Accessory

Huawei has rounded its bumper product event of today (December 23, 2021) out with the introduction of new smart glasses. These accessories are, like their predecessors, equipped with speakers and mics for hands-free use and entertainment. Then again, this new generation also has something of a health-tracking component.

A patent filed by Fitbit has led to the suggestion that the company could be working on a smartwatch device or similar wearable that is capable of tracking the user’s mental health or mood. The Fitbit wearable would use non-invasive methods to help diagnose mental state; however, some parts of the patent do set off privacy alarm bells.

Amazfit launched its third-gen GT-series flagship wearables earlier in 2021, complete with an inaugural Pro variant. This GTR 3 Pro is the only one that has reportedly received a new GoPro app via its latest update. The other 2 have mostly been graced with stability and system upgrades.

Asus has issued its invitations to its upcoming CES showcase, to start from January 4, 2022. It starts with the "Rise of Gamers" livestream direct from Las Vegas to introduce the new ROG line-up, and goes on with the productivity-focused presentation the following day.

According to a UK retailer, Samsung is preparing to release over 70 accessories for the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus and the Galaxy S22 Note. A deep green colourway should be heading to the Galaxy S22 Note too, based on an official S Pen render image.

Garmin plans to start its 2022 with a bang, according to a new leak. The OEM allegedly has no less than 7 new smartwatches to show off at the upcoming CES event in Las Vegas, to become the latest additions to 4 product lines. They range from potentially entry-level new Instincts to a possible next-gen Venu flagship with a high-end display.

Introduced last week and with wide availability expected to follow during the first quarter of 2022, the ARES DDR5-4800 desktop memory solution by Lexar targets next-gen Alder Lake-powered systems and features on-die ECC, 1.1 V voltage, aluminum heat spreaders, and it comes covered with a Lifetime limited warranty.

The Buds Z2 are OnePlus' latest TWS earbuds, although they have not been available outside China to date. The OEM has revealed that this will change in mid-December 2021 with their debut in Europe. This launch is to be a social media-centric event, although the product is also intended to boost the company's Red Cable Club expansion into a new region.

Huawei has just released some details on another new product for its increasingly large-scale event later in December 2021. It is the OEM's latest generation of smart glasses. They are speaker-enabled wearables like their predecessors, although they will ship with Huawei's own software.

Streaming enthusiasts who would like to enjoy their content in one of the best possible ways may be excited to hear that the popular Android-based Nvidia Shield TV Pro is finally on sale just in time for Christmas.

Dell has revealed Concept Stanza, its vision for a productivity-focused tablet without cameras, ports or speakers. Dell sees the 11-inch tablet as a note-taking device and a laptop companion.

Oppo has announced the Air Glass, which is an assisted reality smart glass that works with Oppo smartphones and smartwatches. The Air Glass, which will be a China-exclusive for now, is powered by the Snapdragon Wear 4100 SoC and uses a Spark Micro Projector with micro-LEDs to project information and notifications onto the sapphire crystal.

Huawei has developed HarmonyOS for multiple products, including water bottles. The smart water bottle has a touchscreen display, can sync with a smartphone and contains numerous sensors for monitoring water levels.

The FCC has confirmed that Samsung will release a new LED View Cover alongside the Galaxy S22 Note. The regulatory body also appears to confirm that the Galaxy S22 Note has a built-in S Pen, which would be a first for the Galaxy S series.

DJI has released new firmware for the Mavic 3, its latest drone. An updated DJI Fly app accompanies the firmware release, now at version 1.5.4. Both updates are available now.

According to a leaked roadmap, DJI plans to release multiple new products next year, including a Mini 3 drone. Supposedly, a DJI Pocket 3 is due too, among other devices.

Comparison test results for the KnowU and UBand Bio-RFID non-invasive blood glucose monitors have shown a lot of promise for those eager to move away from the painful finger-sticking solution for checking blood sugar levels. The company behind the KnowU and UBand monitors is targeting a cost usage estimate of less than US$1,000 per year.

The Watch D is projected to be Huawei's first smartwatch marketed as one capable of clinical-grade blood pressure-monitoring. Now, a box presented as the wearable's original packaging may confirm that this is the case. This leak has emerged alongside claims that the Watch Fit Mini will launch alongside it later in December 2021.

Anker now reports that it became the "world's No.1 mobile charging brand" in 2020. It also marked its 10th anniversary as such a company in 2021, and attributes much of its success to becoming a leader in USB Power Delivery- (USB-PD) compatible accessories. It also now has a line in MagSafe-compatible products, as well as new type-C devices.

The Wemax Go is a DLP projector rated to throw an up to 120-inch image with HDR support and a maximal brightness of 600 ANSI lumens. However, unlike most products with such specs, it is also designed to be just 1 inch in height. Its maker, asserting that it is the thinnest product capable of the ALPD standard, has put it up for crowdfunding on Indiegogo.

Huawei is projected to challenge Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip3 with a device tipped to be called the Mate V on its 2022 launch. Now, the design predicted for this clamshell foldable phone has appeared again in another new leak. This one allegedly captures a case made to protect the upcoming device.

Lenovo has launched a new projector under the Yoga brand in China. The T500 Play is an FHD variant of its line with a peak brightness of 700 nits. It has a large battery of just over 22,000mAh in capacity, and is thus rated for truly portable use, as well as the ability to connect mobile devices via its USB type-C port.

The Kokoon Nightbuds are a pair of (technically) wireless earbuds specifically designed to wear in bed. They are rated by their OEM to track and enhance sleep through a combination of hardware such as an in-built heart-rate sensor and an app that delivers "personalized sleep coaching". They are now available as a mainstream product rather than on crowdfunding as before.

The Razer Kishi comes in four flavours and can charge your smartphone as you game, thanks to pass-through charging. Generally, most Razer Kishi controllers cost US$99.99, but Amazon is offering between 30% and 43% savings for all versions.

The POGO Automatic One-Step Blood Glucose Monitor is now widely available for purchase in the US. The monitor, which was designed by Intuity Medical Inc., has been cleared by the FDA and can be bought from US$68. The POGO monitor measures blood sugar levels with the use of “10-test cartridge technology.”

INTELLI is a brand with a new product called the StepUp Magnetic Wireless Charging Station. It looks like a vaguely wedge-shaped MagSafe-compatible charger for iPhone 12- or 13-series devices on first glance; however, it also contains novel pop-out charging decks, one for an Apple Watch and one for an AirPods case. The OEM asserts that the station can power all 3 at once.

Apple is projected to launch the Watch Series 8, a wearable with a potentially significant re-design, in the third quarter of 2022. Now, the respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reportedly asserts that there will be 2 alternative variants to go with it. They may be joined by new AirPods Pro to boot.

Razer has launched the Phone Cooler Chroma, a device intended to help keep smartphones from throttling during games. The new device is available for both iPhone and Android with the iPhone model supporting MagSafe while the Android model uses a traditional clamp.

OPPO has partnered with League of Legends to commemorate the game's Professional Qualifying Tournament with a new co-branded version of the OEM's new Reno7 Pro smartphone. It, along with a special edition of the 50W SuperVOOC Mini Charger, have been styled after the character Jinx, and thus comes with a very different look and additional perks.

Nothing had already revealed that the new, black versions of its inaugural ear (1) TWS buds would be sold through its own website from December 13, 2021. However, the OEM has also now stated that the new variants will also be available through a range of new and existing retailers, both online and physical, a few days beforehand.

UGREEN's "next step in the evolution of the X-series," namely the HiTune X6 ANC earbuds, come with 35 dB dual ANC (thanks to the use of six microphones), also adding 10 mm high fidelity dynamic drivers and 50 ms low-latency to the mix. Until December 11, this piece of tech is up for sale at US$48.99 instead of US$69.99.

The rise of the smart home has also seen the rise of the potential number of remote controls needed for all its new devices - or for the need to deplete one's smartphone battery for the same purpose. Now, however, Omni's latest universal remote may solve some of the problems entailed with the Model P, a control that runs on "advanced" solar power.

TEAMGROUP announced two new industrial storage solutions, the N75A-M80 and N75G-M80, which are designed to operate in changing and volatile environments. The company claimed that these SSDs were developed to meet the increasing demands of the 5G and smart edge computing markets. These devices also feature amazing cooling performance and are suitable for small industrial spaces.

Sony has announced availability and pricing for the inaugural Airpeak drone. The S1 is rated as the "world's smallest" drone that can still carry a full-sized mirrorless Alpha-series camera. It is up for pre-order from now, to be shipped later in December 2021.

When is a monitor with a screen measuring less than 20 inches diagonally valued at just under US$15,000? According to Canon, it's when it is the first professional reference display from the brand to feature its exact dimensions at a 4K/UHD resolution. The DP-V1830 can also support a 4-way split-screen, enhanced blacks and improved viewing angles.

PKVitality has been showing off its upcoming K’Watch Athlete wearable. The device has been constructed to help athletes involved in either endurance or explosive sports to monitor their lactic acid levels without the need for analyzing blood samples. The K’Watch Athlete, which offers continuous lactate monitoring, can be worn as a smartwatch or armband.

Car thieves in Canada are abusing the functionality of Apple's AirTags, which have reportedly been used for tracking the location of expensive vehicles in an attempt to later steal them. Apple iPhone users should be aware of a certain notification that can thwart the relatively simple procedure employed by such criminals.

The K’Watch Glucose smartwatch from PKVitality is currently undergoing clinical trials in the US. The device promises painless continuous glucose monitoring for diabetics and utilizes a replaceable K’apsul with SkinTaste technology to take blood sugar readings. The K’Watch Glucose should be priced at US$199/€199 upon release.

Motorsport fans and gamers who find common office chairs too boring or uncomfortable may soon treat themselves with a fancy gaming chair made by Secretlab, which has just announced that it will release new high-quality gaming chairs with Lamborghini branding in 2022.

Elon Musk and Tesla have revealed the Cyberwhistle, a whistle modelled on the Cybertruck. In a nod to Apple's expensive cleaning cloth, the Cyberwhistle costs US$50. It has also sold out less than 24 hours after it went live on Tesla's website.

Nintendo is yet to release a Switch XL, as it did with the DS family. However, the UpSwitch Orion serves as an unofficial alternative, with its 11.6-inch display and built-in speakers effectively creating a gigantic Switch console.

TEAMGROUP released blazing-fast DDR5 memory kits in two models, the T-FORCE DELTA RGB DDR5 and the T-FORCE VULCAN DDR5. The DELTA RGB reaches an unbelievable frequency performance of 6400 MHz while the VULCAN DDR5 has a maximum frequency of 5200 MHz. Both memory kits can be purchased by customers in 2x16 GB capacities.

Sony has reportedly patented its own take on the type of controller that also snaps onto a smartphone to double as a grip for the device. This version of the accessory has PlayStation-esque buttons, joysticks and triggers, as one might hope. All in all, the alleged new IP looks very like a DualShock made just for smartphones.

A pain-free blood glucose sensor is being trialed by a UK-based company called Afon Technology. While there are supposedly various non-invasive hardware solutions being worked on, the Afon blood sugar level monitor comes as a supplementary device that people with diabetes can connect with their existing smartphone or smartwatch.

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S22 series of Android flagships in 2022. Their latest alleged leak suggests that the upcoming smartphones could practically use tempered-glass rear camera-hump protectors made for their predecessors - except for the top-end variant, of course. The S22 Ultra's putative camera cut-out matches those of some previous tips, thereby again hinting at a significant re-design.

Amazfit has risen to #3 in the smartwatch market for the latest complete quarter of 2021 (or 3Q2021). Accordingly, it has announced deals on a number of these wearables for today's Black Friday event in the US. They include the popular T-Rex series, as well as those of the GTR and GTS lines.