NASA says Muslims Banned From Mars

Space enthusiasts have been chatting for over a year now about the news of Mars One and how nearly anyone can sign up for a one-way trip to Mars in the near future. It can be a difficult decision for some—a chance to start over, the opportunity to be among the first to populate another planet and to possibly live on forever in Martian history. But many others see it as a dangerous trip, one akin to suicide for those who choose to go. That is why according to NASA, Muslim clerics from the United Arab Emirates have banned practicing Muslims from traveling to Mars.

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Why the Android-powered Nokia X is great for Microsoft

There are few better ways to prove your impartiality than by letting marquee partner Nokia run a rival platform.

The new Nokia X.

You would think Nokia's first Android smartphone would make for the start of a tense relationship with soon-to-be parent Microsoft.

Well, you'd be wrong.

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Say the magic words to wake the next generation of voice-controlled devices

A new generation of audio and motion-sensing technology based on the human ear is always listening out for your voice.

In a world of smart watches, fitness trackers and other devices that don't lend themselves to keyboards or touch screens, a new generation of audio and motion technology based on the human ear could see you telling your phone what to do by waving it in the air, tapping on the table, or saying the magic words.

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Samsung Galaxy S5 to be unveiled today

Samsung Electronics will unveil its highly-anticipated Galaxy S5 at the event scheduled at the Mobile World Congress on Monday in Barcelona.

The Galaxy S5 is variously rumoured to have a fingerprint scanner on the home button; a 5.24-inch, full high-definition display; a water and dust-proof case, possibly metallic, and a 16 megapixel camera. 

Samsung has already sent out invitations for "Samsung unPacked 5" event on February 24 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

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Samsung breaks from Android with redesigned, Tizen-powered Gear 2 smartwatches

Korean electronics giant Samsung on Saturday unveiled the second generation of its Gear smartwatch line, updating the wrist-worn device's industrial design and moving from Google's Android to the Samsung-backed Tizen operating system.

Samsung made the Gear 2 slightly thinner than its predecessor and relocated its camera from the strap to the watch's main body, giving users the option of changing straps. A second model, the Galaxy Gear Neo, is mostly identical but does not feature a camera.

In addition, the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo add built-in heart rate sensors alongside a pedometer, features Apple is rumored to include in its so-called "iWatch." Samsung promises real-time feedback "allowing users to develop a customizable fitness routine and monitor their heart rate in order to improve their overall well-being."

Both Samsung wearables sport 1.63-inch Super AMOLED displays and are powered by 1-gigahertz dual-core processors with 512 megabytes of RAM and 4 gigabytes of internal memory. Battery life from the 300 mAh lithium ion battery is said to be 2 to 3 days.

There is no word on why Samsung chose to eschew Android, though there have been reports that relations between Google and its largest OEM partners are strained. Along with the change to Tizen — the development of which is guided jointly by Samsung and Intel — Samsung has added several first-party applications including a standalone music player and television remote control.

As before, the Gear line will only connect to Samsung's own handsets. The company said they are "compatible with more than dozens of Samsung Galaxy smartphones at launch."

Samsung indicated that the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo will be available starting in April, though pricing has not yet been revealed. Consumers will be able to purchase the watches in a variety of colors, including Charcoal Black, Gold Brown and Wild Orange for the Gear 2 and Charcoal Black, Mocha Grey and Wild Orange for Gear 2 Neo.

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