Accessory

The Amazfit Bip U Pro fitness smartwatch is now available to customers in the US at a price of US$69.99 with free shipping. Buyers of the wearable from Huami will get to enjoy built-in GPS, Amazon Alexa assistance, and over 60 sports modes. The Amazfit Bip U Pro also offers blood-oxygen level measurement and heart-rate monitoring.

SMIC is a chipmaker that recently reported the development of its own 7 nanometer (nm) node. However, its plans for this silicon may have become somewhat limited, as the outgoing Trump administration has followed through on a threat to place the foundry on its trade blacklist. The drone OEM DJI is another big name in the latest rounds of these sanctions.

ENACFIRE's Soundtank is a new portable Bluetooth speaker with an IPX7 rating for ingress-protection, and, thus, that "take-anywhere" selling point. Inside, it is packed with 2x20W speakers that support a Bass+ feature. The new audio accessory is also USB type C, which powers a "24-hour" battery.

The Amazfit GTS 2 Mini fitness smartwatch from Huami is now officially available to shoppers in the US. The wearable, which comes with a heart-rate monitor, PAI health assessment system, and SpO2 level measurement, is priced at US$99.99 with free shipping. The Amazfit GTS 2 Mini weighs just 19.5 g (0.69 oz).

The Italian telecomms company Fastweb is one of a number of European firms that are early adopters of 5G mmWave-based fixed wireless access (FWA) as services for customers. It has announced that the consumer premises equipment (CPE) that delivers this new kind of "broadband" will be based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 modem.

Realme has started revealing some of the details about its upcoming Watch S Pro device, including the launch date for the high-end wearable. The Realme Watch S Pro comes with a blood oxygen and heart-rate monitor, built-in dual-satellite GPS, and it can offer up to 14 days of battery life. Realme’s first premium smartwatch will be launched on December 23.

Some recent leaks have pointed to a first-gen smartwatch from OnePlus, for which the OEM might develop a proprietary UI. However, a new interview with this company's CEO indicates that it will use Google's WearOS - then again, it may be heavily modified so as to fit in with its device ecosystem.

JLab Audio has released its latest TWS earbuds rated for active noise cancellation (ANC). There are 2 varaints in this new Epic Air line: AirPod-clone and non-AirPod clone with earhooks for active use. They offer long battery life, a low-latency mode and a patented inbuilt USB cable for their charging cases.

A couple of Apple Watch-related patents could give an indication of the direction Apple is taking in regard to a potential Apple Watch Series 7 device. One of the patents details a Touch ID button for the smartwatch while the other reveals an under-display camera solution that would make an Apple Watch 7 ideal for quick FaceTime video calls.

Google's game streaming platform Stadia is now available on iOS. It is not on the App Store, however, having taken NVIDIA GeForce NOW's route as a web app onto iPhones. Therefore, users with these devices can now log into the sevice on its latest compatible hardware, should they want to.

Qualcomm has unveiled the new QCC305x series of chipsets for TWS earbuds. The OEM claims it can be used to make new products in this category that are cost-effective yet have some current or upcoming premium specs. They include audio-sharing between multiple earbud sets, Adaptive ANC and Bluetooth LE Audio

The 98-inch Redmi Smart TV Max from Xiaomi has apparently taken China by storm. Xiaomi has revealed some statistics about the giant television, including that its monthly sales are 30 times higher than its rivals in the same-size segment. The Redmi Max 98 has been incredibly popular since launching at a bargain price of 19,999 yuan (US$3,061).

Desalvo Systems has introduced a new version of its Maker Block Raspberry Pi 4 case, which it has machined from a solid block of copper. Appropriately called the Solid Copper Maker Block Case, the case is likely to draw attention with its striking design. However, the use of a copper block is also practical as it supposedly delivers superior passive cooling than many other cases for the Raspberry Pi 4.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is expected to launch in just 2 colors, as its predecessor did before it. However, the latest leaks suggest that Samsung will add further options throughout the year. Meanwhile, other new tips purport to provide more evidence that it will be compatible with a new S Pen in 2021.

Xiaomi has released a new firmware update for the Mi Band 5 activity tracker. The software has been pushed out to deal with problems with the accuracy of the sleep-tracking function, with a few other minor additions such as extra language support included. It’s likely the update will eventually make it to the international Mi Smart Band 5 variant.

Xiaomi has launched the Mi EBook Reader Pro as expected and has revealed the e-reader’s specifications. Naturally, the Mi EBook Reader Pro is a step up from the non-Pro variant, but at a regular price of 1,299 yuan (US$198) the new Xiaomi device also holds up quite well against the more-expensive Kindle Oasis from Amazon.

Xiaomi has revealed its upcoming Mi EBook Reader Pro, which will be officially launched on Tuesday, December 15. A promo image of the device has been released that shows the electric paper book decked out in black with a touch button on the front. According to the marketing material, the Xiaomi Mi EBook Reader Pro will normally cost 1,299 yuan (US$198).

AndaSeat is a company that lays claim of a history of making racing seats for car-marques such as Mercedes and BMW. Now, it has applied this experience to a new gaming chair called the Kaiser 2. It is described as made using robust cold-cured foam and convincingly leather-like material. It is avaiilable in the US, UK and Australia.

Realme is gearing up to release a new smartwatch into its wearable lineup in the form of the Realme Watch S Pro. The device has already been leaked via the FCC and now Realme India and Europe CEO Madhav Sheth has been continuously teasing the Watch S Pro ahead of its imminent launch. Built-in GPS and a large AMOLED should feature.

The phrase "OLED Provided by Samsung" has been submitted as a trademark by the OEM in question with the European Union's Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). It has led to speculation that this move is part of the company's run-up to CES 2021. It may also simply serve to underpin its position in the relevant market.

The Outlier Air V2 may be Creative's best TWS earbuds yet. Retailing for US$79.99, the earbuds offer a more refined experience than the Outlier Gold without any real compromises. The switch away from the awkward buttons of the Outlier Gold to touch controls is certainly an improvement, but it comes with some drawbacks, too.

Bomaker is not what could be called a household name in the home-theater projector market; nevertheless, it has made some attention-grabbing claims for its product freshly put up for crowdfunding. They include the ability to throw a 200-inch 4K screen up onto a wall just 31 inches away from this device.

The Honor Router 3 offers good looks, fast connectivity and more versatility than many routers that internet companies provide. The Router 3 is not without its issues though, as we have discovered during our time with the device.

The PlayStation Blog recently featured an update on how Hitman 3 will take advantage of Haptic technology on the PlayStation 5's DualSense triggers. With customized trigger recoil and more, Hitman 3 should offer the most immersive Hitman experience, though PSVR could be a compelling reason to purchase the game on the PlayStation 4 instead.

The "Apple TV 2020" is now set to be introduced on December 8, 2020. This event may be an under-the-radar affair, but is touted to unveil a new 4K device with 64 to 128GB storage options. It is now also thought to be powered by an A12Z Bionic SoC.

A lapdesk is a cushioned prop for a keyboard and mouse that might make it easier to use these peripherals while sitting on a couch. nerdytec has announced a second generation of its example of this accessory, the Couchmaster CYCON2. It also has a Cyberpunk 2077-themed special edition.

Google has announced an update for Chrome OS to version 87. This upgrade allows users to see how much battery their Bluetooth-connected peripherals have left for the first time. It also confers the ability to search through open tabs and makes the system more accessible to multilingual users.

The start-up RollingSquare scored a major crowdfunding win with its original inCharge product, a miniature cable that clicks together with magnets to form a keychain for portability. Now, it is back with a new version, rated to deliver up to 100 watts (W) of power when connected to a compatible device.

The Galaxy S21 series is currently touted to launch soon. Their launch is now said to mean the end of support for some older smartwatches or fitness bands from the same OEM, however. They may still work with older phones, though, just not those released after 2020.

GoPro has posted "record-breaking" sales on its website due to its Black Friday/Cyber Monday 2020 event. The OEM also now increased the number of its subscribers to over 670,000, compared to about 500,000 at last count. The latest holiday period has also helped the company to an important milestone.

The new Sharkoon lightweight gaming mouse joins the existing Light² products by adding the "S" to the 100 and 200 which have been around for a while. Its highlights include a honeycomb structure that allows it to weigh just 78 grams, a 6,200 DPI optical sensor, eight customizable buttons, as well as an ambidextrous design.

The pocket-sized dock is compatible with MacOS, ChromeOS, Windows, and Android and it includes a one-year manufacturer warranty.

An earlier tip dropped a strong hint that the successors to the Galaxy Buds Live TWS earbuds would be called the Buds Pro. Now, their certification with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) all but confirms this state of affairs. Meanwhile, another prominent leaker has posted the first renders for these potential accessories.

The TicWatch Pro 3 4G/LTE is a 2020 dual-display smartwatch with standalone cellular connectivity. It is now on sale in Europe, although it is only usable through 1 carrier in the UK, Spain and Germany thus far. It is available on Amazon in these countries from now.

Cambridge Audio's second crack at TWS earbuds is here, and the company has packed in plenty of features despite their compact size. The Melomania Touch has up to 50 hours battery life, Qualcomm aptX support, touch controls, a transparency mode and a High Performance Audio Mode that apparently offers 'hi-fi grade amplification technology'.

Earlier, Eve Devices had hinted that its next product event would be for its long-hyped second-gen convertible PC, the V 2020. Now, the OEM has confirmed that this is the case. It has also teased the device with some specs and pre-order details.

Sharkoon's latest case, namely the TG5 RGB Silent PCGH Edition, comes with damping mats on the top and side panel, as well as special fans designed to keep things as quiet as possible by running at only 800 RPM. The manufacturer's suggested price for this ATX case is 89.90 Euros (roughly US$108).

Xiaomi is preparing to release new Bluetooth wireless earphones in the near future, which may either be called the Redmi True Buds 2 Pro or the more familiar and concise Redmi AirDots 3. The audio device has been spotted receiving its Bluetooth certification. The Redmi AirDots 2 were launched in July 2020 at just 79 yuan (US$12) in China.

Baseus has launched a series of new slim, high-tech third-party chargers equipped with gallium nitride (GaN) technology. One of them is rated to charge 2 devices at up to 60 watts (W) at once. This may make it a good companion for laptops such as the MacBook Pro.

ZTE has launched the Watch Live in its native China. This new wearable is of the Apple Watch-clone variety, although it sells for much less than its clear inspiration. Its maker claims that it packs 24-hour heart-rate tracking, blood-oxygen sensing, sleep-tracking and up to 21 hours of battery life in its square casing.

Zhiyun's Cinepeer C11 gimbal is an accessory with 3-axis stabilization and features such as object-tracking and motion-lapse features. It is also a 4000mAh power bank, thus allowing the user to keep recording for longer. It is currently 44% off its normal US$89 price for Black Friday.

Samsung is rumored to have a new member of its Galaxy Buds series to launch alongside the S21 smartphones in January 2021. Now, a recent certification has revealed that they may be revealed as the "Pros" of their line at this event. This may be due to the inclusion of ANC in this generation.

The start-up Olive Union has put its latest product up for crowdfunding on Indiegogo. On first glance, they are a particularly chunky take on the AirPod-clone TWS earbud. This may be because they apparently pack an "FDA-registered" hearing aid in with typical Bluetooth and audio components. They, for example, purport to exclude background noise to isolate human voices.

HTC might be planning a return to the smart mobile market with new TWS earbuds. These products have been spotted on the database of the Taiwanese regulator NCC ahead of their launch. This leak indicates that these new accessories have a Sony-clone look and can use Bluetooth 5.0.

The ESM 9110 is currently on sale for $33 USD compared to $40 or $50 USD for an authentic Xbox One controller. The unlicensed PC and Switch gamepad comes real close to the real deal and it even integrates LED-lit buttons for extra visual flair.

A recent Sony patent for a virtual reality headset with haptic feedback indicates strongly that the company is working on a successor to the PSVR, despite saying that it had no plans to do so. The patent illustrations indicate that the purported PSVR2 will be far lighter and thinner than the original. But, with no official announcement from Sony, it's up in the air as to when (or if) the PSVR2 will arrive.