Motorola Mobility finally reveals the reason why Google shelled out $12.5 billion for it back in 2011-- the Moto X, the first Motorola product designed with Google supervision.

At first glance, the Moto X looks like any other 4.7-inch Android handset, if one carrying what Motorola calls "innovation themes." These include "Touchless Control" (as in voice-activated Google Now functionality), "Active Display" (a low power means of showing alerts on screen without unlocking the device) and "Quick Capture" (two flicks of the wrist activate the camera).

Powering such features is the "X8 Mobile Computing System"-- a custom-built 8-core architecture designed to handle multiple tasks while sipping as little battery life as possible. It consists of a pair of dual-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon S4 Processors, a quad-core Adreno 320 GPU and 2 custom processors (one for natural language, the other for contextual computing).

In the future, a bathroom break might involve more than merely relieving yourself-- if the scientists at Bristol Robotics Laboratory have it their way taking a leak will also charge your mobile phone. No, seriously.

A paper titled "Waste to Real Energy: the first MFC powered mobile phone" explains how urine can power "microbial fuel cells" (MFCs), an unusual class of energy converter able turn organic matter into electricity. How? Metabolism, via microorganisms able to literally turn organic matter (such as urine) into electricity.

"We are very excited as this is a world first, no-one has harnessed power from urine to do this so it's an exciting discovery," says Dr Ioannis Ieropoulos, an expert in harnessing unusual power sources via microbial fuel cells. "Using the ultimate waste product as a source of power to produce electricity is about as eco as it gets.”

The fancy Bulgari Hotel, London hosts not one, not two but three Sony product launches-- the company reveals the Xperia Z Ultra phablet, the SmartWatch 2 and the SBH52 Bluetooth Handset hands-free calling accessory.

The first Sony step in smartphone/tablet hybrid territory, the Xperia Z Ultra is a massive (6.4-inch!) device with sleek "OmniBalance" stylings based on those of the recent crop of Xperia devices. The display handles 1920x1080 resolutions and features Bravia TV technology, while the tempered glass casing is 6.5mm fat and weighs 212g.

Inside are a quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage (expandable via microSD), 3000mAh battery and an 8MP rear-facing camera. The OS of choice is Android 4.2.2, "enhanced" with Sony UI and app additions.

Perhaps realising most customers find making calls on such a gargantuan device slightly awkward in the least Sony offers a companion accessory-- the SBH2 Handset, a Bluetooth receiver one can either clip on clothing or hold like a regular mobile phone.

It pairs with most smartphones via NFC or Bluetooth, features an OLED display for easy call log and text messaging functions and Sony says it is splash-proof.

A pair of former HTC executives hope for mobile success with Kazam, a newly formed UK-based smartphone maker with a focus on the European market and ambitions of "disrupting the status quo."

Former HTC head of UK sales Michael Coombes and ex-UK marketing head James Atkins lead the company, with Coombes as CEO and Atkins as CMO. The two left HTC on March 2013 as the company was going through turnaround woes.

Speaking with CNET Coombes says "Kazam's dynamic structure and focus on local markets means we can react quickly to the ever-evolving and diverging needs of today's consumer," while Atkins claims "we are passionate about delivering a truly positive mobile experience that doesn't just stop once you've bought the phone."