MacRumors

Nomad, a company that makes various cables, chargers, cases, and other accessories for Apple devices, recently came out with an updated version of its Base Station charger.

While the original Base Station is designed to wirelessly charge two iPhones at once, the updated Apple Watch version is able to charge an iPhone and an Apple Watch.

The Base Station Apple Watch Edition features a flat, leather covered aluminum wireless charging pad that has an elevated Apple Watch magnetic charging puck on the left side to accommodate an Apple Watch. The positioning of the Apple Watch charger allows for the Apple Watch to be placed into nightstand mode, ideal for charging on a bedside table.

Design wise, the Base Station is a sleek black color, which will fit well into any modern office or room setup. The bottom features two non-slip rubber strips to keep it in place, and the leather pad keeps the iPhone from moving around while charging while also offering a soft place to put it.

When it comes to size, because this is a flat charger, it takes up more space than an upright charger might. It measures in at a little over six inches long and about 4 inches wide, so it's not huge, but it's definitely bigger than some other combined Apple Watch/iPhone chargers. I'd like to see Nomad make one of these with a smaller footprint that has an upright charger option and an Apple Watch charging option.

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After debuting a few new Apple Watch band colors following the September keynote event, Apple today updated its website with a new (PRODUCT)RED Sport Loop. The $49.00 accessory is available in both 40mm and 44mm, and it will also fit previous Apple Watch generations with 38mm and 42mm measurements.

This marks the first time that a Sport Loop band has gained the (PRODUCT)RED color option. Devices and accessories marked with the (PRODUCT)RED brand name represent Apple's partnership with (RED), an organization that supports HIV/AIDS programs; offers counseling, testing, and medicine; and works to prevent further spread of the disease. Every (PRODUCT)RED item purchased through Apple contributes directly to the Global Fund to fight AIDS.

In September, Apple didn't introduce any new band styles for Apple Watch, but there were a few new colors that matched the new iPhone XS and XS Max cases. For the Sport Loop specifically, there were five new colors: Cape Cod Blue, Nectarine, Hibiscus, Storm Gray, and Indigo. It's also available in the Pink Sand, Seashell, and Black options. Like the new (PRODUCT)RED Sport Loop, all versions of the band sell for $49.00.

Apple has also trimmed down the selection of bands available in its "previous seasons" section, discontinuing the following options:

- Sport Band: Gray, Pink Sand, Midnight Blue, White
- Nike Sport Band: Pure Platinum/Black, Obsidian/Black, Anthracite/Black
- Sport Loop: Seashell, Pink Sand, Black
- Stainless Steel: Silver Milanese Loop

Several of these bands were already in limited supply and only available in either the 38 or 42 mm size.

As Netflix tries to grow subscriber numbers outside of the United States, TechCrunch reports today that the streaming video company is testing out a subscription model where users are only able to watch on a phone or a tablet. With this stipulation, the cost of Netflix is cut by as much as 50 percent from the "Basic" tier, down to around $4/month from $8/month.

Right now, the test appears to be centered in Malaysia, but earlier in the week Netflix CEO Reed Hastings told Bloomberg that the company plans to test numerous lower-price plans throughout Asia. A Netflix spokesperson speaking to TechCrunch confirmed that similar mobile-only trials are "running in a few countries."

For the mobile-only option, users can only watch shows in SD, and if they ever want to watch Netflix on a laptop or television, they'll have to upgrade their plan. Like many companies, Netflix is always testing out new features and updates to its service, so it's unclear if mobile-only options will grow beyond trials and enter countries where Netflix is already popular, like the United States.

As of now, Netflix offers three subscription tiers: Basic, Standard, and Premium. Basic costs $7.99/month, offers one screen to stream content on at a time, and only in SD. Standard upgrades this by offering two simultaneous streams in HD for $10.99/month, while Premium has the most simultaneous streams on offer at four, as well as HD and Ultra HD content, all for $13.99/month. One year ago Netflix increased the price of its Standard and Premium tiers, which previously cost $9.99 and $11.99 respectively.

Since the iPhone X, 8, and 8 Plus introduced Qi wireless charging into Apple products for the first time last year, more and more users have begun hunting for the best wireless charging pad out there. We've detailed this topic in numerous posts over the past year, and in the end, many buying recommendations for Qi mats come down to support for Apple's 7.5W fast wireless charging and overall design.

In both categories, Twelve South's all new PowerPic Frame for iPhone excels. The accessory is a wooden picture frame that fits any vertically framed 5"x7" photo, while also charging any Qi-compatible smartphone. In Apple's lineup of devices, that means it supports the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, X, XS, XS Max, and XR, but if you use Google or other Android smartphones that have Qi wireless charging, you can use the PowerPic as well.

Setup

PowerPic essentially comes in three pieces: the wooden picture frame, the back plate that makes up the main charging section of the device, and a small metal support arm. The support arm connects easily into the back of the PowerPic, and a little cutout allows for cable organization.

The included cable is a 1.5m USB-C to USB-A cable. PowerPic doesn't come with an AC adapter, so if you want to plug it into a wall then your outlet will need a USB socket, or you can use any traditional wall adapter brick.

To change the image in the frame, PowerPic is built like a regular picture frame. The back has small clips that hold the charging plate in place, and if you swivel these clips away, the plate will disengage from the wooden frame. Even with the added weight of the charging plate, PowerPic didn't feel particularly heavy to me, and the support arm kept the accessory nice and sturdy wherever I placed it.

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Withings today announced the Pulse HR, the first all-new addition to its health and fitness tracker range since the French company relaunched two months ago.

Reviving the classic design of Withings Pulse – the first tracker Withings ever launched in 2013 – Pulse HR matches an OLED display in stainless steel casing with a silicone wristband that comes in several optional colors.

Under the Pulse HR is a PPG heart rate sensor capable of measuring pulse at 10-minute intervals and continuous heart rate measurements during workout sessions, which include a full breakdown of HR zones synced to the Health Mate app.

By raising their wrist or using the tracker's button, users can scroll through time/date, heart rate, calories burned, activity goal progress, real-time workout information, and smartphone notifications.

Like the Withings Steel HR smartwatch, Pulse HR includes multi-sport tracking for over 30 different activities from yoga, volleyball, and rowing to boxing, skiing and ice hockey. It also offers GPS-connected automatic activity recognition for over 10 activities including walking, running and swimming, and is water resistant up to 50 meters.

The 20-day battery life enables full sleep tracking, including a Smart Wake-up feature that can wake users with vibration alarms at the most optimal times during their sleep cycle.

Pulse HR begins pre-orders today and will ship in time for the holidays on December 5, priced $129.95. Additional information is available on the Withings website, where customers can browse its full range of fitness trackers and other connected products like scales, blood pressure monitors, smart thermometers, sleep trackers, and more.

Kano today announced that its Harry Potter Coding Kit is now available for purchase via the Apple online store and in Apple retail locations across the United States, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

Priced at $100, the Harry Potter Coding Kit is designed to teach beginning coders of all ages how to program. The Coding Kit includes a build-your-own Harry Potter wand that's used in conjunction with a Harry Potter-themed coding app to program the wand to complete various challenges.

We reviewed the Harry Potter Coding Kit from Kano last month and found it to be an excellent way for any Harry Potter enthusiast to learn the basics of coding.

The wand can be used to cast and create spell effects, with more than 30 Wizarding World gestures available. All of the in-app challenges and tutorials are based on the Harry Potter books and films, and coders will be able to do things like levitate a feather, summon Bertie Botts beans, banish pesky pixies, color pygmy puffs, set off colorful fireworks at a Quidditch field, and more.

At select Apple retail stores, Apple employees will be providing interactive demos of the programmable wand in the Harry Potter Coding Kit.

Along with the Coding Kit's expansion to the Apple Store, Kano today also announced the launch of a new series of videos that demonstrate how it works. The videos star James and Oliver Phelps, who played Fred and George Weasley in the Harry Potter movies.

Stardew Valley for iPhone and iPad received a major update today, introducing several new, improved control options.

There are new options for a virtual joystick or invisible joystick, along with the option to add an action/attack button. A joypad adjuster tool lets you customize your onscreen controls, and there's now support for Made for iPhone Bluetooth controllers.

From the toolbar, you can now slide up and down to access everything in your inventory, and there are stability improvements when exploring in the mines.

Today's update also introduces an auto-save feature that lets you continue the game where you left off. The full release notes for the update are below:

New control system options and improvements:
- Virtual joystick, invisible joystick options
- Action / attack button option
- Auto-Attack - targeting improved to always face the nearest foe. Easier to flea from monsters
- Joypad adjuster tool - complete customization of your onscreen controls
- MFi controller support
- Slide toolbar up and down to access whole inventory
- Stability improvements particularly in mines
- Game auto-saves so you can continue where you left off even if you kill the app or the device unloads it*
- Game saves optional backup each time you exit an area
- Other bug fixes

*does not save during festivals/cutscenes. Only 'end of day' saves can be loaded to/from other platforms.

Introduced on October 23, Stardew Valley also lets players fight monsters to earn money, mine ores, fish, get to know townspeople, and engage in social activities in the town. The game cycles through different seasons with various crops and activities to partake in as the game progresses through the years, so there's always something new and exciting to do.

Stardew Valley offers hundreds of hours of gameplay, and there are no in-app purchases to deal with. A farming simulation might not sound appealing, but Stardew Valley sucks players in with crop and farm strategies, min/maxing profit each season, engaging combat, a never-ending list of achievements to earn, and much more.

Stardew Valley can be downloaded from the App Store for $7.99. [Direct Link]

Lifeprint recently came out with its newest product, the Harry Potter Magic Photo and Video Printer, a Harry Potter-themed version of its standard Lifeprint photo printer that connects to the iPhone.

The Harry Potter version of the Lifeprint printer is identical in function to the regular Lifeprint printer options, but it has a unique Harry Potter design and the branding is a clever way to highlight the Lifeprint's augmented reality capabilities.

Design

Functionally, the Harry Potter printer is similar in design and shape to the standard Lifeprint printer. Like all Lifeprint printers, it is a ZINK printer which means it uses ZINK paper with no need to bother with printer cartridges and other hassles.

The Harry Potter printer is rectangular in shape and is thicker and wider than an iPhone, but still portable enough to easily tuck into a bag or backpack. It measures in at about 4.7 inches long, just under an inch thick, and three inches wide.

You can get the printer in either black and gold or black and white, with both options decorated with a Hogwarts crest on the front. The crest isn't as ornate as it is in the Harry Potter movies, but it features the four houses, an outline of the castle, and the Hogwarts motto, "Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus" which means Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon.

The printer itself is made from a gold plastic with a textured top plate where the Hogwarts branding is emblazoned. Below the Hogwarts crest, there's a circular spot where you can add a house crest. The printer ships with four circular crests for Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw.

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