Google is working on its own fitness smartwatch

Google has designed a medical wristband that can provide doctors real-time data on their patients' vital signs.

The wristband can measure the wearer's pulse, heartbeat, skin temperature and activity level, PC World reported.

Quoting Google, PC World said the device can also monitor the patient's behavior outside the hospital or clinic.

Google's life sciences group developed the wristband, which PC World said looks like a smartwatch with a square display.

PC World quoted Google spokesperson Jacquelyn Miller as saying Google now working with research partners to see if a constant stream of data can help doctors treat diseases better.

However, Miller said it may take years before they could measure how useful the device is.

Also, the device is not your typical consumer wearable - it's strictly for a medical setting.

Google has also not indicated if the device would run Android Wear. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News

source:gmanetwork.com

Xbox One wireless controllers to come to Windows

Gamers with Windows-based rigs, better start saving up: Microsoft is rolling out soon an adapter that allows Xbox One controllers to connect to Windows PCs wirelessly.

A report on PC World quoted Xbox head Phil Spencer as saying the wireless adapter for Xbox One controllers may come later this year, getting rid of the USB tether.

While the Xbox 360 controller for Windows had a wireless model, Microsoft stopped making the adapter easily available.

A report on PC World said this move may be part of Microsoft's drive to unify the Xbox and Windows ecosystems, or "to keep the Xbox semi-relevant to PC gamers." —Joel Locsin/JST, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Google Drive for Linux may be coming soon

 

Good news for users of computers running Linux: Google may soon make its Drive app available for the platform. That is if a reported leak proves accurate.

 

PC World said this could also finally fulfill Google's promise three years ago when it promised support for Linux for Drive, its free cloud-based storage service.

 

A PC World report cited screenshots showing Drive running on Ubuntu - "leaked straight from Google itself."

 

It cited Linux blog Web Upd8 as discovering the screenshots "buried in a recent Google Drive for Mac installer."

 

 

"This suggests that development is actually proceeding on Google Drive for Linux, and that Google has an internal build of the software that they’re working on. As Google themselves use Linux internally—in fact, they have their own Ubuntu-based Linux distribution known as 'Goobuntu' —it’s unsurprising they’d want their own software to run on their own computers," it said. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News

 

source: gmanetwork.com

Windows 8.1 finally overtakes XP in market share

Windows 8.1 has finally overtaken the 13-year-old Windows XP in November, though only narrowly, a tech site reported this week.

PC World cited figures from Statcounter showing Windows 8.1 had 9.31 percent of the desktop OS market share in October to 10.95 percent in November.

"Windows 8.1 is likely benefiting from the back-to-school season, as most new PCs are shipping with the operating system on board. Some Windows 8 users may still be getting around to the free upgrade as well, as Windows 8 usage dropped from 5.94 percent to 4.9 percent in November," it said.


In contrast, XP dropped from 11.95 percent to 10.69 percent during the same period.

But figures from another metrics firm, Netmarketshare, showed XP ahead of 8.1.

"It seems likely that Windows 8.1 will land on top for both metrics firms within a month or two," it said.

Microsoft has been discouraging users from continuing to use XP, which debuted in 2001, by stopping security updates for it.

Windows 7

However, it is still Windows 7 - rolled out in 2009 - that remains the most used version of Windows to date.

PC World said Windows 7 takes up 50.34 percent of the desktop market share.

"Expect a major upgrade offensive against Windows 7 next year, with rumors of free or cheap consumer upgrades to the more desktop-friendly Windows 10," PC World said. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com