Motorola Moto E now available contract-free from Staples for $179

Motorola's entry-level smartphone, the Moto E,  is now available unlocked at Staples for $179. And if the price hasn’t excited you enough, here’s an overview of specs included in this great value device:

• Corning Gorilla Glass and a water-resistant splash guard to help protect it for lasting durability
•  1980 mAh battery so you can go all day without plugging in
• Powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor with dual-core CPU and 1GB RAM, all the power you need to multi-task without slowing down
• 5MP rear-facing camera with Motorola’s streamlined camera interface; touch anywhere on the screen to take a shot, capture panoramic pictures or record video
• microSD slot for up to 32GB of expandable memory to save photos, videos, music, movies and apps
• Built-in FM radio
• Interchangeable backplates (sold separately)

For more information about Moto E, please visit Motorola.ca or Staples.ca

Don't look now, Sony's Walkman is trying to make a comeback

It's been 45 years since the Moon Landing but can you believe its been 35 years since Sony wired us for sound with the original Sony Walkman? Well Sony is bringing back the Walkman brand in a premium US $700 bit of kit called the ZX1. Years after the iPod ate up the MP3 industry (and years after smartphones ate up the iPod), Sony's new player features 128GB of storage and the ability to play High Resolution Audio whose files have way more musica data and information for a true audiophile experience.

Made from a single piece of aluminum and featuring a 4-inch touchscreen plus 32 hours of playback on a single charge, the ZX1 is definitely a niche product, one that competes with Neil Young's Pono Player for a very discerning music audience. Find out more about the new Walkman here. 

iTunes Festival to return to London this September

After taking the show on the road to SXSW in Austin early this year, the iTunes Festival returns to its roots in London's Roundhouse in September. According to Apple this year's month-long festival will feature the likes of Pharrell,  Maroon 5, David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Beck, Sam Smith, Blondie, Kylie, 5 Seconds of Summer, Chrissie Hynde and many more.

“The iTunes Festival in London is back with another stunning line-up of world class performers and tremendous new acts,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “These live shows capture the heart and soul of iTunes and we love bringing them to our customers in the Roundhouse, as well as to the millions of people watching all over the world for free.”

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Qplay internet video service to shut down less than 6 months after launch

Qplay may have pedigreed founders (creators of TiVo) but that doesn’t mean it will become successful. That is why the internet video service is shutting down this July 25, which is less than six months since it was launched. Qplay did not specify why they decided to close shop but they say it is not possible for them to keep developing and running the service. One can't help but recall VDIO, which was RDIO's streaming video company that seems to have suffered the same fate as Qplay, closing down while still in its beta phase. 

Source: The Next Web