Google takes on diabetes with smart contact lenses

The Google[x] research lab is hard at work at developing smart contact lenses that can help diabetics monitor glucose levels with the use of tears. The lenses will feature sensors that are “so small they look like bits of glitter, and an antenna thinner than a human hair.” The tech company’s lab already developed prototypes and conducted clinical research studies. They are currently meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration to get clearance and are seeking partners to help bring the product to the market.

Project co-founders Brian Otis and Babak Parviz said in a blog post that they hope “this could someday lead to a new way for people with diabetes to manage their disease.” 

Amazon plans to ship your next order before you buy it

Amazon isn’t just thinking of using drones to deliver products. The company gained a new patent in December that is for a new system or method that will anticipate shipping packages. Wall Street Journal reports the company aims to predict your next purchase based on factors such as wish lists, shopping history, and when a new product from a series is coming out.

Video: ASUS VivoTab 8 overview from CES 2014

Contributor Alex Davies finds out more about the ASUS ViVoTab 8 Windows 8.1 tablet at the show floor in CES complete with the keyboard accessory. Coming to market in March, the ViVoTab 8 will be available starting at $299 for the 32GB version although wisdom dictates users go for the 64GB version for around $350.

Starbucks updates iOS app to address security concerns

Starbucks recently released 2.6.2 version of its iOS app to address a security flaw that stores user names, passwords, location, and email addresses locally in plain text, which can also be accessed by people who are connected to your device through a computer.

Starbuck’s CIO Curt Garner told Mobile Syrup that “We’d like to be clear: there is no indication that any customer has been impacted by this or that any information has been compromised. Regardless, we take these types of concerns seriously and have added several safeguards to protect the information you share with us.”