Rumors of a smartphone called the LG Z that has a curved OLED display surfaced yesterday , alongside the suggestion that it would be announced imminently. However, these rumors were partly wrong.
According to one source familiar with the plans, the device will arrive before the end of the year but it won’t be called the LG Z. Instead, it will arrive with the moniker of the G Flex, and will use LG’s new Plastic OLED (POLED) technology – which was already shown off earlier in the year .
Other specifics remain unknown, but with Samsung and LG now both racing to be the first to bring a smartphone with a flexible display to market, it shouldn’t be too long before we actually start to see some in the flesh. The image on the right is a filing with the Korea Patent Office for the flexible handset design concept, though actual in-the-wild snaps remain elusive.
Featured Image Credit – David Becker/AFP/Getty Images
Orée introduces marble wireless charging pebble and wooden touch pad
Orée , the French company that combines technology with luxury craftsmanship, has launched new additions to its range of computer accessories in the form of a wireless marble charging pebble and a wooden touch slab – or touch pad, to you and me.
The wireless charger is made of marble and wood and uses the wireless Qi charging standard , meaning it will work with Qi-compliant charging sleeves for your smartphone, or directly with devices that have the Qi standard built-in. The charger comes in the choice of red or white marble, costs €110 and is due to start shipping from October 21. Orée also provides its own wireless charging sleeve that will fit the iPhone 5 or Galaxy S4 for €90.
The wooden “touch slab” follows up on their original wooden keyboard and can also work as a number pad using a provided numeric overlay. Complementing its keyboard perfectly, the touch pad is available to pre-order now in walnut or maple for €150. Shipping is due to start from October 21.
➤ Orée [via RudeBaguette ]
Breitling’s $8,900 Exospace B55 is a smartwatch for super-rich aviation enthusiasts
Swiss watchmaker Breitling has launched the Exospace B55 , a smartwatch that combines a quartz movement with advanced chronograph functions that all you pilots out there will find useful.
The B55 combines an analog dial with a digital display so you can see the time at two locations with just a glance. You can also use the swap function to switch the time displayed on the hands and the screen. It looks pretty nifty when you use your phone to enable the feature.
Aviation enthusiasts will want to check out the B55’s Chrono Flight features: when you’re flying a plane, the watch can record the time elapsed between the moment the aircraft begins to move, to the time it stops at the end of its mission.
The watch can also memorize the date, departure and arrival times of each flight, plus takeoff and landing times, as well as airport codes, and then save the data to your phone.
The watch can also receive and display notifications of email, SMS, WhatsApp messages and calendar items, as well as let you know who’s calling. It doesn’t offer the bevy of interactive features other smartwatches like the Apple Watch or Android Wear timepieces, but that’s clearly not the area of focus here.
The B55 has a titanium 46mm case, a backlighting system that’s activated automatically when you turn your wrist past 35° and a SuperQuartz movement that’s said to be 10 times as accurate as standard quartz. For obvious reasons, it’s designed to withstand challenging weather conditions.
At $8,900, it’s not for everyone — but it’s nice to know that there’s finally a wearable that pilots can get behind.
➤ Exospace B55 [Breitling]