Apple has filed patents on them, Sony just released one, and now an independent, crowdfunded piece of tech called the Pebble is available at a big box store. There has been a lot of talk about smartwatches as tech’s next big object of desire. We will soon see whether consumers actually want to read text messages and Facebook posts on their wrists. And it’s the last day to bid for one of the world’s only Apple 1 computers.

There’s a new video website that wants you to stop watching cat videos and start paying attention to things that matter. For example, who actually works for minimum wage? If that stuff sounds like homework, you’d be surprised at how good Upworthy is getting at making the videos they find go viral. And the Johannesburg Zoo has a new social media editor — a honey badger.

Rap Mogul Jay-Z is releases copies of his new album ‘Magna Carta Holy Grail’ to 1 million Samsung Galaxy S4 owners. The tech and finesse behind fireworks. And a rally to restore the Fourth, the Fourth Amendment that is.

Weddings are going digital. Wedding trend watchers are seeing a big jump in couples who want to share their nuptials with the world in real time. Think handheld devices at destination weddings streaming to Grandma, who couldn’t fly out. And a reminder that some people’s Twitter musings are worth more than the Tweets of the rest of us.

As everyone turns their air conditioners up to eleven, a new solar power plant called Ivanpah is set to open in California’s Mojave Desert. The giant solar facility could be the future — or, it could become just footnote in the history of clean energy. And a rare musical example of a tech person singing praises of another tech person. Yes, this is a thing that exists in the world.

Google Reader is dead. Millions once used it to keep track of websites and blogs all in one place — now they are up for grabs. And an array of gadgets will track your fitness program, tell you in great detail how many calories you’re burning, and what your heart rate is. They can even give you a kick when you are falling short of your goals.

School’s out, which means millions of American kids are off at camp, pitching tents, roasting marshmallows — or, hacking. The online security firm ESET runs a camp for young hackers that encourages them to use their skills for good, not evil. And Amazon rolls out a new platform for fan fiction.

Tech companies are reacting in myriad ways to government surveillance of online data. Some are calling for more transparency from the government, and some are building new things to give people a better sense of security online. Mozilla’s Internet browser Firefox is in that last category. Firefox recently moved forward with a plan to automatically block third party cookies — and advertisers aren’t happy.

There’s a new gaming console in town, the Ouya. Its crowdfunded Kickstarter campaign had 60,000 backers — and the console only costs $100. While the Ouya won’t put Microsoft or Sony out of business, it will likely find an audience. And why did Edward Snowden ask his lawyers to store their phones in freezers?