This week the tech industry has seen new products from the likes of Leica, Sony and more. The camera company has ringed in a momentous anniversary for the James Bond franchise with a limited-run model, while Sony has shared a new take on noise-cancelling headphones.
Meanwhile, Meta has announced that it will launch its own membership badge service that looks a lot like Twitter Blue. And at Apple, an insider has leaked images that appear to show the alleged Apple iPhone 15 Pro with a USB-C port, following the passage of a law in the EU that requires all phones to have one.
Below, HYPEBEAST has rounded up the week’s top tech stories so you can stay up-to-date on industry trends.
Leica celebrated 60 years of ‘James Bond’ with the D-Lux 7 007 Edition
Leica played at the 60th anniversary of James Bond franchise with a special edition camera. The D-Lux 7 007 Limited Edition features all the high-performance technical details of the camera along with some Connection-specific customizations.
Covering the compact camera’s Leica DC Vario-Summilux lens is a single lens cap engraved with the gun barrel design straight from the opening sequence of the Connection films. The model comes packaged in a unique camera case that emulates a stylish leather gun holster. Retailing at $2,113 USD, the D-Lux 7 007 Edition is available in-store globally and online.
Sony has released a new mid-range headphone model that offers active noise cancellation
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Sony is offering a cheaper alternative to its flagship WH-1000XM4 headphones with the brand new WH-CH720N. Priced at $149.99, the CH720N utilizes the same V1 processor as its predecessor, as well as its advanced noise canceling technology and 35 hours of battery life on a single charge.
The pair also weighs just 6 ounces, Sony’s lightest headband to date, making the CH720N convenient to wear at the gym or while running errands on the go. The CH720N is available in black, blue and white from Sony and other authorized retailers starting spring 2023.
An unopened first-generation Apple iPhone sells for $63,356 at auction
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An unopened, first-generation Apple iPhone sold at auction for $63,356. After starting at an initial offering of $2,500 USD, with an advance sale of around $50,000 USD, the iPhone went on to command the highest price a first-generation model has ever sold in history.
The first iPhone was released by Steve Jobs in 2007 and sold for $599 USD. This particular model was formerly owned by Karen Green, a cosmetic tattoo artist from New Jersey, who received the iPhone as a gift but never opened it.
Meta announced its “Meta Verified” service for Instagram and Facebook
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Meta seems to be taking note of Twitter’s hotly contested Twitter Blue. The company has shared that it will launch its own version of a privileged signature service, Meta Verified, a badge that authenticates an account’s identity.
“New Product Announcement: This week we are launching ‘Meta Verified,’ a subscription service that allows you to verify your account with a government ID, get a blue badge, get extra protection against impersonation against accounts claiming be you and get direct access to customer support,” announced Mark Zuckerberg on his Instagram story.
The Meta Verified subscription service will launch first in Australia and New Zealand this week.
A leaked image showed the USB-C port of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro
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A leaked image of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro with a USB-C port has surfaced online. The leak follows a new law passed in the EU that requires all phones, tablets and cameras sold to include a USB-C charging port, effective until the end of 2024.
The image was shared by Apple insider Unknownz21 and it also shows a body made from a different titanium casing.