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Kwikset's Kevo lets you lock your home while on vacation in Tahiti
Kwikset launched its Kevo Plus service today, which finally brings its number-one-requested feature to life: remote locking and unlocking. Launching in spring of this year, the service will enable new and existing Kevo lock owners to upgrade their systems via a Bluetooth-enabled gateway shipped with their introduction package. The Plus platform will come with unlimited Scheduled (for a home cleaning service for example) and Anytime eKeys, remote locking and unlocking and real-time monitoring. The gateway connects to your home's internet router and interacts with the Kevo lock via Bluetooth Low Energy to either track activity or activate the lock itself. Apple products are supported across the board, though Android support is currently limited to Lollipop on the Moto X, Moto G and the Nexus 6. No word on pricing for the Plus service, but with a bit of shipped hardware attached to the deal, we suspect it'll cost more than $20.
Parrot's latest plant sensors can also do the watering for you
Following last year's Flower Power plant sensor, Parrot's decided to take it to the next level with two new Bluetooth Smart devices: the H2O and the Pot (pictured above). Starting off with the smaller device, the H2O is essentially a direct successor to the Flower Power, but featuring more accurate monitoring (of soil moisture level, soil fertility, temperature and brightness) and the new watering capability. The latter part is done so by attaching a screw-top water bottle of up to two liters, which will provide up to three weeks of autonomous irrigation with a soft jet. With the existing database of over 8,000 plants, the device can determine the optimal amount of water needed for your plant, and the companion app will remind you if more water or fertilizer is needed.
This pedal tracks both fitness and bike thieves
If bike thievery is an issue in your town, you can ride and rest easy with the Connected Cycle pedal. It has GPRS and GPS built-in to phone home your bike's location whenever it moves, so it can track your fitness, and send a push notification if someone suddenly jumps on your bike. The pedal is a little bulky for cyclists who pride themselves on lightweight bikes, but on the other hand, it never needs charging or a new battery. It charges from the energy of riding, and the team says a one-hour ride is enough to keep it powered for up to a couple of weeks. They've been working on the tech for two years, and plan to release it in a variety of colors with two years of service, for an as-yet unspecified price. In a demo on the show floor everything worked smoothly, with the app easily tracking activity or location. And hey, even if a thief does make off with your bike, you'll have the data to show you still rode a faster split than they did.
Belkin's WeMo home sensors track everything and the kitchen sink
Do you want to know every little nuance of what's going on in your home? You'll want to give Belkin's new WeMo home sensors a look, then. The surprisingly wide range of household trackers includes a door-and-window sensor, a keychain tracker, a motion detector and a water efficiency monitor -- there's even an alarm sensor that listens for sounds from other sensors, like smoke detectors. All of the devices will alert you if something's amiss, whether you're worried about intruders or tend to run the kitchen faucet for too long. And like the rest of Belkin's highly modular WeMo hardware, they'll frequently work in tandem with other gadgets on the platform. They can turn on the lights when you step into a room, or ramp up the air conditioning only when your window is closed. Most of the sensors will arrive in the second half of 2015, with pricing coming later. The water sensor is still in field testing, however, so it won't be ready to analyze your plumbing until the tail end of the year.
Netatmo's Welcome connected camera recognizes who's home
Whether you wanna keep an eye on your pet, kid or reception room, there are plenty of connected cameras for the job. Netatmo, best known for its quirky weather station and smart thermostat, thinks there's still room in this swelling product category, today announcing the "Welcome" home-monitoring camera. Through iOS, Android and PC/Mac apps, users can remotely tap into a live 1080p broadcast from the camera, which has a 130-degree field of view and infrared LEDs for night vision. By far the most interesting feature, however, and one that's becoming more common to smart home gear such as cameras, is facial recognition.
Linksys unveils networked storage and its fastest WiFi router yet
You knew that Linksys wouldn't sit idly by while competitors like ASUS and Netgear rolled out extra-fast WiFi routers -- sure enough, the Belkin-owned networking giant is coming to CES 2015 with some speedy wireless of its own. The company's EA8500 promises brisk, interruption-free 802.11ac at 1.73 Gbps thanks to both multi-user antennas (which keeps the speed up when the network is crowded) and a relatively quick 1.4GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor. It's also loaded with frills, such as four Gigabit Ethernet jacks as well as ports to share your eSATA and USB 3.0 storage. The EA8500 will be expensive at $280 when it ships in the spring, but it'll be accompanied by the $180 WRT1200AC if you're willing to settle for "just" 1.3 Gbps while maintaining similar features and hackable firmware.
Avegant's headphone-like wearable display arrives this fall
Avegant's Glyph headset has been long in the making, but it finally looks to be ready for action... well, almost. The unique mash-up of headphone and wearable display is now poised to ship in fall 2015 for $599, or $499 if you pre-order before January 15th. That's both a long time to wait and more expensive than you might have expected from the Kickstarter campaign, but that patience may just pay off. Avegant has unveiled the finished design for the Glyph (shown here), and it's much sleeker than earlier concepts and prototypes would suggest -- you'd be hard-pressed to tell that there are eyepieces tucked into the headband. We'll give the finished design a try as soon as we can, so watch this space if you're looking for a video headset that could liven up your commute.
Roku TV is gearing up for a future full of 4K
Roku is going 4K! Eventually. The company has announced plans for a 4K reference model of a Roku TV, and that TCL would be the first to partner with the company in the Ultra HD space. What does that mean? Well, it means soon enough Roku will have a board and software capable of spitting out unnaturally hi-res video from the likes of Netflix (one of the first to announce it will deliver 4K through Roku TV), but that it will be up to TV manufacturers to turn that into a consumer product. How long will that take? Who knows? The company isn't nailing down a time frame just yet. But we don't expect anything to hit shelves until the summer at the earliest. (And we're probably being optimistic.)
SnapCam is iON's new $150 wearable lifelogging camera
What's the opposite of a selfie? Not sure? Well, we'd argue any photo from the SnapCam by iON (of Air Pro action camera fame) would fit that description. SnapCam is the latest entrant into the wearable lifelogging market (you may know Autographer, or Narrative already). The 1.5-inch square device clips onto bag or clothing (it's magnetic, too) and connects to your phone via an app. The 8-megapixel camera also shoots HD video (720p/30fps), and can be activated just by tapping once for photo, or twice for video.
Say hello to the second generation of Narrative's wearable camera
It's been more than a year since the first generation of Narrative's lifelogging camera made its debut, which means that it's high time for the company to unveil a sequel. It's here at CES that we finally get to see what it's been working on, and you'd be forgiven for thinking that nothing much has changed this time out. Thankfully, the bulk of the changes have been below the surface, so if you'd like to learn more about the imaginatively named Narrative Clip 2, read on.
Withings launches a cheaper version of its analog fitness tracker
Who says that activity trackers can't be stylish? Certainly not Withings, which combined its pedometer know-how with Swiss watch-style design to produce the Activité. If there was one downside, it was that the unit retailed for $450, putting it well out of the reach of ordinary folk who cared about their fitness and looking good. Thankfully, the company has been sympathetic to our plight, which is why it's announcing a $150 version of the device, the Activité Pop.
Engadget is live from CES 2015!
The team's slowly making its way to Las Vegas for the 2015 edition of the Consumer Electronic Show. Samsung's massive banner is already boasting that the next big thing is here, though, with the official start of the event still a few days off, only time will tell. Each year's show produces a darling category that garners all the media attention and this year's event will likely be no different. 4K sets? Wearables? Something Sony? Perhaps the connected home or even a complete surprise could be what everyone ends up buzzing about this week. The fun is just starting so keep your eyes glued to the site as we fill these pages with all that we see. We're about to start our yearly sift through nearly 2 million square feet of exhibit space and the unending crush of the faithful to bring you the very best of this year's CES. For a closer look at what to expect at this year's show, check out our CES previews after the break.
Seagate intros a fleet of cloud, wireless and super-thin hard drives
If getting your digital life better organized is tops on your list of New Year's resolutions, Seagate has a trio of options that cover all the bases. First, the company is offering its ultra-thin 7mm drive in portable form with the appropriately named Seagate Seven. As you might expect, the company boasts that this is "the world's slimmest" device for on-the-go storage, wielding 500GB of space and connecting to your gadgets via USB 3.0 inside a steel enclosure. The Seven certainly won't take up much space in your pocket or backpack, and it's set to arrive later this month for $100.
LaCie's latest artist collaboration is a hard drive wrapped in Gorilla Glass
For the past two years, LaCie has revealed at least one new artist collaboration at CES, and this year is no different. Keeping with the reflective theme of last year's device, the 2015 edition is wrapped in Gorilla Glass and appropriately called Mirror. After teaming up with Philippe Starck and Christofle for previous releases, the company tasked French designer Pauline Deltour for a shiny 1TB hard drive that's covered in Corning's durable glass material and powered through a USB connection (no Thunderbolt here). To properly show the thing off on your desk, a stand of ebony wood provides a resting spot. If you're looking to keep the collection going, or just nab this particular entry, Mirror will arrive later this month for $280. What's that? You were hoping LaCie would have a new Rugged portable hard drive, too? Well, read on.
Omate adds two new circular smartwatches to its affordable collection
Omate's well known for bringing stylish smartwatches to the mass market, as we've seen with last year's $129 X (pictured left) and $169 Lutetia (second from left). To kick off 2015, the company is leveraging the same MediaTek Aster chipset (MT2502) plus the Lutetia's near-circular, always-on color transflective touchscreen to bring out two new designs: the Panerai-inspired Roma (second from right), and the Racer which is the "sport-oriented alter ego" of its round siblings. As before, the two new models will function mainly as notification watches with basic activity tracking plus customizable watch face, so they should offer the same week-long battery life. For those who want to give the rugged Racer a spin (we have a 360-degree view of it after the break), Omate's website will be taking pre-orders for just $99 per unit between January 5th and 15th, and after that it'll be bumped up to $129 until January 31st, with shipments expected in as early as end of February. There's no info regarding the metallic Roma just yet, but Omate's new partnership with the Richline Group will be offering these watches in US and UK retailers -- including jewelry stores -- this March.
Mother welcomes developers into her creepy connected world
It's often said that "mother knows best," but sometimes, even mothers need council. Alright, so perhaps that's not true for tough, human matriarchs, but it does apply to Mother: the creepy-looking, internet-connected hub that's intended to make your dumb home smarter. You see, Mother communicates with small, multipurpose sensors called "Cookies," and instructs them to monitor one thing or another and report back, so it in turn can relay data and notifications back to you. Sense, the company behind Mother, has come up with various uses for Cookies, such as monitoring steps or sleep, but now it's seeking external inspiration. That's why, next month, it's launching a public API so developers can start dreaming up all kinds of new applications for the sensors. They'll also be able to plug data from Cookies into other apps and platforms -- your step count from a pedometer Cookie could be fed into a third-party fitness app, for example.
LG hopes OLED TVs are ready for a 'breakout year' with Ultra HD
As much as we like LG's impressive OLED displays, the price has always been a problem. Dropping from $15,000 retail to $3,500 was impressive, but the company knows it will have to do better than that for any kind of mass appeal. The LG Display arm that supplies its screens is promising a slew of new OLED panels at this year's show, and we're expecting they'll end up in LG Electronics TVs on the show floor -- and store shelves. One thing we know is coming is the "Art Slim" concept (pictured after the break), which promises a 65-inch UHD TV that weighs just 35 lbs, coming home this year as LG's UF9500 LCD. CES 2015 will have the first curved 55-inch Ultra HD OLED, plus a few other sizes (like the 65-incher above) and variants between flat and curved. Of course, LG doesn't just make TV screens -- it's also promising a 15-inch touchscreen laptop display that takes the Advanced In-Cell Touch tech from phones and tablets to laptops. Of course, since LG Display is the supplier, we'll have to wait a little longer to find out how much all of these will actually cost once they go on sale.
Acer's Chromebook 15 is the biggest Chromebook yet
While most potential Chromebook buyers are probably looking something small and cheap, Acer's targeting a slightly different customer with its latest entry. Its new Chromebook 15 is the first laptop running Google's browser-focused OS with a 15.6-inch screen. It's still relatively inexpensive, starting at $250, but it weighs in at a hefty 4.85 pounds. The Chromebook 15 isn't meant for people who've grown used to svelte ultraportables -- instead, it seems ideal for schools (where Chromebooks are already doing well) and older users who might appreciate a larger display. It's more a primary computer than a secondary portable PC, which is pretty much the opposite of how most Chromebooks have been positioned so far.
Acer's upgraded laptops include one with a motion-sensing 3D camera
Acer is showing up at CES with a lot of laptop upgrades in store, and its Windows PC revamps have a few tricks up their sleeve. By far the highlight of the mix is a new version of the high-end V 17 Nitro (above) that includes an Intel RealSense 3D camera. The depth sensor lets you control games and other supporting apps with hand motions instead of reaching for the trackpad and keyboard. If you're the creative sort, it'll also let you scan your face and other 3D objects for inclusion in games or 3D printing projects. There aren't any major upgrades under the hood, although you're still getting a beefy 17-inch desktop replacement between the quad-core 2.5GHz Core i7 chip, GeForce GTX 860M graphics and choice of solid-state (128GB or 256GB) or spinning hard drive (1TB) storage. You won't have to wait long to give this system a try, as it's shipping in January. However, it's not yet clear what the trick camera adds to the price, if anything.
eFun's hybrid tablets offer a choice: Windows 8.1 or Android?
eFun's not one to miss out on CES festivities, and this year, the company is showing off new Windows 8.1 and Android "Nextbook" models. The Windows 8.1 lineup consists of three Quad Core Intel Atom-powered devices with screens measuring 10.1 inches (1,280 x 800 pixels, $229), 11.6 inches (1,366 x 768 pixels, $249) and 12.5 inches (1,366 x 768 pixels, $279). They're all laptop-tablet hybrids, with detachable keyboards sporting a USB connection, 32GB to 64GB internal storage (expandable with microSD) and 2GB of RAM. The 10.1-inch option also comes with something extra, though: a one-year Microsoft Office 365 Personal subscription with 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage and 60 Skype world minutes per month.
