Render of HTC's Android Wear smart watch appears online

You didn't believe that HTC would fall behind in the wearables arms race, did you? A leaked render shows what HTC's Android Wear device looks like and similar to its flagship smartphones, it is notably more premium-looking than competing products from Samsung and LG. It seems just as premum as Motorola's Moto 360 and while it looks quite large (possibly because the bracelet seems thin). What else is different? Well, it looks like HTC Sense has translated nicely to a smaller screen and allows for multiple tiles to appear simultaneously. Can this be the Android Wear device to rule them all? Let's wait and see.

Source: @Evleaks via Techradar.com

TomTom extends its industry leading map coverage with the addition of 4 new countries

TomTom has announced the addition of Algeria, Colombia, Israel and Yemen to its premier navigable map database, MultiNet, which now includes 118 countries, covering 42.8 million kilometres and 4.1 billion people worldwide.

“As we expand our global map footprint, we continue to provide the freshest and most accurate maps around the world”

MultiNet enables automotive, enterprise and government customers to develop cutting-edge applications, which feature turn-by-turn navigation, routing display, and geo-coding to create a better navigational experience for drivers.

“As we expand our global map footprint, we continue to provide the freshest and most accurate maps around the world,” said Charles Cautley, Managing Director of TomTom Maps. “With the addition of navigable, turn-by-turn maps to these markets, TomTom offers superior navigation, location based services, and geocoding capabilities.”

Microsoft canceling Android-powered Nokia X in favour of Windows Phones

A memo from Microsoft's Stephen Elop states that the company will likely abandon the Nokia X line of Android powered smartphones in favour of lower-cost Windows Phone models under the more premium Lumia line.

“We will be particularly focused on making the market for Windows Phone. In the near term, we plan to drive Windows Phone volume by targeting the more affordable smartphone segments, which are the fastest growing segments of the market, with Lumia," Elop's memo stated.

While Microsoft will continue to support existing Nokia X devices, which were launched in early April of this year, the company will no longer use Android as the operating system for these devices, it will retain the design and hardware of the Nokia X line but ship devices running Windows Phone even in the low-end and emerging market segments.

"we plan to deliver additional lower-cost Lumia devices by shifting select future Nokia X designs and products to Windows Phone devices. We expect to make this shift immediately while continuing to sell and support existing Nokia X products," Elop stated.

Many were intially surprised when Nokia released an Android phone, specially since the company is third place behind  Google's Android and Apple's iOS. By launching an Android-powered device in emerging markets, some analysts felt Microsoft was competing with itself. This isn't the first time Microsoft's discontinued a recently released product, the Microsoft Kin phones were discontinued in less than two years and the widely rumoured Surface Mini, never even made to market.

Sue Wagner joins Apple's board of directors, Bill Campbell retires

It's been quite a year for Apple management and board changes with new blood coming in to add fresh perspective to the company at large. Apple just announced that Susan L. Wagner, founding partner and director of BlackRock, has been elected to Apple's board of directors. Bill Campbell, the board’s longest-serving member, is retiring after 17 years of service. Wagner becomes the second female board member for Apple joining Andrea Jung from Grameen America.

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