8th-generation Intel Core processors unveiling next week Intel Intel's Kaby Lake chips are still pretty fresh, but AMD's big Ryzen push means that the chip giant is getting ready to talk about its 8th-generation silicon. Must read : AMD or Intel: Which is the right desktop processor for you? 8th-generation Intel Core chips, codenamed Coffee Lake, wil…

Qualcomm Qualcomm has unveiled an expansion to the Spectra Camera Module Program to give Android handsets across the spectrum access to improved camera image quality and computer vision applications, including mobile augmented reality (AR).The US chip maker revealed on Tuesday that the Spectra program is now being boosted with a range of new camera modules for enhanc…

A rechargeable zinc-air battery. The University of Sydney Chemical engineering researchers at the University of Sydney (USyd) and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have developed a solution for recharging zinc-air batteries that could see them applied to electronic devices in place of lithium ion batteries. According to professor Yuan Chen, lead author of…

File Photo Researchers hope the future of our semiconductors lies not within silicon, but new materials which can be used to create transistors ten times smaller than our current circuitry. Last week, Stanford associate professor of electrical engineering Eric Pop and post-doc Michal Mleczko revealed a new study into the applications of semiconductor material po…

What's the best way to avoid problems?Buy devices from a reputable vendor. I've yet to come across a charger from Apple or Samsung or Amazon that has been unsafe. As for third-party brands, I've found Anker to be consistently high-quality and I've never had an issue with a product.Avoid no-name brands, or brands that you've never heard of.If in doubt, seek advice. Reputable manufacturers are always open to being asked safety-related issues, so if you think something isn't right, disconnect the d…

Since the screen takes up half the iPhone, and the screen is made of glass, and glass breaks, a screen protector can mean the difference between a broken iPhone and an iPhone that lives to fight another day.At only 0.3mm thin, the Anker screen protector doesn't add any bulk to the iPhone, but it does offer some extra protection against scratches, chips, and breakages.Combine this with a heavy-duty case - such as the OtterBox Commuter (also listed here) - and you have all-round protection for you…

Chipmaker Qualcomm will partner with IT services firm Logicalis to create a portfolio of Internet of Things (IoT) services and products geared at Brazilian clients.The companies will seek to exploit opportunities within manufacturing, agribusiness, healthcare and smart cities, with Qualcomm technologies being applied for connected sensors and other products, while Logicalis will contribute with its development, integration and consulting expertise. …

A handful of tech industry heavyweights have formed a consortium aimed at harnessing the big data thrown off by connected cars. The Automotive Edge Computing Consortium includes Denso, Ericsson, Intel, NTT, NTT Docomo and Toyota. The consortium is aiming to build an ecosystem revolving around connected car data. This data will ultimately connect to cloud computing networks to support real-time maps, driving assistance and other services. The Automoti…

Chuwi hasn't yet released LapBook Air pricing but it's made a name for itself by delivering laptops and 2-in-1s with decent specs at budget prices. Image: Chuwi Since Apple doesn't seem interested in updating the MacBook Air, a Chinese clone specialist is having a crack at it, albeit in a laptop running Windows 10. Chuwi, the company behind a number of Microsoft's Su…

You're in the market for a new desktop processor, but you're not sure which is the best processor for you? Read on! Must read : It turns out the iPad was just too expensive after all Before we go any further, I feel the need to point something out. There are a lot of processors out there, and the market is rapidly changing, so it's impossible for me to tell you the exact processor you need. All I can do is offer pointers and guidance based on y…