Accessories

Garmin Intros Vivosmart at IFA

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The latest Garmin wearable looks like a simple fitness tracker, but it is closer in function to a smartwatch-- the Vivosmart features a hidden OLED display, allowing it to show alerts from paired smartphones.

Garmin VivosmartFirst revealed at IFA 2014, the Vivosmart is the successor to the first Garmin wearable, the Vivofit activity tracker. It is waterproof to up to 50m and tracks steps taken, calories burned, sleep and heart rate (via optional heart rate monitor), with a companion Connect iOS/Android app translating all activity data into charts and graphs.

A double tap activates the hidden display, while finger swipes rotate through messages, emails, the time and other custom display pages. Vibrations provide further alerts (or simply let users know it is time to do some training), and Bluetooth 4.0 takes care of smartphone connectivity.

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The Toshiba Wireless Storage Hub

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Toshiba announces the Canvio AeroMobile-- a pocket-sized storage device combining the convenience of portable storage with the benefits of SSDs, with integrated wireless functionality and USB 3.0 port.

Canvio AeroMobileIt provides 128GB storage (expandable via SD card slot), and allows the browsing, saving and streaming of files with Android and iOS devices via Wireless SSD app.

An internet pass-thru mode also allows simultaneous web browsing and access to the AeroMobile wireless SSD.

“With so many ways for consumers to capture and share the world around them the ability to backup, protect and access content with ease is becoming increasingly important," Toshiba says. "The Canvio AeroMobile wireless SSD has been created to give extra freedom when storing and sharing data, with the added reassurance that precious memories are safely backed up.”

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Asus Teases Zenwatch

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ZenwatchA video teaser reveals what Asus has in store for IFA 2014-- the ZenWatch, an Android-Wear powered smartwatch promising to be the best-looking wearable yet.

The video shows very little of the device, other than it featuring a a curved design and what looks like brushed-metal construction.

The company tells Taiwan's Central News Agency the ZenWatch can either be paired with Android devices or used as a standalone device, comes in one size and will include English voice recognition functionality.

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Sennheiser Redesigns CX Earphones

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Sennheiser updates the CX earphone range ahead of IFA 2014 with the CX 1.00, 2.00, 3.00 and 5.00, all featuring an all-new acoustic design packing the company's proprietary driver technology.

Sennheiser CX 3.00As successors of the CX 300-II earphones the new range feature a tangle-free cable, a "low-profile angled plug" and more prominent branding, part of a Sennheiser effort in playing the Beats game.

Included with the earphones are 4 ear-sleeve sizes, including extra-small buds.

In no surprise to anyone the CX 1.00 is the entry-level model. It is followed by the CX 2.00, which features a built-in mic and inline remote. The CX 3.0 promises an audio improvement with "more detail and enhanced bass," with the CX 5.00 providing the mic and remote.

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The First Bluetooth Padlock

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Fuz Designs suggests time is nigh for the end of padlocks using keys or-- with the Noke padlock, all users need to lock and unlock their belongings is a Bluetooth-equipped smartphone.

Noke padlockThe Noke padlock pairs with smartphones via app (iOS and Android) and Bluetooth 4.0. When in range of the paired phone the Noke unlocks with a simple press of the shank, with no need to launch the app or removing the phone from one's pocket.

But what if the user forgets their phone or it runs out of power? The Noke also has a solution with "quick-click" technology. This allows the user to unlock the padlock by tapping a pre-assigned click pattern on the hook.

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