MacRumors

Pioneer at CES 2016 this week announced its next-generation lineup of NEX aftermarket CarPlay systems, available in Spring 2016 for between $700 and $1,400. The new systems include the 7-inch AVIC-8200NEX and AVIC-7200NEX, 6.2-inch AVIC-6200NEX and AVIC-5200NEX and lower-end 7-inch AVH-4200NEX.

Pioneer's website does not distinguish what the differences are between its new NEX systems and existing AVIC-8100NEX, AVIC-7100NEX, AVIC-6100NEX, AVIC-5100NEX and AVH-4100NEX models, which remain available for sale. The 7-inch in-dash units continue to support Siri Eyes Free and Google's rival Android Auto platform.

Pioneer, Alpine and Kenwood are the official providers of aftermarket CarPlay systems, which bring Apple's in-dash software to older vehicles. HARMAN also announced its JBL Legend CP100 aftermarket CarPlay system at CES 2016, featuring a 6.75-inch capacitive touch screen, "push to talk" button for Siri, Android Auto support and more.

CarPlay, available in a wide range of 2016 vehicles, provides hands-free or eyes-free access to Maps, Phone, Messages, Music, Podcasts and third-party apps including Spotify, iHeartRadio, CBS Radio and MLB At Bat. The software uses Siri and interfaces with your vehicle's knobs, dials and buttons for safer access to common iPhone features.

Innovative Developers LTD has launched a new app called "Vidyo!" that allows users to easily capture video of their iPhone screen right on the device. Users can capture their screen within any app and edit or add background music and commentary to their video captures.

According to MacStories, the app works by simulating an AirPlay mirroring connection to the app itself. Capturing begins when a user toggles "Device Screen" within the app, exits the app and then chooses Vidyo! as an AirPlay source in Control Center.

While the app is currently in the App Store, it's unclear whether Apple will pull the app as it simulates AirPlay mirroring. Apple doesn't currently provide APIs for iOS devices to act as AirPlay receivers and, according to App Store Review Guideline 2.5, apps can be rejected for using non-public APIs.

Vidyo! is available in the App Store for $4.99. [Direct Link]

Update 1/7 9:30 a.m.: Vidyo has been removed from the App Store and is no longer available for download.

First Alert's first HomeKit-enabled product, the Onelink Smoke Alarm, was released in November. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, First Alert is showing off several additional HomeKit-connected products, including an environment monitor, a thermostat, and the first HomeKit safe.

The OneLink by First Alert Wi-Fi Safe is a small in-home safe meant to house small valuables. It connects to a HomeKit setup via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, allowing Siri voice commands or the accompanying iPhone app to open the safe when directed. The safe runs on batteries and includes a built-in accelerometer that is able to send an alert to the iPhone if someone attempts to move or open it.

First Alert's Onelink Environment Monitor monitors the temperature and humidity in a room, plus it includes sensors that are able to detect both high and low levels of carbon monoxide. A multi-color LED ring on the outside of the Monitor lets users see the status of the environment at a glance, changing colors to reflect shifting temperatures. Alerts are also sent to an iOS device.

The Onelink by First Alert Wi-Fi Thermostat joins several other HomeKit-enabled thermostats that are available on the market. Like other thermostats, it connects to a home's Wi-Fi connection to allow the temperature to be controlled using Siri voice commands or the Onelink Home app.

Additional information on First Alert's HomeKit-enabled products, including pricing details and release dates, will be available later in 2016.

Lutron Electronics today at CES 2016 announced that its Serena and Sivoia QS Triathlon motorized window shades now support the HomeKit-enabled Caséta Wireless Smart Bridge.

The home automation system enables users to remotely control their Lutron shades using Siri on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Apple Watch. Homeowners can say commands such as "Hey Siri, turn on the lights" or "Siri, open the shades," while Serena shades can also be set to desired levels with preset scenes like "Good Morning" or "Good Night."

Sivoia QS Triathlon shades require the professionally-installed Smart Bridge PRO:

The HomeKit-enabled Caséta Wireless Smart Bridge (a do-it-yourself solution) supports Serena battery-powered shades, while the Smart Bridge PRO (a professionally-installed solution) supports Lutron Sivoia QS Triathlon wireless shades (both roller and fashion honeycomb styles), plus Sivoia QS drapery tracks, the Kirbé vertical drapery system, tensioned shades, pleated shades and Roman shades.

Lutron's Caséta Wireless Smart Bridge, available for $69.99 on Amazon (regular $150), launched as one of the first HomeKit accessories in June 2015, allowing homeowners to control lights in specific rooms or areas using Siri voice commands. Lutron accessories, sold by Apple and other resellers, can also be controlled with the free Lutron app or Pico wireless remote control.

Caséta Wireless kits and Lutron shading solutions are available now, starting at $80 and $349 respectively.

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.