Tag: CES2018

Qualcomm’s Smart Audio Platform to Help OEMs Make Smart Speakers With Alexa, Google Assistant

During Qualcomm’s CES 2018 press event, the chipmaker announced its new Smart Audio Platform. The goal of this new platform is to enable the rapid acceleration and creation of smart speakers in the industry, where manufacturers have to spend less time on design and the tech inside, while also being able to choose from Alexa, Google Assistant, or Cortana. That’s right, Qualcomm now has a kit and reference for smart speakers, where a smart speaker maker can easily make a smart speaker and choose which assistant they want on board.

The Qualcomm Smart Audio Platform features things like a quad-core ARM A53 processor, Qualcomm’s Hexagon Audio DSP, aptX support, Quick Charge, dual band 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2+, embedded Linux, 6-microphone far-field voice technology, and support for Qualcomm’s multi-room AllPlay. It can even support displays at a 720p resolution (Adreno 304 or 308 GPU) and Google Cast. So the kit has everything one could need, plus Qualcomm has a reference design manufacturers could utilize.

LG’s previously announced ThinQ smart speaker with Google Assistant was built off this new Smart Audio Platform. Qualcomm will also showcase smart speakers at their CES booth with all major assistants in action.

You’ll find more on Qualcomm’s Smart Audio Platform right here.

// Qualcomm [2] [3] [4]

January 8, 2018
WATCH: Samsung’s CES 2018 Press Event! (2PM PT, 5PM ET)

Samsung is up next here at CES 2018! Their press event is sure to be filled with TVs and fridges and appliances and talk of how they’ll all play together with AI and other tech smarts and Bixby and all that. Think of it as LG’s press event from this morning all over again, only on a bigger stage and with a handful of extra people in attendance. This is Samsung, after all.

We shouldn’t expect a bunch of phone announcements, as Samsung will hold off on that fun until later this year, possibly next month. We could get a shot of a new smartwatch, though, as is suggested by the teaser image for today’s press event. Either way, I’m sure Bixby will be there to cheer you all up.

The event starts at 2PM Pacific (5PM Eastern). You can watch it live at the top of this post.

January 8, 2018
Bixby Coming to Samsung’s Family Hub Fridge, 2018 Smart TVs

Ahead of its big press event, Samsung held a preview event at CES where it announced Bixby would be coming to its Family Hub fridge and lineup of 2018 Smart TVs.

As most of you should already know, Bixby is Samsung’s digital assistant that launched on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, but launched a little late due to multiple reported issues. In October of last year, Samsung announced Bixby 2.0, which would take Bixby beyond phones and into its entire ecosystem of smart things.

As an example of something you can do with Bixby on your fridge, users can ask, “What’s new?” and get tailored responses featuring upcoming calendar events, weather information, news, and more.

Not only will the 2018 lineup of Smart TVs and the Family Hub feature Bixby, they will also incorporate Samsung’s SmartThings, the company’s IoT platform hub. This will make connection to other smart devices in the home rather easy, with Samsung detailing, “It offers a simpler way to control the television and sync with other devices.”

Now, let it be known that a Family Hub fridge is not cheap, with prices ranging from around $2,000 to nearly $4,000. It all depends on where you buy it and which model you get, just like a regular fridge.

If a fridge or TV with Bixby is something you’ve been needing, 2018 is going to be a solid year for you.

// Samsung [2]

January 8, 2018
Google Further Details Android TV Oreo Update With Redesigned UI

Back at Google I/O, Google showed off the next big UI update for Android TV that would arrive with Android Oreo. You probably know little about it and likely have never seen it because no Android TV has it outside of the Nexus Player, a device you can no longer buy. With that said, Google is doing big things with Android TV at CES 2018 this week and has provided a refresher, through their Google Play Dev blog, on the big changes that are coming. Our guess is that this refresher is here because the update is closer than ever to rolling out on current and new Android TV products.

The biggest change here is the layout of the home screen. As you can see below, apps are now featured vertically, with their own content listed next to them horizontally (Google calls it “channel-based”). This allows you to not only see the apps you use the most, but also the available content. While the layout will take some getting used to, it should help with discovery, since content from apps are now shown without having to enter the app.

These channels can be programmed by app developers to show promoted content, a specific order of programs, and branding. But there can be custom channels too, potentially by topic or user interest. That means a custom channel experience on your Android TV home screen.

And finally, the new Android TV design features animated previews of programs as they are highlighted when you browse. Think of it like YouTube’s live preview feature on desktop that shows you a short clip when you hover your mouse over a video thumbnail.

Today’s blog post from Google didn’t say when we should expect Android Oreo to arrive on more Android TV sets, but again, if they are once again pushing the message of it, I’d imagine they want to start rolling it out. Plus, new products are most definitely launching with Oreo inside.

// Google Play Devs

January 8, 2018
Haier Launching Android TV-Equipped Smart TVs in Mid-2018

A partnership between Haier and Google has been announced this week at CES, one that will bring Android TV to Haier’s new lineup of Smart TVs for 2018.

We have yet to hear specs for the 2018 Smart TV models, but we do know that Haier expects to deliver all of the same Android TV features you know and love. You’ll have access to Google Assistant, Android apps, Netflix, YouTube TV, and much more.

Haier specifically mentions that it will be built on the latest Android Oreo OS (UI pictured above), too, which only Nexus Players are utilizing at this time.

As soon as we get images of Haier’s lineup, specs, and where you can buy them, we’ll let you know.

// Haier

January 8, 2018
Ring Announces New Stick Up Cams, Smart Lighting, and Shipping Estimate for Ring Alarm

Ring, the company you probably know because of its early entries into the smart doorbell arena, now sports a full ecosystem of smart home products that aim to keep your residence secure. To open CES 2018, Ring has announced new Stick Up cameras, outdoor smart lighting, and an estimated ship time for their Ring Alarm system, which is a rebranded Ring Security System that had some legal troubles.

For the new Stick Up cameras, you have two: Stick Up Cam and Stick Up Cam Elite. What’s the difference? The regular new Stick Up Cam can run on batteries, while the Elite needs to be wired in. Why does it need to be wired? Because the Elite features advanced motion sensors that likely need a lot more than battery power to run properly. Otherwise, these redesigned Stick Up Cams are mostly the same, are sold as being good for both indoors and outdoors, provide 1080p video, 2-way audio, and are weatherproof.

As for the new smart lighting, it’s called Ring Beams, likely based off the company Mr Beams, which Ring just acquired. These lights integrate with the Ring app and other Ring products to intelligently light up as you need them to. They are wire-free, energy efficient lights that include pathway, flood, and step options.

Finally, Ring Alarm is Ring’s $199 professional monitored security system that includes a base station, keypad, contact sensor (for windows and doors), passive IR sensor, and Z-Wave extender. If you need more Ring goodies, you can add flood/freeze sensors and smoke alarms as well.

Ring Alarm will being shipping in Spring 2018 and will include a monthly $10 fee. That monthly fee gets you professional monitoring and unlimited camera feeds.

We don’t yet know when the new Stick Up cams or Beams will arrive or how much they’ll cost.

To check out the full line-up of Ring 2018 products, checkout the video below.

// Ring

January 8, 2018
Sony Makes the Xperia XA2, Xperia XA2 Ultra, and Xperia L2 Official at CES

Only a few days ago we got our first look at Sony’s new Xperia lineup by way of a leak. All three Xperia devices shown off in that leak have now been made official at CES, the Xperia XA2, Xperia XA2 Ultra, and Xperia L2.

While US availability was not specifically mentioned by Sony in its press release (no surprise there), the company did provide complete specs for the devices, as well as an overview video for the Xperia XA2. The Xperia XA2 features a 5.2″ FHD display, 23-megapixel rear-facing camera (4K, 120fps slow-mo, ISO 12800), Snapdragon 630 processor, and 3,300mAh battery.

The Xperia XA2 Ultra sports a 6″ FHD display, 16-megapixel with OIS + 8-megapixel front-facing cameras for elite selfie status, the same 23-megapixel camera on the back as the standard XA2 model, 3,580mAh battery, and Snapdragon 630 processor.

Sony states that both devices will run Android 8.0 “Oreo” when they ship in February, 2018.

For the Xperia L2, it features a 5.5″ HD display, 3,300mAh battery, 13-megapixel rear camera, and 8-megapixel front camera. Sony says the L2 will ship with Nougat later this month.

If we hear about US launches, we’ll update you.

// Sony Mobile

January 8, 2018
Yale x Nest Lock is Finally Coming in March

Yale and Nest teamed up at least a year ago to announce that they were creating the ultimate smart lock. For reasons will likely never know, the lock is only now arriving in 2018.

The Yale x Nest Lock you’ll get controls over this Yale product within the Nest app, which is a big deal. Up until now, you could only control Nest products within the Nest app and would have to rely on other apps to control other pieces of your smart home. While this isn’t a sign that Nest is opening up to all – because this is a partnership – it’s a pretty cool addition to the Nest line-up.

The Yale x Nest Lock doesn’t feature any key hole, so it’s completely controlled either by app or through its outer-facing touchpad that takes codes. You can distribute codes to friends and family, it’ll lock itself if needed and send you alerts, and you can remotely lock or unlock from anywhere.

This new smart lock from Yale and Nest will go up for pre-order in February and arrive in March. We do not yet know pricing.

// Yale | Engadget

January 8, 2018