Microsoft has begun prototyping smartwatch devices under the Surface team, according to sources familiar with company plans. Microsoft was previously reported to have been testing a smartwatch prototype by the Xbox accessories team, with the original plan of a "Joule" heart rate monitor. It has been confirmed that prototypes include a variety of removable wrist bands in blue, red, yellow, black, white and grey.
AmongTech claims that prototypes are housed in Oxynitride Aluminium, an expensive "translucent aluminium" that is said to be three times tougher than glass. It's believed Microsoft is testing the hardware with a modified version of Windows 8, with plans to integrate the devices with other hardware within the Windows ecosystem. Amongtech also claims that some prototypes include 6GB of storage and LTE support. It has been suggested that notifications and music control support will both be present.
It'll be interesting to see how Microsoft plans to introduce a smartwatch alongside its array of products and what the devices will be able to perform. We've looked at numerous kickstarters for "smartwatches," but we're sure everyone would rather see an official product from Redmond.
ROCCAT Vulcan AIMO 120 keyboard review: Apparently, keyboards can be sexy.
I'm a sucker for brushed metal. The ROCCAT Vulcan AIMO 120 keyboard delivers brushed metal in droves, with some of the most satisfying key presses I've ever experienced. This is a truly great keyboard.
Review: HONOR MagicBook 14 is a fun, low-cost notebook with one drawback
Those on a budget with just $550 may want to consider HONOR's MagicBook 14. While it runs a last-gen AMD Ryzen processor, the core features of this notebook are better than most in this price range. Here's our quick review of why you should (and shouldn't) get this affordable laptop.
Intel's 11th Gen Tiger Lake CPU lineup launching September 2
Intel is ready to enter September with a bang. The company invited members of the press to an event set for September 2, where we're likely to see it launch its 11th Gen CPU lineup, codenamed Tiger Lake.
Razer Blade 15 too pricey? Check out these 9 alternatives.
The Razer Blade 15 is an excellent gaming laptop, but if you don't want to choose it, there are plenty of excellent alternative options, too. Here are the ones we recommend.
