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News

• 'Minority Report'-style goggles enable interaction with floating keyboards

  A Taiwan-based research institute announced a set of glasses that project a virtual heads-up display that offers users fingertip control.

• Consumers would prefer to buy a self-driving car from Google over Ford

  A new study released by KPMG shows that consumers trust tech companies more than auto companies for purchasing a self-driving car.

• An Amazon set-top box would be cheap, might streams others' content

  Amazon's plans for a set-top media box likely center around having a device it can use to sell myriad retail products and services the company already offers.

• Wireless charging from 30 feet away -- does startup have a game changer?

  Ossia unwrapped a wireless charging technology called Cota that's based on the same unlicensed spectrum that powers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and other wireless communication standards, and that can charge devices from as much as 10 feet and eventually 30 feet.

• Samsung's smartwatch panned as a limited, 'overpriced toy'

  Early reaction to Samsung's new Galaxy Gear smartwatch, announced on Wednesday in Berlin, was decidedly downbeat if not downright negative.

• Nissan plans to offer affordable self-driving cars by 2020

  By 2020, Nissan will offer self-driving cars in several models created in collaboration with tech teams from the top universities, including MIT, Stanford, Oxford, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Tokyo.

• What wearable computing is really all about

  Wearable computing gadgets aren't toys for lazy geeks or harbingers of a dystopian future. Here's why you're going to love wearable computing.

• Go ahead, invite a friend to try Google Glass

  Google, looking to expand its Google Glass Explorer program, is asking testers of the technology to invite a friend to buy into using a prototype of the wearable computer.

• Marvell unveils ARMADA, the high-def media chip in Chromecast

  Marvell joined the crowd of vendors throwing their support behind Googles TV streaming device, Chromecast, saying its hardware powers the new device.

• New 'smart' headphones learn your tastes, share songs

  Startup Muzik today announced its first headphones, which it said will be able to instantly post the music users are listening to on Twitter and Facebook as well as learn the music you like and create playlists.

• The joy of glogging

  Columnist Mike Elgan tries out the new Google Glass eyewear and uses 'glogging,' a new social medium for sharing experiences that takes blogging to a new level.

• Chromecast for the road warrior

  Google's $35 Chromecast dongle for beaming video and music to HD TV's from smartphones, tablets and laptops appears to be a clear hit for use in America's living rooms. But what about in the enterprise? Not so fast, analysts said.

• eBay sellers pounce on Chromecast shortage, price dongle 8X over list

  With Google's Chromecast sold out and backordered for weeks, profiteers are offering the new stream-to-TV device for as much as $300 on eBay, a 757% markup.

• Feds want cars to talk to each other

  The National Transportation Safety Board this week called for all U.S. vehicles to come equipped with technology that would allow them to communicate with each other to help avoid accidents.

• Surface smartwatch in prototype with modified Windows 8, reports say

  Microsoft is reportedly moving ahead quickly with development of a smartwatch, having reached the prototype stage of a 1.5-in. device running on a modified Windows 8 housed in a translucent aluminum case.