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Wear OS

1,462 'Wear OS' stories March 2014 - August 2015
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Wear OS is Google's wearable platform which is designed to run on watches. It's based on a modified version of Android, designed by Google, and used on many third-party smartwatches.

Wear OS is Google’s wearable platform which is designed to run on watches. It’s based on a modified version of Android, designed by Google, and used on smartwatches such as Pixel Watch, Galaxy Watch, and more.

The platform was first introduced in 2014 as “Android Wear,” before being modified until it became “Wear OS” in 2018.

As you’d expect, Wear OS is designed to be an extension of your smartphone. Notifications are mirrored to your wrist while condensed apps can be installed, both with their own independent functionality or as an extension of the smartphone app.

Where Wear OS was once found across a variety of smartwatch brands, the market has condensed in recent years. Names such as Fossil, Mobvoi, and others faded away in favor of first-party smartwatches from Google and Samsung, as other names in Android such as OnePlus, Oppo, Xiaomi, and more.

A few key Wear OS smartwatches include:

Google’s Pixel Watch is the poster child of Wear OS, with a heavy focus on Fitbit features and Gemini integration.

Pixel Watch 4
Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

You can read the latest news about the platform and its apps below.

Upleaks shares Moto 360S and Moto 360L screen & lug sizes ahead of IFA

Avatar for Stephen Hall Aug 31 2015 - 6:42 pm PT
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The new Moto 360 — scheduled to be unveiled in just a few days — has seen plenty of leaks over the last few weeks. And now Upleaks is getting into the nitty gritty. According to a pair of recent tweets, we now know the dimensions of both devices’ screens and lug widths…

Apparently, the Moto 360 small (which has appropriately picked up the Moto 360S moniker) sports a 1.37-inch display and a 42mm body, as well as lugs to fit a 20mm band. The large variant, in turn referred to as the Moto 360L, has a 1.55-inch display, a 46mm body, and a 22mm band size.

https://twitter.com/upleaks/status/638524784985247744

Also, following several new leaked stock images of both devices this morning, as well as the newly-rumored Moto 360 Sport, Upleaks has now shared images of the back of the device. As you can see above, the watch is labeled as “Moto 360,” sports a pedometer, is IP67 water resistant, is made of stainless steel, and has wireless charging.

The one on the left is assumably the Moto 360S, while the one on the right is the larger model (I’m assuming these aren’t to scale). Hopefully Motorola decides to simply offer two sizes and doesn’t come anywhere close to attaching silly letters to their names. The branding looks to simply be “Moto 360,” and I have faith that that’s what they (both) will be called.

Android Wear on iOS: Setup and first impressions [Video]

Avatar for Cam Bunton Aug 31 2015 - 3:00 pm PT
1 Comment

Android Wear finally has iOS support after Google pushed its iPhone-compatible software to the App Store. This means that Android has beaten Apple Watch to the cross-platform game. Or, at least it would, if iOS didn’t restrict it to a state of almost uselessness. The only device officially supported is the LG Watch Urbane although — as we previously revealed — the older generation Android Wear watches do work. I got it set up with my Moto 360, and have been mostly disappointed by my experience so far.


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Samsung reveals its Gear S2 smartwatch ahead of IFA 2015 kick off

Avatar for Stephen Hall Aug 31 2015 - 2:43 pm PT
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Samsung has — notably 4 days before IFA 2015 is set to kick off in Berlin — announced its round Gear S2 smartwatch by way of a press release. The device, which is absent of any hint of Google’s Android Wear smartwatch operating system, has a circular 1.2-inch screen, sports Tizen-based software, has 4 GB of onboard storage, and packs fitness features like S Health and Nike+ Running. Also, there’s a 3G model…
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Android Wear on iPhone unofficially works with Moto 360, LG G Watch R, others

Avatar for Stephen Hall Aug 31 2015 - 9:52 am PT
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After a quick factory reset of my LG G Watch R, it seems that Android Wear isn’t restricted to newer Android Wear devices as Google seemed to suggest this morning. Following the announcement that Android Wear support is coming to iOS today, many — myself included — complained that Google was seemingly restricting the new feature to the most recent devices. That doesn’t seem to be the case, as several Android Wear users around the web are reporting…
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New renders show ‘Moto 360 Sport,’ purportedly coming in November

Avatar for Stephen Hall Aug 31 2015 - 6:00 am PT
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The Moto 360 is set to get a complete refresh at IFA later this week, and up to this point we’ve only seen what look to be two variants of the device. There’s apparently a smaller watch and a larger watch (reportedly called Moto 360S and Moto 360L, respectively). Now, well-known leakster Upleaks is giving us a look at a “Sport” variant of the smartwatch, featuring bright colors and some kind of fitness tracking software on board…
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LG announces Watch Urbane Luxe, $1200 gold-plated limited edition smartwatch

Avatar for Cam Bunton Aug 31 2015 - 2:01 am PT
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Early this morning, LG announced a brand new, limited edition gold-plated version of its Urbane smartwatch. The LG Watch Urbane Luxe will be available to buy at the end of October and is expected to cost somewhere in the region of $1,200. It’s plated in 23-karat gold, features an alligator leather strap and a classic deployment clasp. What’s more, the case is coated in a piano-gloss lacquer.


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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Moto X 2nd gen (Verizon unlocked) $180, Silicon Power 64GB microSD card $20, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Aug 28 2015 - 12:43 pm PT
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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

16GB Motorola Moto X 2nd gen (Verizon, unlocked): $180 shipped (Reg. $210)

MicroSD cards: Silicon Power 64GB $20 (Orig. $36), PNY 128GB $51 (Orig. $80), more

Power Banks: Anker PowerCore 15600mAh w/ dual USB ports $25 Prime shipped (Reg. $33), KMASHI 10000mAh $9, more

Chromecast (Manufacturer Refurbished): $24 shipped (Reg. $35) | Groupon

Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone 32GB: $500 shipped w/ code DEAL80OFF (Reg. $800) | T-Mobile

Brand new LG G4 32GB 4G LTE smartphone (unlocked): $420 shipped (Reg. $550+)

HTC is offering a free $100 Google Play gift card with the purchase of an HTC One M9

Philips Friends of Hue Bloom Luminaire Starter Kit: $100 shipped (Reg. $180)

App Store Free App of the Week: Nighty Night Circus kids’ bedtime story app ($3 value)

Get a free download of the AirPano Travel Book iOS app courtesy of Apple ($3 value)

Back to school gift guide: essential tech gear every student should be using

More new gear from today:

Bose SoundSport workout in-ear headphones (multiple colors) $80 shipped (Reg. $120)

  • Games/Apps: Splatoon $50, Destiny $15, BADLAND $2, Kingdom Rush Origins $1, freebies, more
  • Daily Deals: HP Envy 5530 Wireless Color Printer $65, Motorola X Sol Republic DECK NFC Bluetooth Speaker $40, more
  • Timbuk2 bags, backpacks, and rollers 25% off + extra 20% off: Command Messenger Bag $89 shipped (Reg. $150)

More deals still alive:

VIZIO 49-inch 120Hz 4K LED Smart HDTV $600 (Reg. $720), 43-inch $548 or $528 w/ Prime (Reg. $599)

MFi Apple-Certified Lightning Cables: 6-ft. Braided Nylon $9.50 (Reg. $14), 2-ft. Retractable $9 (Reg. $13), more

New products & more:

Logitech’s new Artemis Wireless Gaming Headsets focus on features and compatibility

Samsung introduces new multi-room speakers alongside an improved Android and iOS app

Huawei Watch pricing revealed on Amazon – four models ranging between $350 and $800

Avatar for Stephen Hall Aug 28 2015 - 7:15 am PT
2 Comments

Update: Huawei has shared the following statement regarding the Amazon listing, which is now pulled:

Earlier today, incorrect information about the upcoming launch of the Huawei Watch was published on a partner website. We have nothing to announce at this time. Stay tuned for more details next week.

Even though the device was first made public a full 6 months ago, the Huawei Watch price — which was rumored to be upwards of $1,000 — has been a mystery for quite some time. Now, thanks to a new pre-order page on Amazon’s website, we can see that the watch will be priced between $350 and $800 depending on the model you choose…
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PSA: Many Moto 360 owners now receiving Android Wear 1.3 update

Avatar for Stephen Hall Aug 27 2015 - 10:15 am PT
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The Moto 360 is perhaps one of the most — if not the most — popular Android Wear smartwatches, and now it appears that the device’s update to Android Wear 1.3 is now rolling out to the masses. The update was officially announced last week, and comes packed with new interactive watch face support, a new watch face called “Together,” and other great new features…

Motorola has officially mentioned the update on their support site:

We are rolling out a new Android Wear software update for Moto 360 by Motorola. With this update we have added support for new features and fixed some issues to improve your experience… This software update will be rolled out in phases to Moto 360 users over the next few days.  When you receive the update, you will receive a notification on your watch.

According to the company, the update packs all of the features Google mentioned in its official blog post. You’ll get the aforementioned interactive watch face support, the Together watch face, Google Translate for Android Wear, a new Weather app, notification privacy improvements, and of course the usual bug fixes and improvements.

Here’s the full change log:

Interactive Watch Faces Interactive watch faces make it easier to stay connected. With just a tap on your watch face, you can change its design, reveal more information, or even launch a specific app.

You can download interactive watch faces from Play Store. To set up, touch and hold on the current watch face, then scroll left/right to select the one you just downloaded. You can also select it from the Android Wear phone app.
Together Watch Face Two Android Wear users can stay close throughout the day by turning their entire watch face into a space for sharing. Once you’ve paired your watch face with a partner’s, you’ll be able to share things like photos and emojis, and more.

To set up, touch and hold on the current watch face, then scroll left/right to find the Together watch face. You can also select it from the Android Wear phone app.
Google Translate for Wear Translate a conversation into any of the 44 available languages, then flip your wrist to show the translation to someone else. When they respond in their own language, flip your wrist back, and you’ll see in a translation of what they’ve just said.

The watch must be connected to a phone with internet access via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Weather Microapp Shows current weather conditions and four-day forecast for your current location. To open the weather microapp, swipe left on the watch face, then scroll down and tap Weather.
Privacy improvement for notifications Your notifications won’t show in full screen until the watch is oriented in a way that only you can see it. This feature prevents others from reading an incoming notification when your watch screen is pointed away from you.
Bug Fixes A variety of system optimizations to improve performance and stability.

Make sure that your watch has at least 80% battery, and also remember to keep your Android Wear companion app up to date for good measure. Motorola says the update is rolling out “over the next few days,” so be patient as it makes its way to your watch. Or just keep mashing the “System updates” button in Settings. It’s up to you.

On the off chance that you have a home-made cable for connecting your 360 to a PC, you can download the Android Wear 1.3 OTA now.

Big and small: Upcoming Moto 360L and 360S surface in leaked photos

Avatar for Cam Bunton Aug 27 2015 - 8:22 am PT
3 Comments

Recently we revealed that Motorola’s new smartwatch passed through the Brazilian equivalent of the FCC. In it, the filings indicated that Motorola is clearly working on two sizes for its next generation Moto 360 smartwatch. Moto 360L and Moto 360S will seemingly keep the same ‘flat tire’ on the bottom of the screen, and similar round metal cases but there are clear differences. Today, both big and small versions of the Moto 360 have popped up in individually leaked photos.


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Android Wear 1.3 OTA download links now available, here’s how to install them

Avatar for Stephen Hall Aug 26 2015 - 8:21 am PT
1 Comment

The update to Android Wear pushed back in May bumped the base Android version to 5.1.1, but the most recent update — the one that packs all the nifty interactive watch face features — keeps the OS at 5.1.1 while bringing Android Wear to version 1.3. The update has slowly been rolling out to all Android Wear watches over the last week or so (none of them are too dated for updates quite yet, thankfully), and OTA download links are starting to trickle in. Find them (via Android Police) below the fold…
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SmartWatch 3 watch face app from Sony now on the Play Store

Avatar for Stephen Hall Aug 25 2015 - 1:59 pm PT
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The SmartWatch 3 is one of a few first-gen Android Wear devices that’s still sold on the Google Store, and now Sony has published an app on the Play Store that lets you customize all of your device’s default watch faces (via Android Police).

With the app, you can customize watch face backgrounds, hands, time markers, accent colors, and more features. Additionally, you can choose “from a range of widgets” that bring information like the current date and your step count to the front of your device.

There are three basic watch faces that are new thanks to the app: Classic, Watercolor, and Sony. The first is a traditional analog face, the second sports — as you might have guessed — some colorful designs, and Sony is a very basic digital face.

To use this app, Sony says that you have to have the Android Wear companion app installed on your device, and it’s probably a good idea to make sure that you have the latest version of Android Wear installed on your device as well.

You can grab the Sony SmartWatch 3 accessory app on the Play Store for free. If you’re like me, you probably think this means a bunch of awesome new watch faces to try on other Android Wear devices. I’ll save you the time in trying; this is for the SmartWatch 3 only.

Report: New Android Wear devices from LG, Motorola, Huawei, ASUS coming at IFA

Avatar for Stephen Hall Aug 25 2015 - 12:16 pm PT
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In what is probably one of the lesser surprising reports to come out this year, CNET this morning claims that four handset manufacturers — namely, LG, Motorola, Huawei, and ASUS — are all planning to launch new Android Wear smartwatches at the IFA consumer electronics show kicking off late next week. Much-rumored and long-awaited (and highly-leaked?) second generation Moto 360, anyone?

We’ve been seeing leaks of the new Moto 360 for a while now, and ASUS already made its ZenWatch 2 public earlier this year (albeit with very little fanfare). Huawei showed off the Huawei Watch a long time ago, and has yet to deliver, so that company will probably take the stage at IFA to actually announce pricing and availability details. LG is mostly a mystery right now (mostly), but we’ll see what’s up their sleeves soon enough.

We’ll be on the ground at IFA to keep you in the loop, and until then, feel free to read up on the latest on the Moto 360, and check out our Android Wear smartwatch comparison page.

Opinion: Sadly, I still don’t have a reason to wear my Android Wear smartwatch

Avatar for Stephen Hall Aug 25 2015 - 8:34 am PT
2 Comments

You can ask just about anyone: For quite some time, I thought wearables were on the brink of taking over our lives. And they may still be, but it seems to me that my internal excitement may have been premature. Google Glass fueled most of my anticipation, but smartwatches were definitely an area that intrigued me too. I told myself that all wearables needed was for Apple to make an entrance, and then platforms like Android Wear and Pebble would become quickly ubiquitous.

It may be too early to tell, but that doesn’t seem to be what’s happening — at least not yet. And while ASUS, LG, Huawei, and Motorola have some revamped hardware entries coming very soon, I’m just not that excited anymore. Why? Mostly because I just don’t have a compelling need for wearables in their current form. I have Google Glass and I have an LG G Watch R, but neither have become anything close to a daily driver for me. I still have no reason to use Android Wear.
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2nd-gen Moto 360 allegedly shows up in the wild, complete with “flat tire” and regular watch strap lugs

Avatar for Cam Bunton Aug 23 2015 - 6:12 am PT
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Not long ago, we revealed that Motorola’s next generation smart watch has made its way through testing and registration with the FCC in Brazil. That was after Motorola itself ‘accidentally’ leaked it. Now it seems, people testing the device in Chicago are just walking around and hopping on public transport wearing the unreleased wearable. Google Plus user, Gerrit Gödecke spotted one being worn while riding a Chicago commuter train and managed to snap a few shots.

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Fossil & Intel show off upcoming round Android Wear smartwatch

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Aug 18 2015 - 11:11 am PT
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Watchmaker Fossil is about to launch a new Android Wear-powered smartwatch in collaboration with Intel and today we get our first look at the device during Intel’s IDF developer conference in San Francisco (via Engadget).

The Android Wear smartwatch, which is scheduled to arrive later this year, comes alongside two other wearables from the companies including other wrist worn devices — a bracelet and a more traditional-looking, connected watch that aren’t powered by Android Wear.

It’s not exactly much to look at, as it appears to have a design a lot like the rest of the round Android Wear devices on the market. But apart from looking a lot like a Moto 360, we do get a sneak peek at some variations planned for the device including a selection of metal and leather bands.

No word on pricing or exact availability, but you can expect to hear more in time for the holidays later this year.

Did Motorola just accidentally reveal the new Moto 360? (Update: Deleted) [Photo]

Avatar for Tom Maxwell Aug 14 2015 - 11:46 am PT
2 Comments

Update: This post has been updated to include prior knowledge regarding a leaked image of Moto 360 prototypes by Lenovo’s CEO.

Update 2: No surprise, the tweet has since been removed after a couple hours.

What does the smartwatch in the above image look like to you? Yes, it looks like a Moto 360 except, wait — it doesn’t exactly. The watch pictured above just appeared in a video tweeted out by Motorola Mobility, and its differences with Motorola’s first Android Wear watch have led some to believe that it’s an inadvertent leak of the company’s much anticipated successor to the 360. The tweet is still live as of writing.


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Samsung teases round Gear S2 smartwatch, unveiling on September 3rd at IFA

Avatar for Cam Bunton Aug 13 2015 - 9:02 am PT
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With Samsung deciding to host its own event to launch the Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ today, we assumed the company was ditching IFA altogether. Turns out that’s not the case. Right at the end of today’s presentation, the Korean tech giant teased its next smartwatch, the Gear S2. It will be unveiled in Berlin on September 3rd.


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Microsoft Translator is a beautified Google Translate with Android Wear support

Avatar for Tom Maxwell Aug 7 2015 - 8:39 am PT
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Real world, on-the-fly language translation has always been a little gimmicky if only because it still doesn’t quite hit the mark in terms of accuracy. Human spoken languages are a lot different from computer code in that words can have many meanings based on the context of the other words surrounding them. But that hasn’t stopped Microsoft from releasing its own translation app for Android called Microsoft Translator.

As you can see from the images above, the app is pretty simple. You speak or type in some words you want to translate, then choose the language you want to translate them into. You can save the translated result for later by pinning it, and then come back to it when you really need it — say, if you’re hitting a vacation town for the evening and need some common phrases to help you get around.

Unlike Google Translate, Microsoft Translator has a companion app for Android Wear so you don’t have to pull out your phone to make a new translation or access your pinned translations. Google Now can do some short translations, but nothing very long from my experience. Where Google Translate may lack, however, it makes up in a conversation mode which requires less tapping of the microphone to translate the voices of two people having a conversation — something Microsoft’s solution does not do.

Microsoft Translator, the underlying translation technology powering the app, supports just over 50 languages (yes, including Klingon), and Microsoft periodically adds new languages. The company says that the most important data its translation tools need to accurately translate languages on-the-fly is a lot of existing translations — 1 million translations of the same text into two languages, approximately.

Clearly, though, the new Wear app in particular is an experiment for Microsoft. From their blog post on the launch:

Wearables are a fascinating place to understand user experiences for translation. No other type of device allows people to interact with so little physical intrusion from the device itself— PC’s, tablets, and even phones can be occasionally awkward and unnatural in the middle of a conversation. With these smart devices, we want to learn how people use the apps and how effective the translation experiences can be. By integrating translation capabilities into devices that are instantly on hand (pun intended), we hope to continue to break down the last barrier in human communication— language.

Adidas buys popular fitness app maker Runtastic for € 220 million

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Aug 5 2015 - 11:07 am PT
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Runtastic, developers of several popular fitness apps, today announced it has been acquired by Adidas for € 220 million. The move, according to a press release from both companies, will help Adidas bolster its efforts in offering connected products and its vision of “the convergence of sport, digital and data in an always connected and always on-demand world.” Or in other words, Adidas now has a strong software component with a large user base to integrate with its digitally enabled sports products including balls, wrist devices, apparel, and shoes.

Adidas already offers several of its own mobile apps that cross over into Runtastic’s territory, such as the miCoach train & run app and the Adidas Go app that integrates with Spotify to offer music matched to a user’s running pace. Runtastic, however, has around 20 mobile apps related to fitness and health and claims around 140 million downloads and 70 million registered users. The company also offers a few hardware products, including a scale and fitness tracking devices, that compliment its fitness apps that integrate with other third-party hardware including Android Wear devices and other wearables. 

It’s unclear what Adidas has planned for the company and its apps, but Runtastic will be joining the Adidas teams and building new experiences as part of the brand going forward. What exactly that means for the Runtastic brand and integration with Adidas products remains to be seen.

9to5Toys Lunch Break: LG G Flex 2 (unlocked) $300, Galaxy Tab Pro $350, Samsung EVO 1TB SSD $310, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 27 2015 - 12:33 pm PT
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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

LG G Flex 2 silver (unlocked) 4G LTE w/ curved OLED: $300 shipped (Reg. $330) | eBay

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2″ Tablet: $350 shipped (Reg. $650) (must be signed in) | Adorama

Samsung 850 EVO 1TB 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drive: $310 shipped (Reg. $350)

Sony 7.2-ch. 4K AV Receiver w/ AirPlay and Bluetooth for $299 shipped (Reg. $400), more

More new gear from today:

Motorola Refurb DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modems: SB6121 $45 (Orig. $100), SB6141 $55 (Orig. $100)

More deals still alive:

VIZIO 43-inch 4K 120Hz Smart LED UHDTV: $500 shipped (Reg. $600)

New products & more:

 

JBL details new Flip3 & Xtreme portable Bluetooth speakers w/ fresh designs & features

Review: Bang & Olufsen Beolit 15 Bluetooth speaker

Review: DODOcase Apple Watch Charging Stand

Review: SanDisk Connect Wireless Stic