Coolest toy of the year: Google and Mattel give the old View-Master an exciting VR twist
Google and Mattel on Friday unveiled a new View-Master toy infused with virtual-reality technology. The Internet search giant and the toymaker plan to use Google's Cardboard virtual-reality platform to offer virtual reality, augmented reality and "photospheric" images, using a smartphone as the…
Phorm iPad mini case has physical 'key guides' that appear and disappear when you need them
Apple’s touch-based devices have changed the way we interact with computers entirely, but that hasn’t stopped users from occasionally thinking wistfully of the days when physical keyboards ruled the roost. Tactus has taken that desire to heart, and the startup’s first consumer product, the Phorm,…
Samsung's Galaxy S6 will have a Wrap-Around Display, says Bloomberg
Samsung thinks the unusual curved screen adorning its Galaxy Note Edge is the way to combat its sliding smartphone fortunes, according to a report from Bloomberg. It said the Korean company will release a 5.1-inch Galaxy S6 that will curve down both sides of the screen, rather than just the right…
Sony Xperia E4 Promises 2-day Battery Life
Sony has a new competitor in the increasingly crowded mid-range smartphone space: The Xperia E4, a stylish, 5-inch phone with exceptionally long battery life. According to Sony, the device's 2,300mAh battery can deliver two days of "active use" battery life and Sony claims you can extend that even…
Long Awaited First Ubuntu Phone
Want to try something different from the iPhone, Android or Windows Phone? Then feast your eyes on the BQ Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition, the first-ever Ubuntu Phone. Ubuntu has long been known as an alternative operating system to Windows or Apple Mac computers. It's open source and has a thriving…
Three New Android One Phones Launched, Complete with an Android 5.1 Lollipop Surprise
First revealed in June during Google’s annual I/O developer conference, Android One phones run a stock version of Android, and are designed for emerging markets. Google stays in control of the update process, ensuring the devices are kept up-to-date in the future, and each phone comes loaded with…
Microsoft's Next Lumia Processor Could Edge Samsung's Galaxy S6
A new chip could be all it takes for Microsoft's next flagship Lumia smartphone to best the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S6. Rumors that Samsung is dropping Qualcomm's most powerful processor from its flagship phone due to fears of overheating dovetail with a statement of support indicating that…
Is Apple Planning its Own Search Engine?
What is Apple Search? That's a question a lot of people will be asking over the coming months, after Cult of Mac spotted a job ad that references the as-yet-unknown service. The job summary calls for a project manager to work on "a search platform supporting hundreds of millions of users" and "play…
The Apple Watch will Go on Sale in April
Apple unveiled its quarterly earnings report on Tuesday — and the numbers were huge — but in the follow-up conference call, CEO Tim Cook revealed another bit of much-awaited information. The Apple Watch is "right on schedule," and Apple expects the device to begin shipping in April. Plenty of hype…
It May Just be Everything that Windows 8 Should Have Been
Microsoft's Windows 10 event gave us a deeper look at the next generation of its operating system. At once panacea and prescience, it's a remedy for Windows 8's identity-crisis that reworks Microsoft's bold vision of creating a single, universal experience for all of our devices. A new build of the…