Apple iPhone 7 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

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iPhone 7 packed with new features
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After months of rumors, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are here in the flesh! Apple announced both today at its launch event in San Francisco.

Here are the most important things you need to know:

• Size and feel: The iPhone 7 feels pretty much the same as the iPhone 6S, with the same 4.7-inch screen. Apple says the “HD Retina display” is 25 percent brighter than last year’s model. It includes the pressure-sensitive 3D Touch layer that buzzes slightly when you press and hold the screen.

• Static home button: The home button is now solid state, which means you can’t physically press or click it in — kind of like the Motorola Moto Z and OnePlus 3. It’s pressure-sensitive, including “taptic feedback”, which just means that apps can give you three levels of pressure and haptic feedback, like a light or strong buzz. It doesn’t feel like a button and definitely takes getting used to, but so far it seems to get the job done.

Apple iPhone 7 has everything but the headphone…
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• Water-resistant: Yes, Virginia, it will be water-resistant (IP67), like several Samsung and Sony phones (IP68). Cannonballlll!

• No headphone jack: It’s gone. Really. Instead, Apple’s new EarPods headphones will connect through the Lightning connector port; you’ll also get an adaptor in the box. Apple’s also pushing new, funky-looking AirPods headset connects wirelessly through auto-pairing. These worked pretty well, actually, and sounded pretty good in a the loud demo room.

• New camera: The iPhone 7 keeps the 12-megapixel camera, but adds a larger aperture and — this is a big deal — optical image stabilization that keeps images steadier. We do notice that the camera sticks out more from the back. (The iPhone 7 Plus gets a second, 56mm telephoto lens on the back that works like a built-in zoom feature. Phones like the LG V20, Huawei P9 and Huawei Honor 8 have two cameras, too.) We have lots more detail below.

That home button doesn’t click in.

James Martin/CNET

• New front-facing camera: The iPhone 7’s 7-megapixel front-facing camera leaps up from 5 megapixels on the iPhone 6S, and includes auto-image stabilization (but not optical image stabilization).

• Stereo speakers: A second speaker joins the iPhone to give you stereo speakers. There’s now one at the bottom and one at the top (this is brand-new for Apple).

• Longer battery life: Greater battery capacity for longer battery life. Apple estimates 12 hours of LTE browsing (the iPhone 7 Plus should clock about two more hours). Apple notoriously never tells us what the capacity is.

• Faster processor: The iPhone 7’s new A10 Fusion chip is a 64-bit, quad-core processor that Apple says is 40 percent faster than last year’s A9 processor. Two cores are high-performance, the other two are “high efficiency,” which means they’ll conserve battery while handling tasks. Take-away message: deeper visual graphics, especially with gaming. (Did we mention that Super Mario is coming to the iPhone?!?!)

• More storage!: 32GB, 128GB, 256GB capacities

• Colors: Glossy jet black, matte black, gold, silver, rose gold (P.S. Jet black is only available in 128 and 256GB models).

Everything you need to see from Apple’s iPhone…
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How much will the iPhone 7 cost and when can you preorder?

The 32GB capacity iPhone 7 starts at $649 full retail, which converts to £487 and AU$846. You’re looking at $32.41 per month with the iPhone Upgrade Program for the base model. We’ll update with more pricing details soon.

iPhone 7 prices

128GB	$749	£699	AU$1,229
256GB	$849	£799	AU$1,379
128GB	$869	£819	AU$1,419
256GB	$969	£919	AU$1,569

If you signed up for the iPhone Upgrade plan, you’re eligible for the new phone as part of the program. Good news for people living in the UK and China: you’ll now be able to sign up, too (it was previously US-only).

You can preorder both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus this Friday, September 9 and phones will ship on September 16. (P.S. iOS 10 becomes available on September 13 for everyone else who’s ready to upgrade.)

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iPhone 7: So long, headphone jack; hello, AirPods
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More about that new camera

Although Apple keeps the megapixel size steady at 12 megapixels, the increased aperture, now f1.8, lens promises to let in 50 percent more light through the six-element lens. That’s better for all photos, and also low-light photography, which Apple emphasized. Low-light is one of the most important battlegrounds for mobile photography, especially as phone owners increasingly take to social networks like Instagram to post pictures from every environment.

More from Apple’s event

• Jet black Apple iPhone 7 is here with a water-resistant body, better cameras — and no headphone jack
• Super Mario is coming to iPhone at last
• Goodbye, headphone jack: Apple iPhone 7 ships with Lightning headphones and dongle
• Apple event live blog: Join us as everything is unveiled
• Full coverage of Apple’s event

Add to this a new image processing chip and faster photo-taking will help Apple step up to high-end Samsung, Sony, LG and Huawei phones that boast brighter low-light photos and much more manual control.

Optical image stabilization, or OIS, is also huge here. Last year’s iPhone 6S Plus was the only phone to have it. This time Apple blesses the iPhone 7 with OIS, which should make for crisper images even if your hands jiggle a bit while you’re taking it.

Finally, a new quad-LED flash (up from a dual-LED flash) will make flash brighter, but hopefully with more natural tones that don’t blow out the scene. The iPhone 7 still supports Live Photos (basically a 3-second video clip) and introduces RAW image support (thanks, iOS 10).

Stay tuned for our hands-on photos and first impressions — we’ll have those up as soon as we can. Meanwhile, check out all of today’s Apple news.

Sony PlayStation 4 Pro Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Sarah Tew/CNET

The most advanced PlayStation console yet is coming. It’s got 4K resolution and high dynamic range (HDR) gaming, but it won’t play 4K Blu-ray discs.

First teased at the E3 gaming conference in June under codename Neo, Sony has made the box official today. It will be called PlayStation 4 Pro, and will be available November 10 for $399 (£349).

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Sony unveils PlayStation 4 Pro
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Separately, Sony announced that the new non-Pro Playstation 4, a.k.a. PlayStation 4 Slim, will cost $299 when it becomes available September 15. The two consoles will co-exist in Sony’s line and be fully interoperable. In other words, all PS4 games will be playable on both consoles.

The Pro has double the graphics power of the standard PS4, which Sony says can improve the look of new and existing games. It also has a 1TB hard drive, double the capacity of the existing version, and a faster processor.

The PS4 Pro (right) is thicker than the new, standard PS4.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Unlike the current PS4, the Pro will support 4K resolution. It will have 4K-capable Netflix and YouTube apps for streaming 4K video at launch, the former with HDR capability. No mention was made of support for Sony’s Ultra 4K streaming app, however. Sony demonstrated games that take advantage of its higher resolution (although it didn’t specifically say any of them were actually in 4K).

One thing it won’t do, however, is play 4K Blu-ray discs. That’s an unexpected development given that Sony Pictures is a big purveyor of the discs, and that the rival (and significantly cheaper) Xbox One S can play them. The news is sure to be disappointing to PlayStation fans looking for the kind of all-in-one video and gaming device that the PS3 represented.

To demonstrate the new console, Sony showed scenes from a variety of games including Watchdogs 2, Deux Ex: Mankind Divided and Killing Floor 2, using a 4K-capable display. It also showed the impact of HDR gaming with a demo of Days Gone and Infamous: First Light. The highly-anticipated title Mass Effect: Andromeda got an extended demo as well, complete with a dark, geometric alien cave-scape.

A demo of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided on the PS4 Pro

Sarah Tew/CNET

Sony says current and older games can also be patched with something it calls Forward Compatibility, enabling graphical improvements tailored to the Pro’s improved hardware. It showed a comparison of how the new console can improve existing games like Paragon, Shadow of Mordor and For Honor with standard 1080p TVs. It said a half-dozen such patches are currently in the works.

Another demo showed off the improved ability of the Pro to deliver VR gaming in conjunction with the PlayStation VR, coming next month.

The company also says that existing PS4 consoles will get HDR capability with the help of a forthcoming firmware update sometime the week of September 12. Since the current PS4 has only 1080p resolution (not 4K), and no non-4K TVs support HDR, we’re guessing the update is mainly intended to cater to owners of 4K HDR TVs who want HDR gaming without having to buy a Pro. From that perspective, Sony seems to be pushing HDR gaming harder than its rivals.

We’ll hand more hands-on impressions and updates soon, and a full review when the console is released.

Dell Inspiron 17 7000 2-in-1 review – CNET

The Dell Inspiron 17 7000, codename “Starlord.” Don’t ask us, ask Dell.

Dell

What if you never had to type your Windows password again? The technology exists. If your computer has an infrared camera, Windows 10 can automatically log you in using advanced facial recognition. Trouble is, most computers don’t have them, and you often have to pay extra for those that do. But an infrared camera is just one of the many premium features that come standard on Dell’s new Inspiron 7000 series laptops.

Starting at just $749/AU$1,699 (roughly £510 converted), the new 13-inch, 15-inch, and 17-inch Inspiron 7000 laptops come with all of these things, guaranteed:

• An infrared “Windows Hello” camera to log you in with a glance
• A brushed aluminum chassis
• A precision touchpad certified for Windows 10
• A 1080p touchscreen that bends over backwards into a tablet configuration
• A backlit keyboard
• An Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processor and DDR4 memory
• Fast 802.11ac Wi-Fi
• A USB-C port that can be used to charge the laptop, adding hours of battery life with one of Dell’s $99 external battery packs (though they’ll ship with a standard barrel-jack AC adapter instead of USB-C)
• One USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port, one HDMI jack, and a full-size SD card reader

The 17-inch Inspiron on display at Dell’s Computex press conference.

Nic Healey/CNET

The 13- and 15-inch models also come standard with solid-state drives — a must-have for speedy multitasking and the ability to quickly wake the machine.

But it’s the new 17-inch model that’s the real star of the show. Not only is it the first 17-inch laptop that can turn into a touchscreen tablet (according to Dell, but we’re pretty sure it’s true), the 17-inch Inspiron 17 7000 can also come with discrete Nvidia GeForce 940MX graphics for some light gaming. And unlike many larger midrange machines, it offers up to 10 hours of manufacturer-estimated battery life — the most of any of Dell’s Inspiron 7000 series. The 17-incher will start at $899, a bit more than the other models.

My colleague Nic Healey got an early look at the Inspiron 7000 series, and he had this to say:

“You’d expect a top of the line flagship to look good and the 7000 doesn’t disappoint. From 13-inch to 17-inch, the brushed aluminium body screams premium quality, something you don’t always associate with the Inspiron name.”

The new Inspiron 7000 series goes on sale June 2 in the United States and China. It won’t be the only way to get a facial recognition camera from Dell — the newly refreshed Dell Inspiron 5000 series will also have optional infrared cameras on laptops starting at the $749 mark.

This review also appears in Spanish. Read: La nueva laptop de Dell viene cargada de funciones de primera

LG V20 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Gutsy or delusional. These are the only ways to describe LG’s move to launch a phone hours before Apple unveils its all-but-announced-but-technically-still-just-rumored iPhone 7.

And? Not bad at all. It doesn’t have a particularly radical design like last spring’s quasi-modular G5, but LG’s most premium phone is the very first to come with Android 7.0 Nougat software out of the box, and it has two rear cameras and a removable battery you can swap when power gets low. The 5.7-inch, aluminum-built handset is also a stylish, fully modern device that has a lot of extra software and hardware to make you a photo and video rock star.

From our time with it so far, the V20 seems compelling enough to benefit from Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 recall. As the first new phone with Nougat baked in, it could also gain a foothold against Google’s next “Nexus” phones (they’re rumored to be called something else). Read on for all that the V20 has to offer — including how the V20 fares against the competition (we’ll update with the new “iPhone 7” once Apple makes that official).

Metal-clad LG V20 sports always-on display,…
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Most promising V20 features

The V20’s rear cameras.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

• Two rear cameras and wide-angle front-facing camera
• Enhanced audio technology
• First to come with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box
• Useful always-on secondary screen
• Removable battery
• Premium metal design

What’s questionable

• Battery capacity could stand to be higher than 3,200mAh
• Expected to be LG’s most expensive phone
• Lacks water resistance, unlike Samsung and Sony flagships

Everything else you need to know

Chock-full of high-end specs and packaged in a sleek, metal body, the V20 is LG’s most premium phone. And while retains some of its V10 predecessor’s most compelling features, the new V20 has a few tricks of its own too.

Wide-angle cameras on the front and back

LG is doubling down on its wide-angle endeavors by putting two wide-angle cameras on both the front and back of the V20. Like the G5, it has two shooters on the back that include a 16-megapixel standard lens and an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens that can capture up to 135 degrees. On the front is a single 5-megapixel camera that can switch between a 120-degree wide-angle setup and a narrower 83-degree frame.

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The LG V20 is a camera triple threat
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The phone also has advanced image stabilization technology, available exclusively from Qualcomm, to make it easier to snap clear photos even when you have an unsteady hand. And on top of the video features we commonly see (4K, slow motion and time-lapse), there are fun Instagram-esque filters that you can apply to recorded video. For a peek at camera quality, take a look at my quick test shots below and be sure to click on them to see them at their full resolution.

Images captured by the 16-megapixel standard lens (left) and the 8-megapixel wide-angle (right).

Lynn La/CNET

Some colorful fruit captured on the 16-megapixel rear camera.

Lynn La/CNET

A closeup shot of soda bottles using the 16-MP lens again.

Lynn La/CNET

Snapping a regular photo with the 5-megapixel front-facing camera (left) and using its wide-angle feature (right).

Lynn La/CNET

Android Nougat and that always-on screen

Although a few Nexus handsets have already received Google’s latest Android 7.0 update over the air, the V20 will be the first to come out of the box with the Nougat OS. This update bakes in tools that were previously available to past LG phones, such as split-screen apps and the ability to reply inside a notification. But there are other features too like Doze on the Go and a more Google Assistant.

Just like the V10, the V20 has a secondary screen that sits on top of its regular display. LG increased its contrast and brightness this time around so it’s easier to read. You can choose to have this screen perpetually on (even if your device is sleeping), and it displays your custom signature or text greeting, favorite and recent apps, favorite contacts and notifications.

Multi-window on the V20 (left) and replying directly from a notification (right).

Lynn La/CNET

Audio is huge

With this device, LG also put a big emphasis on audio. It equipped the phone with three mics and four digital-to-analog converters (the converters help to reduce white noise too). The V20 can record 24-bit sound (16-bit is common), meaning audio is more accurate and clear.

As a user, you can fine-tune your audio preferences in the Settings menu, like adjusting audio balance. There’s an app for HD audio recording as well, and according to LG, the device can handle recordings up to 132 decibels, which is as loud as a sport stadium full of screaming fans.

I was only to hear the audio coming out of the V20 very briefly, but it did sound louder and had more breadth than what I commonly hear. When I get my hands on a phone, I’ll be able to test it out more thoroughly, so stay tuned.

Tooling around with audio settings (left) and recording HD with LG’s app (right).

Lynn La/CNET

It has a battery cover eject button

Getting to the phone’s battery is easy breezy.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The V20 comes in titan, silver and pink (though the pink variant won’t come to the US) and features an aluminum and polycarbonate body. The back plate is made out of metal and instead of needing to wrangle and peel off the battery cover to swap out your SIM card or battery, the phone features a small release button on its right side that ejects the back plate easily.

Pricing and availability

The V20 is expected to be available near the end of the year. LG hasn’t announced an official price for the it yet, but if we go by last year’s price range, it may cost about $600-$700 without a contract (depending on the carrier), which converts to about £450-530 and AU$790-925. In the US, it will be available on all four major networks (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile) as well as U.S. Cellular. In addition, because the G5 cost more than its G4 predecessor, we wouldn’t be surprised if the V20’s price increased from last year’s as well. Whatever the case, we expect it to be more expensive than the Google Nexus 6P and perhaps just shy of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

LG V20 versus the competition

LG V20 comparison chart

5.7-inch; 2,560×1,440 pixels	5.3-inch; 2,560×1,440 pixels	5.7-inch; 2,560×1,440 pixels	5.7-inch; 2,560×1,440 pixels
515 ppi	554 ppi	518 ppi	515 ppi
6.29×3.01×0.3 inches	5.88×2.90×0.30 inches	6×2.9×0.3 inches	6.3×3.1×0.28 inches
159.7×78.1×7.7 mm	149.4×73.9×7.7 mm	153.5×73.9×7.9 mm	159x78x7.3 mm
6.24 oz; 177 g	5.61 oz; 159 g	6 oz; 169 g	6.3 oz; 178 g
Android 7.0 Nougat	Android 6.0 Marshmallow	Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow	Android 6.0 Marshmallow
16-megapixel, 8-megapixel wide	16-megapixel, 8-megapixel wide	12-megapixel	12.3-megapixel
5-megapixel	8-megapixel	5-megapixel	8-megapixel
4K	4K	4K	4K
2.15GHz + 1.6GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820	2.15GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820	2.15GHz + 1.6GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor (or Exynos, depending on region)	2GHz eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
64GB	32GB	64GB	32GB, 64GB, 128GB
4GB	4GB	4GB	3GB
2TB	2TB	200GB	None
3,200mAh (removable)	2,800mAh (removable)	3,500mAh (nonremovable)	3,450mAh (nonremovable)
Back cover	Back cover	Home button	Back cover
USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C
Two rear cameras; wide-angle front-facing camera; secondary screen on top	Pull-out battery; two rear cameras	S Pen stylus; water-resistant; wireless charging	Pure Android
TBD	AT&T: $689; Sprint: $576; T-Mobile: $630; Verizon: $624; U.S. Cellular: $636	AT&T: $880; T-Mobile: $849; U.S. Cellular: $834	$499 (32GB); $549 (64GB); $649 (128GB)
TBD	£539	£700	£449 (32GB); £499 (64GB); £579 (128GB)
TBD	AU$1,099	AU$1,349	AU$899 (32GB); AU$999 (64GB); AU$1,099 (128GB)

Kenmore Elite 41582 review – CNET

The Good Kenmore’s $1,100 Elite 41582 washer has an “Accela” setting that shortens a normal cycle to just 30 minutes. And its steam function and drum light give it high-end appeal.

The Bad Kenmore’s Elite 41582 does a decent job tackling stains, but it isn’t as impressive as some other washers we’ve tested.

The Bottom Line The Kenmore Elite 41582 is a reasonably good washing machine, but it definitely didn’t blow us away.

Visit manufacturer site for details.

Electrolux’s $1,099 EFLS617S is the current front-load washer to beat. With excellent stain removal and solid design, features and usability, it sets the bar high for other midrange front-loaders.

Kenmore’s $1,100 Elite 41582 washing machine is roughly comparable to the EFLS617S in terms of features, but it falls behind in everything else. It isn’t a bad washer — it was actually inspired by the Twin-Wash-compatible LG WM4270HVA — but I’d suggest looking at the competition before buying the front-load Kenmore Elite 41582.

Doing laundry with Kenmore’s Elite 41582…
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Up close with the elite

The $1,100 Kenmore Elite 41582 offers more in terms of features than the $1,000 Kenmore 41393 I just reviewed. That means you’ll get bonus cleaning cycles like Rugged and Small Load, as well as a steam setting.

On design, the 41582’s white finish is fine, but you can get a more premium looking gray finish for an additional 100 bucks — that’s model number 41583. Overall, the washer is pretty intuitive and easy to use. At the same time, I wish the right side of the display looked less cluttered.

Here’s a closer look at the Kenmore Elite 51582’s specs versus the competition:

Comparing washing machines

Kenmore Elite 41582	LG WM3575CV	Whirlpool WFW87HEDW	Electrolux EFLS617S
$1,100	$1,100	$1,199	$1,099
White, Metallic (model #41583 for $1,200)	Graphite Steel, White (for $1,000)	Chrome Shadow, White (for $1,099)	White, Titanium (for $1,199)
4.5 cubic feet	4.5 cubic feet	4.3 cubic feet	4.4 cubic feet
14	12	10	9
105 kWh/year	90 kWh/year	109 kWh/year	85 kWh/year
27 x 38.69 x 29.75 inches	27 x 38.69 x 29.75 inches	27 x 38.75 x 33.13 inches	27 x 38 x 31.5 inches
1 year, limited	1 year, limited	1 year, limited	1 year, limited
120V; 60Hz	120V; 60Hz	120V; 60Hz	120V; 60Hz
No	Yes, Android and iPhone	No	No

There are a lot more similarities than differences in the above chart, but the 41582 definitely has more cleaning cycles to offer than others in the same price range. This Kenmore model also works with Kenmore Connect, a troubleshooting feature similar to LG’s Smart Diagnosis.

But instead of a related Android or iPhone app, the Kenmore version requires a call to customer service. Here’s how it works:

• Call 1-800-4MY-HOME and get a customer service representative on the line.
• Make sure your washer is powered on.
• Press and hold the “Wash Temp” button until you see a “6” appear on the washer’s digital display.
• When the washer starts to transmit dial-up internet-esque sounds, hold the phone close to the washer.
• The customer service representative will interpret the transmission and tell you what, if anything, is wrong with your washer.

Michael Kors Access Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Michael Kors has entered the smartwatch market with a line of luxury watches called Michael Kors Access. Right now that consists of two watches: Bradshaw and Dylan.

These are Android Wear-powered smartwatches designed for fashionistas, complete with exclusive watch faces designed by Michael Kors and support for interchangeable metal, leather and silicone straps. As far as the operating system, at this point you either like Android Wear or you don’t. The good news is that both watches will be updated to Android Wear 2.0 later this year.

The Michael Kors Access: Dylan.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Michael Kors did a nice job with many of the watch faces. They look great, there are dozens to choose from and each one can be completely customized to give you a unique look. You can also set the watch to automatically change the watch face based on the time of day. So you can have something a little more traditional at the office, but after 6 p.m. the watch face will automatically change to something more fun.

Both watches feature round displays with a 320×290-pixel resolution, however they aren’t as sharp as other smartwatches I’ve tested. The display also isn’t a complete circle. Like we saw with the Moto 360, there is a black bar at the bottom of the display for the ambient light sensor, which creates an unsightly “flat tire” look.

The Michael Kors Access: Bradshaw.

Sarah Tew/CNET

The watches are powered by the new Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip, although performance wasn’t as speedy as I had expected. I noticed delays when changing watch faces and choppy performance when browsing through notifications.

Overall, the watches look nice and the stainless steel casing gives them a good weight, but they are very big and bulky. On the side is what appears to be a traditional watch crown, but it doesn’t spin and it’s really just a home button.

The charger looks nearly identical to the one used with the Apple Watch.

Sarah Tew/CNET

If they look familiar, that’s because both watches were actually designed by Fossil and are similar to the company’s Q Founder smartwatch, although they don’t include the same ridiculous charger. Instead, the watches are charged through a magnetic dock that looks identical to the Apple Watch charger. A full charge will deliver about two days of battery life, which is standard for most smartwatches.

Someone who wants a smartwatch that doesn’t look like a smartwatch would find the design of these devices appealing, but for me they’re too heavy and too big. I still prefer the Moto 360 and the Huawei Watch.

The Access smartwatches are available now from the Michael Kors website starting at $350 (£329, AU$579).

Bragi The Headphone Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Bragi’s The Headphone is available for $120 until November 1, then goes up to $150.

Bragi

In case you haven’t of Bragi, it’s a German startup that had a highly successful Kickstarter for a totally wireless “smart” earphone called The Dash. After finally shipping in January of this year, the high-tech $300 Dash (€300, converting roughly to £225 in the UK and AU$395 in Australia) got off to a rocky start, garnering some critical reviews, but has apparently improved with subsequent software upgrades.

The company is back with a second headphone that it simply calls The Headphone. It, too, is completely wireless and consists of two wireless earbuds and a charging case. It’s much more affordable than The Dash, carrying a list price of $149 (converting roughly to £110 in the UK and AU$195 in Australia), but will be available for $119 until November 1 in a preorder sale. That preorder price is roughly £90 and AU$155.

I’ve yet to try the Dash but will hopefully receive review samples of both The Dash and The Headphone in the coming weeks. Several new totally wireless earbuds are making their way onto the market, including Jabra’s just-announced Sport Elite, so Bragi’s headphones aren’t such a novelty and now have plenty of competition.

Here’s a look at The Headphone’s key features, according to Bragi.

• Can be connected to any Bluetooth device.
• Users can switch between listening to music tracks, take phone calls, activate Audio Transparency (allows ambient noise in) and deliver voice commands, all without having to look at a second device.
• Three different FitTip size tips are included to help get a secure, tight seal.
• Just over six hours of wireless battery life per charge
• Available through the newly launched Bragi Shop (http://shop.bragi.com) for a special presale price of $119 until November 1.
• Those who participated in the Bragi Dash Kickstarter will receive $20 off coupon via email.
• Following the presale, The Headphone will retail for $149.
• Shipping is expected to begin in November (though it’s worth noting that The Dash was delayed for months).
• No word on international pricing yet.

The included charging case.

Bragi

Bragi has also announced that its Bragi OS 2.1 is now available through its new Desktop Updater. It’s the second major software update for The Dash since its January 2016 launch and according to Bragi, with the update The Dash “becomes smarter, faster and better in several areas, including Bluetooth connectivity.”

With the software update, the headphone can speak four new languages – Chinese, French, German and Spanish — and now synchronizes with Google Fit, Apple Watch and the Apple Health Kit.

Other Bragi OS 2.1 features include Touch Lock, which prevents inadvertent gestures from impacting the Dash, Shuffle for the internal music player and on-demand heart-rate tracking.

Sony LSPX-S1 Glass Sound Speaker review – CNET

The Good The Sony Glass Sound Speaker has a very cool, transparent design and is equipped with an integrated LED light that’s dimmable from your phone. It delivers clean, crisp sound at moderate volumes and has a built-in battery for portable use (4 hours of batter life).

The Bad Expensive; not a ton of bass, battery life is so-so.

The Bottom Line If you can afford it, Sony’s Glass Sound speaker is beautifully designed, sounds good and complements minimalist, modern decors.

Visit manufacturer site for details.

Sony’s Glass Sound Speaker is part of a new line of really cool looking but pricey products from Sony’s Life Space UX division, which also includes light bulb speakers and short-throw projectors.

As a half wireless Bluetooth speaker, half lantern with a dimmable LED bulb that mimics a flame, it’s got double mood setting potential. It an also be moved around freely because it’s got an integrated rechargeable battery that gives you around four hours of music playback, depending on the volume level. You can also just leave it plugged in if there’s an outlet nearby.

It’s one of those products you really want as soon as you see it, but its $800 price tag is an instant buzzkill unless you happen to be a lottery winner or a Kardashian. That price roughly converts to £600 in the UK and AU$1,050 in Australia.

Sony’s Glass Sound Speaker has a built-in rechargeable battery.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple Watch 2 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

The latest Apple news

• ​Apple Watch 2: My wish list for September 7
• Looking for big iPhone changes? Wait till next year
• iPhone 7: What to expect

Apple has made it official: something’s happening on September 7 — and it’s most likely the debut of the Apple Watch 2 (and iPhone 7). As was rumored for the past few weeks, the company will indeed be hosting an event on the first Wednesday in September; we now know it’s scheduled for 10 a.m. PT and going down at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. This puts us on track for a likely retail release on September 16 or 23, if the company follows the pattern of years past.

We already know that existing Apple Watch units will be getting a nice software upgrade in the form of WatchOS 3, which the company unveiled at its WWDC show in June (alongside iOS 10 and MacOS Sierra). The new software includes a tweaked interface, even faster performance, and better fitness tracking capabilities — and the functionality of the Watch’s side button even changes completely. In our brief demo, we found OS 3 quite promising.

With built-in cellular connectivity off the table (according to an August Bloomberg report), what’s rumored to be coming to the new Watch (besides the software improvements of the aforementioned WatchOS 3) is generally rumored to be be GPS, a faster processor and a bigger battery.

With only days left before we find out for sure, here’s a summary of everything that’s rumored and expected for the Apple Watch 2.

Editors’ note: This story was originally posted on December 24, 2015, and last updated on August 29, 2016.

What’s new and different about the 2016 Apple Watch?

The current consensus is that the next Apple Watch won’t diverge dramatically, if at all, from the original’s rectangular, iPod Nano-ish form factor. Perhaps that’s for the best; according to CNET’s Scott Stein, “in terms of craftsmanship, there isn’t a more elegantly made piece of wearable tech” than the Apple Watch.

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KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who last year correctly predicted Apple would launch the iPhone SE, says there are two new Apple Watches coming in the second half of 2016, MacRumors reports. One model will apparently be an incremental upgrade to the current Watch, with a better processor and improved waterproofing.

A second model, to be called the Apple Watch 2, boasts those improvements plus more precise location tracking thanks to GPS and a barometer, as well as a bigger battery. Some have predicted that Apple will adopt its iPhone “S” refresh cadence for the Watch, releasing modest updates between more significant redesigns.

One particularly hot topic of conjecture has been the enhancement of the watch’s capabilities when not connected to an iPhone. In April 2016, The Wall Street Journal published a report suggesting that Apple is working on adding cellular network connectivity to the Apple Watch 2, in addition to a faster processor.

Will the next Apple Watch be more independent?

Jason Cipriani/CNET

Though the recent Watch OS 2 update has improved the original Apple Watch’s capabilities when away from a phone, a second-generation would ostensibly extend the device’s independent functionality. And there is evidence in support of this: Apple paved the way for Watch independence when it required that all Watch apps submitted to the App Store after June 1 be required to be “native apps built with the watchOS 2 SDK.” In light of the August Bloomberg story, however, we may have to wait until the Apple Watch 3 for the iPhone-Watch link to be severed.

Many folks are hoping for better battery life. With the first generation Apple Watch, even moderate use can burn down the battery in less than 24 hours. In fact, one of the earliest Apple Watch 2 rumors to surface, back in July, characterized LG and Samsung as working to produce a thinner OLED display for the second-generation model, which would allow for a larger battery in a similarly sized device.

And though Apple has sometimes sacrificed functionality for best-in-class aesthetics — the merely adequate battery life of the iPhone 6 and 6S would serve as one example — it seems unlikely that Apple would want to deliver another Watch equipped with anything less than 24 hours worth of run time. Especially with competitors like the Pebble Time Steel capable of going more than a week between charges.

The Pebble Time Steel.

Sarah Tew / CNET

There is speculation that Apple could add a camera to the Watch 2. According to 9to5mac.com, the company is considering building a camera into the top bezel, ostensibly enabling users to FaceTime via the device. The debut of Watch OS 2 has already made it possible to pick up or hang up calls using the watch’s controls. (This notion has received some additional support from a recent TechCrunch article.)

Apple’s Tim Cook

James Martin

Other possibilities being discussed include the ability to track sleep and smart straps that would include extra sensors for tracking fitness; Apple’s recently filed patent application shows a ring-shaped device that can test your heart’s rhythm, which might hint at a future product. In fact, Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted in an interview that the company could build “something adjacent to the watch” that would be more medically focused and would require US Food and Drug Administration approval. That could be an app, he said, or “something else.”

And here’s an oddball one. As reported by 9to5mac.com, in February, 2016, Apple filed a patent application for a wearable device that could measure ambient sound levels and adjust the volume of alerts (or Siri) accordingly.

And then there’s pricing. The original Apple Watch was priced along a rather remarkable spectrum, starting at $349 and soaring to $17,000. On March 21, 2016, Apple announced a slight price drop for the entry-level Sport model. The 38mm Apple Watch Sport now starts at $299, down from $349. In the UK it starts at £259 and in Australia AU$429. Is the price drop a trial balloon for a revised strategy? Or are retailers merely clearing “old” first-gen inventory in anticipation of the next generation?

Time will tell.

Scroll down for a reverse-chronological look at the latest rumors.

August 29, 2016

Apple sends invites for September 7: iPhone 7, Apple Watch 2 most likely on tap

Rumored no longer: The company sent out invitations for its event, confirming the date of Apple’s next product announcement.

August 19, 2016

Battery concerns may keep cellular abilities out of the next Apple Watch

A report says Apple planned to untether its Watch from its iPhone by the end of 2016, but technical issues interfered.

August 18, 2016

Apple Watch 2 reportedly faces hurdles in bid for iPhone independence

Rumors pegged Apple’s next smartwatch as a standalone cellular device that would work without being connected to the iPhone. Now, major problems are cropping up, Bloomberg reports.

August 11, 2016

An Apple wearable heart reader may be its next big thing

A patent application shows a ring-shaped device that can test your heart’s rhythm and may hint at a future product.

August 9, 2016

Two new Apple Watches coming this year, report says

An analyst says the two smartwatches will offer improved specs, though not a radical redesign.

June 14, 2016

Apple’s total rethink of the Apple Watch is exactly the step forward it needed

First impressions: WatchOS 3 could be the start of a much better wearable.

May 24, 2016

WSJ: Apple Watch 2 could include cellular connectivity and faster processor

Sources report that the company is working on adding cell-network connectivity and a faster processor to the next-generation Watch.

May 3, 2016

Apple Watch needs time to improve (The 3:59, Ep. 38)

One year after the wearable’s release, we talk about its strengths and weaknesses.

April 28, 2016

Can the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch 2 change Apple’s fortunes?

Apple’s earnings were down across the board, but do they have anything that can turn things around? Plus, get lunch with Tim Cook…for over $200k.

April 23, 2016

Apple Watch apps could get zippier with new requirement for app makers

Apple says third-party Watch apps for the App Store must be able to run without the help of an iPhone.

April 21, 2016

Apple’s Watch Outpaced the iPhone in First Year

Apple is working on including cellular network connectivity and a faster processor in the Apple Watch 2.

April 19, 2016

Apple confirms WWDC 2016 developers conference begins June 13

Apple announces dates for this year’s developer conference in San Francisco, confirming what we learned earlier from the company’s own digital assistant.

April 14, 2016

Video: Is the Apple Watch S coming before the Apple Watch 2?

Will the company adopt the iPhone midcycle refresh?

April 11, 2016

Apple Watch due for a sophomore slump

Don’t expect any big design changes to Apple’s smartwatch in 2016, says a keen-eyed analyst. But do expect sales to tail off significantly.

March 22, 2016

Where are the wearables? Apple Watch no-show caps off slow start for smartwatches

Apple joins the ranks of companies failing to introduce a new watch this year, signaling that 2016 may be more about refinement than new products.

March 21, 2016

What’s new with the Apple Watch

So far it’s just a slightly cheaper entry price, new bands and updated software, but more exciting news will come later this year.

March 21, 2016

Think $50 off Apple Watch is a good deal? How about $100?

From the Cheapskate: Apple just cut $50 off the price of the Apple Watch, but at least two retailers already have it for even less.

March 15, 2016

Everything we expect at Apple’s iPhone event on March 21

A smaller, cheaper iPhone and an update to the iPad Air 2 are likely to headline the announcements for next week’s event.

February 27, 2016

Apple To Debut New iPad, 4-Inch iPhone On March 21, Day Before FBI Hearing

Apple’s first media event of 2016 will occur one day prior to the company’s March 22 showdown with the government over a motion that would compel it to help hack an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino terrorists.

February 27, 2016

(Re)Mark Your Calendars: Apple’s Product Event Will Be Held the Week of March 21

Attention Apple nerds, investors, media and everyone else who needs to know when Tim Cook’s next product event is going to be held: It’s going to be the week of March 21.

February 18, 2016

Apple Watch remains most popular smartwatch in Q4 2015

Apple Watch captured an impressive 63 percent share of the global smartwatch market in Q4 2015, followed by Samsung with 16 percent.

February 15, 2016

Apple Watch Price Drops By $100 Ahead Of Rumored March 15 Apple Event

Fans are now treated to a very low price for the company’s smart timepiece.

February 15, 2016

Top 5 things the next Apple Watch needs

The original Apple Watch is pretty good, but it could be so much better if Apple adds these five features.

February 12, 2016

9to5mac.com: 4-inch iPhone 5se & iPad Air 3 planned to go on sale March 18th

Apple is currently on target to start selling its next iPhone and iPad alongside new Apple Watch Sport Band colors.

February 11, 2016

Apple Watch 2 could measure ambient sound to adjust volume of alerts

A patent application published today describes how an Apple Watch could periodically measure ambient sound levels, adjusting notification volumes to an appropriate level.

February 2, 2016

Thanks to Apple Watch, smartwatch sales could hit $11.5 billion this year

Apple’s smartwatch is leading to the popularity of wearable devices as a “lifestyle trend,” says research firm Gartner.

January 22, 2016

Apple to update Apple Watch in mid-March with new bands, OS + full redesign in fall

In addition to launching a new iPhone, Apple plans to announce new Apple Watch models in March.

January 15, 2016

When Will We See a New Apple Watch?

Reports of rumors suggesting that Apple might ship a minor revision of the Apple Watch that includes a FaceTime camera.

December 16, 2015

Apple to add polish, not product lines, in 2016

The tech giant likely will update its current gear, but don’t hold your breath for a car.

December 11, 2015

Apple Watch 2 rumors and Apple’s live TV service is put ‘on hold’

If Apple’s live TV service doesn’t launch in 2016 it will be a major fail. We’ll be as nice as possible when we talk about that iPhone Smart Battery Case, and we talk MacBooks.

December 8, 2015

Want an Apple Watch? Try Best Buy to save $100

Best Buy is shaving $100 off the price of an Apple Watch, but only through the holidays.

December 3, 2015

Apple hot on Fitbit’s heels as global wearable sales soar

Wearables sales are booming, with Fitbit and Apple leading the way and Chinese companies not far behind.