The Sound Step Lightning 2 Bluetooth speaker: Impressive sound and genuine portability

Audiophiles are often challenged in small spaces, but the remarkably rich sounds of Sound Step Lightning 2 prove that true quality can be found in a compact Bluetooth speaker.

Despite being only 3.6 inches thick, the Sound Step has a 2.1 speaker configuration, meaning it has a dedicated sub-woofer for a rich bass. The output is further enhanced by UQ3 spatial sound technology, which works to provide real stereo separation.

Along with Bluetooth, the speaker has three other input methods: the in-built Lightning dock, an FM tuner that you control via the Soundfreaq app, and a line-in jack. The speaker has physical controls, but it also comes with an infrared remote.

In addition to being lightweight, the speaker is truly portable thanks to an internal rechargeable battery. This can provide for other devices, too, either via the Lightning connector, or the USB port on the reverse.

Over at TNW Deals , you can currently grab the Lightning 2 for $59 with free shipping to the Continental US. The deal takes 60 percent off the MRSP of this highly rated speaker.

➤ Get this deal

Literally why does this luxury watch have an Apple Watch attached to it?

Someone should check on the welfare of the designers at California-based luxury Swiss watchmaker Nico Gerard , because there seems to be some kind of serious huffing incidents over there. Or crack cocaine.

Otherwise, I can’t imagine why a sober adult person would create a watch with an Apple Watch attached to it. Yet, you can soon own the Pinnacle brand of watches, in three colors, starting at $9,300 (excluding tax).

Take a look at the video below:

….Why?

I’m so confused as to who Nico Gerard is marketing to. What kind of person wants to pay to have two watches spliced together?

Are you a secret agent who has to use a regular timepiece to blend in, but flip to your Apple Watch to alert the chief that the deed has been done?

Are you looking to marry a girl and you’re afraid that a hip new Apple Watch would read too gauche to her conservative old-money dad, but you can’t bear the thought of not checking your email from your wrist?

Are you afraid that the Apple Watch makes you look less rich than you actually are, even though the Apple Watch Edition costs more than most iterations of this luxury watch?

Are you a firm believer that although we’ve been telling time for centuries now using the sun and then, more recently, mechanized time pieces, the Swiss are the only ones who are actually right?

Do you really hate the Apple’s Watch display so much that you’re afraid it’ll damage your eyes?

Do you want to gaslight your friends into believing that you only have one kind of watch, but you flip it every so often so they think they’re trapped in The Matrix?

I’m serious: if there is a legitimate reason for this watch to exist other than the idea that you want to be that guy who would just as soon stack his Apple Watch on top of his Rolex but finds this more efficient, I want to hear from you.

Because I am confused.

➤ Nico Gerard

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Huawei’s first Android Wear watch is up for pre-order now and works with iOS

Huawei has confirmed that its first Android Wear-based smartwatch is available to pre-order in the US from today – but more excitingly, the company has confirmed that the newest version of Android Wear is compatible with iOS devices , which is a huge step forward for Google’s wearable OS.

Huawei says the Watch will go on sale in Canada, Germany, France, Spain and Italy “this month” and will be available in the UK, Japan and UAE in October.

The device has a 1.4-inch AMOLED display (400 x 400 pixels) and comes with a choice of strap – leather, stainless steel link strap or stainless steel mesh strap – that will dictate the overall weight. The heaviest (the link strap) comes in at 131 grams, but the leather weighs less than half of that at 61 grams.

Battery life is claimed to be around a day and a half (allowing for 32 ‘active’ hours and 8 sleeping hours) and will charge from flat in 75 minutes. We will, of course, have to wait until we can test a model out for ourselves before we can verify these claims.

Pricing is variable and depends on which model you choose. Huawei says that all models cost between €399 (around $450) and €699 (around $785) though, which sounds like its aimed squarely at the ‘premium’ end of the market and will go up directly against the Apple Watch .

Most excitingly, it’s the first smartwatch we know of to ship with the version of Android Wear that allows connections with iPhones as well as Android devices. Presumably, it won’t be the last though. That might not be quite as good a thing as it first sounds , but it’s nice to have the option.

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