Fully Charged: Check out Apple’s watch from 1995, Oculus VR acquires gesture control company, and new Star Wars characters named

Behold the Apple watch from 1995

Two decades before Apple intends to release the Apple Watch, Apple launched… a regular ol’ wristwatch. Both feature head-turning design, but with the older model, that may not be a positive thing. As seen above, it looks like a hilarious product of its era, yet there’s some charm to its bold, clashing colours.

It’s popped again now because a distributor who had a supply from back when decided to start selling them online, although they’re sold out as of this writing. The watches were given away free to anyone who purchased Macintosh System 7.5 during a certain span in 1995, although buyers also had a choice of Conflict Catcher 3 instead of the wearable. We’re guessing a lot of people went for Conflict Catcher.

[Source: Original Apple Watch via MacRumors]

READ MORE: Apple Watch hands-on review

Oculus getting into gesture controls

It’s still unclear when the Facebook-owned Oculus VR will have a consumer-level Rift headset ready, but the company keeps scooping up talent that points to intriguing outcomes. The latest is Nimble VR, a firm that designed a camera/software pairing that allows gesture control by capturing the world around your headset.

Nimble VR had been running a Kickstarter campaign to fund the project, which had already beaten its goal and then some, but that was canceled once the acquisition was announced yesterday. With the Rift currently relying on a console game controller for interaction, this purchase hints at future possibilities for the consumer version of the headset.

Oculus also just acquired 13th Lab, a company that recreates real-world architecture in 3D for VR exploration, and hired Hollywood motion capture guru Chris Bregler to head a vision research team. With so much varied talent under one roof these days, that has to be an incredibly fascinating place to work. Now about that retail Rift…

[Source: Oculus VR via Engadget]

Star Wars: The Force Awakens characters named

If you’re desperate to soak in every possible bit of information on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, look no further: Disney has provided Entertainment Weekly with the names of some of the new characters seen in the teaser trailer, and did so by creating replica trading cards like the one released with the original Star Wars.

For example, the cloaked baddie with the crossguard lightsaber is Kylo Ren, the X-Wing pilot is Poe Dameron, and the unmasked man in the Stormtrooper outfit is known simply as Finn. Oh, and the rolling droid is BB-8. For more, along with a small bit of analysis, hit up EW’s reveal.

[Source: Entertainment Weekly]

Upp adds Doddle shops for exchanges

If you rely on Upp, the portable hydrogen fuel cell, to keep your smartphone or other portable device powered on the go, then you’ll be pleased to hear that additional exchange locations have been added via partnership with Doddle. The new parcel collection/sending service currently has 24 locations around the UK, with more to come, and all will have the ability to exchange Upp cartridge refills.

About

Andrew writes features, news stories, reviews, and other pieces, often when the UK home team is off-duty or asleep. I'm based in Chicago with my lovely wife, amazing son, and silly cats, and my writing about games, gadgets, esports, apps, and plenty more has appeared in more than 75 publications since 2006.