https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/02/what-to-expect-at-ces-2018/?utm_source=tcfbpage&sr_share=facebook
The biggest tech show of the year is set to officially kick off January 9 — which actually means the big announcements. TechCrunch has made a lot of reporting over the years, so they have some idea what to expect.
Connected homes will likely dominate the show yet again, led by the explosive popularity of Alexa and Google Assistant. Some past themes will likely see a shift, meanwhile, as past years’ fascination with VR shifts to a more AR focus. Google, in particular, is reportedly planning quite a presence at this year’s show.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
An Alexa Development Kit from Amazon
https://blog.hackster.io/an-alexa-development-kit-from-amazon-5dae5522ddc
Amazon’s $100 million Alexa Fund has paid dividends for them with a stealth takeover of CES for the last couple of years, where we’re seeing third-party manufacturers integrating Amazon’s technology into devices ranging from cameras to cars. But this year’s take over of CES 2018 is anything but stealthy, with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant going head-to-head in Vegas.
The Amazon Alexa Premium Far-Field Voice Development Kit is intended to help commercial device manufacturers more efficiently build high-quality Alexa experiences. Much like the Conexant kit we saw in the middle of last year, this kit isn’t really intended for makers, but to give device manufacturers access to the same audio technology that powers the latest Amazon Echo family of devices.
https://developer.amazon.com/alexa-voice-service/dev-kits/amazon-premium-voice
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES 2018 likely to feature a heavy dose of blockchain, cryptocurrency
http://www.zdnet.com/article/ces-2018-likely-to-feature-a-heavy-dose-of-blockchain-cryptocurrency/
Rest assured digital money, blockchain, and cryptocurrency will be key themes at CES 2018 as tech vendors aim to ride shotgun with the latest buzzword.
CES 2018 will be best known for its gadgets, electronics, and applications for the Internet of Things (IoT), but you can expect blockchain technology as well as cryptocurrency to be a major headliner.
Cryptocurrencies such as Ripple and Bitcoin are showing signs of being a full-blown bubble. Grandmothers were asking about cryptocurrency over the holiday break.
The underlying technology of these cryptocurrencies is blockchain, which will have a big enterprise impact for smart contracts, supply chain and security. A blockchain is a single version of the truth made possible by an immutable and secure time-stamped public ledger, copies of which are held by multiple parties.
Blockchain shifts trust in business from an institution or entity to software and makes illiquid assets tradeable, curbs fraud, and enables devices to make transactions.
Kodak announces the KodakCoin blockchain cryptocurrency
http://www.zdnet.com/article/kodak-announces-the-kodakcoin-blockchain-cryptocurrency/
The KodakCoin cryptocurrency and the KodakOne rights management platform will both be backed by blockchain security, Kodak has announced.
Kodak has announced the launch of its KodakCoin cryptocurrency utilising blockchain security technology, which it said is aimed at enabling image rights management for photographers.
“With KodakCoin, participating photographers are invited to take part in a new economy for photography, receive payment for licensing their work immediately upon sale, and, for both professional and amateur photographers, sell their work confidently on a secure blockchain platform,” Kodak said.
The camera company’s “photo-centric” cryptocurrency is being launched under a licensing partnership with Wenn Digital, and will also involve a blockchain-backed image rights management platform called KodakOne.
“Utilising blockchain technology, the KodakOne platform will create an encrypted, digital ledger of rights ownership for photographers to register both new and archive work that they can then license within the platform,” Kodak explained.
Tomi Engdahl says:
2018 CES: Intel Advances Quantum and Neuromorphic Computing Research
https://newsroom.intel.com/news/intel-advances-quantum-neuromorphic-computing-research/
2018 CES: Brian Krzanich’s Opening Night Keynote (Replay)
https://newsroom.intel.com/news/2018-ces-keynote-intel-brian-krzanich/
Tomi Engdahl says:
The world’s smallest wearable device can save your life
UV radiation is dangerous. It would be convenient if the amount of radiation could be measured continuously, but who would now be able to carry the meters with them? Scientists from Northwestern University, together with a fashion house with L’Oreal, have developed such a device and presented it at Las Vegas CES.
According to researcher John A. Rogers, “UV Sense” is “light as a rain drop” and smaller than a pastille. It is a sensor film that is powered by sunlight – of course – that goes unnoticed along the nail.
According to Rodgers, UV Sense is the world’s smallest portable electronic device. It allows people to limit their exposure to dangerous UV rays, and ultimately the goal of the device is to save lives.
The sensor film has no moving parts or battery. It is water-resistant and can be placed almost anywhere: on skin or on clothing.
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7365&via=n&datum=2018-01-09_15:11:14&mottagare=31202
Tomi Engdahl says:
Lenovo’s latest is the first nail to Intel’s coffin
Lenovo’s new products include the Miix 630 hybrid laptop that is the company’s first Qualcomm based ARM-based mobile processor.
The Intel X86 platform is definitely not dead, but the platform developed by Qualcomm and Microsoft can be the beginning of a new era. The ARM platform brings enough power to many applications in laptops, directly with integrated mobile network support and a very long battery life.
As Lenovo says, Miix 630 includes 4G-LTE support, so the user is not dependent on wlan networks. The portable tablet is a versatile computer that is straightforward and features a full size keyboard and a digital pen. The battery is promised to last up to 20 hours with one charge.
The processor is Snapdragon 835. Like the cell phones, the processor does not need any fans for cooling, so it is very quiet. The evice comes with a Windows 10 S operating system (can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro free of charge).
In the USA, the starting price is $ 799.
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7364&via=n&datum=2018-01-09_15:11:14&mottagare=31202
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft China says Cortana will work better on the Surface Phone than Android
https://mspoweruser.com/microsoft-china-says-cortana-will-work-better-surface-phone-android/
It is not new that Microsoft is working on a new line of mobile products after the sad end of Windows Phone. Microsoft, however, hasn’t said anything publicly apart from the fact that the new mobile devices will follow the design guidelines of the Surface Devices.
Yesterday, however, Cortana support of Microsoft Asia Research Institute accidentally confirmed the existence of Surface Phone while answering a question asked on Zhihu which is something like Quora, complaining of poor integration of Cortana on Android. The Microsoft Engineer said this was due to lack of permissions on the operating system, but also said that he’s looking forward to the perfect performance of Cortana on Surface Phone. The answer was later edited to add “but we do not know there will be a Surface Phone,” but I suspect if anyone would know it would be Microsoft Research.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2018/01/09/ces2018-keraa-kiinnostuneet/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Artificial Intelligence scales the TV screen to 8K resolution
Televisions have always played a big role at Las Vegas CES. This time, for example, Samsung’s The Wall, or the first micrologium, which spreads to as many as 146 inches, has been the focus of most attention. However, it may be that Samsung’s second release is more relevant for viewers.
It is the artificial intelligence that has been introduced for the Korean manufacturer’s new QLED models. It scales the standard-resolution signal to 8K resolution using Samsung’s own AI algorithms.
According to Samsung, technology scales the resolution to a greater degree by the quality of each image. This means adding details, removing noise, and improving edge distortion.
Technology is becoming commercially available in the second half of this year.
a long time for the transmission of a 8K level signal, other than the net. A TV that would be able to stretch the 8K image automatically would really be revolutionary.
Source: http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/7368-tekoaly-skaalaa-televisiokuvan-8k-tarkkuuteen
Tomi Engdahl says:
In the car, you can charge your cellphone wirelessly
Now that Apple’s iPhone also supports wireless downloading, technology begins to attract more car makers. At Las Vegas CES, On Semiconductor develops a solution for mobile phone charging safely in a car.
Together with ConveniantPower Systems, ON Semi has developed a solution around its VCV6500 power management circuitry. The solution uses different coils to support multiple devices and deliver up to 15 watts of charging power.
Companies make the most of the new detection technology for foreign objects so that the charging field can be implemented relatively large without the connection to the wrong devices.
According to Sem, in addition to safety, it is important to carry out a wireless download where the device is simply “dropped” on the platform for charging. The VCV6500 power management circuit operates on a 5 volt input voltage and can be used to produce both wireless Qi and PMA standards.
Source: http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/7370-autossa-voi-pian-ladata-kannykan-langattomasti
Tomi Engdahl says:
Significantly faster SSD disk at reasonable price
Toshiba has introduced a new SSD hard drive at CES, which can be an interesting alternative for updating laptop memory. The RC100 is a disc that brings the ultimate notebook recording speed to the basics of the laptop.
The disk supports PCIe 3.0 and the NVM 1.2 protocol in the memory drive.
This makes it possible to read 1620 megabytes per second of the RC100. Writing succeeds at 1130 megabytes per second. Previously, such readings have only been found in more expensive laptops.
Source: http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/7362-merkittavasti-nopeampi-ssd-levy-edullisesti
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung gets into digital whiteboards with the $2700 Flip
https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/08/samsung-gets-into-digital-whiteboards-with-the-2700-flip/?utm_source=tcfbpage&sr_share=facebook
Digital whiteboards are a curiously popular project for big companies to dabble with lately. It’s one of those things companies build because they can – because they’ve already figured out all the tech involved with their other projects. Google has the Jamboard. Microsoft has the Surface Hub. And now, Samsung has the Flip.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The day the lights went out at CES
https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/10/the-day-the-lights-went-out-at-ces/?ncid=rss&utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&utm_content=FaceBook&sr_share=facebook
The big story of this year’s CES isn’t smart assistants or autonomous cars. Hell, it’s not even giant TVs
Day one’s big stories were a shaken GoPro CEO, a royally pissed off Huawei executive and Las Vegas’s utter lack of preparation for a rainstorm. This morning, it’s a power outage that’s impacting the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, leaving CES 2018 looking like something out of a disaster film in some dystopian future in which mankind is left to parter with smart speakers and Bluetooth headphones.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES 2018: Phantom Auto Demonstrates First Remote-Controlled Car on Public Roads
https://spectrum.ieee.org/cars-that-think/transportation/self-driving/ces-2018-phantom-auto-demonstrates-first-remotecontrolled-car-on-public-roads
Tomi Engdahl says:
Don’t Worry, Petrolheads. Driverless Cars Are Still Years Away
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-09/toyota-to-hyundai-say-pump-brakes-on-hopes-of-robo-car-s-arrival
Lyft cautions human drivers will be needed ‘a very long time’
Toyota sees ‘long journey’ before drivers let go of the wheel
Tomi Engdahl says:
WayRay’s AR in-car HUD convinced me HUDs can be better
https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/09/wayrays-ar-in-car-hud-convinced-me-huds-can-be-better/?utm_source=tcfbpage&sr_share=facebook
WayRay, a Swiss augmented reality technology provider, brought its in-car heads-up display solutions to CES 2018 to show what its unique approach can do. The company was showing off its NAVION aftermarket solution to the public for the first time, and also had its holographic AR in-windshield product, designed for OEMs, available for anyone to try.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES 2018: What Happens to Your Phone Will Be the Least Interesting Thing About 5G
https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/telecom/wireless/ces-2018-what-happens-to-your-phone-is-going-to-be-the-least-interesting-thing-about-5g
5G is so powerful, it’s sending back signals from the future. The technology is barely out of the experimental phase, with the first official 5G standard released just last month: The first partial deployments are expected later this year or early next year, and full commercial deployments probably won’t be complete until the early 2020s. Yet many booths at CES in Las Vegas this week are festooned with 5G exhibits, and conference sessions devoted to the tech are jam-packed.
The anticipation is high because as the technical realities of 5G have come into focus, engineers have also begun to realize that it’s going to offer a lot more than “4G, only faster.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES 2018: Look to the Processor, not the Display, for TV Picture Improvements
https://spectrum.ieee.org/view-from-the-valley/consumer-electronics/audiovideo/ces-2018-look-to-the-processor-not-the-display-for-tv-picture-improvements
If you were dropping into your first CES from another planet, you might not actually realize from the announcements at CES press day that TVs have screens. Instead, the manufacturers struggled to explain tech advances that are coming in places the eye can’t see—under the hood and in the cloud.
LG, Panasonic, and TCL put the spotlight on the chips that do the video processing: For the foreseeable future, any advances in image quality will be coming from these chips, not from the displays themselves.
AI and the cloud
Samsung, though it didn’t tout a new processor, promised that all its gadgets, big and small, will be a lot smarter this year—and will, by 2020, be using AI and talking to the cloud.
LG pointed to its plans to integrate AI into all its consumer electronics products, including refrigerators, washing machines, and televisions—an effort the company has branded ThinQ. (Most people would pronounce this “think”, but LG wants it to sound more like “thank you.”)
And TCL joined with Roku to connect its gear to the cloud via a new smart soundbar, coming towards the end of 2018.
In their efforts to make their connected products more intelligent and more useful, the major consumer electronics companies are reaching out to the little guys—the startup gadget makers who are putting lightbulbs, swimming pools, and even pets onto the IoT (I’m imagining your TV telling you it’s time to let the dog out). Samsung and LG both touted the efforts to develop open standards through the two-year-old Open Connectivity Foundation.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES 2018: On the Hunt for Tiny Treasures in the CES Aisles
https://spectrum.ieee.org/view-from-the-valley/consumer-electronics/gadgets/ces-2018-on-the-hunt-for-tiny-treasures-in-the-ces-aisles
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES 2018: Vayyar Imaging Unveils New Smart Home Sensors to Improve IoT Without Sacrificing Personal Privacy
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180108005494/en/CES-2018-Vayyar-Imaging-Unveils-New-Smart
Vayyar’s new sensors enable home monitoring without the use of cameras or wearables
LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Vayyar Imaging, the 3D imaging company whose technology can see through almost any object or material, today launched at CES 2018 its latest wave of sensors for the connected home. This technology combines multiple capabilities into a single sensor that covers an entire apartment in all light conditions, while maintaining privacy.
By removing optics and the need for wearables or active participation by the user, Vayyar’s technology comes with nearly an endless list of applications that can be optimized for protecting consumer privacy and safety; from in-home elderly care to maintenance and security.
Vayyar has partnered with SoftBank Corp. to collaborate in the IoT field. Together they are developing applications that combine Softbank’s AI with Vayyar’s sensor technology for use in smart home, construction, and elderly care.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Kodak announces ICO, stock jumps 44%
https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/09/kodak-announces-ico-stock-jumps-44/?utm_source=tcfbpage&sr_share=facebook
Kodak is today announcing a partnership with Wenn Digital to create a “photo-centric cryptocurrency” that will “empower photographers and agencies to take greater control in image rights management.” Because why not. It’s 2018.
The company’s stock jumped 44 percent on the news
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wi-Fi® at CES 2018
https://www.wi-fi.org/beacon/the-beacon/wi-fi-at-ces-2018
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.wi-fi.org/beacon/the-beacon/wi-fi-at-ces-2018
Advancements in Wi-Fi and the larger connected ecosystem are due to the leadership of member companies working in Wi-Fi Alliance – many of which are attending #CES2018. Wi-Fi certification programs will be seen throughout the show floor and are enabling many CES innovations:
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ ac
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED WiGig™
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Vantage™
Wi-Fi Direct®
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast®
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED TimeSync™
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wi-Fi Alliance® introduces security enhancements
https://www.wi-fi.org/news-events/newsroom/wi-fi-alliance-introduces-security-enhancements
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wi-Fi installed base expected to hit 9.5 billion this year
https://www.rcrwireless.com/20180108/wireless/wi-fi-kicks-off-2018-with-security-boost-tag6
Wi-Fi Alliance will begin certifying new security features for Wi-Fi Protected Access, the WPA2 protocol that is commonly relied upon for Wi-Fi security, and next-generation WPA3 is on its way with new features that include protection that extends to users who don’t follow recommended best practices on password selection, according to Kevin Robinson, VP of marketing for WFA.
Tomi Engdahl says:
These Are ASUS’s 3 Crazy-looking Wi-Fi Routers From CES 2018
https://fossbytes.com/asus-routers-ces/
If you follow the developments taking place at CES each year, you might be knowing that ASUS releases some crazy-looking routers at the event. Here, I’ll be telling you about 3 different routers that are unique in their own sense.
The first among this list is ASUS RT-AX88U. It’s the company’s first 802.11ax WiFi router, which supports speeds up to 6,000Mbps.
The second router is Lyra Trio, which resembles an iron. This mesh router is powered by dual-band and 3×3 MIMO technology.
Named Lyra Voice, it’s a tri-band 802.11ac mesh system with built-in Amazon Alexa.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Auto dashboards and entertainment centers digitize and become touchscreen, but would not it be great if the user could choose their own theme for the viewer? The Finnish Symbio’s new Elysian platform allows such customization.
Symbio introduced Elysian at Las Vegas CES. It is a software that can be upgraded over time through a smartphone. Basically, Elysian makes the car’s info and entertainment system intelligent and up-to-date, just as smart phones.
According to Symbion Technology Director Jarkko Kemppainen, technology solves the problem of cars and software aging at different rates. The car is a durable and durable device. Good software, however, is never ready for updates, as well as ensuring the stability of the software and introducing new features.
Elysian aims especially for cars with a lower price range. More expensive cars often have a car-built telecommunication connection and car manufacturers’ own info and entertainment system, but cheaper cars require more cost-effective solutions.
Elysian is certified to be compatible with all of the most common car software environments with Apple CarPlay, Android Car, Baidu Carlife and Smart Device Link. The platform has been developed in Finland with Finnish tools since the user interface and applications have been created with Qt’s platform and terminal-independent application development library and tools.
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7379&via=n&datum=2018-01-11_16:10:04&mottagare=31202
Tomi Engdahl says:
Uber Will Put Nvidia Under the Hood of its Autonomous Cars
Uber has announced that its fleet of self-driving vehicles will be driven by Nvidia AI computing systems.
https://www.designnews.com/electronics-test/uber-will-put-nvidia-under-hood-its-autonomous-cars/74612761158084?ADTRK=UBM&elq_mid=2820&elq_cid=876648
Nvidia and Uber have entered into a partnership that will make the chipmaker’s GPUs the processors of choice inside the ride-sharing company’s fleet of autonomous cars and freight trucks. The announcement came out of the 2018 Consumer Electronics Shows (CES) and marks a significant step in Nvidia becoming a major supplier of processing technologies for self-driving vehicles as its Drive PX series of autonomous vehicle computing platforms will be the brains of Uber’s self-driving cars and trucks.
“Developing safe, reliable autonomous vehicles requires sophisticated AI software and a high-performance GPU computing engine in the vehicle,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
With Concept Cars on Display, CES 2018 Gets Its Driver’s License
http://www.electronicdesign.com/automotive/concept-cars-display-ces-2018-gets-its-driver-s-license?NL=ED-004&Issue=ED-004_20180111_ED-004_314&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_2_b&utm_rid=CPG05000002750211&utm_campaign=14868&utm_medium=email&elq2=dc47c97a9d814b668a3fc6cdc1e83287
Concept cars previewed at the Las Vegas Computer Electronic Show are a good indication of the proliferation of electronics in automotive vehicles now and in the future.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES 2018: What the Gadget Fest Looks Like in ‘the Year of A.I.’
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/01/11/business/ces-gadgets-technology.html?referer=https://t.co/gGa9f8V1nw
On an initial walk-through, this year’s CES electronics trade show was reminiscent of years past.
Samsung highlighted a smart refrigerator with a large touch screen and voice controls. Huawei, the Chinese manufacturer, showed its first high-end smartphone for the United States. And LG demonstrated a TV that can be rolled up like a yoga mat.
Yet the clear darling of this year’s show was not a gadget but the growing amount of artificial intelligence software helping these products run. The race between Amazon and Google to be the go-to service for integration of consumer products was on full display. In many booths, signs prominently advertised that products worked with Google Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa. The smart home, car and TV all seemed to have been touched by Amazon or Google.
Tomi Engdahl says:
A tour of Google’s reopened CES booth
https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/10/a-tour-of-googles-reopened-ces-booth/?ncid=rss&utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&utm_content=FaceBook&sr_share=facebook
Tomi Engdahl says:
Intel sets the stage for new ‘Level 2+’ automated driving
https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/08/intel-sets-the-stage-for-new-level-2-automated-driving/
Mobileye’s REM (road experiment management, in full) is going to help develop Level 4 and 5 vehicles eventually, yes, but Intel’s Dan Galves, Mobileye’s Chief Communications Officer, tells me that in the near-term it’ll have more interesting and immediate applications powering what he and Intel are calling ‘Level 2+” systems, which are semi-automated driving features for consumer vehicles that use existing sensor hardware available at affordable price points today, and that can enable driving equivalent to something like GM’s SuperCruise.
Tomi Engdahl says:
There’s One Tiny Problem With The New Self-Driving Ride-Sharing Vehicles Announced This Week
http://www.iflscience.com/technology/toyota-reveals-ridesharing-vehicle-plan-and-everyone-is-pointing-out-the-same-thing/
On Monday, Toyota announced that they’re creating autonomous pizza vehicles, designed to deliver pizzas for Pizza Hut without the need for humans.
The car giant has announced they’re teaming up with Uber in an attempt to create a vehicle that can be used for sharing rides.
“Our competitors no longer just make cars. Companies like Google, Apple, and even Facebook are what I think about at night, because, after all, we didn’t start off making cars either,” company president Akio Toyoda said.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Netgear Armor is a $70 router update that protects your home network with Bitdefender
It’s not free, though
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3246704/security/netgear-armor-router-firmware-update-bitdefender-security.html
Don’t call it a trend, but D-Link isn’t the only router maker announcing a network-based security solution for home users during the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show. Netgear announced late Monday that it is also getting into the game with a new service called Netgear Armor.
Netgear Armor will be powered by Bitdefender and first show up via a firmware upgrade in the Netgear Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi router
After a 90-day free trial, anyone who wants to stick with Armor will have to pay $70 per year.
From the sounds of it, Netgear Armor is basic Bitdefender antivirus running at the network level.
Armor deploys URL blocking to keep your devices away from malicious websites that might be trying to drop malware onto your computer or phish some personal information. It also has a vulnerability assessment feature that scans for devices on your network that could be vulnerable to “unauthorized access, data theft or malicious attacks.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
GM and Cruise reveal their fourth-generation, steering wheel-free Cruise AV
https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/11/gm-and-cruise-reveal-their-fourth-generation-steering-wheel-free-cruise-av/?utm_source=tcfbpage&sr_share=facebook
GM and Cruise are making progress on their plan to deploy autonomous vehicles on roads for the public: Today, it’s showing off its fourth-generation Cruise Autonomous Vehicle (AV), which comes just a few short months after it first revealed its third-generation vehicle.
The fourth generation car is production-ready, according to GM’s Dan Ammann,
Tomi Engdahl says:
Misty Robotics’ home robot brings the far-off future to CES 2018
https://www.cnet.com/news/misty-robotics-development-kit-ces-home-sphero/
The company has a big vision for the home robotics landscape. Misty I is a baby step — a dev kit coming in February. Here’s a first look.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Misty I is a robot for developers, not roboticists
https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/11/16875336/misty-i-robotic-developer-edition-hands-on-ces-2018
There are approximately one million toy robots on shelves right now that can teach kids to code. But how many let programmers control a “real” robot, without requiring them to become roboticists? Not quite enough, according to Misty Robotics, a spin-off from Sphero, which just announced Misty I Developer Edition. It’s a first stab at an “affordable, easily programmable, advanced personal robot.”
Misty I will ship next month to select developers for $1499.
Misty is obviously hoping developers find cool ways to use the JavaScript API to build interesting applications. But the few demo apps (called “Skills”) I saw were either underwhelming — Misty can move away from your hand when you put it in front of its sensors — or inconsistent
A $1499 robot packed with sensors and processing power, and enough built-in smarts so developers don’t have to reinvent the wheel, would be really great thing to have. The big question is if Misty can deliver on this ambitious vision.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Security theater?
This home security camera looks away when you come home
https://www.theverge.com/ces/2018/1/10/16875212/angee-home-security-camera-wont-spy-on-you
I find it hard to get on board with the idea of filling my home with smart security cameras for a number of reasons, not the least of which is privacy. But there’s one smart camera at CES this year that has a clever solution to the whole spying-on-you problem: just have the camera look away.
The smart camera Angee — which was crowdfunded in 2015 and is now shipping to backers — is able to rotate a full 360-degrees. That allows the camera to spin around to face a wall when it realizes that you’re home, which is a smart solution to the uncomfortable feeling
Beyond that, I don’t know that Angee stands out much from other home security cameras, like Canary or Netatmo Home. They all do roughly the same thing
it’s the most expensive camera of the bunch by a good margin.
Tomi Engdahl says:
GM moves to deploy driverless car fleet in 2019
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/general-motors/2018/01/12/gm-driverless-car-fleet-cruise-av/109381232/
The production-ready Cruise AV, which is also what GM calls its self-driving Bolts already on the road for testing in San Francisco, would be the automaker’s fourth-generation driverless car in just 18 months.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The car can react to drivers’ brain signals
Nissan believes that the car could drive more comfortably and safely if the car could read and interpret the driver’s intentions. This technique is called by the Japanese manufacturer as Brain-to-Vehicle or shorter B2V. It was presented at the Las Vegas CES fair.
B2V provides faster reaction times for drivers and more car-loving cars that adapt to driving pleasure. B2V is the latest advancement of Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility Vision. The vision determines where cars get their driving power, how they drive and how they integrate into society.
- People’s image of self-guided motoring is often a vision of the future where a human being hands over control. B2V technology is in fact a very controversial situation: the technology analyzes driver’s brain signals, making the car more exciting and more enjoyable, says Danielle Scillaci, Nissan manager.
Source: http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/7388-auto-voi-reagoida-kuljettajan-aivojen-signaaleihin
Tomi Engdahl says:
With Concept Cars on Display, CES 2018 Gets Its Driver’s License
http://www.powerelectronics.com/automotive/concept-cars-display-ces-2018-gets-its-driver-s-license?NL=ED-003&Issue=ED-003_20180112_ED-003_225&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_2_b&utm_rid=CPG05000002750211&utm_campaign=14905&utm_medium=email&elq2=b2dfafb6a32140809d4e9659a837f2da
Concept cars previewed at the Las Vegas Computer Electronic Show are a good indication of the proliferation of electronics in automotive vehicles now and in the future.
Tomi Engdahl says:
March of A Billion Sensors Unveiled at CES
https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1332822
LAS VEGAS — The annual CES Unveiled showcase proved that the Internet of Things (IoT) is not only still “in” but it’s even deeper in. Now, it’s “a given.”
Vendors apparently feel the holy trinity of connectivity, big data and apps in every IoT gadget is just too important to let go. New this year is that many IoT devices are beginning to directly connect with 4G cellular networks. Yes, they may have Bluetooth Low Energy and Wi-Fi but they are not afraid of bypassing them.
This year is the debut of blockchain at CES Unveiled. A Chinese company showed off a new Windows PC designed to work during off hours as a mining machine for a decentralized public blockchain platform.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Toyota Head at CES Touts Mobile Commerce
Amazon, Uber, Didi, Mazda, etc. join the club
https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1332820
Tomi Engdahl says:
Haptics Technology Goes Mainstream in Gaming, Automotive at CES
https://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1332817
This year’s event could be a coming out party for new types of technologies for haptics — relating to touch — that enable more immersive experiences.
In the heart of the gaming industry in Las Vegas, a Bristol, UK-based company will be showing off mid-air haptics technology it says can enable new multi-sensory 4D gaming experiences in slot machines and automotive retail, such as allowing users to “feel” the revs of an engine in augmented reality.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES 2018: Zero Mass Wants to Get Water Off the Grid and Onto Your Roof
https://spectrum.ieee.org/view-from-the-valley/consumer-electronics/gadgets/ces-2018-getting-water-off-the-grid-and-onto-your-roof
The hydropanel. It looks a bit like a solar panel. Indeed, it is part solar— the side sections create heat using solar thermal technology (see photo, above); the center two sections of each panel are full of solar cells So it does generate a little electricity, enough to operate its fans, pump, and electronics. But that’s not why you’d want it on your roof. Its purpose is to generate water—pure, safe, drinking water—from the air. Its creators say it works in almost any environment, be that the desert or the rain forest.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES 2018: Active HDMI Cables and Harmony in the Smart Home
https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/consumer-electronics/audiovideo/ces-2018-active-hdmi-cables-and-harmony-in-the-smart-home
active cables will provide both power and video
Aboosaidi also made the case that cables still matter. “Wired peripherals and electronics are still a major part of the market,” he said. “We can’t entirely go wireless yet because there’s so many issues still with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth”
Tomi Engdahl says:
GM Says: Look, Ma, No Steering Wheel
https://spectrum.ieee.org/cars-that-think/transportation/self-driving/gm-says-look-ma-no-steering-wheel
No steering wheel. Or pedals.
That’s how the self-driving car from GM’s Cruise will be fitted when it hits the streets in 2019, the company has just asserted in a statement. Just where the car is supposed to start driving and under what conditions was left unclear, but it’s safe to assume it’ll be somewhere with friendly road-safety regulators.
Tomi Engdahl says:
This $1,600 fighting robot toy kicks serious butt
https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/11/this-1600-fighting-robot-toy-kicks-serious-butt/?ncid=rss&utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&utm_content=FaceBook&sr_share=facebook
Pilot was on-hand at CES this week, showing the ‘bot to a handful of folks.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Intel tried desperately to change the subject from Spectre and Meltdown at CES
https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/12/intel-tried-desperately-to-change-the-subject-from-spectre-and-meltdown-at-ces/?utm_source=tcfbpage&sr_share=facebook
It was so bad that the chip maker has to be thrilled to have CES, the massive consumer technology show going on this week in Las Vegas, as a way to change the subject and focus on the other work they are doing.
For starters, CEO Brian Krzanich had to deal with the elephant in the room at the company keynote on Monday. Spectre and Meltdown patches were coming to 90 percent of the company’s affected chips by next week.
…perhaps its biggest security scare in its history.”
It didn’t help matters when Intel’s patch proved buggy and caused some systems to reboot.
Mitigation efforts have been coming fast and furious from every corner: from chip vendors, from the OS vendors like Microsoft and Apple and from very nearly everyone else. There is concern that the mitigation solutions could in fact slow down computers substantially.
The company began making a flurry of announcements, planned long before the chip flaws became public last week.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cortana had a crappy CES
https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/12/cortana-had-a-crappy-ces/?ncid=rss&utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&utm_content=FaceBook&sr_share=facebook
Cortana gets no respect. Microsoft’s smart assistant is actually pretty solid, all things told, but it rarely gets mentioned in the same breath as Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. Maybe it’s a problem of marketing —the company was quick to point at Build in May that its smart assistant now has 141 million monthly users. More likely though, it’s a problem with Microsoft’s hardware strategy.
The company knew as well as the rest of us that CES 2018 was going to be a smart assistant battleground, but Cortana barely entered into the conversation.
Google’s Assistant dominated the show’s headlines
Amazon’s presence was decidedly less intense, but the company did a solid job keeping up in terms of partner announcements.
Pricing was a hugely important piece of Amazon and Google’s smart home successes.
But where are all of the non-PC Cortana devices?
There’s that Harman speaker that launched a while back and just ahead of CES, the company announced the launch of a Cortana-powered thermostat.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES 2018: The Best—and the Craziest—Gadgets of the Show
https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/consumer-electronics/gadgets/ces2018-the-bestand-the-craziestgadgets-of-the-show
CES 2018: Complete Coverage of the Best Emerging Tech
https://spectrum.ieee.org/static/ces2018
The IEEE Spectrum team on the hottest gadgets and technology trends