Technology

The year's best gifts for geeks

Gramovox: very cool.

When it comes to gift-giving, there is fine tradition afoot of presenting fussy tech-heads with either a voucher or simply a cash-stuffed envelope, along with instructions to go off andĀ buy something nice and incomprehensible. For those thus planning on a self-rewarding splurge as soon as the turkey is properly digested and the egg-nog hangover cured, here are my prime picks from a big year in Gadgetland.

Will Mario on iPhone take off?

<i>Super Mario Run</i> is launching on the App Store this week.

Never before has Nintendo made a Mario game for a piece of hardware it did not build, and never before has Apple put its marketing clout behind a game so thoroughly. But can it be the next big thing?

Australia's first 24-hour eSports channel launches

Australian commentator Danelie Purdue.

Australia's first 24/7 eSports and gaming network begins live coverage of multi-million dollar tournaments, just in time for viewers to see Australia's Anathan Pham and his team at OG win the grand final at a major Dota 2 event.

Jacked off and bum Notes

Competition among phone manufacturers was particularly fierce in 2016.

The year in smartphones was dominated by two huge controversies from the two biggest players. It was the year the Samsung Note 7 tanked, and Apple's headphone jack disappeared.

How virtual reality will change the classroom

Google Inc. Daydream View virtual reality (VR) headsets sit on display during a product launch event in San Francisco, ...

Not content with knowing your innermost thoughts via your keystrokes and internet searches, or knowing your every move through your phone's map app, Google is looking to move into the classroom.

Australian Twitter in 2016: Trump, tragedy and teen heart-throbs

Donald Trump favours Twitter.

Donald Trump, asylum seekers, local music and #auspol were all chief topics of interest among Australian Twitter users in 2016, although as usual they were joined by a wave of memes and a near-incomprehensible amount of love for YouTube celebs turned rock band 5 Seconds of Summer.