On CE - For Dealers, Distributors and OEMs of Consumer Electronics throughout EMEA

Bloomberg claims to have the details on the upcoming iPhone 8, as Apple celebrates the 10th anniversary of its flagship device with new features such wireless charging and a 3D scanner able to unlock the phon in "a few hundred millisecond."

The news story states Apple will release three iPhones come September-- successors to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and a "new, revamped model that sits at the high-end." The successors will have all the upgrades one expects, such as a faster processor, but the revamp will be the more interesting model, being a showcase of Apple flexing its "best, not first" muscles.

As the Korea Herald corroborates, the iPhone 8 features a near bezel-less OLED display similar to the one found in flagship Samsung devices. The top of the front has a notch housing the camera and new sensors (such as the aforementioned facial recognition scanner), and Android-style software-based controls replace the Home button.

The pre-Gamescom 2017 Microsoft press conference has the company open preorders for the upcoming Xbox One X with a special edition of the console-- the Project Scorpio Edition.

Named after the machine's original code name, the Project Scorpio Edition has a custom gradient design on the exterior, together with the Project Scorpio branding stamped on the controller and console. Meanwhile the retail packaging features a giant X reminiscent of the original Xbox.

However one has to keep in mind the Scorpio Edition is identical to the regular Xbox One X-- it is simply something special for the fans and early adopters.

Monster joins forces with Speak Music to presents its first voice-powered headphones-- versions of the Elements, Clarity HD and iSport Freedom V2 Bluetooth headphones making part of the MonsterTalk sub-brand.

The headphones allow users to tell their headphones what music to play and ask for a particular song, genre, artist or playlist, providing a "truly hands-free listening and control experience." One can also use voice to access streaming services such as iHeartRadio, Spotify and Tidal, as well as NPR news briefs and iTunes local music.

Providing such functionality is Melody, a companion app promising a seamless listening and control experience across multiple music platform. The Melody service does need a wifi connection, instead using cellular data. To get started, users need to download the free Melody app, follow the on-screen tutorial and pair the Monster headphones with the app via Bluetooth.

Maplin announces the rollout of its "store of the future" rebranding initiative, following "significant" improvements in both sales and footfall at refurbished outlets.

Designed by 20.20, the "store of the future" format made its debut on November 2016 in The Beehive Centre, Cambridge. Since then it was adapted and refined at 6 other stores in Staines, Sittingbourne, Crewe, Salford, Oxford and Chesterfield. Maplin says these stores have seen an average Y-o-Y sales increase of 15%, as well as an 18% increase in footfall.

The store format features interactive digital displays developed by SignStix. Maplin says the Cambridge Beehive outlet saw over 20000 digital interactions with the smart home kit on display, with customers interacting with the technology and getting advice from store staff.