Technology

  Relaxnews .Just over 30 million smartwatches were sold worldwide in 2015, according to research from Gartner, a figure that’s expected to more than double in two years to reach 66.7 million in 2017. The symbolic 50-million mark is likely to be passed in 2016. The smartwatch market now includes a growing number of models aimed at children, with varying …

  Doha / RELAXNEWS Following concerns over poor quality pitches at Euro 2016, Qatar has employed a high-tech solution to avoid similar criticisms of its World Cup in 2022 — 3D printers and wind tunnels. Scientists at Qatar University, the country’s largest higher education establishment, have created 3D-printed models of some of the potential eight stadiums that will be used …

  San Francisco / AFP Facebook has announced that it would roll out optional “end to end encryption” for its Messenger application, following a trend aimed at stronger security and protection against snooping. The US technology giant said this feature would be known as “secret conversations” which can be read only by the sender and recipient. “Providing more ways for …

  Relaxnews After a first PC (Chromebook Pixel) and a tablet (Pixel C), Google reportedly has its own smartphones and smartwatches in the pipeline, optimized for use with the web-search giant’s mobile operating systems. The Telegraph reports that Google could be gearing up to release its own smartphone by the end of 2016. Until now, Google has relied on its …

  The Hague / Relaxnews Dutch telecoms group KPN said that The Netherlands had become the first country in the world to implement a nationwide long range (LoRa) network for the so-called Internet of Things (IoT). Connecting everyday objects to networks, allowing them to send and receive data, is widely seen as the next major evolution of the Internet and …

  AFP Americans are increasingly turning to their mobile devices for news, with print newspapers losing more ground, a poll showed. The Pew Research Center survey found an acceleration in the use of mobile devices for news over the past three years, as fewer Americans relied on newspapers. Television meanwhile held steady as a source of news, including local, network …

  Relaxnews The world’s first holographic intelligent mannequin has gone on display in the UK as part of a fashion exhibition taking place during London Technology Week. The 3D virtual mannequin, designed by Headworks, features a holographic head atop a physical body. It is one of many inventions on show at the Fashion Tech Installation event to demonstrate the growing …

  Relaxnews Although YouTube has allowed live video streaming from a computer since 2011, users will now be able to broadcast live footage from a smartphone, a function already available from social networks Facebook (via Facebook Live) and Twitter (via Periscope). Smartphone users will now be able to stream live video directly via the YouTube mobile app for Android and …

  Relaxnews Facebook has made its latest move against competitor Snapchat, capitalising on the popularity of its ‘selfie’ filters and launching a similar offering of the same as it continues to enhance its Live platform. The new Facebook photo filters have been made possible by a firm called MSQRD (pronounced masquerade) that specialises in video selfies, which Facebook acquired in …

  AFP Hyper-wired South Korea is considering legislation that would ban bosses from bothering their staff at home, after growing complaints about the country’s already onerous work-life imbalance. A bill prohibiting managers from badgering staff at home was submitted to parliament, sponsored by 12 lawmakers from the main opposition Minjoo party. “As more firms use social media or mobile messengers …