watches

Apple hires Yves Saint Laurent CEO Paul Deneve

It appears that Apple will soon be taking tips from a fashion insider.

The tech giant officially annouced that it hired Paul Deneve -- the former CEO of luxury fashion goods company Yves Saint Laurent -- to work on "special projects," according to Bloomberg.

"We're thrilled to welcome Paul Deneve to Apple," Apple told Bloomberg. "He'll be working on special projects as a vice president reporting directly to Tim Cook."

Earlier Tuesday, AppleInsider reported on a tip it received that Deneve had been hired. The news source speculated that Deneve may be … Read more

Apple extends iWatch trademark filings to more countries

Apple's iWatch is already making a name for itself, at least when it comes to trademark filings.

Applications to trademark the iWatch moniker have popped up in Mexico, Taiwan, and Turkey, according to the folks at 9to5Mac and MacRumors. The filings in Mexico and Taiwan directly list Apple as the applicant, while the one in Turkey came from an attorney who has worked with Apple in the past. All three were filed on June 3.

Columbia also appears to be on the list, according to a 9to5Mac reader who linked to the filing document. These four new trademark requests … Read more

Saudis imprisoned for allegedly inciting protests via Facebook

The Saudi Arabian government has sentenced seven men to prison on charges they used Facebook to incite protests and encourage illegal gathering, according to Human Rights Watch. Their sentences range from five to 10 years.

"Sending people off to years in prison for peaceful Facebook posts sends a strong message that there's no safe way to speak out in Saudi Arabia, even on online social networks," Human Rights Watch deputy Middle East director Joe Stork said in a statement.

The seven men were originally arrested in September 2011 and have been in jail ever since. When they … Read more

Xbox Music expands to Web browsers

CNET Update is hailing a helicopter:

In this episode of Update:

- Rock out to Xbox Music from your Web browser free for 30 days.

- Find a deal for date night on Groupon Reserve -- no voucher required.

- Speculate why Apple filed a trademark for "iWatch" in Japan.

- Prepare for a future with self-destructing e-mail messages.

- Keep an eye out on Twitter for English translations of tweets, powered by Bing.

- Live like the rich and famous with Uber's helicopter-ride service in New York City on Wednesday.

CNET Update delivers the tech news … Read more

Is a smartwatch in your future?

Maybe it's the arrival of the dog days of summer and a respite from hard news, but the rumor of a possible wearable computer from Apple is again making the rounds.

Apple has reportedly applied for a trademark for the "iWatch" name in Japan. The June 3 filing with the Japan Patent Office was made public last week, according to Bloomberg, which first reported on the application.

That would fit with the run of rumors throughout the year that Apple management is developing a wearable device -- in this case a watch or "smartwatch" that … Read more

Apple reportedly applies for 'iWatch' trademark in Japan

Apple apparently likes how the "iWatch" moniker fits a wearable computer and has reportedly applied for a trademark for the name in Japan.

The iPhone maker seeks to protect the name for a product that is categorized as a handheld computer or watch device, according to a filing earlier this month with the Japan Patent Office. The filing was only made public in the past week, according to Bloomberg, which first reported on the application.

The rumor mill adopted the name -- perhaps derisively mocking Apple's "iProduct" naming convention -- when reports emerged that the … Read more

Apple supplier Foxconn cooks up its own smartwatch

One of Apple's key suppliers has beaten the company to the punch with its own smartwatch.

At its shareholders meeting on Wednesday, Foxconn, aka Hon Hai, demoed a smartwatch that can wirelessly connect to an iPhone to display incoming phone calls and Facebook posts, Want China Times has reported. The watch can also keep track of your heartbeat, respiration, and other vital signs. And if your vitals aren't tip-top, the device can even offer advice on how to get them up to snuff.… Read more

Sony SmartWatch 2: A second chance at getting it right

Sony's first SmartWatch didn't quite live up to expectations. It's expensive and has poor functionality; you need to install multiple apps to enable basic features such as notifications from calls or messages. And it isn't even water-resistant.

The original SmartWatch made competing products, such as the Pebble Watch, interesting choices for those hunting for smartwatches. The Pebble works with both iOS and Android, and is water-resistant.

However, with the introduction of the SmartWatch 2, Sony has made some modifications and improvements. Here’s a quick look at some of its features.

Design The SmartWatch 2 is … Read more

Source: Sony's next-generation SmartWatch will include NFC

Sony's rumored next-generation SmartWatch is real, and it will offer some notable feature upgrades to the company's current wearable tech offering, a source has confirmed to CNET.

The news of a new SmartWatch is not surprising, given that Sony's Xperia Twitter account has all but confirmed a wristwatch-related announcement at next week's Mobile Asia Expo 2013 trade show that runs from June 26 to 28. The new model will be a successor to the Sony SmartWatch MN2SW, which is currently available for around $100.

But our source -- who has provided accurate information on unannounced Sony products in the past -- has indicated some specific features said to be available on the new watch.… Read more