Hasta La Gadget!

Apple has a couple of new patents today (via AppleInsider), including one for an audio and video media service that would switch intelligently and automatically between sources in order to provide users with a constant stream of stuff they actually want to watch and listen to, as well as helping them dodge ads. A second patent describes a new design for MacBook trackpad hardware that does away with the need for a physical button.

The first patent is potentially the most interesting, since it essentially paints a picture of a service like iTunes Radio, but with the added benefit that it can use multiple different services to source media, including online streaming services, FM radio and more. A user would create a playlist or station by expressing some preferences about what they want to see or hear (it’s designed to work with both audio and video content) and then sit back and enjoy as it switches between content sources when songs end, or when commercials interject.

To make it seamless, the service described in the patent could record content that fits a users demand on other channels if there’s a conflict in schedule, and also tap the user’s own offline library of media on their devices. Think of it like an intelligent channel surf, except extending across the range of Internet media sources.

The system takes into account various elements when determining what to play next, including metadata about the artist and track, volume, and even hue and color in terms of video programming. A user would control it via a GUI that resembles an FM tuner according to the patent, letting them tweak their preferences to alter the stream. It’s a very ambitious project, and one that seems likely to anger content partners since it can dodge ads on various services, but it’s still something that you can see replacing current methods of engaging with TV and music. Still, if this is on the horizon, expect it to require a lot more refinement and working out before it makes an appearance.

The other patent is for a touchpad design for MacBooks that gets rid of the physical button aspect entirely, but replaces it with a similar sensation. Currently, MacBook support both capacitive touch-based input and physical keypresses, but the keypress requires different amounts of force depending on where you strike thanks to a hinged design, and is subject to wear and tear since it’s a moving part.

Apple’s design replaces that with a complex force sensing system, combined with a means for providing tactile feedback that would emulate a hardware button press. This would have a number of advantages in terms of MacBook construction, from simplifying the hardware involved as mentioned, to saving space within the case of the notebook, which continues to be a key concern in building Apple devices in terms of providing more room for larger batteries and other components. Also, the force feedback used in the trackpad could be triggered by incoming email, letting it act just like vibration alerts on your iPhone.

This is a tech that would be handy, but people are very used to the feeling of Apple’s current trackpad, which is often described as among the best in the business. Still, force feedback on a notebook Mac would open up all kinds of possibilities and make sense to Mac users moving to the platform after getting an iPhone, so there’s a chance we could see it implemented in future designs.

For AirPlay speakers, there’s a lot of choice out there. Often that can result in the feeling that there are essentially a lot of people sticking to an easy formula and churning out virtually interchangeable devices, but Libratone is a speaker-maker that makes AirPlay sound ware that stands out, and the new Loop is no exception.

Basics

• Wi-Fi enabled for AirPlay and DLNA streaming
• 3.5mm and USB audio inputs
• PlayDirect for AirPlay without network
• Interchangeable felt speaker covers
• MSRP: $499.95
• Product info page

Pros

• Room-filling sound
• Easy wall mounting with included hardware

Cons

• Expensive
• Portable design but no battery

Design

Libratone’s strength is design: They make speakers that don’t necessarily look like you’d expect from something fitting that description, using heathered felt and odd shapes to surprise and also better mesh with modern interior design. A signature Libratone move is to offer interchangeable felt covers for its speakers so that owners can color coordinate with their existing setup, and the Loop offers this (spare covers will cost you extra, however).

The disc design is a bold one, and might not mesh with everyone’s tastes, but it makes the speaker an object of art itself, rather than something you’re trying to hide away. Resting atop a TV bench or even just propped on its included stand by itself in the corner of a room, it looks at home and like a design decision rather than an afterthought.

There’s another great aspect to the Libratone Loop’s design: its mounting hole and peg make it very easy to hang on the wall (where its disc-shaped design is especially attractive), and yet also keeps it portable should you want to take it with you to another room.

Performance

The Loop not only looks good, it also renews my faith in Libratone’s ability to put out speakers that sound great. The Zipp impressed me with its sound quality, but the Loop carries that further, with a richer sound that’s better for a full-on living room home audio setup replacement.

It’s a speaker that can get very loud without offering up any kind of distortion, and while it might be a little heavy on the bass side for many users, it’s probably right in the sweet spot for most people looking for an AirPlay speaker that’s pricey without being ridiculous. It’s also easy to set up, and you don’t need anything beyond an iPhone or iPad to do it. PlayDirect, the AirPlay that doesn’t require a shared network (the Loop can provide its own) is also a huge selling point that isn’t necessarily shared by Libratone competitors.

The Competition

Speaking of the competition, Libratone has a healthy crop. At this price range, there’s the new and very capable line of Cambridge Audio speakers, including the Minx Air 200 that I’d consider its closest rival. For an extra $100, the Minx Air 200 offers preset Internet radio stations that don’t require a computer or other audio source to listen to, and there’s Bluetooth built in. The Loop is cheaper, however, and better looking, plus it has deeper bass (though executes with less clarity in the mid-range) if that’s your bag.

Bottom Line

The Loop is a great AirPlay speaker, and with DLNA support, it’s relatively platform agnostic. I’m a sucker for the design aesthetic Libratone has chosen, too, so that’s a big selling point as well, but it’s the sound that brings it home. Libratone is essentially a boutique shop specializing in AirPlay sound, and it shows, so you can’t go wrong with their lineup, and the Loop fits nicely price wise in a gap between its Zipp and Live range of devices.

ARK is one of the latest portable wireless device chargers for people who are tired of having to tether their smartphone or tablet to an outlet when it runs out of juice. The small, block-like base uses Qi, an interoperable standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium and is currently raising funds on Kickstarter.

ARK was created by a Los Angeles-based startup called BEZALEL, and is compatible with all Qi-certified devices, including the iPhone 4 and later, the Nokia Lumia series, and Samsung Galaxy S3/S4, and Nexus 4.

It’s important to note, however, that iPhones need a charging case to work with ARK, which will be shipped with the base (though a case for the iPhone 5c is still being developed). Samsung Galaxy devices, meanwhile, must use a patch that attaches to their batteries. ARK can be used directly with devices that are Qi-wireless charging capable.

Despite those drawbacks, ARK seeks to differentiate from its competitors in a couple ways. Based on tests with the iPhone 5s, ARK’s creators claim it can charge phones 20% faster than other wireless chargers and 5% faster than cable-charging from battery packs. The base’s battery can hold up to three full charges and it also has a USB port to allow for dual charging, which is handy if you carry around a tablet and smartphone. (The Energizer Qi-Enabled 3 Position Inductive Charger also charges multiple devices at one time, but it is much larger and less portable than ARK).

Other wireless chargers include the iQi Mobile, which recently raised $161,681 on Indiegogo, blowing past its $30,000 goal. The iQi Mobile uses a ribbon-like Lightning adaptor to charge iPhones, which makes it much more attractive for people who prefer to use their own cases. All Qi devices are up against the Duracell Powermat system, which has gained traction through installations at high traffic venues like airports and coffee shops, as well as integration with certain vehicles in the 2013 Chevrolet Volt line.

(Then there is Cota by Ossia, which debuted at TechCrunch Disrupt in September. Consumer versions won’t be available until 2015, but once they are, they’ll let users charge their smartphones automatically whenever they are within range of Cota’s base. Created by physicist Hatem Zeine, Ossia’s technology lets the Cota deliver power wirelessly to devices over distances of around 10 feet using the same unlicensed spectrum as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other communication standards.)

But though ARK competes with several wireless chargers, there’s still plenty of demand for the device. It has already raised $26,616 of its $35,000 goal on Kickstarter, and with 39 days left to go, ARK has a very good chance of reaching its goal. Remaining pledges start at $63, with an estimated delivery date in March.

If you followed along with this year’s CES coverage, you know that one trend that emerged over the past couple years is here to stay. If you haven’t made your peace with the 3D printing revolution, you should.

One company that’s taking the 3D-printed bull by the horns is 3D Systems, an incumbent in the space. The company revealed the Sense, a hand-held 3D scanner in November that is meant to compete with Makerbot’s Digitizer and Occipital’s Mobile Structure Sensor.

The Sense, which is about as big as a staple gun, can scan objects with your help. Unlike other scanners, the Sense is meant to be held and circle the object its scanning. This means that it can be difficult to get a perfectly accurate reading, since human error becomes more of a factor.

However, the price point ($399) is pretty amazing for what it does, and when used properly, it’s incredibly accurate.

John’s impressed. I’m impressed. What do you guys think?

News is out today that BlackBerry has no intention of bringing a BlackBerry Messaging (BBM) application to Windows Phone. Comments published in TrustedReviews from the company indicate that it deems Windows Phone too small to warrant the investment. TechCrunch confirmed the statements.

According to TrustedReviews, BlackBerry’s David Proulx called the nonexistence of a BBM application for Windows Phone “entirely market driven,” and stated that the decision is not a “religious thing,” but is instead merely a choice made on the back (lack?) of consumer demand.

So, sorry Windows Phone fans, if you were pining for BBM, you must wait.

Might BlackBerry bring BBM to Windows Phone in the future? Yes, but only once Windows Phone reaches larger scale. In the words of Proulx, “as other platforms emerge, whichever they may be, we will execute on those platforms as well.” The question then becomes whether BlackBerry will still be around by the time that Windows Phone “emerges.”

This is playing as you would expect in the Windows Phone world. WMPowerUser was irked by the shade-tossing, for example:

Blackberry, who clearly has a knack for making friends, has confirmed it has no current interest or plans to bring their BBM app to Windows Phone, citing the size of the Windows Phone market.

Perhaps BlackBerry is saddened by the loss of its rank as the “third” mobile platform.

Top Image Credit: Flickr