Cortana: Windows Phone's Answer to Siri?

Apple's iPhone has Siri and Android has Google Now, but it looks like Microsoft is developing its own counterpart: a virtual assistant based on the Halocharacter "Cort

ana." In fact, "she has the potential to be a star for Microsoft," said analyst Rob Enderle. "Xbox is Microsoft's strongest platform and Halo is the strongest brand, with Cortana being the cutest character."

For players of Microsoft's Halo video game series, the computer AI character known as "Cortana" can do much more than just provide directions and plot advances in the game. Soon, however, Cortana could become part of Windows Phone users' real lives as well.

PanicGuard: Nice Idea but Not Ready for Prime Time

One major part of the app is that you're supposed to be able to track a phone's location if it's lost or stolen. I tested this feature and requested tracking data for my 

mocked-up lost phone through the website, but I didn't receive any tracking event notifications, even though the website dashboard knew the phone was lost and I had a data connection.

PanicGuard is available for free in the Google Play store.

Here's an app that should bring peace of mind to any late-night solo worker, exerciser or neighborhood watch patroller.

It's an ingenious combination of personal alarm, tracker and alert creator that uses sensor and other components included in the average smartphone, such as the speaker, to sound an alarm. The GPS and other location services are used for tracking; the video camera is key for capturing the bad guy swiping the phone; and a data connection serves to communicate the alert.

All that is instigated by a shake of the device, which is understood by the phone's accelerometer and gyroscope.

Huawei Blasts US for Illegal NSA Spying

Today in international tech news: Huawei is disturbed about reports that the NSA spied on it; a notorious online critic is arrested in China; a hacker nabs personal details for 2 million Vodafone Germany users; and NASA confirms that the Voyager 1 has reached interstellar space.

Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei is taking a PR victory lap following reports suggesting that the National Security Agency spied on the company.

Earlier this week, Brazilian TV network Globo revealed a raft of documents that purportedly came from Edward Snowden. The files implicate the NSA, along with its British snooping ally, GCHQ, in spying on numerous targets, including a Saudi bank, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Huawei -- the same Huawei that was vilified last year by Congress and deemed a security threat because it might do something sinister like spy.

Huawei released a statement saying that it was "very disturbed" that the NSA attempted to worm its way into its networks and information. Huawei added that it "utterly object[s] to such illegal practices."

Sony's Lens Cameras Make Smartphone Photography Smarter

With shutterbugs snapping so many photos with their smartphones these days, camera makers are desperately seeking ways to stay relevant. One way to do that is to cater to the never-ending thirst of some phone snappers to boost the quality of their images. 

That's what Sony is up to with its new Cyber-shot QX series of lens-style cameras, which can connect to a smartphone for added functionality.

Sony introduced its QX10 and QX100 lens-style cameras on Wednesday. The devices, which look like very thin point-and-shoot cameras, can connect to a smartphone wirelessly and use the phone's display as a real-time viewfinder.

Sony Cyber-shot QX100 Premium Lens-Style Camera

Nismo Gizmo May Give Drivers Another Reason to Fiddle

Nissan has designed a smartwatch to go with its Nismo sports car that does everything from tracking the user's heart rate to monitoring the car's performance. Smartwatches could be yet another distraction for drivers, however. There must be careful evaluation before new products are made available to drivers, cautioned AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety spokesperson Bruce Hamilton.

Nissan on Monday unveiled a concept smartwatch that will connect drivers to their cars and provide them with real-time biometric data while tracking their progress across social media.

The Nismo Concept Watch will be created for drivers of Nissan Nismo cars.

It will be on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which runs from Tuesday through Sept. 22.

"It's still just a concept," remarked Daniel Matte, head of wearables research for Canalys'Appcessory Analysis Worldwide Service.