Technology news

• At The Gadget Show: Ford experiments

  06-01-2015 23:40
  
  LAS VEGAS (AP) — The future of driverless cars was the background for a Ford Motor Co. keynote address on Tuesday at International CES. The carmaker hopes to cure the world's transportation ills by delivering everything from a quicker trip down the Las Vegas Strip and helping drivers more easily finding a parking spot, to improving access to medical services in remote areas of West Africa.
  
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• FTC chief says gadget industry must prioritize privacy

  06-01-2015 23:23
  
  While consumer electronics companies are celebrating a coming bonanza of health trackers, connected cars and "smart" home appliances, the head of the Federal Trade Commission is pressing the ...
  
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• Sony's 'The Interview' earns $31 million online, $5 million at theatres

  06-01-2015 23:14
  
  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sony's provocative North Korea parody "The Interview" has earned more than $31 million (20.47 million pounds) from online, cable and telecoms sales since its December release, Sony Pictures Entertainment said on Tuesday. The raunchy comedy film was rented or purchased more than 4.3 million times between Dec. 24 and Jan. 4 on online and video-on-demand platforms. To date, the film has earned $5 million at the theatrical box office, with 580 independent theat
  
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• Correction: Sony Hack-Emails story

  06-01-2015 23:08
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a story Dec. 11 about emails leaked in the Sony hacking scandal, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Sony CEO Michael Lynton made a disparaging remark about Kevin Hart in a leaked email. In fact, the remark was made by Clint Culpepper, president of Sony's Screen Gems unit.
  
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• Vodafone CEO puts data and content first in comeback plans

  06-01-2015 23:01 via zdnet.com
  
  Vodafone Australia could be known as the company that cried 'growth', but CEO Inaki Berroeta is confident that the company's long-awaited return is well under way.
  
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• Hands-on review: CES 2015: Dell XPS 13 2015

  06-01-2015 22:50 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  The Ultrabook market is jam-packed with excellent laptops that pack a ton of power into tiny frames. The Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro (starting at $1,099, £1,099, AUS$1,254), the Acer Aspire S7 (starting at $1,349, £1,199, AU$2,599) and the Samsung Ativ Book 9 Plus (starting at $1,399, £1,412, AU$2,259) are just a few of the incredible devices you can turn to if you want to get work done without breaking your back. In fact, a new contender just recently emerged, the Lenovo LaVie Z, a 1.72-pound laptop t
  
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• Sony CEO does not expect studio upheaval after cyber attack

  06-01-2015 22:24
  
  LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Sony Corp Chief Executive Kazuo Hirai does not see the November cyber attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment causing major upheaval in the studio's business. Hirai on Tuesday told a roundtable of reporters at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that he had signed off on all major decisions by the company in response to the attack, which the U.S. government has blamed on North Korea. Sony's network was crippled by hackers as the company prepared to release &q
  
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• The future of wearable technology is not wearables – it's analysing the data

  06-01-2015 22:18
  
  Wearable technology’s evolution is not about the gadget on the wrist but what is done with the data they collect, says computational biologist Continue reading...
  
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• Fundraising site Kickstarter drops Amazon for payments

  06-01-2015 22:08
  
  By Deepa Seetharaman SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Crowdsourced fundraising site Kickstarter has dropped Amazon.com Inc as its global payments processor in favour of Stripe, the fast-growing startup used by Twitter Inc, Facebook Inc and Apple Inc. The switch comes as the Internet retailer begins to move clients from its customisable checkout service to an Amazon-branded one. In a blog post on Tuesday, Kickstarter said it made the switch after Amazon decided to drop its Flexible Payments Service, whi
  
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• What Those Gorgeous Hubble Photos Reveal About the Universe

  06-01-2015 22:00
  
  With its sights set some 7,000 light-years into the darkness, the Hubble Space Telescope has captured an illuminating, yet ominous, new look at a cosmic classic. “The Pillars of Creation,” an awe-inspiring trio of gas columns coated by bright newborn stars, was first photographed by the telescope in 1995. Now, NASA has released a new infrared look that reveals what may remain of its iconic dust columns following a supernova blast some 6,000 years ago. Hubblesite. ...
  
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• What Gorgeous Hubble Photos Reveal About the Universe

  06-01-2015 22:00
  
  With its sights set some 7,000 light-years into the darkness, the Hubble Space Telescope has captured an illuminating, yet ominous, new look at a cosmic classic. “The Pillars of Creation,” an awe-inspiring trio of gas columns coated by bright newborn stars, was first photographed by the telescope in 1995. Now, NASA has released a new infrared look that reveals what may remain of its iconic dust columns following a supernova blast some 6,000 years ago. Hubblesite. ...
  
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• VIDEO: Inventors turning sci-fi into fact

  06-01-2015 21:20 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A self-parking car, a plant pot that knows when it needs watering and a tracker for your pet, are just some of the highlights of the world's biggest gadget show in Las Vegas.
  
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• Police step in after Bristol man tweets that he hit cyclist

  06-01-2015 20:41
  
  Rayhan Qadar posted tweet on Monday morning, causing twitterstorm – and was sacked from job within a day Continue reading...
  
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• Is now the time to deploy embedded hypervisors for BYOD security?

  06-01-2015 20:22 via zdnet.com
  
  Today's smartphones and tablets offer computing power, memory and storage that surpass that offered by mainframe computers in the 1990s. But security remains an ongoing challenge.
  
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• Verizon not pursuing AOL takeover - CEO

  06-01-2015 20:05
  
  (Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc Chief Executive Lowell McAdam said the company is not planning any major acquisitions, following a report that Verizon had approached AOL Inc for a potential deal. "I think AOL along with lots of other media companies are potential for us to do partnering, on a commercial basis or whatever," McAdam said at a conference on Tuesday. "But to say that we are having significant acquisition discussions is really not accurate," he added. ...
  
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• From coffee-makers to cameras: six gadgets to simplify your life

  06-01-2015 19:53
  
  Technology has got so complicated thanks to ‘feature creep’. Here are some great gizmos that do the job just as well as flashier options • Read Stuart Heritage on the joys of low tech
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• Goodbye smart gadgets. Hello dumb tech

  06-01-2015 19:52
  
  Feature-filled phones, Apple Watches and expensive coffee machines are all very well, but sometimes they just make life more complicated. It’s time to learn the joy of low tech• Six gadgets that will simplify your life
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• ​CES 2015: Dell refreshes high-end XPS business laptop line

  06-01-2015 19:49 via zdnet.com
  
  The Dell XPS laptop line is getting upgrades to all its components in its 2015 models. Versions will be coming out with both Windows 8.1 and Ubuntu 14.04.
  
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• Hands-on review: CES 2015: Razer Nabu X smartband

  06-01-2015 19:46 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Razer has really stepped into the wearables game with the Nabu X. Not only is it much more affordable than its predecessor, the Razer Nabu, it's essentially the exact same smartband, specs-wise.The X will deliver the same notifications from smartphones, track sleep, steps, calories, distance and has social band-to-band capabilities. It will also continue to recognize gestures (wrist-turn, etc.) and you can still high-five to exchange data.The Nabu X is also compatible with the iPhone 5, 5S, 5C,
  
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• Why has greetings-card firm Moonpig pulled its mobile apps?

  06-01-2015 19:44
  
  Ironically enough, the company famous for card personalisation has suspended access to its apps to investigate a potential flaw in its storage of customers’ personal details Continue reading...
  
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• Rocket problem postpones SpaceX launch to space station

  06-01-2015 19:36
  
  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX called off a supply flight to the International Space Station on Tuesday because of rocket trouble, another delay in the delivery of groceries and overdue Christmas presents.
  
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• Facebook buys speech firm Wit.ai

  06-01-2015 19:24 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Mark Zuckerberg's social network could be planning to connect to home appliances or build a voice messaging services, an analyst says.
  
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• Integrated Device Technology shares tumble on worry of loss to rival

  06-01-2015 19:23
  
  (Reuters) - Shares of Integrated Device Technology fell 9 percent on Tuesday on worries that cellphone chip developer Qualcomm Inc had chosen On Semiconductor technology instead of an Integrated Device design for wireless charging technology. Several analysts said the sell-off was driven by a research note from Dougherty & Co that suggested Integrated Device Technology had lost out on Qualcomm business to On Semiconductor. The research note, which cited unnamed industry participants as its s
  
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• Hands-on review: Sony SmartEyeglass Attach

  06-01-2015 18:37 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  The Sony SmartEyeglass Attach is a new idea from Sony (surprisingly) to bring augemented reality to your run.Well, in theory the piece can attach to any pair of glasses and could be used to improve any activity with info near your pupil, but the first iteration is designed for sport and running seems to be the main use.The idea is simple and very like Google Glass: a supplementary clips onto the side of the specs (currently only the official ones used in the prototype, but could be developed to
  
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• Hands-on review: CES 2015: Sony SmartEyeglass Attach

  06-01-2015 18:37 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  The Sony SmartEyeglass Attach is a new idea from Sony (surprisingly) to bring augmented reality to your run.Well, in theory the piece can attach to any pair of glasses and could be used to improve any activity by placing info near your pupil, but the first iteration is designed for sport, and specifically running seems to be the main use.The idea is simple and very like Google Glass: a supplementary clips onto the side of the specs (currently only the official ones used in the prototype, but cou
  
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• CES 2015: MakerBot unleashes new materials, software, and services to power 3D builders

  06-01-2015 18:25 via zdnet.com
  
  At CES on Tuesday, MakerBot announced new software services and materials to make 3D printing easier to incorporate into the everyday lives of students, educators, and business professionals.
  
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• Uber ride for sleepy New Year's Eve partygoer ends in $900 bill

  06-01-2015 18:20
  
  Joseph Martin ‘may have dozed off for a bit’ but had a rude awakening when presented with a fare of $908 after being driven around Atlanta Continue reading...
  
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• UKIP website: Technical hitch fixed

  06-01-2015 18:14 via bbc.co.uk
  
  "Technical" issues which caused UKIP's official website to disappear for several hours have been fixed.
  
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• CES 2015: Sennheiser sounds off with new bluetooth, wireless and sports headphones

  06-01-2015 18:00
  
  Sennheiser is taking full advantage of its time at CES 2015 in Vegas this week by introducing a wide range of new headphones.First and foremost is the Momentum II range, Sennheiser's next-gen Momentum headphones, which now fold up for extra portability.These include the new Momentum Wireless and Momentum On-Ear Wireless headphones, with NFC and Bluetooth, advanced noise cancellation and 22-hour battery life.Sports and specialtiesNext up is the Urbanite XL Wireless, a touch panel-equipped Bluetoo
  
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• CES 2015: HTC is teaming up with Under Armour to make you fit

  06-01-2015 18:00
  
  HTC has said it's working on a wearable device, but we don't know what it is or when it's going to appear - the Taiwanese manufacturer obviously wants to make sure it gets everything right before joining everyone else in such a crowded marketplace.There is one announcement out in the open though: a new partnership with sportswear brand Under Armour. HTC says it is working on "products" (read: wearables) that will support Under Armour's new UA Record platform, which lets you sync all of
  
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• Hands-on review: Sony Smart B-Trainer

  06-01-2015 17:57
  
  If there's something runners like, it's more toys to play with when pootling around the streets and fields of the world.With that in mind, the new Sony Smart B Trainer prototype (B stands for Beat, apparently) offers a lot of new things to play with - well, it offers the same things most will be used to, but packages them in a more interesting way.The B Trainer is a headset that looks a lot like the W Series, Sony's head-based Walkman that did nothing more than shoving music into your skull. The
  
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• Hands-on review: CES 2015: Sony Smart B-Trainer

  06-01-2015 17:57 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  If there's something runners like, it's more toys to play with when pootling around the streets and fields of the world.With that in mind, the new Sony Smart B Trainer prototype (B stands for Beat, apparently) offers a lot of new things to play with - well, it offers the same things most will be used to, but packages them in a more interesting way.The B Trainer is a headset that looks a lot like the W Series, Sony's head-based Walkman that did nothing more than shoving music into your skull. The
  
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• Meet the man who 'doesn't breathe'

  06-01-2015 17:51 via bbc.co.uk
  
  What's he doing at the world's biggest tech fair?
  
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• Nintendo's new 3DS has come to Europe, but only for a select few

  06-01-2015 17:50
  
  The Nintendo 3DS Ambassador edition is a way for folks into the EU to get hold of a new-style 3DS, but only rabid Nintendo fans get the privilege of buying one.The new 3DS has only been released in Japan, Australia and New Zealand to date, but the Ambassador bundle offers gamers a chance to get hold of one as early as 23 January.However, only real fans have the option to bag the £179.99/200 Euro bundle as you need to be invited to purchase one by Club Nintendo.And much our chagrin, much of the
  
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• CES 2015: Samsung CES 2015 keynote brings World's Fair vibe back to CES with loads of smart home tech and ideas

  06-01-2015 17:50
  
  Imagine waking up to your smart TV providing you a daily news brief and weather automatically - just by sitting up in bed. Or how about listening to a podcast through headphones on your commute only to have it pick up where you left off on a set of wireless speakers as you walk through your front door. Pretty cool, right?Now, imagine that same TV telling you what should watch before bed, or a pair of smart glasses calling 911 for you after sensing "abnormal" brain activity. This is all
  
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• Czech O2 says taking steps to spin off infrastructure into new firm

  06-01-2015 17:49
  
  PRAGUE (Reuters) - Telecoms provider O2 Czech Republic decided to spin off its fixed and mobile infrastructure into a separate entity that would provide wholesale services to other market players, the company said on Tuesday. The firm also appointed Chief Executive Tomas Budnik as chairman, replacing Luis Malvido who left the company on Dec. 31 as part of changes stemming from the firm's takeover by billionaire Petr Kellner's PPF group last year. O2 said in August last year it was look
  
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• Industry voice: What Apple's HomeKit means for the future of the smart home

  06-01-2015 17:30
  
  Introduction and the need for stabilityApple has made its mark in pockets and on desks across the globe, but the company that many consider to be the world's most valuable brand has now set its sights on the home. Cupertino's highly anticipated HomeKit is already influencing the home automation market, even at this early stage.HomeKit, first mentioned when Tim Cook introduced iOS 8 last year, is a system that will allow developers to make devices that connect to your Apple products, including yo
  
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• Ask Musk Anything: Elon Musk reveals details of manned Mars trip

  06-01-2015 17:10
  
  From how to get to Mars to the design of his cars, Musk answered fan questions on Reddit in the build-up to his (postponed) rocket launch Continue reading...
  
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• CES 2015: The Phaz P2 headphones will charge your phone as you listen

  06-01-2015 16:42
  
  There are more headphones around than days in the year, but the Phaz P2 manage to do something a little different - they charge your phone.The heaphones' integrated 1200mAh battery helps power the integrated amplifier and bass boost, but you can also use it as an external battery pack for your phone. On the underside of one of the ear cups is a USB port covered by a rubbery flap. You just plug in your normal phone cable to get an emergency juice-up. 1200mAh is enough to get you at least 50 per c
  
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• Sony Xperia Z3 Android 5.0 Lollipop update coming next month

  06-01-2015 16:20
  Sony is to release the Android Lollipop update for the Xperia Z3 in February.The Xperia Z3 is Sony's current Android flagship phone, so it's only right it is among the first to get an update to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Sony says the update will arrive in February, although currently offers no exact date. Bear in mind that the update may roll-out globally bit-by-bit, and that any carrier-branded Xperia Z3s will be subject to further testing, and therefore more delays. Improvements added in Android 5
  
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• These are the Star Wars headphones you're looking for

  06-01-2015 16:08
  
  SMS Audio has partnered with LucasFilm to release a second set of official Star Wars headphones, each one themed around a character or machine from the sci-fi series. The wired, on-ear sets are being launched at CES and will go on sale in the UK later this year.If you want to feel the force through your eardrums then you can choose from R2-D2, Tie Fighter, Darth Vader or Chewbacca as your headphone theme. Each one is coloured and styled to match its name.In the case of Darth Vader, that means yo
  
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• Downloads: Download of the day: MSI Afterburner

  06-01-2015 16:00
  
  Improve your graphics card performance and save yourself the cost of getting a new one with MSI Afterburner.Why you need itJanuary is a tough time of year on the old wallet, so squeezing the most out of your hardware can make a real difference if you can't afford to buy new components. Getting more from your graphics card – one of the most expensive parts of a PC setup – can therefore save you a small fortune.That's where MSI Afterburner comes in. This free utility claims it can deliver up t
  
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• CES 2015: Pioneer announces its first aftermarket Android Auto car receivers

  06-01-2015 16:00
  We knew Android Auto cars were coming in 2015, but Pioneer has revealed a few ways to get the in-car system without buying a new ride. Three new models offer Android Auto, the AVIC-F77DAB, AVIC-F70DAB and AVH-X8700BT. They start at £699.99 and all feature large seven-inch screens. One clear element that separates the top-end model, the Pioneer AVIC-F77DAB, is that it uses a capacitive touchscreen while the others are resistive models. The capacitive head unit should feel more responsive. CarPla
  
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• Five years until the Internet of Things arrives? Why I hope it's a lot, lot longer

  06-01-2015 15:58 via zdnet.com
  
  Blame the smart fridge, but there are still too many unresolved - and even unasked - questions about the Internet of Things which will slow down adoption.
  
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• North Korea boosted 'cyber forces' to 6,000 troops, South says

  06-01-2015 15:56
  
  SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean military's "cyber army" has boosted its numbers to 6,000 troops, the South Korean Defence Ministry said on Tuesday, double Seoul's estimate for the force in 2013, and is working to cause "physical and psychological paralysis" in the South. The new figure, disclosed in a ministry white paper, comes after the United States, South Korea's key ally, imposed new sanctions on North Korea for a cyber attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment
  
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• Samsung Galaxy S6 metal frame leak hints at premium design

  06-01-2015 15:36
  
  If you were hoping that 2015 would bring more clues as to what Samsung's Galaxy S6 flagship is going to look like, you're in luck: a fresh batch of leaked pictures appear to show an all-metal casing for the upcoming phone, which may well be being shown off at CES in secret right now.The source is the same French tech site that revealed similar pictures before Christmas, but these ones are much clearer and more interesting. Apparently the frames come from one of Samsung's suppliers.We can't glean
  
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• CES 2015: Razer ups virtual reality game with OSVR and new head mounted display

  06-01-2015 15:00
  
  Will 2015 be the year of virtual reality? Razer sure thinks so. On top of its other news, the company took to the CES 2015 show floor to announce a new platform called OSVR plus a brand new VR head mounted display. With Oculus Rift inching closer to reality, Razer has set out to standardize the VR platform. Along with several other companies entrenched in the space, Razer has created the Open-Source Virtual Reality (OSVR) ecosystem. Razer will support the venture with the OSVR Hacker Dev Kit, a
  
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• CES 2015: Razer Forge TV: part Android box, part complete surprise

  06-01-2015 15:00
  
  Introduced at Google IO back in June 2014 amid the flurry of hype surrounding Android Lollipop and Google Cardboard, Razer announced an Android micro-console. Not much was said about it; no name, no specs, no price.Razer loosened its lips today at CES 2015, announcing the Forge TV for $99.99 (£99.99) and a full spread of other new products. Running Android TV, the Razer Forge TV is primarily in the game of playing games, but will also host familiar entertainment apps including Hulu, YouTube, an
  
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• CES 2015: MSI debuts gaming laptop with built-in mechanical keyboard at CES

  06-01-2015 15:00
  
  MSI brought its gaming muscle to CES 2015 this week, debuting the GT80 Titan SLI, which it claims is the first gaming laptop with an integrated mechanical keyboard.The Titan has a SteelSeries-designed mechanical keyboard with clicky Cherry MX Brown switches, and it also comes with easily upgradeable dual NVIDIA GTX 980M GPUs in SLI and dual NVIDIA MXM graphics cards.It supports up to 4 M.2 SATA solid state drives in RAID 0 and 32GB of memory, and includes an efficient dual fan cooling system.But
  
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• CES 2015: Meet Razer's latest entry level wearable: the Nabu X

  06-01-2015 15:00
  
  Last year, popular PC company Razer announced a wearable, of all things, during CES and it looks like this year there's another one. The Razer Nabu now has a buddy called the Razer Nabu X. Priced at a more affordable $49.99 (€49.99, about 32.77, AU$62) the Nabu X will deliver the same notifications from smartphones, track fitness data and has social band-to-band capabilities, all in a discreet form factor. Essentially the only thing missing is the original Nabu's OLED screen. Notifications wil
  
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