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[YEAR IN REVIEW] What happened in January 2014?

While most people tend to view the beginning of the year as a typically slow time for news, one of the biggest conferences in the world kicks off the technology calendar – which also marks the start of potential trends for year ahead.

Over the next 12 days, htxt.africa will be taking a look at every month of the year, and explore some of the biggest technology news to come from it.

From product launches and rocket launches to shocking tales of development and strange concoctions, you will be able to relive 2014 in all its technological glory.

Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

CES

One of the world’s largest technology expos come to Las Vegas every year, where the leading brands and products get exhibited to a horde of journalists and general visitors from all over the world.

Many products are announced at the show, and it also sets in motion the trends for the coming year. It’s rather easy to determine what will be hot or not for the next few months.

Black hole caught on film

DwarfgalaxyinAbell1795

What turned out to be the first time that something of that magnitude had been captured in film, X-ray astronomers found out that there is strong evidence to suggest that there is a black hole at the centre of a dwarf galaxy – and it’s in the process of gobbling up a star.

Black holes happen when an object’s gravitational pull is so strong, that light can’t even escape.

Oculus Rift

oculus-crescent-bay-prototype2

We know that the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset has been around much longer than just January this year, but it was in the beginning of the year that consumers and companies alike really started to take the technology serious.

Why? Well, it was crowned the winner of the official ‘Best of Show’ award at CES 2014, which really put it on the map for the rest of the year.

Rosetta starts waking up before comet landing

Rosetta_and_Philae_at_comet

The Rosetta spacecraft set out on its journey from Earth in 2004 to rendezvous with the comet 67P for what would be the first landing on a comet – ever.

The craft has been in a deep sleep of sorts for 31 months, waiting for the perfect time to start waking up, and scientists finally hit the alarm button.

The space craft is entirely solar powered which is what necessitated its induced slumber in 2011 to save power as it flew further away from the sun’s energy. In November the Philae lander successfully touched down on comet 67P.

 Lenovo buys Motorola Mobility

Lenovo Motorola

Google bought Motorola in 2012 for a cool $12.5 billion, but it only took them two years to let go of the asset.

Chinese PC giant Lenovo stepped into the fray and purchased the communications group for $2.91 billion – which is a steal compared to the original price.

For its money, Lenovo got the brand, 2 000 patents, full portfolio of Moto’s smartphones and the future product roadmap.

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