Accessory

A promo video showing off the upcoming Fitbit Charge 4 fitness tracker has been shared online. Prices for the European market for both the standard edition of the Charge 4 and the special edition of the fitness tracker have also been revealed. It seems Fitbit has also decided to install a GPS module in its latest Charge model.

An always-on display is often a sought-after software feature in Android phones. The increasingly popular OEM OnePlus has classically resisted this trend, offering a less consistent Ambient mode instead. However, it has announced that they are finally working on one for the future of its devices.

Radxa has introduced new accessories for the Raspberry Pi and the Rock Pi. Designed for those looking to build a NAS on a budget, the Radxa SAT HAT allows you to connect up to four 3.5-inch drives to a Raspberry Pi simultaneously.

Following the Taiwanese regulator NCC certifying a new set of Google TWS earbuds, they have now been cleared by the FCC. The second-generation Google Pixel Buds will feature 12 mm dynamic drivers, USB C charging and up to 24 hours battery life.

Samsung's latest smartwatch has an electrocardiography (ECG) sensor, but it is deactivated at present. The OEM had projected that it would be working via a firmware update in the first quarter of 2020 (1Q2020). However, it now seems it's going to miss this deadline.

The Xiaomi sub-brand Black Shark has a new accessory: the FunCooler Pro. This, as it may sound, is a smartphone attachment with a fan intended to manage device temperatures while gaming. It has adjustable clamps, and may thus fit onto the backs of phones besides those of its own series.

Said to feature Sony Alpha technology, the Xperia 1 II is not due to be released until Q2 2020. However, now camera sensor details for the upcoming flagship have appeared online, and it seems that the Xperia 1 II may outdo some of Samsung's latest flagships on camera hardware.

Qualcomm has introduced the QCC514X and QCC304X, 2 new audio SoCs that are "optimized for" true wireless (TWS) earbuds and other similar accessories. They are equipped with support for its Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and generally improved sound over low-energy Bluetooth.

Exceptional times require special measures and solutions. Many companies and manufacturers are reacting to the COVID-19 pandemic by not only producing their regular products like cars, consumer electronics and smartphones but also face masks. Now, Xiaomi has commenced development for a Smart Mask that can record air quality among other features.

Infrared Cameras Inc. is a Texas-based company that makes products that allow the assessment of a target's core temperature without touching them. For example, its HotSpot thermometer uses infrared (IR) technology to help assess symptoms such as fever. This useful device is now in the hands of more officials worldwide.

The failed AirPower project has been revived within Apple, according to tipster Jon Prosser, because the company is keen to push forward with a portless iPhone. Although not calling out the iPhone 12 Pro to get a portless design, it wouldn’t surprise to see Apple advance to a portless design sooner rather than later.

Centred on Edge computing, Seeedstudio hopes that the re_computer will provide better access for people looking to get into single-board computers. The service allows people to assemble custom-built devices that should suit a wide range of use cases.

One of LG's latest OLED TVs has won Best of the Best in its Red Dot Design Award category. This model, the 65GX, is a 65-inch SKU of the "Gallery" series. The OEM has also won gongs from this association for a new Wallpaper-series TV, as well as for one of its state-of-the-art 8K series.

Most IP and Wi-Fi-connected home security cameras are designed to simply detect suspicious movement on a property. However, the Lumus may improve on such products from Reolink in that it also has a built-in spotlight. This augmentation is intended to deter potential intruders from the home.

The Raspberry Pi 4 is the most powerful Raspberry Pi to date, with it packing enough reserves to be used for machine learning. Now, you can put the popular SBC to use for automatically detected objects using TensorFlow Lite.

HP has teased its latest VR headset and it looks like it will be a genuine challenger to the current top tier VR headsets on the market. The new headset has been designed in partnership with both Valve and Microsoft, suggesting that it could be something special.

Taiwan's NCC regulator has reportedly cleared a new set of TWS devices from Google. This suggests that the Pixel Buds debuted last year will see successors in 2020. However, it is difficult to guess from their new putative leak how the 2 generations might differ.

Amazfit has announced that its iF Design Award for the innovative ZenBuds came in during the week of World Sleep Day this year (March 13, 2020). These TWS earbuds, appropriately enough, have been created in order to support improved nightly rest. They do so through an ultra-light and compact build, ANC and stress-busting features.

The well-known power accessories brand Aukey has launched the Graphite Pro 15W, a wireless charger that has won a 2020 iF Design Award for its futuristic form-factor. It integrates vents, a fan and "aviation-grade aluminum" to keep it cool during use. This device has been released alongside a slimline new power bank.

Sculptor Monitor is a start-up that has launched its eponymous new external display on Indiegogo. The company claims that it addresses a number of drawbacks of the average standalone monitor with this new device. They include USB type C ports that only do data or charging, bulky designs and a lack of 4K.

After initial information about the Canon EOS R6 appeared in January, there is now another leak through which outlines most of the specifications of the cheaper brother to the EOS R5. Canon is now expected to launch the EOS R6 in May.

Fitbit has thrown many of the normally pay-walled aspects of its ecosystem open to all users as they continue to cope with the ongoing pandemic. This offer comprises 90 days of its Premium package, which includes advanced sleep-tracking options and customized workouts for free. It is open to existing and new users of this platform.

Some images of the upcoming Fitbit Charge 4 fitness tracker have been leaked online, hot on the heels of the revealed full specifications for the wearable. The new pictures show the Charge 4 looking very similar to the Fitbit Charge 3, although the new watch face of the former features larger numerals than the latter.

With the Wio Terminal, Seeedstudio has created a particularly inexpensive single-board computer that is Arduino, MicroPython and Raspberry Pi-compatible. The Wio Terminal comes with a dedicated display, Bluetooth 5.0 LE and 5G Wi-Fi among other components.

The last few years have seen a scatter of articles about Surge, Xiaomi's supposed competitor to the Kirin or Exynos SoC series of the world in development. Now, however, there are indications that the Chinese OEM is finally giving up on this idea. However, it will continue with other, related projects that may produce chipsets for wireless communications.

The Fitbit Charge 4 fitness tracker has made a couple of online appearances recently. One of them was for an FCC certification and the other was on a retailer site. Unfortunately, no images of the Fitbit Charge 4 were leaked, but the prices and colors of the fitness tracker were revealed, as well as the fact it features NFC technology and is water resistant.

Apple has debuted a refreshed pair of Powerbeats for 2020. These new products look much the same as their predecessors, although they have comparably extended battery life and Audio Sharing. They are available from now for ~US$150.

The wait is over for the long sought after trackpad support for Apple’s iPad range. The launch of the new iPad Pro also brings with it an all-new keyboard that drops the infamous butterfly mechanism in favor of Apple’s revised Magic Keyboard scissor switch.

Existing ZenScreen owners can celebrate an ongoing raffle with Asus from now until April 5th for a chance to win a ZenBeam S2 portable projector.

The extremely versatile Raspberry Pi can also serve as the basis for an inexpensive VR headset. The project actually put antiquated technology to good use, too.

Renowned for being "the gold standard" of controllers, the Xbox controller has gotten even better. Now Microsoft has unveiled the Xbox Series X controller and has detailed what changes it has made to improve your gaming experience.

The CineBeam projectors support 4K UHD content and LG's ThinQ AI. Now, they also support Amazon Alexa thanks to a new software update. This applies to the HU70LA and HU85LA variants of this series.

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has confirmed the existence of an impending Lite variant of the Samsung Galaxy S6 Tab. Now, the FCC has added a tablet with its model number to its database of verified devices. This suggests that the new product has a US launch coming up.

Huami is a wearables OEM that has recently made a name for its own brand, Amazfit. Besides this, it also has a role as an ODM to other brands such as Xiaomi to make their smart accessories. The company has reported a year-on-year (YoY) growth of no less than 72.4% in terms of shipments for 2019.

Asurion has published the results of research that show US residents may have checked their phones as often as every 10 minutes in 2019. Furthermore, over 40% of the study's respondents admitted to taking their mobile devices out in public places, bathrooms included. Findings such as these may remind us all to disinfect our electronics more often.

Swiss luxury watch maker Tag Heuer has launched its third-generation Connected smartwatch. The most notable change, in addition to a more refined design, is a switch from an Intel chipset to Qualcomm’s 2018 Snapdragon Wear 3100 SoC.

The Raspberry Pi Camera Module is a popular accessory not only for the Raspberry Pi, but also for other single-board computers (SBCs). While the IMX219 is only capable of up to 8 MP, one person has found a way to use it to shoot in up to 1,000 FPS.

Some code allegedly derived from an as-yet unreleased version of iOS also reportedly offers insight into watchOS 7, software that may debut with the next Apple Watch. It hints at additions such as sleep tracking and a new mode for its Infograph watch-face. On that note, new custom faces may be possible in this version.

Luxury goods maker Montblanc has launched its latest smartwatch alongside its first pair of premium wireless headphones. The new Summit 2+ builds on the same platform as its predecessor but is now larger while its new luxury Smart Headphones will appeal to well-heeled travelers.

Vecnos, a spin-off from Ricoh, has announced that it will release its first product soon. It will be a 360-degree camera that may compete with similar devices from GoPro or Insta360. However, this one may come in a much more portable form-factor.

Xiaomi showed quite some ambition when it opened its own Apple Store-esque outlet in Shepherd's Bush, London. However, reports that this brick-and-mortar establishment has shut down have recently emerged. UK customers can still buy products from this OEM online, though.

The latest SSD from Buffalo is tiny, with dimensions akin to a USB stick and a weight of just 15 g. The fast USB Type-C SSD is robust too and is the perfect choice for those who prefer to travel light.

The Optoma UHD50X is a new projector rated for images of a 4K UHD resolution and a refresh rate of up to 240 hertz (Hz). It also has a brightness of 3400 ANSI lumens and is HDR10- and HLG-compatible. This new projector also has a "gaming" mode with an input lag of as little as 16 milliseconds (ms).

The WH-1000XM4 has been a long time coming, with it being almost eighteen months since Sony announced the WH-1000XM3. The WH-1000XM4 was expected to be unveiled at CES 2020 and now a listing for the ANC headphones has appeared on Anatel Certification, the Brazilian version of the FCC. The listing not only offers the first sighting of the WH-1000XM4, but also specifications for Sony's next-generation headphones. Sadly, it seems that there is no room for the aptX or aptX HD Bluetooth codecs.

Early on in the product life cycle of the Apple Watch, Apple realized that it was on to a winner with its health tracking features. This is an aspect of the device that it has continued to refine with each iteration. It looks set to continue to this push by offering blood oxygen level sensing in a future model.