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Willow launches new cord-free smart breast pump at a lower price
The Willow Go is an in-bra, wearable pump with no dangling cords.
Dyson to go all cordless with vacuums, starting with the Cyclone V10
Between the DC30 from 2009 and the more recent V8 series, Dyson's handheld vacuum cleaners have barely changed on the outside, so color us surprised when Sir James whipped out a very different-looking machine today. Dubbed the Cyclone V10, this new vacuum resembles an enlarged conventional hair dryer thanks to its repositioned cyclones and bin -- these are now in line with the head attachment and exhaust. Together, these form a linear airflow path from front to end, which ends up boosting suction power while also reducing noise. The new bin also benefits from a larger capacity, along with a more intuitive dirt eject mechanism: just remove the head, point at a trash can and push the eject button. It's literally just point and shoot.
Earin's tiny wireless earphones recharge while they're in your pocket
Bluetooth earbuds like Dre's new Powerbeats aren't actually "cordless." They still have a cable running from one bud to the other, which puts a limit on just how tidy and inconspicuous they can be. A group of former Sony Ericsson and Nokia engineers reckon they can go a step further: losing the connecting cable and headset mic in order to create two miniscule, music-dedicated buds with independent batteries and AptX-compatible wireless receivers.
Sprint launches $50 cordless phone set for its landline-alternative service
Since 2011, Sprint's Phone Connect service has been catering to the needs of those not quite ready to ditch their desk phones. The landline alternative works with any home or cordless phone, but those who lack either might want to check out the company's new Phone Connect System, which bundles it with hardware. Anyone who signs up for the offering will get a set of two cordless phones for $50 along with a new line or an upgrade of an existing Connect contract. Take note that the amount only covers the devices, and a line will cost an additional $20 a month, excluding taxes. According to the telco, the phones work just like their traditional counterparts so there should be no learning curve -- unless it's been so long that you've forgotten how to use one.
Bluetooth dock adapter Pear disappears from Kickstarter, founders promise return under new name
You might remember Pear, a recent Insert Coin debutant that connects your favorite iDevice dock to (almost) any Bluetooth-connected smartphone. However, you probably didn't notice its swift disappearance from Kickstarter just before the weekend. The people behind the project have contacted us, explaining that the crowdfunding site was hit with a cease and desist order for the dock converter, centering around a "trademark infringement issue." With its funding page down, Pear says it had no way to tell its supporters that product development would continue, albeit under a new name. Anyone that funded the project is advised to register at the source link below to keep up-to-date. The founders aim to return to Kickstarter in around 3-6 weeks, with several as-yet unannounced enhancements coming alongside a new logo and moniker -- something that it's going to task its backers with deciding.
IRIScan Anywhere 3 saves your receipts and photos without the cables
Portable scanners aren't quite the novelty they used to be, that much is true. But they're no less impressive or useful. The latest IRIScan, the Anywhere 3, follows a long tradition of tiny, wireless document and photo scanners with rechargeable batteries. It's capable of saving your files to its internal storage, an SD card or even a standard USB thumbdrive. At $199 the IRIScan Anywhere 3 isn't any cheaper than its competitors and, as you can see from the photo above, it's certainly not the smallest portable scanner. But, it does come with some free apps (Readiris Pro and Cardiris Pro) that let you import contact info from business cards into Outlook or Lotus and turn your scanned docs into editable files through OCR. For more check out the PR after the break.
Insert Coin: Pear brings Bluetooth to your Apple-compatible speaker dock
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. What a lovely set of speakers. Let me just dock my smartphone right th... Or perhaps you happen to own one of the thousands of devices not equipped with a proprietary Apple dock connector. Well, when it comes time to slide your Android or Windows Phone into place, the only sound you're likely to hear is the screech of a 30-pin plug scratching up the case. If the speaker rig packs Bluetooth, you can use that instead, but if you own one of many that don't, you'll probably want Pear. Drawing some name and design inspiration from an arguably more popular fruit, Pear brings Bluetooth connectivity to any dock connector-equipped speaker set, drawing power from the port so it can pair with virtually any smartphone or tablet, letting you play your tunes while keeping your handset in hand. It offers a range of 30 feet indoors or up to 75-feet outside (there's a video proving the feat at the source link below), and works with any apps and devices that offer Bluetooth output. The wireless gadget's designer is turning to Kickstarter to raise the funds necessary to launch Pear into production. The team has already developed a working prototype, so there's proof that you're not backing vaporware, and a $30 pledge can net you one of 250 early bird devices. After that initial run, you'll need to hand over 40 bucks (which also happens to be the expected retail place) for an arctic white or jet black Pear. The developers are hoping to raise $40,000, to cover their prior investments and push the device to the manufacturing stage (no, it won't be "made in the USA"), so if you want to see Pear pop up in a speaker dock near you, hit up our source link below to make your pledge. You can also jump past the break for a quick intro video, and an update on a previous Insert Coin project.
Panasonic KX-TG7740 and KX-TG7730 cordless phones feature Link2Cell, iPhone ringtone integration
Sure, you may have long ditched the landline, but you could still be in the market for a cordless phone. Two such rigs from Panasonic let you tap your mob for a voice connection, with Link2Cell. The KX-TG7740 and KX-TG7730 can both sync up with Bluetooth-enabled phones, letting you make calls through your smartphone as it charges in another room. You can also transfer up to 3,050 address book entries to the household system, while this year's models add an extra layer of iPhone integration, enabling ringtone matching and transfer -- you'll now be able to hear that iOS jingle through any connected handset. Both models also include the standard gamut of features, including talking caller ID, call block for pre-programed numbers and a handset locator. The 7730 series ships with three handsets for $100 (TG-7733S), two handsets for $80 (7732S) or a single handset for $60 (7731S). Likewise, the 7740 adds a dial pad to the base, and is available with five handsets for $150 (7745S), three for $110 (7743S), two for $90 (7742S) or one for $70 (7741S). You'll find the full PR rundown just past the break.
Plantronics BackBeat Go headset sports tangle-free cord, 'rich' stereo sound
Plantronics has made a name for itself in the wireless headset space, but there's plenty of room to grow when it comes to premium stereo offerings. BackBeat Go is the company's smallest and lightest wireless earbud set to date, tipping the scale at 13 grams, or "about the weight of three nickels." The cordless rig includes a pair of earbuds linked with a flat tangle-free cord, with inline controls to adjust volume and an integrated mic for calls. The Bluetooth-enabled Go can sync up with one device at a time, so you'll need to repeat the pairing process if switching between phones or to a tablet -- and you should be able to snag 4.5 hours of listening and talk time or 10 hours of standby with a single charge. Digital noise reduction and echo canceling play into the call experience, while the "deep, rich, stereo sound" means the earbuds are equally suited for leisure. Sound good to you? You can snag your own set for a cool $100 by clicking through to the source link below.
Motorola HS1101 and MBP2000PU Android Home Phones get examined, detailed by the FCC
We imagine that the vast majority of Android users have since abandoned or even eliminated landline service, but if you're still tethered to the grid at the homestead, your DECT cordless might as well be running Android. Motorola demonstrated such a concept at an event way back in 2010, and it now looks like the company may finally be readying a pair of production models, dubbed the HS1101 and MBP2000PU Android Home Phones. Based on published user manuals, both of the handsets appear to be virtually identical, with the exception of color scheme -- the HS1101 is covered in a glossy black finish, while the MBP2000PU is decked out in silver and white.The WiFi-equipped handsets could be running Ice Cream Sandwich (based on a screenshot of the HS1101), and each include a 3.2-inch 400 x 240 LCD, a front-facing camera with video capture, stereo 1.5-watt speakers, microSD storage, along with micro-USB and a standard headphone port. Naturally, you'll be able to download apps (through SlideMe), while some selections, including an Aldiko e-book reader and a Digital Answer Machine come preloaded. Whether or not consumers ever plan to buy another cordless set remains to be seen, but if you're in the market, you might as well hang tight for a Motorola Android Home Phone. Both models have passed through the FCC, so the grueling wait for an ICS-powered DECT cordless may soon come to an end. Jump past the break for a closer look at both models, or hit up the source link to thumb through those meaty manuals.
Duracell Powermat WiCC could bring wireless charging to any smartphone, we go hands-on (video)
Powermat may have a bright future, but the company's products to date have been expensive, slightly clunky and a generally imperfect solution for bringing wireless power to mobile devices. That could all change with WiCC. The Wireless Charging Card (WiCC) is an IEEE Power Matters Alliance (PMA) standard, with the potential to integrate Duracell Powermat technology within every mobile gadget. The incredibly thin device resembles those wafer-like SmartMedia cards once used in early digital cameras, with a similar form factor, but significantly more practicality. Each WiCC includes all the PowerMat circuitry found in the company's charging cases, while also doubling as an NFC antenna. The card's success is of course contingent on cooperation from device manufacturers, who will need to add a slim connector above the battery leads, including two for power, two for NFC and two for data -- an app will monitor charging. Powermat reps say that such a connector would cost pennies to implement, however, making it a potentially easy sell.Powermat President Daniel Schreiber sees this as a major breakthrough for the smartphone industry, saying "we're going to do for wireless power what the memory card did for storage in mobile phones." We had a chance to take a look at a mock-up of the wireless card at MWC, which was resting just above the battery in a Samsung Galaxy S II. Because the phone's battery is slightly recessed, both the card and battery fit below the device's original backplate -- the WiCC lies flush with the phone's camera lens. Overall, we think there's some serious potential here, assuming device manufacturers are game to come on board. Still, don't expect to see these hitting stores anytime this year -- the company expects its other products to come to market long before the Wireless Charging Card. So for now, jump past the break to take a closer look, but don't make any plans to toss that power adapter just yet.
Pioneer intros Hello Kitty cordless phone, calls the '90s to brag
Is your passion for cordless phones only matched by your love of Hello Kitty? Boy have we got the product for you. From a technical standpoint, the TF-FN2000 is a largely unexceptional cordless phone / answering machine combo with a display that offers up phone numbers and missed calls. This edition does has a secret weapon, however: it's pink, covered in hearts and has an image of an adorable white cat with a bow. If that's good enough for you -- and you happen to live in Japan -- the phone will be available in early October. No word yet on pricing.
Logitech ratchets up the competition with M325 wireless mouse
You know that pseudo-tactile feeling you get when you fondle your mouse's clicky scroll wheel, the one that satisfies your obsessive need to touch everything? Logitech wants to give you more clicks, and smoother scrolling to boot. This M325 wireless mouse's new "micro-precise" scroll wheel features 72 tiny ratchets, making our self-counted 22-ratchet mouse wheel seem downright barbaric by comparison -- not that we ever really considered the number of teeth our mice had before now. The rodent's 18-month battery life won't quite live up to your 2-year Couch Mouse, but at least they can share a Logitech Unifying Receiver. Your scroll wheel of tomorrow can be had for $40 later this month, or £30 right now for lucky folks in the UK.
Gemtek's Moorestown tablet comes with a DECT phone, runs MeeGo and controls your home
OpenPeak brought us one of the first Atom-based tabletphones at IDF 2008, but it may have passed on the torch in more ways than one -- this year, it's Gemtek's turn to show off a Moorestown machine with Linux on board that shares a host of design cues. Who-copied-whoms aside, we have to say the "IP Media Phone" is a mildly intriguing device, combining a DECT cordless handset with a 7-inch MeeGo tablet, the latter ready for both VoIP and video chat thanks to an integrated webcam and mic, and has full home automation controls thanks to 4Home software and a built-in Z-Wave radio. 802.11 b/g/n WiFi connects it to the base station / charging dock, which has room for two USB ports, an ethernet jack, and an SD card slot, while the tablet itself features mini-HDMI, mini-USB and a headset adapter plus an SD card of its own. Though the glossy fingerprint magnet of a capacitive touchscreen left much to be desired, laggy to respond to our press, we were told the tabletphone's an early prototype with wholly unfinished hardware. If history's any indication, expect to see the final form thoroughly rebranded when it likely arrives in the first half of next year. %Gallery-102383%
Telstra's landlocked T-Hub tablet phone launches in Australia (update)
A few years back, Telstra -- synonymous in Australia with "communication" -- told Apple it had no business making a cellphone. Look how that turned out. To make a long story short, the company has since repented, and is on the verge of releasing an app-filled touchscreen phone of their own, the Telstra T-Hub, on April 20th. Thing is, this tablet stays plugged into your wall. Marketed as a "family organizer," the T-Hub stores contacts, surfs Facebook, plays YouTube, displays photos, accesses personal bank accounts and even sends text messages like a smartphone, but does it all while connected to a landline telephone jack. While existing Telstra customers can get the device for $300 AUD, the company would of course prefer you get it for $35 with a 24-month service agreement... for a minimum total cost of about $1980 AUD with 2GB data per month. We're not Australian, but compared to US iPhone pricing, that doesn't sound terribly fair. Update: Telstra spokesman Craig Middleton tells us the T-Hub isn't permanently tethered to your wall. While the phone's base station does connect to a landline telephone jack, the tablet assembly itself is a portable cordless phone with WiFi for web-connected apps. He also adds that the aforementioned 2GB data plan isn't just for the T-Hub, but rather your entire home internet connection.
Landline breakthrough: VTech announces a DECT 6.0 walkie-talkie
Landline phones might be for squares and cops, but VTech hasn't give up trying to make 'em interesting: its new LS6325 set is the first DECT 6.0 push-to-talk cordless on the market. That means you can get your walkie-talkie on at up to 1,500 feet -- not bad. The three-handset pack will be $80 and the four-pack will be $90 when they launch in April. See, its not all tablet news around here -- we bring you scoops.
modPRO's MP-61 cordless soldering iron: for untethered modders
If you've ever had to rely on an extension cable just to get a soldering job done, modPRO's got a little something you may find interesting. The MP-61 soldering iron not only requires just 15 seconds to preheat, but it operates sans a tether. You heard right, this bad boy can get the job done on just a trio of AA cells, which is sure to give you a lot more freedom on your next DIY endeavor. Regrettably, there's no mention of a price, but you know you'd pay a premium to cut the cord.
Logitech's Wave keyboard gets reviewed
ExtremeTech, known for getting down to the nitty gritty, has just given the Logitech Wave a thorough review -- and they kind of like what they see. The comfort-minded keyboard with the cheapo price point might be what you need, but only if your requirements for "ergonomics" aren't too serious. The Wave's keys are arranged in a U-shape design, and the heights of individual letters are higher or lower in an attempt to match hand placement (taller for shorter fingers and vice versa), but that's about it. So while the Vista-approved input device gets decent marks from ET on feel ("soft and cushy" "high-end"), they say the actual comfort factor isn't all that noticeable. Logitech also offers a Desktop bundle which includes the LX8, an ambidextrous mouse that ExtremeTech says is good in most respects, but can't match the feel of a right- or left-hand specific mouse. If you really need to be sure, hit the read link for the full rundown.
DIY portable Skype phone utilizes cordless junker
We've know the Skype tinkerers are out there, and while we caught wind of a DIY cordless Skype phone project about two years ago, we think it's about time for some fresh efforts to surface. Thankfully, we're apparently not alone in those sentiments, as the crafty gurus at Instructables have devised an (admittedly iffy) way to morph a nearly-useless cordless landline telephone into one of the "portable Skype" variety. Essentially, all you need is a traditional cordless phone that you don't mind destroying, a soldering iron (and subsequently, a steady hand), a few 3.5-millimeter cables, and a dash of luck. Although there seems to be a bit too much risk involved in this hack-job for us, we certainly wouldn't mind any of you engineering folks to give it a go and see what turns out, but be sure to read through the fine print -- we're pretty sure "electrical shock" and "going up an smoke" are both byproducts of bad karma mixed in with this concoction.[Thanks, Joe]
Like peas in a pod: Korea Telecom combines phone, TV remote
Sure, there are literally hundreds of apps to turn that otherwise limited-use IR window found on many phones into a remote control, but how many phones are designed from the ground up to serve double duty? Not many, we think -- especially ones with names like "Cutie." South Korea's Korea Telecom is introducing a handful of phones in its "Ann" series -- including the pictured "Ann Sweety" from Samsung -- that function both as cordless telephones and as remotes for all manner of home entertainment devices. The phones also handle SMS messages, meaning that it's finally possible to turn on the tube and immediately stop paying attention it while you send a text in one fluid motion.
