The face of regret. Screenshot: Cult of Android

No matter how robust you believe your smartphone case to be, battering it with a hammer just for the sake of it is never a good idea. One young boy learned this the hard way when he smashed his smartphone to bits in an effort to show friends how strong his case was.

Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.

Thanks to iOS and Android, Apple and Google have been locked in a battle with each other for years now.

Which is why it’s all the more ironic that Google would choose to unveil its latest Street View feature by letting users scale Yosemite’s “El Capitan” — the vertical rock formation which just so happens to also be the name of Apple’s next OS X iteration.

Basically a Star Trek computer for your home.

Remember Echo, Amazon’s Siri-in-a-tube which was first announced back in November, but until now has only been available on an invitation-only basis?

If the idea of getting hold of Jeff Bezos’ standalone virtual assistant appeals to you, today is your lucky day — as Echo is now available to all U.S. customers for $179.99 via Amazon.com.

Whether you’re working out or washing the cat, Play Music has a radio station for you. Photo: Google

Google is hoping to distract you from Apple Music’s impending launch with a new streaming plan that won’t cost you a penny. Available on desktop and mobile platforms, the service lets you enjoy a whole host of curated playlists supported by ads.

Browsing the web on 5G. Photo: BBC

Having 4G connectivity when you want to stream music or download a game is awesome, but when 5G gets here, your LTE smartphone will feel like dial-up on Windows 95 all over again.

The new standard, which is officially named “IMT-2020,” can reach speeds of up to 20 Gbps, which is 20 times faster than the 4G we have today. With data that fast, you could download a 25GB Ultra HD movie in just 10 seconds.