MacRumors

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey last night hinted at an incoming change to the 140-character limit for which the social network has been known over the past decade. Dorsey mentioned that the limit has "become a beautiful constraint" over the years, but the company is aware of certain workarounds its fans are going through to break away from the rule.

He points towards a possibility in the near future for the site to support full-bodied text tweets that are searchable and can be highlighted by users without a strict 140-character restriction. Back in August, Twitter removed the same limit from its private messaging system, and a month later new rumors about the possibility for the same move for traditional tweets began circling.

"At its core Twitter is public messaging. A simple way to say something, to anyone, that everyone in the world can see instantly. We've spent a lot of time observing what people are doing on Twitter, and we see them taking screenshots of text and tweeting it.

Instead, what if that text...was actually text? Text that could be searched. Text that could be highlighted. That's more utility and power. What makes Twitter, Twitter is its fast, public, live conversational nature. We will always work to to strengthen that. And by focusing on conversation and messaging, the majority of tweets will always be short and sweet and conversational!"

According to people familiar with Twitter's plans, speaking with Re/code, the project is referred to as "Beyond 140" and has a tentative launch window around the end of Q1 2016. Numbers that have been considered internally by the team range from 5,000 to 10,000 character limits, the latter of which would fall alongside the same restriction placed inside of private messages on the site.

The sources point to expandable actions for the new tweets that would keep timelines as tight and orderly as they appear with the current limit, but include an expandable prompt that would then showcase the tweet's full text when clicked. Recently, Twitter updated its site to allow full images to appear without being cut off, and changed the favoriting star to a heart.

Pelican Products, known for its range of rugged, highly protective cases, today announced the launch of its first waterproof smartphone case. The Pelican Marine, designed for the iPhone 6, 6s, 6 Plus, and 6s Plus, provides complete drop protection for Apple's iOS devices and protects it from water, snow, dirt, and dust.

Available in black, the Marine case includes five layers of military-grade shock protection to absorb impact during accidental drops, and a scratch-resistant screen protector keeps the display safe from scratches. According to Pelican, the design leaves all buttons and features accessible, while also offering balanced sound for a high-quality audio experience.

The Marine case can be submerged in water up to two meters deep for thirty minutes, and its waterproof design also protects against other outdoor elements. Like all Pelican products, it comes with a two-year guarantee.

"Smart phones, by and large have no real defense against water, but now they're defended by the Pelican Marine case and 40+ years of protection know-how," said Bob Shortt, President - Consumer Division of Pelican Products. "Consumers can now hit the pool or beach with the confidence of knowing their phone will be one hundred percent protected and ready for that next amazing selfie or action shot."

The Pelican Marine case for the iPhone 6 and 6s is priced at $79.95, while the larger iPhone 6 Plus/iPhone 6s Plus version is priced at $89.95. It will be available for purchase in late February.

Zagg is debuting several products at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this year, including a Mobile Charging Station designed as an at home and on-the-go solution for charging an Apple Watch and an iPhone.

The Mobile Charging Station is designed to accommodate and charge an iPhone and an Apple Watch at the same time while also wrangling the necessary cables. It includes a pop-up base for charging the Apple Watch, which works with both open and closed loop bands.

Inside the Mobile Charging Station, there's an area for winding up excess cable to provide a neat, organized solution for travel. The Mobile Charging Station has a built-in 5,000mAh battery inside, so it's also able to charge devices even when not connected to a power source. While a Lightning cable is included, customers will need to supply their own Apple Watch charger.

Zagg's other CES offerings include the $100 Flex Arc wearable earbuds and speaker and the $130 Now Cam. The Flex Arc is worn around the neck like a collar and has retractable earbuds. An external microphone and speaker allow music or calls to be heard without using the earbuds.

The iPhone-connected Now Cam is a rugged, waterproof action camera for capturing photos and videos, similar to a GoPro. Designed for "social video," it can take 720p video or standard photos, and it has a 6-second capture and share feature.

Zagg's Mobile Charging Station will be available for purchase from the Zagg website at the end of January. It is priced at $79.99.

Olloclip's line of Studio accessories designed to improve mobile photography on Apple's iPhones debuted in mid-2015 on Kickstarter, where the project was successfully funded. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Olloclip is ready to show off its completed Studio mobile photography system and has announced a January launch date for the product.

Created to work alongside Olloclip's line of iPhone lenses, the Studio combines an iPhone 6/6s or 6/6s Plus case with an integrated rail-mounting solution and a selection of mountable accessories.

"When designing the Studio system, we realized the user experience and application needed to be as simple and efficient as our lenses. The end result is the most intuitive and effortless way to grip an iPhone while filming and shooting photos, enabling users to be more immersed in the capture process than ever before," said Patrick O'Neill, founder and chief design officer of olloclip. "The new set of accessories and mounts are not only great for taking photos and shooting video, but also for new broadcasting applications like Twitter's Periscope and social media favorites like Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat."

The main component of the Studio system is the Studio Case, which can be used with the Studio accessories or as a standalone case. It's Olloclip's most protective case, designed to protect the iPhone from accidental drops. On the back of the case, there's an integrated rail mount for attaching accessory pieces, cold-shoe adapters, a finger grip, mounts, and a kickstand.

Finger Grip - Olloclip's Studio finger grip is deal for improving stability when taking photos or capturing video. It fits over two fingers and lets the user quickly switch between portrait and orientation landscape.

1/4-20 Mounts - The Studio system comes with two standard 1/4-20 mounts, ideal for attaching the iPhone (in the Studio Case) to a tripod, a grip, or a handle. There's one mount for portrait mode and one mount for landscape mode.

Cold-Shoe Adapters - The two included cold-shoe adapters can be used to attach lightweight accessories like a microphone or a light to the iPhone.

Kickstand - The Kickstand is useful for watching a movie, editing a video, or reading a website.

Olloclip's Studio for the iPhone 6, 6s, 6 Plus, and 6s Plus will be available from the Olloclip website in January of 2016. It will retail for $89.99.

Misfit today unveiled the new products that it is planning to show off at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, announcing both the Ray activity tracker and the Specter "Smart Hearable" in-ear wireless headphones. Like most of Misfit's products, both are designed to track activity and sleep.

Misfit's Ray Fitness and Sleep Monitor is its latest wrist or neck-worn wearable device, which moves away from the iconic circular shape of its previous Shine and Flash line of products. The Ray instead more closely resembles a Jawbone UP2, featuring an adjustable rubber band with a cylindrical aluminum body. At 12mm in diameter and 38mm long, Misfit says Ray's form factor makes it "uniquely wearable."

Inside the Ray activity tracker, there's a 3-axis accelerometer for tracking sleep and activity, along with a vibration motor for user feedback and alerts. It includes a multicolor LED "eye," which combines with the motor to nudge users during periods of inactivity, alert them to incoming text and calls, or serve as a silent alarm. Ray is water resistant to 50 meters and does not need to be charged as it uses watch batteries that are replaced on a six-month basis.

Specter is Misfit's other new product, positioned as the company's first smart wireless headphones. Specter was created in partnership with 1MORE and features dual driver technology for wide dynamic range and rich sound quality. According to Misfit, the Specter's design allows it to be worn comfortably all day, during exercise, and during sleep. Specter's unique feature is a built-in accelerometer, which allows the earphones to be used to track activity and sleep when used, much like Misfit's other products.

Both Ray and Specter are compatible with Misfit Link, Misfit's software platform that lets the company's line of wearable devices be used as a remote control for functions like changing music, taking a selfie, activating iPhone-connected lights, and more.

Ray is available in Rose Gold and Carbon Black. Priced at $99, it's set to ship in the spring and can be pre-ordered today from the Misfit website.

Information on the Specter headphones is still limited, so pricing and a release date have not yet been shared. Misfit says additional details on Specter will be available in the spring of 2016.

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.