Google's virtual reality photo app is finally available on the iPhone. Previously, the app was an Android exclusive, but now iPhone users can create and view VR photos.

The app, called Cardboard Camera, aims to make taking, sharing and viewing VR photos a breeze. You'll still need a Google Cardboard VR headset or any number of generic phone-based VR headsets on the market to view the photos.

Cardboard Camera works similarly to Google's Photo Spheres, except you are limited to panoramic photos. You can't capture the area above or below your sight line, which is a bummer as a complete Photo Sphere would be more immersive. However, Cardboard Camera adds immersion by letting you record sound, so you can dictate what you're seeing or just capture ambient sounds.

Cardboard Camera isn't about creating the most immersive photos but aims instead to make taking VR photos quick and easy. Since you don't have to worry about aligning the on-screen dots just right like you do with Photo Spheres, taking a panoramic VR photo takes a lot less time and effort.

Sharing is super easy with Cardboard Camera, as you can send and receive shared photos within the app. If your friends don't have a VR headset, that's OK too. You can share a link with them to view your panoramic photos on the web. You can see what that looks like with Google's example gallery.

Cardboard Camera is a novel way to dabble in the world of virtual reality. The inclusion of sound definitely helps elevate the experience, but it's still not as immersive as a 360-degree video.

LG is taking the flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screen battle to Samsung. LG is a leader in making OLED displays for televisions but has trailed behind Samsung in bringing OLED screens to mobile. That's about to change as LG just invested $1.75 billion (about £1.33 billion, AU$2.3 billion) in ramping up production capacity for its flexible OLED displays according to Reuters.

Samsung has long led the mobile display pack with its gorgeous OLED screens features on its Galaxy line of phones. Samsung was also one of the first manufacturers to introduce a curved OLED display on a mobile device with its Galaxy Edge line of phones.

OLED is expected to replace LCD displays on mobile phones over the next few years as OLED offers better colors and can get brighter for outdoor use. OLED panels also offer a thinner and lighter form factor than LCD to help phone makers make their mobile devices even thinner. A regulatory filing revealed LG is building a new production line to manufacturer small to medium sized OLED panels to meet demand.

While OLED displays offer an undeniably better viewing experience, the use case for flexible OLED displays is less obvious. The Samsung Galaxy Edge phones offer some unique features with its curved display, but none are must-haves. However, curved OLED displays make complete sense on wearables like smartwatches. Flexible OLED displays could also be used to make a foldable tablet for a more compact form factor.

"Every day we get asked 'are you going to make this, are you going to make that, are you going to make a tablet, are you going to make a smartwatch' – there are so many asks."

Those are the words of OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, who we sat down with at the launch of the firm's new flagship phone, the OnePlus 3.

The Chinese startup is a brand that's still making waves. That's two years on from its debut in the market with the OnePlus One, a phone that shook up the thinking around flagship devices and gave it widespread fame in a congested market.

It hasn't always been smooth sailing though. OnePlus has been plagued by poor customer service, delivery delays and a frustrating invite system during its short existence, but it feels like it's turned a corner in 2016.

The invite system has been ditched and the firm claims it's made strides in customer support and delivery processes.

• Read our OnePlus 3 review

A dedicated loyal fan base eagerly anticipates every new release, filling the OnePlus forum with a mix of excitement, hyperbole and demands for future releases and more product lines.

It seems like OnePlus is now in a position where it can respond to its fan's demands and begin expanding its portfolio, but instead it's narrowing its focus from two handset lines to just the one.

No more X

The launch of the OnePlus X was met with surprise and skepticism back in November 2015, with the world expecting the OnePlus 2 Mini, but instead getting a handset which was better than that.

It sported a 5-inch full HD, Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM and a premium glass and metal body at a svelte 6.9mm thick. Plus it had a lower price tag than the OnePlus 2.

We were expecting a follow up to it later in 2016, but the OnePlus X 2 isn't going to happen.

A spokesperson for OnePlus told TechRadar "we're very proud of the OnePlus X and really happy that so many fans love it as well," but that love, it turns out, isn't enough to keep the X line alive.

"Moving forward, OnePlus will focus on our flagship line of phones, including the OnePlus 3 that we just launched globally.

"We will continue to sell the OnePlus X and will continue providing all the support for existing and new OnePlus X customers that we provide for all of our customers and fans."

So there you have it – no more 5-inch smartphone from OnePlus, at least in the short term.

The mobile market isn't just about phones though, and manufacturers are clambering over themselves to produce a range of smartwatches, wearables and VR related products. Plenty for OnePlus to get its teeth into, right? Well…

• OnePlus 3 vs OnePlus 2

Wary on wearables

TechRadar quizzed Pei on the firm's ambitions in the wearable market. At one stage OnePlus almost launched a smartwatch, only to ditch it at the last minute – has the thinking now changed?

"I think it's too risky," Pei told us. "If we had jumped aggressively into Android Wear we would have lost a lot of money."

He has a point: sales of Android Wear devices have been disappointing, especially when compared to the Apple Watch, and with OnePlus still a startup at heart it needs to balance its small(ish) team in the most effective way possible.

"You have to trust your own judgement, that's something we've come to learn over the past three years." Pei explained. "You have to look objectively at the market and not be affected by pressure or excitement."

Fans can kick and scream all they like then, but OnePlus is determined to keep a level head to ensure stability. It may not be an overly exciting stance, but it is the sensible option and the one that could see OnePlus continue to exist for the foreseeable future.

VR vision

It's a similar story when it comes to VR, with OnePlus happy to let companies with bigger wallets, and more expertise, lead the way while it keeps its focus on flagship smartphones.

"I think there might be a few companies that have an opportunity to define what VR looks like – we are not one of them and most of the mobile OEMs are not these companies" Pei said.

"I think it's between Oculus, Facebook, Google and maybe a wildcard – maybe Steam can take off – but for now it's still a question mark."

OnePlus has dipped its toe in the VR waters though, launching the OnePlus 2 in VR in 2015 and sending out free Google Cardboard viewers to fans.

Then for the OnePlus 3 launch it built its own virtual reality space station and gave away 30,000 Samsung Gear VR-esque Loop VR headsets to fans to watch it on. But don't expect much more than that.

"For now we're not going to jump aggressively into VR, because it will take a few years before there is a dominant platform and a way of doing things," Pei admitted.

"There's no doubt that VR will be a huge deal in the future and that's why it was so important for us to be the first to launch ...and sell a product in VR. If not for anything else for the selfish fact that we can claim we were first when this thing really takes off."

Do you think OnePlus is right to keep a focus on a single flagship line, or would you love to see more handsets and new wearables from the fledgling Chinese brand? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

• John McCann is TechRadar's UK Phones, Wearables and Tablet editor, bringing you all the latest news, reviews and features from the world of mobile devices.
• He's reviewed the OnePlus 3 in-depth here
• Hit him up on Twitter, @jjmccann, if you have any questions

Samsung may have patented a folding phone, but Lenovo is ready to show off one that not only bends, but also folds around your wrist like a wearable.

Unearthed at the company's Tech World conference Thursday, the Cplus is a phone that literally folds around your wrist. Call it a phone cuff, if you will.

The Cplus features a 4.26-inch display that contours around your arm. There's a cracking effect (and sound) as the Android phone's screen bends, though no damage is incurred on the device. Unfolded, the Cplus is a very skinny phone that looks like a digital slap bracelet.

The Cplus was first revealed during the Tech World conference's keynote. While bulkier than pretty much every wearable currently on the market, the Cplus does let you enjoy the convenience of a display on your wrist without needing a phone to accompany it. Because, of course, it is the phone.

Bendy tab

We also saw Lenovo's Folio tablet concept, a slate that folds in half to the size of a book.

It, too, had the cracking effect of the Cplus - it's a little unsettling to watch the devices fold in two, but no less impressive.

While definitely still in the concept stage, these devices show where Lenovo is headed - it wants the hinge to disappear, according to Lenovo CTO Peter Hortensius.

Hortensius said much goes into making a bendable device besides the display. Other parts, such the battery and motherboard need to fold, too. It also has to return to its original shape when it's unfolded, another challenge yet one the Cplus and Folio both met.

Neither are products yet, but look for the tech to show up at some point, in some form, down the line.

• Hands on with the Moto Z and Tango-enabled Phab 2 Pro

Samsung may not be the first on the market with a 4K mobile display (that honor goes to the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium), but it looks like the Korean phone maker is readying its own 4K screen in an upcoming phone.

Samsung showed off its new display at the Display Week conference in San Francisco this week, as spotted by UploadVR.

The display measures 5.5 inches and boasts a resolution of 2160 x 3840, which is an insane 806 pixels per inch.

Samsung's current Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge flagship phones boast quad HD resolutions (1440 x 2560), but an upcoming Samsung device may get the 4K treatment, like the next Galaxy Note.

A 4K future

While most phone users won't notice the difference between quad HD resolution and 4K when poking around the web, it starts making sense when you take the Samsung Gear VR into account. Samsung's mobile VR headset is powered by its phones, so having a 4K display will help make VR content look more realistic.

Currently, there's a slight "screen door" effect when using the Gear VR, as you can see the individual pixels of the display. That's because VR requires the display to be divided into two, one for each eye.

If Samsung put a 4K display into a forthcoming phone, it'd better be packing some serious power. Having a 4K display sounds great, but it will have to ensure its phones are fast enough, and have big enough batteries to compensate for the increased screen resolution.

• Everything you need to know about Google Daydream VR

When Sony launched the Xperia Z5 Premium with a 4K display, some wondered if it was simply a marketing gimmick to sell more phones.

However, Samsung believes that the technology does have a future, and could help improve a key part of its portfolio.

"I don't think it's a gimmick; eventually 4K screens will become more mainstream," said ," said Kyle Brown, head of technology, content and launch management at Samsung.

"At the moment, at the screen sizes we've got, there's not enough of a noticeable difference to make it really stand out and be worth that extra cost to user."

Even current smartphones displays are considered by many to be too high-res, with not a lot of content out there which can make use of the QHD (roughly 2K) resolutions on offer.

Alternate reality

But there could be a different angle to why packing so many pixels into a screen would help – we asked Brown if 4K displays would be of benefit to virtual reality headsets, which is an area Samsung is pushing into hard with its Gear VR products:

"Yes it would do, as the size of the pixels would be less and you wouldn't see them on the screen as closely, so it would be a benefit for VR," he confirmed.

So does that mean that someone like Samsung is looking at such technology?

"Yes. Once we believe it's the right time to move [to 4K displays], the same as the decision on USB Type-C for example, and we think it's the right point we can mass produce a 4K screen that will be enough of a consumer benefit to make it worthwhile."

• There's no 4K screen on the Samsung Galaxy S7

Buy buy buy, sell sell sell

For advertisers, Christmas is the busiest time of year. When else is there an event that makes almost everyone happy that you can tie your brand to?

Better still, Christmas is in the public domain so it isn't like Santa or Jesus can sign an exclusive deal with McDonalds or Coke for the rights each year (although there are some conspiracy theories...)

So we thought it was about time to take a look back, at some of the best and worst festive TV mobile device adverts. But here's the thing… we're leaving it to you to decide which is the best and the worst.

Chuck Norris for T-Mobile

To paraphrase the well known meme, infamous 1980s hardman Chuck Norris doesn't mortgage his dignity for a quick buck… he had no dignity in the first place.

And so we start in the Czech Republic where the action star appeared in a campaign for T-Mobile (which still exists outside of the UK). In the below advert, someone tries to demonstrate their dominance over Norris… with predictable conclusions.

The campaign ran across a number of adverts - each as presumably hilarious in Czech as the last.

Samsung Galaxy Gear Snowboarding Advert

If you're looking to meet someone special this Christmas, then make sure you've got a stupid massive phone strapped to your wrist. The Samsung Galaxy Gear will make you irresistible, according to this video from Samsung's 2013 "Are you Geared Up?" campaign.

Want a woman's number? Why not secretly ask for it under the false pretense of demonstrating a feature on your smartwatch? But of course, if you really want to endear her to you, then don't forget to take crappy secret photos of her from behind as she snowboards downhill.

The Hoff for T-Mobile UK

What is it about rubbish 80s celebrities and T-Mobile? In this video for the company that now forms half of EE in the UK, a group of acapella singers (who apparently featured in an earlier ad), for some reason visit David Hasselhoff in his pantomime dressing room, and sing a medley of Christmas songs together.

At least this was 2010 - if it had happened a couple of years later it would have been the grimly inevitable Christmas Gangnam Style parody.

Christmas Poem for T-Mobile US

We didn't mean to feature quite so many contributions from T-Mobile, but say what you will about the company but it knows how to make a Christmas impression. And this might be the weird one yet.

This video features actual US CEO John LeGerre sitting in a big chair in front of a roaring fire - Jackanory style. But then his Christmas tale takes a rather more polemical turn than you might expect - attacking rival phone networks and ending with a sweary crescendo. Merry Christmas… we guess.

Samsung's oppressive Christmas

This ad from Samsung's "Christmas round ours" campaign last year features the bulky Gear S hidden in between twee family scenes suggesting you should submit to the power of Samsung and all of its many, many products.

But what's more remarkable is that it literally features guys in the pub joking about how heavy and massive the Gear S is - and how strong you have to be to use it. Self burn?

Samsung Sexy Santa Advert

Another Samsung advert and this one is a rather risqué approach to promoting the Galaxy's NFC file transfer functionality on the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2.

In the video, the elves transfer a video for Santa to watch while on his sleigh… and then Mrs Claus does the same, and recommends he probably not watch it while at work. Filth.

Apple

Apple's 2013 Christmas advert is a surprisingly wholesome affair. No ultra-trendy hipsters dancing here - this time it is all about family. In the ad, we see a family sat around a TV watching clips that had been shot on an iPhone - with all of the emotion that entails.

Of course, what it doesn't show is the 20 minutes of hassle while they have to work out how to pair the iPhone with the Apple TV, and then the Wi-Fi dropping out after streaming demands too much bandwidth.

A new report claims Apple will take to the stage again in March 2016 to launch the Apple Watch 2, but a 4-inch iPhone 6C end up being the surprise hit of the event.

Rumors have previously suggested March for the launch of the Apple Watch 2 as well, which will make it the second Apple event in a row to be held during the first half of the year, though nothing has been confirmed yet.

And while a repeat event won't be too much a surprise, especially to launch the Watch 2, what is surprising is the claim that Apple could also end up launching a 4-inch iPhone 6C at this event as well, according to sources speaking to 9to5Mac.

Moving to March?

Previously, Apple has waited until its annual September event to launch it's handsets, but shifting a possible iPhone 6C launch to March would allow Apple to launch the iPhone 7 later in the year without dealing with a would-be-year-old "6" model getting muddled up with the model huber jump.

Still, the iPhone 6C is still unconfirmed, and may not even happen considering Apple launched the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus without a 6C model this year - though rumors have begun heating up again over the past couple of weeks.

Luckily, there's only about four months left until we found out what Apple will end up announcing at the rumored March 2016 event, though we'll still be keeping an eye out for any news.

• Here's what to expect at CES 2016

We could be set for a wave of new Motorola devices in the coming months after the company chairman of parent company Lenovo let slip during the TechWorld conference in Beijing.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Yang Yuanqing said "We have many new models in development with the Moto brands, so you may see in summer us launching some very exciting products, including phones and watches." These will be the first devices to roll off the Moto production line since Lenovo officially took over.

While he wouldn't be drawn on exact product details, the hope is we'll see the arrival of the Moto 360 2, as the wearable is due an upgrade - especially now the Apple Watch is out LG is on its third Android Wear iteration with the Watch Urbane.

Moving focus to smartphones and we've already seen a new Moto E arrive this year, which leaves the door open for potentially new Moto G and Moto X handsets.

Android only

With Windows 10 arriving on July 29 and considering Lenovo's extensive experience in the computing market, there's a case to be made for the firm to develop handsets running Microsoft's operating system.

That's not going to happen anytime soon though with Motorola's global sales leader, Colin Giles saying "There are no plans to start launching operating systems other than Android.

"One of the key differentiators for us is the pure Android experience, and we're deeply proud of that, because we believe it brings a much better software experience to consumers, and faster upgrades."

We have contacted Lenovo for more information on these comments, and we'll update this article once we've received a response.

Everybody's thinking about the future this week. While Britain goes to the polls to pick its next government, in the world of tech we've been looking at the future of Android, of phones, of iOS and of strapping things to faces in the name of entertainment. Not only that, but we've got the latest from Nintendo, a new purple patch for the PC and the best snake-related news this side of a giant snake monster eating Nigel Farage.

IO, IO, we've already made that joke

We're just days away from Google IO 2015, which invades San Francisco's Moscone Center on May 28 and 29. It's when Google sets out its stall for the coming year, and that means new Android, more Chrome, more Android Wear, Google Glass, self-driving cars and Games in Motion, a new Android Wear initiative that's designed to make getting fit less gruelling. Most tantalisingly of all, we're expecting to see some new wearables from the people behind Project Ara, Google's modular phone initiative. They're promising "badass and beautiful wearables that we hope will blow your socks off."

Incoming! Android M is imminent

Thanks to a document that was uploaded too early, we know that the next major version of Android, Android M, will be unveiled at Google IO. We don't know what the M stands for yet – Malteser? Milkshake? Mars Bar? – but we know what we want to see in Android M. Here's hoping it makes our wish-list happen.

iOS 9's leaking already

You don't need to be clairvoyant to predict that Apple will release iOS 9 this year, and we're expecting to see it for the first time at WWDC in early June. The leaks have started already, and we're hearing that Siri's getting a colourful redesign to make it more like the version on the Apple Watch. There'll also be a host of security improvements and – we hope you're sitting down – a new wallpaper. The redesigned, Beats Music-incorporating Music app is getting an overhaul too, although Apple is apparently having problems getting all the record company licences it would like.

Oculus Rift won't be a Christmas gift

The excellent Oculus Rift VR headset keeps getting better, but sadly it appears to be getting further away too: Facebook has dashed hopes of a 2015 release by announcing that the headset will launch in early 2016. It won't be cheap and it'll require a hefty PC to power it. Expect lots more details in the coming weeks as Facebook starts to share more of its VR strategy.

Microsoft gathers momentum

What's that coming over the hill? Is it a monster? No, it's Windows 10 and Office 2016, both of which are in public preview. The latest Windows build, build 2015, takes us closer to the final release and delivers a whole bunch of improvements, all of which we've detailed in our comprehensive guide to Windows 10. As for Office, it's been rebuilt for the cloud and delivers real-time document co-authoring in Word. You can try both Windows and Office right now for free.

The PC is baaaaaack

Not that it ever went away, but the PC is back! As Jamie Hinks explains: "the initial spurts of a recovery have turned into a full-on rebirth fuelled by Microsoft's new OS plans, the thirst for PC gaming, and a whole number of other related advantages." Put down your tablet and switch off your smartphone, because these days the PC is where it's at. Oh yeah.

Nintendo's back in black

Der! Der der der! Der der der! Dee dee dee dee dee dee! That's AC/DC there, playing Back in Black for the benefit of Nintendo fans everywhere. That's because Nintendo is back in (the) black, and to celebrate it's just signed a deal with Universal Parks & Resorts to create a real-life Nintendo Land. Well, sort of. Universal theme parks will get "spectacular, dedicated experiences based on Nintendo's wildly popular games, characters and world."

Snake it off

Remember Snake, the Nokia phone game that killed countless hours from the late 90s onwards? It's back, and it's coming to a smartphone near you (unless you live in Ireland, which has been a snake-free zone since the days of Saint Patrick. Er, probably). Talent Armando, who brought Snake to Nokias back in 1997, has teamed up with games studio Rumilus Design to bring Snake to iOS, Android and Windows Phone. It's not the old Snake, though: it's got new graphics and power-ups, although the original version's in there too. If you want to party like it's 1999, you can get the game from next weekend.

It's been a weird week in our world of tech: Sony's latest smartphone launch was more apologetic than awesome, Google made it possible to see everything we've ever searched for with predictably hilarious results, and scientists have found a way to spot trolls before they start trolling. Who's that trip-trapping over your bridge?

Xperia sneaks out

When is a launch not a launch? When it's a Sony flagship smartphone launch. The Xperia Z4 has been released quietly in Japan, with none of the fanfare we've come to expect from smartphone launches. While it's available on Sony's home turf "later this summer" there's no word of an international release. When – and we hope it's when, not if – it happens, Sony might keep it so quiet that nobody notices. That's a shame, because it appears to be a perfectly good evolution of a really nice phone.

Android Wear gets closer to the Apple Watch

The Apple Watch starts shipping this week, but its rival Android Wear is a moving target: this week it got an update that makes Android Wear watches even more compelling. There's an always-on screen for apps as well as faces, Wi-Fi support (if the watch has the hardware) and emojis too. The update has already started to roll out and should reach all Android Wear watches in the next few weeks.

Are emotions the next big Apple thing?

Never mind fitness tracking: devices such as the Apple Watch could monitor your emotions. That's what Jamie Carter says, and he's got the experts to back him up. They're careful not to over-hype the potential, but it's clear that computers will soon be able to know more about us than ever before. The big question is, do we want them to?

Wi-Fi becomes Wheeee-Fi

Good news for mobile workers and Starbucks-based Netflix binge viewers: public Wi-Fi is about to get a whole lot faster, and by "a whole lot" we mean "10 times". Researchers at Oregon State University have invented a new LED-based technology that delivers up to 10 times more bandwidth, and it's called WiFO. While it has the same peak speed as existing users, it would deliver at least 50Mbps per user instead of the piffling speeds we're used to in public spaces. It can't come soon enough.

Now you can Google your past

File this one under "what could possibly go wrong?": Google has made it possible to download an archive of every single thing you've ever searched for, if you browse while logged into your Google Account and don't use private browsing. As Kate Solomon says: "Your Google Search history can be quite revealing – it's not something you want your parents or potential mates to ever read. Every minor but embarrassing ailment you've ever had, every terrible film, questionable celebrity crush and vaguely illegal activity you've ever looked into laid out like a map around your psyche."

Oculus Rift's arrival won't be swift

About that 2015 launch for the Oculus Rift VR headset: it ain't gonna happen. Speaking during Facebook's quarterly earnings call, Oculus's new owner confirmed that the Rift won't have "large shipment volumes" this year. Facebook tech boss Mike Schroepfer has clarified a previous comment: when he said VR would be coming this year he meant VR-capable hardware, not the consumer version of the Oculus Rift.

Facebook says Hello

Facebook's new app, Hello, wants you to say goodbye to your Android dialler: it's a free app that enables you to make free voice calls over Wi-Fi, and the latest attempt by Facebook to keep you locked in its warm and faintly sinister embrace. Not that most of us need much encouragement: the latest Facebook stats say that it has 936 million active daily users sending 45 billion messages and watching 4 billion cat videos a day.

Science 1, Trolls 0

Bad news for the kind of troll that doesn't live under a bridge and threaten goats: US researchers are working on troll-busting algorithms in a kind of Minority Report system to predict outbreaks of idiocy. The researchers have discovered that the internet's mouth-breathers write in a completely different way, and they've built a model that can predict with 80% accuracy whether a user would go on to be banned based on reading just five of their posts. They also found that tough moderation made trolling worse, and "a light touch was more effective than throwing out the banhammer."

If you're a Galaxy Note 4 owner then you're probably wondering where your Android 5.0 Lollipop update is, considering both the device and Google's software upgrade appeared at roughly the same time.

According to a tip passed on by Faryaab Sheikh of SamMobile, the delay is down to engineers at Oculus. They're busy updating the software to work with the Gear VR headset - which of course relies on the Galaxy Note 4 to power it.

That would make a lot of sense though it's frustrating for all the Note 4 users who are never going to go anywhere near a virtual reality headset. There's no word yet on when the update might eventually roll out, although it shouldn't be too much longer.

Lollipop cometh

Oculus and Samsung are partnering together on the development of the Gear VR. For the time being, you need an accompanying Galaxy Note 4 to be able to do anything with it - the headset essentially just straps the phablet to your face and provides sensor feedback.

Samsung's Android 5.0 Lollipop rolled out to the flagship S5 device last month and we've seen it running on a Galaxy Note 4 so we know the update is imminent, once the Oculus team apply the necessary tweaks.

We've asked Samsung for an official comment on the delay, and once we get something back we'll update this story accordingly.

Update: The Lollipop update is indeed beginning to hit some Galaxy Note 4 models, including AT&T's version of the handset, according to the carrier.

With this news it seems the update is finally rolling out to Samsung's phablet, so expect it soon if you're still waiting.

Rejoice! It's once again time to gaze upon TechRadar's roundup of all things smartphone, tablet and wearable related, this week brought to you by red wine, caffeine and copious cold and flu nasal spray.

A flick of the wrist

This week kicked off to a promising start with Apple's much anticipated Spring Forward event. Both the internet and real life (that thing where you talk to actual people with your face) were vibrating with speculation about what would be revealed.

One of the less surprising items was the appearance of the Apple Watch, but before we were allowed a look at that, we were forced to sit through a lengthy preamble extolling the virtues of ResearchKit and the ways it could help medical research and potentially save lives.

Although there's certainly a lot of potential with HealthKit, it wasn't the real reason we'd tuned in (and nor was it why we'd sent Gareth Beavis to wait in line at an Apple Store in Berlin). Like everyone else, we wanted the watch.

We watched Tim Cook strut across the stage. We saw an impish smile play on his lips. We held our breath and waited, and he announced... a new MacBook.

Sure it's really thin, pretty expensive and comes in gold, but again that's not what we were there for. We're all about the wearables after all. With our patience beginning to strain, Cook finally unveiled the Apple Watch (again), and we got some answers to the questions that have been swirling since Apple first announced its smartwatch.

How long does the battery last? According to Cook, it will offer "all day battery life across a range of activities." So it lasts 24 hours then? Err... not exactly, with Apple admitting that by "all day", it really means "up to 18 hours."

The good news is that once the battery gets to a certain point, a power reserve mode will kick in, prolonging the battery for 72 hours and letting you check the time (and only the time), just like those old fashioned watches people used to wear in wartime.

Another pressing question was how much will it cost us? Once again, Apple's answer wasn't terribly straightforward. The entry level Watch Sport starts at $349 (£299/AU$499), the stainless steel Apple Watch comes in at (£479/AU$799) and the 18-carat gold Watch Edition has an entry price of – wait for it – $10,000 (£8,000/AU$14,000).

• Price breakdown: how much every Apple Watch will cost

LG likes its curves

It looks like LG wants to get its curve on, with a number of renders leaking this week which appear to show the upcoming LG G4 with a slightly curved body.

As I'm sure you're aware LG is no stranger to curved smartphones, having dabbled in the bendy form factor with the LG G Flex and the LG G Flex 2.

If these renders are accurate then the LG G4 will feature a slightly less bowed design than its forebears, which means it could be the perfect smartphone for those of us who like a bit of a curve in our phones without wanting to feel like we're talking into a tennis ball.

Emergence

All was darkness. All was lost. Or was it? Two thin slits of light creeped in as Winston, nobody's favourite smartphone-obsessed unicorn, slowly opened his eyes, having passed out the week before.

"How… how long was I out?" he croaked, still feeling confused and lost.

"Seven days" a reassuring voice replied. "Well..." less reassuring now, "seven old days. Since our Apple overlords have decreed that a day is only 18 hours, you've actually been out for 9.33 new iDays".

Winston could feel his already fragile grasp on reality weaken. He stretched out a trembling hoof in a futile bid to find his beloved BlackBerry.

"Where is my phone?" he asked. His vision had now returned and he glanced about to locate his handset. The doctor exchanged a nervous look with a colleague.

"We don't have it I'm afraid. But here, take mine". He offered a slick, smooth, oval shaped device, with an Apple logo stamped on the back. Winston took the smartphone and stared at the buttonless touchscreen.

"But...where are the keys?" he enquired.

"Ah, about that," the doctor replied, pausing to remove his glasses and clean them. "We have some bad news..."

How will Winston the Smartphone Unicorn react to a world without keys on smartphones? Tune in next week to find out! Same unicorn time, same unicorn website.

Ive been hanging on the phone

Witness the first ever public phone call made on an iPhone, when Steve Jobs rang up Jony Ive (who was still sporting a lowly flip phone) at the iPhone launch event.

Sure it's a little staged and cheesy, but it's also the moment when phones changed forever.

Scary press shot of the week

Why is the lady eating the phone? What is this image trying to convey? Is it a play on "all you can eat data?" Probably not, that phone looks like it's so old it wouldn't recognise mobile data if it came up and slapped a photo of a cat in its face.

But why is the lady eating the phone? Why? Eating? Phone? Why? I'm scared.

Retro video of the week

Touchscreens? Pah! The only way to navigate your smartphone is with the Navi Roller, an uncomfortable scroll wheel that debuted with the Nokia 7110 in 1999.

This archaic advert from THE LAST MILLENNIUM employs strangely literal visual metaphors and near pornographic close up shots of the 7110's Navi Roller to show us the smartphone future.

As the narrator confusingly states: "Life is too short to stand in line. The Nokia 7110 supports world wide web." The internet on our phones? That'll never catch on.

Proper bits from the site

Apple might have had all the headlines regarding wearables this week, but we also think it's been a great week for Android Wear.

Android Lollipop is fresh out of the oven, but it looks like that's getting updated to Android 5.1 any day now on Nexus devices. HTC smartphones and tablets will be getting it soon as well.

Is the Apple Watch worth getting if you don't have an iPhone? We explain all the things you can do without connecting them up.

The Nexus 5 is officially dead as Google stops selling it in its official store.

• Come back next week to find out if Apple has changed any other definitions of time, and to find out if Winston can live in a buttonless world. I bet you can't wait.

It's always tricky choosing the winners at a show like MWC, as there's always a glut of immensely beautiful, powerful and innovative phones to check out.

It certainly wasn't any easier this year, as improved design from Samsung, more power from HTC and a couple of new polished smartwatches from LG showed the big players were still really active at the year's biggest phone launchpad.

On top of that there was some cool stuff from Nokia, loads of new virtual reality headsets and a bundle of new fitness gadgets to check out. In short, a busy, sleepless time for the intrepid bunch of TR journalists trekking around the Barcelona halls, but some great contenders for the TechRadar Phone Awards 2015.

Best Wearable

The contenders:

• Huawei TalkBand B2
• LG Watch Urbane
• Pebble Time Steel
• HTC Grip
• Huawei Watch
• HTC Vive

Winner: HTC Vive

What the judges said: "While it was great to see loads more wearables than just smartwatches at the show this year, they still made a big splash with improved design and specs. However, the sheer awesomeness of the HTC Vive makes it a clear winner for this category."

Best Smartwatch

The contenders:

• Huawei Watch
• LG Watch Urbane
• Pebble Time Steel
• Pebble Time
• LG Watch Urbane LTE

Winner: Pebble Time Steel

Highly commended: LG Watch Urbane

What the judges said: "It's tough to separate the smartwatches, as many of those in this nascent category are rather similar. However, the Pebble Time Steel's improved design, great battery life and more open compatibility saw it edge ahead of the LG Watch Urbane, which came close thanks to a beautiful new frame for Android Wear."

Best Tablet

The contenders:

• Nokia N1
• Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
• Huawei MediaPad X2
• Lenovo Tab 2 A10
• Archos 94 Magnus

Winner: Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet

Highly commended: Nokia N1

What the judges said: "The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet was the clear winner here, providing a credible threat to the iPad Air 2 thanks to a big upgrade in weight, power and screen resolution – plus a nifty 'laptop mode' too. That said, the Nokia N1 was a dark horse in this category (backed up by Deputy Editor John McCann's piece proclaiming it to be his favourite tablet) combining Android with Apple-worthy design.

Best phone

The contenders:

• Samsung Galaxy S6
• HTC One M9
• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
• Lumia 640XL
• Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
• Meizu MX4 (Ubuntu)
• BlackBerry Leap

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

Highly commended: HTC One M9, Sony Xperia M4 Aqua

What the judges said: "The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge was an easy winner in this category, offering the best fusion of design, specs and performance the South Korean brand has ever managed, and Editor Gareth Beavis describing it as a 'Spacephone', such were its futuristic leanings.

However, the One M9 impressed with its raw power and refined style, and the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua manages to masquerade well as a flagship-looking phone with a mid-tier price.

People's Choice

The contenders:

• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
• HTC One M9
• HTC Vive
• HTC Grip
• Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

Highly Commended: HTC One M9

What the judges said: "The public was pretty clear in what it liked the look of here at MWC: the Samsung Galaxy Edge, with barely any love for the regular version. However, the HTC One M9 also picked up a lot of interest, with the iterative design change still proving enough to attract many.

Best in show

The contenders:

• HTC Vive
• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
• Pebble Time Steel
• Nokia N1
• HTC One M9
• Sony Xperia Tablet Z4
• LG Watch Urbane
• Ikea Wireless charging furniture
• Qualcom Snapdragon Sense ID
• HP Spectre

Winner: HTC Vive

Highly commended: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, Qualcomm Sense ID, Ikea wireless charging furniture

What the judges said: "The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge should have had a simple run to a hat trick of titles, but the sheer impressiveness of HTC and Valve's VR partnership meant a phone wasn't the most exciting thing at the show this year.

"It has to be experienced to be truly believed, but the 3D movement in space – combined with improved clarity and interactivity – means the HTC Vive has pushed VR onto the next level.

"Qualcomm's Sense ID deserves plaudits for its ability to make fingerprint scanning more accurate and easy to use, and Ikea's plan to Trojan Horse wireless charging into homes bodes well for the futuristic phone charging method."

• Read more of our MWC 2015 coverage.

Samsung hasn't officially announced that the Galaxy S6 will come with a wireless charger - heck, it hasn't technically confirmed the Galaxy S6 at all - but as usual that hasn't stopped the FCC from letting the cat out of the bag.

The US Federal Communications Commission has published its approval of the Samsung wireless charger, which could also support Samsung's rumored upcoming "Orbis" smartwatch.

In the FCC's documents the Samsung wireless charger appears round, a decent hint that it might support both devices.

We're expecting to see the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge - which both appeared in a recent photo leak - on March 1, so hopefully we'll learn more about Samsung's wireless charging plans then.

• Microsoft's Office 365 heads for the cloud