Christmas preparations are in full swing, and given the time when the spirit has everyone working on decorations - be it outside or on that evergreen conifer - lighting as always remains an integral part of the planning. Apple has recently started stocking these new Christmas lights from Lumenplay that are smart in nature and can be controlled via an app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
Case makers and vendors of mobile accessories in general have brought forth some weird and mostly wonderful creations during the past few years. The likes of Kickstarter and IndieGogo have spawned some spectacularly innovative supplements to the smartphone and tablet experiences, and even though many start-ups and large companies have delved into this market, a new, night vision-enabling case for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus proves that there's still space for creative folk to bring something new to the table.
No amount of Bluetooth compatible gaming controllers for mobile devices can compare to those found on most gaming consoles, or can they? Enter - SteelSeries Stratus XL, the MFi gaming controller that actually feels and looks like it belongs on an expensive console.
It would appear that while the original Polaroid instant camera is long gone, the idea of being able to instantly print a physical copy of your photos is one that still appeals or, at least, that's what the people behind Prynt will be hoping.
The third iteration of the UP wristband from Jawbone - UP3 is the most advanced fitness tracker from the company so far. In a market abuzz with smartwatches, Jawbone is determined to excel further in what it does best.
To say the smartwatch market is amid something of a boom would be a great understatement. But while Apple Watch and Google's Android Wear are both looking to take a considerable chunk of this new wearable category, it's worth considering the strong fitness-related features that vendors are packing into these gadgets. Fitbit is a company that has been churning out fitness-tracking apps for a while now, but with the big companies likely to crowd the smaller names out, is in something of a battle to remain relevant. As such, Fitbit has introduced two new devices today; one fitness tracker, and further device resembling a smartwatch.
Smart home products have risen in prominence over the past couple of years in particular, and thanks to crowd-sourcing sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, these seamless home automation gadgets continue to gather steam. The August Smart Lock, which was first introduced last year, has just begun shipping to those who pre-ordered, and if you wish to get your hands on a unit, you can do so right now for the price of $250.
Apple is clearly making a play for the health tracking market with its Health app and the integration with third-party apps that it makes possible, and while syncing food consumption data with apps is all well and good, it's when you start adding bespoke hardware into the mix that things really start to get interesting.
Regardless of whether you have positive or negative connotations regarding Apple as a company, it's very difficult to argue with the level of masterfulness that goes into designing and crafting each and every Apple device. In today's market it's rare to find another company that goes into the same level of design detail that seems to be applied to each and every Apple device, and even rarer to find the same level of expertise applied to third-party accessories, which is why the Spira immediately stands out as an innovative accessory worthy of applaud.
How would you feel about one single keyboard accessory that works with your smartphone or tablet, regardless of the platform that powers it? Microsoft has today introduced its new "Universal Mobile Keyboard" that can function with Apple iPads, iPhones, Android powered smartphones and tablets as well as all Windows based tablets that contain Bluetooth Human Interface Device support (HID) and are 10mm or thinner.
















