Microsoft is known predominantly as a software maker, with the likes of Windows and Office among its most celebrated products. But for a long time, the company has also shown that it's not too shabby when it comes to building innovative keyboards and mice to accompany the experience of using its famed line-up, and moving with the times, the software company's new All-in-One Media Keyboard is designed specifically with your smart TV in mind.
Wherever a new technology or product is emerging, you can bet that Samsung isn't too far behind, and in-keeping with the company's tradition of building something for every single corner of the digital market, a new patent filing indicates that the Korean outfit is prepping a competitor to Google Glass. Unlike its Mountain View-based rival's ongoing development in this field, the patent suggests that it will be mounted on only one side of the face, although in terms of functionality, it seems as though it will operate in a very similar manner to the Big G's face computer.
Retaining a substantial amount of battery is an ongoing challenge for owners of mobile devices, particularly as, with each new release, vendors are packing in more and more great hardware features. But as well as the battle in keeping the juice-o-meter sufficiently nourished, there's also the issue with charging times, with consumers often forced to wait for hours before a device reaches the magical 100% mark. But a new start-up has just showcased a technology that could, in future, charge a dead smartphone to full capacity in just one minute, which would, in no uncertain terms, be a game-changer.
Even though Apple's continued effort to push proprietary mediums of physical connectivity goes against the ideals of many commentators, technologists and mobile users in general, there's no doubt that the Lightning dock connection system is the most pleasurable to use on the market right now. The reason for this is its reversibility, which makes the process of hooking up a device just that little bit less tedious, but with USB 3.1, connections via non-Apple gadgets will soon improve in terms of both speed and overall design. On Wednesday, the USB Implementers Forum showcased two new USB 3.1 connector standards, demonstrating how regular USB connectors will soon follow the lead established by Apple.
The Philips Hue range of smart bulbs is seen by many as a great gateway into the world of home automation. We really wouldn't argue against that, and with plenty of geeky types telling us at every turn that we should join the home automation revolution, it seems that turning our lights on and off using our smartphones or with the help of a schedule is something we really are going to have to get used to.
Save the Sony Smartwatch and the rather disastrous launch of the Galaxy Gear from Samsung, Pebble has had a fairly easy ride in the smartwatch industry, but with Google announcing Android Wear recently, the company knows that it has a big fight on its hands in order to remain relevant. Already this year, though, Pebble has made several key announcements and releases, and allied to the big software update and roll-out of the Pebble appstore, introduced the very stylish Pebble Steel. Now, those looking for the higher-end finish but who aren't too bothered about the fittings can pick up the Pebble Steel - sans the metal band - for a reduced price.
Love or loathe Google Glass, the search giant's intriguing project continues to get the lion's share of the media's coverage, but whilst the tech world remains fascinated by this new technology, many start-ups have sought to compete against the might of Google with their very own attempts at building a face computer. KAIST, which stands for the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, has just taken the wraps off its K-Glass prototype, which it claims is 30 times faster than Google Glass, as well as 3x to 12x more efficient.
Google's Chromecast, which was announced and released without much fanfare last year, seems to have made a lasting impression on the streaming content / set-top box market. Since its arrival, competitors have been noticeably stepping up their games, and you only have to look at the increased range and variety of content on the Apple TV to see how wary companies are of the alternatives now on offer. Roku, the California-based maker of streaming entertainment devices, has responded to the popularity of the Chromecast with its own downscaled, cheap solution that, like Google's effort, connects straight into your TV's HDMI socket.
It takes courage to stand out of the crowd and take something existing, play around with it in ways unprecedented, and present something that is both unique and unsettlingly different. Yet, if you do have that courage, such experiments can pay off well. This is exactly what Russian startup Yota Devices did with their unique YotaPhone, and now we get to see the prototype of the second-generation YotaPhone.
We first managed to get a glimpse of the Sony SmartBand during this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, with the company now announcing that the extremely lightweight wearable is set for a global launch next month. The SmartBand is the first of presumably a number of products that will be built to utilize Sony's new Core fitness tracking hardware and will come with a retail price of $130 when it lands on shelves next month.
