When Nokia relaunched its classic brick phone, nostalgia-seekers came out to snatch it up much like they will the Apple iPhone 7 Plus Retro by Coloware.

This vintage-looking device takes its logo and shell colors and styling details directly from the classic Macintosh computer (you know, those ones with the floppy drives?).

The phone itself is going to sell in large volumes, but the paint job and detailing are a limited-edition affair and the first 25 apparently come with a numeric authentication mark. For nearly $2,000 a pop, they better

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As smartphones continue to grow bigger they become increasingly unwieldy, hard to fit into pockets and purses, but Samsung’s new patent shows they are getting series about a phone for next year that will fold.

A series of bendable joints toward the center of their new patented device let it fold down the center much like a flip phone while flexible-screen technology provides a smooth flat surface when the phone is opened. Also, the folding nature could help the phone comfort to the user’s face for easier speaking and listening.

Rumors suggest Samsung aims to bring a device like this to market next year. They have been working on flex screens for years with demos and concepts of ones that would wrap up like scrolls – those ideas may be a bit further out from reality (especially since some hardware would be hard to roll) but this gadget could bridge the gap.

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The Mi MIX by Xiaomi, a Chinese company, is a gorgeous realization of an age-old idea: making displays go right to the edge in order to maximize screen space with a minimalist aesthetic.

Designed by Philippe Starck, this ceramic smartphone features a beveled chamfer, curved on each end, creating its unique appearance.

No edges and corners to content with, nor buttons to get in the way, the 6.4″ display has a 91.3% screen-to-body ratio, record-setting for its device category.

Seamless connectors fuse ‘Mi MIX’s body without any external adhesives. Cantilever piezoelectric ceramic acoustic technology replaces the traditional earpiece speaker, allowing users to listen to calls without the earpiece. Additionally, a compact front camera, about 50% smaller than traditional camera modules, is almost invisibly located along the device’s ‘chin’.

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A slim white gadget worn around the neck, the portable Ili translator is clean, simple and easy to use: a microphone records sounds and a speaker delivers the message in a target language.

Amazingly, it relies on a built-in database so it does not need a wireless, Bluetooth or other connection to work. Perhaps this will mean there is no more  need for phrase books (physical or digital) for weary travelers who are game to wear one extra small accessory.

How well it works remains to be seen, but its creators claim it can operate between English, Chinese, Japanese, French, Thai and Korean, its database growing with future updates. If it saves someone taking their phone of their pocket, it might also provide a smoother user experience than other translator apps. Next step: a babel fish ear wearable that need not even be seen or touched (at least if the Hitchhiker’s Guide has its way). Meanwhile, even if the translations are imperfect, it could still work well for a traveler in a hurry to catch a train (or find a restroom) in some foreign land.

The post Travel Wearable: Click-to-Talk Mobile Translator Necklace first appeared on Gajitz.

No matter how small devices get, you still have to get a speaker near your ear and microphone near your mouth, which generally requires a certain minimum dimension unless your fingers can do the talking while you’re walking.

The Sngl taps into a wristband and turns your fingers into the receiver, requiring no speaker on the device. Audio is directed to the ear via vibrations through your body while you talk into the band.

While you can wear it as a wristband, the device also doubles as a watch strap (for conventional or smart watches) so you can tie it right into another wearable you already carry with you – one less device!

The project comes from Innomdle Lab, a startup that’s been spun out of Samsung. Eventually something like this could be tied into a smartwatch design completely, but for now at least you can wrap your wrist and look like a secret agent while you talk on the phone (or a new-fangled Inspector Gadget).

“There’s no one who never lost their earphone in their lifetime. With Sgnl, you can keep your cell phone alone in your pocket and simply raise your hand to answer a phone call without carrying any extra headset or earphone. When you place your finger to your ear, your finger not only transmits the sound but it also blocks out background noise. So you can hear very clear voice in a loud places without worrying about other people listening in.”

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