Highlights of Mobile World Congress 2014

CEBU, Philippines - This year's GSMA Mobile World Congress (MWC) - the biggest mobile industry conference in the world - proved that technological advances and innovations are still quite active in the consumer electronics space.

Held in Barcelona, Spain in February, the world's leading smartphone and tablet brands unveiled a number of new products and prototypes - from new additions to established product lines, to altogether new devices that are sure to have their own share of followers and fans.

The corresponding Cebu launches of the devices featured here are still unclear, knowing about them now certainly won't hurt.

Here's a quick look at three of the head turners in this year's MWC:

Nokia's Nokia X Series

Nokia unveiled a new smartphone line in this year's MWC: the Nokia X, the Nokia X+, and the Nokia XL, the three models that comprise the new Nokia X Series.

Powered by a modified version of the Android mobile OS (dubbed as the Nokia X Software Platform 1.0, which is based on Android 4.1.2 or Jelly Bean), the X, X+ and XL are classified as "mid-range" or "mid-tier" smartphone models, given the hardware specifications that are running under their hoods.

Both the X and X+ feature a 4 inch screen, a 3-Megapixel camera and 4 gigs of internal storage space, while the XL highlights higher rated specs in a 5 inch screen and a 5- Megapixel camera.

Announced to come in choice body color options, the X, X+ and XL are all dual SIM phones that have microSD card slots for additional data storage needs.

Samsung's Galaxy S5

While the Galaxy S5's overall look doesn't really steer far from the Galaxy S4, the newest addition to the Galaxy S series sports a slightly bigger 5.1 inch screen, a fingerprint scanner, a heart rate sensor and an updated 16-Megapixel camera.

Running on Kit Kat (Android 4.4.2), the S5 is also announced to come pre-installed with a salvo of functional apps like S Health (a fitness application that features performance tracking and recording functions) and Knox (a productivity/utility app that separates work-related data from personal files and archives).

Powered by a robust 2,800mAh battery, the S5's key specifications also includes a quad-core processor that's clocked at 2.5GHz, matched with a 1080p, true HD display - making it a powerhouse smartphone that's perfect for work, play and everything in between.

Fujitsu's Prototype Haptic Feedback-enabled Tablet

Fujitsu presented a prototype tablet at this year's MWC, one that comes with an ultrasonic haptic feedback-enabled screen that allows users the chance to feel rough or smooth textures.

Basically, the prototype's screen works through an ultrasonic system that is capable of affecting the friction between the screen's glass and a user's finger, resulting in a screen that comes with tactile response-capable features.

Based on reports from different digital media outfits, Fujitsu allowed MWC 2014 attendees the chance to feel the effects of the prototype for themselves; from plucking the strings of a Japanese harp to feeling the scales of an alligator.

The company is reported to be in the process of fine tuning the prototype for a commercial launch that's slated to happen by 2015. (YRST)(FREEMAN)