Michael Kors’ fashion-focused Access smartwatch arrives this fall for $395

Designer Michael Kors has announced his first smartwatch line, the Michael Kors Access. The Access, announced at the Baselworld 2016 watch and jewelry trade show, runs on Android Wear, and features exclusive Michael Kors watch faces, interchangeable bands in leather, metal, and silicone, and all of the other features you would expect from a smartwatch. It also comes in two sizes, one geared towards men, and one towards women.

From Michael Kors:

Designed to show that technology and social connectivity should be seamless, the MICHAEL KORS ACCESS line proves that access can be both glamorous and effortless. “I’m in the business of making people’s lives easier through fashion,” says Michael Kors. “I thought, ‘Why can’t tech accessories be chic and glamorous?’ You wear them every day. After all, technology is impacting life more and more. It should reflect your personal taste as much as anything else, but it should also give you access to all the experiences that you want.”

You can check out the videos below to the watch in action.

The Michael Kors Access will be available this fall for $395, and will retail at Michael Kors stores, the company’s online store, and select department stores.

The Gear VR will make you say Holy Sh*t!

The Gear VR is one of those rare products that everyone has to try for themselves to see how awesome it is.

Russell Holly, my esteemed colleague and a man who is sometimes correct about any number of things, has been telling me just how great Gear VR is for a while. You might have seen or heard him extolling the virtues of Samsung’s entry into the world of virtual reality. He never stops, and now I know why.

I had been reluctant to try Gear VR. Not because I didn’t want to see what all the fuss was about, but because I take issue with it’s proprietary nature. I get that Samsung wants great tech to be exclusive, and it’s easy to see why Oculus would want Samsung as a partner, but I’m old school (at least in my mind) and vote with my wallet. If enough people didn’t embrace Gear VR then Samsung may decide to open it to other capable devices. Not a popular opinion, and oftentimes not an effective opinion, but I gotta be me.

Now, I’ll say right up front I’m not the biggest VR nerd out there. I think it’s cool, and silly things like Adult Swim’s incredible Virtual Brainload app entertain me, but the idea of strapping a set of goggles to my face and being oblivious to the outside world isn’t my bag. I do see why plenty of folks love it, and agree that it’s the “next big thing.”

Watch Russell and Jerry talk VR

Anyhoo, when we all got together for the best company picnic thingy ever in Atlanta, Russell slid up next to me and put a Gear VR on my face. I don’t even know what phone was inside it. Editor’s Note: It was the Note 5. He then grabbed my hands, dropped a controller in them, and told me to click a button.

Wow.

A game started up. I have no idea what game I was playing — Editor’s Note: It was Eve: Gunjack — but it was like something I’d never experienced before. I was shooting spaceships. Spaceships that came from all sides. It brought new meaning to the word immersive. It was incredible.

The graphics were a little “jaggy” and nothing resembled reality at all. But the package as a whole — the motion, the feeling of depth and the interaction itself — was off the charts. I felt like I was there, actually shooting tiny enemy fighters in my little 360-degree universe. I have nothing to compare it to, and my words really don’t do it justice. But it was amazing.

I was shooting spaceships. Spaceships that came from all sides. It brought new meaning to the word immersive. It was incredible.

I even tried to mess things up. I snapped my head around as fast as I could, tilted everything as close to 90-degrees as possible. Things still ran flawlessly. This is one of the most exciting things Samsung has ever delivered, and they deliver a lot of stuff.

I now have a Gear VR of my own, and I snatched a Note 5 from Phil to use it with. He won’t miss one. I’ve used it a lot more than I ever thought I would, and found a few things out about myself. I can’t do “realistic” VR. There’s a National Geographic video in the Gear VR app where you’re viewing the world from the underside of a helicopter. It’s too immersive, and the disconnect between my eyes “moving” while my body is still makes me hurl. Big time hurl. But games (and I love games) are awesome, and the Oculus store makes it easy to get them. I love this thing.

I still wish Samsung would open it up for other brands. In fact, I wish that even more because it’s so good. But I can’t deny that it’s a draw into the Samsung ecosystem. Especially with so many being given away with the Galaxy S7.

If you get a chance to try a Gear VR, even if you’re not a Samsung fan, jump on it. I think you’ll like it.

Samsung Gear VR

• Gear VR review
• Five Gear VR games that shouldn’t be missed
• Inside Samsung’s Gear VR web browser
• Gear VR vs. Google Cardboard
• Where to buy Gear VR

Amazon AT&T Best Buy Samsung

AT&T BlackBerry Priv buyers can get $90 worth of free accessories until April 15

If you are interested in getting a BlackBerry Priv via AT&T, you have a chance to get some free accessories as well for the next few weeks. The latest promotion for the Android-based smartphone will last until April 15.

BlackBerry says:

With every purchase of a PRIV through our valued U.S. carrier partner AT&T, you’ll have the opportunity to receive a free Slide-Out Hard Shell Case with Kick Stand and Sync Pod, a total retail value of $90.

Those buyers will have until May 16 to claim their free case and sync pod. They will have to go to the promotion site and fill in a few bits of information, including the Priv’s IMEI number, which can be found on the outside of its box.

See at AT&T

Android N Developer Preview OTA update rolling out, new images go live

If you have a device that has the Android N Developer Preview installed, you might want to check for an update. Google is pushing out a small download for those devices that is the first such OTA update for the preview version.

It looks like the new updates are just for the Nexus 6P and 5X smartphones, and the Nexus 9 (WiFi and LTE).

Google has also posted up new images for the Android N Developer Preview. We’ve already received OTA updates for our eligible devices through the beta program, but these are handy for folks who want to do things the manual way.

We’re digging in to see just what has changed, and if we find anything cool or different, we’ll let everyone know. In the meantime, be sure to sing out if you’ve installed the update and let us know what you’re seeing.

Android N Developer Preview

The Android N Developer Preview is just that — a developer preview. It is not intended for daily use. That doesn’t mean it’s not cool, and that you shouldn’t poke around. But know that things will break. Tread carefully. (And have fun!)

• What’s new in Android N
• All Android N news
• About the Android Beta Program
• Download system images
• Android N easter egg
• Join the Discussion

Tissot is the latest Swiss Watch company to reveal smartwatch plans

For those familiar with Swiss Watch company Tissot, news of a smartwatch might not be so strange. The company has been flirting with smart functionality for some time through its T-Touch models, and has referred to them as smart in the past. 

At Baselworld 2016, however, Tissot has revealed the Smart-Touch, a model that’s aimed at taking on newer smartwatches without abandoning its time-telling heritage. It’s a watch first, but then delivers a range of functions taking it beyond the current T-Touch offerings, connecting to your smartphone and other devices. 

The design seems to be very much based on the T-Touch Solar models that are already available. It has a titanium case, topped with a ceramic bezel, with a sapphire crystal face to keep it free from scratches. It is water-resistant to 10 bar, meaning it’s good to 100m. There’s a quartz movement inside.

Pocket-lint

The battery can be charged by the sun: leave it out for a day and it will be fully charged again, although we’re not sure how much of this powers the watch and how much the smart functions, or where that balance will be struck.

Many of the functions of this smartwatch will be familiar. There are the core functions of a timer, alarms, compass, barometer and temperature, altimeter and so on. But once connected to your smartphone, you’ll be able to sync the time, get weather updates, change settings easily as well as share your experiences with friends. There’s also GPS, although it’s not clear whether this in on-board the watch, or assisted by the phone.

There are also connected accessories, including a Find-It tag to help you keep track of other items and a weather station that can give you humidity, air quality and temperature readings. When you buy the watch, as we understand it from talking to a Tissot representative, you’ll get those accessories with it. 

Tissot refers to the Smart-Touch as the next-generation of T-Touch watches. It is expected to launch in late-2016, with an estimated retail price of around CHF1000, approx. £710.

Some of the details are a little sketchy on the Smart-Touch. We get the feeling that Tissot isn’t quite ready to make the grand reveal, but it did give over a section of its Baselworld stand to an interactive display centred around the watch’s functions.

Microsoft Windows 10 Mobile rollout: Which phones get it first and how?

Microsoft has finally begun the rollout of Windows 10 Mobile to select Windows Phone 8.1 devices.

You can download an app to see if the upgrade is available for you device, which we discuss below. Microsoft said the first phones getting the upgrade include a “limited set of Windows Phone 8.1 devices and does not include some devices that are currently running Windows 10 Mobile in the Windows 10 Mobile Insider program.” It also said many older devices can’t upgrade.

To help you figure out if your phone is eligible to upgrade, as well as which app you can download to check for the update, we’ve detailed all you need to know. Also, be sure to check out Pocket-lint’s review of the mobile operating system, where we described the software as something of a mixed result. It’s a more rich platform than Windows Phone 8.1, with new options in the mix.

There’s more integration, such as Skype, and better handling with Outlook and individual Office apps, for a smartphone experience that feels more mature. But we were not taken with the design.

Windows 10 Mobile: What is it?

Windows 10 Mobile is Microsoft’s new mobile operating system. It’s a successor to Windows Phone 8.1 but is an edition of Windows 10, Microsoft’s operating system for personal computers. The idea is that Windows 10 will unify Microsoft’s platforms into a single, converged operating system.

• READ MORE: Windows 10 Mobile review: A new hope

Windows 10 Mobile: Which phones get the update first?

According to Microsoft, the following phones and devices can upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile: Lumia 1520, Lumia 930, Lumia 640, Lumia 640XL, Lumia 730, Lumia 735, Lumia 830, Lumia 532, Lumia 535, Lumia 540, Lumia 635 (1GB), Lumia 636 (1GB), Lumia 638 (1GB), Lumia 430, Lumia 435, BLU Win HD w510u, BLU Win HD LTE x150q, and MCJ Madosma Q501.

However, according to The Verge, Microsoft is initially supporting the following phones: Lumia 430, Lumia 435, Lumia 532, Lumia 535, Lumia 540, Lumia 635 (1GB), Lumia 640, Lumia 640 XL, Lumia 735, Lumia 830, and Lumia 930.

Windows 10 Mobile: How do you update your phone?

To get Windows 10 Mobile, you need to manually initiate the update.

Microsoft has created an Upgrade Advisor app that will let you know if the Windows 10 Mobile update is ready for your phone. You can download the app from the Windows Store. Although this is how the rollout is kicking off, Venture Beat claimed Microsoft will one day actively push the update to eligible devices. The rollout of course depends on when carriers make the update available.

Windows 10 Mobile: Want to know more?

Go to Pocket-lint’s Windows 10 Mobile hub for related news, reviews, and analysis, or you can read Microsoft’s announcement.

Michael Kors smartwatches announced, as Fossil wearable onslaught continues

Michael Kors is getting into the wearable biz, with a fashion-centric line of Android Wear watches.

The luxury brand is part of Fossil Group, and you might’ve heard by now that Fossil plans to launch 100 wearables in 40 countries (with support for 20 languages) all by the end of 2016. Well, today, Fossil Group confirmed those devices will come from eight specific brands: Chaps, Diesel, Emporio Armani, Fossil, Kate Spade New York, Misfit, Skagen, and Michael Kors – the latter of which has just announced its first offering.

It’s a new line of wearables called the Michael Kors Access collection. The brand is now showing off two Android Wear smartwatches as part of the collection. Keep in mind all Android Wear watches are based around the same technology, and the main differences between them come to down how they’re packaged and designed. Michael Kors said the Access watches are meant to offer a “stylish, even glamorous design”.

While at Baselworld 2016, Michael Kors revealed that one of the Access smartwatches has a gold-coloured sparkly case, while the second one is a darker, sportier model. Both watches feature faces exclusive to Michael Kors, as well as stuff like “a digital chronograph design for the gym or glittering, animated pave for night.” They also have interchangeable wristbands available in either silicone and leather options.

They’ll be priced around $395 each and sold through Kors stores. Not much else is known at the moment, though SlashGear said they won’t be available by this autumn season. Watch the video below for a closer look.

5 Lightning headphones to buy when iPhone ditches the 3.5mm jack

Apple reportedly plans to ditch the headphone jack on the next iPhone.

This is where you scream and curse at Apple. Done? Okay, now let’s move on, talk about why, and consider the alternatives, including lightning headphones. Yes. Those are thing. They’re like regular headphones or earbuds – only they plug into the lightning port instead of the 3.5mm jack.

In fact, if you browse the gallery above, we’ve picked out a few lightning headphones out now or coming soon.

Lightning headphones: Why is Apple ditching the jack?

Apple’s next flagship (presumably called the iPhone 7) might not come with a standard 3.5mm jack, because – according to the running theory of the moment – Apple will introduce 96kHz/24-bit music streaming in Apple Music.

But an analog headphone jack can only deliver CD-quality sound. The lightning port, however, allows for headphones with integrated digital-to-analog converters and amplifiers, so audio traveling through the lightning port would therefore pass into the headphones digitally, thus avoiding typical analog signal interferences and whatnot.

Lightning headphones are capable of receiving lossless stereo 48 kHz digital audio output from Apple devices and sending mono 48 kHz digital audio input. They can also draw power from an Apple device (even if the device is asleep). That means you can charge while you listen. Glorious!

Also, by using the lightning port, Apple could shave 1mm off the smartphone. It could then wrap the screen ever further around the device and phone base. Oh, and there would be space for more battery too. That’s right. Apple would be able to squeeze a bigger juice pack into your next iPhone.

All we know for sure is that Apple loves to kill old technology (floppy drive, CD drive, 30-pin connector, USB-A, etc) in favour of new stuff. And, in our opinion, that new stuff might just be certified Lightning headphones. Don’t be shocked. Apple quietly started allowing manufacturers to make them two years ago.

Lightning headphones: Are they Apple-approved?

Apple’s Made-For-iPhone/iPad/iPod (MFi) program enables manufacturers to create Apple-specified/approved goods for iOS devices, and for quite a while, manufacturers have been able to make headphones that connect to iOS devices using a Lightning connector instead of the usual 3.5mm jack.

Unfortunately, only a few companies have actually taken advantage of this golden opportunity, though if the rumour mill keeps churning out these reports about Apple ditching the jack, we’ll likely see more and more Lightning headphones popping up ahead of the iPhone 7’s expected launch.

The Audeze EL-8 Titanium Closed-Back headphones are probably the most-well known Lightning headphones. They’re marketed as the first to offer a fully integrated Lightning connector for iPhone, along with a headphone amplifier and 28-bit DAC built into the Lightning cable. But they’re not cheap.

Check out the gallery above to browse more Lightning headphones available to buy right now. Well, some of them are launching soon. But you get the point. We plan to update this piece over time – so keep coming back.

Lightning headphones: But what about Bluetooth?

Let’s not forget as well that going wireless is the future (ie wireless charging, etc). So, speaking of wireless, Apple recently became a promoter member of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. It therefore could be getting ready to push Bluetooth headphones instead of Lightning ones.

But, honestly, we’re not betting on that.

On the Brink of Greatness: Startup Culture

If you’ve been wondering what it’s like to work for a hot Silicon Valley startup, you’re in luck. Bambu’s new promo video offers a behind-the-scenes look at what makes the company tick. On this week’s episode of On the Brink of Greatness, Steve Goldbloom and the crew discuss what makes the work environment at the startup so great. They cover important topics like work/life balance, diversity, giving back, inspiration and, most importantly, the future. We’ll totally understand if you want to submit a resume after watching, because really this is the only company that matters.

DoT and Alphabet plan to battle gridlock

Department of Transportation secretary Anthony Foxx and Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs announced a transportation platform today called Flow. The system will grab data from in-the-street sensors, WiFi-enabled Kiosks and anonymized information from Google-owned apps Maps and Waze to help inform cities about traffic. It will be rolled out to the winner of the Smart City Challenge for no cost.

Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs has been working on the technology that powers Flow for two years. CEO Dan Doctoroff said that the lab has been talking to some of the finalists of the Smart City Challenge and will continue to talk to all of the final seven to better understand how to integrate the system into an urban area.

One of the ways it plans to collect date is via kiosks using LinkNYC technology. This station will not only keep track of traffic conditions and available parking, but will also offer up free WiFi.

The kiosks will be deployed in four underserved neighborhoods. There they will gather anonymized data that will be analyzed by the platform for the city. Flow will not only crunch the data about what’s happening in real time on the streets, but can be used to help make decisions on the deployment of transit solutions.

The DoT’s Smart City Challenge will award up to $40 million to a mid-sized metropolitan area to define a “Smart City” by integrating self-driving cars, smart sensors and connected vehicles into their transportation infrastructure. The seven finalists are: Austin, Columbus, Denver Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Portland and San Francisco.

Secretary Foxx has been bullish on smart cities and upgrading transportation infrastructures in cities. He recently addressed teams of college students at a Hyperloop pod competition in Texas. He’s also pushed for V2V communications between cars. Fox said in a statement, “by embracing smart technologies and concepts that eliminate the digital divide, strengthen connections to jobs and remove physical barriers to access, we can strengthen communities throughout the country.”