Samsonite announces the suitcase that will always tell you where it is

Samsonite has introduced the Track&Go suitcase that is likely to reduce luggage theft by ensuring the suitcase can always be identified, similar to the way prank calls disappeared after caller ID was introduced. 

The suitcase contains a Bluetooth beacon which uses Eddystone Ephemeral Identifiers (EIDs), an open privacy/security protocol by Google. Designed and manufactured by Accent Systems, the beacon enables the Track&Go suitcase. It has to be registered by the owner through the Travlr by Samsonite app, which is available free of charge. The app was launched in September 2015 to offer flight tracking, tips and reminders when travelling. 

The new Track&Go feature will soon be built into the existing app, allowing users to easily check the location of the suitcase within a distance of 70m, and also be notified if it is being moved closer or further away from the user. Should the suitcase go missing, the owner can easily flag it as lost in the app. Once flagged as 'lost', the app leverages its user base to help the suitcase's owner find it. Should anyone else, using the app, pass within 70 m of a lost suitcase, an EID-based signal is picked up and triggers a notification with location and time details of the suitcase to be sent out to the owner. 

According to Accent's web page, its Bluetooth low energy beacons can last up to about 100 months depending on the model and what it is used for.

"We're excited to work with Google on this project to make sure that our beacons support Eddystone EIDs. Missing or permanently lost luggage is the nightmare of every traveller. As the world's largest luggage manufacturer, we wanted to find a way to make this issue a thing of the past," says Ramesh Tainwala, CEO of Samsonite. "As Samsonite is known for its innovative and reliable luggage and bags, we also wanted to work with an equally as innovative and reliable technology partner.By leveraging Google's robust, secure and cross-platform approach, we feel confident that our customers will welcome this new solution."

Interested?

Samsonite aims to launch the first suitcases featuring the Track&Go solution in the European market at the end of 2016, followed by other international markets.

Panasonic to broadcast solar eclipse live from Ternate, Indonesia

Source: Panasonic blog post. Map showing Ternate Island and path of the solar eclipse.

Panasonic will conduct a live broadcast of the 9 March 2016 solar eclipse from Ternate island in Indonesia. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes in between the sun and the planet Earth.

Panasonic will leverage its portable Power Supply Container for the broadcast. The container can generate approximately 3kW of electricity and store it in 24 built-in lead-acid storage batteries. The stored energy will be supplied to a Panasonic LUMIX GH4 camera attached to a telescope to capture the astronomical phenomenon. Solar energy will also power the mobile computers, production and editing equipment, Internet connection and other supporting technology used.

Interested?

This year’s live broadcast will be available on Ustream, YouTube Live and Periscope. The international live broadcast timings are (Indonesia time on March 9, UTC + 7):

Live broadcast begins (tentative) 03:00
Partial eclipse begins 06:36 

Total eclipse begins 07:50
Maximum eclipse 07:53
Total eclipse Ends 07:56
Partial eclipse ends 09:20
Live broadcast ends (tentative) 10:00

Hashtag: #PanasonicSolarEclipse

Altec Lansing launches ruggedised mobile accessories at CES

Altec Lansing has announced new collections of "everything-proof" chargers, power banks, cables and cases for smartphones and tablets which are designed to withstand wear and tear as well as less-than-hospitable conditions. Scheduled for roughly Q216 release, the new accessories will provide ruggedised features such as IP67-rated, military-grade construction to ensure reliable waterproof, dustproof and shock-resistant operation and device protection.

The new products will include:

Altec Lansing Everything Proof 3,000, 6,000 and 10,000 mAh Power Packs for smartphones, tablets and MP3 players, providing up to 100 hours of talk time, 75 hours of music, 50 hours of video and 4.5 full charges depending on the model. All three will be IP67-rated for waterproof protection even in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes; sealed from dirt, dust and sand; designed to float to prevent loss if they accidentally go overboard; and come pre-charged and ready to use out of the box. Each will incorporate a carabiner for on-the-go attachment to belts, backpacks and other equipment. (Manufacturers' suggested retail pricing [MSRP] US$29.99, US$39.99 and US$69.99)

Altec Lansing 3.4 Amp Dual USB Rapid Car Charger, a quick-charge unit that will charge two devices simultaneously. Protective silicon seals over both USB ports defend the charger against moisture, dirt and other materials. Supports iPhone and Android smartphones and tablets. (MSRP US$19.99) 

Altec Lansing 3.4 Amp Dual USB Rapid Wall Charger, offering the same rugged construction, two-device charging ability and durability as the car charger. (MSRP US$19.99)

Altec Lansing Shock-Proof Lightning Cable, a 3' braided, tangle-proof cable with extra layers of protection including a spring coil that provides strain relief to prevent fraying and breakage at the tip. Other protections include dustproof construction and silicon tips for additional breakage resistance. Compatible with iPhone 6/6s, iPhone 6 Plus/6s Plus, iPhone 5/5S/5C, iPod Touch 5th Generation, iPad 4th Generation and iPad Air. (MSRP US$19.99)

Altec Lansing Shock-Proof Micro Cable, featuring the same 3' braided, extra-durable construction as the Lightning cable. Compatible with Android, BlackBerry and Samsung smartphones and micro USB devices. (MSRP US$14.99)

Altec Lansing Everything Proof Smartphone Cases built to provide maximum protection for iPhone 6/6S and Galaxy S5/S6 smartphones. Features range from 5' drop protection, 360-degree impact protection and dirt-proofing to IP67-rated waterproofing, depending on the model. (MSRP US$29.99 and up)

Interested?

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about Altec Lansing's new earbuds at CES.

Hashtag: #CES2016

New Huntkey power strip available in all eight Australian Costcos

Source: HuntKey. Huntkey power strips in Costco.

The HuntKey Enterprise Group's Huntkey SAC804 power strip has arrived at the 8th Costco in Australia. The professional power supply provider in China is a Costco partner and has supplied the strip to all eight Costco warehouses in the country. 

The Huntkey SAC804 has eight sockets and two USB charging ports.

"Huntkey aims at producing safe and reliable products, and our business philosophy is providing our members the best products at a reasonable price," said Costco Australia Managing Director, Patrick Noone.

Interested?

Check out the Costco locations in Australia

GP Batteries designs special edition powerbank for SEA Games

Source: GP Batteries.

The sole Official Battery Partner for the biannual SEA Games, GP Batteries, has introduced a special edition lithium ion-based powerbank for the upcoming SEA Games. The premium product features a silk-screened 28th SEA Games Nila Logo with the official designation of Official Battery Partner.

The powerbank has a 10,400mAH capacity that is ideal for smartphones and tablet PCs. Its two outputs allow two devices to be charged at the same time with LED indicators to display the battery usage. Retailing at S$49.90, the GP Batteries SEA Games Special Edition PowerBank also comes with a micro USB charging cable.

GP Batteries has also dressed up charging stations at five MRT stations for the occasion. The charging stations at City Hall, Orchard, Tanjong Pagar, Ang Mo Kio and Kent Ridge now look like the SEA Games PowerBank for those in need of an emergency power boost.

Noontec launches small power bank, lightweight battery pack

Noontec has launched an ultra power bank called the Giant Mini and possibly one of the lightest portable chargers in the market today, the Polo, in collaboration with its exclusive distributor Signeo SEA (Spring-Cass) in Singapore.

Source: Noontec. The
Giant Mini.

The Noontec Giant Mini 10,000mAh Ultra Power Bank uses the same kind of batteries generally used in electric cars, which are more efficient during power transfers. The device (85 mm L X 61 mm W X 32 mm H) weighs 240 grams, and is available in black and white. It has a suggested retail price of S$89.

The Noontec Polo Mobile Battery Pack, available in white or green, features a 5,600mAh battery capacity with two USB ports for charging two devices simultaneously. Weighing 120 grams, the Polo has built-in circuitry that provides over-current, over-charging, over-discharge, and over-voltage protection. The Polo has a SRP of S$49.

Source: Noontec. The Noontec Polo.

Both power products are available at Epilife, HMW, Mustafa, Lucky Store, and at Changi Airport (T3 - Electronics Hub and T2 - iSound).

*Prices include GST.

Six times the power with Duracell batteries

Source: Duracell. In celebration of 50 years of portable power, Duracell partners TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION, the fourth film in director Michael Bay's global franchise, in a showdown of good versus evil.

Duracell, the battery people, celebrates 50 years of portable power this year. While the shape of the classic battery hasn't changed much, advances in battery technology have improved battery life considerably. 

The latest Duracell CopperTop AA and AAA batteries with Duralock Power Preserve Technology, the type used in wireless mice and keyboards, last six times longer than ordinary batteries* and are rated for reliable operation in temperature extremes from -20°C to 54°C. A higher compression seal and enhanced crimp leakage resistance reduce the likelihood of leaks. The Duracell batteries also have up to a 10-year guarantee in storage. 

“Duracell is the world’s No. 1 battery brand and that drives us to innovate and excel. When you choose Duracell batteries, you are choosing 50 years of innovation powering the devices that keep us connected, protected and entertained,” said Stefan Sallandt, Commercial Director of Duracell Asia.

*Based on technical tests on digital cameras vs. ordinary zinc carbon batteries.

Kickstarter focus: Solar power for the rest of us

Spor Solar Charges promises portable solar battery chargers for the rest of us. According to the company, Spor is a self-regenerating battery charger for USB devices. It can be charged with AC power, or via the sun. "It can charge multiple devices at once, and can charge your phone practically as fast as a wall outlet," says the company on the Kickstarter page.

Source: Kickstarter. Spor Solar Chargers hope that the compact solar chargers will be the start of bigger things.

For US$50, a backer can get a 3D printed limited edition Spor charger, with an additional US$10 required to ship overseas.

The funding campaign ends on June 30. View the associated video here.

Kickstarter focus: iFind, powered by ambient electromagnetic radiation

WeTag's iFind tags communicate with iOS or Android devices using Bluetooth and do not need to be charged. As with other locator systems, a tag is placed on the item and tracked through the phone. 

If the item moves out of range, the owner is alerted through the 'Rope' feature, and nearby phones can help detect the object through Bluetooth via the 'UHelp' feature. A fascinating feature for iFind is that shaking the iFind tags will cause the phone to vibrate, WeTag said.

Source: Kickstarter.

The difference is that the iFind tag does not contain a battery and is powered by ambient electromagnetic radiation, WeTag says. "It recycles electromagnetic energy and stores it in a unique power bank. This exciting feature frees you from the trouble of charging batteries or replacing them through the manufacturer," say the makers on the Kickstarter page.

For US$16, a backer is entitled to one locator in one of a dozen colours. Overseas shipping costs US$10.

The funding campaign ends June 30. View the associated video here.

This blog has posted on two other location-based projects: Tile, and Phone Finder.