Google Project Ara

Serious "thinking outside the square" from Google ...
This is a long article but interesting all the same. Project Ara is similar to the PC ATX standard that allowed cheap PCs to be built by a multitude of manufacturers. 

Building blocks: how Project Ara is reinventing the smartphone | The Verge:

Microsoft Office 365 Personal

A lower priced Office 365 for personal use ...
This makes sense for the individual that requires Office on only one device.

Microsoft Office 365 Personal launches | News | TechRadar:

Google Patents Tiny Cameras

The ultimate Google Glass is on its way ...
Originally for monitoring diabetes and now as an aid for the vision impaired amongst other things.

Google Patents Tiny Cameras Embedded In Contact Lenses | TechCrunch:

Windows free on small tablets

Surprising and unusual move from Microsoft ...
This is really indicative of a "new" Microsoft that wants to get Windows far and wide, even if they forgo some revenue.

Windows to be free on 9” and smaller tablets, also on IoT devices | Ars Technica:

Home automation $1b market

Hard to imagine home automation will grow so quickly ...
Our simple Wi-Fi routers are going to become the nerve centre of the home!

Smart home automation will be almost a $1b market by 2017:

Google Project Ara

The first DIY mobile phone may not be too far off ...
Google's Project Ara may allow you to build your own mobile phone.

Project Ara: Google pieces together the first modular smartphone | The Verge:

Google passes Hotmail

More history on Gmail and its supremacy over Hotmail ...
Gmail certainly did change the face of web based mail. There is no doubt in my mind that POP email will die out over the next 10 years. 

How Google rescued us from a life of Hotmail | News | TechRadar:

Windows 8.1 Update

Windows 8.1 Update gives you best UI for your device ...
Interesting article about the Windows 8.1 Update and how it is trying to set itself appropriately for your device.

Here’s how Windows 8.1 Update tries to give you the right UI on any device | Ars Technica:

10 supercomputers

For those interested in the "big guns" of computing ...
Interesting run down of the 10 most powerful computers on Earth.

10 supercomputers that are saving the world in super-fast time | News | TechRadar:

Gmail is 10 year years old

Although only generally available to public from 2007 ...
The most widely used web based mail with over 425 million users in 2012.

Gmail is 10 years old today | The Verge:

“Powered By Android"

Something to be aware of ...
Google appropriately positioning its Android operating system. 

New Android Handsets Will Need “Powered By Android” Logo To Get Google Play, Gmail, Etc. | TechCrunch:

Motorola, LG & Android Wear

The LG alternative to Motorola's round smartwatch ...
Is the market about to be flooded with an array of smartwatches now that Google has launched its Android Wear operating system?

Motorola, LG announce upcoming Android Wear smartwatches | The Verge:

Motorola's smartwatch

A different design to what we have seen so far ...
The Moto 360 sticks to the traditional watch shape rather than square or oblong. Interesting to see which shape finally wins out!

The story of Motorola's smartwatch from the man who designed it | The Verge:

Google's Android Wear

Google launches Android Wear for smartwatches ...
A few articles to show what smartwatches are all about. Google launches its operating system for smartwatches and lets the manufacturers come up with the hardware.

A closer look at Google's gorgeous smartwatches | The Verge:

Google vs. Microsoft

Comparison between Chrome OS and Windows 8 ...
This is an interesting comparison between Chromebook and a traditional Windows laptop.

Google vs. Microsoft: a cheap laptop showdown | The Verge:

Free cloud services

Useful comparison of free Cloud Services ...
Interesting to directly compare all these services in the one place.

Free cloud services compared - CNET:

Two Factor Authentication

Checkout sites offering Two Factor Authentication ...
This is a useful website summarising implementation progress for Two Factor Authentication. 

Here Are All The Sites You Should Enable Two Factor Authentication On (And The Ones You Should Yell At) | TechCrunch:

Google removes underlining

No more underlined links in Google searches ...
A cleaner look for Google and the end of an era!

Google removes underlined links, says goodbye to 1996 | The Verge:

Low-cost Office 365 Personal

New personal version of MS Office 365 ...
This new subscription version for individuals is priced at $6.99 a month or $69.99 per year which is better than the $9.99 per month version. However, over 3 years it is still more expensive than buying MS Office Home & Student outright at $140.

Microsoft launches low-cost Office 365 Personal subscription service | The Verge:

Chromebooks offline

Functional limitations when a Chromebook is offline ...
Useful article to better understand what you can and cannot do when your Chromebook has no Internet connection.

What Chromebooks can do offline | ZDNet:

Google's Add-on store

Add-on store in Docs & Sheets adds functionality ...
Definitely worth a look! Once again, Google uses third parties to enhance its products.

Google's Add-on store for Docs and Sheets could close the Office gap | The Verge:

SanDisk Wireless Products

New ingenious products from SanDisk ...
Not cheap but definitely offer a new way of working.

SanDisk releases Connect Wireless Media and Flash drives:

Windows scammers

Don't get fooled by these scammers ...
This is getting to plague proportions and stories abound! If they call you then it is definitely a scam!

Aggressive, persistent Windows tech support scammers continue to stalk consumers - Computerworld:

Microsoft & Chromebooks

Microsoft acknowledges Chromebooks ...
It appears that Microsoft is dropping its "Scroogled" campaign and recognising Chromebooks. I guess it is a case of "if you can't beat then, join them."

Microsoft concedes Chromebooks are work-worthy - Computerworld:

Using lithium-ion batteries

Useful hints to prolong the life of lithium-ion batteries ...
Some worthwhile information on the do's and don'ts of using the modern lithium-ion batteries that are in nearly every laptop, tablet and smartphone.

Ask Ars: The best way to use a lithium-ion battery, redux | Ars Technica:

Start Menu comeback

Windows 8.1 Start Menu may return in August ...
Slowly but surely Microsoft is bringing back the essentials for keyboard/mouse control of Windows 8. It does show they have eventually listened to their customers.

The Start Menu May Return To Windows In August | TechCrunch:

IFTTT comes to Android

If This Then That (IFTTT) now available on Android ...
If you haven't come across IFTTT before it is well worth a look.

IFTTT comes to Android | The Verge:

Android takes 62% share

Android tablets now lead the way ...
Samsung is the major winner but overall Android now well and truly outsells iOS with a 62$ market share.

Android takes 62% share of tablet market in 2013; Apple's share declines - Computerworld: