Bytes: What’s new in tech

Samsung offers wrist wear

A major player has joined the race to market a “smartwatch,” said Aaron Souppouris in TheVerge.com. Samsung last week unveiled its new Galaxy Gear, which puts “a huge 1.63-inch” display, framed in metal, on the user’s wrist. Samsung has even built a camera into the device’s rubber strap. But don’t toss out your smartphone just yet. The Galaxy Gear is more like “a companion for your phone,” linking to a handset in your pocket or bag using a special app and Bluetooth technology. “Once you’ve found a compatible phone and connected it up, you’ll be able to place and answer calls, take voice memos, and get all of your phone’s notifications up on the screen.”

Xbox Music broadens its base

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Xbox Music users can now stream their tunes anywhere, said Steven Musil in CNET.com. Microsoft last week rolled out iOS and Android versions of its Xbox Music service, which previously provided access to its catalog of some 30 million songs only to Windows devices. “The expansion comes less than a year after the company revamped its Zune Music service to better compete against Apple’s iTunes, Pandora, and Spotify.” It’s being seen as the latest move in Microsoft’s ongoing effort to turn its popular game console “into the entertainment hub of the home.” Customers can access Xbox Music by purchasing an Xbox Music Pass, which costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year.

Nokia deal a boon to consumers

Microsoft’s purchase of Nokia’s handset business is going to shake up the smartphone industry, said Renee Montagne and Steve Henn in NPR.org. “Suddenly every big company out there that makes software for smartphones now owns its own device manufacturer.” The deal may leave manufacturers like Samsung and HTC “caught standing in a game of musical chairs,” but it’s likely to be good news for consumers. “By buying Nokia, Microsoft is ensuring that there are going to be three viable choices in the market for smartphones instead of just two, with Google’s Android and Apple’s iPhone.” The deal also gives Nokia a lifeline; the Finnish company that once dominated the global cellphone market “was burning through its cash—many people expected it to run out of cash sometime in 2014.” Instead of failing, the unit will be helping Microsoft churn out millions of new smartphones per year.