The Lexus Hoverboard looks pretty awesome. Image via Lexus
This week in gadget happenings, Lexus reveals the science behind its hoverboard, LG show-off its fold-up keyboard and Sony release a bizarre speaker-cum-TV remote.
Last week was a particularly busy week for gadgets news, particularly when it comes to the release of new phones.
The first to catch the public’s eye was the announcement of the Obi smartphone, a company led by none other than former Apple CEO John Sculley.
The two models – the SF1 and the SJ1.5 – are entering into that incredibly competitive mid-range market, but with aims of targeting the developing markets.
Secondly, Sculley’s previous employer is aiming slightly higher with the launch of its latest phones – the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus, with dates of their launch confirmed for 9 September amid promises of a higher-quality camera.
Finally, our phones’ batteries could become super-powered in the not-too distant future with the help of hydrogen energy.
A British company working closely with Apple has announced it has created a successful prototype for a hydrogen phone battery capable of lasting up to seven days on one charge. Nice.
Lexus Hoverboard
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, you would have noticed Japanese car manufacturer Lexus making every Back to the Future fan get stupidly excited about the development of the Lexus Hoverboard.
Spread across a number of videos, Lexus showcased its hoverboard working on its specially-designed test track, but this still hasn’t deterred the naysayers who say the project is nothing but a PR stunt.
Well to challenge these theories, Lexus has posted yet another video detailing the science behind the Lexus Hoverboard and how its magnetic levitation works.
When you see the vaporised form of liquid nitrogen pour out from its exhausts, you know you’re dealing with a rather ‘cool’ project.
LG Rolly Keyboard
The LG Rolly Keyboard is the South Korean company’s attempts to finally create a popular and in-demand portable keyboard and, from the first details released about it, it at least looks like the best candidate to take that mantle.
Made from impact-resistant and durable polycarbonate and ABS plastic, the Rolly keyboard has two sturdy arms that can fold out to support smartphones as well as tablets.
When folded up, the keyboard appears as a stick that can be fitted into most small bags, but not portable enough that you could slip it into your back pocket with ease.
Capable of connecting to two Bluetooth devices at one time, LG says the Rolly Keyboard will launch in the US in September followed by ‘key markets’ in Europe, but has not confirmed a price as yet.
The LG Rolly Keyboard. Image via LG
Sony speaker-cum-TV-remote
At first glance, the Sony SRS-LSR100 looks like a tech product imagined by Nokia towards the end of its dominance.
This speaker-cum-TV-remote also appears to have the era’s kookiness when it comes to concepts, with the Japanese manufacturer developing this piece of kit to allow you to listen to your TV anywhere in the house.
The basic concept is that if you want to want to listen to TV audio in the bath you can do so, and control it from there with the help of a dongle connected to the TV set.
But has Sony forgotten that in this day-and-age most people own smartphones have a TV box that features the ability to pause live TV at any time?
Regardless, the device appears to be getting a release in Japan first this September for the rather princely sum of 19,980 Japanese yen (€147).
The bonkers SRS-LSR100. Image via Sony
Nokia 222
If the name of this phone sparks a pang of nostalgia in you, you wouldn’t be the only one.
Aimed at the developing market, Microsoft appear to be taking us back to the early 2000s with a phone that has physical buttons, but also contains this little thing called the internet.
The dual-SIM phone costs just a little more than €30 and lets the owner connect to the internet through its pre-installed Opera browser and it also ‘boasts’ (this is Microsoft’s choice of word) a 2Mp camera.
But the biggest draw to this phone is its battery life that can only be described as ‘whopper’ 29 days in standby and 22 hours of talk-time.
It can also do gaming and play some music through its FM radio and MP3 player, all basics expected at such a cheap price.
The phone is expected to roll out in September.
The Nokia 222
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