Teenage Engineering reluctantly adds Bluetooth audio to OD-11 speaker

For years, Teenage Engineering has chosen not to allow its users to stream music via Bluetooth to its flagship OD-11 speakers. And that's despite it actually having a Bluetooth radio inside. The Swedish engineers have finally, reluctantly, given in a...

Alliance for Wireless Power and Bluetooth SIG team on smarter charging stations

Nokia Lumia 920 on a Fatboy charging pillow

Wireless charging stations aren't currently very bright, but they're about to learn some new tricks. The Alliance for Wireless Power and the Bluetooth SIG are collaborating on an updated A4WP specification that uses Bluetooth Smart to manage wireless charging sessions. Future Bluetooth-equipped stations should optimize power delivery, prioritize charging for multiple devices and launch apps; you could order a meal by setting your phone down at a restaurant table, for instance. Just when we'll see these smart stations isn't certain, though. When the first A4WP-ready products aren't likely to reach the market until next year, it could be a long time before wireless chargers become truly multi-talented.

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Source: Bluetooth SIG

Nokia says current high-end Lumias won’t get Bluetooth 4.0 support (update: they may)

Nokia Lumia 920 1020 and 925

We hope you don't want to use a heart rate monitor while running with your Lumia 1020 -- you'll likely be out of luck. Nokia Australia claims that Bluetooth 4.0 support won't be coming to existing high-end Lumias like the 820, 925 and 1020. There are "hardware limitations" that prevent an upgrade, the company explains. We've reached out to Nokia for clarification, but the company may have hinted at those limits when launching the Adidas miCoach app -- it mentioned that only the Lumia 520, 620 and 720 would work with Adidas' heart monitors. The restrictions will no doubt frustrate some owners, although we suspect that Nokia may improve its Bluetooth support with the next wave of Lumia hardware.

Update: Nokia Germany spokesman Ben Lampe says that Bluetooth 4.0 support will come to all Windows Phone 8-based Lumias through a post-Amber update. Clearly, there are conflicting responses; we're hoping to get a definitive answer soon.

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Via: Windows Phone Central

Source: Nokia Australia (Twitter), (2)

Jawbone Mini Jambox review

Jawbone Mini Jambox review

Jawbone's original Jambox made Bluetooth portable speakers a mass-market hit. Since then, though, Jawbone has started to lag behind as other companies have come out with better units that cost either the same price or less. Now, the $180 Mini Jambox is here with an even more portable design to help Jawbone keep its edge. Now that we've gotten the chance to live with it for a few weeks, it's time to answer the big questions you might have before placing a pre-order. Does the Mini Jambox offer marked improvements over the original? Is it enough to compete with all the other options in this space? And, most importantly, is the price right? Read on for the Engadget take. %Gallery-slideshow84424%

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Hack your ride with Motobrain, the smartphone controllable fuseblock (video)

Hack your ride with Motobrain, the smartphone controllable fuseblock video

Tweaking your car's electrical system can be downright scary, but one Kickstarter project hopes to make it a little easier. With Motobrain, you can control up to eight accessory circuits on your vehicle of choice (boat, car or motorcycle, basically anything with an engine) with a compact box and a Bluetooth 4.0 smart device. The power distribution unit's app displays real-time feedback and information for all the accessories it's controlling, and you can even adjust how much current each one gets. The refreshingly simple pitch page mentions GPS systems, heated clothing and dimmable LED auxiliary lights as controllable gizmos, but Motobrain could be killer for car audio, too. Some of these features may be redundant for owners of newer vehicles, but the possibilities for the automodding community are staggering. The discounted backer tier is already sold out, but as of this writing there are still 156 units left at the $260 pledge level. Now, where's our soldering gun?

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Source: Kickstarter

Casio’s new G-Shock watches pack Bluetooth, music remote control

Casio's new GShock watches pack Bluetooth, music remote control

Newcomers like Pebble might be the current darlings when it comes to connected watches, but it doesn't mean that established players are standing still. Back at CES, Casio showed a G-Shock watch with Bluetooth (GB-5600A) capable of receiving calls and text-message notifications (with sound and vibration), plus automatic time updates from an iPhone. Today the company announced a pair of G-Shock watches (GB-6900B / GB-X6900B) with Bluetooth 4.0 LE that extend the existing functionality to select Android handsets. In addition, both watches feature music remote control (via AVRCP, presumably) and the ability to set alarms and timers from Casio's companion smartphone app. Battery life is a pretty impressive two years (with 12 hours of Bluetooth use per day) on a single CR2032 battery. The GB-6900B and GB-X6900B will be released in Japan on September 21st for 18,000 yen (roughly $187) and 20,000 yen (roughly $208) respectively. All that's needed now is a retro-looking Databank or calculator watch with Bluetooth, right, Casio?

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Via: Far East Gizmos

Source: Casio

Nokia said to be prepping Bluetooth 4.0 ‘Treasure Tag’ accessory for Lumias

Nokia said to be prepping Bluetooth 4.0 'Treasure Tag' accessory for Lumias

Nokia is planning to release a Bluetooth accessory for its Lumia lineup called the "Treasure Tag," according to various sources. A report from The Verge tallies with a previous mention on Yahoo's message boards that names the tag, which could be a reason Nokia's adding Bluetooth 4.0 and LE support to Lumias via the impending Amber update. Apparently, the tag features NFC for easy pairing and can be set up and tracked using a Windows Phone 8 app that'll incorporate Nokia's LiveSight AR tech. It's also said that a button on the Treasure Tag will reveal the location of a misplaced phone using an audible notification, if it's in range of the accessory. It could look like the above diagram, is allegedly launching in "the coming weeks," and is thought to be one of several planned accessories that'll make use of the Bluetooth 4.0 standard.

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Via: WMPoweruser

Source: The Verge, Yahoo message boards

Foc.us headset hits the FCC, ready to shock gamers’ noggins into shape

Focus transcranial directcurrent simulation headset hits the FCC, prepares to shock gamers

It may not have FDA approval, but the noggin-shocking Foc.us headset recently passed through the FCC for certification. The unit utilizes transcranial direct-current simulation on the prefrontal cortex of the brain (forehead), which is claimed to improve short-term memory and cognitive function. Currently pitched as a cranial performance enhancer for gamers, Bluetooth 4.0 low energy connectivity allows it to be controlled via a smartphone app. Snake oil or not, Foc.us is still set to ship this month, and you can relive our weird and tingly experience with it in our hands-on.

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Source: FCC, Foc.us

Miselu launches C.24 wireless music keyboard for iPad, we go hands-on (video)

Miselu launches C24 wireless music keyboard for iPad, we go handson video

The last time we covered Miselu was during Google I/O 2012 when we took a second look the Neiro Android-powered synth. Fast forward a year and the company's shifted its focus on a completely new product -- the Miselu C.24 wireless music keyboard for iPad -- which is launching today for $99 on Kickstarter. The device is a high-quality two-octave (24-key) collapsible music keyboard designed to be a magnetic iPad cover when stowed. It features Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy, micro-USB connectivity and a sealed Li-ion battery which provides 5-6 hours of operation.

As such, it's compatible with any Core MIDI iOS app and any OS X, Windows or Linux software that supports MIDI over USB. The C.24 integrates a capacitive ribbon divided into two areas -- eight buttons with four LEDs each on the left (octave selection by default) and a linear controller on the right with 32 LEDs (pitch bend by default). Miselu plans to ship the product with a companion iOS app in time for the holidays. We briefly played with a prototype and came away extremely impressed. Hit the break for our first impressions and hands-on video / interview.

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Source: Miselu C.24 (Kickstarter)

Bluetooth Low Energy coming to select Nokia Lumias via software update

Bluetooth 40 coming to select Lumias in upcoming Amber update, says Nokia Hong Kong

It looks like some of Nokia's Windows Phones have a notable change in store. At a gathering in Hong Kong, as reported by BlogJack, the company said that Bluetooth LE support (part of the 4.0 standard) will come to the Lumia 520, 620 and 720. Strangely absent from that list are the Lumia 820, 920 and the 925 -- all of which are powered by Qualcomm chips that support BT 4.0 at the hardware level. We're also not entirely sure if this update is a part of a more mature Windows Phone release that Microsoft plans on pushing out later this year or whether it's specific to the "Amber" refresh that's tailored to Lumia devices. We've asked Nokia for further details, and we also plan on getting some face-to-face time at its unveiling of a whole new Lumia this Thursday.

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Via: WMPoweruser

Source: BlogJack (translated)