaiKut automan.

"Duang" seems to be an example of onomatopoeia, a word that phonetically imitates a sound. It all seems to have started with Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan, who in 2004 was featured in a shampoo commercial where he said famously defended his sleek, black hair using the rhythmical-sounding "duang". The word resurfaced again recently after Chan posted it on his Weibo page. Thousands of users then began to flood Chan's Weibo page with comments, coining the word in reference to his infamous shampoo appearance.

The word appears to have many different meanings, and there's no perfect translation, but you could use it as an adjective to give emphasis to the word that follows it. A kitten might be "duang cute", for example. Or you might be "very duang confused" by this blog.

For readers of Chinese characters, the Jackie Chan theme is also apparent from the quirky way in which the word is written: a combination of Chan's Mandarin names.

The internet phenomenon comes at a time of public scrutiny for the martial arts legend, whose son Jaycee was recently released from prison following a high-profile drug scandal.

Reporting by Heather Chen and Mukul Devichand

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Islamic State threats to Twitter staff

Twitter employees and co-founder Jack Dorsey are being threatened by people who claim to support Islamic State.

In an online post jihadists around the world are called upon to attack and kill Twitter staff over the company's efforts to block and ban Islamic State messages.

Although it is not possible to identify who wrote the post, Twitter seems to be taking it seriously.

A spokesman says the company is "investigating" the threat.

"You started this failed war," the post says. "We told you from the beginning it's not your war, but you didn't get it and kept closing our accounts on Twitter, but we always come back.

"But when our lions [brave men] come and take your breath, you will never come back to life."

Twitter has been clamping down on IS activity on its social network, in an attempt to stop the group using it as a tool for recruitment and promotion.

Islamic State has had thousands of supporters on Twitter spread the group's messages and taunt the West.

During the Brazil 2014 World Cup, for example, they hijacked popular football hashtags to broaden the reach of the IS message.

This latest post, uploaded to JustPaste.it, is written in Arabic and features an image of Jack Dorsey with the cross sights of a gun over his face.

A spokesman for the organisation said: "Our security team is investigating the veracity of these threats with relevant law enforcement officials."

The site's rules say that users "may not publish or post direct, specific threats of violence against others".

They also ban "direct, specific threats of violence against others" from the network.

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HTC to sell virtual reality headsets

1 March 2015 Last updated at 15:33 By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor

HTC is to release a virtual reality headset as part of a tie-up with Valve, a leading PC video games publisher.

The HTC Vive will be paired with wireless controllers and tracking technology to let wearers explore computer-generated environments by walking round their rooms.

A test version of the kit will go on sale to developers shortly, followed by a public edition later this year.

It will compete with Facebook's Oculus Rift and Sony's Morpheus VR headsets.

The machines let wearers view computer-generated 3D environments to give them a sense of being there.

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WATCH: Dave Lee gets an early reaction to HTC's VR kit

The announcement marks a change of strategy for HTC, which has focused on smartphones.

At a press conference in Barcelona on the eve of the Mobile World Congress trade show, the Taiwanese firm also unveiled a new flagship handset - the HTC One M9 - and a GPS-enabled fitness tracker

Virtual gaming

Only limited details of the Vive have been released ahead of a planned presentation by Valve at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco on Wednesday.

However, HTC has said that the headset features can display video at 90 frames per second (fps) - an important consideration as many developers believe a rate lower than 60fps can cause nausea.

It includes two 1,200 by 1,080 pixel screens to provide high definition - but not 4K - quality graphics, and allows existing sets of headphones to be plugged into its side.

HTC said that more than 70 sensors were built in to the machine, including a gyroscope, an accelerometer and a laser position sensor.

It added that the machine also supported a facility developed by Valve that allows users to explore a virtual space and the objects within it from different angles - by moving about in real life within a 15ft by 15ft (4.6m squared) space. To do this, owners will also need to buy a Steam VR base station.

"It is rare that a company has an opportunity to forever transform the ways in which people interact with the world and communicate with each other," said Peter Chou, HTC's chief executive.

Although gamers are set to be the most likely early adopters, HTC added that the device could also be used for shopping, visiting other parts of the world and meeting friends in virtual reality.

It added that Google, the US TV network HBO and movie studio Lionsgate were already working on content for the machine.

Half Life VR?

While HTC's handsets have been well reviewed in the past, its relatively small marketing budget has played to rival Samsung's favour.

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WATCH: Samsung put its own VR headset on sale at the end of last year

Samsung already sells virtual reality kit of its own, thanks to an alliance with US firm Oculus VR. However, the Gear VR relies on the user also owning either a Samsung Galaxy Note or a Galaxy S6 handset, and as yet has little content available.

US-based Valve runs Steam - the hugely popular online marketplace for PC videogames - as well as developing renowned games of its own, including Half Life, Portal and Dota 2.

A link-up with Valve therefore offers HTC a way to promote its machine without having to fund all the associated costs.

But one expert suggested the relationship could be a double-edged sword.

"Valve has a huge amount to offer a consumer electronics company through its giant user-base and the content distribution platform it runs," said Piers Harding-Rolls from the IHS Technology consultancy.

"But on the flipside it must make sense commercially, and it is an issue if the hardware company doesn't have a share of the content revenues."

Phone and fitness

One company watcher was less positive about the firm's new Android-powered handset.

The look of the all-metal unibody One M9 has hardly changed from that of its predecessor. However, its main camera has been upgraded to a 20 megapixel component that can shoot video in 4K ultra high definition (UHD) quality.

HTC's Sense user interface has also been updated to provide location-specific news and suggestions on the phone's home screen. And the handset can now simulate a surround sound experience from its front-facing speakers.

"These are just small incremental changes," commented Francisco Jeronimo, from the research firm IDC.

"HTC needs to do a lot more to retain market share."

The company shipped 21.3 million smartphones in 2014, giving it a 1.6% share of the market, according to IDC.

That was down from a 4.4% share and 31.6 million shipments two years earlier.

It did, however, manage to return to profit last year after cutting costs.

The firm also unveiled a wristband, which is compatible with both Android and iOS handsets.

The HTC Grip fitness tracker contains a built-in GPS chip to track the user's location, helping it measure their pace and calorie burn during exercise.

It is waterproof and features a 1.8in (4.6cm) OLED display that can show incoming calls and notifications to a linked phone, but lacks a heart rate monitor.

"The problem is that there are lots of other wristbands out there at a cheaper price," said Mr Jeronimo.

"So, unless HTC bundles it for free when someone buys the M9 I don't see how it will succeed."

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Huawei and LG unveil smartwatches

1 March 2015 Last updated at 14:12 By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor

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WATCH: Dave Lee quizzes LG's Andrew Coughlan about his firm's new smartwatches

LG and Huawei have unveiled a range of new smartwatches featuring metal-framed circular designs.

LG's Watch Urbane comes in two editions - a basic version powered by Android Wear, and a high-end one with a 4G chip and a new operating system.

The latter can make and answer calls and send texts without needing to be linked to a phone.

The Huawei Watch uses Android Wear, and has a bigger display made out of sapphire crystal.

To date, demand for computer-powered watches has been limited.

Only 720,000 watches powered by Google's Android Wear were shipped in 2014 despite considerable publicity for the launches of the Moto 360, Asus ZenWatch and Samsung Gear Live, according to market research firm Canalys.

But sales are expected to jump in 2015, in part because Apple is releasing its Watch in April alongside a big budget marketing campaign, which may benefit the wider sector.

The Watch Urbane models are LG's third and fourth smartwatches, and the Huawei Watch the Chinese firm's first.

"Huawei's market entry will accelerate price competition, but the increasingly crowded market, differentiation challenges and the looming Apple Watch will limit its opportunity," commented George Jijiashvili, wearables analyst at the tech consultancy CCS Insight.

The announcements were made on the eve of the Mobile World Congress trade fair in Barcelona.

Standalone watch

The 4G-enabled Watch Urbane LTE features a 1.3in (3.3cm) plastic OLED display, a brushed stainless steel frame, and has three buttons on its side.

One of these acts as a panic alarm. When pressed it calls a preset phone number and sends details of the wearer's location - provided by its on-board GPS chip - to the recipient.

In addition to making calls, it also provides a push-to-talk facility, acting like a walkie-talkie with other compatible devices on the same data network.

Other facilities include:

• An NFC (near field communication) chip for touch-and-go payments
• IP67 dust and waterproofing certification, allowing it to be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes
• A heart rate monitor, barometer and nine-axis accelerometer to provide activity-tracking readings

LG said the watch was its first device to run its new LG Wearable Platform OS, which would also feature in other future products.

The more basic model is the slightly thinner, but features a smaller capacity battery, just one side-button, a polished metal exterior and lacks GPS and NFC functionality.

Even so, one expert said its cheaper price and use of Android Wear OS - which provides calendar reminders, app notifications, map directions, emails and more, all sent via a compatible smartphone - was likely to make it the more popular option.

"I think LG is trying to do something a little different here by focusing on design, and that matters a lot," said Carolina Milanesi, chief of research at KWP ComTech.

"Some people who want to be seen on the cutting edge might be interested [in the 4G version] but LG aren't really thinking consumers will flock to it."

Crystal display

The Huawei Watch features a 1.4in (3.6cm) crystal OLED display - which the company says is scratchproof and more vibrant than the competition - in a 4.2cm (1.7in) diameter stainless steel metal frame.

Its screen is slightly higher resolution at 286 pixels per inch than the 245ppi specification of LG's devices.

The Chinese firm highlighted that it was also easy to recharge via a magnetic cradle.

Other features announced include:

• A heart rate monitor, barometer and six-axis accelerometer
• Four gigabytes of internal storage
• Three colour options - gold, silver and black - and a variety of watchstraps

Several tech blogs immediately declared Huawei's device the best-looking Android Wear watch to date - an important consideration since, unlike most computer equipment, smartwatches double up as jewellery.

"Consumers, specifically in the Western world, may not have expected a great smartwatch from Huawei," said Thomas Husson from the consultancy Forrester.

"However, Huawei's new Android-powered smartwatch looks great.

"The main challenge and key success factor for Huawei is now to establish its brand in the new connected world."

Huawei also unveiled the TalkBand B2, a revamped version of its activity tracker wristband that can be split in two to allow one part to act as a Bluetooth headset.

In addition, it showed off the TalkBand N1, a pair of earphones that feature a built-in activity tracker and four gigabyte MP3 player, allowing them to be used for exercise without the need for another device.

Analysis - Dave Lee, Barcelona

With four smartwatch models unveiled in less than a year, there's no doubting that LG is keen about wristwear.

But analyst Carolina Milanesi told me these models were essentially about the firm proving its innovation credentials. She certainly doesn't expect them to fly off the shelves.

LG says its goal is to design a smartwatch that looks like a classic timepiece, but is packed with modern features,

The 4G-enabled Urbane feels like a step forward, but not a breakthrough.

The watch suffers from multiple trade-offs that might be turn-offs for consumers. It's pretty beastly in size, for starters - it sits considerably high off the wrist.

And the battery life only lasts beyond a single day if you just use it like a normal watch, ie without using any of its apps or "smart" functionality.

But of course, using a smartwatch "just as a watch" is largely pointless, particularly when a non-smart watch battery can last for several years.

The challenge remains to try and get people interested in moving from classic watches, with their style and iconography, into souped-up tech equivalents.

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Samsung S6 phone has curved screen

1 March 2015 Last updated at 17:31 By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor

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WATCH: The S6 Edge is designed to have a more premium feel than the S5

Samsung will sell two versions of its next flagship phone, one of which has a screen that curves round its sides.

The Galaxy S6 Edge uses the feature to provide a quick way to stay in touch with select contacts, and to alert owners to important information.

It will be sold for a higher price than the standard S6, which otherwise has the same specifications.

Samsung lost market share to Apple and others after the S5 sold fewer copies than its predecessor in many countries.

Its replacements were unveiled in Barcelona, ahead of the start of Mobile World Congress. They go on sale on 10 April in 20 countries, including the UK.

Metal frame

The South Korean firm said it had set out to address past "missteps", and had codenamed the devices "project zero" to reflect the need for a rethink.

Changes include making the TouchWiz user interface simpler to use by cutting the number of pop-up messages and introducing a metal frame and glass back instead of the plastic styling of earlier models.

The redesign has, however, meant some features have had to be jettisoned: the phones are not water-resistant, they do not have a microSD slot for extra storage and their backs cannot be removed to change their batteries.

Even so, one expert praised the company's choices.

"Samsung has clearly listened to feedback - not just for the Galaxy S5, which just missed the mark last year costing the company greatly - but also the S4, which was a product that tried to cram in every piece of technology it could find," said Ben Wood, head of research at the CCS Insight tech consultancy.

"The software has been made into a much more crisp and clear experience, the design of the product has clean lines and looks very nice, and the marketing campaign is expected to only pinpoint three things - and that's certainly something that had been missing from Samsung's products for quite some time."

Others were more critical. Rob Kerr, from the price comparison site uswitch.com, declared: "The dual-curved display just seems too gimmicky, too niche, to really be a crowd pleaser."

Coloured contacts

The three topics Samsung is focusing on are:

• Revamped designs, including the premium model's curved screen
• Camera upgrades
• In-built support for wireless charging, with support for two rival standards

The S6 Edge uses its curves to provide a couple of services.

The first is called People Edge, which provides a quick way to bring up calls, texts and other messages from five acquaintances of the owner's choosing. Each person is assigned a different colour, which the phone's edge flashes when it rings, providing a hint of the caller's identity even if the device is face down.

The second is Information Stream, which displays the time, weather and selected notifications on the curved part.

It appears Samsung has deliberately kept the functionality more basic than on its Galaxy Note Edge - a larger handset whose screen curves only around one of its sides. The older phone uses the extra space to both run apps of its its own and to add controls to other apps.

The S6 phone's front camera has been upgraded to five megapixels, while the rear one stays at 16MP.

Both gain from a wider aperture, which should improve their ability to take photos and videos in low light conditions.

Samsung has also taken steps to make the camera quicker to use, saying it now takes less than a second to double tap the home key and snap a shot.

The firm is claiming a "world first" by embedding support for both the PMA and WPC's Qi wireless charging standards.

The Android-powered handsets are also faster to recharge, and should return to 50% battery strength within half an hour of being plugged in.

Samsung said that this was half the time it would take to charge an iPhone 6.

Other improvements over the S5 include:

• Increased screen resolution - now 577 pixels per inch - and the ability to go 20% brighter
• A new 14 nanometre processor designed by Samsung, rather than bought from Qualcomm, that should be more energy efficient
• The addition of Samsung Pay, a smart wallet service that allows the handsets to act as a credit or debit card when tapped against a shop's NFC chip reader or used to transmit magnetic stripe data. It will initially be limited to the US and South Korea

The firm also revealed it had developed a new version of its Gear VR virtual reality kit that uses the S6 models as a screen.

Market share down

A lot is resting on the phones' appeal.

Samsung's head of mobile design was moved from his role in May after criticism of the Galaxy S5's styling, and last week Samsung Electronics announced it would freeze its workers' wages for the first time in six years following a drop in its annual profits.

Samsung is still the best-selling smartphone maker.

But it barely saw its total smartphone shipments grow in 2014. By contrast, Apple's decision to make its iPhone 6 models larger and the continued rise of China's Xiaomi, Lenovo and Huawei saw those firms report much bigger gains.

Continue reading the main story

INTERACTIVE

• ×

  Samsung's first Android-powered phone ran version 1.5 (Cupcake) of Google's mobile operating system.

  It had a 3.2in (8.1cm) screen and was the first Android phone to include a 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing normal headphones to be easily connected.

• ×

  The first of Samsung's S-branded series had a 4in (10.2cm) screen, ran Android 2.1 (Eclair) and could shoot video in 720p high definition.

  A 4G variant of the device attracted the ire of Apple's lawyers, and became part of a high-profile patent case fought by the two rivals.

• ×

  The S2 was marketed as the world's thinnest smartphone, measuring less than 8.5mm (0.33in) thick.

  It had a 4.3in (10.9cm) screen and was powered by Android 2.3 (Gingerbread).

  Samsung promoted the "zero lag" shutter speed of its main camera as being suitable for snapping fast-moving objects.

• ×

  The S3 used eye-tracking software to detect when it was being looked at, keeping its screen bright until its owner turned away.

  It had a 4.8in (12.cm) screen and ran Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich).

  The phone also introduced S-Beam, a way to send files and contacts between Samsung handsets.

• ×

  The S4 bordered on "phablet" status with a 5in (12.7cm) touchscreen, which could be used while wearing gloves.

  Running Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) it introduced a dual-video capture mode, allowing users to record footage from both cameras simultaneously.

• ×

  The S5 added dust and water resistance, promising to work after being submerged 3ft (0.9m) deep.

  It came pre-installed with Android 4.4.2 (KitKat) and introduced a fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor.

  Samsung promoted its "ultra power saving mode", which let the device eke out a day of life when its battery fell below 10%.

As a result, Samsung's market share slipped from 31% in 2013 to 24.5% last year, according to research firm IDC.

The price of the new handsets has yet to be announced, but Mr Wood thought the S6 Edge in particular could mark a turning point.

"In a sea of sameness where nearly every smartphone is a rectangular touchscreen with a camera in the back, this will stand out," he said.

"It may be outside many people's budgets, but it will still act as a signature product that attracts people to the rest of Samsung's range."

Analysis - Dave Lee, Barcelona

It charges faster than the new iPhone. It has better cameras than the iPhone. The video quality is higher than the new iPhone.

And it doesn't bend.

That's the takeaway from Samsung's latest Unpacked event where it unveiled the next Galaxy phone, the S6.

Sleek and powerful, certainly - but it was a fairly bitter presentation. The firm took more than a few snipes at Apple, rather than leaving it to reviewers and users to draw their own conclusions about the Galaxy's many innovations .

The demonstrations of like-for-like pictures and video appeared to put the S6 streets ahead of the iPhone 6, but I imagine Apple would dispute the conditions.

Tellingly, there was no mention of China's Xiaomi - a company whose Android handsets have proved wildly popular in Asia, and which potentially presents a far bigger threat to Samsung's future.

You can follow Dave at MWC via his Twitter account @daveleeBBC.

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Sony and Microsoft focus on price

2 March 2015 Last updated at 08:02 By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor

Sony and Microsoft have opted to unveil mid-range smartphones at the Mobile World Congress trade fair in Barcelona.

Microsoft indicated it would wait until the release of Windows 10 to announce a new flagship, despite its high-end Lumia 930 dating back to April 2014.

Sony's Xperia Z3 is less old, having launched in September. But the firm had previously refreshed its top model roughly once every six months.

Sony said its focus was on "broadening its customer base" at this time.

The companies' decisions to leave more high-profile launches until later has one immediate benefit: the flagships do not risk being overshadowed by Samsung's Galaxy S6, which was unveiled on Sunday evening.

Even so, one expert said the importance of the fast-growing mid-range market should not be underestimated.

"It's much harder to win over people at the high-end than the mid-tier, and it costs more money to do so, especially if you're not one of the top few handset brands," said Carolina Milanese, chief of research at KWP ComTech.

"In the mid-tier there's also less loyalty - consumers switch around more - so there's a bigger proportion of the market to go after.

"And it's easier to demonstrate value, by offering a different balance of price and features.

"But the challenge is that you are competing with more firms and some of them are pretty ruthless when it comes to price."

LG, Motorola and ZTE also unveiled new mid-range smartphones in the days leading up to MWC.

Bundled Office

Microsoft is adding two models to its line-up, both of which run Windows Phone 8.1 and will be upgradeable to Windows 10 when it is released later this year.

The Lumia 640 offers owners both 4G data connectivity and ability to fit two Sim cards at once - a popular feature in India, where users often switch network provider when crossing states to get a better rate.

The phone's 5in (12.7cm) screen is bigger and higher resolution than the Lumia 635 it supersedes. It also gains a higher quality eight megapixel camera and an NFC (near field communication) chip for wireless payments and cordless connections to other kit.

The other new model, the Lumia 640 XL, has a bigger 5.7in (14.5cm) screen and a 13-megapixel camera. Both are being bundled with a one-year subscription to Microsoft's Office 365 productivity software suite, including access for an additional PC and tablet.

They will range in cost between €139 ($155; £100) and €219 ($245; £160), depending on the specification.

Shrinking appeal?

The Windows Phone platform saw its market share shrink from 3.3% to 2.7% last year, according to recently published figures.

The forthcoming launch of Windows 10 will allow a single app to run across Windows PCs, tablets and phones, rather than having different ecosystems.

Microsoft marketing director Neil Broadley said it would present a "tremendous opportunity" to attract new users.

But one expert said that delaying the release of a new flagship until that point might be misguided.

"The risk is that if Microsoft doesn't release a new flagship soon, its top-end hardware is going to look very old," said Ian Fogg, head of the mobile at the IHS Technology consultancy.

"Having a good flagship can have a halo effect, attracting people to the rest of the range.

"The new phones are upgradeable to Windows 10 anyway, so the fact the operating system is not out yet shouldn't deter Microsoft from releasing a new flagship now."

Budget cuts

Sony announced a policy change last month, saying that it was going to limit investment in its smartphone line-up as part of efforts to return to profit.

The Japanese firm's chief executive, Kazuo Hirai, added that he might later consider "an exit strategy" from mobile phones altogether, though he said no such plan was currently in the works.

Releasing the Xperia M4 Aqua may therefore fit Sony's mobile unit better than releasing another tent-pole device packed with expensive new technologies so soon after the last.

The 5in (12.7cm) phone's distinguishing features, all shared with one or more other pieces of Sony kit, include:

• A 13MP main camera and a 5MP front one
• Up to two days of normal use between charges, thanks in part to a relatively large 2,400mAh battery
• Waterproofing to depths of 1.5m (4.9ft) for up to 30 minutes, with a capless microUSB port

It will cost about €300 when it goes on sale.

Sony has also announced a new tablet, the Xperia Z4

At 6.1mm (0.24in) thick, it said it was the thinnest 10in (25.4cm) such device on the market.

Dell has a slightly thinner, but smaller model.

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Fingerprint sensor sees through metal

2 March 2015 Last updated at 12:10 By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor

A new type of fingerprint sensor said to be able to read prints through glass, metal and plastic smartphone covers has been unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) trade fair.

The Snapdragon Sense ID 3D Fingerprint Technology is the latest product from US chipmaker Qualcomm.

The firm says its ultrasonic sound wave-based solution can scan through sweat, hand lotion and condensation.

Experts say it has the potential to outclass Apple's Touch ID.

However, they add that Qualcomm needs to provide more data before the two technologies can be properly compared.

"What we do know is that for a lot of the fingerprint sensors outside of what Apple's done, consumers have found the accuracy to be lacking," commented Jon Erensen, an analyst from research firm Gartner.

"When fingerprint sensing works, it's fantastic. But when you have complications it's incredibly frustrating.

"As phones become used more as mobile wallets and a place to store sensitive data, then biometrics in general and fingerprints specifically are likely to become more important as an authentication method.

"But the onus is on Qualcomm to show its solution is more reliable than the competition, and we're going to have to wait to see that."

'Get a new finger'

Qualcomm said that its sensor works by using sound waves to penetrate the outer layers of the user's finger.

The information gathered is then used to create a surface map of the person's skin including the ridges of their fingerprints and sweat pores.

By contrast, Apple and others use capacitive sensors - which make use of the human body's electrical properties - to take high-resolution scans of sub-epidermal skin below the outer layer of a user's finger.

Qualcomm suggests its method is superior because it scans through both contaminants and smartphone covers.

"Snapdragon Sense ID 3D Fingerprint Technology's unique use of ultrasonic technology revolutionises biometrics from 2D to 3D, allowing for greater accuracy, privacy and stronger authentication," said Raj Talluri, a Qualcomm executive.

One security expert agreed there were merits to the approach.

"The Qualcomm offering is a good idea, as it appears to deal with some of the issues around 'lifting' of prints from other surfaces," said Ken Munro from Pen Test Partners.

"But the biggest concern for me is that of revocation: if your password is stolen in a breach, you simply come up with a new one.

"If your fingerprint or other biometric is stolen, you have a problem. What are you supposed to do? Go get a new finger?"

Competition probes

Qualcomm is pitching its forthcoming component to manufacturers as part of a chipset package that would also include its processors.

The launch at MWC comes a day after Samsung confirmed that its latest Galaxy S6 phones would exclusively use its own Exynos chips.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors had featured in versions of Samsung's past flagship handsets.

The US chipmaker has also suffered other setbacks recently including a $975m (£623m) fine by China's competition regulator and news that a South Korean watchdog is also investigating whether it abused a dominant position by demanding too much money for its 3G and 4G wireless chip technologies.

"It's absolutely essential that Qualcomm innovates and broadens the area that it operates in," said Chris Green, a technology analyst with the Davies Murphy Group consultancy.

"We're seeing the level of competition in the mobile processor market, in particular, grow exponentially. Others are also starting to gain ground there, including Intel.

"So, Qualcomm needs to start doing more in security and authentication to make its package more appealing to device makers."

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Xiaomi launches cheap action camera

2 March 2015 Last updated at 12:22

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has launched a cheap action camera that costs only 399 yuan (£41).

The Yi Action Camera shoots video in 1080 high-definition, has a 16 megapixel camera and a wide-angle lens.

The device can also be used to make time-lapse films and is waterproof to depths of 40m.

The gadget could provide competition for Go Pro whose entry-level devices cost more than twice as much but are not as well equipped.

The device can be paired with a smartphone so it can be controlled remotely and to help share any video or images it captures.

However, available accessories for the Yi suggest it is more designed for domestic use than for people keen to film themselves taking part in extreme sports. So far, extras for the Yi include a selfie stick and a harness that allows it to be attached to a helmet, bike or even a cat.

In addition, the Yi's case is not toughened to withstand the knocks common when cameras are used outdoors or for sports.

The device is currently only available in China but Xiaomi is planning to open an online store that will let people outside the country buy some of its products directly.

Stuart Miles, founder of gadget site Pocket-lint, said the device was entering a market that was full of Go Pro "wannabes" and could struggle to find buyers.

"Go Pro has brilliant traction within the action junkie audience, and more importantly its devices work amazingly whether that's being attached to someone going for a run or jumping out of a spaceship," he said.

"That loyalty isn't something that can be replaced with a cheaper price," he added.

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Ikea debuts phone-charging furniture

2 March 2015 Last updated at 12:44 By Zoe Kleinman Technology reporter, BBC News

Furniture giant Ikea has unveiled a range of furniture fitted with wireless charging spots for mobile devices.

The Home Smart range will initially include lamps, bedside tables and a coffee table as well as individual charging pads for any surface.

Ikea has used the wireless charging standard QI, which is also supported by Samsung in its latest handset, the S6.

Environmental group Friends of the Earth urged caution over the recyclability of such products.

The Swedish furniture firm will sell charging covers for incompatible iPhone and Samsung models.

There are currently more than 80 QI-compatible handsets and 15 QI-enabled cars on the market according to QI's backers the Wireless Power Consortium, an industry body whose members includes Belkin, Motorola, Panasonic and Sony.

Multiple choice

However it is not the only charging standard in development.

The S6 will also be compatible with PMA, a rival wireless charger solution provided by the Power Matters Alliance, whose members include Starbucks, Duracell Powermat, Huawei and Lenovo.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in January a firm called Energous demonstrated WattUp, a non-inductive system which it claims can charge gadgets that lie in a 9m (30ft) radius around the charger.

Green goal

Environmentalists said they hoped recycling was a priority for designers incorporating wireless charging equipment into their work.

"A key principle that manufacturers of furniture with built-in wireless charging technology should consider is that the furniture is designed to be easy to disassemble for upgrade, reuse, repair or recycling," Julian Kirby, resource use campaigner at Friends of the Earth, told the BBC.

"Disposable electric toothbrushes are one example of a terrible product design in those respects - it's virtually impossible to separate out the tech from the batteries and plastic casing which means valuable and often toxic materials are dumped in landfill or burnt in incinerators."

Ikea said in a statement that its wireless charging products are "easy to fraction at end of life".

"By adding wireless charging to home and office furniture, we minimise the amount of separate chargers needed," it added.

Hot stuff

Additionally some existing users have reported on forums that their devices get hot while charging wirelessly.

"The wireless charging standards are evolving," said Ian Fogg from analysts IHS.

"The industry has no incentive to allow devices to go hot because it means the charging isn't as efficient as it might be.

"If a device gets hot, power is being lost through heat rather than being efficiently added to the battery."

The Ikea range will go on sale in the UK and North America in April 2015, the firm said.

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HTC hints at Half-life VR game

2 March 2015 Last updated at 15:32 By Dave Lee and Leo Kelion Technology reporters

HTC's chairwoman has told the BBC she "hopes" a Half-life video game will be one of the titles released for her company's virtual-reality headset.

Cher Wang was speaking a day after HTC revealed it was working with games publisher Valve to put its VR helmet on sale before the end of the year.

Half-life is perhaps Valve's most famous and best-loved franchise.

There have been unconfirmed rumours for years that the US company has been working on a fresh instalment.

Ms Wang said HTC was "co-operating with Half-life", but she would not be drawn on whether that meant a new game - potentially Half-life 3 - or a virtual-reality remake of one of the series' existing titles.

Valve distributed a test "beta" version of Half-life 2 to developers working on Facebook's Oculus Rift VR helmet back in 2013 - and it could be this that the executive was referring to.

However, if there is indeed to be a new title, one expert said it could become a "corner stone" of the Vive helmet's marketing campaign.

"Half-life has been a mascot title for [Valve's online marketplace] Steam, and it could be considered the most appropriate title to kick off its VR experiment," said Nick Parker, a video games industry analyst at Parker Consulting.

"Steam has a community of 125 million gamers. All of them are very familiar with Half-life, a significant number have played it, and some are still playing it.

"People won't buy the headset without a good catalogue of games, and there's certainly an engagement loyalty with the Half-life brand."

Interview transcript:

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WATCH: Cher Wang spoke to Dave Lee at the Mobile World Congress trade fair in Barcelona

BBC: One of Valve's most famous games is the Half-life series, and I know there are millions and millions of gamers that are desperate for a new Half-life game to come out. Is the new Half-life going to be on the virtual-reality headset? Is that what Valve is going to do with this machine?

Cher Wang: I think Valve's best game is Dota, right, and Portal and [Team Fortress] and I think they are very keen to have them.

BBC: But how about Half-life - is that going to be on there?

Cher Wang: We are co-operating with Half-life, and I think... I hope, you know, it will be on it.

Half-life and its sequel Half-life 2 are sci-fi action titles set in a future in which an experiment goes wrong, resulting in aliens taking over the planet.

Players control the main protagonist, Dr Gordon Freeman, who resists the invasion.

Valve made two add-on episodes for Half-life 2, the last of which was released in 2007.

The last instalment ended on a cliff-hanger, and Valve co-founder Gabe Newell hinted at the time that the story would be continued.

However, despite strong sales and high review scores, Valve opted not to release further chapters - a decision that may have been influenced by the fact that the company has an unusual boss-free office environment in which its employees have the power to decide what projects to work on and with whom.

In the meantime, suggestions that Valve employees had begun work on a third game with a new storyline have taken on near-mythical status.

"Releasing the helmet with Half-life 3 would be a fantastic way to publicise the capabilities of the device, providing that the game is built with virtual reality in mind," said Rob Crossley, UK News Editor at the GameSpot new site.

"I played the retrofitted VR edition of Half-life 2, and something as simple as going up and down a ladder made me nauseous - you have to build games with VR in mind.

"But if Valve does jump through all the necessary hoops, I think it would have a great chance of getting people interested in the technology because people love Half-life."

VR hardware

HTC's headset - called the Vive - includes two high-definition screens that simulate the experience of being part of a computer-generated environment.

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WATCH: HTC's headset surprised attendees at its Mobile World Congress press conference

The headset also contains more than 70 sensors - including a gyroscope, an accelerometer and a laser position sensor - and will be sold alongside wireless controllers and a base station. When combined, the kit will be able to track the wearer's movements, replicating their position and gaze in the virtual world they are inhabiting.

The price for the machine has yet to be announced, but HTC said a test version would be released shortly, with a consumer edition to follow before the end of 2015.

Valve is expected to provide more details at its own presentation at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco.

The event has been scheduled for 15:00 local time on 3 March - the third month of the year - further fuelling chatter that Half Life 3 is indeed set to be confirmed.

Valve could not be reached for comment.

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