Accessories
LG G5 Hands-On
LG puts the fun back in function with the announcement of its latest flagship smartphone at Mobile World Congress, the LG G5. It has everything a 2016 flagship is expected to have: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, Quick Charge 3.0 that promises 83% of battery after 30 minutes of charging, a fingerprint scanner, quad HD display, USB Type C, Android Marshmallow, and great cameras.
The G4 had one of the best smartphone cameras in 2015 so it’s no surprise LG retained most of its features. Simple, Auto, and Manual modes are still there, giving users more flexibility when taking photos.
LG also retained the same 8MP front-facing camera but added “selfie flash” – an extra white space framing the screen that illuminates the face when activated.
But what’s new are the phones two main cameras. Yep, it’s got two.
You can now switch from the main 16MP camera that’s also found on the G4 to a new 8MP shooter with a 135° wide field of view that captures more than what the human eye can see.
On the G5, the app drawer appears to be missing but we found out this can be fixed in the Settings menu under Home Screen.
First introduced by LG in the V10’s secondary screen, the G5’s main display also gets the Always-On feature to show time, date, and notifications. LG claims it only eats 0.8% of battery life per hour or about 5% per day.
All of this are packed into a completely new design and form factor. Gone is the plastic and leather, slightly curved smartphone with sharp edges. Filling in the LG G4’s leather shoes is an all-aluminum unibody.
You can still hot swap batteries though thanks to a new innovative design.
Its trademark back side volume rocker has been moved to the phone’s sides leaving only the power button and dual cameras at the back.
But what really sets the G5 apart from all the other flagships this year is its modular design. And this is where the real fun and excitement begins. LG calls it an adventurous theme park in your pocket.
Aside from being able to replace your battery in case you run out of juice, it also allows you to attach accessory modules to expand the phone’s capabilities.
One press on the lock button and the cap along with the 2800 mAh battery comes off revealing the hollow insides of the phone when you pull it out all the way.
Removing the cap and reattaching the battery to the modules is not as intuitive as it looks. We had to be coached before we got it right.
The modules LG introduced at launch were the LG Cam Plus and the LG Hi-Fi Plus.
The LG Cam Plus is a camera grip that turns the phone into a point and shoot camera. It has a toggle button at the bottom that launches the camera, a zoom dial, a dedicated shutter button, and a button for video recording.
It’s also packed with an additional 1200 mAh battery providing the G5 a massive 4,000 mAh battery life.
For audiophiles and improved media consumption, LG also introduced the LG Hi-Fi Plus, a 32-bit digital to analog converter or DAC made by top-tier audio manufacturer Bang & Olufsen.
It offers high-quality audio that would usually only be available through high-end audio devices.
At the bottom are its own headphone jack and USB-C port making it a stand-alone DAC, compatible with other phones.
LG also introduced a wide-range of companion devices for the G5 which they call Friends.
These ‘Friends’ include the LG 360 VR, a virtual reality headset that’s much smaller and lighter than its rivals. It only weighs 118g – that’s ⅓ as heavy as competing VR goggles.
The LG 360 Cam – as its name implies a 360 degree camera with two 13MP 200-degree wide angle lenses, a 1,200mAh battery and an expandable 4GB internal memory.
And the LG Rolling Bot – a round, remote-controlled toy that has a built-in speaker and an 8MP camera, perfect for home surveillance. It’s packed with a 5000mAh battery and is smart enough to go to the charging dock when it’s about to run out of juice.
Accessories
Sony WF-1000XM6 was accidentally leaked online
The design suggests some interesting changes.
Despite how small they are, the unannounced Sony WF-1000XM6 has just made a huge appearance, albeit accidentally, in an online retail store. Though the leak doesn’t reveal all the technical details about the device, the scant photos and specs are enough to paint an interesting picture about Sony’s next earbuds.
Via The Walkman Blog, an online retailer called Power Buy accidentally released a store page for the WF-1000XM6. The page contains extensive photos and a few specs for the device. Now, the specs don’t reveal much. As we can already ascertain based on previous releases, the earbuds will have Active Noise Cancelation and IPX4-rated water resistance.
The photos, however, are telling. For one, the WF-1000XM6 will return to a completely matte texture after a brief switch to a glossy texture for the current generation. The overall design is more elongated or pill-shaped, too. Previous earbuds feature a more circular or compact design.
Conversely, the charging case switches from a pill-shaped design to a more angular one, featuring flat bases. The flatter design should make the case stabler while on a surface but might make it clunkier when inside a pocket.
The leak caps it all off by including a price: THB 11,990 (or roughly US$ 381), which is a lot higher than the current generation. Either Sony went crazy with the price increase, or this is just a placeholder price. Only time (and an official launch) will tell. The leak, unfortunately, doesn’t reveal a launch date, so it might still be quite a wait.
SEE ALSO: Sony WH-1000XM6: Master of sound quality and noise cancellation
Accessories
OBSBOT launches AI-powered 4K Tiny 3 series webcams
Professional-grade audiovisual features in compact bodies
OBSBOT has announced the global launch of two new AI-powered 4K webcams: the Tiny 3 and Tiny 3 Lite.
Designed for content creators, streamers, podcasters, remote professionals, educators, and more, the Tiny 3 series sets a new benchmark for professional webcams.
The products combine studio-grade spatial audio, flagship-level imaging, and industry-leading AI intelligence.
The two variants also come in ultra-compact aluminum-alloy bodies while delivering premium sight and sound.
Both the Tiny 3 and Tiny 3 Lite feature industry-leading triple silicon MEMS microphone array. This system combines one omnidirectional and two directional microphones powered by Sisonic MEMS technology.
The architecture is commonly found in premium TWS earbuds and professional audio equipment. Such technology enables:
- ultra-low distortion up to 130 dB SPL
- exceptional 69dB signal-to-noise ratio
- full spectrum 50Hz-20kHz frequency response
- consistent unit-to-unit studio quality
This way, users can expect immersive sound that rivals dedicated microphones without the need to buy an extra product.
In addition, the Tiny 3 series features five dedicated audio profiles so users can tailor fit the webcams for various needs:
- Pure Audio Mode — zero processing, studio-grade capture
- Spatial Audio Mode — enhanced left-right stereo separation for vlogs, storytelling with soundscape
- Smart Omni Mode — AI-powered 360-degree pickup with balanced vocals, ambient sound
- Directional Mode — focuses on voice in front while cutting surrounding noise
- Dual-Directional Mode — clear audio capture from front and rear while rejecting side noise
Moreover, the Tiny 3 series comes with Voice Locator. This feature lets the product find users, smoothly rotating the gimbal and tracking them automatically.
They can also leverage voice commands or the OBSBOT Vox SE wireless lavalier for cable-free audio.
Flagship imaging
Picture wise, the Tiny 3 features 4K@30fps video and up to 120fps high-frame rate capture. The system also uses advanced DCG HDR for balanced highlights and shadows, as well as ultra-fast dual all-pixel PDAF autofocus.
And powered by OBSBOT’s AI algorithms, the series introduces AI Tracking 2.0. Key capabilities include:
- accurate tracking of subjects like individuals, groups, hands, objects, and more via Only Me mode
- auto zoom, customizable composition lines, Face Framing
- Voice Tracking
- Multiple AI modes, including dedicated Desk Mode, Whiteboard Mode
- Intuitive gesture and voice controls
For further control, users can use the OBSBOT Center and OBSBOT live for creative controls. These cover exposure and gamma curve adjustments, manual white balance tuning, and more.
Furthermore, the Tiny 3 products support remote interaction and VR features powered by the OBSBOT Toolkit.
They also integrate effortlessly with the OBSBOT ecosystem for livestreams, gaming handheld capabilities, and more.
Price, availability
The Tiny 3 starts at US$ 349 while the Tiny 3 Lite starts at US$ 199. The Vox SE, meanwhile, retails for US$ 59.
Accessories
Soundtrack for the city: HIDDEN.NY x AIAIAI TMA-2 headphones
Living in a big city like New York makes you want to have music on a lot: on the subway, walking between meetings, sitting in a café with your laptop, zoning out on a long walk home, or romanticizing the smallest things. Headphones have become an essential part of my life.
That’s why the HIDDEN.NY x AIAIAI collaboration makes sense. The TMA-2 HIDDEN Edition headphones are reminiscent of early-2000s tech. It’s nostalgic but with New York City character, at least the kind that I encounter and not the one you see in movies.
If you follow either brand, the partnership feels natural. HIDDEN.NY started as an Instagram mood board and grew into a full lifestyle platform rooted in street culture and design. AIAIAI is a Danish company that’s long been part of music culture, known for modular gear that artists use.
The first thing you notice is the colorway. The transparent design with green highlights is subtle. It’s not loud but still stands out.
You can see the structure of the headphones, which makes them feel more like an accessory than just another piece of black plastic tech. Bonus points that they are a conversation starter, too.
In daily use, the headphones are easy to live with. They are light and comfortable, which is important when you’re wearing them for long stretches. They don’t clamp too hard nor do they feel bulky.
Sound-wise, they’re clean and balanced. While it doesn’t have active noise cancellation, it works well for all the ways people actually listen in a big city. I like that you don’t have to think about the sound much.
It’s just good in a way that doesn’t get in your way, whatever mood I’m in wherever I am in the city, these headphones are great company.
AIAIAI’s modular approach also means these aren’t built to be tossed when something wears out. The speaker, headband, earpads, and cable are all replaceable.
So much of the tech we use should grow with us, even if they get outdated. So AIAIAI builds systems that can be upgraded over time. That’s part of why artists and DJs use them.
Especially because it’s a collectible, it feels like a piece you’ll want to keep. As someone who uses his prized possessions for a really long time, I love this about these headphones.
In a city where everything moves fast and feels temporary, it’s nice to have gear that doesn’t feel disposable.
The campaign, shot by photographer Gunner Stahl, probably looks familiar if you’re attuned to hiphop culture. What sets his work apart is his portraits feel more raw and relaxed instead of posed and polished. It aligns with HIDDEN.NY’s aesthetic, the kind of everyday style that feels genuine.
At the end of the day, the HIDDEN.NY x AIAIAI TMA-2 Bluetooth headphones make sense for people who live in cities like New York, where music is part of how you move, work, and think.
They sound good, they look interesting and different. They fit into real life without trying too hard.
The TMA-2 Hidden Edition headphones retail for US$220 and is available on aiaiai.audio.
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