Nokia announced today plans to purchase Withings, maker of many popular healthcare related accessories and companion apps for Android smartphones and other mobile devices.
The company said the 170 million Euro purchase would see Withings become part of its Nokia Technologies business and help jump-start its new efforts at Digital Health products.
Samsung earlier this week officially introduced an Iron Man edition Galaxy S6 Edge, but also noted that it would be available only in South Korea, Hong Kong, and China, leaving fans everywhere else out to dry. Nevertheless, popular accessory company SlickWraps has introduced an aftermarket skin/wrap that gives any Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge the Iron Man design.
Google today announced a new series of limited edition cases for Android devices and first up is a collaboration with electronic music artist Skrillex and cases for the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
The new limited edition Skrillex Live Case isn’t your average smartphone case: Google is bundling a companion experience that will offer a live wallpaper that updates throughout the day with satellite imagery from a custom-designed balloon satellite it launched for the project:
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This may not be the most exciting new product ever, but you can now purchase a replacement charging cradle for the LG Watch Urbane on the Google Store. This comes as the second of a couple updates that the Mountain View company seems to have rolled out on the Store today, the first being the removal of the Samsung Gear Live smartwatch from purchase…
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Amazon accidentally revealed earlier this week that this would be happening today, but we now have proof that the slip was legit: the Nexus Player has now launched on the Google Store in the UK for £79. A couple of new Android Wear accessories have also landed in the store today though, including a Sony SmartWatch 3 watch band and a standalone charger for the Asus ZenWatch.
A few months ago, we visited Toronto-based Cordon Labs for some hands-on time with the work-in-progress Pinć VR headset case for Android-based smartphones and the iPhone. Fast forward to CES 2015 and we’ve once again had a few minutes to check out a new and improved prototype of the headset, now 20% slimmer and closer to becoming an accessory that could actually be pocketable without protruding through your pants. Read ahead for my first impressions of the Pinć and a brief overview of where I think it is headed.
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Sony is about to announce a new product in its QX camera accessory lineup that will make your smartphone compatible with any of its E-Mount lenses usually reserved for its line of NEX camcorders and mirrorless shooters. The report comes from the often reliable SonyAlphaRumors blog, which also shared the image above and below:
These are the first pictures of the ILCE-QX1 E-mount camera. The third QX camera after the QX10 and QX100 (here one Bay). But unlike the other two this hasn’t a fixed lens but is an E-mount module. It has an APS-C sensor (not sure yet but should have the same great A6000 24MP sensor with fast af), built-in flash
When Sony introduced its QX accessory for smartphones last year, there were mixed reviews on whether or not the lens-style camera attachment would catch on with consumers, but many praised the product despite not loving its original $300-$500 price point (which has since come down). More than just a lens attachment for your Android device or iPhone, the lens built in NFC, WiFi, battery, memory and a back-illuminated 18MP 1/2.3” Exmor R® CMOS sensor. This time around Sony is going ditch the fixed lens and let the accessory play nice with any of its E-Mount lenses, which could be a big draw for users that are already invested in the ecosystem.
Sony is expected to unveil the device during its IFA event in Berlin tomorrow on September 3. The new QX accessory will reportedly sell for 300 Euro for the body only and 450 Euro with a 16-50mm lens. The two current models are now selling for around $135 and $335 for the higher end model on Amazon. Update: Current model is now on sale for $84 shipped.
According to a new report from the often reliable Samsung blog SamMobile, Samsung is developing a new smartphone cover with built-in ultrasonic sensor that will provide navigation assistance to the visually impaired. The accessory will reportedly launch as a companion to the new Galaxy Note 4 that the company is expected to unveil early next month during IFA in Berlin.
Today’s report not only brings news of the ultrasonic cover, but also provides a description straight from Samsung about how it will work. “According to our sources, the cover consists of an ultrasonic sensor which detects nearby objects in front of the person and provides feedback, appropriately. Users will also be able to change the range of ultrasonic signals and choose between three levels: short, middle and long. However, as the user increases the range of ultrasonic signals, the width of the area covered by the ultrasonic sensor will get narrower.”
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Samsung is reportedly developing its own VR headset, a device that will be similar in many ways to the Oculus Rift, for use with its flagship Galaxy smartphones and tablets (via Engadget). This headset is apparently separate from the “Galaxy Glass” project that is slated to be unveiled later this year.
The VR headset is being described as a peripheral, as opposed to a stand-alone product, and will require a connection to a Samsung device in order to function.
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Since the device’s release Google has been selling bumper cases and QuickCover cases for the Nexus 5. Today, the company has further expanded its accessory line-up and added a new Snap Case for the Nexus 5. The case is priced at $29.99 and available in Black, Silver, Aqua, White, and Clear.
Leather is often synonymous with quality. Samsung has even taken to crafting their devices with faux-leather stitching to try to convey a sense of worth to their products. The Noreve Tradition case for the Nexus 7 (2013) tries to convey that sense of quality and luxury to owners of Google’s 7-inch tablet that are looking for a relatively expensive accessory for their inexpensive tablet. But does the Noreve Tradition
deliver on that promise of quality and luxury?
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A new report claims Sony plans to launch an attachment for smartphones that will include a camera lens with built-in sensor, battery, and memory, and connect to a smartphone over NFC or WiFi. The report comes from SonyAlphaRumors, which claims this rumor comes from its top sources (opposed to some of the other stories it often posts from anonymous tipsters and less reliable sources).
There aren’t a ton of details about exactly how the lens would work in terms of integrating with a smartphone, but we’d imagine it would come with a companion app to drive the experience. The report claims it will pack in the same 20.2 MP sensor and Carl Zeiss lens as its $750 DSC-RX100M II digital camera, indicating its price tag might be on the high-end compared to similar camera lens attachments. Another version with a “smaller sensor and larger zoom” is also reportedly in the works.
The site notes that “You can mount it on the smartphone but also use it separately,” which we assume means it will act as a wireless viewfinder of sorts.
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The Lapdock that sells alongside the Motorola Atrix hasn’t seen much success — due to high pricing. With the upcoming release of the Droid Bionic, we were wondering if the new LTE device would be seeing any of these accessories. In a new report from Droid Life today, the Droid Bionic will be seeing the Lapdock and HD Station that the Atrix saw, but will feature a new accessory called the Webtop.
The Webtop is a cheaper version to the Lapdock, allowing you to plug the adapter into the Bionic’s HDMI and micro USB port, and then run a HDMI cable from it to a TV or monitor. It will also charge while on the adapter.The similarities to Lapdock will definitely make it easy for users to transition to the new peripheral.There’s also no word on pricing.We look forward to this new accessory, but first we’d like the phone — Motorola!
