ces2018
Latest
LG's 2018 TVs get faster and smarter with Google Assistant, Alexa
LG's TVs have taken home our Best of CES Award for three years running and in 2018 the company is ready to take on all comers once again. As with all home electronics of the current era, the company's new televisions are AI-ready with LG's ThinQ technology, but you'll probably be more interested in their support for bigger-name assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The top of the line OLED TVs will have its new "Alpha 9" processor inside that's not only powerful enough for AI, but also ready to push video at high frame-rates of up to 120FPS. The chip also claims better color performance and "four-step process of noise reduction" although we'll be interested to see if it can be disabled to avoid any artifacts or motion-smoothing type impact on picture quality.
Lyft will offer autonomous rides in Las Vegas during CES
Lyft has been working to make autonomous cars a reality lately. The company recently launched a pilot in Boston, thanks to a partnership with nuTonomy. Now Lyft has extended its partnership to nuTonomy's parent company Aptiv, to give rides to people attending the Computer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 9th through the 12th.
Samsung's latest C-Lab projects include private portable speakers
Samsung is making a tradition out of unveiling C-Lab projects at major trade shows, and CES 2018 is no exception. The tech giant is introducing a trio of experiments, starting with its unique S-Ray speaker (above). The makes directional audio portable -- you can listen to your tunes anywhere you go without the potential discomfort of headphones or subjecting everyone to your musical tastes. Samsung is teasing multiple models, including a smartphone cover and a neck-worn speaker that comes across as a less intrusive version of LG's Tone Studio.
CES 2018: What to expect
It's January, which means that Las Vegas, or the bit that pretends not to be Las Vegas for tax reasons, will play host to CES. The Consumer Electronics Show is the event that kicks off the technology world's annual calendar, and 2018 will see thousands of companies descend upon Nevada to show off their wares. Many will claim to have the solution to whatever problem you may have, but we'll be on the ground to peer through their flashy promises. If last year's CES had a theme, then it was an attempt to broaden its horizons beyond smartphones, tablets and TVs. Technology companies have mined every last drop of good ideas from the traditional gadget world, which is why many chose to try something new. Our Best of CES winners from last year included a smart bra-style breast pump, a self-balancing motorcycle and smart tech that will help farmers. CES will set the tone for the next year in technology, so while we make our way there, here's a quick run-through of all the things we're likely to find in the desert.
GE's latest smart lighting includes Alexa and HomeKit options
Creating a smart home can be a complicated affair, with myriad options for adding voice control and automation to your lights, window coverings, thermostats and more. GE wants to simplify your options (with its own branded products, of course) with some new smart ceiling fixtures, wall switches, and lamps for 2018.
LG shows off the world's first 88-inch 8K OLED display
Just as 4K and HDR are finally going mainstream, the ambitious folks at LG Display have also been busy pushing their OLED technology to 8K. Come CES, the Korean manufacturer will let attendees get up close with its new 88-inch 8K OLED display (can we just call it the "Triple 8?"), which is both the largest and the highest-resolution OLED panel to date. But as far as specs go, that's all we have for now. Previously, the largest OLED screen size was 77 inches, and it "only" came in 4K. While this combination is currently offered to consumers by the likes of LG Electronics, Sony and Panasonic, they all source their large OLED panels from LG Display.
Kenwood will be one of the first to offer wireless Android Auto
Google talked about wireless Android Auto back in spring 2016, but there hasn't exactly been widespread adoption. You still have to assume that you'll need a USB cable when you hit the road. That's about to change: JVCKenwood has casually teased plans to unveil a high-end head end unit with "wireless connectivity for Android Auto" at CES in January. It's keeping most details close to the vest, as you might expect before the big show, but it will pack Apple CarPlay support and a 720p screen.
LG unveils its first smart speaker with Google Assistant
LG is acting on its promise to unveil a slew of AI-powered gadgets at CES this January. The tech giant has unveiled a 2018 speaker lineup headlined by the ThinQ Speaker, a Google Assistant-powered device that promises "premium" sound alongside its smarts. It supports lossless high-resolution audio like LG's more advanced phones, and uses Meridian Audio's know-how to pump out "more natural and warm" music. The launch also hints that many of LG's newer appliances will be Assistant-savvy -- the company envisions turning on your air purifier with a voice command.
Hyundai and Kia will offer AI assistants in 2019 cars
Hyundai and Kia both have reputations as early adopters of in-car tech, and that's truer than ever now that voice assistants are becoming a practical reality on the road. The Korean automakers have revealed that they plan to include AI assistants in their new cars starting from 2019, with every vehicle being 'connected' by 2025. As Hyundai explained, they've been working with SoundHound to create an Intelligent Personal Agent (based on Houndify) that both makes proactive suggestions (such as reminding you of a meeting) and offers remote control of both your car and your home.
LG's latest PC monitors bring intense HDR and ultra-wide 5K
LG was one of the first out of the gate with high-end consumer HDR monitors, and now it's ready to spread its wings a bit. It's unveiling three new displays, all of which promise more intense DisplayHDR 600-rated visuals -- that is, they can reach 600 nits of brightness while maintaining the wide dynamic range inherent to HDR. The eye-catcher of the bunch is arguably the 34WK95U, a 34-inch ultra-wide 5K (that is, 5,120 x 2,160) monitor designed for video editors and others who want side-by-side views without multiple displays. It includes a Thunderbolt 3 port that can pipe data, power and 5K 60Hz video through a lone cable.
Samsung’s new wall-mountable soundbar has a built-in subwoofer
CES 2018 is right around the corner and we're starting to get a peek at what we'll be seeing there. Today, Samsung announced that it will be showing off its new wall-mountable soundbar, the NW700 Sound+. Samsung says that the soundbar, which is just over two inches wide, is 41 percent narrower that its previous model, but that doesn't mean Samsung has skimped on the sound. The NW700 Sound+ has a built-in subwoofer and distortion-cancelling tweeters. It also has three sound modes including Standard and Surround Modes and a Smart Mode that automatically adjusts volume and surround sound effects.
LG will release new AI products under the 'ThinQ' brand
LG is getting serious with artificial intelligence and will launch products and services that use AI under a new sub-brand called "ThinQ" starting in 2018. All its upcoming TVs, fridges, even electronic devices and services under the new brand will have features developed with deep learning techniques and will be able to communicate with one another. LG says you can expect its new offerings to use its own AI tech, DeepThinQ, as well as its partners', but it didn't elaborate further or listed possible features.
Rinspeed's concept EV puts swappable pods on a 'skateboard'
Rinspeed has been dreaming up insane vehicles for years -- from scuba cars plucked from James Bond's garage to modded self-driving rides. Even if they never make it to the public, the concepts are at least fun to check out, and the Rinspeed Snap is no different. Essentially a modular vehicle in two parts, the Snap is made up of interchangeable pods that attach to a rolling chassis, which houses data-processing computers and the EV power train. When the latter starts ageing, you simply slide a new one under your existing pod, theoretically extending the lifecycle of the vehicle at a fraction of the cost of buying a new car. And, if you get bored of the top half, you can swap that out too.
LG's refreshed Gram laptops get a quad-core processor bump
Ahead of CES, laptop makers are hurriedly unveiling the hardware they'll be showing off at the trade show. Yesterday we got the lowdown on Samsung's Surface-challenging Notebook 9 range, and now it's fellow Korean titan LG's turn to talk up its 2018 Gram line-up. As always, the company is emphasizing the portability of the lightweight ultrabooks, which hopefully won't come at the expense of a decent display this time round. The new batch includes a 13.3 inch model weighing in at 2.1 pounds, a 14 inch variant at 2.2 pounds, and a 15.6 version coming in at 2.4 pounds.
Samsung's 2018 Notebook 9 lineup includes MacBook, Surface challengers
Last year Samsung's Notebook 9 laptop kept it simple with a standard thin-and-light design that got the important things right, but didn't sport flashy features like a high-res display or hybrid design. Earlier this year the Pro edition added a folding hinge for 2-in-1 tablet use and a stylus, and next year the company will fully revamp its lineup with four new devices. The new Notebook 9 Pen is ready to take on Surface devices with its built-in battery-free S Pen stylus, to go with a "thoughtfully designed" 2-in-1 hybrid laptop/tablet. The 13-inch devices comes with an 8th generation Intel Core i7 CPU, up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage, but weighs just 2.2 pounds thanks to its "Metal12" magnesium-aluminum alloy.
Bragi's AI earbuds will recognize the sounds around you
Bragi is determined to stand out in the increasingly crowded smart earbud space, and it might just have an ace up its sleeve. The startup and its partner Audio Analytic are promising to show off the first "context-aware earphones" at CES in January -- that is, a Dash Pro whose AI can recognize nearby sounds and act accordingly. While the exact capabilities are under wraps, Audio Analytic hints at recognizing both conversations and ambient sounds. The earphones might pipe down when you start talking to a friend, or let in more outside sound if an ambulance is approaching with sirens blaring.
Under-display fingerprint reader arrives on 'major' phone in January
Under-the-screen fingerprint readers won't just be reserved for rough prototypes in the near future. Synaptics has sent word that a "major" smartphone manufacturer in the "top five" will unveil a phone using its Clear ID sensor at CES in January. It's not offering any clues as to who the mystery early adopter might be, although Vivo was the first to show it off. We wouldn't be surprised if one of Vivo's sibling brands (such as Oppo) had the honors, although we certainly wouldn't rule out competition like Huawei or Xiaomi.
Engadget is once again presenting the official Best of CES awards!
CES is just around the corner, which means the Engadget team is already in the thick of planning for the world's premier consumer electronics show. We're getting ready to try out all the latest gadgets and, of course, we're pumped to be hosting the official Best of CES awards for the fifth year in a row.
These new Honda concept mobility robots are adorable
At CES 2018, Honda is set to unveil its 3E Robotics Concept robots. These are aimed at making people's lives easier through the use of robots, with a focus on helping those with mobility issues navigate their homes and the outside world. There are four robots in total: 3E-A18 is a companion robot designed to show compassion, while 3E-B18 is a mobility chair designed for indoor and outdoor use. The 3E-C18 appears to be a mobility concept vehicle with cargo space, while 3E-D18 is an autonomous off-road vehicle.
Samsung may offer a peek at the Galaxy S9 at CES in January
You might not have to wait until Samsung's customary spring event to get a look at the next flagship Galaxy phones. A source talking to well-connected leak writer Evan Blass claims that Samsung will preview both the Galaxy S9 and the upsized Galaxy S9 Plus at CES in January. There would still be a formal launch event in March, but you'd get a hint of what to expect a little early. It's not certain why Samsung would do this, but it might be to get ahead of leaks and manage expectations. It probably doesn't want iPhone X-style leaks where you know most of the details before the company has said a single word.
