The Nod ring turns your finger into a high-tech magic wand

By Andy Boxall Published April 24, 2023

Jealous of Harry Potter and his awesome magic wand, but would prefer it if you had a more high tech version? The Nod ring could be for you. Slip it on your finger, pick up your wand, and you suddenly have control over everything from your phone to your TV, simply by using gestures. No, it’s not magic, but it’ll certainly look a lot like it.

The Nod ring is essentially a clever, wearable universal controller, which will interact with many mobile devices running Android or iOS, Windows or Mac computers, the Nest thermostat, your TV, and even connected lightbulbs. To make things work, you use gestures. For example, pointing at your TV will turn it on, twisting your hand will raise or lower the temperature on the Nest thermostat, and swipes will help you play Fruit Ninja.

It doesn’t stop there. It’ll work with a Swype-like keyboard, Philips Hue lights can be dimmed with a simple up or down motion, and for those times you don’t want to use gestures, the Nod has a small touch panel and a set of clickable buttons. These are shown to work with audio apps on your phone, so you can swipe through tracks or adjust the volume. The idea is very cool, but the video does raise some concerns over the ring’s accuracy, particularly when using it to type on the keyboard, but this could be fixed before release.

The tiny device is made from jewelry grade stainless steel, and comes in various sizes. Plus it will ship with handy inserts to make sure the fit is perfect. It’s waterproof, and can even be used in pairs to control more complicated games. Due to the Nod’s tiny size, the battery inside isn’t all that strong, and we can apparently only expect a day’s worth of use before it needs a visit to the charger.

Nod has opened up the software platform, and apps are already being produced for the ring, including a remote shutter release for your phone, and the custom keyboard seen in the video. The company isn’t promoting the Nod through a traditional Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign, but is offering it up for pre-order through its own website. It costs $150, and is expected to ship sometime after summer, but your credit card will be charged straight away. It’s a small price to pay to make all your magical dreams come true.

Former Senior Mobile Writer

Andy has written about mobile technology for almost a decade. From 2G to 5G and smartphone to smartwatch, Andy knows tech.

Topics

Phones

Apple has a stacked product lineup slated for later this year

Electronics, Phone, Mobile Phone

Apple has spent much of the past year playing catch-up in the AI conversation, but if a new report is accurate, the company is preparing to remind everyone that it still knows how to ship hardware. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has an unusually ambitious product roadmap stretching across late 2026 and 2027. While annual iPhone refreshes are nothing new, the list of devices in development reads like a company trying to reinvent multiple product categories at once. And honestly? It’s about time.

For years, Apple’s launches have largely followed a predictable formula: faster chips, slightly better cameras, and incremental refinements to products that already dominate their respective categories. That’s not necessarily a criticism — those products continue to sell incredibly well — but it hasn’t exactly been an exciting era for people hoping to see Apple take bigger swings.

Phones

iOS 27’s Liquid Glass slider looks simple, but it’s more useful than I expected

Text, Document, Business Card

Let's be honest: few iOS design changes have sparked as much debate as Liquid Glass. When Apple first introduced it with iOS 26, the internet immediately split into two camps. Some people loved the fresh, translucent look, while others couldn't stand it and felt it made parts of the interface harder to read. I happened to be firmly in the first camp. At the time, I was using an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and installing the update was one of the first things I did. I loved how the new design made iOS feel more modern and dynamic. The transparency effects gave the interface a sense of depth, making the entire experience feel fresh again.

That said, it's easy to understand why not everyone felt the same way. After months of feedback, screenshots, hot takes, and endless debates online, Apple eventually responded by giving users more control. Instead of forcing everyone into the same look, it introduced options that let people choose between a clearer glass effect and a more tinted appearance. With iOS 27, Apple is putting the Liquid Glass debate completely in your hands. A new slider lets you customize the effect exactly the way you want it, whether you prefer a crystal-clear look or something easier on the eyes. Here's what it does and how to make the most of it on your iPhone.

Phones

Apple users are being targeted by a familiar tech support scam

Apple users face a new wave of fake iPhone and iCloud security warnings

iPhone user

AI has made online scams harder to spot by making deepfakes, voice cloning, and fake messages more realistic. Even so, the old tech support scam is still catching victims. For years, fraudsters often posed as Microsoft support workers. Now, reports suggest many are shifting their attention to Apple users.

Consumers are reporting a rise in fake “Apple High Alert” messages that claim an iPhone, iCloud account, or Apple ID has been compromised. These messages are designed to make people panic and react quickly before they can stop to check whether the warning is real.