Valve's SteamOS gaming PC operating system may not be ready just yet, but that doesn't mean that bespoke computer makers around the globe aren't working on hardware that will be ready to run it when it finally does see a release. British computer builder Piixl is just one of those companies, and it has announced its own entry into the Steam Machine market.
Google Glass is not just a significant product for the company behind it, but for several other manufacturers looking to get in on the smart glasses act. We've already taken a look at the Vuzix M100s, which were made available to pre-order just a couple of days back, and now, Lumus has taken the wraps off its own, very slick-looking effort. Check out its stylish frame and intriguing list of specs after the break!
Apple can be, and has been, criticized for a lot of things in the past, and for good reason. However, one innovation that the fruit company deserves to be lauded for is the Lightning connector on newer iDevices and Macs. Forget about the fact that it has faster speeds and other similar advantages; the biggest gain is being able to plug the connector in both ways and have the “right side up” every time. It seems traditional USB is finally catching on, with the USB 3.0 Promoter Group announcing a new connector that can be plugged in both ways, and still work.
Nike is renowned for its prowess in making premium sportswear, but has also showed in more recent times that it is unafraid to delve into the world of technology. Close ties with Apple have certainly helped matters, and with the FuelBand SE - the company's second-gen wrist-worn activity logger - having recently been introduced with a plethora of color options, this push shows no sign of slowing down. An interesting tidbit from the DigiTimes suggests the company could be taking things a step further, plotting a new smartwatch for release as soon as the first half of next year.
Tech evolves in many different ways, and although we tend to focus our attentions on the mobile industry, Philips has demonstrated that there is still room for interesting niche products with its Hue bulb collection. The beautiful, colorful glimmer emitted by the bulbs is glorious in itself, but by integrating with mobile devices for control of colors, dimness and other such settings, geeks far and wide have been sucked in by their glow. Philips may have been fairly unrivalled in this market hitherto, but the Lumen Bluetooth 4.0 LED bulb looks set to change all that. The company took its idea to the crowded world of tech start-ups, and is now set to hit a retail outlet near you. Details after the break.
Mobile processors have improved dramatically over the past five or so years, and it's now not uncommon for some of the top-end smartphones to boast the kind of power usually seen in notebooks. Qualcomm has been a major influencer of this effort to bring more power to our pockets, and following on from the announcement of its Snapdragon 800 SoC earlier on this year, the company has just taken the wraps off its successor - the Snapdragon 805. While the number change implies meager tweaks and upgrades, it brings the interesting advancement of by way of support for the Ultra-HD standard, potentially paving the way for 4K smartphones and tablets in the next couple of years.
It's hard to keep track of how many insanely powerful smartphones exist in today's market. Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy range of hardware seem to gain most of the attention, and let's be honest here, it is rather difficult to find a better all-round alternative to those beasts. But what do you do if you're the type of person who doesn't like to follow the pack or jump on popular bandwagons? Do you boycott a mobile device altogether, stick with an old-school feature phone or opt for something totally unique? The Russians over at Yota Devices would like you to opt for the latter and get involved with a device the likes of which we've never seen before.
Nike and Apple, as many of you will know, are very closely tied. The fruit company's CEO is on the sportswear specialist's board of directors, and many of Nike's tech ventures have encircled the iOS device range. FuelBand, the wrist-worn fitness and activity gadget, is only officially supported with a companion app for those on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and the relationship between two of the most influential entities in their respective fields seems to blossom increasingly with each year. Following Apple's release of the iPhone 5s in gold back in September - an unprecedented move for the company's iconic smartphone - Nike has followed suit, offering a sleek, rose gold color option to the newly updated FuelBand SE. Check it out in all its glory after the break.
It has been reckoned for a while now that Apple is in the process of developing a so-called "iWatch" product to be worn on the wrist. The rumor itself is certainly believable, particularly with the release of Samsung's Galaxy Gear back in September, but the reports surrounding the product itself have ranged from the plausible to the far-fetched. Today arrives perhaps the most outrageous claim that Apple will be creating two different specifications of the iWatch - a smaller model for women, and a larger version for the predominantly larger wrists of the male population.
Apple is a company constantly shrouded in mystery, and thus, speculation. For a great deal of time, it has been said that the Cupertino would be looking to expand upon the Apple TV set-top box with a more grandiose delve into the television market, but while many an analyst has stepped forward and suggested that this will be the case, the little black box famously coined as a "hobby" by Tim Cook remains the iPad maker's sole contribution.
