CES 2014: Withings Shows Off ‘Aura’ Smart Sleep Tracking System [iOS Blog]

Withings, the company behind the Smart Activity Tracker and the Smart Body Analyzer is showing off its newest health monitoring device, the Aura Smart Sleep System. Aura, which consists of a bedside device with an ambient light, a sleep sensor, and an app, is designed to monitor and improve the sleeping experience.

The system’s bedside device records information like noise pollution, room temperature, and light level, while the sleep sensor, which goes under a mattress, monitors sleep patterns, breathing cycles, and heart rate. The sensor is able to pick up the tiniest of movements, even under thick mattresses.

Withings Aura is comprised of a soft and discreet sleep sensor that slips under your mattress and works in synchronization with the sensitively designed bedside device. Together, the two units record and monitor an array of factors to offer you a deep understanding of your sleeping experience. The sleep sensor focuses on personal patterns (body movements, breathing cycles and heart rate) and the bedside device screens your bedroom environment (noise pollution, room temperature and light levels).

In addition to recording information, the bedside device is able to offer customized light and sound to improve sleep, along with alarm clock functionality and personalized wake-up and fall-asleep programs.

For example, the multi-color LED in the bedside device is able to regulate melatonin, and sound programs are able to replicate the frequency and pattern of the circadian rhythm to stimulate users upon waking and relax them when sleeping.

The accompanying app allows users to visualize and compare their sleep cycles from night to night, monitoring triggers that cause poor sleep, and it also allows user to program their individual sleep programs.

Withings’ Aura sleep system will be available in the spring of 2014 for $299.

CES 2014: LaCie Announces 1TB ‘Fuel’ Wireless External Hard Drive for iOS/Mac Devices [iOS Blog]

LaCie today announced the Fuel, a wireless hard drive designed to work with the iPad, the iPhone, and Mac computers. With 1TB of storage, the Fuel is able to wirelessly stream to any Apple device, serving as a portable storage unit for extensive media libraries.

Fuel, which does not require an internet connection, functions as a Wi-Fi hotspot able to stream HD content to up to three devices at once, with five devices able to access files on the drive at one time. Media on the drive is accessed on iOS devices using the Seagate Media app, and AirPlay functionality is also available.

The LaCie Fuel creates its own Wi–Fi network, just like your home router. So up to 5 devices can access its storage at the same time. You can even stream an HD movie to up to 3 devices simultaneously. Family road trips, long commutes, and airport layovers just got a lot better.

And while the LaCie Fuel doesn’t need Internet to work, it can connect to nearby Wi–Fi hotspots. It can then provide Internet access to up to four of your wireless devices.

While file transfers are available via USB 3.0, the drive does function wirelessly, transferring content without a cord. It also has Dropbox compatibility and a 10 hour battery life.

LaCie’s Fuel will be available soon and is priced at $199.99.

CES 2014: Square and Griffin Announce ‘Merchant Case + Square Reader’ for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 [iOS Blog]

Credit card processing company Square and accessory manufacturer Griffin today announced the Merchant Case + Square Reader, a specialized case that integrates itself with the popular mobile card payment system for added convenience.

The case itself is made from a non-slip silicone material, and provides a custom fit to the included Square Reader. The card reader can also detach itself from the case and can be stored in the back of the accessory for easy access.

Compatible with the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5, the Merchant Case + Square Reader is now available for pre-order from Griffin’s website for $19.95 and ships in 1-2 weeks.

CES 2014: LaCie Debuts ‘Little Big Disk Thunderbolt 2’ With Transfer Speeds Up to 1375 MB/s [Mac Blog]

LaCie today announced the Little Big Disk Thunderbolt 2, one of the first external hard drives that will support Intel’s new Thunderbolt 2 specification to deliver transfer speeds of up to 1375 MB/s, significantly faster than USB 3.0 drives.

Little Big Disk includes two 500 GB PCIe solid state drives from Samsung in a Raid–0 configuration and is able to support mobile streaming and editing of both 4K and 3D video. The drive features a fully aluminum enclosure with a Mac Pro-style black finish along with an optimized interior design that improves cooling efficiency.

The drive includes a thermoregulated fan that turns on only when necessary, producing little to no noise, and it also ships with an included Thunderbolt cable and a three year warranty.

AnandTech has posted a mini review of the Little Big Disk Thunderbolt 2, and in testing, found 1400 MB/s in sequential read speed along with 1100 MB/s write speed. Engadget saw similar results at CES, observing write speeds of 1200 MB/s and read speeds of 1300Mb/s. A 300 GB file transferred in approximately four minutes.

Thankfully, the drives that were set up ahead of our arrival, and had been sorting files for some time, remained at nearly room temp. With two of the Thunderbolt 2 drives set up in RAID 0, we witnessed 2,000 MB/s write speeds and 2,600 MB/s read numbers.

The LaCie Little Big Disk Thunderbolt 2 will be available during the first quarter of 2014 from LaCie.com. Pricing has yet to be announced.

New Apple Store in Beijing to Open Friday at China Central Mall [Mac Blog]

Apple is set to open a new retail store in China on Friday, January 10 at the China Central Mall in the Chaoyang District of Beijing, approximately two miles from the existing Sanlitun Apple Store in Beijing.

The China Central Mall is an upscale shopping center with more than 70 shops and restaurants, including stores like Gucci, Prada, and Chanel. It’s also flanked by two major hotels, the Ritz-Carlton and the JW Marriot Hotel.

News of the new Apple Store first surfaced in May of 2013, and according to reports, the store spans 500 square meters over two separate floors. The store opening comes just a week before China’s largest carrier, China Mobile, is slated to begin iPhone 5s and 5c sales.

Apple’s new China Central Mall retail store, its fourth in Beijing, will open at 10 a.m. on Friday. The store has already begun accepting reservations for workshops and Genius Bar appointments.

(Image courtesy of Go Shop Beijing)

CES 2014: Griffin Debuts ‘PowerMate Bluetooth’ Controller for Mac [Mac Blog]

Griffin today announced a new version of its PowerMate wireless controller for the Mac, bringing wireless Bluetooth 4.0 capability as well a redesigned PowerMate app for easier user configuration.

Like its predecessor, the PowerMate Bluetooth acts as a programmable wireless controller that is designed to replace keyboard shortcuts with twist gestures and clicks. The controller also comes with presets for programs such as iMovie and GarageBand out of the box, as users can add custom commands to any Mac application with the included PowerMate app.

Users can also control the behavior of the pulsing LED on the device to provide system status, and are also able to pair multiple PowerMates through Bluetooth in order to assign specific commands to each.

The PowerMate Bluetooth will be available Summer 2014 for $59.99 through Griffin’s official website and various retailers.

Griffin updates its PowerMate and StudioConnect hardware for 2014

If you think that the best part about making music is twiddling the knobs, then Griffin’s CES announcements will be right up your alley. You see, the company is updating both its StudioConnect portable iPad studio and the PowerMate jog dial for movie and music editors. The StudioConnect HD now features a pair of XLR inputs, USB and five-pin MIDI support, dedicated monitor controls and can handle both 30-pin and Lightning-based iPads. The PowerMate Bluetooth, unsurprisingly, breaks free from the tyranny of cables, offering iMovie and GarageBand users the chance to cycle through files without the need of a mouse. Naturally, the clickable wheel is also highly customizable, enabling you to craft a wide variety of utilities that can use the hardware. The StudioConnect HD will, a little annoyingly, not arrive until the fall, where it’ll set you back $200, while the PowerMate will be here in the summer, priced up at $60.

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Tablets, Apple

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Untethered jailbreak for second gen Apple TVs updated, puts XBMC next to HBO Go

The folks at Firecore are working on more than just the latest version of their Infuse media player, and just delivered an updated software package for jailbreaking second generation Apple TVs (the current third gen model has, so far, remained closed). Showing once again that jailbreaks aren’t just for the iPhone and iPad, the new version of Seas0npass provides an untethered — read: it still works after a reboot — method for Apple TV players running the 5.3 software update that added access to channels like HBO Go and WatchESPN. That’s still a step away from the most recent Apple TV 6.0 update that arrived this fall with iTunes Radio and AirPlay from iCloud features, but the team says it’s made “some encouraging progress” there. The combination of Seas0npass and aTV Flash (black) lets your hockey puck play a number of new video/audio formats and run home theater software like Plex and XBMC, check out the site for instructions.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Apple

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Source: Firecore Blog