If Google’s Nexus line gets wireless charging, will Apple follow suit?

When a major competitor releases a hero product to the market that they intend to keep around for some time to come, you as a tech company have an opportunity – for Google, that opportunity exists in the absence of wireless battery charging in the iPhone 5. An image has been making the rounds today that very much appears to be approximately half of a Nexus Q – but is being called a wireless charging unit for the Nexus 4. The Nexus 4 is almost certainly going to be revealed on Monday by Google at their big Android event [we'll be there!] as the same unit that’s been shown in a rather giant amount of leaked images over the past few weeks – with wireless charging via this pad, has Google suddenly one-upped Apple, not to mention Nokia?

It’s not as if wireless charging of smartphone batteries is a new concept – they’ve even had cases for some time now that fit around the iPhone and allow you to charge the unit with a special pad. But with the introduction of high-level wireless charging – that is, doing it with a hero phone – Nokia may have broken the floodgates. Just a few weeks ago it was that Nokia’s Lumia Windows Phone 8 devices were shown to be working with wireless charging pads right out of the box – or with a special back panel replacement.

Now this one image (at the head of this post) is making us believe that Google will be going the same route with the Nexus 4 – and perhaps the tablet Nexus they’re setting up to show as well. With this tablet, the Nexus 10, and the Nexus 4 ready for wireless charging action, will Apple be forced to act? It certainly wouldn’t be something they’d deliver soon, if anytime in the near future.

With not only the iPhone 5 but the iPad mini and 4th generation iPad just introduced in the span of the last few weeks, Apple is in a place where they’re not going to be bringing on any more mobile hardware for months and months. Apple is not in a place where they can be playing catch-up, nor are they going to be able to iPhone as a ubiquitous machine set aside from all other smartphones forever. It may eventually be that the iPhone becomes a works-with-all device, ready as much or more than Android’s massive collection of feature-packed device universe is to take on the whole accessory market.
An iPhone with the ability to work with a wireless charging pad? Not any time soon.
A fundamental shift in the way Apple positions itself with the iPhone? It’ll have to happen inside the next few years, or you may see a tipping point as major competitors – backed by Google – ramp up their own efforts to become that one “must have” brand.

PS3 might finally be on the way to China

In some regions of the world, players have been enjoying their PlayStation 3s for six years now. That isn’t the case for China, which banned game consoles back in 2000. That means no Wii, no Xbox 360, and no PS3 for Chinese gamers, but that might all be changing soon – at least as far as the PS3 is concerned. According to Techinasia, the PS3 was certified in China earlier this year, which might mean that it won’t be long before the PS3 is officially available in the country.

We say “officially” because China’s ban on consoles has created a grey market for video games and systems. Lacking any official outlets to secure a PS3, those living in China who want one are forced to import from other countries (or buy from people who have). In other words, there have been ways around this console ban, but it sure can cause headaches for those who just want to relax and play some video games.
But with the PS3 being granted a China Compulsory Certificate back in July, it may not be long before consumers can buy a PS3 from retailers right there in China. The PS3 may be able to skirt around China’s ban since it’s an Internet-capable machine that can play Blu-Ray discs – essentially, it could be branded as a home entertainment device, which are allowed under Chinese law, rather than a simple gaming console.
Of course, it’s now November and the PS3 still hasn’t popped up in China, so we probably shouldn’t count on an official release until Sony makes an announcement. Still, things are looking good for a Chinese PS3 launch, so Sony may be setting its sights on tackling yet another country. Stay tuned, as we’ll have more details for you if they develop.

Samsung Galaxy Note II Smart Dock turns phablet into desktop

A new Smart Dock for the Samsung Galaxy Note II has surfaced, turning the stylus-toting smartphone into a mini desktop setup with plentiful connectivity for a display and wired peripherals. Listed at Samsung US’ site as well as at UK retailer Clove, the $99.99 accessory has three USB ports and a full-sized HDMI output, squirting up to 1080p Full HD onto a TV or monitor.

There’s also a 3.5mm stereo audio output, for hooking up a set of speakers, and a microUSB input for charging the phone and powering the Smart Dock itself. The Note II can be used as normal when docked in place – including for making phone calls – and if you’ve a flip cover fitted you won’t need to remove it in order to slot it in.

 So, you could use the Smart Dock to turn your Note II into a desktop computer replacement, with a full-sized keyboard and mouse to navigate via Android – and all the usual Android apps – on a large display. Alternatively, it could form the hub of a media system, hooked up to your TV and with external storage plugged into the USB ports.

 Meanwhile, it folds up for easy transport, so you could feasibly drop it into your bag wherever you go. Clove says UK availability isn’t confirmed yet, nor pricing, and while it’s available for preorder on Samsung US’ webstore, there’s no estimated shipping date. More on the Note II in our full review.

Nikon Overhauls 1 System Design With the New 1 V2

Nikon today announced their newest 1-system camera, the Nikon 1 V2, as well as a new 1-system flash and a full-frame Nikkor lens for their line of DSLRs. The V2 is a rather radical update to the look and feel of the V1, which was first announced at the end of 2011.

The Nikon V2 looks almost nothing like last year’s V1.

The V2 features a brand-new 14.2-megapixel CMOS image sensor, paired with a new EXPEED 3A image processor, resulting in up to 15 frames per second burst shooting with continuous autofocus. The V2 retains the built-in electronic viewfinder of the original, with its 1.4-million dot LCD panel located in a more substantial housing on the top plate of the camera.
Two of our major complaints about the V1 have been addressed by the new design, as the camera features a substantial rubberized grip and a mode dial with full PASM shooting mode control. The changes result in a totally different body style, but better serve the interests of the advanced photographers Nikon claims the V-series is targeting.

This top-down shot shows off just how substantive the new grip is compared to the relatively skinny V1.

Speed has been the trump card for Nikon’s 1 system to date, and the V2 makes no moves to alter the status quo. The camera features 400fps and 1200fps reduced-resolution video recording, with 40fps and 60fps maximum burst shooting for still photography with focus fixed on the first shot. The updated processor should also improve autofocus speeds when utilizing the camera’s 73-zone hybrid contrast/phase detection autofocus system.

The back of the V2 has also been altered to provide a clean, simplified look.

Nikon also announced today a new 1 system accessory, the SB-N7 speedlight. The new flash gun features a 120-degree vertical bounce, AAA battery power, and a guide number of 18 meters at ISO 100.
The new flash is a nice addition, slotting into a new hot shoe positioned atop the EVF housing rather than to the side, where it was placed on the V1. The new location is more traditional, though the V2 can look a little awkward with a larger flashgun perched on top of it.

The new flash on the Nikon V2 looks a bit awkard, but it’s a nice, flexible combination.

Nikon wasn’t thinking just about their compact system cameras today, though, as they also announced a brand-new AF-S 70-200 f/4G ED VR lens for their lineup of DSLRs. The 70-200 f/4G fills a bit of a gap in their current lineup, offering a cheaper, lighter alternative to the much-loved AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR. This new lens ships with Nikon’s third generation Vibration Reduction system, which Nikon claims can add up to 5 stops of stabilization to aid in low-light shooting.
Nikon plans to start shipping the Nikon 1 V2 and 10-30mm kit lens in late November for a suggested price of $899.95, with black and white options available at launch. The SB-N7 speedlight is expected to hit stores in January of next year for a retail price of $159.95.
The AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR should also be available in November, starting at $1,399.95. The lens unfortunately does not ship with a tripod collar, with Nikon providing an optional one in the “near future” for a suggested price of $223.95.

Olympus Stylus XZ-2 iHS

Introduction

When it arrived at the beginning of 2011, the Olympus XZ-1 was a very impressive camera. It was also a clear signal that Olympus was gunning for the throne in the advanced compact segment—a window left open by the decline of Canon’s formidable G series. The XZ-1 shared the styling, handling, and seriousness of the company’s PEN line of Micro Four Thirds cameras, giving it a decidedly upmarket feel. Now, nearly two years later, the XZ-2 arrives amid a changed landscape. Not only has Canon’s G series returned to prominence, but there are strong challenges from Nikon, Samsung, and Panasonic as well. The XZ-2 retains its ancestor’s most impressive feature—its f/1.8 zoom lens—and attempts to build on it with a new 12-megapixel CMOS sensor, an innovative dual-mode lens ring, and a tilting touchscreen LCD.