Samsung to Reveal Results of Galaxy Note7 Fire Investigation Later This Month

Samsung will announce later this month the results of an investigation into what caused some of its Galaxy Note7 smartphones to catch fire, according to South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo.

Samsung launched the Galaxy Note7 in late August and, shortly after, user reports began circulating about devices that exploded or caught on fire while charging. At the time, the company said the underlying issue was “problematic” batteries installed in a very limited number of the smartphones sold.

Rumors suggest Samsung pushed suppliers to meet tighter deadlines for an earlier launch, in order to beat the iPhone 7, leading to critical oversights that led to some batteries catching fire. In October, Samsung said it was examining all aspects of the smartphone, but noted it was not yet able to reproduce the problem.

Samsung issued a Galaxy Note7 recall in September, and permanently discontinued the smartphone in October after some replacement devices caught fire. Samsung has urged customers to return their Galaxy Note7s immediately, and in December began seeding a software update to prevent unreturned devices from charging.

Samsung faces the challenging task of regaining consumer trust after the Galaxy Note7 safety risks, which led to the smartphone being banned on all U.S. flights. Airlines are required to disclose the Galaxy Note7 ban prior to takeoff on every U.S. flight, inevitably damaging the reputation of Samsung’s brand.

Looking forward, the company today announced a trio of new mid-tier Galaxy A smartphones, including the 5.7-inch A7, 5.2-inch A5, and 4.7-inch A3 models. The latest A models feature metal frames and 3D glass backs, improved 16-megapixel cameras, IP68 water and dust resistance, and longer battery life.

Samsung said the refreshed Galaxy A series will be available in Russia in early January, followed by other global markets. Pricing has yet to be announced.

Tags: Samsung, Galaxy Note 7
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AirPods Reset Fixes Charging Case Battery Issues for Some, but Issues Persist for Others

Although the AirPods have been well-received by a majority of users after the holidays, the largest issue persisting online centers around troublesome battery drain issues with the headphones’ bundled-in Charging Case. MacRumors reported last week about an initial hubbub of concern coming from AirPods wearers and the Charging Case not living up to Apple’s 24 hours of standby life. This week more stories have come out about potential fixes for the issue, as well as reports of some users deciding to return or exchange their AirPods because of the Charging Case problem.

Towards the end of last week, one Redditor posted a fix for the AirPods Charging Case battery drain issue, and a few MacRumors forum members corroborated that resetting the AirPods completely and syncing them back up to each iOS device helped return their Charging Case to normal battery life. Unfortunately, the fix isn’t universal, and a large portion of affected users still see large percentage drops in the Charging Case on an hourly and daily basis, even after resetting.

The fact that a software reset works for some users has lead to hope that Apple may address the battery drainage issue in the form of a firmware update for the AirPods sometime in the future, but the company hasn’t commented on the problem or mentioned whether or not AirPods will be updated through iOS at all. Apple has quietly updated some of its iOS-connected accessories in the past, including the Apple Pencil through iOS 10.1, which users noted as bringing more fluid and responsive drawing tools to the Pencil.

Without the confirmation of a possible software fix, however, there remains the option of exchanging the AirPods at an Apple retail store for another pair, which of course depends on the device’s very low stock being available at your local store. In a post on the MacRumors forums, Lihp8270 described their experience with contacting Apple Support about the issue, and having to either return the AirPods and wait six weeks for a replacement, or keep in constant contact with a local Apple retail store and be in line first thing for an exchange.

I did call them. Their solution was to mail it to them, and wait 6 weeks for a replacement. Or I could phone the store myself every day and check to see if they had any new stock in to exchange it, as they couldn’t take my details and let me know when an exchange set was available.

My first support chat with the 1st set went to a Senior Advisor, they booked me a Genius Bar appointment. Even though I was talking with the US people from the UK. Exceptionally helpful. But I was passing an Apple store, and since only a few days old. I popped in to see if they had any replacements in stock that I could just switch out rather than waiting another week. They did not, but forwarded me to AppleCare. AppleCare wanted me to mail them their device, and wait 6 weeks with no device, and no money. So I said I’d rather keep hold of them (as they work beyond needing daily charging) until an exchange set was available, or just refund for cash and I’ll order more.

So I went back to the store. Asked if they are able to take my details and set any aside and I will exchange my faulty set when they come in. They said no, I’d have to call the store everyday, and ask about stock. Then when they had some, to get in ASAP and swap them before a customer purchased them. No solution they offered was convenient. So I had them refunded.

The same user goes on to describe purchasing a second pair of AirPods, which also began exhibiting the battery drain issues with the Charging Case. Similar stories are growing more common online, as users begin to chart out exactly how much battery the Charging Case is losing in an attempt to see if they can discover a solution. On the bright side, in nearly every case the AirPods themselves have a solid and reliable battery life.

Tag: AirPods
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Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Dell’s XPS line of laptops, available in 13-inch and 15-inch models, is one of our favorites because the laptops are well-built, with a great design and keyboard. But most importantly, they have a nearly invisible bezel around the screen, making for a very striking edge-to-edge look that almost no other laptop can match (Dell calls it the Infinity display).

Sarah Tew/CNET

Now Dell is expanding the idea into hybrids with the new XPS 13 2-in-1, which is a 360-degree hinged convertible with a very similar slim bezel display. That means you can fold the 13-inch display back into a table tent or kiosk position, or fold it all the way back into a slightly chunky tablet. The nice thing about this style of hybrid is that it works great as an ordinary clamshell laptop as well.

Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
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Inside, you’ve got Intel Core i5 and i7 Y-series low-voltage processors, and the Gorilla Glass screen comes in full HD or 3,200×1,800-pixel-resolution versions. It’s available now, starting at $999 (£806 or AU$1,377) in the US. It’s got dual under-the-screen webcam lenses, but Windows Hello support, for now, will come from an optional fingerprint reader.

If you’re still partial to the non-hybrid versions of these systems, the XPS 15 is getting an under-the-hood update to newer seventh-gen Intel Core i-series CPU, and even an option for Nvidia’s new entry-level GeForce 1050 graphics chip.

Laptops for every holiday wish list
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Samsung Wisenet-SmartCam A1 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

An indoor and outdoor camera comes with this home security kit.

Samsung

Samsung today announced the Wisenet-SmartCam A1 Home Security System. Instead of offering a single camera and a variety of related security accessories, this new kit is entirely camera-centric. It includes both an indoor and an outdoor camera.

While the tech giant hasn’t shared the price of the system or when exactly it will be available, I’m definitely curious how it stacks up against standalone DIY security cameras.

19 outdoor cameras that take home security…
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I’ve reviewed Samsung’s SmartCam HD Pro and SmartCam HD Plus security cameras in the past. Specs for both are roughly comparable to other DIY high-definition cameras on the market, but they both fell short on hardware design and app layout. That’s especially true compared to more well-rounded models like the Nest Cam Indoor and the Nest Cam Outdoor.

Here’s a quick overview of the Samsung Wisenet-SmartCam A1 Home Security System’s specs:

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Indoor camera

• 1080p HD video resolution
• 350-degree panning
• 130-degree field of view

Outdoor camera

• 720p HD video resolution
• Battery-powered

Samsung’s outdoor camera certainly seems to be inspired by Netgear’s Arlo series of outdoor security products as far as design and specs go, but we’ll just have to test it ourselves to be sure. I’ve reached out to Samsung for the price and retail availability of its new Wisenet-SmartCam A1 Home Security System. Check back soon for updates.

Click here to find out what else is happening at CES 2017.

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What’s in Flo’s CES bag?

I promised myself I’d pack less in 2017.

I’m pretty terrible about overpacking, especially when it comes to work trips. But that’s because I like to travel with all the comforts of home, like my favorite blanket, a travel kettle, a yoga mat, and a giant bag of instant coffee.

Of course, I equip myself with the proper devices to get the job done, too. CES is not a major smartphone show, so I get to have a little more fun with what I pack for the journey.

Here’s what I’ll be bringing with me to Las Vegas this year.

The bag: Timbuk2 Classic Messenger

I love this bag so much. I’ve had it for about five years and it’s been with me all over the world. This well-loved Timbuk2 Classic Messenger can fit all sorts of things I’d need out on the road, including a few smartphones, a battery pack, all the cords and adapters I need, an extra shirt, a small makeup bag, and the case for my Snapchat Spectacles. Also, not only does this bag have a lifetime warranty, but you can customize the Classic Messenger in a variety of colors, patterns, and materials. I love having a one-of-a-kind piece of kit.

See at Timbuk2

Also inside: Timbuk2 Snoop Camera Insert

Andrew Martonik and I clearly shop from the same place. I don’t carry as much gear as he does — just a humble Canon SL1 and a 40mm pancake lens — but I like this little insert because it has ample padding for extra gear. I can usually stuff two other phones on one side and the Gear 360 on the other.

See at Amazon

And finally: Snapchat Spectacles

I’m going to be pummeling the Android Central Snapchat and Instagram accounts with content I record with my Snapchat Spectacles. These things are ridiculous and I paid way too much for them on Ebay, but at least now I have a story to tell — that I was a sucker for Spectacles.

The Spectacles are exactly the type of thing you’d wear to CES because it’s the type of trade show where you don’t have time to fumble around looking for the smartphone in your bag. Instead, you can simply press a button to start recording up to 30 seconds of video. There’s even a nice LED indicator on the outside to let people around you know what you’re up to.

Also, they block the sun.

See at Ebay

The phone: Pixel XL

I like wielding a big phone. It means I always have a large enough screen to read, tap notes, and respond to emails and Slacks and Hangouts and text messages and — you get the gist. I also love the Pixel XL for its looks — CES is a dog and pony show after all, and I’m merely showing off a powerful little “get ‘er done” tool. Mine is really blue and I think it looks pretty neat paired with this cheapo phone case I purchased from the depths of AliExpress.

The 12-megapixel camera on the Pixel XL also makes it a reliable point-and-snap device. It produces fabulous low light shots and backs them up immediately to Google Photos, and with Assistant built into the software I can easily conjure up the power of Google as I’m walking to my next meeting.

See at Google Store

The other phone: Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

Before the Pixel arrived, the Galaxy S7 edge was my smartphone of choice. It boasts a 12-megapixel camera with impressive low-light performance, enduring battery life, and water resistance. Granted, there isn’t much water in Las Vegas, but I like knowing this fancy little phone can go into the water with me if I need it to.

This is the phone I’ll be using to make social content on the CES show floor, so anything you see at Android Central’s social accounts will be recorded with the S7 edge’s camera hardware.

See at Amazon

The makeup bag

Yes, I carry a makeup bag with me when I’m on the job. My little Sephora freebie bag typically carries some blush, a little concealer, and a lipstick to keep my face fresh throughout the day. But I also carry bandages, hand sanitizer, hair ties, and anything else that a pal or colleague might need while we’re out on the show floor.

If you need something, come find me. I probably have it.

Also inside: Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask

People, this stuff is amazing. I wear it all day and all night and it keeps my lips moisturized through even the harshest weather. Dudes can wear this, too, if they buy it in the plain version. It’s the kind of lip moisturizer that won’t add sheen either, so you don’t have to worry about sporting glossy lips.

See at Sephora

The in-room amenity: Humidifier

My Californian constitution is weak. This giant humidifier is typically my go-to when I’ve got a cold, but I make room for it in my suitcase so that I’m not waking up in pain during the week of CES. I have a smaller one that I’ll typically travel with on other trips, but I bring this gigantic one with me anytime I’m going to Vegas.

See at Amazon

CES 2017: What to expect from the year’s biggest tech show

CES is here to excite, entice … and sometimes disappoint.

This is the biggest trade show of the year, taking place in over 2 million square feet of exhibition space across multiple convention centers in Las Vegas and welcoming over 150,000 industry members and media. CES starts off the year with a bang and floods us with more technology than any single person can manage to see.

Though there is a huge media component to the show and many companies use it as a launch point for new products, its importance for many of the biggest companies in the mobile world has faded. Long gone are the days of seeing five or 10 different high-end phones and tablets launched in the span of four days — instead the big names we know are more interested in releasing mid-range devices to save the big ones for independent events.

Sure you won’t see the all of 2017’s greatest phones unveiled at CES, but there’s still a whole lot to get excited about in the mobile world and beyond. Here’s what you can expect from CES 2017.

What to expect at CES

When it comes to Android and mobile news, CES is no longer the big show for all of the big announcements. Instead, we get a wider range of interesting news from more companies in more areas.

Phones

When it comes to phones, expect mid-range models and lots of offerings from the lesser-known names. Many of the big names skip CES when it comes to phones, but some companies use this opportunity to show off things they’ve already launched elsewhere in the world or to bring a small subset to the North American market. Names like Huawei and Xiaomi will have a more notable presence, while more household names like Sony and LG will devote a small portion of their overall corporate appearance at the show.

Chromebooks and tablets

On a slightly different level, many of the big names will be at CES showcasing their latest lineup of laptops and tablets — which nowadays usually include Chromebook and Android versions of their Windows devices, sometimes with a one-off distinct model for each OS. Companies like HP, Dell, ASUS, Acer and Lenovo could have Chromebook models to show off at CES, and those that are still making tablets may have an Android tablet or two to show off. These products don’t usually get their own events through the year, so CES turns becomes a good time to show them off.

Virtual reality

CES 2017 is going to be a big show for VR, from the top makers like Oculus and HTC showing off their current headsets all the way down to small companies getting in on the phone-based VR fun. Expect to see a venerable truckload of different takes on the face-mounted holder for your phone, hoping to undercut the likes of the Samsung Gear VR and Google Daydream View headsets. You’ll see lots of headsets that come in cheaper but purport to offer more features, and not all of them will be explicit Daydream headsets. You’ll see some proprietary solutions that are fully contained units running Android, though the operating system itself isn’t very important in those.

Wearables

There’s a shot that we may see an early look at new Android Wear watches at the show, depending on how far along Google is in its release of Android Wear 2.0 and what manufacturers have finished to announce. Google won’t be showing off its two reported smartwatches just yet, but others may get out ahead of the announcement with some info at the very least.

Beyond Android, expect other makers like Xiaomi, Fossil and Garmin to be showing off their latest watches and fitness trackers. Fitbit and Samsung have already released their big products, so don’t expect anything new from either one.

Accessories

Then there are the accessories. Every company under the sun will have headphones, speakers, cables, cases, screen protectors, adapters, chargers, batteries and so much more to show off. It can be tough to get through all of it, but there are usually one or two shining new products out of CES that are worth checking out. Unfortunately most aren’t worth your time or won’t ever make their way to market.

Everything else

• TVs. So many TVs. Samsung, LG and Sony will continue to fight not only in picture quality, but in “smart” features. Samsung has its own Tizen platform, LG has webOS and Sony has Android TV.
• Internet of Things will once again be massive. Everything in your home will be demonstrated as a connected device, most of the time with questionable usefulness.
• Android Auto will surely be on display once again as more car makers roll out their 2018 models. Don’t expect every car to offer it just yet, though — there are still lots of proprietary systems out there.

What not to expect

As I explained from the start, CES is no longer the show where the big names in mobile come to duke it out with their year-leading announcements. We won’t see the Galaxy S8 or LG G6 or HTC’s latest flagship at the show, nor will we even see mid-range announcements from every manufacturer. Sometimes a company will catch us by surprise with a nicer-than-expected phone announcement here, but the past few years haven’t been blockbusters.

Beyond that, it’s worth noting before we head into another CES that not everything shown at the show is market-ready and consumer focused. Much of what you’ll see coming out of CES are products that are unfinished, components of larger future products or pie-in-the-sky concepts that may never see the light of day. While products shown off at CES can be a great way to see where companies are headed, not everything on display at the show will eventually be available for purchase.

Follow all of the news from CES!

Android Central will be everywhere at CES 2017, bringing you all of the latest information and analysis from the show. But we aren’t going alone — our friends at Windows Central and iMore will be there in full force as well, bringing you an even broader look at everything CES has to offer.

You can keep up with every single CES-related article at our dedicated CES 2017 page, but you should also follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat to get the full experience of what it’s like to be at CES with AC!

More: Find all of our CES 2017 coverage here!

Dell unveils XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop at CES 2017

We only caught our first glimpse of the XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop earlier today but Dell has used the first day of CES to officially unveil the new model. The XPS 13 2-in-1 actually has four usable modes: laptop, tablet, stand and tent and Dell claims it’s the “smallest 13-inch 2-in-1 device on the planet”. Of course, the new XPS 13 faces stiff competition from Microsoft’s Surface Book, but Dell has been quick to point out several areas where the XPS trumps Microsoft’s machine.

• CES 2017: What is it and what to expect

The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is 16 percent smaller than the Surface Book, is 40 percent thinner and 20 percent lighter. So if you’re in the market for an ultra portable power laptop, the Dell should be on your radar.

If you order one of the new machines, you’ll be able to choose from two different display options, an UltraSharp Quad HD+ with 5.7 million crystals or a regular 1930 x 1080 full HD display. No matter which option you go for, the screen will be coated in an anti-reflective material and will offer 170 degree viewing angles.

Dell has paid particular attention to the battery for the new XPS 13 2-in-1, and has fitted a 46WHr to both screen variants. The Quad HD+ screen model with Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD claims to offer 7 hours of streaming via Netflix, while the full HD model with 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD should be good for 10 hours. If streaming movies isn’t your thing and you want to use the XPS 13 for doing work, you’ll be able to get around 15 hours of use from the full HD model.

There’s a range of processor, RAM and storage options available for both models. Processor are all Intel Kaby Lake and come in 3.2Ghz Core i5 and 3.6GHz Core i7 variants, RAM can be either 4GB, 8GB or 8GB and storage can be 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB SSD.

• Dell XPS 13 review (2015): To infinity and beyond

Both full HD and Quad HD models get two USB Type-C ports, Thunderbolt 3 port, microSD card reader, display port and 3.5mm headphone jack. There’s no traditional USB Type-A port on either machine, but Dell will ship each one with an adapter.

The XPS 13 2-in-1 will also get a fingerprint scanner, something that had been previously predicted and will be available to order in a few days time from 5 January with prices starting at $1000.

What to expect at CES 2017

It’s easy to be cynical about CES. Every year, hundreds of companies head to Las Vegas to hock their wares to the tech press, which gulps them down like so much fast food. The big companies mostly spend their time showing off untold numbers of TVs which look excellent but aren’t all that different from what we saw the year before. True innovation is hard to find, buried under the piles of commodity gadgets — but when you find it, it’s worth the trouble.

Take the Oculus Rift, which was first revealed off at CES 2013. Few were publicly thinking about virtual reality as a viable consumer product. We all remember the failure of Nintendo’s Virtual Boy — it may not have totally killed VR as a consumer product, but it was years before we saw VR hardware for consumers that actually felt compelling. Oculus only had a simple demo to show off, with no details on its business plan or how its gadgets would get into the hands of customers.

But that didn’t matter. We were captivated, and Oculus rode that wave to partnerships with Samsung, a purchase by Facebook, and status as one of the most dominant players in the nascent VR market. Indeed, the company directly influenced the business paths of four of the biggest companies in technology: Facebook, Samsung, Sony and Microsoft, all of whom have heavy investments in VR now.

That’s not to imply that established product categories from big companies aren’t worth your time at CES. Whether you’re into home theater, PCs, cameras, cars, gaming or the many bizarre, hard to classify gadgets out there, CES has something for everyone. You just have to look hard to find the good stuff. Engadget will be doing that for you all week long — and we’ll also bring you the new, unexpected and potential industry-defining new technology as soon as we spot it.

Nathan Ingraham

PCs

Cherlynn Low

Let’s be real: We’re probably not going to see any MacBook Touch Bar clones in the land of PCs at this year’s show, but we’ll likely see some Surface Studio wannabes. It’s possible that there will be some all-in-ones or monitors with moving hinges, but don’t expect anything fancier than that. Companies like Lenovo, HP, Acer and Dell usually roll in with an array of notebooks and convertibles, but they typically show up with iterative upgrades. We’ll likely get models with Intel’s new 7th-generation Core CPUs and NVIDIA’s latest graphics chips. Last year, laptops became skinnier and more stylish-looking, and we expect them to continue becoming slimmer, with narrower display bezels, as well.

While there were plenty of Surface competitors unveiled at CES 2016, this year will likely see more thin-and-light MacBook alternatives touting additional ports when compared with Apple’s offerings. Lenovo has already unveiled its new ThinkPad line for CES, featuring Microsoft’s bloatware-free version of Windows and the anticipated upgrade to Intel’s 7th-generation Core processors. We may also see more companies adopt Intel’s Optane 3D storage system for faster performance, or borrow (cough, steal, cough) ideas from each other, such as HP’s laptop with a built-in privacy screen or Samsung’s fast-charging notebook (although they probably should steer clear of this, given Samsung’s exploding-battery woes).

Another thing to look out for: more laptops that support Windows Hello with biometric sensors like fingerprint readers or face and iris-recognizing cameras. The few PC towers that might be unveiled at CES will most likely be smaller and more attractive than their hulking eyesore predecessors, taking after the HP Pavilion Wave that was released this summer. Since HP followed Lenovo’s suit and made a business-oriented modular PC, it’s possible that other rivals such as Acer, Asus, Dell and Samsung will do the same.

Otherwise, the PCs that will be announced at CES are less likely to wow than the ones that will be shown off closer to next holiday season. Given all the other eye-catching products that typically get unveiled at the show, PC makers are better off keeping their flagship products under wraps till later in the year.

Mobile

Jon Fingas

As big as it is, CES isn’t usually where companies show off major mobile innovations.. That’s reserved for Mobile World Congress, which kicks off at the end of February. This doesn’t mean that the mobile world will twiddle its thumbs at the 2017 trade show, however. In fact, CES this year promises to be more exciting than usual for smartphone and smartwatch fans. Big names in the business are expected to either stage a comeback or make a big splash in the US, and cutting-edge technologies like augmented reality and 5G will edge closer to practicality.

This year, we’ll see faded brands and platforms take another shot at glory. BlackBerry will be “giving a glimpse” into the future of its phones now that TCL is taking the reins on hardware. Xiaomi is making its CES debut this year, and it’s promising its first global launch for a brand new product — an admission that it has to expand its reach beyond countries like China and India if it wants to recover from its recent sales plunge.

2016 was a tough year for smartwatches, particularly those brands trying to compete with the Apple Watch — remember how Google punted the Android Wear 2.0 launch to early 2017? We may finally see some news on that front at CES. It’s expected that the first Android Wear 2.0 devices will appear at CES, showing what they can do with major upgrades like Android Pay and Google Assistant.

Of course, it wouldn’t be CES if there weren’t some out-there tech on the way. This year, much of the mobile news will revolve around the buzzwords that dominated 2016. Case in point: Huawei. When its CEO delivers his keynote on January 5th, he’ll unveil a mobile strategy that centers around “artificial intelligence, virtual reality and connected technologies.” Expect many, many other companies to take a similarly trendy focus. ASUS, meanwhile, could continue its history of boundary-pushing CES launches by introducing the second phone to use Google’s Tango depth-sensing technology for augmented reality.

Even though 5G data won’t be ready for the real world in 2017, we should hear a lot about the forthcoming technology at CES. It’s close enough that device makers and carriers are envisioning what they can do with that much bandwidth, such as smarter self-driving cars and robots.

You should see some bread-and-butter phone updates, of course. Many companies use CES for launches that would otherwise be overshadowed at Mobile World Congress a month later. That’s not to say that they’ll be pedestrian, though. Take LG’s 2017 mid-range lineup as an example — the company is making a point of including features that were previously reserved for higher-end devices, like fingerprint readers. Sony, in turn, is rumored to be reviving its 4K smartphone dreams now that the technology is more mature. In some ways, these could be the most important introductions at CES. They won’t revolutionize the mobile landscape, but they should make once-exotic technology more commonplace.

TV / home theater

Richard Lawler

Coming into CES 2017, several of the big players in home theater are holding their cards closer to the vest than usual. Of course, even without a slew of pre-event reveals, we have some ideas about what’s in store for TVs and the devices that surround them.

OLED is well-known for offering up the best display quality out there — so what comes next? Price cuts, for one: LG’s has made its series of 4K OLED TVs much more affordable while keeping the quality up, but it will need to go further to match LCD for value. As for the competition, we’re waiting to see if anyone else will try the technology on for size. Panasonic and Sony are good candidates for OLED TVs in 2017, even if they end up using LG’s panels.

There’s no indication yet that Samsung will switch gears on its display technology, but it’s already done an incredible job of improving LCD displays. Enhancing picture quality while lowering prices will keep the battle tight for at least another year.

Speaking of price, just how cheap can 4K TVs get? They’ve almost completely edged 1080p out of the picture already, and in 2017 Ultra HD may be ready to finish the job. Especially now that you can get 4K content through Netflix, Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc, Amazon and more. We’re wondering who will be the last manufacturer standing at 1080p.

After a decade of teasing, high dynamic range (HDR) video arrived last year. Unfortunately, despite collaborations like the UHD Alliance, support for different standards is inconsistent. Bringing wider contrast and more colors to TVs is definitely the next big step in picture quality. Now, customers are seeing TVs that say they’re HDR capable but can’t actually deliver the goods, and confusing compatibility could drive people away from even trying it.

Also mixing things up is a new HDR standard, Hybrid Log-Gamma, that’s joining the ranks of HDR-10 and Dolby Vision. Meanwhile, videogames, movies and TV are all jumping into HDR production, but there’s still a limited amount of content currently available. The question of who supports what — and how — should make for a very interesting CES. The only thing we know right now is that anyone who can make things less confusing is a step ahead in the race to win Best of Show.

Given how good most modern sets look, it’s becoming even harder to stand out from the competition — so some companies will focus on design to catch consumers’ attention. Samsung’s sticking with the funky curve for its Ultra HD Blu-ray deck and, probably, for its new TVs as well. LG has a speaker that floats, and we don’t know if it will stop there. We’ve seen various levels of artsy influence on televisions before, but the 2017 battle could take things to an entirely new level.

Big, beautiful and bright is always the story for home theater at CES and of course, that will continue. The trick, as always, will be in convincing anyone to upgrade now instead of waiting for everything to go 8K, or maybe VR, in a few years.

Cars

Roberto Baldwin

Cars have been part of CES for years, thanks in part to the blindingly white Audi booth luring attendees to the automotive accessory-filled North Hall. But CES 2016 was the year that automakers like Volkswagen and GM took over the annual electronics show in the desert. VW showed some ambitious concept vehicles, while GM introduced a long-range EV that you could actually afford. With this year’s orgy of gadgets just around the corner, the automotive industry is hoping to grab a even more of the tech news cycle with bolder electric vehicles and a fleet of autonomous cars.

Automakers have traditionally used the auto shows in LA, Paris, and Detroit to unveil new vehicles. But the huge splash made by the Chevy Bolt announcement last year means we’re going to see a ton of new cars (most of them concepts) in between unveilings of new TVs and connected home devices that will never land on retailer shelves.

In fact, nearly every major automaker is hosting a press event. Nissan, Toyota, Fiat/Chrysler, Hyundai, Honda and BMW will all be either showing off new or concept hardware or will be talking about the future of driving.

Not to be outdone by the old guard, Faraday Future will be unveiling its first production vehicle. Like an actual car, not the napkin sketch brought to life it showed off last year. The company could have done this at the LA Auto Show in November or waited until the Detroit International Auto Show in January. Both of those events would have been an opportunity to prove to the world that it’s a real car company (although according to reports, one with financial difficulties) ready to start populating the roads with tech-filled EVs. But instead it’s doing it at CES.

So expect an onslaught of car news coming out of CES. Even more than what was shown off last year. On the electric vehicle front, automakers will try to one up one each other on range. Who cares how awesome your concept car is if it needs to recharge after 100 miles?

Self-driving, while still years away will get plenty of stage time — not just from the car makers but from companies like Delphi, Nvidia and Mobileye that make the feat possible. Be prepared to see a ton of self-driving vehicles as we inch closer to full autonomy (which I can’t stress enough, will happen years from now).

Get ready for cars. Lots of cars. Ones that’ll make you wish we already lived in the future with glowing headlamps and glass roofs. Vehicles that talk to you and show you your favorite show while you commute. Automobiles with insane zero to 60 times and EV ranges in the hundreds of miles.

CES 2017 isn’t going to be an auto show. It’s going to be better.

Gaming

Jess Conditt

We did it, folks: Virtual reality is widely available as a consumer product. With the launch of the HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, Google Daydream and other mobile and desktop headsets, 2016 proved there’s a market for virtual reality — and video games in VR. Games are the most natural expression of everything VR has to offer, showcasing the platform’s ability to immerse and engage users in new ways.

But, VR is old news. As we enter the technophile fantasy land that is CES 2017, the video game industry is looking at what’s next. This means augmented reality, 4K gaming and only the fanciest new hardware and accessories.

It’s certain that Sony and Microsoft will show off a raft of new technologies and devices at CES 2017, and it’s a good bet some of this content will be gaming-related. Microsoft is in a particularly intriguing position, as it’s been looking beyond VR, to the world of augmented reality, for a few years now. And now, Microsoft is on the verge of introducing AR to everyday folks, starting with a solid foundation in VR.

In 2017, a handful of partner companies will roll out a series of $300 Windows 10 VR headsets designed to introduce consumers to AR. Specifically, they’re meant to be a bridge between VR and Microsoft’s AR platform, HoloLens.

Microsoft has already laid out its plans for Minecraft on HoloLens, but other than a few tech demos, the company has kept its mixed-reality project quiet. CES 2017 would be a good place to break the silence.

And then there’s Sony. The company had a busy year with the launch of PlayStation VR and the PlayStation 4 Pro, which is capable of running games in 4K. The PS4 Pro is a leap forward for the video game industry, but it doesn’t mean 4K gaming is suddenly standard. As we noted in September, it takes a while for games themselves to catch up with the promises of new, beefier consoles.

Developers are in the process of upscaling their games for the the PS4 Pro, and Microsoft even has a 4K-capable console due out in late 2017, currently codenamed Project Scorpio. It’s guaranteed that 4K TVs will be a hot topic at CES 2017 — and that includes 4K gaming.

Plenty of big brands will bring their latest and greatest gaming hardware to January’s show, including VR and AR headsets, keyboards, mobile devices, headphones, PCs and laptops. Expect to see new products and features from Nvidia, Roccat, ASUS, Razer and other companies. Anyone in the market for a Shield 2 or a relatively cheap HD gaming laptop? CES 2017 might just have your answer.

The day is near when video games will be barely distinguishable from reality, whether they’re beautifully rendered in 4K on a curved OLED TV, presented directly on our faces in a VR headset, or projected onto the existing world via AR. CES precedes E3, the massive video game convention taking place in June — even if it doesn’t offer any ground-breaking announcements, January’s show will lay the foundation and establish priorities for the gaming industry in the year ahead.

Internet of things / connected home

Nicole Lee

The connected home has long been a promise of the future — think Internet-linked refrigerators and WiFi thermostats — and is therefore a regular staple at CES. 2017 should be no different, though we expect to see less innovation and more just a continuation of existing trends.

Specifically, most companies are realizing that instead of building their own platforms, they need to be a part of a larger one to remain relevant. While big corporations like Samsung has its own in the form of SmartThings, most companies are turning to existing platforms like Apple’s Homekit and Google’s Brillo to power their IoT ambitions. We saw some of this at CES in 2016, and we’ll likely see more of that in 2017.

But the focus at CES 2017 will likely be on integrating voice assistants like Amazon’s Alexa into existing products. This past year, we’ve seen Alexa incorporated into all manner of consumer electronics — you can use it to control Neato’s robotic vacuums, adjust the AC at the Wynn without getting out of bed, and even lock your BMW from afar. So get ready for more of that in 2017 too.

It might sound like Alexa is getting a lot of love here, but that’s only because it got quite a bit of a head start. A couple of months ago, Google finally brought its very own Echo competitor to market, which means we’ll certainly see support for Home as well.

Indeed, Google Home also points at another trend in IoT — artificial intelligence. The idea behind Google Assistant is that it integrates with your email and your calendar. It can learn your daily routine and, potentially, improve them. We’ll likely see more of that AI and machine learning integration in all manner of consumer electronics, which may or may not be a little creepy.

Aside from that, we’ll probably see more of the same. That means more electronic pet feeders, more WiFi doorbell cameras and more connected kitchens. The IoT landscape has been pretty messy and confusing thus far, so there’ll still likely be a few kinks to work out, and we’re guessing that most of the so-called “smart” gadgets at the show will probably be pretty dumb. But we won’t know until we check them out, so who knows — there could be a connected home gem buried somewhere in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

TrackR Announces New Tracking Devices and Home-Mapping Smart Plug

With CES gearing up in a few days, some companies have begun revealing new products ahead of the show, and today TrackR has unveiled new updates to its range of Bluetooth tracking devices that help users keep tabs on where their most precious items are located (via The Verge).

One of the new additions is the TrackR pixel, which the company is introducing as a cheaper and more colorful entry to the aluminum-cased TrackR bravo that is already on sale. Like the bravo, the pixel can be attached to an important personal item — such as a key ring — and with a connected iPhone and Android app, users can find anything lost with a GPS locator that shows when they are getting closer or farther away. When TrackR is far out of range, the company’s “crowd GPS network” of users will anonymously help in rediscovery of the item in question.

The original TrackR wallet has also been updated to a 2.0 version, making the Bluetooth tracker visually similar to a credit card and the “thinnest item-finder on the market,” according to TrackR. Otherwise, the wallet functions the same as the pixel, offering users close-range Bluetooth tracking through a smartphone app, and long-range crowd-sourced discovery. Each TrackR device includes a battery that lasts for about a year, but unlike Tile, users can replace the battery without having to purchase an entirely new tracker.

Lastly, TrackR announced an all-new device, the TrackR atlas, a smart plug that’s placed in a wall outlet and maps out a user’s entire home to pinpoint the location of any connected TrackR down to a specific room. Support for Amazon Alexa-enabled devices means that users can simply ask their Echo for the location of a lost item without needing to take out their smartphone.

The TrackR pixel will be available for $24.99, the TrackR wallet for $29.99, and the TrackR atlas for $39.99 when they go up for pre-order sometime today. As of writing, only the atlas is available for users to pre-order. All three products are expected to launch sometime in the Spring.

Tags: CES 2017, TrackR
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Google and Fiat Chrysler work together on Android car tech

The team-up between Google and Fiat Chrysler is about to extend well beyond self-driving minivans. The two companies have revealed an 8.4-inch Uconnect concept system based on Android. No, not Android Auto — we’re talking full-fledged Android Nougat. While it still uses the familiar Uconnect interface (for better or for worse), the Android underpinnings give it “seamless integration” with core Google services like Assistant and Maps. It should play nicely with third-party Android apps, too, including NPR One, Pocket Casts and Spotify.

The system will be on display at CES in a Chrysler 300, but the two companies haven’t said how likely it is that you’ll see this translate from an experiment to full-fledged production. Having said this, it won’t be at all shocking if they move forward. Fiat Chrysler has been keeping up with the Joneses through support for tech like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, but it’s not at the cutting edge compared to the likes of Ford or Tesla. Android gives it a solid framework that, by its nature, is designed for the internet and smartphone tie-ins. And it’s not hard to see what Google gains: basing an infotainment stack around Android not only improves Google’s stake in the automotive world, but reduces the chances that car makers will use platforms that support CarPlay and other competing technologies.

Source: Fiat Chrysler