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D-Link's latest router uses 5G for super fast home broadband
D-Link has launched a gateway router that shows 5G could be as much about home internet as faster mobile connections. The DWR-2010 5G NR router will pick up 5G networks and deliver speeds to your home as fast as 3Gbps, "more than 40 times faster then the [average] fixed broadband speed in the US," it said. It will reportedly be relatively easy to setup, letting you create a home WiFi network with just a power outlet and SIM card.
Neutrogena app 3D scans your face to create perfect-fit sheet masks
At CES last year, Neutrogena unveiled an iPhone attachment that lets you examine the condition of your skin in excruciating detail -- pores, moisture levels, wrinkles you didn't even know were there, the lot. Now, branching off the Skin 360 tool, the company has unveiled an app that accurately measures your face to ensure a good fit for the sheet masks designed to counteract these skin woes.
ASUS unveils its first Chrome OS tablet
ASUS has added four new devices to its Chrome OS lineup, including the brand's first tablet running the operating system. Like many other Chrome OS devices, all four are meant for use in the classroom, built with tough bodies and flexible hinges to be able to withstand abuse. The tablet (model CT100) was especially made for younger kids and has a thick rubberized chassis, as well as a 9.7-inch QXGA display that's covered in strong tempered glass. It also has 4GB of RAM, 32GB of onboard storage and is powered by Hexa-core OP1 processor made for Chromebooks.
Toyota's latest self-driving test car is smarter than ever
We got a look at Toyota's first self-driving research vehicle way back during CES 2013, and now the company will introduce the updated P4 platform at CES 2019. It upgrades on the second and third generation cars with the introduction of Lexus' latest flagship sedan, the LS 500h, but it doesn't stop there. The computer managing its technology has not only become more powerful than ever before, but it's also smaller so it tucks directly against the rear seat, and it only requires power from the hybrid battery, using a 12v battery of its own just as an emergency backup.
Klipsch's true wireless earbuds charge in a Zippo-like case
Klipsch will showcase a range of audio gear at CES, including true wireless earbuds that charge in a case more stylish than most. At $199, the T5 True Wireless set will cost you $40 more than AirPods, though the charging case certainly catches the eye more than Apple's option.
Whirlpool will let you control appliances with your Wear OS watch
At CES last year, Whirlpool announced Alexa and Google Assistant support for its smart appliances, and noted it was working on an Apple Watch app. This time around, the company has revealed plans for more ways to control its smart home products with Wear OS support, which will arrive later this year.
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.
Samsung's space-saving monitor can be pushed flat against the wall
Samsung will be showing off three new monitors at CES -- one aimed at saving space, another for gamers and a curved monitor geared towards content creators. The first is Samsung's Space Monitor, which comes with a fully-integrated arm that can attach to the edge of a desk, giving you more room to work. You can adjust it to your comfort and push it back flat against the wall when you're not using it, allowing you to maximize desk space when needed. The 27-inch model features QHD resolution, while the 32-model offers 4K UHD, and you can feed all of your cables through the arm to keep them organized and out of the way.
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.
GE adds color lightbulbs to its Made for Google lineup
GE unveiled its first Made-for-Google lightbulbs in October last year. Now, it's expanding the range to include full-color LEDs, accessories and smart wall switches, which, like the previous bulb release, can be used without an extra hub and controlled via a single app.
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).
Intel-powered camera uses AI to protect endangered African wildlife
Technology is already in use to help stop poachers. However, it's frequently limited to monitoring poachers when they're already in shooting range, or after the fact. The non-profit group Resolve vows to do better -- it recently developed a newer version of its TrailGuard camera that uses AI to spot poachers in Africa before they can threaten an endangered species. It uses an Intel-made computer vision processor (the Movidius Myriad 2) that can detect animals, humans and vehicles in real-time, giving park rangers a chance to intercept poachers before it's too late.
OhMiBod debuts an Apple Watch app for its remote vibrators
OhMiBod's power to let folks connect with one another from opposite ends of the internet just got a little bit bigger. The company has announced that it is building both an Apple Watch app, something it originally pledged to do back in 2015, as well as an Alexa Skill for its pleasure products. Apple Watch users will be able to use their heart rate -- via the Pulse feature -- to control the intensity of its Bluetooth-enabled vibrators.
Food tracking comes to Google Assistant with Lifesum
You no longer have to pull out your phone (or look at your watch) to track your dietary habits. Lifesum has introduced what it says is the first food tracking app for Google Assistant, making it easier to keep tabs on your eating patterns. If you ate a large meal or grabbed a glass of water, you just have to use your voice to add that to your log. You can also update your body weight, tackle challenges (such as hiding sugary food in your kitchen) and ask for updates on your progress.
Vuzix Blade $1,000 smart glasses are ready to meet your face
Vuzix has been making smart glasses for well over a decade, primarily for enterprise use such as medical applications or stocking shelves in warehouses. Last year, Vuzix teased a prototype of the Blade, a smaller, slimmer pair made for consumers. Not only does it come with a floating display a la Google Glass, it's also compatible with Alexa (and, eventually, Google Assistant). Now the company says it's ready to ship the Blade for $1,000 as it attempts to pick up where Google Glass left off.
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.
LG's latest sound bars feature Dolby Atmos and Google Assistant
LG sells a lot of TVs, so if you're not into a full, eight-speaker home theater system, it wants to sell you a sound bar to go along with it. The problem is, sound bars are kind of boring, so with CES 2019, LG is trying to sex them up. For its three latest sound bars, it has integrated Google Assistant for voice control, offered Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, teamed up with Meridian Audio for simulated multi-speaker sound and unveiled an all-new, more modern design.
Samsung's latest experiments include an ASMR recorder
CES is right around the corner, and that means Samsung is unveiling a new batch of C-Lab projects -- some stranger than others. Take aiMo, for instance. It's an ASMR recording tool that combines a phone with a case that simulates the human ear, right down to the shape. It looks silly, to say the least, but it promises both better spatial audio and more realistic sounds thanks to some AI sound rendering magic. In theory, you can produce top-notch tingling audio wherever you are, even when you're outside.
Samsung's 2019 TVs could add Google Assistant AI along with Bixby
CES 2019 is right around the corner, and we're preparing to learn all about next year's major electronics releases. Of course that will include a slew of new TVs, and Variety reports that Samsung is planning a couple of upgrades focused on AI assistants and audio. While the company enhanced the 2018 QLED TVs with its own Bixby AI assistant, next year it could go a step further with support for third party technology, namely Google Assistant. Other manufacturers already support assistants from companies like Google and Amazon, and opening up access will make linking to the rest of the smart home that much easier for people who don't go all-in on Samsung's brand. The other major upgrade mentioned applies to audio, with Variety pointing out trademarks recently filed around spatial and volume intelligence. From the names, it seems like Samsung might be planning technology similar to what we've seen in Google's Home Max and Apple's HomePod, where it can learn more about the room it is in and adjust sound accordingly. We'll find out the real information in just a few more days once the show starts in Las Vegas.
LG's Laser 4K beams a 120-inch picture from seven inches away
Just as surely as CES comes around, LG shows up with a laser projector to hopefully tempt you into ditching that TV. This year's attempt is another CineBeam model, and the Laser 4K is ready to compete with the likes of Hisense's home-theater-in-a-box projector and the ultra-expensive Sony projectors we've seen in past years. The HU85L doesn't list HDR support, but it has a "wide color gamut" and can project a 120-inch screen while placed just 7 inches away from a nearby wall, floor or ceiling, or a 90-inch screen from 2 inches away. There's no word on a price or release date, but it is, of course, equipped with the company's ThinQ AI for natural language voice control and a Magic remote with gesture control. With 2,500 lumens of brightness it's intended for use in more than just darkened home theater rooms, but we'll need to see it in Las Vegas to know how good it really is.
