Welcome to the first ever live edition of Happy Hour straight from Las Vegas at CES 2016! In this episode we’re discussing some of the latest announcements, new accessories for Apple products, and more! The Happy Hour podcast is available for download on iTunes and through our dedicated RSS feed.

New episodes of Happy Hour are available every Wednesday. As mentioned, you can download this podcast via iTunes or plug in our RSS feed link into your favorite podcasting app. Send an email to listenermail@9to5mac.com (or click here) and your question/comment may be featured in an upcoming episode of Happy Hour.

Note: iTunes (web interface and app) may still be propagating the new episode which could take up to 24 hours. Subscribing to the podcast feed will guarantee the latest episode is downloaded.

Hosts:

• Dom Esposito
• Zac Hall

Here’s what we discussed in this episode:

• CES 2016 Roundup: The best iPhone, iPad, Mac, & Apple Watch accessories on show this week
• Pioneer is upgrading its lineup of aftermarket CarPlay displays
• LifeProof brings its FRĒ Power waterproof battery case to the iPhone 6s Plus
• Speck unveils the ultra-portable Pocket VR viewer compatible with iPhone
• JBL announces its Legend CP100 head unit with support for CarPlay
• Samsung Gear S2 to gain iOS compatibility later this year, now comes in gold & platinum
• Incipio adds USB-C MacBook docks, dockable offGRID iPhone batteries to lineup
• iHome unveils new SmartPlug model w/ power consumption tracking, remote control support
• iDevices adds new Siri-controlled wall outlets, switches and light sockets to its HomeKit lineup
• Fitbit’s latest Blaze activity tracker/watch has color, 5-day battery & Apple Watch ‘style’
• New LaCie + Seagate drives bring USB-C, style, and high SSD/HDD capacities
• Jaybird slates Freedom, X3 Bluetooth 4.0 athletic headphones for Q2 2016
• Incipio debuts ClamCase keyboards for iPad Pro, mini 4 + Air 2, adds power, notifications
• Say hello to the first of the 12-inch MacBook clones: HP’s 12.5-inch fanless Core M EliteBook Folio
• Hunter Fan Company announces two HomeKit-enabled ceiling fans launching this spring
• Honeywell announces HomeKit-enabled Lyric thermostat, available for preorder now
• Griffin’s new keychain-sized Travel Power Bank can recharge Apple Watch four times
• Hyper’s new ‘iShowFast’ Lightning drive adds faster transfers w/ USB 3.0 & much more, get 20% off
• Brydge announces new clamshell backlit keyboard cases for iPad Pro & iPad mini 4
• Griffin’s BreakSafe is the MagSafe USB-C adapter that Apple’s MacBook needs
• Lenovo and Acer announce first USB-C monitors, making them ideal for 12-inch MacBook

If you missed our 47th episode last week, you can subscribe and find every episode or start off from the previous episode here.

Remember: Subscribe on iTunes to catch all of the episodes as they go live and send in your questions/comments to listenermail@9to5mac.com.

Filed under: Happy Hour Tagged: 9to5Mac, Apple, CES, CES 2016, Happy Hour, Podcast, tech news, Technology

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One year after introducing the original Compute Stick, a version of which was featured in our guide to building a $150 iTunes media server, Intel today announced the 2nd-gen Compute Stick ($159-$499) with many noteworthy improvements. Still shaped like a pack of gum, the new Compute Stick fits a full-fledged PC into a small black enclosure, elongated modestly to accommodate a second USB port and new wireless hardware. This year, Intel is offering Atom, Core M3 and Core M5 versions, though even the $159 quad-core Atom version has enough power to serve as a full-fledged iTunes media server…

Each new Compute Stick measures roughly 1.5″ wide by 4.45″ long by 0.47″ thick — smaller overall than the Apple TV Siri Remote — while packing enough power to run standard Windows 10 apps, notably including iTunes. The size and integrated HDMI 1.4b plug enable the Compute Stick to plug directly into any HDTV, while USB and wireless features let you connect external storage devices and peripherals as needed.

Unlike the 802.11n, single-port original model, the new Atom version of the Compute Stick includes one USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0 port, as well as dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi support. It ships with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board memory, expandable using SDXC cards to an additional 128GB before USB or wireless storage are considered. The Atom processor inside has been bumped to Cherry Trail, and the MSRP is $10 higher than the first model’s, though first-gen Compute Sticks can currently be had for $100 to $120 online. Intel’s new Compute Sticks with Atom processors will be shipping soon.

Additionally, more powerful versions with Intel Core M3 ($399) or Core M5 ($499) processors will be available in February. They will jump from the Atom version’s Bluetooth 4.0 to Bluetooth 4.2, use a different power port, and lose the USB 2.0 port while growing 1mm in length. Each version will have 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage.

More From This Author

Check out more of my reviews, How-To guides and editorials for 9to5Mac here! I’ve published a lot of different topics of interest to Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, and Apple Watch users, as well as a personal gift guide for Apple fans, a great gift guide for iPhone users, a detailed gift guide for Mac users, and a separate gift guide for Apple photographers.

Filed under: General, iOS Devices

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Apple’s HomeKit platform, which allows Siri-control of Wi-Fi connected home automation accessories, is one of the big areas of interest for accessory makers at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. With the event officially kicking off today, we’ve put together one place to find all of the announcements this week for the latest HomeKit products.

Some of the highlights so far: the first ceiling fans and window blinds for the platform are on show this week, while more outlets, switches, thermostats and door lock options also gain support. And the products come from some notable companies in the space including Honeywell, Lutron, Kwikset, iHome, and more. 

Head below for the full list of HomeKit accessories announced this week.

We start things off with new wall outlets, switches, and light sockets from iDevices:

iDevices

• Siri-controlled, HomeKit wall outlets, switches and light sockets

Hunter HomeKit Fan

• WiFi enabled and support for Apple’s HomeKit platform, the ceiling fans are named Symphony and Signal and come in at $329 and $379.

Kwikset

• Kwikset Premis is the company’s first Apple HomeKit™-compatible smart door lock

Lutron

• Lutron announces HomeKit support for wireless window shade products

iHome

• iHome unveils new SmartPlug model w/ power consumption tracking, remote control support

Honeywell

• Honeywell announces HomeKit-enabled Lyric thermostat, available for preorder now

Grid Connect

• Grid Connect announces Smart HomeKit Sensors for Temperature & Humidity and Water Detection

Insteon

• Insteon adds Sonos integration to control speakers from its iOS app & hardware

Check back for more this week as CES unfolds and hit up our other CES 2016 roundups below:

–CES 2016 Roundup: The best iPhone, iPad, Mac, & Apple Watch accessories on show this week

Filed under: iOS

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ExoLens, a division of Fellowes, today announced a partnership with highly-respected camera lens maker Zeiss to release “ExoLens with optics by Zeiss,” a series of three new high-quality add-on lenses for the iPhone 6/6s and Plus models. Incorporating Zeiss’s T* anti-reflective coating, the lenses offer optical quality comparable to the Zeiss lenses found in Sony cameras, improving on already-released ExoLens systems for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Each lens screws into a machined aluminum mounting and tripod bracket that attaches to Apple’s devices. One even offers zoom capabilities…

Prominently found in Sony digital cameras, Zeiss’s optics are a photographic industry gold standard, relying upon high-quality glass and thoughtful optical designs to minimize distortion and chromatic aberration while preserving color and contrast. The “first three” Zeiss-developed ExoLenses for iPhone include Mutar-branded 0.6x wide-angle and 2x telephoto lenses, each in a black anodized aluminum housing with water- and dust-resistant coatings, as well as a Vario-Proxar macro lens that enables continuous zoom to capture subjects 3-12cm in diameter, and includes a detachable diffusor/spacer.

Fellowes promises that all three lenses offer “edge-to-edge image excellence and no discernible distortion or chromatic aberration,” a major difference relative to existing iPhone add-on lenses, most of which introduce at least a little distortion — sometimes a lot. Prices were not announced for the Zeiss lens kits, but the existing iPhone 6 kit sells for $130, with the iPhone 6 Plus version at $150, each bundled with one mounting bracket, two lenses, caps, and other items. The new versions are expected to ship late in the second quarter of this year.

More From This Author

Check out more of my reviews, How-To guides and editorials for 9to5Mac here! I’ve published a lot of different topics of interest to Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, and Apple Watch users, as well as a personal gift guide for Apple fans, a great gift guide for iPhone users, a detailed gift guide for Mac users, and a separate gift guide for Apple photographers.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Camera, ExoLens, Fellowes, iPhone 6, iphone 6 plus, iPhone 6s, iphone 6s plus, lenses, Zeiss

Continue reading more about iOS Devices, iPhone 6, and iphone 6 plus at 9to5Mac.

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Apple just seeded its second beta release of OS X 10.11.3 to both public beta testers and developers as it prepares for the upcoming public release.

Apple released the first beta of 10.11.3 on the Mac App Store mid-December following the public release of OS X El Capitan 10.11.2 earlier that month.

The company didn’t include any release notes with the first two pre-release versions of 10.11.3, which means the update should focus on performance improvements and bug fixes instead of major new features or enhancements.

As always, you can download the OS X 10.11.3 El Capitan beta 2 through the Mac App Store.

Filed under: iOS Devices

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At CES 2016, Hyper is showing off both new and updated product lines, all of which are specifically designed with iPhone, iPad, and Mac users in mind. The highlights are a new USB-C hub for 12″ MacBook users, a USB 3.0 Lightning thumb drive, and a pair of slick Apple Watch accessories. 

HyperDrive USB-C 5-in-1 Hub

The most exciting of the company’s CES offerings is a new 5-in-1 USB-C hub, which is one of the first on the market to offer passthrough charging. That’s a big deal for MacBook users who have been looking for the perfect hub to expand their I/O beyond the one USB Type-C port on the device. And unlike many of the other USB-C products being announced this week, Hyper’s hub was designed specifically for 12-inch MacBook users, sporting an aluminum enclosure in silver, space gray, and gold color options.

The HyperDrive USB-C Hub features USB-C for charging, an SDXC slot, a micro SDXC slot, and two USB 3.0 ports.  It’s designed for Mac users, but it will also work with other USB-C devices including the Chromebook Pixel.

You can get the HyperDrive USB-C 5-in-1 hub now for $49 (Reg. $69), and take another $10 off with coupon code “9to5Mac” to drop the price down to $39.99.

HyperLink & Amber charging case

If you’re looking for a solid steel link band for the Apple Watch but don’t want to shell out $400 for Apple’s Link Bracelet, the new HyperLink band ($69) on show this week might fit the bill. Using the same 316L Stainless Steel as the Apple Watch, it doesn’t compromise on quality and style, yet it comes in at only a quarter of the price. There are a few of these on the market, but Hyper’s band is actually a convincing alternative to Apple’s own traditional steel link bands where the majority of others fall into the “get what you pay for” category.

It also comes in a Space Black version that has a “diamond like carbon (DLC)” coating, matching the darker model Apple Watches. Get 20% off for a limited time with coupon code 9to5Mac at checkout. 

To accompany the HyperLink, the company was also showing off its new Amber Charging Case for Apple Watch. The aluminum protective case doubles as a charging stand for your Apple Watch with a 3800mAh battery and the ability to charge your iPhone, iPad or other USB device simultaneously off a built-in USB port. You’ll be able to charge your Apple Watch on the go up to 8 times. It’s available in silver, gold, rose gold, and space gray colors to match the various Apple Watch models. Available for $99, but get 20% off with coupon code 9to5Mac during CES week.

iShowFast

We currently have an exclusive 20% off for Hyper’s iShowFast too, a new Lightning and USB flash storage drive that adds faster transfers with USB 3.0 and much more.

With a standard USB connector on one side and Apple’s Lightning connector on the other, the product allows iPhone and iPad users to quickly and easily transfer files between devices (iOS and desktops), or stream content directly from the drive to the iOS device.

Normally, you can get iShowFast from Hyper online for $79.99 (16GB), $99 (32GB), $149 (64GB), and $249 (128GB), $399.99 (256GB). But we have a 20% off discount for readers bringing the prices down to $63.99 (16GB), $79.99 (32GB), $119.99 (64GB), and $199 (128GB), $319.99 (256GB), a solid deal on any model you want.

USB-C HyperJuice & Pearl

HyperJuice with USB Type-C ($169), the company’s extremely popular portable charging solution for MacBooks, has just received the USB-C treatment for users of the new 12-inch MacBook, with a $49 adapter available as an add-on. Available in four capacities, HyperJuice is one of the only products that gives the USB-C-only MacBook some extra battery life on the road, and you an also use it to charge your other devices using the built-in USB ports. 

Last but not least, the company has another portable power product on show this week with its recently launched Pearl ($39), a battery pack in the form factor of a compact mirror with a built-in 3000mAh cell. It’s available in red, gold, silver, and purple. Get 20% off with coupon code 9to5Mac at checkout during CES week. 

Filed under: iOS Devices, Mac Tagged: 12″ MacBook, AMBER, Apple watch, Hyper, HyperDrive, Hyperlink, iPad, iPhone, iShowFast, USB-C

For more news on iOS Devices, iPhone, and iPad continue reading at 9to5Mac.

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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro w/ Force Touch (newest) 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB $1,250 shipped (Reg. $1,499)

DJI Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter w/ 2.7K Camera: $500 shipped (Reg. $699), more

Super Hexagon for iPhone and iPad goes free (Reg. $3)

Colorburn adds 1,000 photo filters to your iOS device for free (Reg. $1)

Lifeline 2 and Lifeline: Silent Night games for iOS/Android drop to $0.99 each

Apple is giving away Pixite’s Union image blending iOS app ($2 value)

Disney’s Castle of Illusion drops to its best price in over a year: $1 (Reg. $10)

Headphones: up to 65% off MEE Sport-Fi in-ears starting under $11, Sennheiser HD 558 over-ears $80 (Orig. $180), more

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Daily Deals: CyberPower 1,500VA UPS $138, Seagate 2TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive $70, more

• Nostalgia runs high on Kodak’s modern take of the Super 8 camera
• Sony takes to CES 2016 with new 4K HDR Ultra HDTVs, multi-room audio, more
• Games/Apps: Shovel Knight (Wii U, PS4) $20, Turtle Beach Ear Force PS Headset from $30

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Fitbit Charge Wireless Activity Wristband $90 w/ free shipping (Reg. $130)

Beats by Dre Powerbeats2 Wireless Active Collection Earphones from $120 shipped (Reg. $200)

Apple 27-inch Retina 5K iMac (Late 2014) 3.5GHz/8GB/1TB Fusion: $1,699 shipped (Orig. $2,499)

Best Buy Apple sale: iPad Air 2 $125 off, iPad Air $100 off, iPad mini 4 $100 off, much more!

Anker ToughShell iPhone 6/s/Plus Case w/ built-in tempered glass screen protector: $10 (Reg. $18)

• Samsung 50-inch 1080p HDTVs: 60Hz $440, Smart 120Hz $500
• Hyper USB Type-C 5-in-1 Hub with Pass Through Charging: $40 + shipping (Reg. $50+)
• Fashion: L.L. Bean Winter Sale up to 50% off, more
• LG Watch Urbane Android Wear Smartwatch $200 shipped (Reg. $259)
• Media: Mission Impossible Collection $36 ($60+ value), more
• Add 75 classic films to your DVD collection for $105 (Reg. $330)
• Apogee Groove portable USB DAC/headphone amp $240 shipped (Reg. $295)
• LeapFrog LeapTV Educational Gaming System $45 shipped (Reg. $60)
• Get in shape this year w/ huge savings on home workout gear
• Free PS Plus Games for January: Grim Fandango Remastered, Medal of Honor, more
• Lightning 3600mAh Aukey Portable Battery Pack + MFi cable: $10 shipped

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Nikon jumps into the action camera fray with its new Keymission 360

LG drops new ultra-slim OLED 4K UHDTVs at CES that focus on HDR capabilities

• DJI introduces new 4K drone with a more affordable price, updates Inspire 1 PRO
• Harman Kardon releases a new HD audio multi-room speaker line with outdoor functionality
• Jaybird slates Freedom, X3 Bluetooth 4.0 athletic headphones for Q2 2016
• Parrot’s new DISCO drone hits the skies with 50MPH speeds and extended flight times
• Altec Lansing’s new Bluetooth earbuds are completely wireless and have built-in GPS
• Samsung’s newest ‘Family Hub’ refrigerator sports a Tesla-like 21-inch 1080p display
• Roku announces fresh 4K UHDTVs w/ HDR as 1080p models hit all-time low prices
• Altec Lansing’s new Bluetooth earbuds are completely wireless and have built-in GPS
• Microsoft unveils new Xbox One Bundles: Rainbow Six Siege & pick your own game
• LG goes after Amazon Echo with its new SmartThinQ hub
• This astonishingly detailed LEGO Millennium Falcon took 7,500 pieces and over a year to build

Filed under: Tips and Tricks Tagged: 9to5Toys Lunch Break

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Taiwanese site Apple Club has posted what it claims are leaked photos of iPhone 7 components. The photos appear to show the backlight of a new iPhone. The inclusion of a 3D Touch chip rules out the iPhone 6c, as Apple is expected to limit the feature to its flagship phones, hence the suggestion that this is for the iPhone 7 …

Apple Club did previously bring us a leaked schematic showing the protruding camera lens on the iPhone 6, so has at least some credibility, but in this case the photos don’t really tell us anything useful unless the position of ribbon cables is of deep personal interest to you.

As usual, we can expect to see a growing number of such photos as we progress through the year.

Rumors surrounding the iPhone 7 of course began circulating even before the launch of the iPhone 6s, with KGI suggesting then that the new model would be as thin as the iPod Touch. We’ve heard suggestions of a new casing material, offering water- and dust-proofing; Intel chips (though still with an Apple-designed A-series chip); and multiple rumors of Apple ditching the 3.5mm headphone socket.

Apple is also said to be testing models with USB-C, multi-touch 3D Touch, dual cameras and more – and there are the usual rumors of a switch to OLED screens, though not in time for the iPhone 7.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: iPhone 7, iPhone 7 backlight, iPhone 7 components, iPhone 7 leaked photos, iPhone 7 parts

For more information about iOS Devices, iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 parts continue reading at 9to5Mac.

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While I personally find that the Apple Watch comfortably gets me through a full day except when travelling between time-zones involves 20-hour days, some are vocal in their complaints about battery-life. There could be no such complaints about the Withings Go, the company’s latest activity and sleep tracker: the company says that it can last for up to eight months between charges.

The secret? An e-ink display. E-ink screens use no power to display data, simply sipping tiny amounts of power when the display changes.

For walking and running, the device analyzes number of steps, distance covered, calories burned as well as the duration of the running session. Go is also water-resistant (5 ATM) and automatically recognizes when the user starts swimming. At night, Go analyzes and can distinguish between light and deep sleep cycles. Withings Go connects to the free Withings Health Mate iOS and Android application that acts as a personal coach to track and motivate users to achieve their own activity goals.

Of course, the Withings Go is no substitute for an Apple Watch, displaying only an activity percentage dial or analog watchface – and there’s no heart-rate sensor. But if you want a wear-and-forget basic activity tracker, this might be just the thing you’re after.

The Withings Go will cost $69 when it goes on sale sometime this quarter. If you can’t wait until then, you get a similar battery-life from the company’s existing smart-looking Activite Pop Smart Watch – which is an analog watch with a mechanical activity dial. This normally costs $149.95 but is currently on sale at Amazon for $99.99.

Filed under: Apple Watch Tagged: Activity tracker, Apple watch, Withings, Withings Go

For more information about Apple watch, Apple Watch, and Withings continue reading at 9to5Mac.

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We are big fans of Kanex so we snuck over to their CES booth last night for an early look at their 2016 accessories. In short, they have a lot of goodies that they’ll be announcing later today (and we’ll update this post when they do). What stuck out for us were 2 products…

Kanex is one of the first to bring out a USB-C Battery specifically geared towards Retina MacBooks, with 3-Amp charging power and 15,000mAh of storage. That’s almost triple the Retina MacBook’s internal 5,263mAh battery. Even with some efficiency lost during the movement of electrons, Kanex GoPower will let you triple your normal Retina MacBook battery usage. And you can put your iPhone or iPad on it as well, since there’s an old-fashioned USB-A port which will charge any of your other Lightning accessories at a speedy 2.4A. It also comes with a USB-C cable. The final price and launch date are TBD, but we’re told “soon.”

We also took a quick look at Kanex’s new Apple Watch Battery charger. This is a little bit like Griffin’s 3,000mAh Apple Watch keychain charger, but it adds a USB port for charging your iPhone, and boosts the battery capacity to 4,000mAh.

If it’s only charging your Apple Watch, it will last a week to 10 days, and can give you a full weekend of iPhone and Apple Watch battery combined. Kanex is still tweaking the final design, but showed us a prototype that we’re itching to review.

Filed under: Apple Watch, iOS Devices Tagged: Apple watch, Kanex, MacBook 12″

For more information about iOS Devices, Apple watch, and Apple Watch continue reading at 9to5Mac.

What do you think? Discuss “CES 2016: Kanex shows 4,000mAh Apple Watch + iPhone battery, mega USB-C Retina MacBook battery” with our community.