Zagg’s two-in-one Origin Bluetooth speaker arrives on the FCC
Zagg unveiled its innovative two-in-one Origin Bluetooth speaker at CES this year, and today the device made its first appearance on the FCC. The Origin consists of a small, portable, battery-powered Bluetooth speaker and a larger desktop speaker dock. The portable Bluetooth speaker can be inserted into the desktop dock for added power and charging, or removed for use on the road.
FCC documents for the Origin show that the speaker won approval for its Bluetooth capabilities. FCC filings also include internal and external photos of the device, as well as a user manual.
The Pebble Watch wins FCC approval, gets torn down, shipping soon?
Better late than never? Today, the Kickstarter-funded Pebble watch made an appearance on the FCC – a good sign that the device is close to launching. The Pebble has faced several delays since the device completed its Kickstarter funding in May 2012. The Pebble was originally scheduled to launch in September, but earlier this month Pebble Technology, the maker of the Pebble, announced that the device will not ship until 2013.
FCC filings from Pebble include a host of internal and external photos, as well as a partial manual for the device. According to the manual, the Pebble with feature a 32-bit Cortex-M3 CPU from ST Microelectronics, a 1.26” TLT LCD display from SHARP, and a Panasonic Bluetooth processor.
New version of the Beatbox Portable hits the FCC, adds NFC, USB charging, says goodbye to iPhone dock
Yesterday, Beats Electronics won FCC approval for a new version of the Beatbox Portable, the company’s compact, portable, Bluetooth speaker. The new version of the Beatbox Portable is pictured in FCC filings, above, and sports a design that is mostly similar to the original. However, it looks like Beats Electronics is doing away with the iPhone dock on the Beatbox Portable – the dock that was previously locked on the top of the Beatbox Portable has disappeared. The new Beatbox Portable will also feature a USB charging port on its rear, right above the device’s 3.5mm jack input.
Perhaps most interestingly, Beats Electronic’s FCC filing includes approval for use of the 13MHz spectrum. This band is typically used for NFC, a good sign that the new Beatbox Portable will sport NFC-enabled pairing options. Beats Electronics recently released a new version of its Dre Pill speaker that sported NFC-enabled pairing, and its makes sense to see this feature in other Beats speakers. Of course, the device also won FCC approval for its Bluetooth capabilities.
Beats Electronics has not yet announced a release date for the new Beatbox Portable. This FCC filings comes a bit too late in the year for a holiday release, so this may be something we hear about at CES in January.
The MetaWatch STRATA hits the FCC, while the Pebble remains MIA
The MetaWatch STRATA is the Kickstarter-funded smartwatch that you’ve probably never heard of. Funding for the MetaWatch STRATA ended on August 20, 2012 at $309,436 – a pittance compared to the $10 million plus that the competing Pebble smartwatch generated on Kickstarter.
But today the MetaWatch STRATA won FCC approval, a key milestone that will enable the STRATA to be sold in the US. The Pebble, on the other hand, doesn’t have a release date in sight and has suffered from numerous delays despite completing its Kickstarter funding in May 2012.
Like the Pebble, the MetaWatch STRATA connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and provides a host of data, including call and text notifications, calendar alerts, weather information and stock ticker data. The STRATA also enables users to control music playback, including volume, play/pause and next track functions. Down the road, the STRATA Widget SDK will allow developers to create custom apps for the device, as well.
The Pebble does offer an incredible-looking 144×168 e-paper display that appears to easily trump the STRATA’s 96×96 LCD display. Additionally, the press surrounding the Pebble will likely provide the device with a richer community of developers. Still, the STRATA’s FCC approval raises the device beyond vaporware status – just in time for the holidays. We can’t say that about the Pebble, which, despite receiving nearly more than $10 million in funding than the STRATA, does not yet have a release date and, by our accounts, has not yet received FCC approval.
Parrot’s $1000 Stark-designed Zikmu Solo Bluetooth speaker hits the FCC
Parrot unveiled its Zikmu Solo Bluetooth wireless speakers at CES this year and today the device made its first appearance on the FCC. Designed by Phillipe Stark, the Zikmu Solo delivers 100W of output and can stream media via Bluetooth or WiFi. The device also features a dock for iPhones or iPods, although it’s unclear if the Zikmu Solo will be able to connect to the iPhone 5 without an adapter. The Zikmu Solo features a web interface that provides users with control over music, including a virtual equalizer. iOS users can also control the Zikmu Solo via web app, although no iOS app is available for the device at the moment.
The Zikmu Solo will retail for $1000 and will be available in lime, white, grey, black and red colors. Parrot has announced that the Zikmu Solo will be available by November, and today’s FCC filing suggests that the company is right on schedule.
BlueAnt’s RIBBON Bluetooth media streamer wins FCC approval, gets torn down
Bluetooth accessory maker BlueAnt won FCC approval for its RIBBON Bluetooth media streamer today. The oddly shaped device has a folded, slightly offset design that allows the RIBBON to be easily attached to a pocket or collar. The RIBBON has music controls on its face, as well as a 3.5mm jack and USB charging port.
Internal photos of the RIBBON show the device’s innards stretched out. A 100mAh battery is visible in FCC filings along with the RIBBON’s tiny circuit board.
The RIBBON will cost $69 when it’s released. BlueAnt hasn’t announced a release date for the device, but today’s FCC filing is a good indication that the RIBBON will be released soon.
