Opinion: Smartwatch makers must figure out our needs and fast

There’s an old Native American proverb that goes something like this: “Chief who hurl many mound buffalo dung at stone, does not build strong wall.” It lives true in the modern English vernacular too. It’s called “throwing s*** against the wall and seeing what sticks.”The reason I raise this ancient pearl of wisdom is because it perfectly describes how I feel about smartwatches right now.Tech manufacturers...
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Forget 3D printing, this robot printer could be the future

Whoever said printers are boring clearly hasn’t laid their eyes on this, a new robotic printer from the folks at Fuji Xerox. The joint venture between the two tech giants is a sign of the future. The machine is not only capable of printing your all important documents, but delivering them direct to your desk. Designed for use in public places – think airline business lounges – the robot printer is...
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HTC Desire 820 specs leak ahead of IFA unveiling

The HTC Desire 820 specs sheet has been prematurely teased, with the handset tipped to run a 64-bit Snapdragon processor. With the device widely expected to be unveiled during the IFA 2014 conference in Berlin next week, the currently unconfirmed handset’s full array of innards have been outed by serial Twitter-based tipster @upleaks.According to anonymous sources, the phone will pair the 64-bit Qualcomm...
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iPhone 6 set to boast only 1GB of RAM?

iPhone 6 vs iPhone S5 mockupThe 4.7-inch iteration Apple iPhone 6 may maintain the 1GB of RAM stuffed within the iPhone 5S, a leaked component may have revealed. Earlier on Friday we brought word that a leaked iPhone 6 logic board had unveiled the rumoured NFC chip set to sit within the device.According to one eagle-eyed Apple fan, that same logic board contains information suggesting the 4-7-inch...
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Snapchat’s ‘Our Story’ photo stream feature goes public

Ephemeral photo-sharing service Snapchat has rolled out a new feature, which brings a stream of photos from big events to users. The ‘Our Story’ feature delivers crowd-sourced images from big events around the world, in order to provide Snapchat loyalists with a running stream.The company has recently been testing the feature on a limited segment of member during the Electric Daisy Carnival, the World...
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The MSN Messenger era will officially end in October with China shutdown

Microsoft has announced its iconic MSN Messenger will be shut down in China, the last territory where it is still operating. The shutdown in the far east will take place at the end of October when users will be forced over to Microsoft’s own Skype platform.Just like users around the rest of the world, Chinese MSN loyalists can port their accounts and contacts over to Skype. For their troubles Microsoft...
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NFC for iPhone 6 now ‘confirmed’ in logic board leak

NFC in iPhone 6 'confirmed'Following months of speculation, it now seems certain the iPhone 6 will be the first Apple device to include NFC technology when it is unveiled on September 9. An alleged complete logic board for the next-generation smartphone has appeared in the wild, with reports claiming it contains a Near Field Communications clip.The pictures, courtesy of iPhone modifiers Feld &...
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iWatch might launch next month, but won’t ship until 2015

The iWatch might launch alongside the iPhone 6 next month, but don’t expect it to be available to purchase until 2015. That’s what the latest report is suggesting anyway, with Apple in danger of missing the Christmas shopping season for its first wearable.According to “sources in position to know”, the iWatch won’t actually be released for some time after the official unveiling on September 9.“It’s...
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Samsung Gear S adds Nike+ Running and Here Maps support

Samsung Gear S with Nike+ RunningThe Samsung Gear S will have Nike Plus Running and Nokia Here Maps support when it launches later this year. Due to be released in October, the Gear S is a smartwatch that has can support a SIM card for 3G connectivity.What’s also another new feature for the Gear range is that the Gear S comes with GPS connectivity.This feature has ushered in a new wave of wearable...
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iPhone 6 to use M7 chip maker for NFC hardware?

The iPhone 6 could use NFC technology made by NXP, the same company behind the iPhone 5S M7 co-processor. Apple is reportedly partnering with Dutch chipmaker NXP to supply an NFC chip for the iPhone 6, bringing mobile payment functionality to iOS for the first time.According to Financial Times sources, who claim to be familiar with Apple’s plans, the two companies have been working together on a new...
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Why open world games need a psychotic anti-hero

OPINION: Nick Cowen explores why open world games won’t be able to tell a decent story until they embrace the necessity of a psychotic anti-hero One of the most underrated games on the last generation of consoles is Prototype. It wasn’t particularly ground breaking in terms of its mechanics or setting. When it was released it was the second game in about a month in which players controlled a super-powered...
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Saints Row 5 announcement teased for PAX

Is that the Saints logo we spy?Deep Silver has released a teaser image on Twitter, suggesting Saints Row 5 will be announced at PAX. A new tweet from Saints Row series owner Deep Silver has teased that we should hear about Saints Row 5 for the first time at PAX later today.The Dead Island 2 publisher previously confirmed that is was holding a special PAX panel at the Seattle event. Voice actor Natalie...
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iOS 8 privacy settings updated to protect HealthKit data

Apple has updated its privacy settings for iOS 8, protecting your sensitive HealthKit data from advertisers and other prying eyes. Ahead of the expected iOS 8 launch in September, Apple has made some modifications to ensure your sensitive data contained in the Health app and HealthKit enabled services cannot be sold.Any health data gathered by the HealthKit API will now definitely remain private as...
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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 teaser video released

Samsung has released a new teaser video for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, ahead of its launch next week. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is scheduled to launch at a special Samsung Unpacked 2014 Episode 2 event on September 3.The latest teaser trailer from Samsung Mobile (via YouTube) states that the company’s new sell for its stylus wielding handset is its versatility.“Ready, Set, Go is the new magic for...
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LG killing off plasma TV business

LG plasma TVs: on their way outLG is set to bring an end to production of its plasma TV range, making it the last of the globe’s major tech giants to give up on the highly rated tech. Yonhap News and The Korea Times have both reported the news. They’ve got word directly from Ha Hyun-hwoi, LG’s home entertainment chief, that the game is up for plasma. An official announcement is due imminently, most...
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iPhone 6 release date, news, rumours, specs and price

The iPhone 6 release date could be just a matter of weeks away, with latest iPhone 6 rumours suggesting the eagerly awaited handset will be unveiled on September 9 with NFC connectivity in tow. Despite the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C remaining two of the most popular handsets on the market, consistently outselling the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8, the iPhone 6 has been the subject of...
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iPhone 6 NFC rumours get further backing

Mobile payments could be key iPhone 6 featureApple’s plans to include NFC in its forthcoming iPhone 6 are starting to take shape, after yet another rumour appeared to confirm the inclusion of the touch–to–transfer tech. Following on from reports in Wired about Apple’s plans, Daring Fireball’s John Gruber, a man known to be well connected with key staffers in Cupertino, has explained just how he thinks...
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Sony teases three new devices ahead of IFA

Sony has teased plans for three new devices, set to be revealed at IFA in Berlin next week. The company is due to hold a press conference on 3 September, when it’s expected to launch new kit aimed at taking on a raft of new devices from rivals including Samsung and Apple. In a clip posted to its official YouTube channel, Sony counts through three different devices, with a brief glimpse of a silhouette...
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Huawei Ascend Mate 7 images leak

Full uncovered photos of the Huawei Ascend Mate 7 have leaked online ahead of the phablet's expected IFA unveiling. Just a few weeks ago we saw alleged images of the Huawei Ascend mate 7 appear online, but the device was covered by an ugly plastic case.Now the phone has appeared on China's Weibo social network once again, minus the obtrusive case. It gives us a proper look at what the Chinese manufacturer...
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Pixlr free desktop photo editing app launches

Autodesk has taken the step of launching a dedicated desktop app version of its hitherto web browser-based photo editing tool, Pixlr. The tool has always been notable for offering a powerful, funkily designed image editing experience in a web browser window. Now it really is turning up the heat on Photoshop Elements by offering a dedicated desktop app for Windows and Mac.Of course, as Autodesk points...
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Xbox One update rolling out early

Microsoft has released the much-anticipated Xbox One update early, adding a media player and more to the company's games console. The next major software update for the Xbox One was expected to arrive in September, but Microsoft has managed to squeeze it out in the dying days of August.Xbox community chief Major Nelson posted a blog entry announcing the availability of the update, as well as highlighting...
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Apple building massive structure for iPhone 6 launch

Apple is building a mysterious three story structure ahead of its announced September 9 event, which is expected to see the launch of the iPhone 6 and the iWatch. The company recently sent out invites to a September 9 event, along with the teasing words "Wish we could say more."But far more intriguing are snaps that have emerged, via a MacRumours reader, of a mysteriously huge white box that's under...
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Panasonic SC-BTT505 Audio Review

What is the Panasonic SC-BTT505?Ostensibly the SC-BTT505 is just another 5.1 system in a box, but take a closer look at the spec sheet and you get the impression that Panasonic has attempted to create something a little more ‘grown up’ than its previous systems.With its aluminium-enhanced speaker design, hi-fi driver array and £600 price tag, the SC-BTT505 is looking to win the audiophile vote while...
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