CES 2016: Belkin unveils first line of USB Type-C solutions

Belkin is getting ready for the adoption of USB Type-C as a standard for powe and connectivity for next-generation smartphones, tablets and PCs. The company was the first to announce new USB-C solutions allows users to charge, transfer and sync at the fastest speed possible. Available in the spring, the new USB-C solutions include a 4 Port Mini Hub, USB-C to HDMI Adapter, USB-C to USB-A Home Charger, USB-C to USB-A Car Charger, and MIXIT USB-C Cables. 

“Belkin is dedicated to creating quality products that support the current standard and make the transition to USB-C a flawless one,” Melody Tecson, director of product management at Belkin. “As industry leaders, we understand the importance of providing products that integrate flawlessly into people’s lives while also educating consumers about what this new standard means. We have a devoted USB-C resource center where users can learn more about the benefits of USB-C and find the right cable for their devices.”

CES 2016: HTC and Under Armour collaborate on connected fitness system

HTC and Under Armour unveiled UA HealthBox at CES 2016, the world’s first connected fitness system that measures, monitors, and manages the most important drivers of health and fitness – sleep, fitness, activity and nutrition. Designed and manufactured by HTC and powered by UA Record, UA HealthBox includes a fitness band, heart rate monitor and a smart scale that all connect seamlessly with UA Record to provide insights that empower individuals to improve their health and fitness.  The new UA Record is available for download from the Google Play™ store and App Store. The system comes to the US first and it might be made available elsewhere, including Canada later in the year.

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CES 2016: ASUS debuts ZenFone Zoom

With compact cameras almost all but forgotten these days, companies like ASUS take full advantage of that with their mobile photography-centric smartphones like the ZenFone Zoom they just launched at the Consumer Electronics Show 2016. It’s touted as the world’s thinnest 3x optical-zoom smartphone with a 10-element HOYA lens, which is said to give sharp, detailed images even when you zoom in. Of course, it packs in a PixelMaster rear camera with a Panasonic SmartFSI 13-megapixel sensor. It has optical image stabilization and, as mentioned, a 3x optical zoom by 28-84mm focal length. ASUS also packs in laser autofocus, which promises “complete clarity” in 0.03 seconds. ASUS is also introducing a Super Resolution mode, which takes images with a super resolution equivalent of 52 megapixels. And yes, you get manual mode, too.

But what powers this camera-centric smartphone? Underneath its 5mm metallic unibody is an Intel Atom Z3590 SoC with quad 64-bit cores. It has 4GB of RAM, LTE Category 4+ connectivity, and 64GB or 128GB internal storage (which you can expand up to 128GB via microSD). The ZenFone Zoom has a 5.5-inch IPS touchscreen with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and is powered by a 3,000mAh battery with BoostMaster technology that promises to charge the battery from 0 to 60% capacity in under 40 minutes. The 64GB model will retail in the US early next month for US$399.

CES 2016: Sleep tracking gets high-tech with new low-cost it bed

Sleep Number has a new “smart bed” made just for the millennials. Called the it bed (styled in lowercase), it’s designed to track and improve your sleep and perhaps help make you a better human. It comes with the company’s “SleepIQ” technology, which makes use of biometric sensors in the bed to monitor your heart rate, breathing rate, and relative restfulness. It even comes with its own API that you can integrate with existing health and fitness apps.

The it bed’s companion app takes information from those sources to give you recommendations on when you should be sleeping. It will even tell you what setting to use during the night to get maximum relaxation. Sleep Number beds are designed with dual air chambers so firmness can be adjusted. It doesn’t even cost as much as the US$8,000 X12 bed they showed off last year. This will retail for around $1,000 later this year.

Source: itbed.com | Via: The Verge