Intel Compute Stick brings Windows to a dongle

PC-on-a-stick concepts have been around for a while. Most of them, however, are powered by ARM processors and other relatively unknown brands. That is until Intel decided to dip their toes into that market. The Intel Compute Stick is a four-inch-long dongle that runs on an Atom Bay Trail quad-core processor. It can turn almost any HDMI display into a computer and it is equipped with a USB port, mini-USB port, microSD slot, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity.

The Compute Stick is designed to work as everything from a media streaming machine, web browser, social networking device, thin client for enterprise with remote desktop and plug-and-play functionality. There will be two versions of the Compute Stick available. One will have Windows 8.1 pre-installed with 2GB of RAM and 32GB internal storage. The other will have Ubuntu pre-installed with 1GB of RAM and 8GB internal storage. They will be priced US$149 and $89, respectively, and be released in March.

Source: Intel | Via: Gizmag

CES 2015: Sony Smart B-Trainer lets you add your workout to your headphones

There are a lot of Bluetooth workout headphones out on the market. But those that have jumped on the “internet of things” bandwagon are a few. A new concept from Sony called the B-Trainer headphones will let you load specific workouts and music to the headphones via companion Android and iOS apps. This means you can leave your phone at home.

The headphones are also designed to measure your heart rate and give you voice commands for your training program as well as slow down or speed up songs depending on whether you surpass or below the recommended heart rate threshold. This will be a pretty useful device once it comes to market.

Source: Sony | Via: The Verge

Apple's App Store breaks new records to kick off 2015

Apple announced that the first week of January set a new record for billings from the App Store with customers around the world spending nearly half a billion dollars on apps and in-app purchases, and New Year’s Day 2015 marked the single biggest day ever in App Store sales history.

These milestones follow a record-breaking 2014, in which billings rose 50 percent and apps generated over $10 billion in revenue for developers. To date, App Store developers have earned a cumulative $25 billion from the sale of apps and games.

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Netflix wants to offer 'The Interview'

(Columbia Pictures/Sony/Ed Araquel/ Associated Press)

The highly controversial film The Interview would be on Netflix if they had their way. Netflix's Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said they want the film to be available to its 53 million subscribers around the world but won't say what efforts they are making to make this possible. Sony has made no immediate comment on the matter as well.

Even without Netflix, the film has become Sony's top online film garnering over US$37 million in sales. It has also earned $5 million in the US box office.

Source: CBC News