MWC 2017: Our final thoughts (The 3:59, Ep. 189)

Plus, the marvels of quantum computing.

Roger Cheng Former Executive Editor / Head of News

Roger Cheng (he/him/his) was the executive editor in charge of CNET News, managing everything from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative packages. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade and got his start writing and laying out pages at a local paper in Southern California. He's a devoted Trojan alum and thinks sleep is the perfect -- if unattainable -- hobby for a parent.

Expertise Mobile, 5G, Big Tech, Social Media Credentials

SABEW Best in Business 2011 Award for Breaking News Coverage, Eddie Award in 2020 for 5G coverage, runner-up National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award for culture analysis.

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Ben Fox Rubin Former senior reporter

Ben Fox Rubin was a senior reporter for CNET News in Manhattan, reporting on Amazon, e-commerce and mobile payments. He previously worked as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and got his start at newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

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Roger Cheng

Ben Fox Rubin

March 6, 2017 9:23 a.m. PT

Mobile World Congress was dominated by a 17-year-old phone.
CNET

Nostalgia ruled at last week's Mobile World Congress trade show.

While planet's biggest phone show traditionally showcases the latest from the mobile industry, it was an update to a 17-year-old phone that got people excited. A reboot of the old candy-bar Nokia 3310 hogged most of the headlines, even overshadowing new Nokia smartphones.

The lack of Samsung's Galaxy S flagship phone meant there was a bit more unpredictability at MWC, especially with companies like HMD Global, the startup producing Nokia phones, and TCL, a Chinese company bringing back the BlackBerry brand, vying for attention.

If any actual smartphone took the conciliation prize, it would be LG's G6. The company admirably jammed a display that's bigger than the iPhone 7 Plus' screen into a body that is much smaller. It's likely to kick off a trend of smaller bezels, or the frame around the display.

In non-MWC news, IBM is pushing forward with using quantum computing to help industries run faster. The next generation of computing is expected to give processing power a huge boost.

The 3:59 gives you bite-size news and analysis about the top stories of the day, brought to you by the CNET News team in New York and producer Bryan VanGelder.

Check out the extended shows on YouTube.

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