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Walnut wants to make shared electric skateboards happen
Shared bikes, shared scooters -- now Hong Kong-based Walnut Technology wants to jump on the trend with shared electric skateboards.
Whirlpool's new oven concept uses augmented reality to help you cook
These days, Whirlpool is more than just ovens and dishwashers. Over the years at CES, the appliance giant has proved it has some pretty serious tech chops as well. Earlier in the week, the company already announced that you can now control some appliances with a Wear OS device. Now, it's getting ready to unleash a slew of new and improved gadgets for the home. One of the most intriguing by far is a connected hub wall oven concept that apparently uses augmented reality to help you out in the kitchen.
I want a wireless charging pocket in my next bag
Look, it's hard to get excited about a backpack. But, I have to admit, the Targus Mobile ViP+ Backpack is actually pretty damn cool. Most importantly, it's a solid feeling bag with plenty of padding where it's needed most and tons of storage space. But it's also got a few pretty unique features. The most obvious is the zip up pocket on the side that hides a Qi wireless charging dock. There's rails to keep your phone from moving about too much, and even ventilation to prevent overheating. The whole thing connects to an easily removable and rechargeable 5,000 mAh battery pack.
This portable, solar-powered oven was built for the apocalypse
One of the things I love most about CES is the array of fascinating gadgets I come across. I'm talking stuff that's not a smartphone or a laptop. Case in point: this portable, solar-powered oven. GoSun's Fusion electric stove has an integrated heating system that can heat up to 550 degrees Farenheit, making it capable of cooking a meal within 20 minutes, with only sunshine as fuel. The company says the Fusion is five times more efficient than a traditional oven, and claims it can cook food with the same amount of energy needed to power a lightbulb.
Whill's next personal electric vehicle drives itself
Whill released its first personal electric vehicle in 2016 (in Japan, it came west the following year). Since then it has released new models with different audiences in mind. Here at CES 2019, it's showing its Autonomous Drive System (ADS), which as the name suggests, will shuttle you to where you want to go on its own. Thanks to the addition of front- and rear-mounted cameras, the Autonomous Drive System can navigate public (indoor or outdoor) spaces on its own.
Sphero gets into app-enabled music gadgets with the Specdrums ring
Back in June 2018, Sphero acquired Specdrums, a startup that found Kickstarter success with music-making rings. As part of that deal, we knew Sphero would be working on its own version of the product, and today the company's making it official. The new but familiarly named Specdrums are app-supported rings that let you, or your kids, play music by tapping the wearable instruments on different colors and surfaces. There are hundreds of customizable sounds and loops, all of which are created by tapping the Specdrums rings on the included playpad and other colored items around you.
NuraLoop packs personalized sound into wireless buds
Nura's first headphones were certainly a conversation starter. The hybrid design mixed over-ear design, with in-ear buds. The wireless headset's main trick, however, was the built-in audio test that uses otoacoustic emissions to spot any weak spots in your hearing and adjust the sound to compensate -- like having glasses for your ears.
Greetings from CES 2019!
It feels like CES only just ended, but we're back in Las Vegas for the 2019 edition and we couldn't be more excited. Just like always, there will be plenty of cars, TVs and smart appliances. But, we're here to separate the wheat from the chaff and bring you only the best (or at least the most interesting) tech from CES 2019. The show floor hasn't even opened yet and already several companies have made a splash -- including Apple, which continues to skip the event in any official capacity. But that hasn't stopped it from grabbing some attention. Of course, you don't want to miss out on all our liveblogs, our three epic days of live stage shows which all culminates with the official Best of CES awards on Thursday at 8pm ET / 5pm PT.
While we were looking at 3D TVs, CES morphed into an auto show
CES has been held in Las Vegas since the beginning of time (actually since 1978 and it started in Chicago way back in 1967) and over those years, many a tech trend has come and gone. Remember the year of IOT (that's every year since 2013, apparently)? TVs, audio players, robots and blinking lights are always a mainstay, but in the past few years, something else has been creeping into the hallowed halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center: cars.
Kohler's new bathroom suite has automated, voice-controlled lights
Kohler is mostly known as a maker of bathroom fixtures, but in recent years, it has branched out into more high-tech equipment too. Last year, for example, it debuted Kohler Konnect, a line of kitchen and bathroom products that use hands-free motion controls, personalized presets and voice commands -- think Alexa for your toilet. This year, however, the company is taking that concept even further with its first-ever connected bathroom suite called the Veil Lighted Bathroom Collection.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai cancels CES appearance
For the second year in a row, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has cancelled his appearance at CES, though this time around, it's under very different circumstances. According to Politico Pro, both he and Commissioner Brendan Carr have had to cancel their CES plans due to the partial government shutdown that's still ongoing. Pai was supposed to discuss FCC plans with the Consumer Technology Association's Gary Shapiro while Carr was scheduled to take part in a roundtable discussion.
What to expect at CES 2019
We're not quite done dusting off the glitter from our New Year's Day celebrations, but it's time to turn our attention once again to that other big event in January: the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Yes, the annual flurry of tech and gadgets returns to Las Vegas next week, and we'll be right there in the middle of it all to check out what's new. From smart homes to the biggest of big-screen TVs, here's a brief sneak peek at what we expect from this year's show.
Segway is getting into autonomous deliveries
Most people are probably never going to own a Segway, but the company is aiming to have more people interact with its products. At CES 2019, Segway-Ninebot will debut its first ever autonomous delivery robot designed to perform the final leg like of transporting packages. It's also showing off the Model Max, its next generation of shared scooter designed to get people around the city (or be ditched on the sidewalk).
LG's 2019 TVs add HDMI 2.1 and 8K
CES 2019 hasn't started yet, but LG is already drip-feeding information about this year's OLED and LCD TVs. While it didn't mention the rollable OLED we're expecting, it did list model numbers for two 8K sets, with an 88-inch Z9 OLED and SM99 8K LCD TV on the way. There's no word on price yet, but the big confirmation is that thanks to HDMI 2.1 ports, all of its 2019 OLED TVs and "selected" NanoCell LCD TVs will support high frame rate (HFR) 120fps video inputs. Other features in the new standard include an enhanced audio return channel (eARC) as well as variable refresh rate (VRR) and automatic low latency mode (ALLM) to keep gamers happy. If you're snagging one of the new 8K TVs, you'll just be pleased to know you won't have to plug in four HDMI cables to get everything connected. The NanoCell name is a new brand for LG's high-end LCD TVs (SM9X and SM8X) with enhanced color, viewing angles and thin bezels. As usual, LG is also talking up its AI capabilities with Thinq technology, and a new Prime Video button on its Magic Remote that ties in directly to Amazon's Alexa routines.
Engadget will once again judge the official Best of CES Awards
It seems like just yesterday that Engadget began judging the official Best of CES Awards in January 2014, but now we're already approaching our sixth consecutive year on the job. Over the years we've made some nips and tucks here and there -- accessibility tech got its own category at CES 2017, for example, and sports tech is also a recent addition. This year, it was important that we set aside more space for products and technologies with gravitas -- not those intended for fun, but those that have the potential to transform or even save the world. To that end, we're expanding what was formerly known as the "Best Vision of the Future (Smart City)" category and renaming it "Most Impactful." This may still include things like smart infrastructure, sure, but also technology meant to prevent or respond to natural disasters. Basically, anything that will have implications for entire communities. Though the list of categories has been slightly streamlined (16 categories, down from 17), our vetting process is the same as ever. We'll be accepting nominations through a submission form, which will be open until the night before press activities are set to begin at CES 2019. We will also send our editorial team throughout the show floor to scout promising candidates in each category. We'll announce a list of finalists, with two to four picks in each category. The finalists will be announced the next day, at an award ceremony taking place at the Engadget stage at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Below are the the Best of CES award categories for 2019. To learn more about our eligibility requirements, check out our awards hub here. Best Accessibility Tech: Technology that helps those with disabilities achieve healthier and more independent lives. Best Startup: The startup showing great sophistication and innovation while also demonstrating a clear path to real-world availability. Eureka Park will be a focus. Best Digital Health and Fitness Product: A product exhibiting the most innovative use of technology to improve users' health and well-being. Example products include smart scales and activity monitors. Best Wearable: The best gadget at the show that can be worn on your person. Examples include smart watches, augmented reality glasses and any piece of wearable item (be it socks or shorts) that have sensors in them. Best Transportation Technology: Technology related to the ever-advancing science of getting from here to there. Example products include infotainment systems and advances in self-driving technology. Best Home Theater Product: This award is all about home entertainment. Example products include set top boxes, streaming players, tuners, audio systems and more. Best Connected Home Product: A product that belongs in the connected home. Example includes smart refrigerators, connected thermostats and smart lighting. Best Phone or Mobile Device: The smartphone or related mobile device that most impresses with its combination of specifications, design and overall ability. Best TV Product: The television that is deemed the best in terms of display, design and overall quality, or the product that might most revolutionize your use of that screen. Best Gaming Product: The product that best moves forward the broad field of gaming. Example products include game-specific tablets and PCs, video game consoles, controllers and gaming services. Most Unexpected Product: The product that turns heads on the International CES show floor without necessarily fitting into any defined product category. This product may not be the best of the best at the show, but it will be one of the most talked-about. Best Sports Tech: The product that changes the game, quite literally. These products will be found on the court, the field, the track or at the gym. Best PC or Tablet: The best laptop, desktop or tablet, judged based on its design and specifications. Best Robot or Drone: A drone or robot that is deemed the best of this unique category. Most Impactful Product: This category focuses on products designed to improve entire communities through the use of technology, shaping the way we will all live in the future. Best of the Best Award: The device, service or technology in any category that stands clearly above the rest, judged based on its innovation and design quality. People's Choice Award: The product from this year's show that most captured the hearts and minds of our readers. The winner will be determined by viewers and readers. If you're looking to submit something for consideration, make sure you meet our eligibility requirements and then enter in all your information in this submission form. In order to be eligible, your company must have an official presence at CES and the product must fit within one of the award categories above. It does not have to be announced at the show, but it certainly helps. And, of course, it can't be more than a year old. Submissions will stay open until 11:59PM ET on the evening of Saturday, January 5th, before press day kicks off on Sunday, January 6th. Please include the following required items for a product to be considered: Product name Company name Product description Which of the 16 category/categories for which you'd like to be considered. You may submit a product for more than one category. Contact information for media relations and at least one internal point of contact while your company is exhibiting at the show. We need to be able to reach someone on site in the event that you're a finalist or winner! Whenever possible, companies should submit the following materials as well: Photos (minimum 1,920 x 1,080 resolution and 300 DPI) Spec sheet(s) Press release(s) Release date Price Good luck and see y'all in Vegas!
CES announces female speakers for 2019 after this year's backlash
Even though there's no lack of female tech leaders to choose from, the Consumer Technology Association didn't sign any of them up as a keynote speaker for CES 2018. That decision unsurprisingly drew a lot of flak, and while it's unfortunate that a backlash was necessary for the association to change its ways, it thankfully didn't shrug off the criticism. The CTA has announced that AMD President and CEO Dr. Lisa Su will be one of its keynote speakers for CES 2019.
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn is stepping down
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn has announced that she will be stepping down from the commission following a tenure that featured a strong advocacy of net neutrality. Commissioner Clyburn shared her plans to leave the commission during an FCC meeting today. Appointed to the commission in 2009 by Barack Obama, she also held the position of Acting Chairwoman in 2013 prior to Tom Wheeler's appointment as Chair.
Facebook's Hugo Barra says standalone headsets are key to social VR
Even though Oculus didn't have an official presence at CES this year, its leader, Hugo Barra, made a surprise appearance at Qualcomm's press conference to make an important announcement: Xiaomi would be its global hardware partner for Oculus Go, its first standalone VR headset. What's more, Xiaomi would also be making a special variant of the Go, the Mi VR Standalone, especially for China. In an interview with Barra following the press conference, he explained the reason for the push in standalone headsets: social VR.
Nanoleaf wants you to control your smart home with a dodecahedron
A few months ago, Nanoleaf revealed a "Rhythm Starter Kit" that let you synchronize its colorful Aurora light panels with music. At CES, the company released a product designed to control it and more: the Nanoleaf Remote. But unlike a typical handheld remote control, the Nanoleaf Remote is in the shape of a 12-sided polygon -- a dodecahedron, if you will -- which changes the lights depending on which side it's on. And the beauty of it is that you don't have to use it with just Nanoleaf products -- it'll work with compatible Apple HomeKit products as well.
Meltdown and Spectre flaws loomed large over CES
The Meltdown and Spectre CPU vulnerabilities hung like a shadow over the festivities of CES. What's typically a celebration of consumer electronics was instead a stark reminder of just how far-reaching these issues are. And that's especially the case for Intel and AMD, both of whom unveiled fast new processors that are still vulnerable to future Spectre exploits. They each had statements about what they're doing to secure their hardware, but there was no escaping that the threat of Spectre is the new normal. That's particularly troubling when tech companies are hoping to launch smart home solutions that seep into every aspect of ours lives.
