Swatch plans to develop its own smartwatch operating system

Face of the Tissot Smart-Touch, the brand’s first take on smartwatches (Image from ablogtowatch.com)

Some traditional watchmakers have taken it upon themselves to team up with the likes of Google to release smartwatches. Swatch Group is taking a different approach and plans to develop its own operating system to rival existing smartwatch OSes. The first product to introduce the new OS will be through its Tissot brand and is set to come out at the end of 2018. According to Swatch’s CEO Nick Hayek, this operating system will be able to connect to small objects and wearables. He also promises better battery life and data protection. The improved battery is something Swatch wants to emphasize, especially when compared against what’s out there now.

While it’s not known how the public will react to an entirely new OS, it might be an uphill battle for Swatch as it could take some convincing for developers to create apps for another system. One thing Swatch is open to is supply third-party companies with the OS it co-developed with the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology. Hayek says they’ve received around 100 requests for more information with half of these coming from smaller Silicon Valley companies who don’t want to rely on iOS or Android.

Source: Bloomberg

Toronto's BadBadNotGood featured today on Beats 1's "The Echo Chamber with Mike D."

While their name sounds like a Trump Tweet, Toronto's BadBadNotGood (BBNG) brings an eclectic mix of music and technology to the forefront and is set to showcase their talents with the Beastie Boys' Mike D in his Beats 1 show "The Echo Chamber with Mike D.

With a performance, interview, plus a cover with Mike D (Beastie Boys) on drums! The live content is rare and will be in Apple Music through Beats 1’s "The Echo Chamber with Mike D.” It airs today, Saturday, March 18 at 3:00 p.m. EST, with an encore on Sunday at 3:00 a.m. EST.

Marvel's Iron Fist shows promise but lacks heart

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Having just binge-watched the first half of Netflix's Iron Fist, which is their fourth Marvel series (behind the outstanding Daredevil, gritty Jessica Jones and soulful Luke Cage), and the final cog in the upcoming Defenders series, I find myself with mixed feelings for the show. Iron Fist's first season is available on Netflix.

Yes, this is another comic book story about a lost billionaire heir, who finds himself in a strange and foreign land. During his years in the wilderness, he learns the ways of mysticism and martial arts. He returns home, to the real world, where he needs to win back what's rightfully his, fit into a new society as well as battle an unknown evil.

If that spiel seems formulaic, it is because we've lived it a dozen times before.

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‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ gets new trailer, shows new badass character

If there’s one message the new Transformers: The Last Knight wants to impart, it’s that it’s okay to fight like a girl. Its new female character is a young, headstrong girl named Izabella (played by Nickelodeon star Isabela Moner) who tries to survive after Robocalypse happens. She happens to meet Cade Yeager (played by Mark Wahlberg) who will later be seen scolding a robot dinosaur as if it was a mischievous little puppy. There seems to be a good mix of action, explosion, and hints of comedy here that should excite Michael Bay fans. Transformers: The Last Knight is set to come out on June 23rd.

Source: Mashable