webOS returns to mobile as a smart watch OS

LG has had the good sense to make good use of webOS as a Smart Watch operating system. The once pioneering Palm mobile OS was recently used in LG's Smart TVs and now it seems there's an earnest move to create webOS SmartWatch for developers.

One one hand, it's great to see webOS back in some form but on the other hand, manufacturers spinning off their non Android Wear wearable operating systems (Samsung's got Tizen), means fragmentation in the still-emerging wearable market. This could pose some issues for users and also for developers choosing alliances. This also tells us that manufacturers aren't keen in having Google control the whole ecosystem.

Source: Engadget

Vogue profiles Jony Ive, gets rare insight into the designer's mind

Vogue just published a rare and lengthy profile on Apple's resident design icon Jony Ive. The piece kicks off on the Apple Watch and then rather thorougly covers various aspects of Ive's personal and professional life. There's lots of information about taste, approach and passion for building things as well as Ive's partnership with Australian industrial desigenr Marc Newson who also recently joined Apple. Check out the piece here.

Apple’s payment platform tipped for debut alongside iOS 8.1

It looks like October 20 isn’t just for the debut of iOS 8.1. Bank Innovation’s Ian Kar claims Apple’s payment platform, Apple Pay, will be rolled out on that day as well. Sources close to Apple say Apple Pay will be made available for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users once they download iOS 8.1. Mobile wallets have been around for a while but they haven’t gained much traction. We have to wait a bit more to see if Apple’s offering will encourage people to leave their wallets behind and adopt this new way to pay for purchases.

Source: Bank Innovation | Via: Business Insider

Samsung makes switch back to Microsoft Word after 20 years

It took Samsung two decades to realize that they need Microsoft’s productivity suite for their work. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was in South Korea recently to meet with top government and corporate officers, including Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-Yong. There is no official word if this would signal better cooperation between the two tech giants.

Samsung will be rolling out Microsoft Word to Samsung Electronics first and will expand to the other subsidiaries in the coming year. The switch won’t be easy so Samsung plans to extend support for corporate clients using their JungUm productivity software until 2019.

Source: Yonhap News Agency | Via: Ubergizmo