Misfit Debuts Shine 2 and Ray Activity Trackers in New Colors, Announces Apple Exclusives
Misfit today announced expanded color options available for its Shine 2 activity tracker, debuting four new Shine 2 colors accompanied by 14 new Sport Band options and four new Field Bands in woven nylon and leather.
According to Misfit, the new colors have been inspired by the “nostalgia of picturesque summer landscapes” with bold brights, muted pastels, and neutral colors to match all tastes. The company’s Sport Bands have also been re-engineered to make them more comfortable and secure.
Misfit’s line of activity trackers are now available in hundreds of color and style combinations, giving Misfit buyers a wide range of customization options (the Ray was updated with new color options in July). Misfit says there are now 80 ways to wear the Shine 2 tracker and 150 combinations for wearing the Ray.
Both the Shine 2 and the Misfit Ray are simple activity and fitness trackers that keep tally of metrics like steps taken, calories burned, distance traveled, sleep duration, and sleep quality, and they have built in notification features for incoming calls and texts.
Misfit will begin selling its new Shine 2 accessories starting this fall. The Ray Fitness and Sleep Tracker will also be coming to Apple Stores in the fall in exclusive colors like Space Gray and Rose Gold, which are designed to match Apple devices.
Tags: Misfit, Apple retail
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Withings Debuts New ‘Steel HR’ Activity Tracker With Heart Rate Monitoring
Nokia-owned Withings today announced the launch of its newest activity tracker, debuting the Withings Steel HR analog fitness tracking watch with a built-in heart rate monitor. Like the Apple Watch, it uses green LED lights to detect variation in the level of the blood in the wrist, a technology known as photoplethysmography.
Available in two sizes — 36mm and 40mm — the Withings Steel HR uses the same design language as the company’s previous fitness tracker, the Activité. It features a simple and stylish analog watch face with unobtrusive digital meters for tracking heart rate and movement over the course of the day.
It has a stainless steel casing, chrome hands, and comfortable silicone straps. The 36mm watch (available in black or white) comes with an 18mm band while the 40mm watch (black only) comes with a 20mm band. When worn, the Steel HR measures continuous heart rate during workouts, average heart rate during the day, and resting heart rate when sleeping.
“Whether you’re an athlete or simply trying to lose a few pounds and get a better handle on your health, knowing your heart rate can help you better understand your overall health and reach your fitness goals,” said Cédric Hutchings, VP of Digital Health, Nokia Technologies. “With the wealth of insights it provides and the extended battery life for a health watch of its type, Steel HR truly is the first of its kind.”
A sub-dial on the Steel HR tracks the percentage of a user’s daily activity goal that’s been achieved, while an added digital screen displays health data like heart rate and notifications from a connected smartphone. The data that’s displayed can be changed using a navigational button on the side of the watch.
The Steel HR features a rechargeable battery that lasts 25 days per charge and it has a backup power save mode that offers an additional 20 days of battery life. In power save mode, heart rate tracking is disabled, but it continues to monitor basic activity. The Steel HR is water resistant and can be used when swimming.
Withings will begin selling the Withings Steel HR at the end of October. The 36mm version will be priced at $179.95 and the 40mm version will be priced at $199.95.
Tags: Withings, Nokia
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Facebook Introduces Live Streaming ‘Instant Video’ Feature in Messenger App
In yet another deeper push into video, Facebook today is rolling out a new update to its Messenger app [Direct Link] that adds a new live video button into every chat window. When used, Facebook users will begin live streaming in a small pop-up window with sound turned off by default, allowing them to keep texting with the person on the other end while sharing visual details of their location that might be easier through video rather than simple text.
Facebook is calling the new feature “Instant Video,” and says it represents “a reflection of the ubiquity of video” that’s expected in most messaging apps nowadays. Rather than a full-on video chatting experience, the social network hopes for Instant Video to be a companion to traditional texting.
Instant Video is a reflection of the ubiquity of video — we simply expect to have that ability in real-time, all the time. With Instant Video, you can bring your conversations to life in the most authentic way — seamlessly and instantly. It’s perfect for sharing quick moments with friends who aren’t right by your side or making your conversations richer by seeing each other face-to-face when you are messaging.
Sometimes you want to ask a friend’s opinion on a pair of shoes you want to buy, weigh in on what ice cream flavor they should bring home, or just want to see your BFF’s reaction to your witty message when you’re in a place where you can’t actually talk live.
To start an Instant Video conversation, there will be a new video icon in the top right corner of each Messenger conversation. This will bring up the live stream of real-time video, and the app supports both the front-facing and rear-facing cameras of a smartphone. On the other side of the conversation, a friend can continue watching the live stream and turn on audio, or respond with a stream of their own camera for you to see.
Facebook sees the new update as another example of its attempt “to solve real problems for real people.” Over the past few weeks, the company has tested autoplay videos with sound in its iOS app, launched a video-focused app for teenagers, and began a slow implementation of MSQRD in select countries. Although Instant Video is only for Messenger, it’ll have a large install base to test it out since the separate instant messaging app celebrated a milestone of one billion monthly active users over the summer.
Tags: Facebook, Facebook Messenger
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Apple Releases Security Update 2016-001 for OS X El Capitan
Apple today released Security Update 2016-001 for OS X El Capitan users, introducing important security fixes to the operating system.
The Security Update is available to all OS X El Capitan users and can be downloaded from the Mac App Store. Apple recommends all OS X El Capitan users install the update.
Most security updates are generally built into OS X updates as they are released, with separate security-only updates only being introduced when standard updates to the operating system are not expected. The release of a Security Update for OS X El Capitan suggests we may not see any new versions of the operating system ahead of the launch of macOS Sierra.
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10 Mac shortcuts you need to know – CNET
I’ve covered shortcuts for Finder, iTunes, Safari and Spotlight. Here are seven shortcuts for general Mac use that didn’t fit in any of the above apps.
1. Command-Q to quit
If you are coming to Mac after a long tenure with Windows, then you might get tripped up when you click the red X in the upper-left corner of a window only to discover that the app is still running after the window closes. Unlike with Windows, the X button on a Mac closes the window but does not quit the app. To quit the app, use the keyboard shortcut Command-Q.
2. Function-Delete to forward delete
The missing backspace key on a Mac keyboard is another difference that might trip up Windows converts. Windows keyboards have a backspace key and a delete key. On a Mac keyboard, you get only a delete key. The delete key on a Mac, however, acts like the backspace key on a Windows keyboard. That is, it deletes the character to the left of the cursor. The delete key on a Windows keyboard does the opposite and deletes the character to the right of the cursor. To perform this maneuver on a Mac, press Function-Delete.
3. Command-Tab to switch apps
You can use the Dock to switch apps, but your Mac also has an app switcher. Hit Command-Tab to open the app switcher. While continuing to hold down the Command key, hit Tab again to move right through your open apps. Just above the tab key is the ~ (tilde) key; you can use it to move left through your open apps while continuing to hold down the Command key. You can also use the Command-Q shortcut in the app switcher to quit the app you have highlighted.
4. Command-Option-Esc to Force Quit
Think of it as the Control-Alt-Delete for Macs. If an app is not responding, press Command-Option-Esc to call up the Force Quit Applications window. Select the troublesome app and click the Force Quit button to kill it.
5. Command-M to minimize
You can click the little yellow dash button in the upper-left corner of a window to minimize it, but it might be easier to just hit Command-M to minimize the active window on your Mac. If you have multiple windows open of the same app, you can hit Command-Option-M to minimize all of them.
6. Adjust volume and brightness in smaller increments
When you use the volume, screen brightness or keyboard backlight brightness keys, you have 16 levels from which to choose. For finer control, hold down Shift-Option when adjusting volume or brightness. Each of the little blocks you see on the onscreen menu is sliced into quarters when you hold down Shift-Option for a total of 64 volume or brightness steps so you can get your levels just right.
7. Option-click to toggle Do Not Disturb
You likely use Do Not Disturb on your iPhone to silence alerts during certain times of your day or night. Macs also feature a Do Not Disturb mode, which you can schedule during certain hours via System Preferences > Notifications or manually activate via the Notification Center.
Do Not Disturb is oddly hidden in Notification Center. You need to click the Notification Center icon in the upper-right corner of your Mac and then scroll down a bit to reveal the Do Not Disturb toggle switch at the top. You can reduce this click-swipe-click process to a single click by employing the Option key. Just hold down the Option key when you click the Notification Center icon. When the icon is grayed out, Do Not Disturb is on; when the icon is black, Do Not Disturb is off.
8. Option-click menu bar icons
You can use the Option key with other menu bar items to access different or expanded menus. Option-click the volume icon and you’ll get a menu that allows you to change the input source or output device. For the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth buttons, Option-click reveals more in-depth information about your network and connected devices, respectively. The Option key also works with third-party menu bar icons. Option-click the Dropbox icon, for example, and you can see how much of your storage allotment you have used.
9. Option-click the Apple button
On the other side of the menu bar, in the upper-left corner of your Mac, sits the Apple icon. Its menu lets you restart or shut down your Mac and view system information. If you press the Option key when the menu is visible, you’ll notice the dots disappear from Restart, Shut Down and Log Out commands. No dots means the confirmation step is removed, so you can perform any of the three commands in one fell swoop.
The other change you’ll see when you hold down the Option button here is the About This Mac changes to System Information. When you click About This Mac, you open a small window that shows an overview of your system. It also features a button labeled System Report that opens a second window with more detailed information about your hardware, software and network. With the Option key held down, the System Information menu item lets you bypass the overview page about your Mac and go directly to the system report.
10. Command-spacebar for Spotlight
I covered this one on my tips about Spotlight search, but it bears repeating because it might be the most useful keyboard shortcut on the Mac. Instead of clicking the magnifying glass in the menu bar to open Spotlight search, just hit Command-spacebar.
If your blender is crazy-loud, use a towel to dampen the sound – CNET
Blenders are loud. Some are louder than others, but that’s what happens when a spinning blade hits speeds high enough to pulverize solids into liquid. It’s kind of an issue when the rest of the family is trying to sleep in.
Fortunately, there is at least one thing you can do to dampen the sound.
Tip 1: Move the blender away from the wall.
This tip, originally found at The Kitchn, works because it stops sound from bouncing off the walls and objects around the blender. Moving it just two inches away from the wall will reduce the noise, says The Kitchn’s Sheela Prakash. Not by a lot, but noticeably. Move it further from the wall if space or the power cord allows.
Taylor Martin/CNET
Tip 2: Place the blender on top of a towel.
Hollow surfaces like kitchen carts, islands, and thin countertops tend to act like sound cabinet when the blender is on and vibrating, send bassy sounds throughout the house.
To reduce this vibration, place the blender on a folded towel to absorb the sound. Prakash recommends using a dish towel, but as long as it doesn’t block the vents or cause the blender to wobble while it’s running, a thicker towel will work better.
A silicone trivet or foam mat also does the trick and may work better as a more permanent solution, as these are less likely to block the vents near the bottom of some blenders.
The blender itself is still going to be loud.If want to reduce a bit more, the Whisper Blend Sound Enclosure is a pricey $199 (roughly £150 or AU$260), but at least your family will sleep a bit longer.
Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Tado’s Smart Radiator Thermostat, announced at the IFA 2016 tech conference in Berlin.
Tado
The era of the smart thermostat is here with Nest, Ecobee and Honeywell leading the charge worldwide. But there’s one type of connected home heating that’s been largely overlooked: radiators.
In other thermostat news:
- Ecobee’s smart thermostat closes in on Nest
- Same great Nest, now with even better looks
- Same great Nest, now with even better looks
- These smart thermostats steal the heating and cooling spotlight
- What’s a C-wire, and why should you care?
- That time we cranked up the heat in the CNET Smart Home to 105 degrees
- How to buy a thermostat
Of course, some of the Wi-Fi thermostats on the market today can work with select radiator units. The majority, though, are optimized for forced-air systems that rely on ducts to carry warm and cool air from a centralized source around your house.
Tado, a startup based in Munich, Germany wants to change that trend with its new Smart Radiator Thermostat exclusively for the European market, announced today at the IFA 2016 consumer electronics conference in Berlin.
Available now on Tado.com, the team will offer a Smart Radiator Thermostat Starter Kit for £179/€199 with two thermostats and one Wi-Fi hub, as well as standalone Smart Radiator Thermostats for £59/€79 a pop.
In addition to smartening up your radiator setup via a related app, Tado says its thermostats are also compatible with Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa, as well as IFTTT.
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How to install the Honeywell Lyric Thermostat
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With HomeKit and Alexa, you can literally command your thermostat to do your bidding. Phrases like “Alexa, set the living room to 23 degrees [23 degrees Celsius converts to 73 degrees Fahrenheit],” and “Siri, switch on the A/C in the bedroom” give you even more ways to access your thermostat remotely. And with IFTTT, you can create a variety of custom automation rules linking your Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat with connected products from other manufacturers.
Tado told me it has no immediate plan to sell this thermostat or its new £199/€249 next-generation Smart Thermostat V3 overseas, but its Smart AC Control, announced at last year’s IFA show, is available in the United States.
Want to see more IFA 2016 coverage? Check here.
Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Dyson
Dyson’s rolling its newest vacuum innovation to the US. On display at the IFA trade show in Berlin, and on sale starting today at Dyson.com, the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball follows you diligently as you clean with the attached wand, and should it fall, it’ll pick itself back up.
A vacuum that rights itself certainly sounds like science fiction, but Dyson keeps all components of the canister inside of a sphere with a low center of gravity. Should the canister get jostled and tip, it’ll naturally work itself back to its upright position.
As usual with Dyson products, you’ll need to pay an exorbitant price to take advantage of this cool feature. The Cinetic Big Ball costs $600. Again, it’s available today at Dyson’s site. Starting September 18, you’ll find it at major US appliance retailers.
If you’re in the UK or Australia, the self-righting Big Ball is already on sale. Dyson introduced it in those markets, where canister vacuums are more popular, back in April. It’s £450 in the UK and AU$1,000 in Australia.
Dyson’s competition
- Miele Blizzard CX1
- Electrolux Precision Brushroll Clean
- Oreck Touch Bagless
Like the Cinetic Big Ball Animal Allergy we reviewed last year, the new Cinetic Big Ball ditches the need for a filter. The Cinetic technology breaks down dirt as it sucks it in, so you don’t need to hassle with filter maintenance and it never loses suction. I was skeptical of this innovation when Dyson debuted it a year ago, but after rigorous tests, I’ll confirm Dyson Cinetic tech works, and it’s cool.
Between the filter free approach and the canister that takes care of itself, the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball might have enough going for it to convince Americans to give up their uprights. The price, though, is still a lot to stomach, and the one sticking point we’ve been unable to justify in all of our Dyson reviews to date. Maybe this vac can change our minds when we put it to the test for a full review.
Head here for much more from IFA in Berlin.
Sony Xperia X Compact Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Sony’s Xperia X Compact is a phone of contrasts.
It packs the same 23-megapixel camera as the higher-end Xperia XZ that Sony announced alongside it, but in an itty-bitty body. How tiny? The X Compact’s 4.6-inch display looks positively peewee compared with the XZ’s 5.2-inch screen. The pro: It’s seriously palmable and easy to use one-handed. The con: Its small screen is harder to read. There’s less room for your fingertip taps, too.
Just how small is Sony’s 4.6-inch Xperia…
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Another thing you should know: The phone’s body is made of glossy plastic instead of the XZ’s metal, though I didn’t mind. It makes sense for the phone type, but it’s important that the price be right. It doesn’t have the waterproofing of some more top-tier Sony phones.
Still, the X Compact doesn’t feel like a throwaway device. In addition to identical cameras, the two new Xperias have nearly the same battery capacity — 2,700mAh versus 2,900mAh — as well as the same USB-C charger port and same 3GB of RAM. That’s pretty generous for a small phone that I expect to come in at a budget price — but we don’t have anything official yet. In some senses, Sony’s generosity could wind up making the X Compact the better deal.
Sony starts selling the small handset in September (on September 25 in the US).
| Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow | Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow |
| 5.2-inch; 1,920×1,080 pixels | 4.6-inch; 1,280×720 pixels |
| Metal build | Polycarbonate (plastic) build |
| 23-megapixel | 23-megapixel |
| 13-megapixel | 5-megapixel |
| Snapdragon 820 | Snapdragon 650 |
| 32GB/64GB | 32GB of storage |
| 3GB | 3GB |
| 2,900mAh | 2,700mAh |
| Globally; not in US | Globally; not in US |
| IP68 | None |
Sony MDR-1000X Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
When it comes to noise-canceling headphones — those models that actively block outside noise like airline engines — Bose is generally considered the gold standard, but Sony’s engineers have been on a mission to beat Bose at what it does best.
The result of their efforts is the MDR-1000X, which Sony is calling its most technologically advanced headphone and features both wireless Bluetooth connectivity and adaptive noise-cancellation in a swanky looking chassis that retails for $400 (£330, AU$700) and ships in October.
Sony says it developed new ear pads for this headphone and the embedded touch controls for volume adjustment and skipping tracks forward and back are more responsive than those found in the MDR-1ABT.
The headphone comes in two colors: the black here and gray-beige (pictured below).
David Carnoy/CNET
I’m not going to get into all the technical details but this headphone is equipped with similar drivers to the highly rated MDR-1A and has microphones not only on the outside of the ear cups to measure ambient noise, but inside to take account for the shape of your head and ears, and whether you wear glasses.
Sony has trademarked this feature, calling it the Sense Engine and says it tailors the noise-canceling individually to you. You can also choose alternate settings that allow more ambient noise to seep in or even filter out everything but voices so you can hear announcements in airports while listening to music.
Another cool feature is the ability to muffle your music and let the outside world in by simply holding your hand over the right ear cup, where the touch controls are located. Once you finish talking to someone, you remove your hand and the music resumes playing at its previous volume and the noise cancellation kicks back in.
Folded flat in its carrying case.
David Carnoy/CNET
Battery life is rated at 20 hours and a cord is included if you want to listen in wired mode. I didn’t get a chance to listen to it as a wired headphone, but the Sony reps I spoke with said it sounds a touch better, particularly if you’re listen to high-resolution tracks.
Like a lot of Sony’s latest headphones, the company is promoting it as a high-res headphone, with support for Sony’s proprietary LDAC format that’s supposed to provide higher quality sound than conventional Bluetooth streaming, but you need a Sony music player with LDAC to take advantage of it. (Sony makes a variety of hi-res music players, but I suspect that the majority of people will use this headphone with their phones).
Also, Sony says this is the first headphone to have its Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE HXTM) built-in to “upscale compressed music from any source to near hi-res audio sound quality, even in wireless mode.”
Sony MDR-1000X (pictures)
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In my short time with an early unit I listened to a few tracks using Spotify and Tidal to get an initial impression of the sound, but will need more time with the headphone to give you an in depth evaluation. (I also need to test it as a headset for making calls.)
Still, I heard enough to say that if you’re a frequent traveler, the MDR-1000X should definitely be on your short list of headphones to consider. It’s a step up from Sony’s H.ear On Wireless NC that I rated highly and which folds flat into a slimmer carrying case.
The sound quality is top-notch for a Bluetooth headphone and the noise-canceling appears to be as effective and perhaps even slightly more so than that of the Bose QC35 (I’ll have to do some more A/B testing before I reach a final verdict). However, the Bose is lighter and arguably slightly more comfortable. It also costs $50 less.
AIVAnet 