Wednesday
Jan042017

Of course Swarovski has an Android Wear watch

It no longer comes as a surprise that traditional watchmakers have versions of smartwatches. You’d think it’s about time they got with the program. But here’s a surprise from Austrian jewelry maker, Swarovski. The brand will be launching its first Android Wear-powered (and obviously bedazzled) smartwatch at Baselworld 2017, which will be held in March 23. Swarovski partnered with Qualcomm and Google to develop the watch and it’s designed specifically for women. It’s been teased at CES 2017 but details about the hardware, price, and availability aren’t been released yet. This announcement also comes in the heels of the delayed Android Wear 2.0. We’re expecting to hear more about this smartwatch at the jewel and watch conference happening in March.

Source: Android Authority

Wednesday
Jan042017

CES 2017: TCL communications promises 'BlackBerry's Legacy' is in good hands 

Photo by Android Authority

Las Vegas - TCL Communications who has bought up brands and IP from Palm, Alcatel and BlackBerry and says it is the fourth largest handset manufacturer in North America announced  it will reveal a new BlackBerry handset at Mobile World Congress as the future of BlackBerry Mobile (TCL made the DTEK50 and DTEK60, rebranded Alcatels and  BlackBerrys last two Android handsets and now owns the global rights to do whatever it pleases with BlackBerry mobile products).

The demo of the smartphone pictured above, which still has no name, was once referred to as Mercury.It is the first of many products expected this year for TCL.

"Offering carriers and retailers exceptional quality and value, backed by TCL’s world-class R&D and manufacturing capabilities, the TCL Communication portfolio will be anchored by the Alcatel and BlackBerry handset brands while continuing to evolve in 2017. This will include additional mobility offerings to be announced in the first half of the year that will allow the company to further address consumer demands. Among the first products in this portfolio is the latest BlackBerry smartphone, focused on three core features: security, productivity and reliability."

How these new devices will fare in the market is anyone's guess. They could be pushed towards businesses but would have to be priced affordably for volume sales. Also, is a QWERTY keyboard on a smartphone still a thing?

Wednesday
Jan042017

OWC thinks it has the solution to the MacBook Pro's lack of ports

Other World Computing (OWC) has always been one of the more reliable after market solutions providers for Macs and they're meeting the new MacBook Pros lack of ports head on with what looks to be an aluminum base that adds some of the missing ports (i.e. SD card Slot, HDMI-out, USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt are the likely ports in question).  The base, which snaps to the bottom of the MacBook Pro, does add substantial thickness and weight (enough to make Apple engineers squirm), but should sate the need for more traditional I/O for pros. It's either this or dongles, people.

Wednesday
Jan042017

Ford reveals EV roadmap including Mustang, F-150 and Transit models by 2020

Ford has unveiled its EV (Electrified Vehicle) roadmap with no less than seven of 13 new global electrified vehicles coming in the next five years, including F-150 Hybrid, Mustang Hybrid and Transit Custom plug-in hybrid.

the company is committing to a fully elextric SUV with an estimated 300 mile range and even two new electrified Police vehicles. Ford is investing $700 million and adding 700 direct new jobs in Flat Rock (Michigan) Assembly Plant to create a factory capable of producing high-tech electrified and autonomous vehicles – plus the iconic Ford Mustang and Lincoln Continental.

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