Maybe this is one of the driving forces behind Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's Services and Devices division today, in that the Redmond-based company isn't even making $10 per Windows Phone-based Nokia device sold.

Part of it's "rationale for the deal", Microsoft revealed that under its current deal with Nokia, it receives less than $10 per phone in software royalties. This would mean that if Windows Phone were to overnight, somehow, with maybe a wish from a genie, become the number one mobile OS in the world and sell millions of handsets through Nokia, it wouldn't exactly equal huge money for Microsoft.

So while people might be looking at Microsoft taking a big risk acquiring the Services and Devices division from Nokia, in the long run it obviously hopes it'll help them. Microsoft has also said that Nokia's Windows Phones have a gross profit margin in the range of $40 per phone. The Redmond-based software giant is also signing a rather large cheque to Nokia for "platform support", which is kinda like a bribe so that Nokia goes all-in with Windows Phone instead of Android.

I'm sure that most, if not all of Microsoft's Windows Phone partners were calling emergency board meetings today when the Redmond-based giant announced it had acquired Nokia's Devices and Services division, but what does this mean for the future of Windows Phone?

Well, apart from writing an article about it (which you can expect in the coming days, as well as a new surprise addition to the site), Microsoft's EVP of Operating Systems, Terry Myerson, has said that Microsoft won't be cutting ties with other WP partners. He has been quoted as saying: "Acquiring Nokia's Devices group will help make the market for all Windows Phones, from Microsoft or our OEM partners. We collaborate with our Microsoft hardware teams in the same way we partner with our external hardware partners... We look forward to building new products together that will provide valuable business opportunity for the ecosystem and enable OEMs."

Without going into much detail, I don't think we'll see anything big from the acquisition. By then, Google would have put its foot right down to the metal with Android 5.0 "Key Lime Pie", Google Glass, and enjoying its partners pushing out countless devices. Apple is going to be the underdog going into 2015 with the iPhone, and Microsoft, well, they could surprise us, but they haven't so far.

Microsoft is in the news today for at least half of the right reasons, where the Redmond-based software giant just acquired Nokia's Devices and Services Division. This news on the other hand, is all about its IllumiRoom technology.

It looks like the proof-of-concept technology won't be making it to the consumer market, as it has been deemed too expensive. The let down happened during Gamescom 2013, where Xbox One director of product planning Albert Penello said that he wouldn't expect gamers to see IllumiRoom. He said that it was awesome if you're in the lab and have Microsoft money to have it all setup, but this would cost thousands of dollars for the average consumer to set it up.

While it wouldn't sell in the millions, there would still be some high-end gamers that would kill for this technology. Kinect isn't really the expensive part either, it's mostly the investment that needs to be put into the projector setup. Boo.

Seriously Microsoft, what are you trying to do? Are you trying to sell the PlayStation 4, or are you trying to sell your own console? Because this latest news isn't helping you.

Microsoft spokesperson Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb has said that the Xbox One, at launch, will not support external storage. He was responding to a PAX Prime attendees question, where he explained that Microsoft plans to allow Xbox One users to use external HDDs if they need more space, but this feature will not be working at launch.

He said: "The Xbox One will ship with the 500 GB hard drive, all of them have that. The future plan is for definitely to support external storage much like we do on the Xbox 360. My understanding is that feature will not be there at launch, because the team is working on some other things, but it definitely is on the list. I don't know when it will come in though."

Google announced the $100 price cut to the Nexus 4 last week, while I sat at home thinking it would sell quickly, but not this quickly. The company has announced that the 8GB version of the Nexus 4 is now sold out on the Google Play Store, and won't be restocked.

The 16GB version is still available for the great price of $249, while the 8GB version is still listed in other countries' Play Store's, for now, so if you want to pick it up, do it now. Those of you based in the US missed out on the superstar $199 smartphone, but for just $50 more you can still pick up the 16GB version. Even to this day, with the lack of LTE connectivity, I think it's one of the best smartphones on the market.

The $199 and $249 pricing for the 8GB and 16GB devices respectively just makes that deal cheaper. Apple, you'd better be pricing your new iPhone 5C at $199-$249, or you're going to be in for a big surprise. Even the iPhone 5S better be priced competitively if Google can dump out its flagship handset for under $250.

The always-listening Xbox One is already capable of this, but the PlayStation 4 will also be able to do voice commands through its PlayStation Camera. Sony confirmed the news, telling Polygon: "Sony Computer Entertainment can confirm that PlayStation Camera allows for voice recognition and we will look forward to sharing more details in the lead up to the launch of PlayStation 4 on November 29."

At GameStop Expo 2013, SCEA's group manager of retail training and advocacy, Sean Coleman, outlined the PS4's features, which included a quick overview of the PlayStation Camera's abilities. With YouTube user 'lex1020' with the video above, describing the camera as "From navigational voice commands to facial recognition, the PlayStation Camera adds incredible innovation to your gaming."

Coleman added: "When you add the PlayStation camera into the mix, the pair works together to expand upon system features and enhance your PlayStation 4 experience. The new stereoscopic lenses track your body movements in games or even recognize your face easier system navigation."

We're just days away from Samsung unleashing its Galaxy Gear smartwatch to the world at IFA, but Venture Beat has had a quick look at the upcoming Galaxy Gear smartwatch ahead of the ev ent.

One of VB's sources showed them a prototype of the Galaxy Gear, a prototype which was sent to developers and a few close partners of Samsung. Keep in mind that because this is a prototype, and Samsung of course has high levels of security around its smartwatch, that this won't be the final design of the Galaxy Gear, but it'll be awfully close.

Samsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch is part smart device, part fashion accessory, part camera and a health monitor. It features Bluetooth that will connect with all of Samsung's Galaxy S family of devices, but we might see it capable of connecting with all Android-based devices too. The Galaxy Gear also features Wi-Fi, allowing it to connect to the Internet and check your e-mail.

Frickin' laser beams, am I right? Yeah, well, Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC has just announced the Mini+, a multifunctional device that is pretty much just a flashy-looking laser poniter.

It features a 1.5-inch white color 4 gray OLED display with a 128x128 resolution, and can do quite a few things with its features. It can 'stay connected' with calls, SMS and more, it can take control of what you see on the TV and 'facilitate presentation with remote control and laser pointer' in the words of HTC.

It features NFC technology and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, features PowerPoint controls, and a 320mAh embedded battery. Talk time on the Mini+ is rated at 9 hours while the standby time is a hefty 95 hours. The HTC Mini+ is compatible with HTC's One mini, Butterfly S, Desire 200 and Desire 500 smartphones. It costs just $50, which isn't too bad at all.

This has been a long time coming, but Samsung should be moving away from the plastic chassis found in their smartphones and tablets to a magnesium- or aluminum-based chassis on the upcoming Galaxy S5 smartphone.

We heard about this earlier in the year, but now the rumors are getting stronger as we get closer to the Galaxy S5 launch. The news is coming from Korean news site, ET News, who is reporting that the South Korean company has kept with plastic until now in order to keep the price down on its products, on top of it being more durable and lightweight.

But, with HTC and Apple having more premium exteriors, Samsung now needs to play in the same league. We shouldn't expect Samsung to unveil anything that is non-plastic until at least 2014, with the Galaxy Note III to most likely use a plastic exterior. I think we'll see a refresh of the Note next year, with the Note IV, which will use this new chassis.

Sony announced during its PAX Prime 2013 panel a new division of the company dubbed Third-Party Production, which is a new division that will work on porting and localizing games for the PS4, PS3 and Vita.

The division was founded as a result of the Borderlands 2 port for the Vita, with former lead producer at LucasArts and executive producer on the now-defunct Star Wars 1313 coming on-board to run the operation. Most people will skip past this news, but this is a gigantic step for the Japanese giant. This means that we might see more games that don't come to US shores, released in the US and vica versa.

It also means that the portable gaming device, the PS Vita, will see more games released on it, which is definitely not a bad thing.