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Fleksy keyboard brings predictive touch typing to the Galaxy Gear (video)
Fleksy has already shown that you could use its intuitive touch keyboard on a smartwatch with the Omate TrueSmart, so it only makes sense that someone saw fit to put it on Samsung's Galaxy Gear. By default, the only way to enter text into the Gear is through voice dictation, which might not be your thing, especially in a crowded environment. As it turns out however, you can choose to sideload software keyboards like Fleksy, which is available through the regular Google Play store, into the Gear. Fleksy COO Ioannis Verdelis found out about this a few weeks ago from the XDA Developer forums, so he installed Fleksy on his Gear and brought it here to CES for us to see. From a brief hands-on, it seems very similar to the version we used on the TrueSmart. Simply tap in your desired words as best you can, and the tiny predictive keyboard will turn your mangled letters into coherent sentences. We took a brief video of it in action, which you can check out below.
Huawei hops on the Android gaming bandwagon with Tron mini-console
The jury's still out on Android gaming (exhibit A: OUYA), but that's not stopping Huawei from taking a dive into that niche corner of the industry. Its Tegra 4-based Tron mini-console, announced here at CES 2014, pairs a cylindrical-shaped hub with a Bluetooth controller that hews quite closely to the Xbox 360 mold OUYA also went after. Before we get your hopes up though, take note that Tron's for China only -- at least, for now anyway. A Huawei rep did say that the company's looking into further market expansion, but given its track record with smartphones in the US, we have a hard time believing Tron will see these shores anytime soon. The Tron console itself runs a half-skinned version of Android JellyBean (version 4.2.3) that presents a clean menu overlay with feature tiles for access to games, Huawei's store, video, application, settings and featured titles. That slick menu selection comes to a screeching halt, however, as soon as you attempt to select anything other than games, bringing you face-to-face with Android's ugly underbelly -- much like on the OUYA.
Live from the Engadget Stage: The Best of CES 2014 Awards
The big moment is here. We've been doing exciting interviews all week on our CES stage in the Central Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center, but this is really what we've all been waiting for all along. We're extremely excited to host the Best of CES awards for the first time ever and have been working hard all week to help chose the best products from 13 categories, from Best Startup to Best Audio Product (and hopefully you've been doing your part as well). We can't wait to let you know who won one of those beautiful 3D-printed trophies. We'll see you on our stage (and in our stream, if you want to follow along at home) at 8PM ET to tell you all about the Best of CES. January 9, 2014 8:00:00 PM EST
ZTE's modular smartphone could make part-swapping a reality within two years
Smartphones with interchangeable parts is the future... or so companies like Motorola and ZTE believe. Both manufacturers are currently working on prototypes of what's known as modular smartphones. Such a device, if it comes to market, will give consumers a few benefits: the chance to customize their phone exactly the way they want, the ability to upgrade specific parts (or modules) of your device without having to upgrade to a completely new version, the option to buy and sell individual modules to others and less electronic waste left over as a result. Neither Motorola or ZTE has exactly kept their efforts a secret, but what we're unsure of is when we can expect to see real hardware show up on the market. Fortunately, ZTE showed off its first concept device (under glass, unfortunately) on the CES floor this week, and reps told us that we should plan on seeing this concept come to fruition within the next two years. The phone, known as the Eco-Mobius, looks a lot sleeker than what we've seen of Ara so far, and is divided into four separate swappable modules for LCD, core (processors, RAM and ROM), camera and battery. This comes in quite handy for enthusiasts of all kinds who want to take advantage of different modules; if you're into photography, you could theoretically take multiple modules with you, each one with its own strengths and weaknesses -- we'd fancy having a macro lens module for specific shots. Perhaps you want to change the size of your screen, depending on whether you're at the office, at home or a party? No problem. Need a stronger battery? Sure thing. In addition to making this kind of phone a reality, its designers are also putting together a platform in which users can buy, sell and trade modules with each other. Hopefully we'll see more of this concept as things come together, but so far we're very curious about how the final product will look down the road. While we wait for the future to catch up with our dreams, enjoy our images below. Joseph Volpe contributed to this post.
Watch Engadget's CES SuperSession featuring Pebble, Oculus, 3D Systems and Leap Motion
Welcome to CES 2015. When we were originally batting around ideas for this year's Supersession, we suggested something further off, centered around predictions about where all of this is headed in the decades to come. But while CES is all about looking forward, the show's real bread and butter centers around something more immediate: the gadgets that will define the year to come. With that in mind, we pulled together an all-star panel of forward-thinking innovators who are creating products that are available now (or, in one case, soon to be available). These are companies that aren't looking to shift paradigms in the future -- they're ready to move and shake things now. Panelists for the session included Leap Motion CEO Michael Buckwald, Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe, Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky and 3D Systems CEO Avi Reichental. Full video of the session can be found in the source link below. [Photo by Will Lipman]
LG sneaks a new version of its 'Laser TV' projector into CES 2014
Last year at CES, LG introduced the Cinema Beam HECTO Laser TV projection system that could produce a 100-inch screen from just a couple of feet away, and now it's showing off a new version. HECTO2 keeps the same 100-inch screen size, but uses an upgraded laser system to provide a claimed 10,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio that is 10x greater than the original and only needs six inches of space. Just like the earlier iteration and Sony's new Life Space UX laser projector, the Cinema Beam brings speakers, smart TV apps and more as an all-in-one package. Other than a likely still-astronomical price -- the original launched at about $10k -- there's probably one big reason this isn't getting a ton of hype. It's still 1080p, and at a show that's all about Ultra HD, LG may hold off on the laser-projection push until it can squeeze a few million more pixels in.
Hands-on with BMW's self-parking i3
BMW was keen to show off some ConnectedDrive technology at CES in its new i3, so it trucked us -- well, i640'd -- out to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for a demo. We had a brief look at the BMW i Remote app installed on a Samsung Galaxy Gear, where the car's battery state, range, lock status and other niceties are displayed. Lost your car on some street after it parked itself? Communication flows both ways with the BMW i3 and by simply asking the car to "make some noise" using the watch, the horn will honk after a short delay. One of the i3's most compelling features is its $1,000 Parking Package. At the push of a button using ultrasonic sensors, the car will both find and then park itself in a spot with as little as 22 inches of extra space. Self-parking cars aren't new, but the little electric i3 does the complete procedure and doesn't need driver input on gas or braking. We tried the entire parking procedure and it worked flawlessly as it backed into the spot and then adjusted back and forth a bit to get properly aligned with the curb. Is it worth the $1,000 bucks? If you're not the most adept driver when it comes to parallel parking, we'd say it absolutely looks worth it. Don't believe us? Take a peek at the video right below.
Microsoft and CES: it's complicated (not really)
CES: It's a big deal in the tech world. You know who else is a big deal? Microsoft. So when the tech giant decided to hand over the baton of hosting the event's opening keynote, ending a 12-year streak, people took notice. Not only that, the software giant also pulled its entire presence on the show floor, causing speculation that Microsoft's relations with the CEA had degraded over the years, or (more likely) that it had decided the show just wasn't offering it the kind of airtime it needed for its services and products. At CES 2014, a Microsoft stand is nowhere to be seen on the show floor. In the build-up to the event, however, a report from the BBC claimed the firm would be "returning" to the show, including an almost polemic quote from the event's head honcho Gary Shapiro stating that "Microsoft is officially back in the International CES." This, in turn, was picked up by others, dutifully pointing out that, technically it never left -- instead, conducting business away from the show floor. This much is definitely true, as we were part of one such meeting, in which we took the time to find out a little more about the real story behind Microsoft's sudden departure from the biggest show in tech.
Live from the Engadget CES stage: Qualcomm SVP Raj Talluri
The next steps for Qualcomm? Well, if Steve Mollenkopf is to be believed, we're going to see a lot more involvement in tablets and connected cars from the company moving ahead. We'll sit down with its SVP of Product Management Raj Talluri to discuss the way forward for Qualcomm. January 9, 2014 6:00:00 PM EST
Gartner: PC shipments have dropped 6.9 percent in Q4 2013, emerging markets to blame
Those tumbling PC shipments we've seen all year? They add up to a 6.9 percent year-over-year drop compared to 2012's Q4 numbers, according to Gartner. The group's latest totals puts PC shipments at 82.6 million units for Q4 2013, with the lions share coming from HP and Lenovo - though only the latter managed to grow its business during that period. Dell came in at a distant third, moving 4 million fewer machines than HP while maintaing a 6.2 percent increases in shipments since Q4 2012. The news seems grim for all but a select free companies, but at least it won't get any worse: Gartner says that most markets have bottomed out, and the losses mostly come from emerging Asia/Pacific markets where consumers first computing devices are typically smartphones and tablets, not traditional PCs. Despite predictions that the US market has reached its lowest point, analysts note that holiday sales were primarily dominated by tablets and mobile devices, though optimistically note that hybrid devices and lower cost notebooks could spur some growth in 2014. Eager to dive into all the nitty gritty numbers? Hit the source link below for Gartner's full report.
Live from the Engadget CES stage: Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan
Like you, we've always thought of Razer as a gaming hardware manufacturer. And like you, we were caught a bit off-guard when the company tossed its hat in the crowded fitness-tracking landscape. We'll be discussing the company's diversifying line and place in the rapidly evolving gaming landscape with CEO Min-Liang Tan. January 9, 2014 5:00:00 PM EST
Wearable Google Helpouts streaming camera shares GoPro heritage, we go hands-on (video)
Ambarella isn't exactly a household name, but the 10-year-old company's silicon has long found its way into GoPro cams and other hardware thanks to its video-compression chops and low-power tech prowess. Word broke last month that Google commissioned the outfit to produce a reference design for a wearable camera that would stream to its Helpouts service, which lets folks ask experts for help over video. Here at CES, the manufacturer's brought along a few samples of the device, and we've just put our paws all over one. Inside a plastic housing the size of a chunky matchbox, Ambarella's placed a custom chip (an A7LW, if you're curious) that endows the package with the ability to stream 1080p video at 30fps for a minimum of one hour. The housing also comes with a micro-USB port, microphone, 500mAh battery, 8GB of flash storage, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, along with power and "connect" buttons up top.
These Cogito analog smartwatches take a minimalistic approach to viewing notifications
Searching for a nice-looking smartwatch, but not interested in having the kitchen sink? ConnecteDevice's new set of analog timepieces are about as minimalistic as you can get without removing the "smart" element entirely. Cogito consists of two models, and although there really isn't much difference between the two, the more expensive one is the more elegant option. The watches promise to be extensions of the phone, rather than replacements, and each features a series of LED icons that light up when you have a notification waiting for you on your handset. The company believes this is the ideal use for a smartwatch, since many people don't care to interact with the notifications that start buzzing on their wrists. The higher-end Cogito differs from its counterpart by offering Caller ID and giving you the option to mute incoming calls, as well as the ability to tap the watch to light it up so you can see your alerts. ConnecteDevice reps boasted that both watches will easily last up to a year before you need to replace the battery, a remarkable length of time that's likely the result of Bluetooth 4.0+LE support. The watches are compatible with iOS 7 and Android 4.3+, and watch (pun not intended, but welcome) for the Cogito Pop to come out near the end of next month for $129, and the Cogito original in mid-March for $179. Update: We have updated our post to reflect that ConnecteDevice is the name of the company, whereas Cookoo is a different lineup. Joseph Volpe contributed to this post.
Epson won't make a consumer 3D printer, but promises big, industrial ones within five years
Epson's presence at CES 2014 this year focused on its surprising push into wearables. But the company name remains almost a synonym for printers -- the two-dimensional ones at least. There are plenty that reckon the likes of Epson, HP, etc. will soon weigh in with their multinational clout on the 3D printer market, slashing the average price with everyman models, but Epson won't be doing that. President Minoru Usui told us that probably wasn't going to be the case, at least for them. "We are developing our own printers, but our aim is to change everything. When it comes to 3D printing... we want our machines to make anything." Breaking it down into three issues he saw with 3D printing as it stands, he said that printing materials were not at a high enough standard, that the precision was simply not there for what the company would like to be creating and productivity was simply not efficient enough. We've had some experiences that mirror these criticisms. But wouldn't a printing giant like Epson entering the 3D printing arena make it more of a realistic proposition? Mr. Usui responded by describing how the company claimed a lion's share of the photo printing arena years earlier, citing better print quality and hardware. "Not many people need to print a plastic figure." "Not many people need to print a plastic figure." That said, Epson is working hard developing its 3D printing tech, but fixing that list of problems is going to take time -- especially when it comes to materials. Usui wants the company to be able to print "anything" and reckons that could take around five years from now. And anything really means anything: The president mused on printing cars, which would make that eventual manufacturing hardware a fair bit bigger than a Cube 3. The results need to be as precise as current (c'mon, more boring) moulding production, where templates are measured in microns: That's where Epson needs 3D printing to reach.
Live from the Engadget CES stage: WobbleWorks CEO Maxwell Bogue
It's been quite the year for WobbleWorks. The robotics toy combo made a mint on its Kickstarter campaign for the 3Doodler, a $100 3D printing pen, and now the combo is marking CES with the announcement of retail availability through Brookstone. January 9, 2014 4:30:00 PM EST
Hands-on with Audi's all-digital dash for the 2015 TT and likely home for its Smart Display tablet
Audi's TT, considered by the German maker as its design icon, gets revamped for 2015 and its dash and all-digital cluster made a break from cover at CES. What's immediately apparent when you hop into the curvy leather-wrapped interior setup at the booth is that the traditional center stack is completely absent. All the information that was once viewable by the entire cabin now seems reserved for the driver alone. It's decidedly odd that the front passenger no longer has access to the display so we'd suggest that the mysterious Audi 10.2-inch Smart Display we saw earlier this week will feature prominently in the next TT, possibly as standard equipment. The entire system is simple to use with the 12.3-inch TFT displaying bright colors and easy-to-read fonts. The display features two main modes, including a driving-centric mode where the tach and speedometer are in the foreground; when in navigation mode, they move out to the edges of the screen to offer as much real estate to the maps as possible. The digital dash navigation is done via either steering wheel-mounted controls or the redesigned rotary push-button control mounted on the center tunnel console. A really swish feature of the jog dial sees the top surface of the control act as a touch surface for entering text by scribbling with a finger when required. Now we just need to see the car to wrap around this interior and we'll be all set, but until then, have a look of the video of the next TT's infotainment equipment in action.
ModiFace uses Kinect to give you a digital nose job
ModiFace has been giving women digital makeovers for a while now, with apps for iOS and Android, but now it wants them to start scrutinizing themselves in public, too. The company just announced something called the "Anti-Aging Beauty Mirror," which is really just a Windows PC with a Kinect sensor mounted on top, allowing shoppers to try on makeup (and experiment with brow lifts) while they're in-store. As with the existing app, you can try on eyeshadow, lipstick and blush, only this time, you'll see the brand and color overlaid in the upper left-hand corner. (Maybe it's the technology, or maybe it was just my choice of green eyeshadow, but I looked like a clown.) You can also experiment with plastic surgery "anti-aging" effects including nose reshaping and a cheek lift. There's even a before and after view, reminding you your real jaw line is actually quite weak. It'll roll out this spring -- not that this will deter women from trying on the real makeup and then high-tailing it out of the store. Let us have our fun, people.
Engadget Mobile Podcast 198 - CES Edition - 1.8.14
Brad and his team of mobile-centric pals sit down for some deep talk about feelings and, of course, smartphones. Sony has launched its Xperia Z1 Compact, which scales down size but not specs, and its compatriot, the Z1S, which takes the standard Z1 into waterproof territory. Not to be outdone, Samsung delivers some new tweaks on the Galaxy series, with its Note Pro and 12.2-inch Tab Pro. It's definitely a fun atmosphere on stage, but this is one party that T-Mobile's John Legere failed to crash -- although his hijinks did get a mention. Hop on down to the streaming links below for the full Mobile Podcast show! Hosts: Brad Molen Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Live from the Engadget CES stage: Sling Media VP Michael Hawkey
CES is always a big show for big TVs, and this year's is certainly no exception. Coming up next, we'll be joined by Sling Media VP and General Manager Michael Hawkey to discuss the ways his company is bringing media to your set. January 9, 2014 4:00:00 PM EST
Canopy's Sensus app enhancing case hands-on
We saw Canopy and its Sensus last year at CES with what appears to be similar hardware, but really isn't. In our conversation with Sensus' VP of Software Engineering Joel Stewart this evening, he explained that the company was caught in the iPhone 5 Lightning connector storm and rather than push out a product that would almost assuredly fail, they took time to regroup and even redesign. As a reminder, the Sensus case augments the iPhone's input by adding input on the back and sides of the case via capacitive touch. Gone is capacitive input on the case; it's been replaced by pressure-sensitive pads on the back and down the sides. App choice has improved in some ways due to the pressure-sensitive pads. For example, flipping the case over and putting a cup on the case when the weighing app is running will see the case read out the weight of the cup on it. Follow on for some pics of the new packaging, case and a short demo video.
