Fully Charged: Ikea’s wireless charging furniture, HP’s MacBook Air killer, and March Xbox freebies

Ikea’s furniture charges gadgets

Wireless charging seems set to become standard in many gadgets – after all, the just-announced Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have it – and Ikea is ready to meet that challenge. The world’s largest furniture retailer has just announced a line of Qi-enabled items that will let you charge your phone, tablet, or other compatible item with ease.

The lamps, desks, and bedside tables will have Qi charging panels that let you set your gadget down while working or sleeping and begin topping it off. Ikea says the items will start hitting stores in Europe and North America in April, with other locations to follow thereafter.

[Source: PR Newswire]

Read More › Samsung Galaxy S6 hands-on review

HP’s Spectre x360 aims for Apple’s Air

With MWC 2015 kicking off, HP took the opportunity to announce a brand new laptop that it hopes will combat the ongoing threat of the MacBook Air. Visually, the HP Spectre x360 has a lot in common with Apple’s trendsetter, although it can transform into a tablet with its flippable touch screen, and it has some other perks.

Notably, HP says the device can run for upwards of 12.5 hours on a fully battery charge, along with 11 hours of 1080p video. You can also get a Quad HD screen, if desired, with an Intel Broadwell Core i5 or i7 processor within. It’s available now in the States, with configurations ranging in price from US$899.99 (about £585) to US$1399.99 (just over £900). No word yet on an international release.

[Source: HP via The Verge]

Read More › Top 10 laptops in the world right now

Rayman leads latest free Xbox Live Gold games

If you’ve got a paid Xbox Live Gold subscription, you’re in for a real treat this month. Microsoft’s Games With Gold promotion offers free downloadable games each month, and March brings the wonderful Rayman Legends for Xbox One players. It’ll be available all month for download.

And Xbox 360 owners have a pair of knockout titles to grab, as well. Through 15 March, you can download action/adventure reboot Tomb Raider for free, and then from 16 March through the end of the month, celebrated shooter BioShock Infinite is available without charge. Best Games With Gold month ever? We’d say so.

[Source: Major Nelson]

Lego Star Wars retelling coming to TV

Lego Star Wars has been a smash in the world of gaming, and now the familiar faux-plastic bricks will be used for a television retelling of the six live-action films. Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales will revisit the core story of the films as an animated series viewed from the eyes of C-3PO and R2-D2.

Curiously, it will only span five 22-minute episodes, which means something is being seriously condensed. Might we suggest most of the prequel trilogy? Whatever the case, it’s all set to air later this year on Disney XD in time for The Force Awakens to continue the film series in cinemas.

[Source: The Hollywood Reporter]

About

Andrew writes features, news stories, reviews, and other pieces, often when the UK home team is off-duty or asleep. I'm based in Chicago with my lovely wife, amazing son, and silly cats, and my writing about games, gadgets, esports, apps, and plenty more has appeared in more than 75 publications since 2006.