Skip to main content

Tech Industry

See All Stories

Google X developed a new fitness wristband, plans to deploy it as a medical device

Every so often, Google officially comes out and tells the world about a project they’ve been working on inside Google X. In recent years we’ve heard about the glucose contact lens for diabetes patients, Google Glass, the self-driving car, and more. Now, Google has debuted (via Bloomberg), a new health-tracking wristband capable of monitoring heart rate, heart rhythm, skin temperature, and other useful information such as light exposure and noise levels…
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Samsung Gear S for Verizon $180, Iconia Tab $60, V-MODA headphones $70, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Samsung Galaxy Gear S Verizon Wireless smartwatch: $180 shipped (Reg. $350) | eBay

Acer Iconia Tab Tablet with 16GB Memory 8-inch: $60 shipped (Reg. $140) | eBay

Amazon Gold Box – V-MODA Crossfade LP Over-the-Ear Headphones in multiple colors $70 shipped (Reg. $150)

Giveaway: Grovemade’s latest wooden creation provides a luxurious home for your Magic TrackPad

More new gear from today:

The best deals to really take advantage of Microsoft’s Xbox One free game promotion

Daily Deals: 2-pack Nokia Mini Proximity Sensors $15, Acer 21.5″ IPS LCD HD Monitor $90, more

More deals still alive:

Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats2 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones in multiple colors: $150 shipped (Reg. $200)

New products & more:

The 5 biggest iOS and Android games announced at this year’s E3 Expo

Monoprice’s $200 Action Camera matches GoPro on specs & has a slick viewfinder

E3:

Motorola pushing another Moto X Pure Edition (2nd gen) soak test

Motorola’s David Schuster has posted to Google+ to update owners of the 2nd-generation Moto X Pure Edition that the company pushed a new soak test for the device this past weekend. The company rolled out Android 5.1.1 via a soak test a couple weeks ago, and more recently began a wider rollout of 5.1.1 that many owners were able to install, so it’s unclear what this update is for and how many devices it will impact. Schuster says they experienced a problem with that test that they had to address, but didn’t provide more specifics.

We reported on the previous rollout a few weeks ago with some owners sharing this screenshot from their devices:

Here’s David Schuster’s full statement:

Quick update with respect to Moto X Pure Edition (2nd Gen) in the US. As many of you know we had started a soak test a couple weeks ago and discovered an issue which we need to address.

Over the past weekend we restarted the soak test. I will keep you posted on its progress.

Google is taking applications for creators to test the Jump virtual reality rig

Site default logo image

Project Jump is Google’s committal to making virtual reality go mainstream by making it cheaper and easier for anyone to produce VR video, and as reported by TechCrunch it’s going to let a lucky few take a Jump rig for a spin this summer. The company has a form up where interested creators can explain why they deserve to be one of the lucky few – it’s two pages long with some basic biographical questions and an essay section.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Pebble Time now available to pre-order from Best Buy for $200

pebble-time

Pebble has a long-time friendship with Best Buy, and now the smartwatch maker is launching the first widespread availability of its new Pebble Time through the retailer. Available for $200, the standard 22mm non-steel version of the watch is now available for consumers to put their claim on red, black, and white models.

While the Kickstarter Edition just recently began shipping to those who backed the watch, those just now realizing that they would actually like a smartwatch that has a color e-paper display, more than 5 days of battery life, and cross-platform compatibility are in luck:

We recently reviewed the Pebble Time, saying that while it does have its upsides, it still feels stuck in the past compared to the currently-available Android Wear devices and the Apple Watch. Long battery life is nice, but the lack of a touch screen and sketchy compatibility with iOS hold the device back—especially at this price point.

Looking to buy an Android Wear smartwatch? Check out our comparison and buying guide.

Site default logo image

Sony makes Android M developer preview available on select Xperia devices

Google only ever makes its Android developer preview versions available on its own Nexus devices – these devices are designed partly with developer modification and testing in mind, after all. But Sony has gone ahead and done the necessary legwork to make the preview version of Android M work on those of its devices in its Open Device program, and even has a handy guide on how to install it.

Ensuring a device can run the M Developer preview without too many issues, device manufacturers have to include in the software support (drivers) for all the hardware – the chipset, connectivity radios, etc. Over on Sony’s Open Device page is a list of devices in the program along with two downloads to get M running, the AOSP (Android Open Source Project) – Android M itself – as well as software to get the hardware working properly on M. Only a couple of its smartphones and tablets are currently supported right now.

Google introduces News Lab, wants to use its tech to ‘help build the future of media’

Google has this morning announced a new effort called News Lab, which is the company’s attempt at using its many resources and technologies to help usher in a new age of innovation in journalism. There are three basic tentpoles to what the company is doing here to empower journalists: tools, data, and programs.
Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Acer Iconia Tab $60, 11-inch Chromebook $120, Sol Republic Tracks Air $75, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Acer Iconia Tab Tablet with 16GB Memory 8-inch: $60 shipped (Reg. $140) | eBay

Acer 11-inch Chromebook 2.16GHz/2GB/16GB (refurb): $120 shipped (Orig. $170)

Bluetooth headphones: Sol Republic Tracks Air $75 (Reg. $150), JBL J56BT on-ears$44 (Reg. $149), more

Razer Forge Android TV, new Nest products now available on the Google Store

Get dad a free T-Mobile LG G Pad tablet from T-Mobile starting tomorrow | T-Mobile

No-contract Moto X 2014 $299 after automatic $50 rebate with 30-day risk-free trial

Quick Review: Kano’s Raspberry Pi 2 computer kit shines as a learning tool for kids and DIYers alike

More new gear from today:

Get a free game of your choosing when you buy an Xbox One next week

More deals still alive:

DJI Phantom 1.1.1 Quadcopter with GoPro Mount $299 shipped (Orig. $349)

New products & more:

 

V-MODA’s new 3D precious metal headphones dwarf the cost of your gold Apple Watch Edition

Super Smash Bros. updates, Star Fox rolls onto Wii U, more

Limited edition PS4 accessories celebrate PlayStation’s 20th Anniversary

New games & hardware announced at E3 make Xbox One deserving of a second look

Sony shows Last Guardian, Final Fantasy VII remake, Uncharted 4, Star Wars, more

Microsoft unveils new hardware, 360 compatibility + Forza 6, Halo 5, more

Bethesda’s real life Pip Boy for iPhone/Android, Dishonored 2, Doom, more

Xbox Live Gold Members can enjoy EA Access for free this week

Purported ‘Galaxy S6 Edge Plus’ leaks, doesn’t help clarify Samsung’s plans for the Note line

 

We’ve been following the rumor of Samsung launching a larger Galaxy S6 Edge on-and-off for some time now with heavy doses of skepticism, and today we got another peak at what’s purporting to be what is being called the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus — and it looks exactly like a stock image of regular the Galaxy S6 Edge sans a speaker hole.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Google debuts Computational Journalism Research Awards in Europe to support digital news projects

Site default logo image

Through its Digital News Initiative launched last April, Google has selected three projects to honor with its Computational Journalism Research Award in Europe. Google says that each project it selected “create[s] innovative new tools and open source software that will support online journalism and benefit readers.” In addition to being highlighted by Google with an award, these recipients also receives cash funding as well as computing credit to support their projects:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Galaxy S6 (unlocked) $530, Sol Republic Tracks Air $75, Moto G (2nd gen) $140, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $530 shipped (Reg. $800) | eBay

Bluetooth headphones: Sol Republic Tracks Air $75 (Reg. $150), JBL J56BT on-ears $44 (Reg. $149), more

Motorola Moto G (2nd generation) GSM unlocked 8GB: $140 shipped (Reg. $180)

DJI Phantom 1.1.1 Quadcopter with GoPro Mount $299 shipped (Orig. $349)

Razer Forge Android TV, new Nest products now available on the Google Store

Get dad a free T-Mobile LG G Pad tablet from T-Mobile starting tomorrow | T-Mobile

No-contract Moto X 2014 $299 after automatic $50 rebate with 30-day risk-free trial

Quick Review: Kano’s Raspberry Pi 2 computer kit shines as a learning tool for kids and DIYers alike

More new gear from today:

More deals still alive:

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 SM-T230 7″ White 8 GB: $105 shipped (Reg. $150) | eBay

Amazon Students: get a free $10 Amazon credit with the purchase of a $50 gift card

New products & more:

Super Smash Bros. updates, Star Fox rolls onto Wii U, more

New games & hardware announced at E3 make Xbox One deserving of a second look

Sony shows Last Guardian, Final Fantasy VII remake, Uncharted 4, Star Wars, more

Microsoft unveils new hardware, 360 compatibility + Forza 6, Halo 5, more

Bethesda’s real life Pip Boy for iPhone/Android, Dishonored 2, Doom, more

Xbox Live Gold Members can enjoy EA Access for free this week

Former Google exec helping publishers fight back with innovative adblock-blocker

Site default logo image

Few of us actively like ads, but most of us are smart enough to recognize that if we want free content, advertising is what pays the bills for the people providing it. But publishers face a growing threat from increasingly sophisticated ad-blockers that deprive them of revenue needed to remain in business. Even mobile networks and Apple are getting in on the action.

One former Google exec thinks he has the answer. Ben Barokas, former general manager of marketplace development at the search giant, is working on a new type of adblock-blocker that he thinks may not just help publishers, but also provide their readers with more choices … 
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

LG G4 promo for free microSD card, battery, and battery cradle extended through June 30

 

LG really wants you to try the G4, and that’s not surprising – it’s a good phone! To try and entice you to buy one, though, they’ve extended the promotion they’re running through the 30th of this month.

If you buy a G4 and receive it anytime from now through the 30th, LG will give you a 32GB microSD card, an extra 3,000mAh removable battery, and a battery cradle so you can charge both of your batteries at the same time, all for free. All you have to do is visit this page and give LG some basic information like the IMEI/MEID of your phone and where you bought it from. The retail and carrier partners working with LG on this promo include AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, U.S. Cellular, Best Buy, and Amazon.

The LG G4 doesn’t look too dissimilar from its predecessor on the outside, but on the inside it’s packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor (dual-core 1.8Ghz and a quad-core 1.44), the Adreno 418 GPU, a 3,000mAh battery, and 3GB of RAM. It also has a 5.5-inch display just like the G3, but the display is now a 2560 x 1440 IPS Quantum panel that’s very rich in color, brightness, and contrast, with an overall look that’s absolutely stunning. It’s worth checking out our review (which you can find here) for the full hands-on.

 

9to5Toys Lunch Break: FitBit Charge HR $120, Razer Forge & Nest on the Google Store, free LG G Pad, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity Wristband: $120 shipped (Reg. $150)

Razer Forge Android TV, new Nest products now available on the Google Store

Get dad a free T-Mobile LG G Pad tablet from T-Mobile starting tomorrow | T-Mobile

No-contract Moto X 2014 $299 after automatic $50 rebate with 30-day risk-free trial

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 SM-T230 7″ White 8 GB: $105 shipped (Reg. $150) | eBay

Amazon Gold Box – up to 50% off HDDs + Networking: Seagate 1TB Portable $50, TP-LINK Wi-Fi Extender $40, more

Rock out or catch up on a podcast in the shower w/ this water resistant Bluetooth speaker: $10 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)

Every Pixar movie is currently on sale at iTunes and Google Play with prices starting at $13 ea.

Quick Review: Kano’s Raspberry Pi 2 computer kit shines as a learning tool for kids and DIYers alike

More new gear from today:

Free credit Jurassic World in theaters w/ select Blu-rays + JP HD rental $1, more

More deals still alive:

Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas: GoPro Bundles, Gift Cards, 2-day shipping, more

Yamaha 7.2-channel Wi-Fi AV Receiver with AirPlay + Bluetooth $450 shipped (Orig. $850)

New products & more:

E3 2015:

Super Smash Bros. updates, Star Fox rolls onto Wii U, more

New games & hardware announced at E3 make Xbox One deserving of a second look

Sony shows Last Guardian, Final Fantasy VII remake, Uncharted 4, Star Wars, more

Microsoft unveils new hardware, 360 compatibility + Forza 6, Halo 5, more

Bethesda’s real life Pip Boy for iPhone/Android, Dishonored 2, Doom, more

Xbox Live Gold Members can enjoy EA Access for free this week

Bartesian uses a familiar Keurig-like design to deliver cocktails on demand

OnePlus announces OnePlus 2 will use improved version of Snapdragon 810

Site default logo image

In a post to its community forums, OnePlus today unveiled which CPU its much-anticipated OnePlus 2 will use – Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810. The company said that the Snapdragon 810’s unmatched speed and ability to multitask while maintaining battery performance had them coming back to it over and over again during their search for the right processor. But don’t worry, the company says it will be version 2.1 of the chipset, a version that they collaborated on with Qualcomm engineers to integrate and fine-tune for the OnePlus 2’s hardware and software, and that (apparently) won’t overheat.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Conflicting reports emerge regarding Deutsche Telekom talks with Comcast to sell T-Mobile

German Manager Magazine (via Reuters) reports today that Deutsche Telekom is in talks with Comcast and others to sell T-Mobile US. Sources say that these potential buyers include satellite TV provider Dish (as corroborated by Reuters), but Comcast is seen as the most attractive option from the point of view of the German telecom, due to its financial strength and ability to buy T-Mobile’s shares in whole:

Deutsche Telekom is in talks with U.S. cable company Comcast about a potential sale of T-Mobile US, German Manager Magazin reported on Wednesday, citing sources.

Deutsche Telekom is in talks with several parties, including satellite provider Dish, according to the magazine, but Comcast is viewed as a more attractive buyer by the German telecoms provider’s management.

Comcast would be a better candidate as it is financially stronger and would be able to make an offer to buy all shares in T-Mobile US, Manager Magazine reported.

As reported by Bloomberg, T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom shares rose slightly following the news:

T-Mobile shares rose as much as 3 percent in early trading, before the U.S. markets opened. Deutsche Telekom traded 1.8 percent higher at 15.31 euros at 1:44 p.m. in Frankfurt. T-Mobile, which is the fourth-largest U.S. mobile-phone company and is about 66 percent owned by Deutsche Telekom, has a market value of $31.5 billion.

A conflicting report has since surfaced, thanks to a “Comcast source” for ArsTechnica. According to the person familiar with Comcast’s thinking, the company isn’t actually interested in buying T-Mobile. As of yet, no official statement has been made by Comcast or T-Mobile, but Deutsche Telekom has said that it “does not comment on rumors and speculation.”

Uber hires former Google Maps veteran to oversee mapping & safety efforts

Site default logo image

Transportation service Uber has hired a longtime mapping expert from Google as the company focuses on boosting its own mapping expertise. As Recode reports, Brian McClendon has left his engineering VP role at Google to oversee Uber’s Advanced Technologies Center. McClendon previously led development for Google Earth and Google Maps and has worked for the company for 10+ years…
Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Free LG G Pad from T-Mobile, Father’s Day GoPro deals, Moto X 2014 $299, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Get dad a free T-Mobile LG G Pad tablet from T-Mobile starting tomorrow

Father’s Day GoPro bundles: 64GB Lexar microSD card, gift bag and free 2-day shipping

No-contract Moto X 2014 $299 after automatic $50 rebate with 30-day risk-free trial

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 SM-T230 7″ White 8 GB: $105 shipped (Reg. $150) | eBay

SHARKK Aluminum Bluetooth Keyboard $15 (Reg. $40)more

Quick Review: Kano’s Raspberry Pi 2 computer kit shines as a learning tool for kids and DIYers alike

More new gear from today:

Yamaha 7.2-channel Wi-Fi AV Receiver with AirPlay + Bluetooth $450 shipped (Orig. $850)

 

 

More deals still alive:

Timbuk2 30% off sitewide: Command Messenger Bag 2015 $97 (Reg. $149), much more

Keep your Wi-Fi and iPhone running during a power outage w/ APC’s Back-UPS Connect for $48 shipped (Orig. $80)

New products & more:

E3 2015: Sony shows Last Guardian, Final Fantasy VII remake, Uncharted 4, Star Wars, more

E3 2015: Microsoft unveils new hardware, 360 compatibility + Forza 6, Halo 5, more

E3 2015: Bethesda’s real life Pip Boy for iPhone/Android, Dishonored 2, Doom, more

E3 2015: Xbox Live Gold Members can enjoy EA Access for free this week

Belkin is set to take on Philips Hue with its new WeMo smart home LED bundles

Huawei Watch faces significant delays in China due to block on Google services

We recently reported that the launch of Huawei’s first smartwatch, simply called Huawei Watch, was expected to be delayed until September or October in China and perhaps abroad as well. A new story out from the WSJ speaking with Yang Yong of Huawei, however, has the launch in China pushed back as far as early 2016. The smartwatch is still expected to launch in the US and Europe in the coming months.


Expand
Expanding
Close