The Next Microsoft Event: 2 October

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Microsoft sends invites for a 2 October 2019 event-- a notable date, since it coincides with the company's 2018 hardware showcase hosting the launch of the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2, among other devices.

Surface eventThe actual invite does not directly tell what it it actually involves, but it is safe to assume it will feature at least one new Surface product. The rumours are many, but the most compelling insist Microsoft will reveal "Centaurus," a dual-screen device 2 years in the making acting as the vanguard for a wave of dual-screen hybrid device set to launch in 2020.

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Bloomberg Claims Upcoming iDevice Secrets!

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The next Apple event might be around a month away, but Bloomberg claims to have some details of the upcoming crop of iDevices-- including camera-focused "Pro" phones, new iPads, a larger MacBook Pro and new Watch finishes.

iPhone 11Most of the juiciest information in the Bloomberg piece covers the next iteration of the iPhone, currently dubbed the iPhone 11 (although the final naming remains unknown). The report states Apple has three models in the works. Two are "Pro" replacements for the iPhone XS and XS Max, while the third is a replacement for the iPhone XR. The Pro iPhones reportedly feature triple rear cameras with a wide-angle lens allowing for higher resolution photos, better low light performance and improved video performance, whereas the third model has dual cameras.

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Bose Takes on Portable Smart Speakers

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Bose announces the Portable Home Speaker-- a compact combo of battery-powered speaker, Bluetooth connectivity and voice control promising 360-degree sound and deeper bass within a design weighing just 1kg.

Bose portable speaker

The Bose Portable Speaker features a proprietary voice pick-up system compatible with either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, allowing users to access playlists, podcasts, news, weather, smart devices and more through the power of their voice. AirPlay 2 compatibility provides connectivity with Apple devices, while Spotify Connect pairs the speaker with the Spotify app.

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Canalys: Baidu Beats Google in Q2 Smart Speaker Stakes

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The global smart speaker market totals 26.1 million units in Q2 2019, Canalys reports-- a 55.4% Y-o-Y increase, with Amazon taking the lead while Baidu beats Google to 2nd place despite serving solely the Chinese market.

Canalys smart speakers

Amazon Echo smart speakers total 6.6m units in Q2 2019, a 61.1% Y-o-Y increase, while Baidu shipments are up by an impressive 3700% Y-o-Y to 4.5m units following a Q2 2019 reentry in the market with the Xiadu range of devices. It should come to little surprise that China is the biggest global market for smart speakers, with quarterly shipments of 12.6m units, over twice a US market of 6.1m units.

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Casio Adds Heart Rate Monitor in Pro Trek Smart Smartwatch

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Casio presents the Pro Trek Smart WSD-F21HR-- an update of the 2017 WSD-F20 featuring a ruggedised design complete with optical-based heart rate monitor and further abilities brought about by Google Wear OS.

Casio smartwatchAccording to the company, the heart rate monitor flashes an LED light onto the wrist, allowing users to view 5 different heart rate zones in real-time. Meanwhile a Heart Rate watch face switches to the heart rate monitor screen when the accelerometer motion sensor detects movement. Users can also keep track of body maximum oxygen consumption per minute per kilogram, as well as view data such as heart rate max and minimum for the day, exercise intensity and other biometrics provided by fitness-tracking apps.

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