The Mac Observer is on the ground at the Internation Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, and we're already checking out some pretty cool products. Dave Hamilton and Bryan Chaffin join Jeff Gamet to talk about the new tech they saw at CES Unveiled, including fitness gear, wireless routers, and robots ready to help you shop.

Apple Watch will play a âmeaningfulâ role in Appleâs 2015 bottom line, with sales of 18.5 million units representing 36 percent of the company's revenue growth for the year, according to a new investor note Monday from advisory firm Evercore Partners. The watch is expected to launch in the March time frame.

At the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, Philips has unveiled a massive curved computer display. The new 34-inch Philips Brilliance Curved UltraWide LCD Display offers 3440 x 1440 resolution at 60Hz with panoramic 21:9 cinematic aspect....

AT&T announced that it will be the first US carrier to launch commercial support for Web Real-Time Communications (WebRTC) via its AT&T Enhanced WebRTC API. The WebRTC standard, which is already enabled on more than a billion browsers across multiple platforms, allows voice and video calling between browsers without the need to install any software or plugins....

There are only two kinds of Mac users: Those who have lost data, and those who will. Itâs sad that so many users still donât start backing up until after theyâve lost irreplaceable files. Youâve heard me say it year in and year out, but at least some of you (and you know who you are), are not paying attention. Read my first column of the year and resolve to back up your stuff and avoid heartache in 2015.

LAS VEGAS -- Staying on top how healthy you are typically hasn't included dealing with reducing ongoing pain, but Valedo is doing just that with it's set of light weight sensors. Instead of a bulky and unwieldy contraption with snaps and buckles, Valedo uses medical adhesive to keep its two sensors in place. Once there, you can play specialized iPad games to reduce back pain and strengthen your muscles. The company said it's planning on updating its software so you can track motion on other parts of your body, too. We checked out Valedo at CES 2015, and were surprised at how well it worked. You can pick up the two-sensor set for US359ドル at the Valedo website.

One can produce estimates of the Apple Watch sales. One can do surveys and discover what people think they're willing to pay. But the real prospects for the Apple Watch lie in Apple's unique ability to capture our heart and imagination.

Dish today announced specifics of its Internet television service. The new pay-as-you-go service, Sling TV, includes ABC Family, Disney Channel, Food Network, HGTV, TNT, TBS, CNN, Cartoon Network, and the Travel Channel. However, possibly the biggest draw for the nascent service is ESPN and ESPN2....

Shoot 'em ups, often called shmups, are action-shooters that pit the player against hoards of oncoming enemies. Players are able to usually control their ships left and right motion and only get to rest between levels. These games originated in the 60s and have been incredibly popular ever since, and it's easy to see why once you begin playing them. Space Qube, by Owen Wu, is a shoot 'em up for iOS that's worth taking a look at....

Belkin-owned Linksys has announced several new networking products at CES. Leading these is the EA8500, an 802.11ac Wi-Fi router capable of some of the company's highest speeds, in part since it uses MU-MIMO to improve performance for simultaneous device connections, and a 1.4GHz dual-core processor. In terms of connections the device has four Gigabit Ethernet ports, a separate WAN Ethernet jack, and ports for eSATA, USB 3.0, and USB 2.0 devices. It should ship this spring for 280ドル....

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LAS VEGAS - Evollve Inc. showed off Ozobot Bit Sunday night at CES Unveiled. This 1-inch robot can sense colored lines, detect patterns such as intersections, read flashing light codes, and play back up to 500 commands. It's also programmable using a color-based code language and a block-based programming editor. The company is aiming it at kids as an interactive tool that can teach them programming skills by allowing them to make their own courses for Ozobot Bit to follow, or by making their own games. The device also interacts with an Android and iOS app. In the included image, several Ozobot Bits are following paths that cross from tablets to hand-drawn paper and back again. Ozobot Bits are shipping now for US49ドル.99 for one, or a two-pack for 99ドル.99.

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LAS VEGAS - Hewlett Packard has announced several new computer displays today, including a new 24-inch Virtual Reality display, a new 27-inch 5K display and both 27-inch and 34-inch curved displays.

LAS VEGAS -- Fitness tracking smartwatches can log how far we walk, how we sleep, and now Zensorium is tracking how we feel. TMO checked out the company's new Being watch at CES. It tracks how you're feeling by monitoring heart rate and blood pressure then converts that into four mood states: distressed, excited, normal, and calm. If you're showing signs of stress, Being will offer tips on calming down, and all of the data it collects is sent wirelessly to your iOS or Android smartphone. The built-in battery runs for about three days on a charge, and the OLED display is easy to read in bright or dark light conditions. The Being will ship in March for US199,ドル or you can pre-order now for 169ドル.

Four new models of headphones from Panasonic made their debut today at CES. The offerings included a foldable on-ear model, Bluetooth headphones with near-field communication (NFC), and two premium in-ear models. The Panasonic Foldz are designed to allow the ear cups to swivel around into a compact formation for storage and portability. The RP-BTD5 Bluetooth headphones include NFC connectivity that allows the user to connect them to a device by simply touching it to one of the ear cups....

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LAS VEGAS - Parrot showed off two new products in its Flower family called Parrot Pot and Parrot H2O. Where the original Parrot Flower monitors your plants and reports conditions to your iPhone or Android device, Pot and H2O both add automated watering. Pot is a self-contained pot for your plant that includes a separate reservoire for water, sensors for monitoring the the soil and exposure to light, and then a mechanism for delivering that water to your plant when it needs it. H2O does the same thing, but it's a standalone device you can use with any pot. H2O gives you three weeks of "autonomous waterimg," while Pot delivers a full month. Plus, it works with PArrot's database of more than 7,000 plants to get it exactly right. Pretty cool, right? Parrot hasn't announced pricing and said only that both devices will ship sometimes in 2015.

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Apple appears to have fixed a flaw in its password security just one day after a hacker announced a new tool that could conceivably breach the existing protection against "brute force" attacks on accounts by taking advantage of an exception. On January 1, a new tool called iDict emerged in a rough state that could bypass repeated password-attempt blocking due to an exception made for iPhones. On January 2, Apple closed that exception and began locking accounts iDict was being used against....

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Internet of Things (IoT) developer iDevices has debuted Switch, the company's first Apple HomeKit-enabled device at CES in Las Vegas. The device is a hubless home automation solution which plugs into a power outlet and gives the user control of anything plugged into it using an iOS app -- extending "smart home" capabilities to non-smart devices....

Apple has announced the Q1 2015 conference call, it's slated for January 27. We'll hear about how Apple did over Christmas, and hopefully get progress reports on other things Apple is currently working on.

Entertainment streaming platform provider Roku made a number of announcements today at CES regarding Roku televisions and expanded HD content streaming. Roku will be partnering with television manufacturers Haier and Insignia to produce new HDTV models of Roku televisions, while NetFlix works on delivering 4K compatible content through Roku's platforms, and a previous Roku TV maker will focus on debuting a Roku 4K Ultra HD TV for the new year....

One of the best parts about video games is character customization. Upon starting a game, we're given a blank slate to turn into whatever we want. There's something undeniably fun and very personal about designing a character, which is why the option is given in so many games. What if there was a game that was centered only around character customization, allowing yout to create an endless stream of different characters? Developer Toca Boca AB has created Toca Mini, a game that promises to help scratch that itch, at least for the younger users....

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Today, Epson America announced a new compact digital projector in its PowerLite line at CES. The Home Cinema 600 can scale up its display to roughly 25 times larger than a 60-inch television screen. The projector is designed to be plugged into everything from a laptop to a gaming console, and uses Epson three-LCD projection and four pre-set color modes, including a game mode. This allows for watching in even a well-lit environment, from a conference room to a backyard side-of-the-house movie night....

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The cameras in our iPhones are so good that they are destroying the point-and-shoot digital camera market. We all have high-resolution lenses that create vibrant, brilliant images -- and then we slap a sepia filter over every photo. Even if you would never apply iOS 8's Chrome or Transfer filter, however -- even if you have never heard of Instagram -- take a look at Exposure. It's one of those apps that is genuinely unexpected and new....

Unlike its predecessor -- which only recently added support for Android devices (and then just the Galaxy Note 4) -- the iRig 2 guitar-to-phone interface, announced today, will support both iOS and Android right out of the gate, developer IK Multimedia says. Outputs on the device have been improved and added -- not only provide studio-quality sound from a smartphone, but to allow musicians to additionally plug into a traditional amplifier without an adapter....

Portable audio system and food storage container Kube launched Monday at CES in Las Vegas. Designed for outdoor and indoor usage, the Kube offers a Bluetooth range of 50 feet for pairing with a Bluetooth-enabled device, and can deliver sound for up to 20 hours. Its exterior is comprised of aluminum and coated polymer, with five back-lit tactile buttons for controlling audio. Kube additionally includes the ability for charging USB devices with an available port, and its interior insulated food storage compartment features LED lights that automatically engage when the container is opened. Weighi...

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At CES on Monday, the iBeek beacon by Bluvision was deployed today at the Texas Instruments (TI) booth. When a device with Bluvision's CMS platform, BluZone, comes into proximity, the beacons will provide information and an interactive experience for visitors. The system was designed to provide accurate tracking using minimal energy with large-scale deployments, such as equipment tracking in a warehouse, in mind. However, the beacons can be customized for home automation, wearables, and other applications, the company says....

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Wacom, makers of digital input tablets and other devices for artists, have announced two new free cloud-based services for their customers. These two services, which allow content and device settings to be stored and shared across platforms, are the first in a series of services planned for release over the course of 2015. The Dropzone service allows an initial 2GB of free storage, while the Control Room service lets existing users upload device settings so that they can retrieve the settings when using the device on a different platform....

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Nikon has introduced its consumer-grade follow-up to the D5300 DSLR camera, one which includes a touchscreen display on the back for the first time. The D5500's main upgrade compared to its predecessor, the rear 1037K-dot 3.2-inch display can be used to alter camera settings directly, with the screen still being able to flip out to the side and rotate around like in previous models....

Resource management games are about balance. Balancing spending resources with gaining them, balancing time and effort versus reward -- all these things go into making a challenging, yet rewarding game. One such offering is Dungeon Village, by Kairosoft, which is a charming little medieval adventure about growing your own village....

App Store Bundles are a nice way to pick up apps and save a little cash. As nice as that is, they also include a bonus feature: A way for developers to offer long-awaited upgrade pricing. We explain this apparent loophole and speak to some veteran iOS and OS X developers to get their take.

A new aftermarket in-dash entertainment system may give users the best of both worlds, with support for both Apple CarPlay and Google's upcoming Android Auto. The device, codenamed "RNB6," features impressive automotive connectivity options, an integrated 4x55-watt amplifier, 5GHz Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0.

Apple has added another eight banks to the list supporting Apple Pay, sources say. The collection includes Customers Bank -- based in Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Jersey -- and seven credit unions. Those are Security Service Federal Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Virginia Credit Union, Cyprus Federal Credit Union, Fairwinds Credit Union, Mountain America Credit Union, and Partners Federal Credit Union....

Apple has begun selling SIM-free versions of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus at its US online store. Unlocked iPhone 6 models have been available since September, but until now came with a T-Mobile SIM inserted. As with the T-Mobile option, a SIM-free iPhone 6 starts at 649ドル for 16GB, and an equivalent 6 Plus is 749ドル. Costs scale up to 949ドル for a 128GB Plus....

Many Americans now own smartphones, and a large percentage of those smartphones are iPhones. So how much would the average American pay for a year's worth of enjoyment and utility from Apple's flagship device? Or, more interestingly, what do these The Price is Right contestants think the average American would pay?

Almost four months after the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple is now offering unlocked, SIM-free versions of the companyâs latest phones via its U.S. online store and, soon, U.S. Apple Retail Stores. Pricing for the unlocked iPhones remains the same as the unsubsidized cost of carrier-specific models.

In keeping with the goal of accelerating the adoption of 4K Ultra HD standard, 4K television manufacturer Seiki today announced its entry into the desktop monitor segment with 32- and 40-inch 4K Ultra HD displays. The new Seiki 4K displays will be branded Seiki Pro, and are on display at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show....

Actress Perla Haney-Jardine has been cast as Steve Jobs' first daughter, Lisa, in the upcoming Universal biopic of the former Apple CEO. Haney-Jardine is just 17 years old and a relative unknown, having only held supporting roles in movies like Kill Bill Vol. 2, Dark Water, and Spiderman 3. Her spot in the Jobs biopic may potentially be a breakthrough, since screenwriter Aaron Sorkin has described Lisa as the "heroine" of the movie. At one point Natalie Portman was attached to the role, but she decided to pass....

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Toshiba launched four devices in its Canvio range at CES. The Canvio Connect II portable hard drive was joined at the trade show by a new addition to the Canvio Basics range, while the Canvio AeroCast and Canvio Cast Wireless Adapter are devices able to offer wireless sharing of content, to mobile devices as well as streaming to set-top boxes....

Patriot has announced the launch of a variety of products, including the second generation of Supersonic Magnum and Rage USB flash drives, and the Ignite SATA III SSD. The Supersonic Magnum 2 and Supersonic Rage 2 both include 3.0 USB connectivity. The Magnum 2 will be available in 256GB and 512GB capacities, with read and write speeds reaching 400MB per second and 300MB per second respectively. The Magnum is designed with a matte black metal housing that features shock resistance up to 15Gs to protect stored data, and its detachable cap covers the USB connector to protect from damage and debr...

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Device shipment numbers for 2014 are out, and Anroid unsurprisingly ruled the roost, accounting for more than 1.1 billion of the 2.3 billion total devices shipped during the year. But Apple controlled the high-end of the market, while Google, Microsoft, and others fought for an increasingly large low-cost segment.

The Mac Observer is on the ground at the Internation Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, and we have more cool products to talk about today. Dave Hamilton and Bryan Chaffin join Jeff Gamet to talk about some interesting startup companies they saw, audio gear, home automation, and what's up with GoGo's man in the middle hack to block YouTube streaming on flights.

Today in the MacNN Forums, one distressed Fresh-Faced Recruit was looking for help resolving a problem with installing Yosemite after something went wrong and the external hard drive they were trying to install it on died. Yesterday Moderator "P" started a discussion about the release timeline for Intel's latest Broadwell chips that were just announced at CES....

Right now at Apple's online store, find big savings on refurbished 27-inch iMac and Mac Pro models. The refurbished 27-inch iMac with a 3.2GHz Intel quad-core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 1TB hard drive has seen a 310ドル discount, dropping the cost down to 1,489ドル. A 340ドル discount drops the price on the refurbished 27-inch iMac with a 3.4GHz Intel quad-core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 1TB hard drive down to 1,659ドル....

At B&H right now save 300ドル on the previous-generation 13.3-inch Retina MacBook Pro which has been slashed from 1,949ドル down to 1,649ドル. That's around 100ドル less than the lowest price offered on this model anywhere else. This MBP features a 2.8GHz Intel Core i7 dual-core Haswell processor, 8GB of RAM and 512GB of PCIe-based flash storage. As always it is backed by Apples standard one year limited warranty on parts and labor....

Pioneer and Kenwood have used CES to announce a slate of new headunits, all of which are compatible with both Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto. The Pioneer offerings include the AVIC-8100NEX (1,400ドル), AVIC-7100NEX (1,200ドル), and AVH-4100NEX (700ドル). Each has an external microphone for voice commands, as well as a wired remote and support for HDMI input, Bluetooth, HD Radio, and dual-zone audio/video playback. The 8100 sports a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, whereas the other two models use lesser resistive touchscreens. The products should ship in March....

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After the smoke cleared, strobe lights dimmed, and high-energy music stopped at Audi's morning press conference at CES on Tuesday, the German automaker promised evolutions of its in-car tech, going as far as to introduce a concept that would drive and park itself, with no occupants at all. To drive the point home, Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, the Board Member for Technical Development of AUDI AG, started the company's updated, 690-horsepower Prologue concept with an LG smartwatch, pressed another command, and the car drove itself onto the stage....

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Every year CES acts as a launching ground for a range of new products, and this year is no different. Nikon decided to use the event as an opportunity to officially unveil its new D5500 DSLR, which acts as an evolution of the existing D5300. While the newly announced D5500 advances upon its predecessor in a number of ways, the most significant change is the introduction of a touchscreen. While the show floor isn't really an optimal ground for testing a new camera, we managed to get our hands on the new Nikon and spent a little time checking out just what this new product has to offer....

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There's a lot of content in the iTunes stores. If you want to improve your search, you need the Power Search. Kelly shows how to get there and use it to level up iTunes searches.

Check out our deal on the Quirky Apple Accessory Kit, a collection of cord management accessories sure to tickle your quirky bone. There are five devices included in the bundle for 36,ドル There's a power strip, an earbud winder, a Lightning charger, a MacBook charger, and a device to keep the ends of whatever cords you need so they don't get tangled.

LAS VEGAS - When Apple changed the form factor for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, that means olloclip's add-on camera lenses and cases wouldn't fit any more. The company took care of the lenses, and now it's almost ready to release updated cases, too. The olloclip case has a special cutout to fit its camera lenses, has a hard plastic body for durability, and rubberized edges for grip action. The cases are sleek and good looking, plus they do away with the flip-out panel the previous version needed to give you access to your iPhone's cameras. Final pricing hasn't been set yet, but the company did tell us at CES 2015 it's very close to shipping.

LAS VEGAS - Arcsoft announced on Tuesday the addition of facial recognition to its Simplicam camera through the Closeli app one uses to manage Simplicam. The new Face Recognition Manager feature allows users to register and store up to ten different people that can then be flagged and noted through Simplicam.

The Apple Watch will miss a previously-rumored launch date and instead ship by the end of March, sources say. Although Apple has only ever officially stated an "early 2015" window, some rumors had suggested Apple was aiming for a February date, possibly by Valentine's Day. Even then, it was often believed that Apple was likely to overshoot its goal....

While Samsung is generally known for its lavish TV announcements during CES, one of the more interesting products it presented during yesterday's keynote was a portable SSD. Dubbed the Portable SSD T1, Samsung's new drive has been designed with a very specific market in mind. Following Samsung's event we met up with a rep and spent a little bit of time talking about the brand new SSD....

Sources said to be within Apple have leaked details about the company's rumored 12-inch MacBook Air. Based on prototypes, the laptop is said to be even narrower than the current 11-inch model, albeit a quarter of an inch taller in order to fit a bigger display. To shrink the computer as a whole, Apple has reportedly trimmed the bezels to a minimum not only on the display but around the keyboard and trackpad....

Consumer GPS solutions pioneer Magellan on Tuesday introduced the Echo Fit Sports Watch, an expansion to the company's Echo Series product line that bakes in activity and sleep tracking to existing remote smartphone display and control features.

Among a number of new Lightning-connected iPhone 6 battery cases unveiled at CES this week, AppleInsider found a more affordable option in My uNu's lineup, which starts at 59ドル.99 for the company's forthcoming extended battery case.

Storage accessory maker G-Technology has expanded its line of external storage devices today at CES with three new ruggedized drives and a new protective case. The new hard drives are outfitted with shock-proof cases to survive drops onto hard surfaces or into water. Prices range from 80ドル–230,ドル depending on model and storage capacity, and offers options for either USB 3 or Thunderbolt connectivity. In addition, the company is selling its latest protective case separately, so that users can "ruggedize" existing G-Tech drives....

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Sakar International and Eastman Kodak today announced a variety of new mobile and DSLR photography accessories at CES in Las Vegas. The partnership has produced a new Smartphone Cradle, All-in-one HDMI Smartphone Cable, and Selfie Tripod with Remote Shutter Release, aimed at those who use their smartphone for the majority of their photo taking. In respects to DSLR users, Sakar and Kodak are launching a professional-grade Rig Stabilizer, for supporting a camera while capturing a shot. The Rolling DSLR Bag and Knapsack aim to simplify transporting gear, and the OTG/USB Card Reader for SD and mic...

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Apple has announced that it will release the results of its fiscal first quarter of 2015 on Tuesday, January 27. An earnings call is scheduled for 2PM PT that day, or 5PM Eastern, but the company typically issues a press release about 30 minutes beforehand. Barring unexpected developments, the call should include commentary by CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri as they respond to questions from analysts and investors, and is expected by most pundits to result in a record quarter for the company....

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Apple's Beats is once again being sued, this time on assertions that cofounders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre committed fraud by stealing the Beats by Dr. Dre headphone lineup from audio company Monster and its CEO Noel Lee -- who claim to have invented the popular headphones -- in a "sham" sale to HTC.

Sony has introduced a new flagship Walkman, the NW-ZX2, that serves as the successor to the ZX1 model that was introduced less than six months ago. The revised edition marks Sony's latest attempt to engage the audiophile market, capable of playing Hi-Res Audio formats, traditional lower-bitrate audio files, streaming content and other media. We stopped by Sony's CES booth to try out the new gadget and ponder its four-figure price tag....

Otterbox and Incipio announced today at CES new cases for the iPhone 6 with built in batteries to boost up time. The new offerings, which join today's announcement of the Mophie's Juice Pack series are the Otterbox Resurgence and the four-model Incipio offGrid series....

Improving on its eponymous first-generation life-logging wearable camera, Narrative on Tuesday introduced the 8-megapixel Narrative Clip 2, which boasts Wi-Fi connectivity for uploading footage and remote smartphone control via Bluetooth.

The iDrive online backup service company today revealed a local network backup peripheral. Presented at the Consumer Electronics Show, the iDrive Wi-Fi local backup drive allows users to backup and restore up to 2 TB of their data between devices over a local connection, with data protected by encryption....

FLIR has introduced a new thermal-imaging accessory for mobile devices. The new FLIR One attaches via Apple's Lightning port or to an Android device's Micro USB port, rather than integrating the thermal camera into an iPhone 5 case. We checked out the upgraded model at CES to see how it stacks up against its predecessor....

At CES on Tuesday, Thermal imaging pioneers FLIR debuted a next-generation FLIR ONE consumer-level thermal camera that one-ups its predecessor by trading in the large semi-permanent iPhone case form factor for a small plug-and-play dongle with higher resolution sensors.

Apple has updated OS X server for Yosemite to version 4.0.3, adding a number of new features and minor improvements to the 20ドル add-on that provides enterprise-level tools to administer OS X and iOS devices running the latest respective OS releases. The update requires OS X 10.10.1 to run, and iOS 8 on remote iOS devices. The new version promotes SMB3 as the default protocol for sharing files, and updates Profile Manager to support the new features in iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, such as Handoff....

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IK Multimedia, a leader in iOS-enabled audio production hardware and software, hit the CES show floor with an all-new lineup of products for 2015, including the new iRig 2 mobile guitar interface, iRig microphones and more.

Electronics company Monster, known for its high-priced HDMI cables and car audio gear, has filed suit against now-Apple-owned Beats and its founders, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, as well as former Beats partner HTC, claiming that Beats and HTC misled the company when it bought back enough shares of itself through the HTC investment to sever its contract for headphone partnership with Monster. The lawsuit does not directly involve Apple, but does revolve around the possibility that Beats knew when it left Monster that it was going to be acquired....

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This year's ShowStoppers @ CES event was chock-full of new and novel products marketed across a range of tech segments, but the main theme centered around smart home products, with startups showing off everything from LED light bulbs to ambitious "Internet of Things" solutions.

The Alcatel OneTouch Watch will be shipping in March for 150,ドル it has been revealed. The recently-launched round-faced smartwatch also uses its own software rather than Android Wear, allowing the device to work with iPhones and iPads running iOS 7 or later, as well as Android devices running version 4.3 or later of the mobile operating system....

LAS VEGAS - Netatmo has expanded beyond weather tracking with its new Welcome camera that identifies friends and family, and knows when someone is a stranger. As the Welcome snaps more photos it gets better at identifying people you know, and it announces who it sees. The images it captures are stored in an encrypted format so data you want to keep private stays that way, and it includes an iPhone app you can use to set alerts for specific people or receive notifications when you're away from home. Netatmo hasn't set their final pricing yet for Welcome, but the company does plan on shipping the device in the next few months. TMO checked it out at CES 2015, and it looks pretty cool.

LAS VEGAS - Wacom is ramping up its professional graphics tablet game yet again with its brand new Cintiq 27QHD and27QHD touch tablets. Both were introduced at CES 2015 on Tuesday with 2560 x 1140 27-inch built-in display surfaces sporting over 1 billion colors covering 97 percent of Adobe's color gamut. The new Qintiqs support 2048 pressure sensitivity levels and multiple stylus nibs, too. The 27QHD is priced at US2,299ドル.99. The 27QHD touch, which adds support for touch-based gestures, costs 2,799ドル.99. Both will ship before the end of the month.

LAS VEGAS - French company Devialet was showing off its Phantom Implosive Sound Center Tuesday night at Pepcom. This powered speaker system looks amazing and sounds even better. There's a caveat, though: listening to any speakers or headphones on a convention show floor is a terrible idea. It's just too noisy, but I was impressed with this device. The company designed them so that you can use from 1 to 24 of them together. They sync using Wi-Fi, and they're priced at 1,999ドル [price corrected] per unit. I have a lot of questions about the Phantom Implosive Sound Center, and I can't wait to test them out. In the video I posted to Instagram, the iPhone did a remarkable job of capturing the sound. Plus, you can see the subwoofers moving. Check it out.

Amazing Phantom Implosion speaker. 199ドル. Looking forward to testing. #CES2015

A video posted by Bryan Chaffin (@geektells) on Jan 1, 2015 at 8:10pm PST

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Apple this week was awarded a patent for design ideas that could lead to a future bendable, flexible, and foldable iPhone. By combining existing manufacturing techniques in new ways, Apple describes how such a device could not only prove to be more durable than current smartphones, but also more functional.

With the first official day of CES in the books, AppleInsider offers a roundup of the best new products we spotted at the annual consumer electronics event that tap into the Apple ecosystem.

Virtually everywhere in the world that research firm Kantar Worldpanel ComTech tracks smartphone market data, Apple saw marketshare gains, thanks to the popularity of its latest flagship iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus handsets.

Say you need to share something with a group of people, either in a meeting or on campus, but you don't have a document camera to project the image. Instead of passing around documents, photos, or items for people to look at one-by-one, what if you could simply broadcast the images over LAN? It's a surprisingly simple solution to a common problem. That's exactly what Air Scanner, by Qrayon, does....

Apple's next store in Chongqing, China, will feature a smaller glass cylinder nevertheless mimicking the design of the company's flagship outlet in Shanghai, photos show. Construction workers this week dismantled a steel structure that was concealing the 30-foot-tall cylinder, which in turn tops a staircase leading to the actual store. Another similarity with Shanghai is that the Chongqing store is based in a plaza and surrounded by taller structures....

In the midst of a major retail expansion across China, Apple continues to make progress on its latest flagship outlet in the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing, recently breaking down the scaffolding surrounding the new store's dramatic cylindrical entrance.

Appleâs worldwide share of smartphone sales surged in most countries for the three months ending November 2014, compared to a year earlier, according to data released Wednesday from research firm Kantar Worldpanel. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus helped Apple grow its share of smartphone sales in every country measured except for Japan.

Recent Apple acquisition Beats is facing another lawsuit, this time from Monster. The suit alleges that Beats executives Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre orchestrated a 'sham' transaction to cut Monster, the original manufacturer of the headphoens, out of millions in profits when Apple aquired the company.

Actress Perla Haney-Jardine has reportedly been cast to play the role of Steve Jobsâs daughter Lisa in the upcoming biopic about the late Apple co-founder. Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin says that the role of Jobs's daughter will be pivotal to the film, calling Lisa Jobs the story's "heroine."

Otterbox-owned LifeProof has announced the fre Power, a battery case for the iPhone 6. The product supplies 2,600mAh of power, said to double an iPhone's regular life. More significantly, however, the case safeguards against water, drops, and dust/snow, partly through its shell but also via a built-in screen protector....

Apple this week updated its App Store Distribution report, revealing that iOS 8 adoption among current Apple devices has continued to grow, reaching 68 percent as of January 5. Thatâs an 8 percent increase from the last update, but still well behind the pace set by iOS 7 during its first three months in 2013.

A company called Antenna79 has launched the Reach79, a case claimed to boost cellular signals for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. The key is an embedded gold-plated antenna layer, allegedly CETECOM-tested to improve signal strength by an average of 1.6 times, peaking at twice normal levels. Antenna79 suggests this can result not only in better coverage but faster downloads and improved battery life, since a phone doesn't have to struggle as much to find a connection....

Mega-carrier AT&T is the latest U.S. wireless provider to turn to mobile data as a market differentiator, introducing a new "Rollover Data" program that allows subscribers to stockpile unused megabytes much like older plans that included rollover calling minutes.

The latest research from UBS has prompted the firm to advise investors that it believes Apple sold a massive 69 million iPhones in the just-concluded December quarter -- a sum that would obliterate the company's previous all-time record.

The second day of the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas brought a fresh round of announcements sure to intrigue Apple fans, including an update on the world's first iOS-connected robotic printer and a selection of new data storage devices.

Over at TekRevue, Jim Tanous has revisited the use of a RAM disk on two new Macs, a 2013 Mac Pro and a 2014 MacBook Pro. He reports that, "The 2013 Mac Pro features extremely fast PCIe-based flash storage, but itâs no competition for the speed of a 32GB RAM Disk. The internal flash storage hits around 1,200MB/s reads and just shy of 800MB/s writes, but the RAM Disk peaks at 4,800MB/s reads and 5,100MB/s writes. 5.1 Gigabytes per second. Nice." Of course, the RAM disk eats into the available RAM so it's geard for specialized applications that can really use the boost. But it's also volatile, so reboot or lose power and it goes poof. Even so, check out TekRevue's tantalizing tutorial and amazing benchmark tests.

Shortly after T-Mobile announced that they would let customers rollover unused mobile data, AT&T has struck back with their own data rollover plan. But don't celebrate too quickly, AT&T customers. There's a huge caveat that comes with AT&T's announcement.

It's probably a sign that we are just one bad decision away from being evil crime lords but we looked at this and all thought exactly the same thing. You could use this software to change the dates on contracts to 90 years ago and claim to have invented Boeing. Or, on a slightly smaller scale, we could've told our college professors that of course we started this report at the start of the semester. That really is the kind of thing we can do with A Better Finder Attributes 5 -- ABFA from now on, please -- but it's intended more for the kind of fine and morally upstanding person that you are....

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AT&T is adding a Rollover Data scheme to its price plans, allowing customers to use up unused data allowances from their plan the following month. The announcement comes in response to T-Mobile, which launched its own Data Stash rollover scheme a few weeks ago, though at first glance it appears AT&T's version is slightly limited in comparison to its competition....

Apple has hired three more executives, apparently with the aim of helping Apple Watch development. One of these is Jacob Jordan, formerly the director of Louis Vuitton's ready-to-wear collection for men. Jordan quietly joined Apple in October, and is now said to be the company's director of Product Merchandising for the Special Projects team, which has been working on the Watch for years. Apple has picked up a number of people from the fashion industry in the run-up to the Watch's launch -- most notably former Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts, who has taken over as Apple's latest retail head....

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Phiaton has introduced new noise-cancelling headphones and wireless earphones this week at CES. The BT 330 NC is a compact, on-ear headphone that is aimed at travellers who seek a lightweight and compact device. Its noise-cancellation technology cancels low frequency noise (under 1kHz) by up to 95 percent. Its "Everplay-X" feature allows users to continue listening even if the battery charge runs out, and 40mm drivers offer emphasis on a wide frequency range....

Owners of the Yves Behar-designed August Smart Lock now have the option to control the device from their iPhone even when they're out of the house thanks to the new August Connect accessory announced by the company at this week's Consumer Electronics Show.

At its stand at CES, Apple-centric accessory maker Henge Docks offered AppleInsider an inside look at its upcoming Horizontal MacBook Pro Dock, revealing a motorized interface and circuit boards feeding a plethora of ports.

From Apple: "The James Bond films have given us five decades of explosive action and captivating international intrigue. For the first time digitally, you can now own the entire iconic series - from Dr. No to Skyfall - in Bond 50: The Complete 23 Film Collection. This essential bundle is available for a limited-time price until January 12." The average price here is US4ドル.35 per movie. Moneypenny would be very pleased. Again ... January 12 is the drop dead date for this offer. Plus, see Kelly Guimont's CSF for more on the upcoming Bond movie (#24) "SPECTRE" due to be released in November this year.

Some games are defined by their medium, and Papers, Please (8ドル) may actually be one of the best examples. It was obviously built with a mouse and keyboard in mind -- and there's no possible way you could port it to consoles (except maybe the Wii U), since playing it with a conventional gamepad would be a nightmarish ordeal. It does, however, turn out to work surprisingly well with the iPad's touchscreen, which could even be the preferable platform, depending on your tastes....

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According to the latest statistics from Apple, distribution of company's iOS 8 mobile operating continues to plod along and is now installed on 68 percent of iPhones and iPads registered to the iOS App Store.

At CES this week, Griffin Technology took the wraps off a new USB-to-Lightning cable with a twist -- the USB Type A plug can be inserted in either orientation, just like Apple's own Lightning connector.

Virtually everyone plays a game on their iPhone. And those of a particular vintage appreciate how different games are today than when you played in fear of being eaten by a Grue. We have now arrived at the perfect intersection of both these things: Mayday! Deep Space, a new game much in the style of the old-school text adventure, but this time you control the character using voice commands. It's US2ドル.99 from iTunes And so far it's the most fun I've had playing a game since Monument Valley. Via Silicon Florist we find out more about the creation of this game, including interviews with the creators. I haven't played for very long yet, but I am completely hooked. I should point out that unless you're known for randomly shouting out directions, this may not be the best choice for killing time in line at the grocery store.

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With NFC, but without Touch ID, it's not very clear right now how the Apple Watch will handle Apple Pay. Here's how John Martellaro would like it to work.

The Mac Observer is on the ground at the Internation Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, and we found even more cool and interesting products to talk about. Bryan Chaffin joins Jeff Gamet to talk about seeing Tenacious D, fitness tech gear, foodie tech, robot dinosaurs, and more.

Wacom has added more items to its Cintiq and Cintiq Companion ranges for artists and designers. The Cintiq 27QHD and 27QHD touch are pen displays with 27-inch screens, while the Cintiq Companion 2 is a revamped version of the company's standalone Windows tablet, which can also be used as a pen display when connected to a PC or Mac....

Apple on Wednesday issued a new beta build of its upcoming OS X 10.10.2 maintenance update, once again asking developers to focus on Wi-Fi, Mail and VoiceOver alongside general system compatibility testing.

On Wednesday, Apple released a new build of the forthcoming 10.10.2 maintenance update to developers and testers. The new version, 14C94b, indicates few new binaries since the previous developer build (14C81f) issued nearly a month ago, and could hint that the patch update is nearing release. Testers are again asked to focus on Wi-Fi, Mail, and VoiceOver, the latter two areas of which were added in the last developer build. Apple has also released the build for previously-signed up public beta testers....

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The Automated Device for Asthma Management, or ADAM, by Health Care Originals is a unique iOS-connected medical device that aims to provide users with a complete solution for managing their asthma.

In a note sent out to iTunes Connect members on Wednesday, Apple announced an imminent prices increase for Canada, Norway and all countries in the European Union, as well as an undisclosed change in app cost for Russian customers.

Intel's mobile chip division has lost 7ドル billion over the last two years while heavily subsidizing the manufacturing costs of Android tablet makers agreeing to use the chipmaker's Atom mobile x86 processors. Microsoft's new Office for Android won't run on any of them.

Apple updated its developer portal on Wednesday with new statistics on its current mobile operating system, iOS 8. Adoption for the system is up to 68 percent across both iPhones and iPads, up eight percent from approximately six weeks ago. As would be expected, older versions thus continue a decline in popularity, with iOS 7 losing six percentage points and dropping to 29 percent, while iOS 6 and all earlier versions are essentially down to just devices that can not be upgraded beyond that point, holding around four percent share (a drop of one percent from the last report)....

Unveiled at CES, SenseHUD is portable device that promises to transform your smartphone into an automotive heads-up display, offering an aftermarket alternative to expensive preinstalled car navigation systems.

Last month, T-Mobile CEO John Legere made a number of predictions about the coming year in a humorous (and almost entirely swearing-free) Christmas video. Now that 2015 is here, T-Mobile's Q4 2014 and full-year 2014 numbers have been released, showing a net total of 8.3 million new customers for 2014 -- with 2.1 million of those joining the "un-carrier" in the final quarter....

Apple kept its Mac mini fans waiting around two years between updates, and recently it finally gave the mini a refresh. While not a full redesign as some had hoped, the new model finally brought with it Intel's fourth generation "Haswell" Core-series processors. Apple also took the opportunity to introduce a new cheaper low-end model, but opted to drop the server option that was powered by a quad-core chip, and make some other less welcome changes including soldering the RAM and making the hard drive almost impossible to access. Despite these changes, is it still worth considering the Mac mini...

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Fitbit introduced its latest fitness tracking devices at CES in the Charge, heart rate-sensing Charge HR band and Surge "fitness super watch," the latter of which features standalone GPS tracking capabilities.

Yesterday at CES, ViewSonic released its newest line-up of products. On hand for demonstrations at the Encore Hotel in Las Vegas are new 4K displays, "price-competitive" digital projectors, Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) solutions, and commercial-grade digital signage displays. Included in the announcements was a new 3,200-lumen projector; 27- and 28-inch 4K monitors; a curved 34-inch LED and 27-inch gaming monitor, and some large-format signage displays....

Standing apart from a glut of iOS accessory makers at CES this year was Exelium, with its Up-mobile inductive charging system for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, and Ultra, a startup that showed off a new iOS-connected UV monitor.

Today at CES in Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) President Gary Shapiro sat down for a "Super Session" with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, and asked what had changed in his world since they spoke at the conference in 2013. "Oh, nothing," deadpanned Wheeler, prompting laughter from the audience, "it's all exactly the same." As the discussion went on, Wheeler's responses to questions seem to be confirming earlier reports that the Commission is strongly leaning towards adopting some level of Communications Act Title II as a base for ensuring Net Neutrality, as urged by President Obama...

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Internet advocacy group the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) released a new app today, allowing Android users an easy way to access its action center and get involved. As part of the announcement, the organization explained there would not be a similar app for iOS, citing issues with the Apple developer agreement. Some elements of the disputed agreement have been around since 2010....

Last November, the Internet Archive debuted their new service, The Internet Arcade, where over 900 arcade titles from the 1980's and 90's were hosted for free play over a web browser. Today the service topped itself, expanding the the Software Library to include 2,300 MS-DOS-era games, available through the EM-DOSbox in-browser emulator....

Samsung Electronics has released "preliminary earnings guidance" for the December quarter, calling for revenues of around 52T KRW (47ドルB) and operating profits of about 5.2T KRW (4ドル.73B), a profit decline of 37 percent compared to the year-ago quarter.

Mind maps are those doodles when you scribble down the name of a topic, then write down anything you can think of to do with it, then start making connections. It is amazing how you can sometimes only spot that this idea and that problem go together when you see them both on the page. If you're the sort of person who prefers to think and plan in lists, you've probably ignored mind maps entirely. You may be right: mind maps do not suit everyone, but give them a go -- and in particular try MindNode for iOS. While it's also on the Mac, MindNode is particularly good on iPads and its new release ha...

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Eight new financial institutions have officially joined Apple's nascent mobile payments initiative, bringing the total number of participating banks and credit unions to 39 less than three months after the service's debut.

Stock of the iPod shuffle is drying up at both Apple's online store and its retail outlets, sources say, something backed up by checks. The company is reportedly warning retail workers that Shuffle supplies will be low for an unspecified amount of time, such that shoppers looking to buy the product should be redirected to the online store. Even then, the US site is listing Shuffles as shipping in seven to 10 days, well beyond the 24-hour window quoted for the iPod touch or nano....

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The world is waiting to experience Apple Watch, but Chinese knock-off companies can't just sit around doing nothing until March. On display at CES are the finest fake Apple Watches money can buy, and you can pick one of these monstrosities up for just 35ドル.

Those looking to spend Christmas money on a new iPod shuffle may have to wait a few days to pick one up. Appleâs diminutive iPod is out of stock at many Apple Retail Stores, and shows a 7-10 business day shipping delay at Appleâs online store, with no word on when supply will improve.

North Korea has its own operating system, a custom version of Linux called 'Red Star' that's been skinned to look just like OS X. Thanks to a recent leak, you can now download and install Red Star yourself, although we wouldn't recommend it. Instead, why not check out these screenshots?

Following a somewhat rocky, high-profile debut, the makers of Duet Display --?an app that allows users to press their iPad into service as a secondary display for their Mac --?have rolled out an impressive update that narrows the gap between a Duet-connected iPad and a traditional monitor.

The Consumer Electronics Show is in full swing in Las Vegas, Nev., and AppleInsider offers a roundup of some of the best Apple-compatible devices we've spied at the event, including a unique car heads-up display, reversible USB plug Lightning cables, an iOS-connected asthma monitor, and more.

Via its official list, Apple has confirmed this week's addition of eight new banks to Apple Pay. The new institutions include Security Service Federal Credit Union, Customers Bank, Consumers Credit Union, Virginia Credit Union, Cyprus Federal Credit Union, Fairwinds Credit Union, Mountain America Credit Union, and Partners Federal Credit Union. Of those, the most important may be SSFCU, Partners, and Customers....

OS X Yosemite has reached a 50 percent adoption rate, less than 3 months after its release. This makes Yosemite the fastest growing version of OS X ever, and puts it well ahead of the pace of its predecessors, OS X Mavericks and OS X Mountain Lion.

Low margins and increasingly stiff competition have finally caught up with Samsung, the largest Android-based device producer in terms of shipments. The Korean firm Thursday released âpreliminary earnings guidanceâ for its December quarter, warning investors of a significant decline in profits and revenue year-over-year.

Apple on Thursday touted the success of its App Store, revealing that the digital storefront saw billings rise 50 percent last year, generating over 10ドル billion in revenue for developers.

Apple has released some updated statistics for the App Store, revealing that billings rose 50 percent in 2014, generating over 10ドル billion in revenue for developers. The store has produced roughly 25ドル billion for developers since its inception in 2008. Apple adds that the first week of January set a new record for billings, totaling almost half a billion dollars in combined app and in-app purchase numbers; New Year's Day in particular is said to have Apple's best day ever for app sales....

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Apple today released 2014 numbers for the companyâs App Store, revealing that more than 10ドル billion in revenue was paid out to developers during the year, a record that brings the cumulative total to 25ドル billion since the storeâs launch in 2008.

An image circling the Web on Thursday purports to show a piece of production tooling for Apple's rumored "iPad Pro," though there is scant evidence to back up the assertions. In fact, the part depicted appears more likely to be designed for Apple's Smart Cover than a forthcoming iPad.

Philips has announced a new set of Lightning headphones, the Fidelio NC1Ls. As with the company's previous Lightning hardware, the NC1Ls include their own 24-bit digital-to-analog converter. New though is active noise cancellation, based on inverting the input from four integrated microphones. Unlike most noise-cancelling headphones, the NC1Ls run on the power of the device they're connected to, eliminating the need for built-in or replaceable batteries....

Pella Windows and Doors is at CES this week, showing off its new Insynctive family of smart home products, bringing iOS connectivity to sensors for doors, shades, blinds, garages and more.

Six months after Apple first announced a program that would allow headphone manufacturers to connect their cans directly to an iOS device's Lightning port, the first models to take full advantage of the Lightning port's capabilities are being shown off at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Ion Audio has announced its new Air LP Bluetooth turntable, currently being showcased at CES this week. Capable of converting analog records into digital files on one's computer, Air LP connects to a Mac or PC with its included USB cable. The turntable streams audio wirelessly to Bluetooth compatible speakers, and includes "EZ Vinyl and Tape Converter" software for the audio conversion via USB. The player includes an Auto-Stop button, and can play (as well as convert) 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM records. Available RCA outputs include connection for stereo and headphones. Expected to ship in March,...

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Apple is pushing harder to sell hardware to enterprise and government markets, and has bolstered those efforts with the hire of a longtime executive at PC maker Hewlett-Packard, it was revealed on Thursday.

Apple has sent an email to developers notifying them of App Store price hikes in Canada, Norway, and the European Union, according to the Vancouver Sun. The company blames the change on foreign exchange rates. It has not, however, said by how much prices will go up....

Today we're going to cover how to ask Siri what music is playing, and then we'll show you where to find the history of what you've previously identified. No more will you have to try to remember that funky-cool song from three days ago, because your iPhone can tell you what it was! Melissa Holt is going to go over it all in this Quick Tip.

The Mac Observer is on the ground at the Internation Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, and we found some more interesting products to talk about. Kelly Guimont and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to offer their perspective from the outside on the show, plus Jeff shares some more fun stuff he found, and they take a look at home automation, too.

After being pushed downward across the first week of 2015, Apple's stock surged 4ドル.14 today to close at 111ドル.89, adding over 24ドル.27 billion to the company's market capitalization.

Apple has a long and sometimes unpleasant history of hiring sales executives from other companies in the hopes that the new guy will have the magic mojo to make everything right. Now Apple has brought in a new HP veteran to sell to large corporations. Things will probably go as they have in the past: not very well.

LAS VEGAS -- Sengled thinks your lights should do more than simply illuminate rooms, so they packed a WiFi signal extender into their LED Boost bulb. The Boost packs a Wifi network extender into the bulb base, so you can get your signal to reach farther without needing to give up power outlets or take up shelf space with extra Basestations. Sengled also showed us their other LED smartbulbs at CES 2015 with built-in cameras, speakers for your audio system, and more. The Boost costs US49ドル.99.

LAS VEGAS -- It's easy to find Bluetooth products that turn solid surfaces-like your desk-into a speaker. Finding one that sounds really good is a harder task, but Bass Egg thinks it has that covered with its new Verb. The Verb vibrates to bounce air off hard surfaces that converts to sound waves, making your wood, metal, stone, or glass surfaces act as omnidirectional speakers. It's anodized aluminum body holds up under abuse, the audio range it offers goes beyond what we've heard from competing products. The Bass Egg Verb is priced at US99ドル.95, and the crew we spoke with at CES 2015 told us that soon you'll be able to gang them up for stereo audio, too.

Samsung has announced the SM951, a PCIe based SSD that's exceptionally small, capable of 2.2 GB/s reads (PCIe 3), is 80 x 22 mm and weighs just 6 grams. In standby mode, it consumes only 2 mW and could allow a notebook computer to sleep for months. It's rumored to be slated for the new MacBooks.

Apple has hired on a former HP executive, John Solomon, to help with enterprise sales, sources say. The people note that his exact position and duties are unclear, but the hiring is said to be core to the company's newfound rush to reach enterprise customers. Solomon may also allegedly be involved in international Apple Watch sales -- specifically in the Asia-Pacific market -- but some of the sources say this is unlikely....

Following a horrific attack on satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo that left 12 dead, Apple on Thursday added to its official regional website a full-width black banner reading "Je suis Charlie."

Apple on Thursday updated its French website with a black "armband" and the phrase "Je suis Charlie" in sympathy over the terrorist attack and murder of cartoonists from the satiric magazine Charlie Hebdo, which also killed at least one police officer. The attackers were allegedly offended by the publication's routine attacks on extremist elements of the Islamic faith, although the publications also regularly exposed hypocrisy and provoked offense among other religious followers as well....

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Accessory maker Kensington has announced a new case for the iPad Air 2, the KeyFolio Thin X3 Plus. While including a Bluetooth keyboard, its most notable feature may actually be a built-in 4,500mAh battery. Via USB this lets users fully charge an iPhone two or three times, or an iPad up to 50 percent. A free iOS app tracks how much battery power is left....

Earlier this week, Elgato announced a new smart home product ecosystem called Eve. The company brought a few Eve modules, as well as other devices, set for imminent release to CES, offering AppleInsider a first-hand look.

Accessory maker parrot expanded its lineup of iOS-connected products at CES with the award-winning RNB6 CarPlay-enabled head unit and H2O standalone plant sensor/automated watering device.

Our friends at Stack Social have put together a deal called the 10-For-10ドル Mac App Bundle. As the name suggests, you get ten Mac apps and it's going to cose you ten bucks. It includes, Disk Map, MenuTab Pro for Facebook, NotesTab Pro, CopyClip 2, Privacy Protector, Share Bucket, StatsBar, StockTab, Slerts for Gmail, and InstaReel for Instagram. There's additional information on all of these apps on the deal list, and it's good for another 5 days.

Bad cell signals don't have to mean the end of your conversations, and now devices like AT&T's MicroCell aren't the only option for getting your calls through. Nextivity showed The Mac Observer its Cel-Fi at CES 2015, and instead of relying on your broadband Internet connection, it deconstructs weak cell signals and rebuilds them into stronger and usable signals. The Cel-Fi can take a poor 1-bar connection and turn it into a solid 3-bar signal without simply boosting a crappy connection that isn't any better than the original weak signal it comes from. Nextivity supports GSM-based services like AT&T and T-Mobile, but its planned LTE voice support means Verizon customers will have some hope for better signals soon, too. Cel-Fi costs about US500,ドル but may be free depending on whether or not your carrier offers it as a loyalty incentive.

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Bob "Dr. Mac" LeVitus ended his last column with words that couldnât have been more prescient: âI sleep better knowing that my data will survive almost any eventuality. So will you.â A few days after that he walked into my office to find an alarming onscreen alert: "The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer." Thank heaven for Data Rescue.

The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) is a bill that, if signed into law, allows for the sharing of Internet traffic information purportedly to allow for the investigation of threats to the security of networks and "cybercrime." The bill failed in both 2012 and 2013, amid concerns of "broad language" and threats to privacy, but Representative Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Maryland) plans to reintroduce the controversial bill this Friday....

A California judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit claiming Apple sold MacBooks to customers knowing the laptops contained defective logic boards and would fail within two years.

US District Court Judge William Alsup has dismissed a lawsuit against Apple filed in San Francisco that alleged the company made, sold and knew about defective logic boards for its MacBook line of computers from mid-2010 onwards, but did nothing to correct the issue. The judge said that the plaintiffs had failed to prove that Apple misrepresented the equipment, and noted that in both of the two men's complaints about the failed motherboards that they had been able to use their computers normally for up to two years....

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At its CES booth this year, Philips showed off its Fidelio M2L headphones, which hold the title as the world's first the world's first Lightning-connected headphones.

Personal media sharing and playing platform Plex has announced the upcoming release of an update to its software. Featuring new music features, Plex users will soon be able to import existing iTunes libraries in a one-click process. Gracenote is partnering with Plex to add file recognition and simplify tagging, and a new partnership with Vevo will roll out a feature that will match music videos with songs in a user's music library. The newest version is due to arrive in the coming weeks....

Normally a commercial wouldn't be a big deal around TMO Towers, but I've applied for an exception so I can tell you guys about this one. It's a State Farm Insurance ad, and it is a bit different than the ones that feature classic Saturday Night Live characters. This ad was released today, Elvis Presley's 80th birthday, and features a variety of Elvises including my younger brother. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just tell you that he's the one who brings it home. It's a 30 second ad, so click on through and amuse yourself. Maybe if it's popular enough my brother will have a steady gig Elvising for State Farm ads. Enjoy!

We quickly stopped by the Cogito booth at this year's CES to check out a smartwatch range that promises to deliver simple Bluetooth notifications while using a standard button watch battery. It should last for months, Cogito promises, and when it does run out, users can simply throw it out and replace it rather than recharge it....

After unveiling its upcoming NuBryte cloud-connected smart home console last year, Lucis Technologies brought a working model to the showroom floor at CES, demoing the console's automated lighting and security features.

On Thursday, Apple updated its productivity apps for OS X and iOS -- previous sold together under the banner "iWorks" -- with no specified improvements or features other than the usual "bug fixes and stability improvements tag." Keynote for OS X has been update to version 6.5.2, with Pages at v5.5.2, and Numbers at version 3.5.2. The three corresponding iOS apps are all updated to v2.5.2. The update may also reflect some changes made in recent updates of Yosemite and iOS 8, or hint at some security fixes....

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Evernote has released a new scanning app today, including the ability to scan a document automatically upon launching the app. The app will locate the document in the camera's field of view, and sharpen the image of contents in view of the iOS device. Scans can be uploaded to iCloud or shared via AirDrop, text message or email. Business cards scanned by Evernote Scramble, the app can associate the information with the contact's LinkedIn account. Evernote Scramble is free to download....

Editor's note: welcome to the first installment of Pointers, a new weekly column that offers tips and tricks for getting more out of your Mac or iOS device -- or, in this case, both. Check back each Thursday for a new useful technique designed to demystify, declutter or de-stress you -- and hopefully add some delight as well.When you know what's happening, AirDrop is as convenient and simple as Apple made you think it would be. You can transfer anything from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac (or vice versa), without emailing or messaging, without any concern for how many items you can send, with...

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While long-time accessory maker Griffin Technology had a few items to show off at this year's Consumer Electronics show, one of the most popular with onlookers there was one of its smallest -- a new Lightning-to-USB cable that featured a redesigned Type A plug that could be inserted in either orientation, just like Apple's Lightning connectors. The company says the new cable will be marketed as officially Made for iPhone (MFi) devices, but the new USB connector has not yet been certified as authorized....

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HTC has added the ability to stream from its Re Camera to YouTube. An app update for the camera will enable the live streaming to the video service while it is paired to a smartphone, with users able to sign into their YouTube account from within the app to create public and private live streams. While Android users can download the update from today via Google Play, iOS users will have to wait until later this quarter to be able to stream from the action camera....

Consumers in the United States will no longer face a backlog when purchasing an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus from Apple's online store, as supplies of the popular smartphones appear to have reached parity with demand nearly four months after their release.

Apple's previously announced App Store price adjustments took effect on schedule on Friday, representing a slight increase in the minimum possible price for applications in the European Union, the U.K., Canada and Norway.

When Apple first announced it would be bringing game controller support to iOS 8, the news was met with much excitement. However, months started to pass and no one seemed to really be interested in creating a quality controller. Wikipad is hoping to change that with Gamevice, designed specifically for the iPad Air and iPad mini. We got a chance to get an early look at the upcoming iPad controller at a private suite during CES and went away with a very positive opinion....

Yesterday at CES FCC Chairman, Tom Wheeler, sat down for an interview with CEA Presedent Gary Shapiro in which he all but confirmed that the proposal to be submitted to the Commission on February 5 and voted on February 25 will adopt Title II of the Communications Act as a basis for securing net neutrality. Today, a number of the big carriers have released statements expressing displeasure....

Today, Melissa Holt is going to tell us how to change up which contacts appear when we double-click the Home button on an iPhone running iOS 8. Wanna see folks you've recently contacted? Would you prefer your favorite people to show up there? Come read this Quick Tip, and you'll be getting in touch with your friends and family even more efficiently.

The annual Consumer Electronics Show is now in the books, and AppleInsider offers a summary of some of the best Apple-compatible accessories we spied on the show floor on the third and final day in Las Vegas, including Lightning-connected headphones, more home automation accessories, and even a smart plant sensor.

It's not often that software makes you laugh -- at least, not for good reasons. The new Evernote Scannable, however, is so fast at scanning documents that on our very first go, we failed to get our thumb out of the way quickly enough, and it scanned that. We really did laugh at this big, fuzzy thumb -- and were then delighted, and surprised, and genuinely impressed with what happened next. Evernote Scannable removed our thumb from the image. Automatically....

Almost all models of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are now listed as "in stock" -- shipping immediately -- at Apple's US online store, after months of constrained supply versus demand. Those units should also be available for in-store pickup. The one exception to the newfound proliferation is the recently-introduced unlocked SIM-free iPhone 6 Plus, which has a one-day wait for online orders....

Pixelmator for Mac is not Photoshop -- but it might as well be, for how those image editing features that it does have are powerful, and easy to use. It also might as well be for the majority of people who aren't full-time PS professionals. If your work needs Adobe Photoshop, then you know it -- and can make the decision about paying the modest subscription cost to use it. Pixelmator handles an ever-growing number of the most common image tasks that most people need, and we are particularly fans of the separate iPad version, which has recently been updated. Today, we're taking a look at that i...

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U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup has dismissed a lawsuit against Apple alleging the company knowingly sold consumers MacBook laptops with defective logic boards. The Judge ruled that the plaintiffs failed to show the laptops were sub-par because they were able to use the computers for two years.

The Mac Observer Spin: A Mac should last longer that two years, but if the plaintiffs weren't able to show Apple knowingly shipped defective computers then Judge Alsop was right to dismiss the case.

Apple will reportedly turn to longtime supplier and sometimes-rival Samsung to fabricate the application processor for the forthcoming Apple Watch, while Taiwan's Advanced Semiconductor Engineering is said to have been chosen to package the new device's S1 processing module.

At Apple's online store this week, find refurbished Macs on sale for as low as 419ドル. The refurbished Mac mini with a 1.4GHz Intel dual-core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive has been discounted to 419,ドル for a savings of 80ドル. Priced at 769,ドル after a 130ドル discount, is the refurbished 11.6-inch MacBook Air with a 1.4GHz Intel dual-core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of PCIe-based flash storage....

LAS VEGAS -- Cocoon already has several stylish products for on the go tech, and the company is expanding its lineup to include even more, like its new waxed canvas laptop organizer bag. Along with a padded laptop sleeve and built-in Grid-It gear organizer, the bag also includes a padded back and a padded lumbar compartment to hold your Beats headphones. TMO checked it out at CES 2015 and it lives up to Cocoon's well-earned design quality. Cocoon plans to ship the new bag in blue, black, and green soon for under US80ドル.

LAS VEGAS -- Griffin Technology is hoping to make our lives a little easier with its new USB to Lightning cable for the iPhone and iPad that sports a reversible USB Type A connector. Along with a plug you can't insert upside down into a USB port, the new cable is coated in braided fabric for added durability, and includes reinforced points where the plugs connect to the cable wires. It also comes in three colors to match your iPhone or iPad. Griffin showed us the cable at CES 2015 and said it will be available soon for about US30ドル. A durable Lightning sync and charge cable with a USB connector that's always right side up? Yes, please.

Bang & Olufsen is known for its expensive yet beautiful industrial design-like audio gear, and the latest piece is no different. Basically a really expensive home network and Internet radio streamer, the BeoSound Moment will set wealthy buyers back a not-insignificant 2,800ドル. While at CES, Electronista got a chance to check it out....

Mac owners who regularly make use of OS X's built-in Mail application and Spotlight search should take care when searching through e-mail messages, as Spotlight's preview functionality has been shown to ignore Mail's remote content settings and could inadvertently transmit unintended data to email senders.

Samsung is set to build the processor for the S1 chips in the Apple Watch, which should ship in March, say sources for DigiTimes -- a Taiwanese trade paper with a mixed track record on predictions. The company has reportedly received orders for 3,000 to 4,000 12-inch wafers per month, manufactured using its 28nm process (how many S1 chips are included on a wafer has not been revealed). Another firm, Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, is slated to provide system-in-package modules....

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OS X Yosemite's incarnation of Spotlight is potentially sharing personal data with spammers and possible malicious parties, reports say. An option in Mail lets users turn off the loading of remote content in emails, something security experts recommend in order to avoid letting third parties track behavior. The new Spotlight can search through Mail messages alongside other sources, but in doing so will automatically load remote images, regardless of whether Mail is set to do so or not....

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Before the Apple Watch hits the market early this year, a Chinese company was at this week's CES selling a knock-off version of the highly anticipated wearable for less than one-tenth of the price.

Though recent shortages of the iPod shuffle caused concern that Apple might discontinue its clip-on media player, a new report reveals that the issues are only temporary, as a result of a supplier change.

Apple's upcoming iOS 8.1.3 update should arrive next week, reports suggest. Sources say that some sort of iOS 8 update, whether beta or public, will go live on Tuesday or Wednesday. Web tracking data at MacRumors, however, shows a sudden spike this week in iOS 8.1.3 devices visiting from Apple's internal networks....

In spite of fears to the contrary, Apple is not killing off the iPod shuffle, according to sources. Stocks of the player have dwindled considerably, leading to speculation that it might be going the same route as the iPod classic. The sources say that instead, Apple is simply going through component supplier changes that have temporarily interrupted Shuffle production....

Accessories producer Satechi has announced the upcoming release of its new Premium Aluminum Monitor Stand product. Introduced this week at CES, the stand is designed to compliment the Mac Pro, iMac and Macbook's aesthetic, raising monitors to prevent eye and neck strain. Aside from providing height, the stand also features four USB 3.0 ports for connecting applicable devices, offering transfer rates of up to 5GB per second. Its aluminum alloy composition supports a range of devices weighing up to 200 pounds. Priced at 70,ドル Satechi's new monitor stand will be available by the end of the month....

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As CES winds to a close, the week of non-stop tech news may put you in the mood to acquire some more hardware. Let today's Friday Deals post help you with that. As usual, we trawl through the retailers to find great offers on hardware and software for you, the discerning MacNN and Electronista reader. Note that prices are correct at the time of writing but can change over time, so check it is still valid before purchasing. Remember to check back over the weekend, as more deals will be added to this post over the next few days....

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In the long and storied history of They Might Be Giants we've seen quirky songs, a couple of TV show themes and even further back, there was the "always free, often busy" Dial-A-Song. Sadly Dial-A-Song starting having physical issues with the actual answering machine, and eventually got disconnected in 2008. However it's back now, having made its triumphant return in the first full week of 2015. Every Tuesday in 2015 songs will be posted at DialASong.com and even videos on YouTube. There's also a network of radio shows that will be playing them each week. If you can't wait till Tuesday, you can hear it on Slate's The Gist with Mike Pesca, released Monday nights. If what you loved about Dial A Song was making a phone call and hearing music, you still have Callin Oates to fill that need.

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Finally, an RC plane you control with your iPhone. Actually, you can use an iPod touch, iPad, and some Android devices, too, but you get my point. It's called the SmartPlane, and it will fly for 30 minutes on a single charge. There's more information on SmartPlane and a video giving you a look at how it works. Through our deal, it's 59ドル.99. Have fun!

The last time Apple updated its in-house external display line was 2011's Thunderbolt Display, but with no clear signs that a refresh is imminent, AppleInsider has put together a list of the latest and greatest monitors.

The 2016 model of the Chevy Volt will support Apple's CarPlay, at least if an early demonstration version is accurate. The car is on display at this week's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and its dash system shows options for both CarPlay and MirrorLink connections. Google's Android Auto is notably absent, but since the 2016 Volt isn't due to go on sale until mid-2015, there may be time to implement it....

Distraction-free typing. It's the holy grail of writing for many folks, and we have a deal for you today that can help you find it. There's a Mac app called Typed whose raison d'Ãtre is providing a distraction-free environment for you. To hit that goal, Typed focuses on a set of essential writing tools. It also can export to HTML (no HTML coding needed), will auto-save, has a word-count tool, and a feature called Zen Mode 8 that plays calming soundtracks for you. Typed retails for 25,ドル but through our deal you can get it for 14ドル.99.

One of the benefits of Apple's HomeKit platform will be the ability to remotely control your smarthome devices from anywhere you have an Internet connection. Using Siri voice commands to turn things on or off when you're away from home, however, will require an Apple TV.

The Mac Observer Spin: Apple TV as a smart home hub of sorts? Sounds like validation of Kelly Guimont's Apple TV smarthome hub idea to me.