MacRumors

Bang & Olufsen recently unveiled a pair of new wireless speakers, the BeoSound 1 and BeoSound 2, which provide 360-degree sound displacement in cone-shaped aluminum exteriors with the added bonus of support for AirPlay (via Engadget). The speakers are priced at a premium for their sound quality and top-shelf construction, with the BeoSound 1 running for 1,295 euros (about $1,450) while the BeoSound 2 costs 1,695 euros (just under $2,000).

The difference between the two speakers lies in their size, with the BeoSound 1 acting as a more portable alternative with a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 16 hours. The higher-quality BeoSound 2 requires an AC power outlet for all of its functions. Both include 360-degree sound projection to ensure high quality music playback wherever the speakers are located, but the BeoSound 2 also packs in a "sonic power" feature that produces "goosebump-inducing" sound.

Besides AirPlay, for streaming music each speaker supports Bluetooth, Google Cast, and DLNA, as well as the ability to connect multiple Bang & Olufsen speakers into a multi-room, synchronous listening experience. Hidden on the aluminum body are a set of touch controls that let users access music playback options without needing to open a smartphone.

Combined with each speaker's integrated cloud connection to services including Spotify, Deezer, QPlay, and TuneIn, the company says smartphone battery life will be preserved, and any calls, texts, and games can continue without interrupting the music. The connected BeoMusic app supports music control and the ability to setup the speaker's multi-room listening feature. While each speaker includes AirPlay integration for hassle-free playback from an Apple device, Bang & Olufsen's app itself lacks Apple Music integration, but an Apple Watch extension to the app is also available.

The company says the design of the speaker allows for the bass to emerge from the bottom, while the opening at the top generates better acoustics. Aluminum was chosen as a material for the speakers' construction due to its "acoustic properties," as well, which are said to include: "material stiffness, avoidance of dissonance from joints and corners, and the elimination of distortion."

The BeoSound 1 is available to purchase now, but the BeoSound 2 won't ship until sometime in October. Although the company has a few cheaper alternatives for wireless music playback, many of their products are known for being high quality accessories at top-tier prices.

Tile has introduced a slimmer version of its popular lost-and-found tracker that is as thin as two credit cards.

Tile Slim can be attached to MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, passports, and other important items, or placed inside items like wallets and purses, to help you locate them in the event they are lost. Unlike the original Tile, which remains available for $25, the Tile Slim does not have a circular cutout to attach it to a keychain.

By tapping a button in the companion iOS app, the Tile Slim will deliver an audible chime to help you locate an item by sound when it's within a range of up to approximately 100 feet but out of sight. Or, if you lost the iPhone itself, simply tap the button on the Time Slim and the iPhone will start chiming, even in silent mode.

If you still cannot find your Tile-affixed item, you can use the Tile app to check its last known location on a map. If your Tiled wallet comes within range of any other Tile, for example, its location will automatically be updated within the iPhone app.

The tracker uses Bluetooth LE and has a built-in unremovable battery that is rated to last one year, at which point customers can participate in the reTile program to purchase a new Tile Slim for a discounted price of $21, or a four-pack for $84.

Tile Slim is available now for $30, or a four-pack can be purchased for $100. Tile ships to the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and most countries in the European Union, excluding Cyprus, Croatia, and Malta.

After introducing a standalone mode for the DxO ONE Smartphone Camera earlier in the year, the camera manufacturer today announced an update to its DxO ONE lineup that'll bring waterproofing to the accessory, as well as an all-new Wi-Fi remote control. The latter feature will be available to all DxO ONE users through a 2.0 software update coming to the connected iOS app [Direct Link], while the former will manifest as a separate hardware accessory available for any existing DxO ONE.

The Wi-Fi remote control will streamline the Wi-Fi setup process on the accessory thanks to a Lightning adapter connection that allows an iOS device to "seamlessly pass its Wi-Fi authentication credentials from the iPhone to the DxO ONE." The enhanced communication between the camera and the iPhone allows for users to retain control over every setting in the DxO ONE without needing to return to the smartphone, along with "the ability to easily view, edit and share their content to social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube."

“Last year, we revolutionized mobile photography by packing DSLR-quality into a camera design so incredibly small that it could always be available in our pocket,” said DxO CEO and founder, Jérôme Ménière. “And now, thanks to WiFi Remote Control and our new accessories ecosystem, all our users can take the DxO ONE with them absolutely anywhere, without restrictions, and extend their creativity even further.”

In addition to the Wi-Fi upgrade, the 2.0 update will introduce an automatic lighting feature called Mobile Smart Lighting, battery management enhancements, an auto-focus mode, and an underwater white balance for better submerged images. The update is expected to hit sometime in the second half of September.

On the accessory side of things, DxO touts the stainless steel Outdoor Shell as an "extremely rugged" add-on that's still easy to attach and remove at a whim. Attachable to the shell are two waterproof back doors, one that is splash proof (IP67) and one that is "fully submersible and immersion proof" up to 150 feet. In addition to water resistance/proofing, the shell protects from dust and basic accidental drops, while still providing access to the camera's buttons and modes.

The company is also launching a line of other new accessories, including an optical adapter and a stand, both selling for $24.99. For the $59.99 Outdoor Shell, customers can choose from seven different colors: yellow, lagoon, lime, coral, black, khaki, and white. As with the 2.0 update, the accessories are expected to begin shipping later in September. The DxO ONE camera itself sells for $499.00.

Apple has updated its System Status page to reflect ongoing issues with all store services, including the App Store on iOS devices, Mac App Store, tvOS App Store on Apple TV, and app-related Volume Purchase Program for business customers.

Apple notes that some users may be unable to access the aforementioned stores or services or make purchases in the United States, Canada, and other regions. The issues began around 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

Update: Apple's System Status page now shows that all store services have been restored as of shortly after 6:30 a.m. Pacific Time.

After Dropbox forced a password reset on any user who hadn't changed their login credentials since mid-2012 -- due to a hack faced by the company that year -- new information has surfaced recently detailing the extent of the user data leak.

According to a collection of files obtained by Motherboard, containing the email addresses and hashed passwords of the affected user base, a total of 68,680,741 Dropbox accounts were successfully targeted during the 2012 hack. When Dropbox announced it was going through with the preventative password reset measure last week, the company didn't give any hint as to the extent of the users touched by the four-year-old hack.

The "incident," as Dropbox refers to it, was a data breach in the summer of 2012 where a few users began reporting spam sent to email addresses connected to a Dropbox account. Due to a password hack connected to other websites, hackers were able to sign in to "a small number" of Dropbox accounts, including an employee's who had access to a document listing an array of user email addresses.

Dropbox is confident its message to users last week has covered "all potentially impacted users," and the company is encouraging users to still reset passwords on other services that have the same login information, particularly passwords, previously used for Dropbox.

“We've confirmed that the proactive password reset we completed last week covered all potentially impacted users," said Patrick Heim, Head of Trust and Security for Dropbox. "We initiated this reset as a precautionary measure, so that the old passwords from prior to mid-2012 can’t be used to improperly access Dropbox accounts. We still encourage users to reset passwords on other services if they suspect they may have reused their Dropbox password.”

As Motherboard discovered, nearly 32 million of the affected accounts were secured with the strong hashing function bcrypt, "meaning it is unlikely that hackers will be able to obtain many of the users' actual passwords." The other half of the passwords had a slightly less secure SHA-1 aging algorithm and were salted with a random string of characters to further strengthen them. Since 2012, Dropbox has changed up this password and account hashing process several times in attempt to make sure every user remains secure.

Motherboard confirmed that none of the four files, which total 5GB of collected user login data, appear to be anywhere on the dark web. Also, given Dropbox's aggressive measures taken in the past week, their value will continue to "diminish" over time.

Mophie today announced the next generation of its Powerstation family of external batteries, focused on delivering extra battery power to multiple devices in different situations. The complete Powerstation family now includes the new Charge Force Powerstation and Powerstation USB-C alongside updates to the Powerstation Plus and Powerstation lines.

The first new device is the Charge Force Powerstation, an extension of Mophie's wireless charging ecosystem. The device is compatible with all Charge Force Juice Pack cases as well as other Qi wireless charging-enabled devices. It delivers 10,000 mAh of battery capacity, which Mophie says is nearly 5X additional battery life for most smartphones.

The redesigned Powerstation Plus upgrades its built-in charging cable with a new switch-tip, allowing users to easily adapt the cable for either iOS or Android devices. The new, slimmer design comes in Space Gray, Gold, and Rose Gold and three storage configurations: the 4,000 mAh Powerstation Plus mini ($59.95), the 6,000 mAh Powerstation Plus ($79.95), and the 12,000 mAh Powerstation Plus XL ($99.95). However, the XL version does not come in Gold. The Plus also comes with a second USB port that allows users to charge two mobile devices at the same time.

The fourth-generation Powerstation line also sees a redesign, with colored aluminum plates on the top and bottom of the devices. This line comes in four upgraded storage configurations: the 3,000 mAh Powerstation mini ($29.95), the 6,000 mAh Powerstation ($49.95), the 10,000 mAh Powerstation XL ($69.95), and the 20,000 mAh Powerstation XXL ($99.95). Mophie says the XXL, which is only available in Space Gray and Rose Gold, is the largest capacity universal battery the company has offered to date.

The Powerstation comes in White, Space Gray, Rose Gold, and Gold while the Powerstation XL comes in Space Gray, Rose Gold and Gold. Mophie says the Powerstation mini is inspired by the street art of Los Angeles, coming with the bolder color options of pink, blue, purple, black, and white.

Finally, the Powerstation USB-C is a 10,000 mAh battery in an aluminum casing that comes with both USB-C and USB-A charge ports with cables included. Mophie touts that the device is capable of powering "all past, current, and future smartphones." It's available for $99.95.

The new Powerstation and Powerstation Plus external battery packs are currently available on Mophie's website, while the Charge Force Powerstation and Powerstation USB-C are coming soon to Mophie.com and select retailers.

Pebble today announced the launch of a major software update for its line of Pebble smart watches, introducing new health features and interface tweaks designed to streamline the "glance and go" process of getting information and acting on it.

An updated Timeline with a new Quick View setting lets users see what events and activities are planned for the current day and up to three days in the future, while a new Launcher menu displays more items at once.

App Glances, a new feature, offers up information from apps before they're opened, and a 4-button Quick Launch feature lets users assign their favorite apps to the Up, Down, Back, and Select buttons.

The Pebble Health feature built into the Pebble app has a new look with clearer, easier to understand Activity and Sleep graphs, plus it's easier to access.

Press Up from your watchface for quick glances at your step and sleep performance with the redesigned activity cards. Press Right from each activity to dive deeper and compare how you're currently doing with your typical performance from the past week.

For iOS users, there's a "Sneak Peek" feature that lets a Pebble watch paired with an iOS device manage emails, an option that was previously limited to Android users. With iOS Email Actions, it's possible to Delete, Archive, Mark as Read, Reply All, and Star emails received from Gmail accounts.

The new features are available for the Pebble Time, Time Steel, and Time Round and can be downloaded from the Pebble app. Older Pebble watches, including the Pebble and Pebble Steel, will see an updated look and feel and performance and reliability improvements with today's update.

The updated Pebble app will be available today from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Lock manufacturing company Kwikset today released the second generation of its Kevo smart lock, keeping the same aesthetic of the original Kevo but bringing in a "refined user experience," more compact interior design, and improved security. Like the original Kevo, the second generation of the smart lock lets user easily gain entry into their home thanks to Kevo's ability to register a paired smartphone within a certain distance, subsequently unlocking itself when a user taps on the outside part of the lock.

The first major addition to Kevo is a new in-app installation process (found within the Kevo app on the App Store [Direct Link] and Google Play Store), which streamlines the steps it takes to add the smart lock into your door with an "interactive installation experience." In terms of design change, the company only altered the look and size of the interior module of the Kevo, making it sleeker and smaller, while keeping the circular outside part the same as the first generation.

“Kwikset listened to homeowners’ everyday experience with Kevo 1st Gen and put their feedback at the center of the Kevo 2nd Gen development strategy,” said Keith Brandon, Kwikset Vice President of Residential Access Solutions, Spectrum Brands, Inc. – Hardware and Home Improvement Division. “I truly believe the time to buy Kevo is now for any consumer waiting for technology to evolve before purchasing a smart lock.”

The biggest change comes in the form of improved security on the smart lock, which has the latest version of Kwikset's patented SmartKey security to provide "strong resistance" against attempts at forced entry. According to the company, the updated Kevo also passes "the most stringent lock-picking standards" and uses a feature called "BumpGuard" in order to prevent lock bumping.

Kwikset is selling the second generation Kevo on Amazon for $229.00 in polished brass, satin nickel, and venetian bronze. The new Kevo is also expected to be available to purchase across the United States in brick and mortar stores, but Kwikset didn't specifically mention when the second generation smart lock would begin making its way to retailers following today's online launch.

Update: Regarding HomeKit compatibility, Kwikset told MacRumors that while Kevo is currently unable to support Apple's connected-home platform, the company "will continue to prioritize HomeKit on our product roadmap."

Kevo is not currently Apple HomeKit-compatible. Kevo requires a longer development process to become compatible with HomeKit due to the custom nature of the Kevo platform. Kwikset truly believes in the secure smart home technology offered by Apple HomeKit and specifically developed Premis, which launched at CES this year, to be compatible with the HomeKit platform.

That said, Kwikset is investing in the Kevo platform and continuously updating its products. Kwikset introduced its first HomeKit compatible smart lock at CES and will continue to prioritize HomeKit on our product roadmap.

Belkin has introduced the PowerHouse, a new 2-in-1 iPhone and Apple Watch charging dock with both a Lightning-to-USB cable and magnetic charging cable included for $99. PowerHouse serves as a cheaper and smaller-sized plastic alternative to Belkin's existing 2-in-1 dock, the Valet, released earlier this year for $129.

PowerHouse is compatible with all Apple Watch models, and the iPhone 5 or newer. The dock uses Belkin's proprietary VersaCase dial that can adjust the height of the Lightning connector to allow for the PowerHouse to be used with virtually any iPhone case. The dock delivers a 2.4A charge for iPhone and 1A charge for Apple Watch.

PowerHouse is available now on Belkin's website and at select retailers worldwide for $99.