Technology

  Washington/ AFP Samsung kept the top spot in a global smartphone market which showed signs of flattening in the first quarter of 2016, a survey showed. The recent report by research firm IDC said the worldwide smartphone market saw its slowest growth on record of 0.2 percent, with shipments totalling 334.9 million. South Korean giant Samsung maintained its lead ...

  AP Apple is edging its way a little further into health care with the release of new iPhone apps that patients can use to manage their own medical conditions — from diabetes to pregnancy and even depression. While there are hundreds of health-related apps on the market, Apple wants to put its stamp on a new ecosystem of treatment ...

  Relaxnews A Buddhist temple on the outskirts of Beijing has embraced technology and debuted a robot monk in a bid to attract new followers to the faith. The cartoon-like creation, dubbed Xian’er, wears a yellow robe and has a shaved head, and can recite mantras and answer 20 simple questions about Buddhism and the daily lifestyle at the Lonquan ...

  Relaxnews Consumers have officially fallen out of love with tablets and are having their heads turned by larger smartphones and more powerful 2-in-1 devices instead. Everyone laughed when Microsoft unveiled the first Surface Pro and claimed that the future was in touch screen PCs, not tablets. But the latest data from Strategy Analytics, published Thursday, shows that Microsoft was ...

  JASON DEAREN/ AP Wearing black headsets with tentacle-like sensors stretched over their foreheads, the competitors stare at cubes floating on computer screens as their small white drones prepare for takeoff. “Three, two, one … GO!” the announcer hollers, and as the racers fix their thoughts on pushing the cubes, the drones suddenly whir, rise and buzz through the air. ...

  Relaxnews The American startup Magic Leap has released a spectacular video showing a virtual screen superimposed over a real-world environment. This is seen used for work, entertainment and online shopping while the user moves around their home or office without being cut off from surroundings. Companies including Google, Alibaba and Qualcomm have already invested in the project. The somewhat ...

  Relaxnews The latest update to Microsoft’s Outlook Android app brings compatibility with Android Wear. Owners of Android-based wearables can now join their Apple Watch-wearing counterparts in receiving Outlook notifications directly on their watches. With Microsoft’s updated Outlook app, owners of smartwatches running Android Wear software can get email notifications, read messages and reply to them directly by voice or ...

  AFP A Google empire built on search has shifted attention to high-speed Internet networks, 360-degree video broadcasting and other bets as parent company Alphabet logged disappointing earnings. Alphabet said net income hit US$4.2 billion in the first three months of this year, but shares sank more than five percent to US$714 in after-market trades that followed release of the ...

  Relaxnews Windows has announced the release of the new PC and mobile OS build, allowing users — among other updates – to try out Windows Ink, a hub for writing and sketching apps. As part of the new Windows 10 Build 14328, users will be able to test the system’s new features, most notably Windows Ink, whose workspace includes ...

  Relaxnews After spending time with the recently released consumer editions of the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive virtual re.ality systems, here are the 10 best VR titles out now: Adr1ft If the film “Gravity” was a video game, it would be “Adr1ft.” The weightless saga for Oculus casts players as an astronaut struggling to survive while exploring a shattered ...