MacRumors

LifeProof today announced the expansion of its FRĒ Power case line to the iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6s Plus, marking the debut of the company's first waterproof battery case for Apple's larger-screened iPhones.

The IP-68 rated FRĒ Power is a fully waterproof iPhone case that's submersible to 2 meters for up to an hour. In addition to being waterproof, it's able to keep the iPhone safe from dirt, snow, dust, and damage from accidental drops. It's able to survive a drop from as high as 2 meters, or 6.6 feet, and the screen protector will keep the display free from scratches.

Inside the FRĒ Power, there's a 3,200 mAh battery that should give the iPhone 6s Plus approximately one full charge. It includes auto-stop charge and rapid recharge technology to maximize extra battery life. Available in "Blacktop Black" and "Base Jump Blue," the FRĒ Power's design keeps the iPhone protected but leaves the cameras, buttons, and Touch ID fingerprint scanner available for use.

"LifeProof continues to defy the limits of possibility with smartphones," said LifeProof President and CEO Pete Lindgren. "FRĒ Power for iPhone 6s Plus takes Apple's large form-factor device on bigger, better adventures with double the battery capacity and our award-winning four-proof protection against the elements."

According to LifeProof, the FRĒ Power for iPhone 6s Plus will soon be available for purchase from the LifeProof website. It will retail for $149.99.

Speck has announced (via PhoneArena) a new accessory called the Pocket VR, which is a collapsible virtual reality headset that's compatible with the company's Candyshell Grip cases. The headset can be used to display content created for Google's Cardboard VR headsets, allowing iPhone users who use Speck cases another avenue to experience virtual reality on their devices.

The Pocket VR attaches to the Candyshell Grip when in use. When not in use, users can easily fold it up and slip it into their pockets if they choose. The Pocket VR comes with a matching Candyshell Grip case and is available for both the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.

The Pocket VR launches in Spring and will be priced at $70.

Withings today unveiled the Withings Go, an affordable, versatile activity tracker that's equipped with an always-on E Ink display. Available in five bright colors, the Withings Go is a clip-on or wrist-worn tracker that's able to monitor steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, and sleep quality, along with automatically tracking activities like running and swimming.

The circle-shaped Withings Go has an E Ink display designed to depict "at a glance" information with a main screen that shows a user's activity progress towards their individualized activity goal. Once the goal is reached, the screen offers up a star as a reward, and there's also a time mode that will display an analog watch face.

"We are delighted to introduce Withings Go which rounds out our portfolio of stylish, advanced activity and sleep trackers that meet the needs of people from all walks of life," says Cédric Hutchings, CEO of Withings. "Sporting a number of industry firsts, from always-on multiple displays to dynamic activity recognition, we have once again released a product that will make activity tracking accessible for everyone."

Withings Go is water resistant so it can be used for swimming, and it has features that allow it to automatically detect certain types of activity. At night, the Go is able to analyze sleep to offer a closer look at sleep patterns, distinguishing between light and deep sleep cycles.

Like all of Withings' wearable products, the Go does not require charging because it uses a standard watch battery that only needs replacing approximately every eight months. It also connects to the same Health Mate app used by all Withings products, so data from multiple devices can be viewed in the same central location.

Withings plans to offer the Go in black, blue, red, green, and yellow. It can be worn on the wrist, clipped to a belt, carried on a keychain, or stuck in a pocket. The Withings Go will be available for purchase during the first quarter of 2016 for $69.95.

SanDisk today announced that its Connect Wireless line of flash drives is getting a capacity boost to 200GB, giving users who want portable wireless storage even more space for their files.

“With the explosion of content, people need more advanced storage solutions to keep up with the volume and quality of the photos, videos and files they’re creating on their mobile devices,” said Dinesh Bahal, vice president, product marketing, SanDisk. “Our goal is to deliver innovative, intuitive offerings that help them capture life’s great moments without worrying about storage limitations.”

The Connect Wireless line of flash drives uses the SanDisk Connect app and a password-protected Wi-Fi connection to allow users to transfer data between the flash drive and their iOS and Android devices as well as PCs and Macs. The free app [Direct Link] has also recently been updated with the ability to AirPlay content to an Apple TV and the ability to save Live Photos to the flash drive.

The 200GB SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick is available now at Amazon and SanDisk's website for $119.99.

Braven has announced a pair of new Bluetooth speakers and a portable backup battery for iPhone and iPad at CES 2016. The trio of rugged accessories are designed to withstand drops, sand, snow, dirt, dust and water, making them ideal for outdoor activities ranging from camping and hiking to rafting and rock climbing.

The Braven BRV-BLADE LE is a rugged portable Bluetooth speaker that features an IPX7 waterproof rating, aircraft-grade aluminum casing, shockproof ABS construction, built-in 4,000mAh power bank, microphone for hands-free calls and more. The speaker will be available for $199.99 in Q2 of 2016.

The Braven BRV-XXL is another rugged portable Bluetooth speaker with an IPX 5 waterproof rating and a tank-like design crafted from aircraft grade aluminum and shockproof ABS. The speaker delivers 14 hours of music playback and has a large 15,600mAh built-in battery for charging smartphones and tablets.

The BRV-XXL also has NFC, on-board volume and audio controls and a 3.5mm microphone input, and is similarly designed for the outdoors with drop, sand, dirt and dust protection, tie-down loops and a carry strap with a built-in bottle opener. The Braven BRV-XXL will be available for purchase for $349.99 in Q1 of 2016.

Braven claims its BRV-BANK PRO LE is the world's first ultra-rugged, smart modular backup battery. The portable charging accessory has an IPX7 waterproof rating and features a built-in 300-lumen LED flashlight, aircraft-grade aluminum housing and Bluetooth SMART support for controlling the battery with Braven's iOS app.

The BRV-BANK PRO LE has a 6,000mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, enough to fully charge most smartphones two or three times, with two USB charging ports (1A and 2.4A). The portable battery will be available for purchase for $129.99 in Q1 of 2016 and comes with a nylon-braided USB cable and a lanyard in the box.

Kwikset, the company behind the Kevo Smart Lock, today announced the launch of its first HomeKit-compatible product, the Kwikset Premis. Joining the Schlage Sense, the Premis is one of two smart locks available that work with Apple's HomeKit platform.

With HomeKit compatibility, the Premis can be used in Scenes and Triggers alongside other HomeKit products, and it's able to respond to Siri voice commands to allow for voice control over a home's front door lock.

"Kwikset closely listens to feedback and monitors new technologies to develop products that meet consumer needs," said Keith Brandon, Vice President of Residential Access Solutions, Kwikset. "Premis was specifically developed to work with Apple HomeKit, a simple and secure smart home technology we truly believe in and are excited to support."

When paired with a third-generation Apple TV or later, the Premis can be used remotely to lock or unlock the door to let guests inside. Home owners can also assign up to 30 unique user codes to guests for use when the home owner isn't present.

The app that accompanies the Premis can be used to schedule the aforementioned codes for specific times, and it also lets users keep an eye on lock status, check battery life, and receive notifications whenever the lock is used.

Design wise, the Premis features an LED display and capacitive touchscreen that's used to input guest codes, plus there's a standard keyhole for manual operation. The Premis runs on four AA batteries and Kwikset says installation can be done with a screwdriver and a ruler.

Kwikset's Premis will be available for purchase later in 2016. Pricing information is not yet available.

Starting today, Apple customers in Malaysia are now able to purchase the Apple Watch, which launched in the country this morning. All models of the Apple Watch, including the Apple Watch Sport, stainless Steel Apple Watch, and Apple Watch Edition are available.

Pricing for the Apple Watch Sport starts at RM 1,599, while pricing for the stainless steel Apple Watch starts at RM 2,499. The Apple Watch Edition is available at prices that start at RM 47,000.

Apple's limited edition (PRODUCT)RED Apple Watch Sport models introduced for the Chinese New Year are also available in Malaysia. Exclusive models include the silver and gold Apple Watch Sport, which ship with a (PRODUCT)RED Sport Band with matching hardware.

The Apple Watch originally launched on April 24 in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK, and the United States, but availability has since expanded to more than 30 countries. Apple has plans to continue expanding Apple Watch availability in 2016, with the next launch coming on January 29 to Portugal, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

iHome was one of the first companies to come out with a HomeKit-compatible product, debuting its iSP5 SmartPlug in the summer of 2015. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, iHome is announcing the successor to the iSP5 SmartPlug, the iSP8 SmartPlug.

While the Wi-Fi-connected iSP5 simply turned a dumb appliance into a smart appliance and allowed it to be turned on and off with Siri, the iSP8 is a more advanced product that adds power consumption monitoring. In addition to functioning as a smart outlet like the original iSP5, the iSP8 SmartPlug will collect data on how much power an appliance is using, aggregating the information in the accompanying iHome Control app.

The iSP8 also ships with a remote control that's able to control the SmartPlug without requiring access to an iPhone or iPad. The iSP8 SmartPlug will be available later in the year for $49.99.

At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Grid Connect is debuting two HomeKit-enabled products, the ConnectSense Temperature & Humidity Sensor and the ConnectSense Smart Water Sensor. The two new products join Grid Connect's existing ConnectSense Smart Outlet, which came out in late 2015.

The ConnectSense Temperature & Humidity Sensor can be placed anywhere in the home to deliver accurate information on a room's temperature and humidity level. Grid Connect suggests its sensor will be useful in temperature-sensitive areas like wine cellars, greenhouses, collection rooms, cold storage, and more.

As the name suggests, the ConnectSense Smart Water Sensor is able to detect the first signs of a water leak, staving off significant water damage. It's useful for people who own fish tanks or for use in areas where water leaks are common, such as basements and laundry rooms.

Both of the new ConnectSense sensors operate using Bluetooth 4.0 and incorporate AAA batteries. They're able to connect to a user's HomeKit setup to interact with other HomeKit-enabled devices in Triggers and Scenes.

Passive sensors aren't as immediately useful as active HomeKit products like lights and smart plugs, but they can be useful as triggers. The Temperature & Humidity sensor, for example, could be set to turn a HomeKit-connected thermostat to a lower or higher temperature when a specific temperature threshold is reached, and a water sensor could perform a similar function.

The ConnectSense Smart Temperature & Humidity and Smart Water sensors will be available in the first half of 2016. Details on pricing are not yet available.

Incipio today announced several new ClamCase keyboard cases designed for the iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, and iPad mini 4. All of the cases use ClamCase's signature clamshell design paired with a 360-degree hinge, turning an iPad into a MacBook-style device.

First up is the ClamCase+, the first ClamCase keyboard available for the iPad Pro. The ClamCase+, which is also available for the iPad Air 2, features a full-sized QWERTY keyboard, backlit keys, and auto sleep/wake functionality. On the iPad Pro version, there's a built-in slot that holds the Apple Pencil when it isn't in use.

The ClamCase+ will be available in Gray, Gold, and Silver to match each of Apple's iPads. The iPad Air 2 version will retail for $149.99, while the iPad Pro version will sell for $169.99.

Exclusive to the iPad Air 2 is a new ClamCase+ Power case, which is a standard ClamCase keyboard case that also includes a built-in 6,000 mAh battery and a 2.1A USB port that can be used for charging an iPhone or other iOS device. The ClamCase+ Power, which only comes in black, will be available in the second quarter of 2016 and will retail for $199.99.

The ClamCase Prompt, Incipio's most interesting offering, is also exclusively for the iPad Air 2. The ClamCase Prompt has a small built-in OLED screen on the lid that's able to provide visual alerts for non-disruptive smartphone notifications during class sessions or meetings. The ClamCase Prompt pairs to a smartphone via Bluetooth and is able to deliver alerts to the keyboard case.

The ClamCase Prompt, available in Silver/White, will begin shipping in the second quarter of 2016. Like the ClamCase+ Power, it will retail for $199.99.

For the iPad mini 4, Incipio is introducing the ClamCase Pro keyboard, which includes a 360-degree hinge that allows the iPad to be adjusted at a user's preferred angle for typing and viewing. The ClamCase Pro for iPad mini 4 comes in White/Silver and Smoke Gray, and will be available for purchase from the Incipio ClamCase website during the first quarter of 2016. It will retail for $129.99.

ClamCase was previously an independent company, but was acquired by Incipio in 2015. Incipio plans to continue producing new products under the ClamCase brand name.

A new test by the Electronic Frontier Foundation has found that T-Mobile's free video streaming program Binge On does in fact affect the streaming of all in-browser video content when the service is enabled. Although T-Mobile has stated Binge On works with just its 24 allied partners, some companies like YouTube have spoken out regarding the fact that the new program throttles all video and not just the content of its partners.

EFF recently composed a test to find out the truth behind the throttling claims, running similar smartphones on T-Mobile LTE connections in the same location and at the same time of day. Measuring the throughput between the video on the server and the smartphone running the content, the site in total performed four tests with Binge On enabled:

-Streaming a video embedded in a webpage using HTML5 (“Streaming in Browser”),
-Downloading a video file to the phone’s SD card (“Direct Download”),
-Downloading a video file to the phone’s SD card, but with the filename and the HTTP response headers changed to indicate it was not a video file (“Direct Download, Non-Video File Extension”), and
-Downloading a large non-video file for comparison (“Direct Non-Video Download”).

The site's big takeaway came from its HTML5 in-browser streaming test. It discovered that when Binge On is enabled on a T-Mobile smartphone, all HTML5 video streams are throttled to about 1.5Mbps, "even when the phone is capable of downloading at higher speeds, and regardless of whether or not the video provider enrolled in Binge On." The throttling speeds affected downloads as well, even when customers were downloading a browser video to watch later.

Video files with HTTP headers and filenames that indicate the content is not a video were also throttled during the tests, but T-Mobile assured the site that it has means to detect video-specific patterns that don't directly delve into a user's communications or "involve the examination of actual content."

Lastly, EFF found that Binge On's optimization claims may be mostly false regarding the enhancement of video quality on a smartphone using the program. The site found that the service "doesn't actually alter or enhance" video content when it is streamed from the network and onto a smartphone, and really only throttles it down to 1.5Mbps so that users can take advantage of the free streaming service.

Our last finding is that T-Mobile’s video “optimization” doesn’t actually alter or enhance the video stream for delivery to a mobile device over a mobile network in any way. 2 This means T-Mobile’s “optimization” consists entirely of throttling the video stream’s throughput down to 1.5Mbps.

If the video is more than 480p and the server sending the video doesn’t have a way to reduce or adapt the bitrate of the video as it’s being streamed, the result is stuttering and uneven streaming—exactly the opposite of the experience T-Mobile claims their “optimization” will have. In other words, our results show that T-Mobile is throttling video streams, plain and simple.

The drama surrounding Binge On began around the time that the FCC began scrutinizing free data programs like the T-Mobile service, with others including AT&T's Sponsored Data program and Comcast's Stream TV. Although not yet an official investigation, the FCC remains concerned over each service's abidance to the net neutrality rules, and as such has requested "relevant technical and business" representatives from each of the three companies to discuss the topic before January 15.