Back in December, we got our first proper look at iMods, an alternative to the long-standing jailbreak portal that is Cydia, and with its enticing, modern layout and App Store-like graphics, it has left more than a few jailbreakers eager for the release. Now, it has emerged that Comex, former wizkid and author of JailbreakMe, is creating a new alternative to Cydia Substrate called Substitute from the ground up, and notably, iMods will be using it.

Cydia Substrate, simply put, is a platform created by Saurik, author of Cydia, WinterBoard, and many other long-standing or otherwise integral components of the jailbreak arena. Cydia is the portal, but Substrate is the underbelly, providing an infrastructure for developers to create add-ons that can modify the iOS experience without access to the source code.

3:37 AM

There’s a new camera app in town and it is making some pretty bold claims. While some camera apps on the App Store trade on being able to add filters and all kinds of tweaks to images, others go for all-out quality, trying to bring some of the DSLR magic to the iPhone. Hydra, by Creaceed, goes the way of quality but takes it a step further by claiming to be able to create 32-megapixel images using just the iPhone’s 8-megapixel camera.

Before we get into that though, there are plenty of other ways to take photos using Hydra. While still trying to produce the best image possible, Hydra has modes that are designed for taking images in low-light, zoomed images and HDR in both photo and video form.

3:54 PM

Facebook has just launched an experimental initiative for its users, called Place Tips. As you can already tell by the name itself, the feature will be bringing you relevant information based on your location. More on this brilliant development from the social networking mammoth, right after the jump.

Back in the day, Foursquare was all the rage with its location based check-ins and information sharing, and even though the app is widely used, there’s the likes of Yelp as well, but comes with a slightly different approach than that of Foursquare. With Facebook already serving the ‘check-in’ needs for our social broadcasts, Zuckerberg and his team’s new Place Tips feature is taking it further and could very well end up directly challenging Foursquare.

12:55 PM

So, Apple dropped iOS 8.1.3 earlier on this week for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, a release that may be the last before iOS 8.2 rolls out in the near future. With users concerned about jailbreaks, potential bugs and other such info, we’re going to make a few clarifications on what you should, or should not expect from iOS 8.1.3 if you decide to go ahead and install it.

12:40 PM

Intel is getting one step closer to its goal of eliminating cables from personal computers, saying Thursday that its newest chip for work computers -- which packs in several wire-free features -- is now available.

The fifth-generation Core vPro processor provides improved performance, longer battery life and better graphics than its fourth-generation predecessor, Intel said. On top of that, the chip provides two new functions to power a more wire-free workplace. It includes Intel's wireless display technology, which is designed to let employees share presentations on conference room displays without the need for cords, and wireless docking, which enables users to connect their laptops to a large display, keyboard and mouse. These two features were still mostly in testing in the previous generation.

4:31 AM

Xiaomi's high-end but reasonably-priced phones and flash sale model have in just about six months turned it from a Chinese newcomer into a brand everyone knows, even if not too many people have been able to purchase the company's devices.

The Xiaomi Mi 4launched in China in July 2014, just ahead of the India launch of the Xiaomi Mi 3. Six months later, this gets repeated, with the Xiaomi Mi Notelaunch in China in January coming just ahead of the India launch of the Mi 4.

4:24 AM

LG Chemical and LG Display are set to start mass-producing new all-plastic flexible OLED display panels by July. The firms are said to have given details on the new flexible display technology, and have made the first samples available for customers.

The flexible plastic-OLED (P-OLED) displays made by LG until now (LG G Flex and G Flex2) still feature some glass in them, limiting the bending radius to a maximum of 75mm while also preventing them from being shatter-proof. However, the upcoming all-plastic OLED display panels from LG now feature a bending radius at a much sharper 30mm, and are virtually shatter-proof, as reported by OLED Display website

4:14 AM

January 21 marked an important milestone for Microsoft as the Windows 10 Next chapter event took place and revealed an amazing amount of new information concerning the future of the popular OS on both desktop and portable devices. One of the things that became abundantly clear is that us tech giant is really making progress and investing in its new One Windows philosophy.

4:03 AM

If you were looking for a way to stream – and control – your favorite PC games on your Android device, then this awesome app for your smartphone and tablet will help you achieve just that. Head on after the jump for further details on the app and how it works.

While there are an array of game streaming apps available on the Play Store, as well as gadgets like NVIDIA Shield, only a few offer the often needed simplicity and to-the-point functionality. Enter – Remotr, the latest app for Google’s mobile platform, allowing you to stream your PC games to your Android device with near zero latency or degradation in visuals. According to the developers, you can play "PC games on your Android mobile device for free, enjoying the same performance and visual quality as if you were playing the games directly on your computer."

3:56 AM

iOS 8.1.3 Pangu, TaiG and PP jailbreak exploits for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch has been patched by Apple with the release of this new firmware today. More details can be found right here past the jump.

If you’ve been jailbreaking for a while now, you already know the drill, which involves completely swerving any new build of iOS until they’re deemed safe by an established, knowledgeable member of the jailbreaking fold. But for the benefit of those less familiar jailbreakers, you must not update to iOS 8.1.3.

3:20 AM

Along with the roll-out of iOS 8.1.3 download, Apple has also introduced OS X Yosemite 10.10.2 to the fold. As indicated by the version number, it’s more of a bug-fix update that improves general stability and functionality than one offering any notable new features, and you can find the full details right after the leap.

Yosemite has enjoyed a largely incident-free route to market since hitting the Mac App Store late last year, with relatively few bugs or major issues having arisen during what remains its infancy. Often, those teething issues can hinder the transitional period for many users, but while iOS 8 did hit a couple of roadblocks when it first trickled out to the community, the same cannot be said for the latest flavor of OS X.

11:27 AM

iOS 8.1.3 download links, which includes bug fixes and minor performance enhancements, has just been released for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and we’ve all the details right here under one roof.

iOS 8.1.2 was rolled out last month, but it seems that with iOS 8, Apple is intent on addressing issues early rather than letting them fester for weeks on end. Thus, where the last update brought a fix to the problem of paid ringtones disappearing, iOS 8.1.3 packs a couple more fixes to ensure that iDevice users continue to enjoy a bug-free experience.

11:09 AM

For most of us, choosing a smartphone is a big deal. After all, we must consider core features like battery life and software, as well as the less pressing but still important aspects, like the finish. One way to truly make a statement and distinguish your device from the rest of the crowd is to purchase a quirky case, and while the market is awash with some weird and wonderful covers, there are those that are just plain weird. Here we round up our top 5 weirdest cases for iPhone.

6:39 PM

Android tablets are a dime a dozen these days. Look in any electronics store and you'll see a sea of virtually indistinguishable slates, few of which manage to stand out.

Dell's new Venue 8 7000 tablet is a noteworthy exception. The Venue 8 7000 -- sometimes also referred to as the Venue 8 7000 Series or the Venue 8 7840 -- is a distinctively stylish tablet with some unusually compelling qualities. Its name may be awkward and forgettable, but the device itself is anything but.

And with a price of $400 -- the same as Google's flagship Nexus 9 tablet -- it's one of the most interesting Android options available today.

6:21 PM

It’s still a rare occurrence to find a smartphone with built-in wireless charging capabilities these days with the notable exception of the mid-to-high end Lumia lineup. Samsung has opted for a different strategy for several generations of Galaxy flagships, providing optional back covers to those who want to do away with cables.

The Galaxy Note 4 continues this tradition and, in typical Samsung fashion, two options are available, a plain charging back, and an S-View case.

6:08 PM

Apple’s iCloud Web service has been treated to one or two housekeeping updates, including an all-new zoom feature and, more notably, the ability to send photos through email à la iOS. Full details after the break.

iCloud is one of those services that, the more you use it, the more familiar it becomes. Apple has been constant in its refinement of the Web feature set, allowing users to alter settings and manage devices / machines with consummate ease, and has apparently made a few more adjustments over the past day or so.

4:45 PM

Wi-Fi hotspots are incredibly common nowadays, and you don’t even have to be in the most built-up of areas to find a connectable router. But there are still those occasions where a hotspot cannot be found, or an apparently public network is closed off by means a password, and rather than leaving you to ask around for those magical characters, there’s an app that allows users to submit networks and passwords for the wider audience to utilize. Networks are plotted on a map, meaning you can move around towards nearby hotspots, and when you’re within range, password details are provided on tap.

2:58 PM

Can you believe that there have now been ten different iPhones released since its initial inception back in 2007? It’s a number we can’t say we’d thought about until we came across a video comparing the speaker volume of all the handsets till date.

Ten!

With that out of the way, the testing done revolves around an issue that has actually plagued the iPhone since day one. Namely, the speaker on early iPhones was abysmal, particularly when it came to its rather low maximum volume. Things improved over the years, culminating in the current state of play that sees the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus seemingly much louder than any of their predecessors. But have you ever wondered just how much louder or, indeed, whether it was all in your head in the first place?

2:51 PM

Is the Facebook app for Android slowing down your entire experience? In light of the abundance of budget Android phones out there, the social networking giant has just launched Facebook Lite – a lighter version of the original for Google’s mobile platform. Head on after the jump to catch all the details on this development.

Not everyone reading this has had hands-on experience with low cost budget phones running Android, but these devices hold a significantly larger share of the market in comparison to premium ones, especially in the developing countries and regions. With the OS technically being able to support most of the latest apps out there on any device, these low-cost phones offer a very sluggish Facebook experience, especially when prepped up with the stand-alone Messenger app. Slow already, couple this up with the second generation of data services such as GPRS and EDGE, and you have one annoyed user who does not care much to understand the difference between an OS running an app, and the actual performance.

2:19 PM

Updated: You can now download the latest version 5.1.11 of Google Play Store APK which brings with it a bunch of changes and bug fixes that users have been facing for quite a while. This release also adds more Material Design, Wearable sensors/activity data, among other things. The download link below has been updated with latest version.

Google Play Store APK version 5.1.11 is now available to download. The all new Google Play Store 5 carries more elements of Material Design as has been seen earlier in the Android L Developer Preview releases. Google Play Newsstand was also updated with a complete Material Design overhaul, and a day later, Google+ was updated with additional Material Design elements. So what does the new Play Store 5 make its play on? Read on after the jump to find out!

Straight away, you will notice that the app icon for the new Play Store carrier the new, flatter look, keeping itself in line with Material Design’s new aesthetics.

1:10 AM

YotaPhone 2 is among those smartphones you just can’t miss in the news. It is unique and innovative and we just had to take it for a spin. So, here is the unique YotaPhone 2 arriving at our office. And it has a premium retail box to match.

The YotaPhone 2 isn’t just a flagship with a 5″ 1080p AMOLED screen and running on a Snapdragon 800 chip. It is more than just a phone, thanks to its rear 4.7″ electronic paper display, which can be used as an e-book reader, as well as a primary display to operate the basic phone functions.

3:52 PM

Official download links of Windows 10 Technical Preview are now live over at Microsoft. More details, along with download links can be found below.

Microsoft has taken the wraps off its new Windows 10 operating system, which is not only heavily focused on business and enterprise, but also seeks to draw a level of parity between its current pool of ecosystems. Following the announcement, the software maker promised that a Technical Preview of Windows 10 would be available to download from October 1st, and now, those looking to test out this unfinished OS can do so.

1:29 PM

The animated flick -The LEGO Movie – has been spawned from the big screen title that it is, to a game for your iPhone and iPad devices. Head on after the jump for the download link and further details.

While the hype surrounding the title’s release is well justified, and where games spawning from movies is nothing new, The LEGO Movie was in fact inspired by LEGO games as it is with a video game being released for various video consoles and PCs. All of this happened almost a year back following the movie hitting theaters, however, the release did not follow with one for the mobile platform.

1:18 PM

Nobody wants to spend the time posing for a portrait photograph only to find out that the resulting image is spoilt by poor lighting or maybe even the dark circles under the subject’s eyes following that heavy night out. Let’s be honest now, we’ve all looked at a portrait and wished we could iron out some of the metaphorical – and very real – wrinkles.

The beauty of using a smartphone as your main camera is that you can do some pretty impressive image editing and manipulation right on the device within seconds of taking the shot. One app that comes in useful when taking portraits is Ava Photo.

1:14 PM

Facebook-owned WhatsApp, the world’s most popular messaging app with more than 700 million monthly active users, can now be used in a web browser. As first noted by Dutch website Droidapp.nl, the WhatsApp web app can be accessed at web.whatsapp.com.

At the moment, the web application works on Windows PCs and Android devices, but not in mobile or desktop Safari. However, it can be accessed on desktop Macs using Google’s Chrome browser, but not on iPhones and iPads running Chrome.

Support for more browsers is “coming soon,” says a notice on the website.

3:35 PM

It seems that today’s Microsoft event – rather than unleashing a bunch of juicy, never-before-heard details on Windows 10 and its associated products – is merely a checklist of all the tidbits we’ve been hearing over the past couple of months. Still, it’s good to know that the rumor mill is doing its job as efficiently as ever, and with the reports of Microsoft working on a new "Spartan" browser to replace the long-standing Internet Explorer, the company has now officially taken the wraps off Project Spartan for Windows 10.

Internet Explorer has had its fair share of ups and downs over the years, and despite a mini-revival with IE10, the fact that Windows 10 offers so many new features and alterations was bound to have some sort of effect on IE’s immediate future. Not long after Microsoft first gave us an inkling of Windows 10 back in late September, it was suggested that Spartan, yet another Halo-themed name that lines up nicely with the likes of Cortana, could finally put paid to Internet Explorer, but whilst today’s announcement has confirmed this, we don’t yet know whether Project Spartan’s arrival will spark the immediate demise of Microsoft’s current, omni-present surfing client.

1:01 PM

It wasn’t so long ago that Microsoft would charge big bucks to consumers looking to grab the next version of its Windows operating system, but as part of the major event today unleashing new info on the upcoming Windows 10 software, it has been confirmed that those on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will be able to make the jump without having to pay.

There are, as you might expect, one or two catches, although nothing of major consequence or concern to the majority. Notably, it’ll only be free for the 12-month period following Windows 10′s initial launch, so where the software company is being somewhat generous in allowing consumers to dive into Windows 10 sans the usual fee, it could be construed as a thinly-veiled ploy to get everybody switching early.

12:55 PM

This ingenious smartphone case lets users expand their device’s storage without having to plug in an external thumb drive. Of course, this means that phones which lack expandable storage can now do so very easily. Head on after the jump for further details on this smartphone case.

We’ve come across a load of cases for our smartphones that double up as night vision cameras, to virtual reality goggles. While these add great value to our smartphones, not many in the ‘case’ business have stopped to take a look at issues as vital as storage needs. Enter – ExoDrive Cases, a crowd-funded project pitched in Brisbane, Australia, which is aiming to provide expandable storage to phones in the form of a case.

12:52 PM

HTC may have conceived the selfie phone to rule the midrange – if the price is right. HTC cut few corners with the Desire 820 - it has an ample 5.5″ screen of sufficient 720p resolution, HTC’s signature stereo speakers up front, a 13MP main camera and 8MP front-facing snapper capable of 1080p video, aimed at selfie enthusiasts and a body with colored accents.

The list goes on to include a 64-bit Snapdragon 615 chipset with an octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM and optional second SIM card slot alongside the microSD card. It really rounds off to a high-value midrange offering that spares neither style nor functionality.

2:59 AM

Popping into a Starbucks cafe serves as the perfect way to get a little caffeine hit en route to work, and as many U.S.-based coffee lovers have begun to discover, Starbucks outlets are also now providing smartphones and tablets with a customary boost via new, on-table wireless charging solutions. Having proven rather popular among customers, Starbucks’ new charging pads are hitting London, UK, with an initial fleet of ten outlets benefiting from the implementation.

There’s no doubting that, as smartphones have continued to improve exponentially over the past few years, battery retention rates haven’t increased as impressively, and so despite the wonders of 4G, multi-core performance and other such treats, we’re often left out and about with a very expensive, battery-bereft brick.

2:43 AM

LG is definitely no stranger to flashy commercials and visually impressive promos and the Korean giant seems to be going all out for the LG G Flex 2 – the latest addition to its device lineup. The recently released video is somewhat of an extended version of the clip show at CES 2015 when the smartphone was announced.

The minute and a half promo is nothing short of spectacular. Visuals are gorgeous and it is full to the brim with impressive renderings of the device and dramatic animations. The emphasis is on the interesting features that the LG G Flex 2 brings to the table.

10:32 AM

Asus has launched the Fonepad 8 (FE380CG) tablet in India, priced at Rs. 13,999.

The Taiwanese company has not revealed availability details of the tablet; though it has confirmed that the Asus Fonepad 8 (FE380CG) will be exclusive to the company's own stores and Flipkart.

Initially announced at Computex 2014, the Fonepad 8 (FE380CG) is a refreshed version of the Fonepad 8 tablet and runs Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box with the company's Asus ZenUI on top. The highlight of the tablet is that it supports voice-calling and 3G connectivity.

The dual-SIM supporting Fonepad 8 (FE380CG) features an 8-inch display with a resolution of 1280x800 pixels. Notably for the Fonepad 8, the company narrowed bezels to 5.06mm to provide a 72.2 percent screen-to-body ratio. The new 8-inch Asus Fonepad 8 (FE380CG) measures 12cm across.

10:25 AM

Strontium Technology, a PC and flash memory maker, has launched three new accessories for smartphones, tablets, and cameras.
The firm has introduced Strontium iDrive 3.0 with Lightning connector for iPhones and iPads, said to be the first external storage drive for iOS devices and one that doesn't require a cable. Strontium Nitro Plus On-the-Go (OTG) USB 3.0 drive, and Strontium 128GB Nitro UHS-1 (U1) microSDXC flash card, all of which are available online in India via popular e-commerce websites.

10:20 AM

Have a date that you just can’t wait for? In fact, are you looking forward to it so much that you find yourself wondering just how many days you have to wait before the big day comes around? It might be a birthday, wedding day or just a big night out. Whatever the reason for all the excitement, SNOWidget has your back.

There are already plenty of countdown timers on iOS, and some of them even have widgets for Notification Center. What none of them do, other than SNOWidget, is put a countdown timer in front of falling snow.

10:10 AM

Finally! A new tool named iOS 8.1.2 PP Jailbreak for Mac OS X is out! It supports all versions of iOS 8.x, including the latest 8.1.2, on all iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices.

1:25 PM

With so many computers now coming with built-in cameras, especially notebooks, some people tend to worry that their cameras are being used by third-parties who want to spy on them. Most cameras have a light that illuminates when they’re active, but that’s not always enough for the tinfoil hat brigade.

But let us be honest here for a second, even if that little light is on, you’re still going to want to know which application is using it, and that’s not always obvious – especially if the app doesn’t want you to know what it’s doing in the first place.

3:49 AM

If you find yourself charging your iPhone or Android handset via a USB cable connected to your laptop or computer, you would know very well just how sluggish the charging speed is through that medium. Enter – SONICable – the USB cable to charge your Android or iPhone in half the time than any other ordinary solution.

Charging a smartphone is becoming more of a hassle as our devices are getting more powerful year over year. Sure manufacturers have made our gadgets increasingly efficient, but that only increases our usage as a result. Then we have our usual software settings and tricks to save up on battery usage, but USB charging is often unable to cope up with the rate of depletion.

3:34 AM

It has been a while since Microsoft announced that it will be dropping the Nokia branding on all future Lumia devices. With the Lumia 535 out, the Lumia 435 and 532 Windows Phone devices have been announced as well, and we take a closer look at the details, right after this jump.

The Lumia 535 was the first Windows Phone device from Microsoft that saw all traces of the Nokia branding being removed. While the 535 was no premium phone contrary to how a lot of fans may have wished so, it is clear that Microsoft is not abandoning Nokia’s forte of targeting the mass consumers looking for budget smartphones.

3:41 AM

It’s been yet another busy day apps-wise for Google, and having rolled out a new Classroom app for iOS and Android users, the company has also taken the wraps off a major update to its Translate app. Notably, there’s a great new feature that can automatically translates words as they’re detected using a mobile device’s camera.

This type of real-time translation is not a new concept, and has, in fact, been lurking for years in the form of Word Lens app on iOS which Google acquired recently and added the technology to Translate app today. It’s a welcome addition to the fold, and although this new feature works without an Internet connection, it does arrive with one or two early limitations.

3:19 AM

This app is arguably the best running and fitness tracker for iPhone and Android, and has gone free for a limited period of time. More details and download links can be found right here.

Runtastic PRO is by far one of the most sought-after running and fitness tracker app for that athlete in you, and being an iOS or Android user, you can now grab the title free of cost to track your athletic outings from now on.

4:57 PM

The Galaxy A7 smartphone from Samsung has been announced, and it is being touted as one of the slimmest phones ever from the Korean electronics giant. Cladded in metal, we take a closer look at what makes this phone different from what we’ve become accustomed to from Samsung.

The announcement of the A7 came in this Monday, and like the rest of the Galaxy A lineup followers would have come across, this smartphone is being advertised as a modern and hip looking device, targeted chiefly at the younger audience.

4:06 PM

Remote desktop apps are not uncommon, particularly given the increasing display sizes of smartphones and tablets, and last year, Google introduced Chrome Remote Desktop for Android. The app, as you might imagine, enables Android users to connect to their PC or Mac remotely, and so far, has garnered rave reviews from users. Given the successful release for Android, the Big G has now opted to deliver the experience to those on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and we’ve got all of the details, as well as the download link of Chrome Remote Desktop for iOS under one roof.

Although it caters to both Windows and OS X, it does require the Chrome Remote Desktop app that can be found at the Chrome Web Store. Once you’ve installed it, you’ll be met with an access code that you’ll then need to punch into the app on your iOS device, and once both device and computer have been formally introduced, your remote desktop experience can commence.

3:54 PM

Here’s a step-by-step guide how you can remotely control iPhone, iPad from your PC / Mac. Complete instructions, including video tutorial, can be found after the jump.

If the idea of remotely controlling your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch through your computer is one that piques your interest, then we’ve got a little tutorial that’ll guide you through how it’s done. It’s fairly simple to set up, requires very little prior knowledge, and provided you have a computer, a jailbroken iOS device and can download Google’s Chrome browser, you’re good to go.

4:26 AM

Eight years ago today, on the 9th of January, the first iPhone keynote was delivered by Steve Jobs at Macworld in San Francisco, and not many could have imagined the revolutionizing player this little gadget would prove to be in shaping the mobile phone industry.

Years before the iPhone was first announced and revealed, Apple fans had been insistently asking the Mac maker for packing in mobile phone connectivity into their iPods for obvious reasons, and that time had finally arrived as Jobs took to the stage in one of the most incredible stagecraft performances set to unveil a tech product.

2:39 PM

The first Nokia-branded Android tablet, the Nokia N1, as expected, has been launched in China. The tablet is currently up for pre-orders at CNY 1,599 (Rs. 16,308 approximately), which is roughly around the price stated at its unveiling - $249 (roughly Rs. 15,400) before taxes.

Unfortunately, the Finnish company has not revealed any availability details of the N1 Android tablet for other markets; though Nokia is likely to launch the tablet in Europe next month.

Unveiled in November last year, the Nokia N1 tablet comes with a brand-licensing agreement with Foxconn to manufacture, distribute, and sell the tablet in China.

3:23 AM

Asus, besides launching its Zenfone 2 and Transformer-branded tablets at CES 2015, seems ready to announce the Fonepad 7 (FE171CG), which is a refreshed version of the last year's Asus Fonepad 7 (FE170CG). The voice-calling tablet has been listed on the company website along with its specifications. The firm however, did not disclose the price and availability details.

The Asus Fonepad 7 (FE171CG) is a dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) voice-calling tablet that runs Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box. There is no confirmation for the tablet's Android 5.0 Lollipop update as of now. The tablet also sports a 7-inch WSVGA (1024x600 pixels) resolution IPS display with anti-fingerprint coating.

The voice-calling tablet runs on Intel's Atom Z2520 processor (1MB Cache, 2 cores, 4 threads, base frequency of 1.2GHz) coupled with 1GB or 2GB RAM options depending on the region. The Asus Fonepad 7 (FE171CG) also features a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, while the rear cameras (8-megapixel or 5-megapixel) may vary in different regions. Available in 8GB or 16GB inbuilt storage variants, the device also includes 5GB of Lifetime Asus Webstorage Space.

3:16 AM

Thinking about picking up a new smartwatch for the new year? iOS users have to wait a while before the Apple Watch hits store shelves, but owners of Android phones already have some compelling choices available.

Google's Android Wear platform has expanded considerably since its launch this past summer, in terms of both software functionality and the typ

es of hardware you can find. Whether you want something fancy and elegant or casual and sporty, there's a Wear watch out there that fits the bill.

All Wear watches are not created equal, though -- and style aside, each has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. I've spent time using all the current devices. Here's a detailed real-world look at how they compare, presented in the order in which they were released.

(Note: The current Wear watches are all now fairly comparable in terms of performance and stamina -- good for a full day's use but generally requiring a charge every night -- so I won't be focusing on those areas here. I'm also not including the Samsung Gear Live or LG G Watch in this analysis, as those early devices pale in comparison to the newer models and are difficult to recommend at this point.)

3:02 AM

We’re all for app developers getting their dues. After all, if it wasn’t for their awesome work then we wouldn’t have the brilliant apps that we use day in, day out. Whether it be an iPad, an iPhone or one of the thousands of Android devices available, it’s the apps that make it all work.

But that being said, why pay for an app when it’s legitimately available for free? If a developer chooses to put an app up for free when it normally commands a fee then who are we to look that particular gift horse in the mouth?

11:29 PM

Bitcoin has had many ups, downs, and a boatload of coverage in its emergence as the poster child of the cryptocurrency boom, and while it appears to be enduring something of a quiet phase, it continues to garner a rich following across the Web. As with many modern digital technologies, it can seem an alien concept to those on the outside, but if you’ve been hearing a lot about Bitcoin and are intrigued enough to finally cave and see what all the fuss is about, then a new iOS title might serve as the perfect gateway.

The game, which is called SaruTobi, isn’t much to write home about in itself. It’s a very basic experience featuring a swinging monkey and some very cute graphics, but the real treat is in the reward.

3:19 PM

A day back, some key details pertaining to the elusive MacBook Air with Retina display were made public, and accompanying the revelations, we also saw some impressive renderings that offered a visual take on the abundance of information. Now, one of our favorite designers has taken it upon himself to mockup the 12-inch MacBook Air in various different settings, and if it is indicative of the final product, we’ve a great deal to be excited about.

The idea of a Retina display gracing the MacBook Air is one that has lingered for many years; ever since the MacBook Pro was treated to a sharper panel well over two years back. But as per the recent coverage, the wait may have been worthwhile, with Apple apparently making some fundamental design alterations in order to retain the Air’s lightweight profile while bumping the resolution considerably.

1:09 PM