Belkin has unveiled a new Charge Dock for iPhone users that has a nice additional feature for users of the Apple Watch. The Charge Dock has provision to charge both the iPhone and the Apple Watch at the same time. That means you need only one charging solution for both of your prized Apple gadgets. The dock will charge an iPhone even if it is in a case.
Belkin has just announced a new multi-feature mobile battery pack that just might come in handy the next you're on the road with multiple devices. Dubbed the Travel Rockstar Battery Pack + Charger + Surge, the device is not only a battery for charging on the go, but also a surge protector and a charger that turns a single AC outlet into two. Along with the dual AC outlets is a standard USB port, and inside is a 3000 mAh battery.
Controlling lights, appliances, and keeping an eye on home security has never been easier, but as smart home technology proliferates, picking the best place to start can be tough. I’ve been upgrading my apartment for the past few years, now, and I know that the first step needn’t be too risky, however. Since home automation can be intimidating, I’m going to focus on products that require the minimum of installation effort. I’m a big fan of non-permanent options: it makes a lot of sense if you’re renting, but it also gives you flexibility to change things up as you get used to your newly-smart home.
Amazon Echo is digging its voice-controlled fingers deeper into the smart home, with Amazon adding Philips Hue and Belkin WeMo support to the always-listening home assistant. The new functionality, pushed out to Echo units from today, allows owners to control their lighting, smart appliances, and switches using simple voice commands rather than reaching for the respective apps, and could well be the most useful additions Echo has seen since it began shipping in limited numbers late last year.
Belkin has waded into the USB-C arena, joining Apple and Google in announcing an array of cables, adapters, and dongles, many of which are designed to bring old peripherals up to MacBook speed. The eight-strong lineup won't start shipping until this summer, Belkin says, whereupon it will span a range of USB 2.0, USB 3.0, and ethernet options. What we're still yet to see, however, is any sort of more complex USB-C docking station that could take on the role of a desktop hub.
Apple is releasing the dimensions of the inductive charger for the Apple Watch, so that third-party manufacturers can create accessories that accommodate the puck. The details will allow for cradles and cases that store not only the Apple smartwatch itself but its accompanying USB charger cable; however, it's only the shape and size of the magnetically-clinging inductive plate which will be shared, as Apple doesn't currently have plans for licensing out the technology itself.
Have you fallen in love with a connected home? If so, several new WeMo light bulbs will be arriving in the near future, expanding the lighting options available with both indoor and outdoor lights, full-color options, and more. The products are available in collaboration with Technical Consumer Products (more commonly referred to as TCP) and OSRAM SYLVANIA -- the latter's bulbs are up for pre-order now, but the TCP bulbs won't be arriving for a little while still. We've all the details after the jump!
Belkin's WeMo smart home platform is getting new devices to control, with Holmes throwing an air purifier and a pair of room heaters into the mix of phone-connected gadgets. The Smart Air Purifier is, outwardly at least, a regular HEPA filtering purifier, but thanks to an integrated WiFi connection it can be remotely monitored and controlled from Belkin's WeMo app. From there, not only can it be powered on and off - even if you're not home, current quality ratings can be read and schedules set.
If you've been wanting to make your own smart home but couldn't really find the right mix of smart appliances to replace your existing ones, then Belkin's new product might give you an alternative. As the name suggests, the WeMo Maker let's you make your own smart appliance by turning your regular low-voltage device into a WeMo smart appliance. Though the end result may not look as fancy as pre-built products, it at least gives users the option to use what they already have or make their own design.
I know a lot of people that can’t function well in the morning until they have a couple cups of coffee in their system. If you are that sort of person, you might want to be able to get that coffee brewing before you ever step foot out of bed in the morning. You could go with the old-fashioned alarm clock style coffee pots that start brewing at a specific time in the morning, but what if you want more control over brewing than having it ready at 6:00.
The WeMo app will soon work with TCP lightbulbs, further widening the environment for smart things everywhere. TCP and WeMo have announced a partnership which will leverage the WeMo ecosystem. TCP, a leading manufacturer of lightbulbs, will incorporate WeMo connectivity in with a number of their LED bulbs, allowing them to work with the WeMo app. Both TCP and WeMo have promised combined products early 2015, and all products in this team-up will work with the one official WeMo app for mobile devices.
While we’re expecting more than one update to the mobile Apple universe on Thursday of this week, Belkin appears to be preparing for the incoming wave. They’ve released information on two new iPad Air keyboards - "QODE Keyboards for iPad Air," they say - before the Apple event where it’s expected that an iPad Air 2 (or just second-generation iPad Air) will be revealed. We’ll just have to wait and see for Apple - but for now, these keyboards will work with the iPad Air model that's already on the market.
