SmartKnob brings keypad access to your front door

SmartKnob brings keypad access to your front door

Keys? Who needs keys? The Smart Knob is an attempt to do away with those pesky metal things for property managers and renters, attaching a keypad to your front door's deadbolt. Owners of the property can issue codes remotely for a chosen period of time. Visitors can also get codes by calling the service's automated phone system. The Smart Knob is compatible with all standard circular deadbolts, and its creators insist that the installation process takes under a minute. The battery should last "up to two years" with daily use -- and when it gets low, a warning will let you know.

Check out a video of the original plastic prototype after the break. The final version will, thankfully, be made of metal. Video link: http://youtu.be/KeMzTGBQyW0

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Tim Cook talks financials at Apple’s shareholders meeting

Tim Cook talks financials at Apple’s shareholders meeting

Apple’s annual shareholders meeting was held today, and present were many shareholders who were concerned about Apple’s decline in stock prices since September. Apple’s stock price is down 35% since its 536.08€ peak in September. Its stock price is currently sitting at 338.83€ This drop in stock price took out a total of 183.25€ billion in shareholder wealth, and shareholders want to know what Apple plans on doing to change things around. Despite the drop in stock price, Tim Cook still had an amazing 99.1% approval rate in his re-election as CEO. Cook had many discussions with shareholders about the direction Apple is going, and he says that there are many great products that Apple is planning that will help boost the company’s stock price. Cook, however, did not elaborate on what type of products these would be. The shareholders asked that Apple increase its dividends to 2.02€ per share, which would turn out to be a total of 7.64€ billion in annual dividend payments.

That’s much lower than David Einhorn, who runs the Greenlight Capital hedge fund, had planned. Einhorn, who was absent from the meeting, wanted Apple to release preferred shares called iPrefs that would offer an annual dividend of 4%. Einhorn even sued Apple in order to block a proposal from the company that would require it to receive the approval of its shareholders before issuing preferred stock.

Cook commented on Einhorn’s suggestions and lawsuit, saying, “I strongly believe it was a silly slideshow, regardless of how the judge ruled on it.” Apple had begun 2013 with 104.6€ billion, which is much more than the 74.83€ billion it had at the start of 2012. There was a huge influx of sales on iPhones and iPads that contributed to this number. Cook also says that he has no worries about Android having a higher market share than Apple, because in the end, all Apple wants to do is create the best products. A shareholder suggested that Apple create a computerized bicycle (iCycle?) to help boost its stock prices, erupting laughter in everyone, including Tim Cook.

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LG officially announces new wireless charger, claims worlds smallest

LG officially announces new wireless charger, claims worlds smallest

Remember the Qi wireless charger we first showed you yesterday at Mobile World Congress? LG has today officially announced it and in the process claim that the hockey puck like charging disk is the worlds smallest wireless charger. As we found out during our hands on, it's a nice little accessory, and unlike the Nexus 4 charging orb sits flat against a surface. 

 As this is a Qi certified charger, in theory any Qi compatible device should be able to take advantage of this. LG makes note of 2 of their US released smartphones -- the Nexus 4 and Spectrum 2 -- as being Qi enabled. No word on pricing or availability at this moment in time, but as this will be coming from LG direct we'd love to see a much wider availability than the currently limited Nexus 4 charger. Click on past the break for the full press release. 

 BARCELONA, Feb. 26, 2013 ㅡ LG Electronics (LG) today introduced the world’s smallest wireless charger at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. At only 6.9cm in diameter, the WCP-300 is designed with portability in mind. Despite its diminutive size, the charging area is 1.7 times wider than that of LG’s previous generation wireless charger.The new model is compatible with a standard 5-pin micro-USB charger, providing the highest level of charging performance and user convenience.

 The WCP-300 employs electromagnetic induction technology and is Qi certified by the Wireless Power Consortium. Electromagnetic induction produces a magnetic field that in turn generates an electric current to charge the batteries in devices placed on the charging pad. Certification ensures that the WCP-300 is compatible with all smartphones that support the Qi standard.

 “Wireless charging is the holy grail of smartphone user convenience,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “With the WCP-300, LG was able to deliver both portability with top-class charging capabilities in a device no larger than a typical beverage coaster.”

 In the US market, both the LG Spectrum 2 and Nexus 4 feature built-in support for wireless charging right out of the box, eliminating the need to purchase separate covers. LG believes that built-in support for upcoming smartphones will be the most critical development in making wireless charging the industry standard going forward.

 LG is committed to offering consumers a better mobile user experience by introducing smartphones with more advanced wireless charging technologies in the global market.

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Samsung announces Android-powered HomeSync with 1TB HDTV box

Samsung announces Android-powered HomeSync with 1TB HDTV box

The Galaxy Note 8.0 isn't the only new fare Samsung's dropping at Mobile World Congress. Samsung today also unleashed its HomeSync media box. It's a 1-terabyte drive that allows up to eight devices to sync files for playback over an HDTV. It's encrypted and sports user-specific IDs and passwords, so Mom and Dad can keep their mom-and-dad stuff separate from Timmy and Jenny's.

 And as this is a full-on Jelly Bean device (powered by a dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM), you'll get a bit of a traditional Android experience with it as well, including games and apps, Samsung says.

 HomeSync will be available in April in select countries, with a global rollout to follow.

 Full presser is after the break.

 Samsung HomeSync creates connected media experience for the whole family

 Provides home cloud for storing, sharing and streaming content across multiple devices

 Barcelona, February 24, 2013 – Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd., a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced Samsung HomeSync, a home hub solution that a shared storage fit for a family, the best entertainment experience on a big screen TV, and a new way of enjoying your HDTV through a familiar and smarter Android user experience. 

 Shared Storage for a FamilyHomeSync’s 1TB drive can help you sync to multiple devices, providing shared or private storage for all your content. It supports eight separate accounts to cover a whole family, and allows each user to upload and download content from multiple devices and instantly share with other family members. File encryption and user-specific ID and password ensure content in a user’s private area remains separate from the shared area in HomeSync.

 Entertainment on a Big Screen

 The HomeSync brings the best of Android gaming, movies, TV shows and streaming content direct into your living room. It allows you to stream content from your Galaxy device wirelessly to the TV – letting you watch, see and use all your home videos, photos and apps, and all at a full HD 1080p.

 Giving any HDTV new SmartsUsers can enjoy the full and familiar Android experience with HomeSync’s Jelly Bean media player and access to Play Store and all of your apps. HomeSync also enables new ways to interact with your content via the control modes enabled wirelessly on the phone.

 HomeSync will be available from April 2013 in select countries and continue to expand globally.

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GLO BOY SOLAR NIGHTLIGHT

GLO BOY SOLAR NIGHTLIGHT

During the day, he's a sleepy sentinel on your windowsill. When darkness falls, flip him over on your nightstand and he gives off a warm comforting glow. GloBoy is what everybody needs - a friend that will see you through the dark times! The solar-charged battery will power him for up to 6 hours.

Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00555SQTW/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=httpswwwfa0b2-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B00555SQTW&adid=1D6F36E01F35HG41G2W9&

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MP3 Player & LED Lamp

MP3 Player & LED Lamp

This nifty designed speaker with LED lamp and built in MP3 player will definitely catch the eye of your friends and add a nice touch of design to your interior! Play music through the built in speaker by plugging your Mp3 player, Smartphone, table or Pc to “Shroom” using the included 3.5mm cable or play all your favorite Mp3 songs straight from a MicroSD card. The onboard buttons let you navigate through your tracks, control the volume and play/pause the music. Enjoy up to 6 hours of music playback provided by the 700 mAh battery which can be charged through USB. Buy here: http://www.chinavasion.com/china/wholesale/Home_Audio_Video/Speaker-Headphone-Earphone/MP3_Player_and_Speaker_Shroom_-_Tactile_White_LED_Lamp/

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