MacRumors

The Consumer Electronics Show doesn't officially kick off until Tuesday, but some of the craziest and most interesting products were already on display on Sunday at CES Unveiled, a media-focused pre-event that traditionally highlights many of the best products coming out at CES.

I was on-hand at CES Unveiled to represent MacRumors and managed to navigate through the madness of food and drink booths and throngs of press to get a look at some of the neatest products you can expect to see across 2015.

There were multiple different wearable devices on display, ranging from traditional activity trackers to Belty, a smart belt that expands and contracts to fit your waistline, but a couple of new options stood out. Withings' new Activité Pop, for example, is an analog-style smart watch that you'll actually want to wear on your wrist.

Though it looks like a traditional watch, the Activité Pop, like the first Activité watch, can track steps and sleep. It's also water resistant, so it's one of the few activity trackers that can be used while swimming, and its eight-month battery life means there's no need to hassle with charging on a daily basis. This new version is lightweight and feels great on the wrist, though the watch face itself is a bit thick, especially on small wrists like mine.

The first Activité watch was prohibitively expensive at $450, but the new Pop version is just $149, making it a viable competitor to existing offerings like the Jawbone UP and Fitbit for those who want activity tracking in a traditional-looking watch form.

I also had an opportunity to check out the Zensorium Being, a rather bulky wrist-worn wearable device that tracks heart rate, activity, and sleep, like many other trackers. The Being goes above and beyond existing activity trackers though, promising to track mood much like an old 80's-style mood ring.

There wasn't a working version available, but it supposedly measures mood using a combination of factors like heart rate and blood pressure, mapping it into "zones" that include Distress, Excited, Normal, and Calm. The Being's design wasn't the greatest (and it seems a bit too thick to be worn comfortably during sleep), but the long list of unique features made it one of the standout wearables at the show. Info on battery life was a bit nebulous, with two to three days promised, but if you're really into the mood tracking, you can pre-order today for $169.

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Apple will begin offering unlocked, SIM-free versions of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus starting tomorrow on its online store and at its retail locations, reports 9to5Mac.

Pricing will remain the same alongside the other unsubsidized iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models, with 16/64/128 GB versions of the iPhone 6 selling for $649/$749/$849 respectively, while the 16/64/128GB versions of the iPhone 6 Plus will be available for $749/$849/$949.

Notably, many of the carrier-specific iPhone 6 models sold by Apple have been unlocked since launch when purchased at full retail price, although the company has not been specifically marketing them as such. As with other unlocked devices, the unlocked versions of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will allow users to insert a nano-SIM card from a compatible GSM network for cellular voice, texting, and data connectivity. Apple launched unlocked versions of the iPhone 5s last year in November, which followed the release of carrier-specific models in September.

iDevices today announced its upcoming Switch smart plug, a HomeKit-enabled device that allows users to remotely control a variety of devices around the home. The system takes advantage of the existing iDevices Connected app to give users control over the plug, which plugs into a standard electrical outlet and connects to the home's Wi-Fi network to provide control over a device plugged into Switch.

With HomeKit integration for Switch, users will be able to take advantage of a number of iOS features in the system, including the ability to use Siri to control their devices. Switch requires no dedicated hub device or subscription services, making it simple to set up.

- Siri – Switch’s HomeKit integration provides an easy, secure way to control Switch using Siri on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. You can even create your own commands to control multiple home settings. For example, you can automatically turn off lamps connected to your iDevices Switch, lock your doors, close the garage door and set the thermostat to the desired temperature, all with one command.

- Remote Access – iDevices designed a custom IoT cloud for Switch so that users can access their home from wherever they are with no additional hub required.

- Create Custom Events and Schedules – Through the iDevices Connected app, users are able to design custom events (or schedules) that fit their lifestyle. The iDevices Switch has the unique ability to remember events and make sure they happen even when the user is away.

Switch launches later in the first half of 2015, and The Verge says the device will cost $49.99.

iHome is also announcing a similar iSP5 SmartPlug smart plug that will launch later this year, but details remain scant at this time. Like iDevices' Switch, iHome's SmartPlug supports HomeKit and is a Wi-Fi enabled plug that allows users to control individual devices without the need for a hub. iHome does tout that multiple SmartPlugs can be grouped together into "scenes" to control various devices together. Pricing and an exact launch timeframe for SmartPlug have yet to be announced.

Just over a month after sparking discussion of a possible new 4-inch iPhone in 2015 based on supply chain sources speaking to Taiwanese media, Chinese site Feng.com now claims [Google Translate, via G for Games] its own sources are seeing no indication of such a device.

Feng.com's sources claim the Cupertino company has not placed any orders with its supply chain related to a new 4-inch version of the iPhone for release in 2015. While the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have sold well in the few months they've been released to the public, some users continue to prefer the smaller 4-inch display seen on models of the past few years.

Wei Feng network today through Apple's supply chain has learned about the 4-inch screen iPhone 6s argument is just a hype.

Supply chain sources said that Apple has not made ​​any new production tasks iPhone 4 inches to parts of the supply chain, and therefore will be launched on 4-inch screen Apple iPhone 6s argument is not true - at least so far.

Since the original report by Taiwanese media last month, rumors of a new 4-inch iPhone have been picked up by a few other sources including analysts in the region, but it is unclear how independent those follow-up reports truly are. As such, there is so far very little to support the existence of such a device.

Apple of course continues to sell 4-inch iPhones in the form of the iPhone 5s and 5c, and if the company holds true to form the iPhone 5s will continue to be sold as an entry-level option even following the expected late 2015 iPhone update. Without direct support for technologies such as NFC for direct Apple Pay usage, however, the device is missing some key features and if Apple does want to continue offering a smaller device beyond the 2015 lineup, it will need to develop an updated model.

Amidst the new and upcoming product launches at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, mobile marketing firm TapSense today unveiled its plans for a "programmatic ad platform" targeting Apple's upcoming wearable, the Apple Watch.

The platform is promised to provide a full suite of programming solutions, including an SDK for app developers and programmatic APIs for brands, to get them started on making advertisements for the new Apple Watch. Though the platform not yet released, TapSense hopes the service provides businesses with a proof-of-concept demonstration on how ads can be delivered to customers using the new technology.

“Wearables and Internet of Things (IoT) are the next frontiers in the mobile revolution. We are excited to announce industry’s first programmatic ad platform for Apple Watch developers and brands. ” said Ash Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of TapSense. “While most of our competitors are focused on banner ads and legacy platforms, we are focused on innovation and next generation platforms. Apple Watch has the potential to be a category disruptor similar to iPod or iPhone and we believe that it provides great opportunities for brands and developers to deliver engaging experiences to consumers.”

With no official comment by Apple on how ads will officially integrate with the new technology, third-party developers using the WatchKit SDK will be left to fill in the blank spaces.

As highlighted by Reuters, brands and ad firms are mainly looking at delivering ad content through interactive wallpapers found on the Watch dial. TapSense chief executive Ash Kumar is well aware of toeing the line between informative and annoying, however, noting that businesses could use the customizable face of the Apple Watch to notify customers of special deals, but only ever within an already-open app.

[M]oderation is key. Push notifications and banner ads on smartphones can be turn-offs. Some marketers advise avoiding showing ads to users who typically click out of them or delivering the same ad too many times to any one user.

"If it feels like your smartwatch is turning into a spam box, you will take it off," said Padden Guy Murphy, who heads business development and public policy at car-sharing service Getaround.

TapSense points to "hyper-local targeting" and Apple Pay integration as allowing for consumer-friendly versions of ads on the Apple Watch. The former suggests that because the Watch is far more accessible on a user's wrist than a phone is in a pocket and that it uses a tethered iPhone's GPS, this makes it a more ideal device to deliver location-based coupons and ads in more meaningful ways, such as an ad for a car service while a customer browses transit delays.

The latter perspective argues that most coupons and offers simply aren't redeemed due to hassle, and thinks that Apple's one-two punch of the Watch and Apple Pay could result in more ease of use in coupon-redeeming on the consumer side, and higher profits on the business side.

Still a few months out from release of the Apple Watch, TapSense's visions of a well-received ad platform, by consumers and businesses alike, is a ways off from fruition. As Jeff Malmad, North American mobile director at media agency Mindshare, pointed out to Reuters, the new platform will also need to cover some similar ground that smartphones have tread over the past few years, particularly in regards to allowing users to opt in to the ads they care about, and block the ones they don't.

Update: TapSense has backtracked on its own press release, noting that its ad platform may or may not comply with Apple's rules, which remain in flux. The update also notes that Apple's WatchKit SDK does not include support for watch faces as proposed for the ad platform and that TapSense can not integrate directly with Apple Pay.

The Apple Watch may not be launching for a few more months, but that hasn't stopped accessory makers from showing off their ideas at CES this week. iOS device stand and accessory maker Standzout is one of the early entrants, announcing its upcoming Bandstand docking station and showing off prototypes of the accessory at CES. The new Bandstand dock was designed from the ground up for Apple's upcoming Watch, offering both a watch stand and charging functionality in a single dock.

The new Bandstand dock features a pivoting platform that will securely hold the Watch and allow users to adjust the angle of the display for optimal viewing. More than just a holder, the Bandstand will support induction charging of the Apple Watch using Apple's upcoming cable while also providing a pair of USB ports for charging additional devices. Though the device is on display at CES, pricing and availability details are not yet available as the company will need to finalize the design to ensure compatibility as more information on Apple Watch becomes available.

The Bandstand claims to be the "first great Apple Watch accessory", but it certainly won't be the last. With Apple Watch's launch approaching, other vendors are no doubt preparing their offerings and will be making announcements in the coming weeks and months.

Intel today announced the launch of a full set of "Broadwell-U" processors, opening the door for updated versions of Apple's MacBook Air and 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro. The chip launch is essentially in line with a leaked timeline from last July that also pegs the release of more powerful Broadwell chips appropriate for the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro as late as July or August of this year.

As outlined by AnandTech, the new Broadwell-U chips include a set of four 28-watt chips ranging from 2.5 GHz to 3.1 GHz in base frequency and featuring new Iris 6100 integrated graphics. The Core i5-5257U, Core i5-5287U, and Core i7-5557U chips appear to allow for direct upgrades from the Haswell-U chips currently used in the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro. While the new chips include only a 100 MHz CPU speed increase over their Haswell counterparts, a number of other improvements, especially with regard to graphics, should make for significantly improved performance.

Looking at potential release dates for Apple's Broadwell systems, Intel tells AnandTech that the new Broadwell-U chips are already shipping to vendors, with the first systems based on the new chips expected by the end of the month. Systems based on chips using Iris graphics may be more toward the end of the current quarter.