Samsung 2014 smart TVs to support single-finger gestures

Samsung is moving away from the gimmicks of gesture control and seems to want make it more useful for users. The Korean tech giant aims to integrate single-finger gesture support for next year’s line of smart TVs. For example, you can return to a previous screen or stop a video by motioning your finger counterclockwise. Next year’s Samsung TVs will also feature improved voice control capabilities, like just mentioning the channel number to switch channels.

Source: Samsung Tomorrow

CyanogenMod phone now up for sale

The Google-approved modded smartphone is now up for sale around the world for US$599. The Oppo N1 does not look quite like the Android devices out on the market with its swiveling camera with separate button accessory and a baby blue back. But what makes it stand out is it allows you to pick between Android and the heavily modified Android version called CyanogenMod. You can check Oppo store to order your device.

Sony and Panasonic reportedly calls off OLED TV collaboration

The Verge reports that Sony and Panasonic have cancelled their partnership deal to co-produce OLED televisions. Eighteen months after the two tech companies signed the deal, The Wall Street Journal cites unnamed sources claiming that Sony and Panasonic might concentrate on developing LCD-based 4K TVs.

BlackBerry cancels ‘Live’ conference and two low-end devices

The bad news just keeps rolling in for the Waterloo-based BlackBerry following the announcement of its third quarter loss. The Verge reported BlackBerry will be calling off its annual conference, BlackBerry Live, for 2014 and making it the first cancellation for the said event since it started in 2002. The Wall Street Journal also reported that two low-end devices for the emerging market have been shuffled off but there are “several” higher-end devices that are still being developed.