"Marshmallow"

CEBU, Philippines – "Marshmallow." It's official - the next Android version's name would be "Marshmallow," according to Google.

Android 6.0 takes the nickname "Marshmallow," the successor to "Lollipop." Expected to be released later this year, "Marshmallow" is expected to come with tweaks for enhanced battery performance and handling, along with improved automatic app data backup and synchronization functions.

Initially unveiled as "Android M" last May, "Marshmallow" will roll out with the new "Android Pay" feature - a contactless payment feature similar to Apple's "Apple Pay" and Samsung's "Samsung Pay." It will also have support for fingerprint scanning hardware - a feature that's becoming common in new smartphones and tablet models.

"Final Fantasy Portal."

Square Enix rolled out a dedicated "Final Fantasy" game-and-news hub last month. Dubbed the "Final Fantasy Portal," the mobile app is compatible with handsets running on Android 4.0 or higher.

The app is a one-stop hub where "Final Fantasy" fans get to read the latest news on the game, purchase new game titles, read about the latest "Final Fantasy" merchandise (books, music etc.) and more. It also hosts a variety of digital content such as "Final Fantasy" wallpapers, and also features a points-and-rewards system for its regular users.

Wearable Gadgets.

Fossil - a brand that's synonymous with wristwatches - unveiled three wearable gadgets during the Intel Developers Conference last month. Unveiled were a fitness band and two smartwatch models. The flagship smartwatch model is said to run on Google's "Android Wear," powered by an Intel-branded processor.

The specific hardware specifications of the wearable gadgets weren't revealed in detail, only that these will come in various color combinations and to be made available in time for the 2015 holiday season.

(Compiled by Yasunari Ramon Suarez Taguchi)

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