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Focal's Sphear Wireless squeeze premium sound into $130 earbuds
Focal is no newcomer to the audio game. The French company has been around since 1979, and gained a following with its Grande Utopia speaker line. In recent years the company has been making headphones, many of which are at the higher end — like the Clear or Elegia. Not everyone has a four-digit budget though, and that's why the company has also added more affordable lines, such as the Sphear in-ear buds and the Listen over ears. Today the more affordable line grows with the Sphear Wireless ($129)— an untethered version of the original earbuds.
Focal camera app removed from CyanogenMod, launched as standalone beta
Not everyone is happy with Cyanogen as a company. Guillaume Lesniak, the creator of CyanogenMod's Focal camera app, doesn't like that licensing changes accompanying the new venture would limit his control. Accordingly, he has just removed Focal from CyanogenMod and launched it as a standalone beta. The app includes all the features from its ROM days, including burst shooting, a panorama mode and an equivalent to Google's Photo Sphere. While the release is a mild inconvenience for CyanogenMod users, it's ultimately a win for anyone who wants to try Focal -- they can now give the app a spin regardless of the firmware they use. If you're curious, you can download Focal through Google Play.
Mobile Miscellany: week of July 22nd, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought hints of a jumbo-sized Lumia smartphone, an early preview of an advanced camera app for CyanogenMod and the arrival of the Meizu MX2 in white. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of July 22nd, 2013.
Focal's latest waterproof speaker cases play nice with newest iPod nanos
Focal's latest wares look a lot like similar units that we've seen from Atlantic, but we guess there are only so many ways you can design a waterproof iPod sound system. The battery-powered AquaTune nano 4G (shown after the jump) plays nice with Apple's freshest iPod nano and packs a pair of 1-watt speakers that can withstand all but the deepest puddles. The AquaTune v2 is compatible with a wider range of iPods, and the 3-watt x 2 power rating is sure to stir up a few waves whilst submerged. Both are ready to be placed under Japanese trees for ¥10,800 ($119) / ¥15,800 ($174), respectively.[Via Impress]
Focal / DLO offer up PowerBug AC-to-USB power adapter
Okay, so Focal's latest charging gizmo comes bundled with a cable that plays nice with your shiny (and colorful) new vivid Shuffle (or your "old" silver edition), but realistically, the PowerBug isn't much more than a snazzy AC-to-USB power adapter. Weighing in at around 40 grams, this device reportedly handles 100 to 240-volt plugs and works well with worldwide adapter prongs, and essentially turns any AC outlet you may run across into a charging station for anything that utilizes USB to suck down power. Namely, just about every iPod that relies on your trusty USB port for energy can befriend this here gadget, along with NAV systems and USB battery chargers. The plug itself sports a green LED that gives you an indication of how the whole charging process is going, and while Focal doesn't seem to give mention to a little company dubbed DLO, the blatant branding leads us to believe that it'll be sold under that accessory maker's product line. Nevertheless, if you're finding yourself closer to power outlets than electrified USB connectors during your travels, you can pick up your own PowerBug now for $22.99.[Via NewLaunches]
