Quirky flashlight mimics the feeling of holding a smartphone

So much has been crammed into that rectangular bar that we call a phone, that it only makes sense that the rectangular bar be recognized as one of the most iconic shapes of our time. Referred to as the candybar, the smartphone has spurred movements where wallets, power-banks, and even projectors are literally the shape and size of a candybar. Ouyang Ling’s playful flashlight adds one more product to that list.

The quirky flashlight comes with a grip that’s literally smartphone-shaped, because we’re so used to holding that form. Almost like a boolean-union between the conical head of a flashlight and the 10mm thick block of a smartphone, the Next Flashlight (as Ling calls it) feels instantly familiar to the touch, and even comes with a switch on the edge where you’d see the phone’s volume rockers. I wonder if the flashlight runs on smartphone-style lithium ion batteries too…

Designer: Ouyang Ling

Nokia 105 and 301 candybar phones announced at MWC, offer simplicity on the cheap

Nokia 105 and 301 candybar phones announced to bring love, joy and peace to the entire world just like puppies and magic

Think Nokia's all about Lumias these days? While the Windows Phone brand is still the company's primary point of focus, it doesn't mean Nokia isn't still cranking out millions of basic phones for emerging markets around the globe. With that in mind, the Finnish phone giant has outed two such handsets at its event at Mobile World Congress. Sure, they aren't much to look at, but Nokia feels it's still an important element of its strategy to dominate the lower-end market segment.

The first cellular telephone unveiled at this morning's event is the Nokia 105, which is about as simple as they come these days. Once it arrives on the market this quarter, you'll be able to grab one for €15 ($20) in either cyan or black. It contains such features as a flashlight and FM radio, and the noteworthy bullet point is its month-long battery life (standby time). The second half of the pair is the 301 (pictured above), which is a bit more fancy at €65 ($85). It will come with a 3.2MP camera with panorama mode, sequential shots and a clever little self-portrait mode that audibly prepares you for your next glamour selfie. Additionally, the 301 lets you take advantage of Mail for exchange, Nokia Xpress internet (which compresses data down by about 90 percent) and HSPA connectivity with video sharing. Dual and single-SIM options will be available in Q2 of this year.

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