LG's Music Flow offers multi-room speakers controlled by a messaging app

   

LG has just announced a new range of wireless speakers, sound bar and network bridge called Music Flow, and by the looks of it, the company wants a piece of whatever actionSonos is getting. The system even comes with the Music Flow Player app that's a lot likeSonos' controller app, which can access your entire music library, even songs saved on other devices connected to your home WiFi network. Also, the app serves as the command center for all the pieces in your Music Flow network, streams internet radio stations and turns into an ordinary phone player when you step out of the house. Obviously, you can use the app to select among the system's modes, including a multi-room one that plays a single song on all the Music Flow speakers in your house, say, when there's a party.

What's interesting, though, is that its HomeChat function uses the Line app to communicate with your other Music Flow devices. For instance, you can use the feature to chat with your network if you want song recommendations while you're out. Finally, LG claims this is the first Hi-Fi audio system that you can set up with a single tap through NFC. LG will release two Music Flow speakers (models 40W and 70) and the network bridge in the UK this month and in other European countries by September. The 30W speaker and the Sound Bar will be available globally after that. You can, however, see the whole system on display in September at IFA 2014 in Berlin, along with the company's new curved TVs.

LG sells a record 14.5 million smartphones as profits nearly triple

   

LG has just reported a record quarter for mobile phone sales, showing that it's taking advantage of a slump from arch-rival Samsung. LG sold 14.5 million handsets over the last quarter, its highest total ever and 20 percent more than last year -- with more than a third of those LTE models. It chalked up most of the success to its well-reviewed top-of-the-line G3 handset, along with strong sales of its mid-range L products. LG's mobile division scooped up KRW 3.6 trillion ($3.5 billion) and put an end to three straight quarters of losses. Home entertainment also performed well, climbing 3 percent on the strength of higher-margin UltraHD 4K sets. All that resulted in an operating profit of KRW 412 billion ($599 million) -- not nearly Samsung-level numbers, but at least LG's are going up, not down.

Get a new look on the cheap with these customizable phones

   

Deep-pocketed power users may buy new smartphones once a year or even every few months to take advantage of improved displays, better cameras and faster processors, but the majority of owners are more likely to tire of their device's appearance long before its outdated specs. A few manufacturers have taken a new approach when designing their handsets, opting to include not only replaceable batteries, but also swappable backs, that let you change the look of your phone for only a few bucks. Samsung's Galaxy S5 and LG's G3 are two recent flagships that you can change up after purchase, but there are a few other options to consider, too. If you're feeling extra ambitious, you could even replace the backplate on, say, an IPhone 5S, but such an undertaking requires precise work, pricier parts and a voided warranty. Click through for our customizable picks that keep things simple (and cheap).